I don't really have the time or desire to do it, but a month or so back someone called Charlie Pallilo up right before the conference championship games and asked how they got the players they got, and universally, all of those teams had made solid draft choice after solid draft choice after solid draft choice, with a some solid FA signings or trades thrown in. The hit to miss ratio was much higher than the Texans. This should be pretty obvious - the good teams evaluate talent better. Here's a little tidbit I found about the Colts, for example: This is their STARTING LINEUP. Sure, the Colts may be the exception, especially given they have Peyton leading the ship, but again, obviously, good teams evaluate talent well. And since most of the talent comes from the draft, that means good teams draft well, at the top of the draft and into day 2. Injuries and luck aside, the team's entire success basically comes down to (1) talent evaluation, and (2) coaching, right? So either one or both has been basically...average? My contention is both have been slightly above average, but that (1) talent evaluation is considerably more important. So I'm not saying it's been bad, but if this year's draft turns into another 2007 (or even 2008) draft class...that would be unfortunate. And on top of this year's draft being good to great, the team also needs the draft picks that are at least serviceable and could continue to improve from the classes I mentioned, to do so (i.e. Barwin, Caldwell, Amobi)
I'm by no means saything they have been great. 07 and 08 drafts were particularly average with the better players being duane brown, slaton and jacoby. Certainly nothing that knocks your socks off. What's especially bad is that they had 4 secondary selections and i don't think any of them are worth a dang unless they really step it up next year. last years draft was a bit better. Cush and i really like quinn's game. Barwin, caldwell, casey are all smaller contributers but still capable of plays (too bad for Hill too because i think he can be solid). But again...2 more secondary picks who were not that impressive (nolan and mccain). Oh course, 2006 was the freakish year with mario, demeco, OD, SPencer and WInston. The loss of spencer still hurts because although Brown is ok, i think spencer could have been a beast. No to mention the texans would not have had to burn a 1st rounder on Duane and could have gone elsewhere. They could certainly use another 2006 to put them over the top.
