Kiper has us passing up Shawne Merriman, Shaun Cody, Matt Roth and David Pollack for another reciever? Maybe if there was a stud tightend but even if we loose Bradford I don't think we should look reciever first round.
David Pollack seems a tad big to play at OLB in the 3-4. Taking a wide reciever would be crazy - and I'm not sure Mike Williams is that good.
I'd address the offensive line with the 1st pick. I would address the second receiver spot via free agency, 2nd round, or trade. What are we going to do with Jason Bell and Jerry Deloach this year?
If I were Charley Casserly, I'd say "Hey" like a million times and then and only then would I make my point! Seriously, I'd say "HEY, LOOK IT...we like Marcus Spears alot! We're gonna make a run at the tackle from Seattle or maybe McDougle. We may take a look at one of those guards as well. And don't forget, HEY, we need a WR. We like Bradford but Porter may be too good to pass on but HEY, we're gonna upgrade this ballclub! Ok? Hey!" Basically, I say the TExans should make their splash and go for the OT and Porter. Draft Spears, trade Foreman and a 2 for a higher 2 and get another big DT. There ya go....right? RIGHT?? anyone? hey!
If Adam Jones runs in the 4.2 range (as he claims) at the combine he will more than likely be the first corner off the board. Also, Carnell "Cadillac" Williams will go to Tampa at five. Gruden was in love with this guy at the Senior Bowl and he showed good hands catching out of the backfield. 1. Sf - A. Rogers 2. Mia - A. Barron 3. Cle - A. Smith 4. Chi - B. Edwards 5. Tb - C. Williams 6. Ten - A. Jones 7. Oak - C. Benson 8. Arz - R. Brown 9. Was - M. Williams 10. Det - T. Davis 11. Dal - S. Merriman 12. Sd - M. Spears 13. Hou - A. Rolle, D. Johnson (wishing) ... I heard a note that Denver is looking to switch to the 34 because it gives Peyton trouble so they could give the draft a different look. As for the Texans, I be happy with any of M. Spears, T. Davis, A. Rolle, D. Johnson; and all are possibilities.
I agree -- this is not fantiasy football. I doubt they would invest 2 1st round picks in three years at the WR position. My guess is that would look to free agency at the WR position. I bet they try to get a pass rusher -- DL or LB. Pollack is a great player, has the kind of motor and intelligence the Texans covet. I'm sort of surprised that they have Erasmus James so high, he also would look good in Battle Red.
Look, D. Johnson is not the type of LB we need. He is an awesome player but he is not the pass-rushing, explosive impact LB we need. We need to look at DL or best available OT. DJ is not the answer...
He is, without a doubt, an explosive, pass rushing linebacker. He might not come off the edge in the Texans 34 until he added weight, but playing alongside Sharper in the middle would give the Texans a dynamic linebacking corp. I've yet to see a linebacker in the NFL, outside of Ray Lewis, that posesses the instincts that Johnson has; definitely an impact player.
Actually, I'm fairly certain that the Kiper's body is just a vessel that was taken over by a rogue alien intelligence posing a freaking huge head of hair. It has an agenda to destroy intelligent football analysis and convince the world that every football game should be decided by which team has a player with the fastest 40 time, or the highest vertical. We are doomed, all of us doomed.
Well I don't diagree that he is a great player but what the Texans need is a PASS-RUSH specialist. That means the players needs to be able to rush the passer. DJ is a LB who does not like to take on the big interior lineman. He prefers to use his speed and land big hits. His sack totals from college does not seem to indicate that he is a pass rusher: SACKS G UA A Total Yds 2001................ 12 4 1 4.5 29 2002................ 13 2 0 2.0 4 2003................ 13 2 0 2.0 10 2004................ 12 2 0 2.0 15 TOTAL............... 50 10 1 10.5 58 Don't buy into the hype. I am not saying he is not a great player, its just the Texans need a pass-rusher.
I think he can be a playmaker....thats what we need, play makers....I wouldn't be surprised they take him here....think about it, they have Gary Walker for another yr, they just signed Smith for a few and they still have Payne in the middle....on the DL....which I think is pretty good....linebackers wise, we have Wong on one side w/ Peek backing him up and then Foreman and SHarper in the middle and Babin on the other side....and were pretty good on our DB's, glenn, robinson, coleman and Earl/Brown.....and plus remember, the 3-4...most of the pass rushing is from the outside linebackers... I think DJ is too good to pass up....
You can bring up stats all you want because it's all about the scheme. If you've ever seen Johnson play, you would know he can get after the quarterback. He is a playmaker in every sense of the word; and will be one of the top linebackers in the NFL very early on in his pro career.
Which is eactly my point. If the scheme he played in was not condusive to being a pass rusher, what makes you think he will flourish in an entirely different scheme? Especially a scheme that requires him to lockup with much bigger and stronger players on almost every down. The Texans need a pass rusher Which is eactly where DJ would play if drafted. However, I think that we will see Wong move inside in place of Foreman( which is a free agent, I believe) with Peek and Babin playing the bulk of the outside linebacker. If DJ was there, would I draft him? Most likely yes. However, if there was a dominate interior defensive lineman available , I would lean toward that( but it would require a top lineman or DJ would be the one).
That was not your point. Your point was to use his statistics to show that he was not a good passrushing linebacker, which happens to be a falacy. If you have ever watched Johnson, you would know that he can get after the quarterback. The 34 defense is predicated on linebackers making plays. There isn't a better linebacker in recent memory that's better than Derrick Johnson at making plays. All linebackers have to take on blockers throughout the course of any given game, and you speak as if Johnson has never experience this before. This just in.... he has. You say we need a pass rusher but later mention Babin and Peek. Those are our pass rushers. You have to have guys that cover also, but just because they are cover guys it doesn't mean that they can not get after the quarterback. Outside backers in the 34 have to be versitile and play in coverage (which is why Peek doesn't see as much time as people want), as well as, with one hand down. No one is expecting Johnson to play outside and mix it up in the trenches. I'll finish with Babin - Sharper - Johnson - Peek (if he learns to cover). Scary good.
