Yeah, I realize that, I guess. And I don't want to be the Lions of the D-Line. That's why I was hesitant to say I wanted to draft an End. I think if there is a good end prospect on the board when we pick (I.E. we're not reaching....I.E. no Jason Babin's). I'm not sure what type of ends will be there in free agency. Plus, I'd like to have a good, young tandem of ends. Couple them with Okoye (who I think still could be really good), and you have the basis for a great defense. Get a new coordinator, then, throw in Dunta, Demeco, Diles and Adibi (who've both shown signs of promise), and I think we're a couple secondary players away from having a very dominant, young defense. With our offense, and I believe our offense will look great and be top 10 in the league as long as Kubiak and Co. are here. and a few more players on defense, we're a playoff team in my opinion.
The thing about the Lions is that they spent such high 1st round picks on WRs when they clearly had bigger needs. And even though we have 3 1st rounders on the D-Line right now, one of our biggest needs is still a pass rush opposite Mario. In other words, if there is a DE who is worth the pick, I wouldn't mind picking him up at all. Brian Orakpo and Michael Johnson both come to mind.
It's sad how the Texans have struck out on drafting D-lineman in the 1st round (besides Mario). If they had another good pass rusher, they could cover up some of their deficiencies in the secondary. I don't mean to stretch things too far, but when I watch the Giants defense, they typify how a pass rush can carry a defense a long way. With help for Mario, the Texans could do the same thing. Of course, a lockdown corner or a disruptive LB would help too.
the giants have found most of their players without super-high draft picks too. Kiwanuka was the highest but he was at the very end of the first tround
I think they need a block eater. If you put in an enormous DT (maybe convert a nose tackle) that can overpower the middle of an OL and fill up gaps, it makes it easier on the guys on the edge.
Has Okoye not panned out or something? I don't think he looks too bad, and he's still really young. Then again, I am no expert on pass rushing. Is he not working out for us?
I would rather trade a pick for an established D-lineman, kinda like what the chiefs and vikings did. (as long as it's not the first round pick) Oh and there have been 3 holding calls in the past 2 games, that prevented mario from getting a sack. I'm adding 3 sacks to his tally
The problem is....we don't know. He was a project because he was soooo young when we took him. So we're 2 years in now, and we still don't really know what we have. Maybe he's the answer long term...or maybe he's just average to maybe below-average. He's certainly not been exceptional in any way. Teams have no problem running against us.
My biggest concern with him is the complete lack of improvement in any discernible way. Maybe I'm just not a good enough scout, but it almost seems as though he has regressed from last year. Project or not, that's not a good sign.
I think the Texans clearly missed the boat with him, even considering how young he is. Okoye has had enough games to show some snap and we should have seen something by now. If he has a lingering injury, then I retract this.
Could also be our complete lack of a defensive coaching staff. Might also explain Weaver and Johnson and Greenwood and Reeves and Faggins and................ [fade out]
The lack of improvement is a concern but it seems like the entire defense has taken a step back this season. I wouldn't give up on Okoye at all, he's only in his 2nd year and he's 21 years old. He was considered a project and it's going to take some time for him to come around (hopefully not that long). But let's not forget he had 5 Sacks the first half of last season so he's shown he can play. He has been pretty bad this season I must admit but its not like he's getting much help from anybody else on the D-Line.
Yeah, to be clear, I wasn't advocating giving up on him. I was just saying that despite his "project" status as a young player, his seeming lack of improvement is enough that I am now officially worried that he will be another bust. He needs at least one more year to say definitively so...but right now I don't have much hope for the guy.
Very valid point but we won't find out. That's one reason I was hoping Richard Smith would get canned a couple of weeks ago. That could have breathed some fresh air into the defense and the Texans could have used the last 8 games to figure out which players are worth keeping. As it is, there is a haze between how much (and exactly where) the sorry defense is on the players vs. the coaches.
also, a great WR, by his lonesome, is not going to have near the potential impact of a great DE by his lonesome... or a RB, CB, LT.... it's really kind of silly to draft a WR that high, frankly. re: okoye - he's 21. mario was 21 as a rookie and struggled all year. he was battling an injury, sure - but his strength, his speed, his instincts - they all jumped off the charts last year. i think it's still way too early to give up on okoye. let's let him grow into his body and learn to use it to his advantage. and can we PLEASE stop using the first round as a standard for travis johnson. i realize the previous regime selected him in round 1... but he is clearly not first round talent. i think it's a bit of a cheat to use "three 1st round" picks as a measuring stick.
I don't agree with you about drafting WRs that high. Players like AJ, Fitzgerald, Moss & Steve Smith (when his head is screwed on straight) are game-changing players. You just have to make the right pick. The Texans have blown it with D-linemen and the Lions flubbed it with WRs. IMO, the worst position to draft in the top 3-5 picks is RB, not WR.
well....... i wouldn't call AJ a game-changer - he's certainly not in the same league as fitzgerald, moss or smith in that regard. but all 3 are surrounded by strong complimentary parts: fitzgerald plays across from boldin and has a near-HoF'er throwing to him; moss plays for the league's best organization and in most years, its best QB (notice he didn't change too many games in oakland) and smith is set free by one of the nfl's best rushing attacks. maybe AJ's not a playmaker because he doesn't enjoy any of those luxuries. and all 3 are certainly great players. but to be a great WR that impacts games, you better have a good QB, good running game, good OL, good offensive system.... a DE, even with a poor DL, poorer secondary and questionable coaching... like, say.... oh, i don't know - mario williams, off the top of my head - can still impact a game.
You're right, AJ doesn't have those luxuries but he's still LEADING the NFL in yards and receptions. To say he isn't a playmaker/gamechanger is kinda ridiculous, especially considering he doesn't have a either one of those good things you mentioned above. Don't get me wrong, I love Mario but he's really only in on 4-5 plays a game. He's been spectacular at times but he can also completely disappear. And as good as he's been, our defense hasn't been anywhere near decent. Obviously he isn't the problem but he's not improving the defense as much as a guy like AJ does for the offense.
