So with these fans, what's their reasoning behind the Texans being able to become the best defense in the NFL by drafting Clowney? Is drafting Clowney going to turn Kareem Jackson into Richard Sherman? Or turn Swearinger into Earl Thomas? I'm not sure I understand where the "Clowney+Watt=one of the best defenses in the NFL" thing comes from. But I will say, if you can guarantee me a top-1 defense, forget our #1 pick. Rick Smith can draft a defensive player with every pick in the draft and I'd be on board. I would gladly enter next season with a scrub QB if it means having Seattle/SF level defense.
The crazy thing is, this team probably isn't that far behind teams like that, on paper. On paper being the key phrase. I think Wade's departure was overdue. I think now that he's gone, a lot of people have forgotten that. Granted, we're going to have a glaring hole at defensive end, and we need some depth across the board. That's not me advocating us taking a defensive player. That's just my opinion on where the defense stands. I think we can take a QB first, address tackle through free agency, and then use the rest of the draft on defense, if we really wanted to.
I'm OK with spending every pick except one on defense. We need a good QB in the draft but doesn't have to be our first round pick. The other skill position players on the other hand can be found in the scrap heap (WR, RB, TE).
Adding Clowney would be a very good step in the direction of becoming a dominant defense. Of course no one pick is going to do it all though. If the Texans get Clowney plus a NT like Nix in a perfect world, or even Beau Allen, they'll have one of if not the most feared pass rushes in the NFL for the next several years. When you can generate a pass rush with 4 guys, it makes things a hell of a lot easier on the secondary making them look better.
I like Watkins. I watched his bowl performance "aka The Sammy Show". As nostalgic as that might be, Boyd-Hopkins-Watkins, I just don't see that transfer. Has there ever been a QB-WR1-WR2 transfer together to the NFL... With any success? The other problem I have with that plan, is that I think it would be admitting a multi-year rebuild. We may be in a multi-year anyway if the offensive line doesn't improve, with some of the cavalry coming. Watkins to me, is way more luxury than Clowney, and Clowney is indeed a luxury. I just don't see passing over an LT, Suh, Megatron-type prospect. So luxury aside, Clowney is the BPA, with Hall of Fame potential. One-on-ones may help the Texans assess if he has the mental drive to achieve expectations. If we traded down with the browns (capital letter omitted intentionally), I guess if you picked Nix with your extra 1, that could start to make some noise. The Browns or Falcons would have to pay a kings ransom to get the 1:1, but if they did, watkins-1st is not a terrible outcome. IMHO, i think with all of our other deficiencies and a rookie second round pick running the show, we'd be right back in the lotto boys (figuratively, of course), looking for the next Clowney; and there isn't one. #proclowneypariah
I honestly don't even agree that Clowney is a luxury. The Texans' pass rush last year was pretty much just JJ Watt and as a result they either had to blitz pretty much every down or just accept the fact that the opposing QB was going to be able to camp out in the pocket and pick the secondary apart at his leisure. I look at fixing the pass rush as absolutely mandatory and Clowney would be a really awesome part of doing that.
Wrong. The only NFL connection I have is close to Ryan Mallett. Trust me on this, his off the field behavior has not changed one bit. He is a "party-boy" in every aspect of the word. So save your $10 and buy yourself something nice.
Thank you for the tip. I'm buying not one, but two, footlong sandwiches at Subway. So, would BOB avoid him? It's a lot of pressure making the right impression as a new HC, for things such as longevity and 401k vesting. If BOB felt Mallett brought us the best opportunity for success (cost considered), it is your friend's opinion that he would pass on Mallett? I'd guess that is the question. I internet trust you on the answer, I just don't see it being as far-fetched an outcome, as picking manziel (similar character issues), bortles or bridgewater (with cost of losing clowney considered).
Louis Nix is probably the best and safest defensive player in this draft. No way he last until the 2nd.
The problem with the Texans is that J.J. was the only player on the defensive line that had to be doubled. Everyone else on the line could be blocked 1 on 1. No big boy in the middle to push the pocket back. So when that happens _ it doesn't matter who your OLBs are. And although pass rushing is important _ Clowney would be a luxury pick for us because we recently spent a 1st round pick on Merciless and you see how long it's taking him to learn to play standing up. And drafting Clowney to be a 3-4 DE would be like throwing money on a fire _ a waste.
I don't think you can call it a rebuild when we have to replace the QB anyway. Like the poster said, getting Boyd, Watkins and Hopkins together again would not be a bad idea. Then add in the other weapon, Andre and you got a pretty good looking squad.
Saying that Clowney is a luxury because we recently spent a pick on Merciless is like saying that Bridgewater would be a luxury because we just spent a pick on Hopkins.
Actually it would be like saying Watkins would be a luxury pick because we drafted Hopkins with a 1st round pick last year. Difference is we still have two young OLBs taken in the 1st and 2nd round that may be better with a good defensive line and coaching... Compared to we have a receiving core full of guys who can't find the end zone.
Clowney wouldn't necessarily even play the same position as Merciless so the comparison is ridiculous. Even if they slotted him to play there, the correct comparison would be, why draft Bridgewater when we already have Keenum. It's not a luxury to want a competent pass rush.
Well he may end up being the pick if they don't trade down. I don't see O'Brien falling in love with any of these quarterbacks to put his career behind them with a #1 overall pick.
Another thing to take into consideration is that drafting a QB with the first pick isn't exactly a Belichick thing to do. If Bill O'Brien thinks in a similar fashion, the pick will almost certainly be defense, meaning Clowney. Bill Belichick has never picked a QB in the first round on any team he's ever had a significant role with and hasn't even been on a team at all that's picked a QB in the first round in 35 years. I guess we'll find out how much O'Brien has in common with Belichick really soon. The Bellichick pick would be Clowney.
In fact, to take this a step further, If you look at the major Belichick acolytes that became head coaches, none of them ever picked a QB in the first round either. I think this should factor in just a little bit in our expectations here.
Crennel was a Defense guy, Weiss went to college, and McDaniels not only took Tebow in the first, but traded up to get him.
