2013 Mocks and Needs

[today]

Just got done watching Quinton Patton work my Aggies over for 21 catches, 233 yards, and 4 TDs. Reminded me of a day that Larry Fitzgerald had against us years ago.

After doing some research I see that some places have him as a top 5 WR, and others have him as low as 20th. Seems like a 1st rounder after what I saw tonight.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by painekiller

32 Jesse Williams DT Alabama 6' 4" 320
62 Denard Robinson QB Michigan 6' 0" 185
94 DeVonte Holloman S South Carolina 6' 2" 226
126 Nick Florence QB Baylor 6' 1" 205
158 Xavier Nixon OT Florida 6' 5" 300
190 Dyrell Roberts WR Virginia Tech 6' 1" 196

I can live with the 1st pick, but I wish they would watch a Texans game before setting our needs list.

32 Terrance Williams WR Baylor 6' 3" 205
62 Kevin Minter ILB LSU 6-1 245
94 Shayne Skov ILB Stanford 6' 3" 242
126 Jordan Hill DT Penn State 6' 1" 297
158 Quinn Sharp PT Oklahoma State 6' 1" 194
190 Best RB on the board.

Maybe it should look like this:
31 Eric Reid* S LSU 6' 2" 208
61 Sylvester Williams DT UNC 6' 3" 320
93 Shayne Skov ILB Stanford 6' 3" 242
125 Dion Jordan DE Oregon 6' 7" 231
157 Tanner Brock ILB TCU 6' 3" 246
189 Dyrell Roberts WR Virginia Tech 6' 1" 196

Yes you can see a theme here.

[Nconroe]

I guess that speed on defense is the theme.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

I guess that speed on defense is the theme.

I was going to say defense was the theme, but I'll take yours.

[painekiller]

31 Tavon Austin WR West Virginia 5' 9" 173
61 Joe Vellano DT Maryland 6' 2" 285
93 Arthur Brown ILB Kansas State 6' 1" 223
125 Russell Shepard RB LSU 6' 1" 188
157 Dave Kruger DT Utah 6' 5" 290
189 Kenny Demens ILB Michigan 6' 1" 248

Not a bad attempt, but I see guys that don't fit the prototypes for certain positions.

31 Sylvester Williams DT UNC 6' 3" 320
61 Bacarri Rambo S Georgia 6' 1" 208
93 Shayne Skov ILB Stanford 6' 3" 242
125 Sanders Commings CB Georgia 6' 2" 216
157 Tanner Brock ILB TCU 6' 3" 246
189 Brett Maher PT Nebraska 6' 0" 185

[Nconroe]

I like yours a lot better PK.

Gil Brandt had an interesting stat that the Pro Bowl had 23 UDFA. Found that interesting.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

I like yours a lot better PK.

Gil Brandt had an interesting stat that the Pro Bowl had 23 UDFA. Found that interesting.

Don't tell that to Charlie Casserly

[painekiller]

With the bye week upon us, time for me to readdress the teams areas of need as I see them. I truly see a strong team, not many weaknesses. Some depth area that can be improved upon, but no glaring issues.

So what are my concerns, the upcoming FAs are a concern. Barwin, Cody, Quin, McCain, Caldwell to name a few. Caldwell looks like he has been replaced, unless they want him for depth. McCain has a high round draft pick on the bench, Harris is waiting, does he deserve a shot? Cody, Barwin and Quin are all starters that are being paid on the low end for their positions. We have the franchise tag, which currently doesn't seem likely on any of them, unless Barwin really steps it up. And Mercilus showed signs today that he deserves more snaps.

What are my biggest concerns? ILB and NT are the biggest. TE, more specifically a blocking TE. Safety help is possibly on the list, if we loose Quin. OLB depth if we loose Barwin. Depth at DE is always a position to watch for.

To a lesser extent the OL could be an issue if Newton flops, I don't see that happening.

I'm ok at the following positions for the coming offseason: QB, RB, WR, CB, K, P.

