http://blog.chron.com/ultimatetexans/2013/02/outside-receiver-might-be-texans%E2%80%99-top-priority-as-draft-nears/ After holing up for two weeks with his college and pro scouts in preparation for free agency in March and the draft in April, Texans general manager Rick Smith will head to Indianapolis with members of his personnel department this week for the scouting combine. The combine begins Thursday and is followed by the start of free agency (March 12) and the draft (April 25-27). The Texans were $5.6 million under the salary cap last week. Their philosophy hasn’t changed. They plan to build through the draft, re-sign some of their free agents, extend contracts of key veterans like linebacker Brian Cushing and defensive end Antonio Smith, and fill in with inexpensive free agents. Forget about a possible trade with Minnesota for receiver Percy Harvin, who is threatening to hold out until he gets a new contract putting him among the highest-paid receivers. It also is not likely the Texans are going to spend millions on a veteran receiver who becomes unrestricted next month. Before free agency, though, Smith and coach Gary Kubiak have to worry about the combine and evaluating players they believe will fill specific needs. As the Texans approach the combine at Lucas Oil Stadium, it doesn’t take an expert to figure out their needs. They are looking for playmakers on both sides of the ball. Here’s an interesting statistic: In the Texans’ last four regular-season games, quarterback Matt Schaub threw one touchdown pass. During that same period, the defense intercepted one pass. Schaub threw two touchdown passes in the playoffs, and the defense intercepted one pass. Schaub needs a fast receiver who can stretch the defense to play opposite Andre Johnson. At this point in the evaluation process, the best receivers in the draft are Tennessee’s Cordarrelle Patterson, Baylor’s Terrance Williams, California’s Kevin Allen, Louisiana Tech’s Quinton Patton and West Virginia’s Tavon Austin. The Texans will need another outside linebacker if they lose Connor Barwin in free agency. Whitney Mercilus, last year’s first-round pick, can replace Barwin in the lineup, but defensive coordinator Wade Phillips needs three he can count on at that position. The Texans are not expected to use another No. 1 pick on this position. If they lose free safety Glover Quin, they will have to find another safety who can play both positions. If they don’t re-sign nose tackle Shaun Cody, they will have to find a backup to Earl Mitchell. The Texans also will look closely at inside linebackers. They would like to find one to play opposite Cushing, but he is not expected to be a first-round pick. The Texans are always looking for depth in the offensive line and the secondary. And as team owner Bob McNair pointed out after the playoffs, the Texans will draft a quarterback if Kubiak finds one he thinks is ideal for their system. Following a master plan McNair, Smith and Kubiak have a plan that has been playing out over the last two seasons and will continue to play out as they build what they believe is a team capable of winning the Super Bowl. The pain of being eliminated in the divisional round of the playoffs for a second consecutive season continues to make a lot of their fans suffer, but there is no denying the Texans put together the best season in team history. The Texans finished 12-4, won the AFC South for the second consecutive season, and won a playoff game for the second year in a row. They have compiled winning records in three of their last four seasons. They set a team record in scoring and turnover ratio. They ranked seventh in offense and seventh in defense. Now the Texans have to find a way not to collapse down the stretch as they did last season when they blew home-field advantage by losing three of their last four, forcing them to journey to New England, where they were embarrassed for the second time in six weeks. After the playoffs, McNair told Kubiak he wanted the players to become mentally tougher. The owner wants his team to be so mentally tough that it can beat Baltimore 43-13 in the regular season and then do what the Ravens did in the playoffs — defeat the Patriots at Gillette Stadium. The Texans hope to re-sign their top free agents like Quin, Barwin, cornerback Brice McCain and fullback James Casey. They hope to extend Cushing and Smith the way they did last year with running back Arian Foster, offensive tackle Duane Brown, center Chris Myers and Schaub — all of whom made the Pro Bowl. Two years ago, the Texans were coming off a 6-10 season and had cap dollars available. They had finished 30th in defense, including 32nd against the pass. Salary-cap wiggle room Smith filled two weaknesses in the secondary by signing two expensive free agents — cornerback Johnathan Joseph and strong safety Danieal Manning. They helped solidify a defense that has finished second and seventh the last two seasons. Joseph has been voted to the Pro Bowl both seasons. Last season, the Texans were over the cap going into the combine and had to make a series of difficult business decisions to get under it. The plan now is to avoid another trip into salary-cap hell.
