Felix Jones and D-Mac might both go in the first round ala Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams. I think Stewart and/or Mendenhall will be sandwiched between them. Rice and Slaton are probable 2nd rounders and everyone else will be probably be waiting until the next day to be picked.
Almost every other mock draft on the football futures site has Kenny Phillips going before our pick. Being the top safety prospect and one of the top two or three best secondary prospects, he'll probably off the board before us.
Try this one, it's the mother lode! This one pretty much links into any of them in existence today. http://www.hailredskins.com/MockDraft.
Also, as a thought might happen at least one and possibly a few more mock drafts will probably soon follow having Arizona take Jonathan Stewart due to Edge losing his edge. Some intriguing scenarios I've seen: Antoine Cason CB,Arizona. Vernon Gholston DE/LB Ohio State, Gosder Cherilus OT, Boston College and Rashard Mendenhall RB, Illinois. On a side note, very impressed with what I saw with Mendenhall's performance vs USC. He really showed a good ability to play off his blocks, and a great ability to break open runs either with speed or strength. Though, I honestly think unless Stewart runs a sub 4.3, the Texans are not going to bite of course, he AGAIN IMO probably gets taken if he wows at the combine before the Texans pick in the first round.
There are plenty of talented tailbacks available in the draft for Houston. They should be able to grab someone really talented: Darren McFadden Jonathan Stewart Rashard Mendenhall Felix Jones Steve Slaton Jamaal Charles Kevin Smith Ray Rice Chris Johnson Mike Hart James Davis Tashard Choice Allen Patrick
Out of this line, that Chris Johnson out of East Carolina, I think, a very intriguing prospect. They say he can run 4.2 in the 40. The only questions then are is he polished enough as a RB to reading where the play is to develop and set up his blocks because obviously he has the "burst." Of course, he will also have to be able to get it done picking up blitzes. From what I hear Kevin Smith or Chris Johnson could be BIG TIME sleepers. Patrick and Hart seem like their 3rd down backs and/or to be relegated to special teams. I would love it if we could get Ray Rice. Just love the attitude he brings to the field. He's always falling forward and he's fearless and he's a gamer! Something tells me though the Giants might take him late in the first round.
I hope we could get a 2nd round pick this year somehow because we could pick up a really good running back in the 2nd and draft someone like phillips (if he's available), goulston or any stud defensive player. This draft is so deep in the running back position that if run dmc, stewart or mendehall did not declare everyone else would slip to the first round and still be worthy.
I've seen a lot of mocks having the Texans taking Mendenhall, obviously it will vary with the combine stats... but I think he really would be the best choice for them. He seems like he's got the speed and vision/patience to work well in the cut-and-run scheme.
The more I keep looking at these mock draft boards the more convinced I am IMHo that the Texans unless a trade down to get multiple second and/or thrid rounders, the Texans are going to go D again! Why? Good to great depth in OL, RB for latter round considerations. The Texans already have Mario, 'Mobi to team with 'Meco. Ok, so you already have Bruce Smith, Warren Sapp and Mike Singletary. Who are you missing? Anyone? How about Derrick Thomas! That modern day answer is Rey Maualaga! I'm sorry but this guy is flat out scary with a major high speed motor and oh yeah, vs Illinois he devastated their offense. Yes, Mendenhall did do his thing and yes, that guy can flat out play but, Rey got 3 sacks, 1 int in the Rose Bowl game this year! So, I think D is again going to be at a premium for the Texans. They're improving but to be a playoff caliber defense we need a whole lot more infused talent and real quality depth. Other names that intrigue me for 1st round ... Calais Campbell DE Miami 6-7 282 or Aqib Talib CB Kansas 6-2 205. Calsis, man "Too Tall" Jones anyone? Meanwhile, Talib made a name for himself vs Va Tech in the Orange Bowl with a pck to salt away a win for the 'Hawks! Jonathan Stewart is the sexy pick but, look at the direction our division is going? What's going to win? Rugged defense and brutal running attacks. It's old school football that will dominate the AFC south and make us one of the if not the MOST dominant division in the NFL. Indy potentially will have Dungy stepping down as HC and this year they got really old all the sudden. Yes, we lost twice to Indy but, in the first game at least you saw the potential for the Texans to compete but, that we STILL need a better D. Tennessee now will have a new OC for VY so that probably means one to two more years away from becoming a perennial legitimate contender for the division. Jax? Much to my chagrin that team should be the early odds on favorite to take the division next year! How do they win with rugged D and a brutal running game.
