Kubiak: "we expect him (Hopkins) to play very,very early"

A general rule is/was a WR needs 3 years to develop, which is why I wasn't all too excited about taking a WR in the first place, not when you need him to contribute right away. I get that we've had rookies produce early lately but I still believe this rule holds true in most cases. Also, a lot of those guys (Cruz, Colston, etc) wind up in pass-happy systems. We're old school.

I agree, Hopkins seems ready now, but his ceiling is probably lower than a lot of other guys that were available and he'll still need time to develop. A FA made more sense for what we need.

 

All good points. But given our cap situation, i guess it just comes down to whether or not you'd rather have a rookie FS or a rookie WR. Basically, Ed Reed and Hopkins, or Reid/Cyprian/Elam and Hartline?

 

He has 6 career receptions. I don't think the Texans view Jean or any of their other receivers, other than Andre, very special. If the Texans thought Jean, Martin, or Posey were capable of making a major impact this next season then I don't think they would have drafted a WR in the first round.

 

I do wonder if they would have taken WR if Posey didn't blowout his achilles. I think a WR prospect would still have been a draft target, but having a healthy posey may have taken some of the pressure off of having to hit on WR

 

True - but neither of those guys joined a team with Andre Johnson on the roster. Or Matt Schaub, frankly.

White and Crabtree were expected to be bona-fide #1s from the word go out of pure desperation. White joined a team who's leading receiver the previous year (behind Algee Crumpler) was Peerless Price, and didn't have a single player catch more than 48 passes. Crabtree joined a team who's leading reeceiver (Isaac Bruce) was 37 years old. And they had a mediocre Vick and Smith, respectively, throwing to them.

If Hopkins can put up Crabtree-like rookie year #s (45-50 recs, 600-700 yards, 5ish TDs) and show flashes of having #1 potential, no one will look at his season as anything but an unqualified success (assuming AJ is his usual 100+, 1,300+).

This is a perefect situation for a young WR.

 

What all-world WR was Kevin Walter keeping on the bench? This idea that Kevin Walter was somehow a deteriment to the team... I don't think I'd argue he made the team appreciably better (and he's obviously regressed the past two years) - but he certainly didn't make it worse. If there was a better alternative, that receiver would have seen the field.

Guy averaged 52/650/4 in seven years as a starter and the team was routinely among the best passing teams in football during that stretch. He was a pretty good WR for us. If Hopkins posts those #s this year, people are going to be estatic.

 

I think its possible that stuff like position growing pains are still rules of thumb, but are finding more exceptions as the game moves forward. Look at how much better the floor for rookie QB play was raised in the last two years. Guys are capable of coming out of college a lot more polished, esp WRs. Some of the areas you expect a rookie WR to refine in the pros, like route running and physicality against DBs are supposed to be Hopkins' strengths.

 

I think Nuk Hopkins could have a really big year.

He has arguably the best receiver lined up on the other side, something Crabtree and White didn't have the luxury of during their first couple seasons.

Hopkins will usually have one on one coverage and he has YAC ability. Plus this will open up Andre for a monster year too, especially if Hopkins can get it going. This could be very fun to watch.

 

Over/Under on who gets more TD's? Dre or Hopkins?

If it was an even bet I'm leaning Hopkins because of the hands.

 

You can't over/under on who's going to hvae more TD's. Over/under has to be followed by some number. Correct way would be over/under on Dre's TD's, 10? Or just ask who do you think will have more TD's. #sorryforbeingannoying #petpeeve

 

We rarely target our wide receivers in the red zone for whatever reason.

Our top three touch down players will most likely be: Foster, Daniels, and Graham - in that order.

 

Jean, Martin and Posey had a combined 54 targets at them combined, Martin getting half of those. (Kevin Walter getting 68 himself)

How are you supposed to know what they're about when they're not even thrown to? Or perhaps, they weren't good enough to get any plays their way.

Still, Texans are probably gonna throw to tight ends and RBs much more than the 2nd/3rd option WRs. I think its more about high percentage of catches-per-target than lower percentage completion throws to WRs for Texans (maybe partly why there's a rise of the tight end in the league. Just higher percentage plays regardless of flash)

 

It's pretty clear our receivers couldn't get open past 5 yards last year. (Except for Andre).

 

rarely targeted receivers in the redzone?? the redzone is 20 yards out. ive even seen the texans run a PF boot from the 15 before.. its not until we are x & goal where we rarely throw. the redzone woes are due to smaller field, its tougher for noodle arm to beat coverages in tighter spaces (even when theres only 10 guys on the field)..

 

I don't agree that his ceiling is "a lot" lower than a lot of other guys that were available. Yeah, it is lower than both Hunter and Patterson due to their height, etc. but Hopkins is a very good wr prospect and much more refined. Saying his ceiling is "a lot" lower is extreme hyperbole in my opinion. And the only guy taken after Hopkins that I would have been fine with picking at 27 was DT Sylvester Williams.

 

Also due to the relatively limited offense we run on goal situations. The corner fade, quick slant and jump ball pass isn't in their repertoire. Just off the top of my head I only remember crossing routes along the base line.

 

Yeah, you're right. I kind of like Hopkins honestly. I also think WR can be hard to gauge though, especially for this organization. I like Williams, was hoping Floyd might drop to us.

 

Not sure how true this is. Probably somewhat true, but it looks like Schaub only targets players that have a decent beat on their man. He's rarely delivering the ball into tight windows or hitting a player who has a defender within arms reach. He plays it safe. I think that's just as much of a problem.

 

*You* spend 3 hours a week with them; the coaches are with them everyday from August til December. They know what they have, and, by extenstion, so do we: they rarely played, made no plays when theywere given opportunities, and the Texans used a 1 on a WR for the first time in a decade.

Not too many dots to connect there...