2012 Draft Needs?

[painekiller]

After two games I am going to start listing needs as I see them, the ranking may change from week to week, or they may go away with a new player filling that role.

Primary needs -
1) #2 WR / future replacement for AJ
2) ILB - IMO, the run game up the gut has been on the ILBs, gaps not being covered, that is usually on the ILBs, I am looking at Ryans here more so than Cushing at least right now.
3) RT - Winston cannot handle speed rushers.
4) run stopping NT
5) OGs and or OC, for depth right now.

We are set at these positions right now: QB, RB, TE, K, P

[Nconroe]

Like you say, it is really early so the list will likely change over time

but you need to observe somewhere so a good starting list

[Joe Joe]

CB, NG, WR, OL, ILB, OLB, RB

The Texans need a starting CB and a starting NG on defense.

WRs take long to develop. May need to get one to mold so that he enters his prime, AJ can relax into a No. 2 role 5 years from now.

Other positions are depth related. If the Texans don't keep Foster, RB moves up to third on the list.

[painekiller]

I'm having a hard time finding a glaring need on this team. If I have to be picky I would say that OL depth is the biggest need for the upcoming draft.

Going into the bye week, this team looks solid. Dare I say it? We are finally a team that can draft BPA.

[Nconroe]

Yep, agree with that BPA at 10 games in. they sure don't seem to need another RB right now, of course things can change.

[chuck]

I would think about things in these terms. The Colts are going to draft Luck. At the very least they'll have the opportunity to if they want it. And they probably will. There are exceptionally few players like Peyton Manning who can singlehandedly have such a profound effect on a team's play. Maybe Luck will be one of those guys but I doubt it. That doesn't mean he won't be very, very good for a long time.

Either way, the Texans have an enviable young core of defenders to contend with Luck over the next six, eight, ten years: Watt, Barwin, Reed, Cushing.

I would ask myself what does the team need to complete a nucleus of defensive players that will keep the team in playoff contention every year. As always the team would benefit from a good defensive secondary addition.

[NBT]

Ya know, it's funny how much better Kareem Jackson has looked now that he has a better than average defensive passrush in front of him.

I would propose a rookie QB, if one is available, in the second round, or maybe trade down in the first if we can get the extra pick(s) we desire. For example a young Andy Dalton, like Cinci drafted, and now he is not only starting, but they are leading their division. A crapshoot I know, but one that intrigues me now that Schaub is out.

[HPF Bob]

If there's an exceptional NT available when we draft, that's my first option followed by FS, OT, WR, CB, C-G. However, if Leinart can't cut it these final weeks, I may look QB very early.

[painekiller]

I have been remiss on updates to this thread, but the season is over and still a little raw.

#1 need is a #2 WR/PR guy time to move on from the wait on Jacoby Jones to mature experiment.

The OL is solid as a group but we need to gather depth and future starters.

I think Karem Jackson has improved, but to what level? So a CB has to still be on the list.

Depth at ILB, though today they looked solid.

Also I am not opposed to drafting another young QB, but I may want to wait one more year on that. My biggest question here is what are the chances of Schaub not recovering?

Other than the 1st two needs, I would go BPA.

[HPF Bob]

I'd either go FA for #2 WR or for CB/S and then draft the other. We won't have much control of who is available at our low drafting position.

Help at OL/ILB/NT would also be welcome.

Another option is to franchise Mario and then trade him for players/picks. Barwin/Reed were outstanding replacements and Mario isn't a huge upgrade over that for what he will cost.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Another option is to franchise Mario and then trade him for players/picks. Barwin/Reed were outstanding replacements and Mario isn't a huge upgrade over that for what he will cost.

How nice is it to have enough talent to where this is not a ludicrous thing to be talking about? I love Mario but the team definitely needs to ask how much better will he make the defense? The answer might be a whole hell of a lot, you know, I don't know.

[barrett]

Unless Mario brings us something immediate in return I want him in a Texans uniform.

I agree that a WR with return skills is a good fit. Just make sure he is not a guy with a big ego because he may not see that many balls in our offense. The #2 WR in our offense is seal blocking the back side or cracking the DE more than he is making big plays. And we go 3 TE as often as 3 WR and it works very well for us. So I like WR, but want a guy who will have a big impact and can justify his draft status with return production.

After that we have no clear needs. I don't mind an OL upgrade but those guys played awesome as a unit today. I have thought a MLB upgrade would be good, but Demeco was out of his mind today. Hopefully that is a sign that he is healthy finally and earlier wasn't. Plus I will be a Dobbins fan for life. And I don't mind a QB at #1 if we see him as a star down the road, but I have no interest in a mid to late round QB, Yates is a sollid backup.

So how about Kendall Wright, a big NT, a RG/RT to be named later, Safety depth, a cheaper #3 RB who contributes on ST coverage, and a young #4/5 WR who plays ST.

[Nconroe]

Originally Posted by barrett

So how about Kendall Wright, a big NT, a RG/RT to be named later, Safety depth, a cheaper #3 RB who contributes on ST coverage, and a young #4/5 WR who plays ST.

Agreed, have to see what happens with FA, trades, and keeping Wade Phillips.

[NBT]

And what about replacing Jacoby Jones with a receiver with decent hands and PR ability.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by NBT

And what about replacing Jacoby Jones with a receiver with decent hands and PR ability.

That is Wright. Think JJ if he was fast and made lots of plays.

[Warren]

A couple of these positions might be able to be addressed with guys already on the roster:

ILB: Sharpton was alternating with DeMeco before he got hurt and looked like the heir apparent there.

CB: They traded up into the 2nd round to get Brandon Harris, supposedly stealing him from the Steelers, but the fact that he spent most of the year inactive despite being healthy isn't real encouraging. Hopefully he'll make big strides with a full offseason. Roc Carmichael went on the IR early and may also be able to contribute next year.

[HPF Bob]

Thinking outside the box, what if a stud TE is available late in the first? More teams, particularly the Patriots, are using tight ends in various ways and formations to create mismatches. Perhaps instead of a #2 wide receiver, we might look for another Aaron Hernandez and run more 2 TE sets with Daniels.

[Nconroe]

My thought is you are in a bad spot if your QB throws into triple coverage repeatadly and it won't helpbwho your second WR or TE's are if that is where you are.

Don't we already have 4 good TE if we want to run those sets?

Ok. Plenty time to discuss draft alternatives.

Could be just BPA when we draft.

[NBT]

So what's the big deal with a NT? In Wade's system we don't need one. And what was so wrong with the job that Cody did? We were #4 against the rush with him.

[Nconroe]

You may be right. We have apparently got 54 players under contract including Cody.

I guess that includes RFA Adrian Foster and Quentin Demps.

Texans seem to have 15 FA , several on Oline, so keeping that consistency may be high priority.

Unrestricted Free Agents )

QB Jake Delhomme
QB Jeff Garcia
RB Derrick Ward
WR Bryant Johnson
TE Joel Dreessen
OG Mike Brisiel
OC Chris Myers
OG Kasey Studdard
DT Tim Bulman
LB Tim Dobbins
LB Mario Williams
CB Jason Allen
S Dominique Barber
K Neil Rackers
P Matt Turk