Visits

[jppaul]

Originally Posted by Keith

Unless I'm mistaken, teams (outside of their division or conference) sometimes get into small groups or pairs and pool interview notes in part because it is too hard to get to everyone. As such, reading too much into these reports of visits is a bit of a fool's errand imo. For all we know, the Texans are talking to a bunch of WRs for the Cowboys or Bucs while taking info from the same on LBs and safeties.

Anyone remember that story of when the Broncos drafted Cutler? (Put recent news aside for a moment.) Cutler never once talked to the team before the draft... and that was their first round pick at quarterback.

Yeah they were shocked that he fell I think.

[Bigtinylittle]

Maybe that was their mistake. Maybe they SHOULD have talked to him!

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by Bigtinylittle

Maybe that was their mistake. Maybe they SHOULD have talked to him!

Their scouts had talked to him on campus during the college season. Shanahan loved the report on the kid and his combine work out at the combine made Shanahan salivate. He did not let any one know his desire, but Shanahan had Cutler targeted prior to draft day. He knew he was going to trade up for the kid, only he did not let any one else know that.

If you read about Shanahan and Gruden, they are good friend and they both tend to like the same players. IMO Shanahan was worried Gruden would try to leapfrog him to get Cutler had he been aware of the interest. Plus Shanahan is known for keeping his cards close to the vest.

His actions where pretty much in line with his character.

[jppaul]

Andre Brown is coming to town per pft.

[jppaul]

and Greg Toler from St. Paul

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/...n-nfl-sleeper/

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by jppaul

and Greg Toler from St. Paul

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/...n-nfl-sleeper/

Charlie Casserly mentioned him as a sleeper on Path to the Draft.

I'm warming up to Norfolk State's Don Carey, myself. He looked pretty decent at the Shriner Game.

[jppaul]

Haven't compared to see how many of these players the Texans have been mentioned as having an interest in, but New Era Scouting runs a team interest page

Houston Texans

Cody Brown, DE, Connecticut FI
Coye Francies, CB, San Jose State I
Nic Harris, S/LB, Oklahoma I
Clay Matthews, OLB, USC I
Mohammed Massaquoi, WR, Georgia I
William Moore, FS, Missouri I
Keenan Lewis, CB, Oregon State I
Chip Vaughn, SS, Wake Forest I
Juaquin Iglesias, WR, Oklahoma I
Derrick Williams, WR, Penn State I

[texan]

Originally Posted by jppaul

Andre Brown is coming to town per pft.

Good news, I think he's my favorite of the 3rd/4th round backs.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by texan

Good news, I think he's my favorite of the 3rd/4th round backs.

I'm hopeful that they take a look at Rashad Jennings and Cedric Peerman too.

[jppaul]

Add E.J. Biggers, a cb snubbed by the combine who blazed a 4.35 at Western Michigan's Pro Day http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/...into-big-buzz/

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by Roy P

I'm hopeful that they take a look at Rashad Jennings and Cedric Peerman too.

On second thought, we really need to take a look at Javarris Williams. I'm not quite sure why this guy isn't getting more love from mock drafters.


http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1248564

He has the balance to push the opponent upon contact and flashes enough short area burst and acceleration to move the chains.

He excels in the classroom, graduating in just under four years and has made the Dean's List.

He likes to get the ball in pressure situations and when he stays low in his pads, he can get decent yardage between the tackles.

Williams has that ethic that never lets him get complacent with his ability. He studies films, spends extra hours in the training room and takes well to hard coaching. He is a leader-by-example type, but will not hesitate to get vocal with a teammate not performing to standards. He practices as hard as he plays and is very accountable.

Williams' low center of gravity and strong lower base lets him break tackles or drag defenders for extra yardage. He shows good forward lean and it is rare for an opponent to stuff him behind the line of scrimmage (only lost 5.5 percent of the yardage he attempted to gain during his career, 253 lost/4,329 gained). He is stiff in his hips when redirecting, but keeps his feet and shoulders square to push the pile. He has the natural knee bend to sink and uncoil, doing a good job in maintaining body control.