I can see us going BPA, and truly meaning it.

[Foo'ball Fool]

PK, I'd only question the kicker. While Graham is accurate, he doesn't kick for distance. In every game this season, IIRC, the opposing kicker has regularly booted the football out of the end zone. Graham rarely does that. Consequently, we lose the field position battle almost every game. I wouldn't mind seeing a kicker either drafted late, or an UDFA, to compete for the spot.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Foo'ball Fool

PK, I'd only question the kicker. While Graham is accurate, he doesn't kick for distance. In every game this season, IIRC, the opposing kicker has regularly booted the football out of the end zone. Graham rarely does that. Consequently, we lose the field position battle almost every game. I wouldn't mind seeing a kicker either drafted late, or an UDFA, to compete for the spot.

We drafted Bullock in the 5th round last year and he tore his groin (I think that was the injury). He would have been the kicker this year and should be next year.

[Foo'ball Fool]

Originally Posted by barrett

We drafted Bullock in the 5th round last year and he tore his groin (I think that was the injury). He would have been the kicker this year and should be next year.

Now why didn't I remember that?! Senior moment on my part, I guess. Bullock looked good before he got hurt, if I remember.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by barrett

We drafted Bullock in the 5th round last year and he tore his groin (I think that was the injury). He would have been the kicker this year and should be next year.

Thanks for answering the question for me, and that is how I see it.

As for the punter Jones was over 50yds for a while yesterday. He is at 46.9 yds for the year. That is the best in our teams history. Now if we can only figure out how to cover the punts.

[painekiller]

31 T.J. McDonald S USC 6' 2" 205
61 Marcus Sales WR Syracuse 6' 0" 177
93 Phillip Steward ILB Houston 6' 2" 220
125 Greg Reid CB Valdosta State 5' 9" 175
157 T.J. Pryor QB Eastern Kentucky 6' 2" 181
189 Taylor Henry DE Oregon State 6' 1" 240

[Joe Joe]

I'm starting to give upon Newton. May need to get a RT. I'd still like to add a DE to replace Smith who I expect will be a cap casualty. Jamison would probably be starter, but depth is nice to have.

[WMH]

Hopefully, we can re-sign Quin, but his price tag is rising with his play, and we will still be squeaking by on the cap again next year. We have seen what kind of impact that quality safety play can do for us, so if we lose Quin, I would definitely want a top tier S. We've never drafted a top end S, but it might be the time to start.

Disagree with you PK on T. I don't think 1st 3 rds is out of the question. Newton is young, and still learning, but we have NADA behind him. If Newton progresses, great, if not, he is replaced, and becomes the swing. Butler is likely done, unless he signs the minimum, which may be the case.

Crick has done OK for a rook, and I would guess he will slide into Smiths spot at DE, but depth would be an issue.

ILB is definitely a need spot as well.

That would be at the top of my board/wish list - S, T, ILB, DE, probably in that order.
(I would prioritize Quin over Barwin, but don't think "they" will).

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by WMH

Disagree with you PK on T. I don't think 1st 3 rds is out of the question. Newton is young, and still learning, but we have NADA behind him. If Newton progresses, great, if not, he is replaced, and becomes the swing. Butler is likely done, unless he signs the minimum, which may be the case.

I think Harris is our new swing tackle going forward. And i think we forget that it took Brown two years of rotations to fully become an every down player.

I also agree that Butler is gone.

And I never said anything about what rounds we should address a position. If Newton flops then grabbing a RT in the 1st or 2nd rounds make sense, I just don't think you decide this off season that he is a flop. I think it will be the off season after this upcoming one (2014) that the team makes that decision.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by painekiller

I think Harris is our new swing tackle going forward. And i think we forget that it took Brown two years of rotations to fully become an every down player.

I also agree that Butler is gone.

And I never said anything about what rounds we should address a position. If Newton flops then grabbing a RT in the 1st or 2nd rounds make sense, I just don't think you decide this off season that he is a flop. I think it will be the off season after this upcoming one (2014) that the team makes that decision.

