Seems like the Texans' success is heavily dependent upon a healthy Foster, which doesn't seem like a sound strategy. Unless they're counting on Blue making a significant leap, they probably need to acquire a viable RB option somehow if they plan on going with a run-heavy approach again (I assume they are).
You all do realize that Foster ran for 1200 yards last year with a 4.8 yards per carry average? I get insurance and backup but do you want to take the chance that your 1st round pick spends most of the season on the bench? If Foster is healthy, I don't see any other RB taking a considerable amount of rushes away from him. Not many RBs can do all that he does for this team. If you want insurance or backup, the 1st round is not where you get him. The 1st round is for projected starters. I don't see them going for any positions other than LB or WR in the 1st. Maybe safety. But I'll be really shocked if they go in a different direction.
1. Foster is going to be cut after this season. The cap hit is too much, and he is getting old. 2. Even if there is a better RB prospect next year (there isn't) the Texans wouldn't be in position to draft them. Gurley is the most talented option they are going to realistically have a chance at to replace Foster. I was watching NFL Network. Steelers passed up hometown hero Dan Marino for Gabe freaking Rivera, a DT lost to history, because "they were set at QB" with Terry Bradshaw (who was retired 12 months later) along with Mark Malone, and another bum of equally dubious stature. One year later Marino and the Dolphins torched Malone and the Steelers in the playoffs. Marino and the Dolphins offense dominated for the next 15 years, while the Steelers struggled with one tackling dummy after an other at QB over the same period until they drafted Big Ben. An example from the other angle would be Aaron Rogers. Do you think the Packers regret drafting Rogers, because he spent the better part of 3 seasons on the bench? The lesson? Thinking short term isn't very smart. Foster will be replaced soon. Gurley, if he's still there, is going to be more talented than any other replacement they will find. If he turns out to be AP or Beast Mode for a decade, nobody will remember the rookie year where he didn't get a ton of carries.
Same reason I wanted Sammy Watkins last year. Now AJ is gone and the Texans need a receiver... And I'm not sure Nuk is a #1.
Not really. They signed Shorts and Washington, and will likely draft another in the 2nd-3rd round. Most teams don't have stars as a #2 WR.
My point is Sammy is a bonafied #1 receiver and now we have a bunch of #2 receivers and no #1... Maybe Nuk is and we shall soon see. I just don't believe Gurley should not be considered because we have Foster. The kid is a stud and probably the best player/prospect in this draft and Foster probably won't be around much longer.
You know, everyone is talking about taking Todd Gurley because of the BPA philosophy, and I agree with that sentiment. That being said however, when you factor in that: 1.You can find RB's in the 2nd and later rounds 2.There are more pressing needs to fill on this team 3.Some notable rushing attacks in the NFL feature guys like Demarco Murray and Lesean McCoy who were non 1st round picks, I think a guy we could select who not only fits a need but fits the BPA philosophy at that pick is Shane Ray. Some people think Alvin Dupree is the pick, but lately I've seen plenty of mocks having him selected before our pick, usually by New Orleans. Shane has close to the same Explosiveness as Randy Gregory with less character concerns and even a bit more power and technique as well. If he can develop a complete and more aggressive set of hand moves and improve on his ability to drop back in coverage and become stronger against the run, Shane has the potential to be a great defender in this league, such as his fellow alumni Aldon Smith and Sheldon Richardson. The NFL would have to fine the Texans for stealing Shane Ray at 16.
Ottoman's reasoning is sound as usual, taking Gurley this year is like drafting for next year since he probably needs a year more rehab and Foster will be at the end of his career. But you can't just overlook 'need' either. We really really need an OLB. So evaluate fairly and completely and stick with your BPA. Hell, it might be Cameron Erving.
You cannot compare the QB position to the RB position. Especially with the way the league is now. When was the last time a 1st round RB made such an impact on a championship team? You can't ignore other positions of need to draft a replacement for next year at RB. Gurley could be a bust for all we know. Last RB picked in the first round is everybody's favorite Trent Richardson. The list looks like this: 2012 (Doug Martin, David Wilson), 2011 (Mark Ingram), 2010 (Spiller, Ryan Matthews, and Jhavid Best), 2009 (Moreno, Donald Brown, and Wells), 2008 (Felix Jones, Mendenhal, Chris Johnson), 2007 (AP and Lynch). You have to go back to 2007 to find RBs drafted in the first round that made an impact to a championship level team. (Moreno is debatable). If we're talking about replacements for next year; what about CB for Joseph's replacement? Or ILB for Cushing's replacement? Or WR for Johnson's replacement, who is needed THIS season. Ezekiel Elliot will be in next year's draft BTW
We already have Andre Johnson's replacement, Nuk. I do agree with your larger point though, that we shouldn't be targeting a RB in the first round. I get that the RB position is more important to the Texans than most teams, but we still have Foster for at least one more season so drafting RB that high is simply crazy.
Depends on how you looked at Hopkins/Johnson as WR1/WR2. I looked at Johnson as WR2 that's why I said his replacement.
That's fair, and IMO we've replaced that production in the aggregate. That said, I could still see the Texans going WR in the first, but there's just no way to predict what they actually will do because of where they are drafting. You never who know will drop or who will be reached on before they get a chance to pick.
The position is just so deep in this draft that I don't see the Texans taking WR in the first. This is going to be one of the most interesting first rounds to watch in recent memory. Has TB been misleading everyone with Winston? How far will Mariota fall, if at all? Will Randy Gregory really not be taken? With all of these WRs seemingly rising, we could have up to 7 taken in the first. And the Texans are right in the middle of it all at the 16 spot. Exciting times.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a> showing interest in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hurricanes?src=hash">#Hurricanes</a> LB Denzel Perryman. <a href="http://t.co/nAV4JCYy3D">http://t.co/nAV4JCYy3D</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFL?src=hash">#NFL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Miami?src=hash">#Miami</a></p>— PDS (@PatDStat) <a href="https://twitter.com/PatDStat/status/587606642604318720">April 13, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The case for Chris Conley: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ft-countdown-making-the-case-for-chris-conley
Yea and also this: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The Bucs plan on drafting Marcus Mariota if they can't find a suitable option to trade down.</p>— NFL Philosophy (@NFLosophy) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLosophy/status/587647857814966272">April 13, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