Oops, didn't hear about that! My mistake. Seriously though, he'll probably be top 10 for next years draft then in that case. Damn, he would have made a good compliment for our team! Oh well ... You see my point though, the case for the Texans further upgrading and bolstering our D? We scored well though at times inconsistent but we had how many games where we gave up 30+ points. 5 or 6? All looses. With two near 30 pointers, at ATL 26 resulted in a loss and Jax 28 where our secondary had their worst game of the season.
Those are some pretty generous comparisons to say the least. Linebackers really aren't as integral to a team as you would think. Defensive Line is where it begins, Secondary is right up there with it and Linebackers fall into a distant 3rd. If you look at a lot of the starting linebackers in the league right now, not many of them were 1st or 2nd rounders. Middle Linebackers are probably more important than the others because usually they have to read the play and make the defensive calls. Sure, having a Shawne Merriman or a Ray Lewis is a luxury, but as long as you can put a guy out there who can play well enough, you don't really have to have to have a stud. This changes in the 3-4 defense of course where you have a guy like Terrell Suggs who wreaks havoc from his position, but that falls more into pass rushing category.
Well I agree they're a bit lofty perhaps extravagant but, in the short runs of their careers so far, Mario finishes second all time in sacks for a second year player only Bruce Smith did better. Okoye's game as a DT being compared to Mr Relentless without the smack mouth, Warren Sapp. Ryans is our defensive field general, a natural born leader plus with his performance thus far, I think it's not too presumptuous to call him potentially the next Mike Singletary. As for the draft, i was just going on the trend we have seen the Texans going to for the last few years. Our D is STILL lacking believe it or not, our DL but more importantly our secondary is our BIGGEST liability. As I previously pointed out, the Texans are heading in a direction much like the Jags in my opinion. Rugged defense and a brutal running game. Because beyond a glitzy passing game, to consistently win you MUST have the aforementioned or else you either can never hold a lead or maintain a lead. Meaning if your D is inconsistent and does not keep getting your offense back the ball, they will tire down and fizz away. If your running game cannot bruise for tough inside yards and get first downs and keep the chains moving, eating clock and keep your D rssted, you will have to rely too much with the vertical game making your QB become more exposed by the obvious intent to sustaining and scoring on drives.
I've heard that Atlanta is willing to package their two second rounders (35 and 50) to move up into the 1st round. They're looking to select one of the elite RB's. Besides McFadden, our spot is a perfect place to pick one of those guys. Would ya'll make that deal to move down from 18 to 35 and 50? I'd personally do it unless Kenny Phillips is still on the board.
It would depend on who is available when the Texans pick. Plus, who would Atlanta draft in the first round?
Besides McFadden, who are the "elite RBs?" I think both Jonathan Stewart and Felix Jones are 1st round worthy, but if I were the Falcons, I'm not so sure I would trade two 1st rounders for them. At 35, a guys like Charles, Slaton, Rice, Mendenhall, and Johnson could all be available.
Maybe one I've seen has Kenny Phillips available for us to take and yes, they did have us picking him but, most mock boards have him going either #10 to the Saints or # 13 to the Panthers. That move down for 2 second rounders would be outstanding for us! On a side note, this Shrine Bowl may be good to feel out some sleepers. In particular for us, maybe a Quintin Demps FS from UTEP? Draft time used to be a drag for me because it was always I wonder how the Texans are going to blow this draft? But now we finally OBVIOUSLY have had not only competent drafts but, 2 top 5 cumulatively speaking drafts. Kuby and Smitty know their ****!
