It is amazing how poorly their draft classes have aged. Starting 2009, they looked like they knew what they were doing. Cushing was rolling, Brown looked solid, Amobi and Jacoby were supposed to have their "breakout" years, Bennet was contributing regularly, Slaton had surprised everyone. But with Cushing getting busted, Kareem falling down (again), Jacoby failing to secure the #2 spot, Fred Bennett getting cut, Molden unable to crack the starting lineup, and Amobi basically settling into mediocrity... this looks like one of the most draft-inept front offices in the entire league.
Not how I recall it in the slightest. I, and many many others, had an immediate "Say What?!" reaction to the pick. That he was expected to go in the second, that people wanted Kyle Wilson as CB, worried about his reputation as being a run game tackler and not strong in coverage, and most settled into a "well, I guess we'll give him the benefit of the doubt" The team drafts well on offense and with LBs...and have been inept selecting DBs. I'm praying that with the new staff members, there will be acceptable input on defensive player evaluation.
One of the people you didn't mention, that I got a chance to see quite a bit of this year is JJ Watt from Wisconsin. With a strong combine, which I think he'll have (I could be dead wrong here, but he already is known to have good speed for his size), I could see him going somewhere around 15-20. You guys are going to think I'm crazy, but I wish we could somehow trade down, get a pick somewhere between 15-20, take Watt. Hopefully, in that trade, we'd get another low first or high second rounder, with which, I would want to take.....Jonathan Baldwin. I like this guy as a second receiver. He didn't have a great quarterback at Pitt, but from the games I watched of him, the guy is a playmaker.
In my future draft evaluations, I am going to look for truly gifted, disruptive players that play better than ranked guys they face, AND that play for crappy teams. That way, you know that your guy is really good, not just getting propped up by the rest of a really good team. We all agree that Jackson was propped up by Alabama's front 7 where as McCourty shined at Rutgers. Yes, Jackson was universally ranked as the 4th CB, but, was considered to be NFL ready on day 1, where some of the others were higher ceiling, higher risk. And, the Texans had to hit on a guy who could play in year 1. My reaction to the pick was "yeah, that makes sense". Hmm, Buffalo might want to trade down to #11 to take Cam at a lower salary. Would you trade a 1 and 2 for the #3?
Precisely what I remember. In most mocks, Jackson was a borderline number 5 cornerback. If that. When it came time for the Texans to pick, there were people who wanted McCourty, and people who wanted Wilson. I wanted Wilson. Still too early to tell on those two, but McCourty had a better year. When they announced Kareem, I think most people were shocked. I was. I didn't like it one bit, mainly because he wasn't one of the top 2 rated CBs still left on the board.
First rankings I pulled up have him at 5. He was the fourth best left when we picked.(Scout.com) Second site has him at 4th best. He was third highest rated available when we drafted him. He is mentioned twice as being a "solid second round pick" that will "probably be drafted in round 2." (Walterfootball.com) Next site has him at number 8. (In your defense, they listed Earl Thomas as a cornerback). They say he is entering the draft prematurely. He would have been the sixth best cornerback on the board at our pick (considering Joe Haden was the only true cornerback picked ahead of us, but Earl Thomas is gone, too). (nflsoup.com...not sure how credible they are...let's not give them much credit) Next site has him at fifth. He would have been the fourth best available. "Some questioned his decision to come out early, but as a likely second-round pick, this decision is looking pretty good." (xtrapointfootball.com) Next site has him at fifth. Same deal, fourth best available. (footballsfuture.com) Mike Mayock had him rated at number three, behind Haden and Wilson. Second best available. I can only find McShay's top 3 corners, and Kareem isn't in it. So, presumably he's fourth or fifth (depending whether he has him behind McCourty or not). Haden was the only one taken before us on his rankings. Having a tough time finding Kiper's. As you see, though, I would say that Jackson averaged at being rated between the 4th-5th best cornerback. Results tend to lean toward fifth. Fact of the matter is, too, that there was only one corner taken ahead of Kareem, thus making him look like a reach. Where did I skew those numbers?
3 or 4 is about right. It was not a crazy choice in context of need, availability, and experience; only in the hindsight looking at his rookie year. If we've learned anything from the choice, I think closing speed is paramount for CB's in the NFL. The schemes are so sophisticated to get players a half step open (screens!) an NFL cover needs to make up ground after the QB has committed to the throw. You just don't have much choice against 6'3" 220 lb WR's that run 4.4's out of a 3 wide set.
