Egghead, I would add Chad Jones, from LSU, to your list, also. Would be a good potential second round pick... Here is my updated dream scenario: First Round: Earl Thomas Second Round: Kyle Wilson Third Round: Best Available at offensive line or WR Fourth Round and on: Best Available Free Agency: Sign Casey Hampton and Jackie Battle. I would be disappointed with anything BUT playoffs if this happened.
I like Spiller. Do I think he's worth the 20th pick? Yes, if he's available. I'd put him as a top 10 talent in the draft, and I can see him doing great things in the NFL. Do I think we need to spend our first round pick on running back? No. I think, unless Slaton's injury is something that could be career-threatening, I'm pretty happy with our current combo. I'd be okay with adding a cheap free agent, though. If we did take Spiller, I'd be okay with it, I just think we need secondary help more.
He said in his blog last week that a one of the early picks would be used on a back, not the top pick.
I've looked on his blog and this is the best I can find regarding McClain on the Texans drafting a RB in the first round. http://blogs.chron.com/nfl/2010/01/heres_why_im_excited_about_tex.html#comments This blog was written before what I heard him say on the radio.
I have a feeling without a standard/adequate running game next season we will not get to the playoffs. Teams will actually take us serious , plus a more difficult schedule.
I do not see the Texans taking CJ Spiller in the first round. Honestly, I do not see them taking a running back in the first round. A much more likely scenario will be FS Earl Thomas. I think he fits perfectly. Ideally, they need a cover corner. Last year, I wanted them to take FS Taylor Mays, but for some reason his stock has dropped. I would still be ecstatic if the Texans got him.
It seems like a foregone conclusion. If a solid free safety is there when the Texans are on the board, you take it. I mean, how much more of immediate need with a player that is right there on the top of the bang-for-the-buck-pick-o-meter.
ET would be the best pickup in the first round. However, I only see his stock rising if he shows up to the combine with 10 pounds of added muscle while keeping his speed. Safety would be the first target for me if we don't trade up. Resign Pollard and get another safety back there with him. Let me ask this... Since the team is close to getting into the playoffs, would you offer a first, second, and third and another one or a comparable package for the ability to draft Suh? I think he is one player you try getting. He would easily take pressure off of Williams as well as free up Barwin or the other DE on pass plays and would add to the toughness that Cushing and Pollard added this year.
Teams don't jump from the 20th pick in the draft to #1 unless you give them a monster deal. Maybe Andre Johnson and the 20th pick would get it done. Or according to the draft pick value chart .. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft06/news/story?id=2410670 the #1 overall pick in the draft has a value of 3000 pts. Our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd have a combined total of 1410 pts. So probably our 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd next year would get it done. Bottom line is I don't think it's going to happen.
He's been compared to "touchdown Tommy" since the season started. It's been all the rage with the pac-10 broadcasters. Toby's much much better than people give him credit for. It'd be a waste to draft him as a fullback, partially because his game wouldn't translate well as a pass catcher or lead blocker. Draft him as a Leonard Weaver or Le'Ron McClain "fb", and he'd excel.
This really looks like a great year for WRs, and I think as usual some guys taken before the others are going to be big busts while guys like Decker and Tate will eventually be very consistent 2nd option, possession receiver types. Dez Bryant is the top wideout, he'll be the top WR on every draft board (Except Al Davis who will have Usain Bolt #1). No reason to think he'll hurt his draft status unless he severely underwhelms at the combine (It happens more often than not with wideouts). I have seen a lot of Dez Bryant over the past few seasons and I was skeptical at first, but eventually I came to the conclusion that he is a legit stud. He's special with the football in his hands, going to be a great WR in this league. LaFell from LSU and Damian Williams from USC right now appear to be 2nd and 3rd on quite a few preliminary ranking sites. I think one of them is going to be a huge bust... most likely LaFell, Williams would have been god-like with Sanchez if he had stayed at USC this season... he's really going to shine if he goes in the late 1st round to a contender in need of a top wideout (Jets could use him big time)... He's also a possibility in Seattle now that Pete Carroll has taken over there. I feel like Gilyard and Shipley are both special teams aces who can help out immediately in the return game and eventually develop into productive 2nd or 3rd options. Shipley is the collegiate version of Wes Welker in terms of his role in the offense, but I think he'll need some time to adjust to the Pro game as a wideout, and I doubt he'll ever rack up perpetual 100 catch season at the next level, but he could become a great addition to an already thriving passing attack. Gilyard is intriguing, very explosive but I don't know if his game will translate well at the next level. Golden Tate has some ridiculous hands. I've seen him make some Fitzgerald-like grabs although he lacks ideal size (5'11") I think with him playing in the ND Pro Style offense he has a legit chance at putting up a very solid rookie season in the right system (KC?). He'll never be a Pro Bowl guy, but he could be a solid 2nd option who will play in this league for a long time. Arrelious Benn is exceptionally skilled, his Junior season was pretty terrible by all accounts but I think he suffered from a horrific offense and quarterbacks who couldn't get him the ball @ Illinois, I think he's got a chance to be the Kenny Britt of this class but he'll have to really to prove he can hang onto the ball or he'll be Limas Sweed part 2. You know, everyone (At least the talking heads at the 4 letter) is saying the Rams HAVE to take Suh, but I think they HAVE to take a Quarterback unless they are really willing to give Spagnuolo 2 more mulligan years and draft the top QB in the 2011 draft. They've been avoiding it for too many seasons now, Marc Bulger is a walking injury and Stephen Jackson if continually overworked is going to be only about a season or two away from being put out to pasture by the time your 2011 rookie QB starts to show strides. They can't risk taking a QB in the latter rounds, they need to Top guy and right now.