Actually, John, you said they'd have to "restructure the whole team" to sign Joseph or Asomugha. They then signed Joseph the next day.
I fully believe this. Spoiler Agree with this, depth pick. And Barwin's not coming back - he would probably have to accept a demotion as part of the deal. Whitney's going to start opposite Reed. This will be a tall order through the draft. Strong/Box safeties come in and play quick, but not cover safeties that can fill in at LB or CB. Odds of pulling that off after the first or second round? Slim. The phrasing here disturbs me. A lot. I agree with this line of thinking. Yep. But don't hold your breath. Final day pick if anything. Strange how Cody wasn't included, huh....
Good old pancakes. Yeah I remember his articles and radio appearances where he came out and said the Texans would not sign any big name free agents because they don't have the cap space.
Wait. What? Is that really the other option? If we don't re-sign Cody, we're only looking to find a backup for the guy who was the backup last year? You don't think we can improve on one of our weaker positions?
apparently Sean Cody is our ceiling at NT, pathetic of course, consider the source, grain of salt, etc.
Projecting linemen in the draft is tricky with this team because of Kubiak's use of the ZBS. Traditional guys aren't natural fits, and they tend to look for folks in later rounds because the smaller guys (that are lighter on their feet) can still be found. Eric Fisher is one guy that would be great in the ZBS, but he may go well before we pick in the 1st. Ditto for Lane Johnson. The scouts are going to know far more than we ever will, but other folks that I think might fit the mold are: Menelik Watson Kyle Long Oday Aboushi Justin Pugh Tanner Hawkinson In general, the buzzwords I look for are "light on his feet" "extremely athletic" and guys described as being tremendous pass protectors (playing in space) more so than ones making their name for run blocking (traditional power game). The other thing we simply have no way of knowing about is how the team rates the prospects' intelligence. They want guys that can pick up on and succeed in a complicated scheme. My guess is that they don't take someone for the line until round 3 or later, but you never know for sure.
I am finding it harder and harder to believe a lineman will, or should, be taken before the 3rd or 4th round. If so, he better be a stud who comes in and plays exceptionally well from the get go.
Good summary of various mock drafts across the internet. Pick breakdown (17 mocks): WR: 10 (58.8%); ILB: 4 (23.5%); S: 2 (11.7%); TE: 1 (5.9%) Most popular picks: LSU ILB Kevin Minter (4, 23.5%); Baylor WR Terrance Williams (3, 17.6%); West Virginia WR Tavon Austin, LSU FS Eric Reid and USC WR Robert Woods (2, 11.7%) http://www.houstontexans.com/news/a...urvey-10/69432a71-b769-4bf6-8173-7762a81c8a4f
A lot of great athletes on the o line this year. Kyle long and lane Johnson looked really good. Mayock seems to be really high on terron armstead he's an unreal athlete but played at a small school. He would make a great mid round pick up. Knowing how the Texas s operate I wouldn't be shocked to see the Texans pick up Vance McDonald the te out of rice excellent athlete and he fits the profile they normally look for.
Is James Casey athletic enough to play slot receiver? If Kubes values blocking out of that position so much, Casey would blow people up. Here' what I'm thinking, might be outrageous. Release Owen Daniels and Kevin Walter for cap space. Move James Casey to the slot. Draft Tyler Eifert out of ND in the first round to replace OD. Use a late round pick or bring in a FB via free agency. Use OD and Walter savings to sign a legit #2 wide out. Eh?
Manti in some mocks is going in the late first round. If the Texans show interest, that might facilitate a draft day trade. The Texans can trade their pick and get more picks this year (or later ftm). Or a team ahead of them might trade their pick and a player that the Texans really want might slide down to them.