I was including foster and schaub as "draft day" moves even if one was a trade and the other was an undrafted rookie signing. Foster is a game changing running back, almost the best in the league, some would even say all pro? And yes, schaub can throw for 10,000 yards in a season, along with 60 tds, but as long as the team remains a non playoff contender none of it matters. schaub is talented at his craft. My impact players: Matt Foster Cushing Barwin The first two are around 2/3 of the offense. It's obvious that the philosophy in drafting DTs and Cbs has to change. With wade now running things, cornerbacks will be scouted for COVERING skills and not how good they are against the run. DTs who can eat up space and not quick ones who can't even grow facial hair would be nice. Casey and Quin will get better. I'm more than pleased with what we got through draft day acquisitions (not including that disasterous 2010 draft). What the kids need now is to be surrounded by older and better kids at the CB position and Nose tackle postion via free agency. Knowing our history with Free agency, I too have lost faith that it will happen. So in the end, what are we really arguing about? My thoughts: Tio mcnair should either sell the team to a mexican billionaire or a saudi arabian billionaire. They probably know more about NFL football than mcnair; or he should just shut up and give Wade the money so he can shop for the groceries.(if there is FA) Why should mcnair shut up? 2003-record 5-11. In six of those defeats, the texans were close. Very very close. They took the super patriots to overtime. President Bush sent Mcnair a texty text saying how heartbroken he was that adam vinatieri drove in a game winning field goal. We've been on the right track for 8 years now. That's like 25 ex girlfriends ago.
I'm not saying that anyone could fairly say that they *knew* he was going to play so badly....but (diplomatically) a good percentage of folks did not share the view that he was a safe pick but were willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. His glaring issues on the field (recovery/closing speed a huge one) were things that a sharper franchise should have sniffed out (and I believe they did so).
No, 5 or maybe 4 is about right. It wasn't crazy that we took a corner. What was crazy is that we reached for a corner that was universally rated as the third (at least) best remaining. I hated the pick, personally, but I have the front office the benefit ot the doubt. A year later, its looking bad. Let's hope Kareem spends the off-season learning how to stay upright and shows improvement. Or that he gets moved to safety, where I think he'd excell. Also, I'll say this: while a handful of rookie corners played better than Kareem, they weren't expected to be.the savior of the league's worst secondary like he was.
That's true - but blame the blueprint of Rick Smith, rather than rushing to declare Jackson a bust for the sake of argument convenience. I don't remember anyone begging for McCourty, who keep in mind plays in a Bill Belichick system. I remember almost everyone asking "WHY NOT KYLE WILSON?!?!", who has looked absolutely horrid in his very limited playing time for the Jets this season. The difference is, of course, that the Jets weren't stupid enough to give the keys to the secondary to a rookie playing the toughest position to learn at the NFL level. I'm not ready to give up on Kareem or say he was a wasted pick, and I hope the organization takes the same view. The "concept" was an awful one, and Rick Smith deserves a lot of criticism for it - but we need to draw the line between bashing Smith for that and prematurely judging the pick. Otherwise, that's exactly how you end up with cases like Tramon Williams, who the Texans cut after one year and developed into a Pro Bowler in Green Bay. CB is a position that is notorious for taking 2-3 years, and patience is necessary to evaluate.
I worked fine with Dunta. I think their expectation is he would be at least adequate his first season.
That's one example out of thousands - hardly something to use as an appropriate baseline. In addition, immediate expectations are higher for a top 10 pick than one at 20. Good executives understand exceptions to the rule. I understand what their expectation was, but it was a completely unrealistic and silly one, and part of the Smith problem. imo, expecting a rookie CB from the latter half of the first round to step in and be a league-average starter from Day 1 is foolish.
Was looking/going through old threads(for something else) and found this: Texans projected for 6 wins. Wasnt so crazy after all
A couple of weeks ago, I came across a list of the top 250 prospects going into the 2009 college football season. http://cfn.scout.com/2/856941.html Kareem was listed as the 22nd best CB prospect and was expected to be undrafted. Now, it's only one list, but it makes it look like Jackson wasn't considered much of a prospect before that 2009 season while guys like Haden and Wilson were.
I've tried to steer clear of most of these threads as retaining Kubiak has just really taken the wind out of my sails. Jackson came out of an Alabama defense that could probably give some pro teams a run for their money. However, Jackson played on a team that had a tremendous pass rush that afforded him opportunities that he currently does not have with the Texans. I think Jackson will be okay, as the biggest shock to him last season was the speed with which the game is played. Most rookies are asked after the season what the biggest adjustment they had to make was and more often than not they talk about how much faster the game is in the pros. My problem with Smith and Kubiak when they approach the draft is that they like to target players that are projects. Aside from the 2006 draft, the rest of the drafts between 2007 and now have produced how many productive players? The Texans do not have the luxury of picking a project player in the second (Barwin) or third round (Jones), take the guy that was solid his entire college career. Okoye is a bust bar none and what hurts is that Revis, Merriweather and some other solid defensive players were taken after him. IMO the Texans try to outsmart everyone and take a guy that high because he "fits the system" as opposed to drafting for need. Its just frustrating to see the Texans whiff on picks that they really need to hit on.
I still have hope for him. Like others have said, it usually takes 2 to 3 years to develop. I'm just a little skeptical. The more I think about him, though, the more I think a new set of coaches will do him a lot of good. I will never judge someone a bust after one year.
Dunta was a rare example where his 1st season was his best year, and he pretty much went a little bit down hill since...Now he is average at best...The sad thing is we'd take average quick opposite Quin. Man, more than anything we need an awesome corner...I know some might say NT, but we can hang with Mitchell imo...OLB in draft...prefer free agent corner if possible though...