Williams is an effective downhill runner with the balance and leg drive to break tackles. He doesn't show good hip wiggle, but does have a feel for the cutback lanes. He runs hard, giving a solid effort to move through the trash. With his ability to stay at a low pad level, he can run through defenders on initial contact. He runs with good body lean and works to finish while maintaining balance. He has a good feel for reading his blockers and will get the hard yards up the middle when he keeps his shoulders squared.

He has good one-cut agility and the body control to adjust on the move, along with valid vision and instincts. With his low center of gravity, he is better off taking the ball up the gut rather than try to generate a second gear needed to elude and take the ball to the house on the outside.

[painekiller]

William Moore (S, Mizzou)
Nic Harris (S/LB, Oklahoma)
Rashad Johnson (S, Alabama)
Chip Vaughn (S, Wake Forest)
Malcolm Jenkins (CB, Ohio State)
Vontae Davis (CB, Illinois)
Keenan Lewis (CB, Oregon State)
Coye Francies (CB, San Jose States)
Robert Ayers (DE, Tennessee)
Connor Barwin (DE/OLB/TE, Cincinnati)
Everette Brown (DE, Florida State)
Cody Brown (DE, Connecticut)
Gerald McGrath (LB, Southern Miss)
Clay Matthews (LB, USC)
Larry English (LB/DE UNI)
Jason Watkins (OL, Florida)
Jaimie Thomas (OL, Maryland)
Quan Cosby (WR, Texas)
Louis Murphy (WR, Florida)
Juaquin Iglesias (WR, Oklahoma)
Derrick Williams (WR, Penn State)
Jeremy Maclin (WR, Mizzou)
Jared Cook (TE, South Carolina)

Also rumored to have visited the Texans at the Combine where
Demetrius Byrd, WR, LSU
Andre Brown, RB, NC State


Updated to the list
E.J. Biggers CB Western Michigan
Greg Tolar CB St. Paul’s
Mohammed Massaquoi, WR, Georgia I

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by painekiller

William Moore (S, Mizzou)
Nic Harris (S/LB, Oklahoma)
Rashad Johnson (S, Alabama)
Chip Vaughn (S, Wake Forest)
Malcolm Jenkins (CB, Ohio State)
Vontae Davis (CB, Illinois)
Keenan Lewis (CB, Oregon State)
Coye Francies (CB, San Jose States)
Everette Brown (DE, Florida State)
Cody Brown (DE, Connecticut)
Gerald McGrath (LB, Southern Miss)
Clay Matthews (LB, USC)
Larry English (LB/DE UNI)
Jeremy Maclin (WR, Mizzou)
Jared Cook (TE, South Carolina)
Demetrius Byrd, WR, LSU
Andre Brown, RB, NC State

E.J. Biggers CB Western Michigan
Greg Tolar CB St. Paul’s
Mohammed Massaquoi, WR, Georgia I

I find it interesting that we've talked to a couple of my top guys in hopes that they'll be available.

McClain reports we'll be drafting an OLB and a DB in the 1st 2 rounds and a RB in the 3rd. It's starting to look like Andre Brown may be a 2nd round pick, so there may be some shuffling that needs to take place. Maybe Keenan Lewis in the 3rd if Brown is the 2nd round pick.

I'm also noticing a lot of CBs who aren't considered 1st day prospects are bing inspected.

[jppaul]

This will make some people happy, we are bringing Johnny Knox in for a visit:

http://www.kffl.com/team/18/nfl

[painekiller]

William Moore (S, Mizzou)
Nic Harris (S/LB, Oklahoma)
Rashad Johnson (S, Alabama)
Chip Vaughn (S, Wake Forest)
Malcolm Jenkins (CB, Ohio State)
Vontae Davis (CB, Illinois)
Keenan Lewis (CB, Oregon State)
Coye Francies (CB, San Jose States)
Robert Ayers (DE, Tennessee)
Connor Barwin (DE/OLB/TE, Cincinnati)
Everette Brown (DE, Florida State)
Cody Brown (DE, Connecticut)
Gerald McGrath (LB, Southern Miss)
Clay Matthews (LB, USC)
Larry English (LB/DE UNI)
Jason Watkins (OL, Florida)
Jaimie Thomas (OL, Maryland)
Quan Cosby (WR, Texas)
Louis Murphy (WR, Florida)
Juaquin Iglesias (WR, Oklahoma)
Derrick Williams (WR, Penn State)
Jeremy Maclin (WR, Mizzou)
Jared Cook (TE, South Carolina)