The Rams definitely need to take a QB at some point in the draft, but I don't think they need to take one with the #1 pick. I'm not sold on Bradford or Clausen and with this being the last possible year w/o a rookie cap, I think they might be better off taking the best player (Suh) and then going after a QB in the 2nd or maybe trade up back into the 1st. I'll go ahead and do the QB prospects just for kicks: Quarterbacks: 1. Sam Bradford (6-4 214 lbs) - Top rated QB, injuries are a huge concern. 2. Jimmy Clausen (6-3 217 lbs) - Top 10 pick, played in pro style offense. 3. Tim Tebow (6-3 235 lbs) - Mid to late first rounder, risky QB pick. 4. Colt McCoy (6-2 210 lbs) - Late first rounder, could possibly fall into 2nd. 5. Tony Pike (6-6 210 lbs) - 2nd to 3rd round pick.
Clausen is the top QB IMO, but I think its a pretty terrible year for QBs, all of them come with their own particular set of question marks (Clausen character, Bradford injuries, McCoy size, Tebow arm strength, Pike system QB?)
Get Earl Thomas in the first round and they can draft best player available (or a great RB in the first as well) the rest of the draft.
John McClain announced just now on his chat live, that Thomas is coming out. Should be a great choice if that route. P.s. McClain is still adament the Texans will go for a RB in the first round...
One area that hasn't been discussed that much has been the O-Line. While our pass protection was very good, our run blocking was absolutely terrible. We obviously suffered some injuries with Pitts and Briesel out. I think we could use an upgrade at C, not sure if they intend to keep Caldwell at OG but he could move to C if needed. Offensive Tackles: 1. Russell Okung (6-5 300 lbs) - Top 5 pick, best OL prospect. 2. Trent Williams (6-5 318 lbs) - Top 15 pick. 3. Charles Brown (6-5 292 lbs) - Mid to late first rounder. Offensive Guards: 1. Mike Iupati (6-6 330 lbs) - Best OG prospect, late first/early second round. 2. Jon Asamoah (6-4 315 lbs) - 2nd rounder. 3. Mike Johnson (6-5 305 lbs) - 2nd to 3rd rounder. Centers: 1. J.D. Walton (6-5 305 lbs) - Baylor kid, 2nd rounder. 2. Matt Tennant (6-4 291 lbs) - 2nd rounder. 3. Ted Larsen (6-2 300 lbs) - 3rd to 4th rounder.
Mcclain doesn't know when the Texans will draft a RB at this point, regardless of what he says. It's ludicrous to say so considering the combine hasn't even taken place. There is no way they've made up their mind this early. That being said, I have a hard time seeing them not take one in the first two rounds, third at the latest. It's time to invest and stop relying on second-tier free agents. I'd like to see a nice Guard or Center pick in the 3rd or 4th round too, similar to Caldwell last year. In an ideal world, we'd re-sign Dunta for reasonable money, sign a good free agent DT, then draft Safety, CB, RB, and Guard/Center in the first four rounds (not particularly in that order). If we can't sign a DT and Dunta is gone, we are left with a lot of holes to fill through the draft- in that case, you have to live with Wilson as the FS and focus on CB and DT instead.
