Mike Montgomery Visits [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] / Cochran's RFA Tender Rescinded

[American Idle]

Basically saying they are eyeing any DL men especially Jerry and Raji (what a shocker on both) and OLB Clay Matthews, its more of an opinion piece and doesn't really tell alot, but here it is:

Fans constantly ask who I think the Texans are going to select with the 15th pick in the first round of the draft next month. I tell them it’s easier for me to predict the position than the player because teams still are shuffling players on their draft boards.

For instance, I think their first-round pick will be a defensive player because the Texans still need so much help on that side of the ball. I may be wrong, but I think the Texans will use their top pick on a big-play outside linebacker or a defensive tackle who can penetrate and agitate.

What new defensive coordinator Frank Bush and new assistant head coach/defensive line Bill Kollar want to do is to pressure the quarterback by exploding off the ball, getting up the field in a nanosecond and being as disruptive as possible.

Because the Texans expect their No. 1 pick to become a starter next season, I’ve ruled out another defensive end. Mario Williams and Antonio Smith, who signed as a free agent from Arizona, are the starters.

I don’t see the Texans selecting a cornerback or safety in the first round. It doesn’t matter who plays in the secondary, if the defense can’t pressure the quarterback, the defensive backs are toast.

Matthews a possibility
That’s why I think the first pick will be an outside linebacker like USC’s Clay Matthews III or a tackle like Mississippi’s Peria Jerry.

Of course, the Texans would love to have Wake Forest outside linebacker Aaron Curry or Boston College tackle B.J. Rajii, but both will be long gone.

Matthews is usually 6-3, 245, but he lost five pounds before the combine so he would be quicker. He ran the 40 in 4.62 seconds. More importantly, he ran the first 10 yards in 1.49.

Scouts and coaches love to time the first 10 yards because it’s an indication of a player’s explosiveness.

Florida receiver Percy Harvin was timed in 1.47. Maryland receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, the fastest prospect at the draft with a 4.30 in the 40, ran the first 10 yards in 1.44.

In other words, Matthews explodes off the ball. That kind of explosion is one reason his stock is soaring.

Scouts and coaches love ascending players like Matthews. He was a 166-pound safety in high school. The defensive coordinator wouldn’t start him because he was too light. That coordinator was his father.

Matthews walked on at USC. He was a freshman redshirt, played special teams as a sophomore, came off the bench as a junior, and, three games into his senior year, started at the elephant position and excelled.

Matthews was outstanding at the Senior Bowl and terrific at the combine. His pro day is April 1, and I’m sure he’ll be impressive there, too.

Matthews can play either side. He has an incredible work ethic. He’s smart and instinctive. Somebody said he’s got good bloodlines, too. I’ll have to check that out.

Don’t count out Jerry
If the Texans don’t take an outside linebacker like Matthews, perhaps they will go for a tackle like Jerry.

Jerry is nasty and physical. He penetrates and obliterates. But he looks like Amobi Okoye. Jerry is almost 6-2 and 299. Okoye, who was a huge disappointment last season, is 6-2 and 302.

I don’t know what Bush and Kollar think about having two tackles the same size. I believe the Texans prefer one of their tackles be a road grader who takes up a lot of space. Frank Okam would be the ideal road grader, but his engine needs a tuneup.

John McClain covers the Texans and the NFL for the Chronicle. He can be heard on 610 AM on Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and Fridays at 4:30 p.m. john.mcclain@chron.com