Official Texans Draft Thread

Doesn't this guy sound like Chris Sanders from the last years of the Oilers?

Sounds like a long bomb threat and that's it....

At least he'll be an improvment over Bradford. Dude's stacked like AJ.

 

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3150472

Capers eyes better pass rush
By CARLTON THOMPSON
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

The Texans will be a younger and faster defensive football team in 2005. Whether they will be better remains to be seen, but their objectives are clear, and they sent another familiar message Saturday, using their first-round pick on a position that appeared set prior to the draft.

After watching teams ahead of them gobble up the the best outside pass rushers in the draft, the Texans traded down three spots in the first round and picked Florida State defensive tackle Travis Johnson, who they hope will be a force against the run and pump some much-needed life into the team's inside pass rush.

General manager Charley Casserly and coach Dom Capers gave no indication the arrival of Johnson could have implications for veteran Gary Walker, but there's no denying that a trend seems to be developing at Reliant Park.

Starting inside linebackers Jamie Sharper and Jay Foreman were given permission to seek trades after the team signed free-agent Morlon Greenwood, who is younger than both, to play Sharper's position. Foreman and Sharper eventually were released.

The Texans, who wrapped up day one of their draft by selecting Oklahoma State running back Vernand Morency in the third round, got younger at cornerback last week when they traded a second- and a third-round pick to Oakland in exchange for Phillip Buchanon.

On Saturday, a source said veteran cornerback Aaron Glenn had been given permission to seek a trade, raising doubt as to whether the 33-year-old cornerback will be a Texan this season.

Only time will tell if Walker, 32, should be looking over his shoulder. Regardless, the Texans got younger and more athletic on a defensive line that was inconsistent and struggled to stay healthy over the past two seasons. Johnson might be the first Texans' first-round pick who doesn't start as a rookie, but the team clearly has begun a youth movement in a unit where two out of three starters are at least 30 years old. (Seth Payne is 30.)

Playing in the nickel

"Travis Johnson is a very active interior lineman, a guy we think has a combination of the size and strength to play the run," Capers said. "We see him fitting into our nickel scheme right away as an inside rusher and a guy we can fit into the rotation with our front people.

"We felt he had the most speed, athletic ability, size combination, really, of any interior lineman in the draft. He plays very aggressively. We like the motor. (He) plays hard (and) has been very productive, and we certainly liked what we saw of him on video."

Johnson's selection marked the highest pick the Texans have used on a player they drafted to play on the defensive line. The previous high was a third-round pick used on Maryland's Charles Hill, who was released a year after entering the league in 2002. Other than Johnson and Hill, the Texans had not drafted a defensive lineman earlier than the sixth round.

While waiting for the 13th overall selection of the draft, Casserly entertained calls from other teams and agreed to deal with New Orleans because he felt he could move down to the 16th spot and still get Johnson. The Texans also will get the Saints' third-round pick in next year's draft.

Having missed receiver Troy Williamson and outside linebacker prospects DeMarcus Ware and Shawne Merriman, presumably the top targets on their wish list, the Texans were content to draft Johnson despite an intriguing list of available players, including University of Texas linebacker Derrick Johnson.

"Our feelings were that there would be a group of players available at pick No. 13 that we liked," Casserly said. "That was the case, so we decided to trade back. We would have taken Travis Johnson at the 13th pick, but New Orleans offered us a chance to move back with an extra pick for next year's draft ... We felt comfortable that Johnson would still be available three picks later."

Asking about Johnson

Johnson and LSU's Marcus Spears were the top defensive tackles on most draft boards, but some teams rated Spears (drafted as an end by the Cowboys) a bit higher because of concerns about an off-field incident involving Johnson two years ago. Johnson was arrested and charged with sexual assault of a female shot putter on Florida State's track team in 2003. An all-female jury acquitted Johnson in less than 30 minutes.

The Texans were aware of the situation and did their own background check, and it also helped that Florida State linebackers coach Kevin Steele, a member of Capers' coaching staff with the Carolina Panthers, had nothing but good things to say about Johnson.

"It was really never an issue," Johnson said. "That was the only time I was ever in any trouble. I don't think it was ever really an issue, and now it's over with."

carlton.thompson@chron.com

 

Here's more on that RB we picked up in the 3rd Round:

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3150474

Morency to give Davis run for position
OSU's top rusher could push Texans' 1,000-yard back at training camp
By JOSEPH DUARTE
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

The Texans added some competition in the backfield Saturday, by using their third-round selection on Oklahoma State's Vernand Morency.

Morency, who finished eighth in the nation in rushing as a junior, is expected to challenge incumbent 1,000-yard rusher Domanick Davis and injury-prone backup Tony Hollings for playing time in the backfield.

"I'm going to compete," Morency said. "My main goal is to take the starting job. That's my whole mindset anywhere I go."

Morency was rated as the fourth-best running back prospect on several draft boards in the draft behind Auburn's Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown and Texas' Cedric Benson. All three were taken among the top five picks.

Morency, who ended up as the seventh back taken on Saturday, will be a 25-year-old rookie after playing minor league baseball in the Colorado Rockies organization and not enrolling at Oklahoma State until 2002. After becoming a full-time starter last season, Morency rushed for 1,474 yards and 12 touchdowns.

"I'm ready to showcase my ability," said Morency, who was selected with the No. 73 overall pick. "I've never been given anything; I've always worked for everything."

