I agree with that except the part about Bush. If RB has enough trade value to get the Texans 4 good picks they would be crazy not to make the deal. DD is not that bad a RB when healthy and they have big holes all over the roster. A good draft this season could really turn the franchise around. I like their FA signings so far, conservative but safe. They need OL and a middle linebacker in the worst way and Faggins is horrible. They also need much better run defense- especially a good strong safety. They also desperately need a pass rush- Impact edge guy. They really could use a #2 receiver but Carr has trouble getting the ball to AJ much less a #2 receiver, and the TE picked up will help loads because TE usually are easier to see in coverage and almost always have single coverage and rarely are covered by DBs. They need a back up to DD for injury reasons and could get one if they picked up multiple picks in a trade down. I am over the VY debate, this is all about rebuilding a sorry roster left to us by the GM.
I would certainly trade down as well, though I would be fine with Bush depending on what they do with rest of the draft. DD is a good back but is injury prone, and Morency seemed to show some flashes later in the year. I also thought Wells played quite well. If they draft RB, I wonder if they would be open to trading DD to help fill some needs. I think we would fine with RB, VM, and JW. As for pass rushing, I am curious what Peek and Babin can do. Babin had an off year because of a torn labrum, but in his first year he got 4 or 5 sacks and was very close to 3-4 more. I think he can get to 275 pretty easily as he was 265 coming out of college. AP can also clearly rush the passer so for this year I would go with them to see what we have. I wouldn't be upset with drafting MW, but I don't think they will go that way. We could certainly use some help on the right side of the line. I like Pitts at LT, and I wish they would have left him there instead of moving him to guard. I hate Wade and I am so so on ZW. MLB could be picked up in 3rd round or maybe in some type of deal involving DD or us moving back a couple of spots.
Peek does have the speed, if he has the technique and strength he might excel in the 4-3. Babin is a little slow (but relentless) I don't think he has the burst to be an edge rusher in the 4-3. We also need to wait and see if the tackles can get a push inside on the pass rush. The run defense was horrid and a really quality middle linebacker will be key to improvement. I would hate to start the season with a so-so MLB. Babin just wasn't worth 3 first day drafts picks. Sometimes mistakes are made. I wouldn't fault them for taking RB first it is the safe pick. Bush could really prove to be a T Dorsett type RB which would be way over my expectations. But they must get better guard play and find a right tackle. I agree about C Pitts. I am worried about D Carr. Not that he doesn't have the tools. Just that he couldn't get the ball to AJ even when open. He doesn't have good timing on the deep ball. He is jittery in the pocket (rightfully so) And at least 1/3 of his sacks are on him in my opinion. He hasn't shown me he is a playmaker. I give him some slack for having so many different coaches and trying to deal with all the sacks, but I wanted to see some of that greatness that shows up in the 4th qtr. with the game on the line. I don't remember him winning too many games with his play these past 4 seasons. Farve was a late bloomer? Maybe this will be the year.
I am pretty sure that Babin ran a 4.6 forty out of school, and there are some guys that aren't hyper fast that are effective rushers (Vaden Bosch for example). I think that alot of fans are down on Babin because we gave up so much to get him. I really think he'll have a strong season this year, as will Peek. I think the run D will improve with the switch to the 4-3. Payne is a solid gap plugger and TJ is supposed to be able to get up field very well when he is free to get after it. I think one of the reason our run D was so poor was the lack of size at ILB in our 3-4. MG is awfully small to be an inside backer. Polk was actually decent, but nothing to write home about. As for safeties, both were so young, so I would think there would be some improvement due to the maturation process. As for DC, there were several games where he got us in position to win and either the D or Special teams let us down, the Jax game this year where CB flat out dropped a ball on the 5 yd at the end of the game, the Tenn game where KB missed the field goal, the STL game where all we had to do was recover an onside kick. In 04 he led a drive that gave us the lead against Minn only to have Minn come back and tie it and win in overtime due to poor D. I am thorwing this year out the window because the coaching was terrible, we had alot of injuries, and made some very questionable Player moves. In 03 I believe he completed around 60% of his passes, threw for 3500 yds, and threw for 16 TDs with 14 picks. Those are solid numbers given what he had to work with IMO.
Well if you take the most optimistic view- you might as well pencil us in as a wild card. They will have to prove all of the above on the field this season for my vote. I think Pitts is solid, AJ is potentially a great WR, D Robinson will be fine; DD when healthy runs quick and hard and is solid; I like the TE they signed: Other than that they can upgrade every position as far as I am concerned. Not impressed with the rest. BTW- Love the team, I even like D Carr (good Christian man?) I wish D Carr would lead the team better- could be coaching fault- I don't know enough about why he couldn't get the ball to AJ, that bothers me so much.
I tend to be a glass half full guy, BUT I will definitely admit when I see problems. I think part of the problem in getting the ball to AJ was coverage related. Aj was the only guy you had to be concerned with on pass routes. JG and CB were too inconsistent in route running and hands to worry about. I agree we could use some a massive talent infusion, BUT I believe alot of our problems were coach related. Too many comments about the schemes (or lack there of) from players, and bad things like not using players appropriately ect... I think with a good draft 8-8 or 9-7 could be possible - just my opinion.
