Haven't read anything about him falling that far but I think someone will definitely take a shot at him in the first half of the 1st (assuming his knee doesn't check out any worse). He's too big of a talent to pass up for some teams. MourningWood - A lot depends on how his knee checks out (obviously). If his knee doesn't show some improvement come draft day, I don't think Kubiak/Smith will take the risk since they're both on the hotseat somewhat. Jordan, Smith and Watt are much lower risk players (lower reward as well) and seem like more Texan-esque picks at this point. Also, Jordan played DE in a 3-4, Watt is supposedly versatile enough to do the same and Smith is projected as a 3-4 OLB. Bowers is a prototypical 4-3 DE which will be a factor.
Right now, the best guys available look to be guys that don't fit the Texans' need. Bowers has no place to play in a 3-4. He's like a smaller Mario. He can't stand up and he'd be hard pressed to play end in a 3-4 front. Watt would be great if DE wasn't the only position on defense where the Texans are set. Same applies to Cameron Jordan. Both of those guys get very high marks when you look at them in depth, but they are currently superfluous on a team that has some very pressing needs. Quinn will be gone. I like every single thing I've seen about Kerrigan, but I'm not sure he's quick enough to stand in the NFL. I like what I've seen of Aldon Smith (just on pure physical tools as seen on YouTube highlight clips he's impressed me more than anybody else), but I understand that he may not be smart/dedicate/serious enough to learn to play OLB. Speaking of YouTube, go look at the Justin Blackmon/Prince Amukamara clip if you want to be reminded of watching Jackson fall down. I think the best option might be for them to trade down, maybe as far as the bottom of the first, and pick up another second rounder or third rounder. Depending on how far they move, you'd be looking at someone like Justin Houston, Brooks Reed, and Sam Acho might be available. Brooks Reed, particularly, seems intriguing to me. He looks much more like a guy who could play OLB than some of the other college ends. He had an awesome 10 yard split at the combine. It seems like he will be available late first/early second.
Decent post but I hope you're not citing one play as the reason not to pick Prince. Even elite prospects make mistakes and despite that particular one, he still held Blackmon to his lowest number of receptions for the season. I understand not wanting to play another rookie in the secondary but it almost seems inevitable (not counting on Texans filling need through FA). Whether it is a CB or S, we're gonna need a draft pick to help out whether it be a starter or add depth. I personally think Prince is an elite CB prospect and if the rumor has any merit to it, Quinn would move to FS which I would be much more comfortable with rather than having a rookie FS along with Nolan/Barber back there.
Certainly not one play. He was outmatched all game, and apparently knew it, hence the pass interference penalties late. He has great size/speed and is the second best cornerback prospect. However, the more I see, the more I think that he isn't so elite that he can step in and be a great cover corner from day one. Especially since the defense has a hole on the other side and can't rotate coverage to help him. And if you are going to get a corner that needs some development time, you can get a good one later on. There seem to be a bunch available for good value in the second and third - both Texas corners, Davon House from New Mexico State, Ras-I Dowling, and Brandon Burton among others. I certainly won't be upset if they draft him, but I think they could maximize value, which they really need to do because of all the holes, by going another way.
Outmatched all game? He held Blackmon to 5 receptions (more than half his season average per game). While he did give up some big plays, the 80-yard TD came on a flee-flicker in which both safeties completely failed to stay over the top. I'm not saying Prince didn't struggle a bit that game but you're not going to find a single player (no matter how elite) that didn't have a bad game. And let's not forget that Blackmon was having a MONSTER year and the OKSt. offense is about as potent as they come in CFB. Here's a link to every Prince vs. Blackmon matchup for the game. He definitely got beat a couple times but I don't think you can say he was outmatched all game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVeWn3bwWTg I understand that it's almost impossible for a rookie CB to be a great cover CB from day one, it's a tough position that requires an adjustment period. I guess opinions will differ on how long it will take but Prince is a high IQ CB who played in a NFL style defense in a very pass happy league. If Prince can be an elite CB in the likes of Champ, Revis, Woodson, Nnamdi, etc... I think he is worth the wait (whether it be half season or whole year) since elite CBs are hard to come by. Like I said, I'm sure our opinions will differ on how long Prince's development will take. I do like A. Williams and Curtis Brown in the late first and second respectively but I think Prince is head and shoulders above the other guys you mentioned. Considering the Texans track record of trying to find DB gems in the mid-rounds, I'd rather go with the "sure-thing" (if there is such thing in the NFL draft).
Prince: This isn't the first time I've heard that there are concerns about him sharing Jackson-esque qualities. I've also read that the Texans don't like him nearly as much as us fans do. I get the sense that Phillips is dead set on drafting his next Ware. I jsut hope that they draft up and chase Von Miller rather than simply sit and select the 4th-best OLB on the board. Of course, not if it involves a second #1 pick Plenty of mocks starting to say Car and Buf both go quarterback, meaning we could possibly get Peterson or Von Miller by trading up to #4 or even #5. I remain solidly in the camp that they should either trade up to nab a stud defensive guy, and if they fail at that, take a stud on O (Jones or Smith) rather than bring in an underwhelming defender. It's my understanding that he's straight up flunking physicals and the medical red flags have become giant red X's on a bunch of team boards. I also believe he's not a good guy to have opposite Mario in this 3-4 scheme. You want a physical DT/DE like Antonio Smith on the left side to challenge the run game. Bowers doesn't look to be that kind of guy at all. If we bring in anyone for the line, it should be a bulldog NT, but it sounds like the Texans are going to give Mitchell a crack at it before drafting/spending there.
Grabbing someone from behind is a great way to keep their reception numbers down, but I don't think I'd count that as a point in Prince's favor. <object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zVeWn3bwWTg?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zVeWn3bwWTg?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="390"></embed></object> And all of those comebacks where Blackmon had a 10 yard seperation and the OK St. qb underthrew? Whether the play ended in a reception or not, Prince was beaten badly.
Pro Football Weekly claims that Bowers' surgery in Jan. was actually microfracture and that his knee is degenerative. http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/04/12/combine-re-check-raises-flags-for-bowers-smith
Ha. That writer obviously doesn't know the Texans. No sympathy for off the field problems here, nor should we be gambling on someone like that. Imagine if we had taken Aqib Talib a couple of years ago- we'd be pissed about that right now.
RealGM Mock Draft: 11. Houston Texans: Ryan Kerrigan, DE/OLB, Purdue. A little birdie tells me they are looking up, but Kerrigan makes a nice consolation prize. 42. Houston Texans: Titus Young, WR, Boise State 73. Houston Texans: Ricardo Lockette, WR, Fort Valley State 105. Houston Texans: Marcus Gilchrist, DB, Clemson
I've watched Jimmy Smith for 3 years, every Saturday, the guy has never impressed me much, idk how is stock is skyrocketing
From Peter King's MMQB on 4/18: Wonder if the Niners would trade back from number 7 if Peterson is on the board using the extra pick to maybe go after someone like an Andy Dalton in the second round?
Patrick Peterson is the we should trade up for to get. He's a freak of an athlete and one of the best CB's to come up in a long long time.
We want to trade up? If we would have just pulled the starters from the last game we wouldn't have to sell the farm to do it.
