7 Round Mock

[texan]

Originally Posted by Roy P

Ok, I just did a mock and drafted 2 RBs.

1. S Earl Thomas
2. OG Jon Asamoah
3. RB Ben Tate
4. RB Jonathan Dwyer
5. DE Daniel Te'o-Nesheim
6. CB Kevin Thomas
6. LB Simoni Lawrence
7. CB Crezdon Butler

Why are you waiting til the 6th round to fill our biggest need?

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by texan

Why are you waiting til the 6th round to fill our biggest need?

I dunno but maybe he's planning on playing Thomas more as a corner than a safety ? This is one of Thomas's big selling points you know, his versitility.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by texan

Why are you waiting til the 6th round to fill our biggest need?

1. S Earl Thomas
2. OG Jon Asamoah
3. RB Ben Tate
4. RB Jonathan Dwyer
5. DE Daniel Te'o-Nesheim
6. CB Kevin Thomas
6. LB Simoni Lawrence
7. CB Crezdon Butler

I don't think that the draft is meant to be used to fill needs in a corresponding manner. In other words, if you have a priority of 1 at CB then you HAVE to draft a CB in the 1st round and if your second priority is at RB then the 2nd round draft pick has to be a RB, etc. The draft is meant to get the most talented players on your team with an eye towards needs. Earl Thomas should be a top 12 pick and since we need a FS, we would be crazy to pass on him. The interior OL needs upgrading or it won't matter who our RB is and Asamoah is the ONLY OG in this draft that has the athleticism to play in our ZBS and the TALENT to start. So, we could wait on Shawn Lauvao, but he won't make an impact. The team has no credible run threat, so defenses will be pinning their ears back and kill Schaub unless we make them respect the possibility of a running game. So, I went after Tate, mainly because I was afraid there would be no legitimate RBs later in the draft.

Now, to the main reason I waited until the 6th round to draft a CB. I have no faith in this CB class to be able to produce an all-around CB. I'd love to spend #20 and get Revis to shut down one side of the field. Unfortunately, this class doesn't have that type of CB in it. Either the guy is slow, or not physical, or can't play man coverage, or gets lost in Zone coverage, or can't tackle, has no ball skills for interceptions, or bites on play action. All of the CBs have weaknesses. So, I figure why not get a late round CB where I can choose which strengths I want. Kevin Thomas is a complete CB and the reason he's under the radar is because of a history of injuries. He held up pretty well as a Senior and tested well at the Combine, so I may have spent a 6th on him, but I think he'll plays as well as the 2nd round pick I would have spent on Kareem Jackson or Dominique Franks. Crezdon Butler has good awareness and ball skills. He's not as fast as I'd prefer, but he has good quickness and would be great in the slot. He'd be better than Brice McCain in my opinion. I also feel as if I've upgraded the Secondary immensely by putting Earl Thomas in the middle of the field, so my CBs can be of lesser talent. If I had known I could get Dwyer in the 4th round, I would have drafted Geno Atkins in the 3rd round to go along with Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, to improve the pass-rush, thus improving the secondary. You live and learn.

[Joe Joe]

Originally Posted by Roy P

The interior OL needs upgrading or it won't matter who our RB is ...

Disagree. The interior of the line needs upgrading, but the RB does matter. A guy that hits a hole as it is opening is going to do much better than one that waits till the hole is opened. Even if all the RB does is force the defense to stop him, he can keep DEs from pinning their ears back.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by Joe Joe

Disagree. The interior of the line needs upgrading, but the RB does matter. A guy that hits a hole as it is opening is going to do much better than one that waits till the hole is opened. Even if all the RB does is force the defense to stop him, he can keep DEs from pinning their ears back.

The problem I saw was the DT tackling the RB as Schaub was handing off, or the OG being pushed into the backfield so that there was NO hole being opened.

[Joe Joe]

Originally Posted by Roy P

The problem I saw was the DT tackling the RB as Schaub was handing off, or the OG being pushed into the backfield so that there was NO hole being opened.

That happens, but no where near every play. It happened a lot the first two to three weeks. I saw a lot more times that the RB stops in the backfield or stutters trying to find a hole. If there is no hole, you get as far as you can and force the defense to make the tackle instead of waiting for defense to tackle you behind line of scrimmage. Doing this helps the RB fall forward.

Slaton was very slow to the line last season. Yes, the RB will be limited to get tackled behind the line of scrimmage a lot, but that doesn't change that the RB can do a lot in the plays that he is able to get quickly to the line.

[nunusguy]

The Texans' DC shows Brice McCain starting at one corner with some dude signed off of the NOLA practice squad named Mark Parson as his immediate backup ? Therefor I'm for moving in the Draft much before the 6th round to get what will be a very beleaguered twosome this Fall some help, even if the value falls short in earlier rounds.

[Roy P]

OK, for you chicken littles out there, here you go...

20. CB Devin McCourty 5'11" 186 4.48 Rutgers
51. CB/S Chris Cook 6'2" 210 4.46 Virginia
81. S Darrell Stuckey 5'11" 205 4.49 Kansas
118. CB Alterraun Verner 5'10" 185 4.52 UCLA
150. RB Joique Bell 5'11" 220 4.68 Wayne St
187. DT Earl Mitchell 6'2" 296 4.75 Arizona
197. OG Shelley Smith 6'3" 300 5.03 Colorado State
227. OC Joe Hawley 6'3" 297 5.21 UNLV
UDFA. RB Pat Paschall 6'0" 209 4.65 N.Dakota State

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

The Texans' DC shows Brice McCain starting at one corner with some dude signed off of the NOLA practice squad named Mark Parson as his immediate backup ?

LCB - Quinn, Reeves, Bennett
RCB - McCain, Parson
SS - Pollard, Ferguson
FS - Busing, Russell

After the draft....

