You'd think the last two years would have taught folks a lesson about the importance of not judging a draft (particularly, the Texans) by first day opinions and scouting reports. They've only had one of the best drafts in the league two years running, and you'd think that would earn a bit of trust. Guess not.
What I like best about Brown is that Gibbs mentioned in an interview that the kid has the mean streak necessary to be a good LT. Our OL has been much too nice so far in the team's history. I wouldn't mind having a guy out there with some grit.
I'm a little weary of this comment. Kubiak did say at the press conference that they feel Brown can come in and start right away but I've never been a fan of the term "upside" when it comes to high picks.
I'm not surprised to hear the uproar of Houston fans bashing our pick. It's the same situation in every city if your team doesn't use it's early round picks to grab a skills player who they might have heard of. Had we grabbed a RB, any running back or wide receiver period, they would still be limited in production if we have a weak offensive line that gets broken down or doesn't create holes. The bottom line is, on a good team some of the best players are the ones you never hear about and probably don't know their name. ESPN doesn't show highlights of OT's blocking their man X amount of times per game or D linemen doing anything unless they get a sack. Say we draft Jamaal Charles or another RB tommorow in round 3, i bet the board would be estatic.
I wasn't so keen on our pick right away. If the coaching staff is this geeked out about getting Duane Brown, then I am too. I would've loved to get Rashard Mendenhall (especially after watching him at the combine and all-star skills event) but Kubiak made a great point about wanting to strengthen the O-Line. Furthermore if the Godfather of the ZBS. Alex Gibbs was raving about Brown, then we should all be happy that we got him. Good luck Duane and welcome to Houston.
Upside is a very good comment when the guy is already "starter quality". I take that he should be able to play in the league right away and will have a long career in their estimations, but that he has a chance with hard work to become special under their system.
Here is a good video of Antwuan Molden <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CfsGgyDNyx8&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CfsGgyDNyx8&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
Slaton....he really sucked down the stretch this year. Maybe there were some injury issues or something that went unpublicized. He never seemed like he could take a hit, either. I guess we'll see if he benefited a lot from Pat Smith, or if he can be a force on his own.
I, too, share your suspicions about Kubiak & Smith mainly due to what happened with Carr & Williams. That said, this does look like a really good pick. They now have the future replacement for Salaam. Spencer will be moved to OG. I am perfectly happy with them FINALLY addressing the OL. While they didn't get a 2nd round pick in the trade down, they picked up another 3rd and 6th. In the 3rd, they've addressed their CD & RB issues. However, I am a bit put off by McClain's rather snitty attitude toward those few fans (left) who actually have bothered to follow a Houston Texans' draft - as if they have no reason for being suspicious of the Texans. He's becoming more and more of a shill for the Texans and I detect a certain "circle-the-wagons" defensive mentality becoming entrenched among the organization and its defenders. This has been a nice draft for them so far but let's not start printing the 2008 playoff tickets just yet. After all, if we use Mario Williams as an example for Brown then it will be two more years before he starts producing. Don't know about the others but I am more concerned with what will be happening in the here and now.
Kubiak didn't pick David Carr. And what was so bad about the Williams pick?! IF anything, that should give you confidence in them now.
How can you base anything about the Kubiak/Smith era based on Mario and Carr? Come on, seriously? Carr became a bust before they got here and they gave a season to see if he could turn it around under the new regime. Williams produced as a rookie (did so while hurt) and has only gotten better. Not to mention Mario wasn't even picked by Rick Smith. McClain si certainly a little biased towards the Texans (why wouldn't he be in his position?) but I've heard him comment a few times on the radio about the negative outlook of the fans towards the draft, and he is not saying that fans shouldn't be critical. He is just saying that Smith and Kubiak have done NOTHING since being here to make people be pessimistic about their draft skills. In fact, it should be the opposite. This is not the previous regime that continued to dissapoint. If we want to use Mario as an example for Brown, than we would expect him to start, solidify a much needed position, contribute very well as a rookie and then borderline dominate in his second year, not take two years to produce. Here is the "here and now" - the Texans are nice, upcoming young team who showed a lot of promis last season and looks to only get better due to the progression of the young guys they hit on during last year's draft.
he thinks what Williams did his 2nd year in the league is irrelevant. He judges MW solely on what he produced in his rookie year. i have no idea how that makes any sense.