Also rumored to have visited the Texans at the Combine where
Demetrius Byrd, WR, LSU
Andre Brown, RB, NC State


Updated to the list
E.J. Biggers CB Western Michigan
Greg Tolar CB St. Paul’s
Mohammed Massaquoi, WR, Georgia
Johnny Knox WR Abilene Christian ( thanks jp)

[jppaul]

Welcome, pk.

[TexanJedi]

From looking at that list can we nail down the positions the Texans are targeting - LB, S, CB, DE, WR, OL, RB, and maybe TE? We have 8 picks, I think.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by TexanJedi

From looking at that list can we nail down the positions the Texans are targeting - LB, S, CB, DE, WR, OL, RB, and maybe TE? We have 8 picks, I think.

Jason Watkins is the OL?

Why not a single DT? I suppose we already have Frank Okam and Shaun Cody.

Luckily we are looking for a WR to replace Jacoby Jones who replaced the last pain in my ass, Jerome Mathis.

Can anybody name a really good TE who can run block? That's what I thought. Try John Phillips from UVA. Think we have any scouts at his games?

I would suppose that the Texans are eyeing him to be the next Mark Bruener.

[painekiller]

William Moore (S, Mizzou)
Nic Harris (S/LB, Oklahoma)
Rashad Johnson (S, Alabama)
Chip Vaughn (S, Wake Forest)
Malcolm Jenkins (CB, Ohio State)
Vontae Davis (CB, Illinois)
Keenan Lewis (CB, Oregon State)
Coye Francies (CB, San Jose States)
Robert Ayers (DE, Tennessee)
Connor Barwin (DE/OLB/TE, Cincinnati)
Everette Brown (DE, Florida State)
Cody Brown (DE, Connecticut)
Gerald McGrath (LB, Southern Miss)
Clay Matthews (LB, USC)
Larry English (LB/DE UNI)
Jason Watkins (OL, Florida)
Jaimie Thomas (OL, Maryland)
Quan Cosby (WR, Texas)
Louis Murphy (WR, Florida)
Juaquin Iglesias (WR, Oklahoma)
Derrick Williams (WR, Penn State)
Jeremy Maclin (WR, Mizzou)
Jared Cook (TE, South Carolina)

Also rumored to have visited the Texans at the Combine where
Demetrius Byrd, WR, LSU
Andre Brown, RB, NC State


Schedule Visits W/Texans (only guys not already mentioned)

E.J. Biggers CB Western Michigan
Greg Tolar CB St. Paul’s
Mohammed Massaquoi, WR, Georgia
Johnny Knox WR Abilene Christian
Jamaal Westerman DE/LB Rutgers
Tony Carter CB Florida State

[Keith]

Been kinda sad for being a wet blanket on this thread earlier and didn't want to post this, but ah hell, here I go. From Kuharksy's ESPN.com AFC South blog:

Generally speaking, it's a bad idea to think a team is going to take a guy just because they have him to town.

So, I will not generally use this space to spend much time telling you John Doe was in Houston to meet with the Texans because:

• For every John Doe I learn about, there could be three others I don't hear about and naming a small percentage of the guys can serve to be misleading. I know the Titans announce their visitors in a couple of big lists and we will share something that comes out like that, still offering a disclaimer. But what if the agent for Player B advertises the stops his guy makes and the agent for Player B does not? The guy with the talkative agent is no more likely to get drafted by a particular team than the one with quiet representation.
• The Texans may be meeting with Doe to finish crossing them off their list because of his balky knee/ankle/attitude/arrest history.
• The Texans are probably like most teams in that they draft plenty of guys they had multiple meetings with and plenty of guys they've hardly talked to. On draft day, lot of guys say, "Yeah, I knew the Texans were interested in me way back at the Senior Bowl" while others say "Never did I imagine it would be Houston; the Texans aren't one of the teams I've spoken to, ever."