Morency said early projections had him being selected late in the first round or second round. Some teams may have changed their opinions after he ran 4.61 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine in February. Despite his lack of experience, Morency had a productive junior season before declaring for the NFL draft following the departure of OSU coach Les Miles to LSU.

In his 2004 opener, Morency had 264 yards against UCLA and followed the next week with 191 yards against Tulsa.

The arrival of Morency should provide the Texans with depth at one of their thinnest positions. Davis, a fourth-round selection in 2003, has rushed for 1,000 yards in each of his two NFL seasons, but his durability has been an issue.

Hollings has been bothered by nagging injuries that limited him to playing in seven games last season. Jonathan Wells, the team's leading rusher during its inaugural season, is listed as the No. 3 back on the depth chart.

"I think this gives us a very competitive situation," coach Dom Capers said. "It gives us another young runner."

Capers said Morency and Davis have similar styles. Both have tackle-breaking ability, explosiveness to get through the hole and cutback skills.

"I take bits and pieces from every other running back and try and mold my style into Vernand Morency and create my own style," he said. "I love running backs like Fred Taylor, LaDainian Tomlinson and Priest Holmes. I try and take bits and pieces of their games and put it into my game."

joseph.duarte@chron.com

 

Does anyone know about these guys?

5 - 15(151) - Drew Hodgdon C ARIZONA STATE
6 - 14(188) - Ceandris Brown S LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE
7 - 13(227) - Kenneth Pettway OLB GRAMBLING

The last round, I was hoping Casserly would pick a OLB or ILB, and he did. But who is the guy?

 

Even though it's just ****, here's Mel Kiper's draft grade to the Texans from ESPN Insider:

Houston Texans: C

Defensive tackle Travis Johnson can plug the middle and is a perfect fit for Houston's defensive scheme, and despite a lack of ideal speed running back Vernand Morency has nice pure running skills. Receiver Jerome Mathis is a great fourth-round pickup if he can maintain his concentration. The rest of the group is nothing to write home about.

 

Here's more info on our draft picks:

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3151642

Jerome Mathis
• Position: Wide receiver.
• Round/pick: 4/114.
• College: Hampton.
• Ht./wt.: 5-11, 181.
• College highlights: Averaged a touchdown every 4.4 receptions during his three-year career. His 21 total TDs were second-most in school history. ... His 26.4 yards per catch broke the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference and NCAA Division I-AA record of 24.3 yards by John Taylor of Delaware State (1982-85). ... Finished with 32 plays of at least 40 yards each. ... Mathis caught a pass in a school-record 34 consecutive games. ... Set a Division I-AA record as a senior with five kickoff returns for touchdowns, including three of at least 90 yards. ... In track, participated in the U.S. Olympic trials at 200 meters before suffering a hamstring injury. Also was the 2003 and 2004 NCAA East Regional champion at 200 meters.
• Roles with Texans: His ability to stretch the field could fill the Texans' need for a No. 2 receiver to take some of the load off Pro Bowler Andre Johnson. ... Is expected to supplant incumbent J.J. Moses on kickoff returns.
• Quotable: "He has world-class speed. He has tremendous speed, but he's not a track guy playing football. He's a football guy that runs track."
— Texans general manager Charley Casserly - Love this quote.

Drew Hodgdon
• Position: Center/guard.
• Round/pick: 5/151.
• College: Arizona State.
• Ht./wt.: 6-3, 309.
• College highlights: Made 34 starts in 45 career games. ... The Sun Devils ranked in the top 20 nationally in passing offense in each of his last three seasons. ... Shifted to center in 2003. ... Finished his senior season with 34 knockdowns and allowed only two sacks. ... Missed three games with a fractured right foot during fall workouts. ... Undefeated (70-0) as a wrestler for two years at Palo Alto (Calif.) High School.
• Role with Texans: Provides depth at guard and center.
• Quotable: "He played against some top-flight competition in the Pac-10. We think he fits in what we are trying to do."
— Charley Casserly

Ceandris Brown
• Position: Strong safety.
• Round/pick: 6/188.
• College: Louisiana-Lafayette.
• Ht./wt.: 6-0, 208.
• College highlights: Spent two seasons at Mississippi Delta Community College before transferring to ULL in 2003. ... Two-year starter for the Ragin' Cajuns. ... Finished with 168 tackles, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and five forced fumbles.
• Role with Texans: Fill holes in the secondary with the offseason losses of veterans Marlon McCree and Eric Brown. His size allows him to play both safety spots, but his immediate role will be on special teams.
• Quotable: "When you get to this point in the draft you're looking for height/weight speed guys that have had good productivity. We project him to be able to come in and contribute on special teams as he learns the system."
— Texans coach Dom Capers

Kenneth Pettway
• Position: Outside linebacker/defensive end.
• Round/pick: 7/227.
• College: Grambling State.
• Ht/wt: 6-3 7/8, 255.
• College highlights: Played his first two seasons at Southern Arkansas before transferring to Grambling and sitting out the 2002 season. ... All-Southwestern Athletic Conference first-team selection as a senior. Had 45 tackles, 8 1/2 sacks and 16 stops behind the line of scrimmage.
• Role with Texans: Has some background as a college outside linebacker, which should make for a smooth transition from defensive end in Texans' 3-4 scheme.
• Quotable: "We think he's an interesting and intriguing project at this point in the draft."
— Charley Casserly