But Lance Zierlein thinks Newton is not playing to the level that he should and he should be replaced in the draft.

* It is becoming more and more clear that Derek Newton isn’t going to be the guy moving forward in the long-term at RT. He’s not a bad player, he’s just doesn’t play with the balance or power that the Texans probably thought he would. The Texans can win games with Newton at RT, but if I were GM Rick Smith, I would be scouting RTs in this year’s draft and look to move Newton into the swing tackle position.

See the other observation that Lance makes by clicking the above link.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by painekiller

31 T.J. McDonald S USC 6' 2" 205
61 Marcus Sales WR Syracuse 6' 0" 177
93 Phillip Steward ILB Houston 6' 2" 220
125 Greg Reid CB Valdosta State 5' 9" 175
157 T.J. Pryor QB Eastern Kentucky 6' 2" 181
189 Taylor Henry DE Oregon State 6' 1" 240

What if we do not think that Newton is the man at RT?

31 Oday Aboushi OT Virginia 6' 6" 310
61 Bacarri Rambo S Georgia 6' 1" 208
93 Shayne Skov ILB Stanford 6' 3" 242
125 Cameron Meredith OLB Nebraska 6' 4" 260
157 Tanner Brock ILB TCU 6' 3" 246
BPA

We have to remember that we could be getting 3 comp picks. A team can not trade the comp picks but having the picks may allow Rick Smith to move up during the draft because he can stop worrying about about having enough picks. This team will not have to many spots available depending on the FA that either stay or go.

If Jake Matthews is available after 21, maybe you trade up for him, he would be the perfect RT in this system. I think he could play LT for many teams.

[painekiller]

31 Sylvester Williams DT UNC 6' 3" 320
61 Stedman Bailey* WR West Virginia 5' 10" 190
93 Brandon Sharpe DE Syracuse 6' 1" 255
125 Gerald Hodges OLB Penn State 6' 2" 234
157 Marcus Davis WR Virginia Tech 6' 4" 232
189 Chad Bumphis WR Mississippi State 5' 10" 195

Really 3 WR and only one that fits Kubiak's typical mold, a very unoriginal mock for the Texans.

[HPF Bob]

Originally Posted by painekiller

31 Sylvester Williams DT UNC 6' 3" 320
61 Stedman Bailey* WR West Virginia 5' 10" 190
93 Brandon Sharpe DE Syracuse 6' 1" 255
125 Gerald Hodges OLB Penn State 6' 2" 234
157 Marcus Davis WR Virginia Tech 6' 4" 232
189 Chad Bumphis WR Mississippi State 5' 10" 195

Really 3 WR and only one that fits Kubiak's typical mold, a very unoriginal mock for the Texans.

I'm just checking it now (11/7) and I'm seeing something different:

31. D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama (6-6, 340 - doesn't seem like a ZBS guy)
61. Steadman Bailey, WR. W. Virginia (5-10, 190)
93. Phillip Steward, ILB, Houston (6-2, 220 - pretty light for an ILB in 3-4)
125. Lane Taylor, OC, Oklahoma St. (6-2, 301 - what of Myers & Jones?)
157. Russell Shepard, RB, LSU (6-1, 188)
189. D.J. Swearinger, CB, S. Carolina (6-0, 210)

So lemme cherry-pick while I'm here:

31. Sylvester Williams, DT, N. Carolina (6-3, 320 - best marriage of need, talent left on the board)
61. Shayne Skov, ILB, Stanford (6-3, 242)
93. Bradon Hansen, OG, BYU (6-6, 310 - older OL with game experience at all three positions, nimble enough for ZBS)
Comp pick: Ryan Swope, WR, Texas A&M (6-0, 204 - like his overall game and knack for big plays)
125. Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise St. (5-11, 194)
157. Theo Riddick, RB, Notre Dame (5-11, 198 - depth for an injury-prone position)
189. help at safety
7th round. BPA