Here's the updated draft order as of 12/4/07 per GBN Report: http://www.gbnreport.com/weeklydraftorder.htm Some of the mock drafts I've seen us picking Kenny Phillips - S from Miami. I think we're set at CBs w/ Bennett and Dunta. We are desperate for a good S. I wouldn't mind having Ryan Clady or Gosder Cherilus. Definitely help our OL.
No, there was more than just the percentage the Texans were required to spend on expansion draft selections. The Panthers and Jaguars got more draft picks. I'll find the specific rule changes in a second.
IIRC, both the Jags and Panthers had more draft picks than any other team in the draft. They did away with that after their draft.
the texans did have additional draft picks; like cleveland, houston picked once in the first round and then twice in each subsequent round (in '02). in '95, car/jax were granted the same number of picks (14), but were able to to draft at both the start and end of each round, including the first. houston had the lone first round pick and then the first and 15th pick in rounds 2-7 (with the final pick of the draft in round 7). so while car/jax each had three of the top 32 picks, the texans had just one. also, free agency and the salary cap was still relatively new when car/jax debuted and they, flush with an empty roster, were able to take advantage of the process' infancy. more importantly, the landscape had changed so massively by '02; not only were teams up to speed on free agency, but had learned from their mistakes with car/jax and were able to prepare - the texans had a 2+ year lead-up.
With the way the NFL schedules games, it's easy to get stuck in the purgatory similar to the Lions during the Sanders years... you get good enough to beat crappy teams and increase your wins dramatically in a year, maybe even make the playoffs and catch a few breaks. Next year, you play a lot of stronger teams and lose a lot. The year after, you get an easier schedule and you maybe make the playoffs. Repeat, repeat with no hope of ever really winning the Super Bowl.
the NFL no longer does this; the scheduling is much more structured. each team receives two games based on the previous year's standings - that's it. the other 14 games have already been scheduled years and years in advance. for instance, we already know that the texans will play the the bears, lions, packers, vikings, bengals, browns, raven, steelers, and then the colts, jaguars and titans twice each next year. the two remaining slots we be against teams from the AFC's other two divisions (east and west next year, since they're playing all teams in the north) that finished in the same place as you. so the dolphins and raiders. obviously, divisions as a whole can ebb and flow and provide easier/harder match-ups; but the schedules are no longer loaded to help lesser teams (or hinder better teams).
I was going to bump my 2008 NFL prospects thread but thanks for the updated order. We still have a ways to go but I'm bored at work... 1. Miami- Glenn Dorsey: The Dolphins run defense is a laughing stock. 2. New England- Jamres Laurinaits: Pats could trade down, but he would be the perfect replacement for an aging LB core. 3. Jets- Chris Long: They need a defense, period. 4. Atlanta- Brian Brohm: Stud QB reuinted w/ college coach, enough said. 5. St. Louis- Jake Long: Need to start looking to replace Pace. 6. Cincinnati- Calais Cambell: Look at Jets. 7. Oakland- Darren McFadden: Not sure if he'll last this long, absolute steal. 8. Kansas City- Ryan Clady: Best OL available, if he comes out. 9. Baltimore- Matt Ryan: Best QB available. 10. New Orleans- Malcom Jenkins: They need a CB bad. 11. Houston- Kenny Phillps: BPA, Gosder Cherilus could be an option as well.
Lots of choices out there for RB in this years draft. Personally Id like to have this guy: or this guy:
Either one of those guys would be awesome in a Texans uni. I really wish we had our 2nd rounder (or hopefully can obtain one) because the RB crop this year is deep and we could easily find a very good RB in the 2nd or later rounds. Assuming McFadden, Stewart, and possibly Slaton go in the 1st. Guys like Felix Jones, Tashard Choice, Mike Hart, Kevin Smith, Allen Patrick, etc...could all be had.
Don't you guys know the Texans only draft d-lineman with first round picks? (they have so many needs they should just take their highest rated player that is not a qb, wr or d-lineman)
He's listed as 5'9" 205lbs. Maurice Jones-Drew is listed as 5'7" 208, they both have stocky builds and have a ton of power in their legs. I really like watching both of these guys run, they run hard w/ a lot of power. Rice would be a nice fit in the zone-blocking scheme IMO, but then again, just about any RB w/ speed would look good.
Stewart and Rice have explosive power and SPEED - something that we have been dreaming about for the past 6 seasons. Just like in Fantasy football, its always good to have a STUD RB: I think Stewart or Rice would fit very nicely into our system. Plus they both are great receivers out of the backfield.
if he can run like maurice jones-drew, i'll take it. it's good to have backs that D-linemen can't see over the O-linemen. makes them more elusive i would think.
Does anyone know our cap situation heading into next season? I was under the impression that we are still in bad shap cap-wise for one more season. Someone that knows for sure please tell me I am incorrect
Maurice Jones-Drew is only 5'7 and I think he's doing ok... EDIT: damn, macalu and gucci beat me to it...