LCB - Quinn, Reeves, Verner
RCB - Robinson, McCain, Lindley
SS - Pollard, Fuguson
FS - Ghee, Russell

Perhaps Lindley goes to the practice squad or perhaps he takes Bryan Pittman's spot on the roster and we let Joel Dreesen become the Long Snapper.

[painekiller]

new 7 round mock from draftsite.com

20 Dan Williams DT Tennessee
51 Devin McCourty CB Rutgers
81 Dexter McCluster RB Mississippi
118 Mitch Petrus OG Arkansas
150 Andre Roberts WR Citadel
187 Kam Chancellor S Virginia Tech
197 Trevard Lindley CB Kentucky
227 Zac Robinson QB Oklahoma State

Not a bad one, but no real RB, I like McCluster for his mismatches but he is not a every down back. Petrus is off my list, Thanks Roy.

My Cherry Pick

20 Dan Williams DT Tennessee
51 Devin McCourty CB Rutgers
81 Montario Hardesty RB Tennessee
118 Ben Tate RB Auburn
150 Jeff Owens DT Georgia
187 Kam Chancellor S Virginia Tech
197 Adam Ulatoski OT Texas
227 Kevin Matthews OC Texas A&M

[kRocket]

PK - I really liked your cherry pick until 6b and maybe 7. Adam Ulatoski can be picked up for camp fodder as a UDFA more likely and IDK if Matthews wants to play for his dad, but if he does then go for him. We can do better in the 6th IMO.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by painekiller

new 7 round mock from draftsite.com

My Cherry Pick

20 Dan Williams DT Tennessee
51 Devin McCourty CB Rutgers
81 Montario Hardesty RB Tennessee
118 Ben Tate RB Auburn
150 Jeff Owens DT Georgia
187 Kam Chancellor S Virginia Tech
197 Adam Ulatoski OT Texas
227 Kevin Matthews OC Texas A&M

Anytime we can get Dan Williams and Devin McCourty without any trades, I'm a little skeptical. Sort of like when we were drafting Williams and Weatherspoon. However, I'll play along and see what my draft board yields...

20. DT Dan Williams
51. CB Devin McCourty
81. OG John Jerry
118. RB Ben Tate

At this point, I could care less what happens. I'm so freakin' happy I must be dreaming.

150. DE Daniel Te'o-Nesheim
187. CB Alterraun Verner
197. S Robert Johnson
227. RB Andre Anderson

Who knew that the way to improve the running game included adding Ben & Jerry

[Bigtinylittle]

Originally Posted by Roy P

Anytime we can get Dan Williams and Devin McCourty without any trades, I'm a little skeptical. Sort of like when we were drafting Williams and Weatherspoon. However, I'll play along and see what my draft board yields...

20. DT Dan Williams
51. CB Devin McCourty
81. OG John Jerry
118. RB Ben Tate

At this point, I could care less what happens. I'm so freakin' happy I must be dreaming.

150. DE Daniel Te'o-Nesheim
187. CB Alterraun Verner
197. S Robert Johnson
227. RB Andre Anderson

Who knew that the way to improve the running game included adding Ben & Jerry

I can see it now! We'll call it the ice cream offense and our new cheer will be "You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream!!!"

[painekiller]

Sporting News has a 7 round Mock

they have us taking

1. CJ Spiller RB
Texans officials would be giddy if Spiller were to slip this far and would waste no time drafting him. Fresno State RB Ryan Mathews is the fallback option.
2. Perrish Cox CB
The Texans need a cornerback after losing Dunta Robinson. Cox likely would have been a first-round pick if not for concerns about his off-field behavior.
3. Linval Joseph DT
4. Darrell Stuckey S
5. Zane Beadles G
6. John Estes C
6. Cory Jackson FB
7. Trindon Holliday WR

My Cherry Pick is:

20 C.J. Spiller RB Clemson unless I can trade down, not many option here.
51 Kareem Jackson CB
81 Linval Joseph DT East Carolina
118 Ben Tate RB Auburn
150 Torrell Troup DT UCF
187 Akwasi Owusu-Ansah S Indiana (PA)
197 Andre Anderson RB Tulane
227 John Skelton QB Fordham

This is one of the worse draft boards I have seen. IMO No way Skelton is a 7th rounder, the late 1st sucks and the early 2nd is loaded. Dan Williams is there 85 best player....
John Skelton QB Fordham

[kRocket]

Originally Posted by painekiller

Sporting News has a 7 round Mock This is one of the worse draft boards I have seen. IMO No way Skelton is a 7th rounder, the late 1st sucks and the early 2nd is loaded. Dan Williams is there 85 best player....
John Skelton QB Fordham

I agree, but that is what makes it a horse race. We will know shortly !!

[HPF Bob]

Using the original Draftsite.com mock which appears to be updated to include recent trades, shows the Texans with:

1. 20: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
2. 51: Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers
3. 81: Dexter McCluster, RB, Ole Miss
4. 118: Mitch Petrus, OG, Arkansas
5. 150: Andre Roberts, WR, The Citadel
6. 187: Kam Chancellor, S, Virginia Tech (fulfilling our Va Tech draft quota)
6. 197: Trevard Lindley, CB, Kentucky
7. 227: Zac Robinson, QB, Oklahoma St.

Not having done as much study as usual, here's my cherry pick:

1. 20: Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno St.
2. 51: Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama
3. 81: Mike Johnson, OG, Alabama
4. 118: Perrish Cox, CB, Oklahoma St. (bet he goes earlier than this)
5. 150: Corey Peters, DT, Kentucky
6. 187: Andre Dixon, RB, Connecticut
6. 197: Justin Cole, DE, San Jose St.
7. 227: Kevin Matthews, C, Texas A&M