Kevin Smith may be my favorite back coming out this year, and I think he is the type of workhorse back that the Texans need. However, he ran the ball over 400 times last year, and I wonder if he will be affected physically in the future. IMO, he may be the best back in running between the tackles coming out of this draft.
He's said hes coming back for his senior season, but with this mediocre class of backs, I think he'd be better off coming out. He isn't going to improve his status by staying another year. He already led the nation in rushing and scoring. Personally I would like the Raiders to get either Jake Long / Chris Long / Sedrick Ellis and then take Limas Sweed in the 2nd round.
That sucks, Smith would've been a lock in the 1st round this year. For the Raiders, Jake Long may be a good pick, but I think they need to first address their gaping hole in run defense. Also, isn't Asomugha a free agent? They may have a big hole at CB as well. At WR, they need immediate help, Limas Sweed is too much of a project, and probably won't be effective for a few years.
I think we need a RB, FS, LT, and CB....in that order. I really don't see a RB outside of McFadden that would be worth taking with our first round pick. I'd probably go ahead and trade our pick to get maybe 2 early 2nd round picks to draft a RB and LT. FS can be taken care of with our 3rd or free agency.
Agreed. McFadden is hands down the best RB, but guys like Stewart/Slaton/Rice/Hart/Jones/Choice will all be available in later rounds. As for Charles, he's gonna stay for his senior year where he could very well be a finalist for the Heisman. If the 2nd half of this season is any indicator of whats to come next year, he'll be the first RB taken next summer. Needs to work on holding onto the football.
How is everyone so certain Jamaal will not declare? did he say he's staying for his senior? What if he blows up the combine and his stock skyrockets?
Lately, I've really been warming up to Jonathan Stewart from Oregon for the Texans to draft, assuming he declares. He's got the prototypical size that you want out of a back in the NFL (5'11", 230 lbs.). Reminds me a lot of Steven Jackson coming out a few years ago and he is projected to go around the time that we'll be picking in the first round. A good running back would do wonders for this offense.
Jamaal said he would come back before the A&M game and he also said lastnight after the game he'll be back. Charles said after Texas’ 52-34 victory: “I didn’t think I did that good in the game. Next year maybe I’ll be up for the Heisman. I will come back.” Of course VY said he'd be back but obviously Charles isn't a lottery lock like VY was. But even with a good combine, I don't think he'd go in the first.
That's what I've been saying ... Perfect blend of speed, quickness, athleticism, heart, drive, courage, will. He's a winner and he obviously is not intimidated by big game scenarios and bowl games. My only question is ... you think he'll be there in the 3rd for us? I was thinking mid to late 1st rounder? Yes, Ian Johnson would give our running game one HELL of a signature and would make Schaub's life much easier and Kuby's life a WHOLE lot happier. I think he could be a REAL difference maker for us. He has a self-imposed will and he never quits. Would be a GREAT fit for us IMO.
I'm pretty sure he was projected to go past the 2nd round. Some people even had him as a 2nd day pick. I don't know enough about him, but I like this speed though.
Texans won't draft a running back in the first round, according to the Denver model they're supposedly following. The emergence of Selvin Young, and to a far lesser extent RBs on their own team like Darius Walker and Chris Taylor from last year, might have them still thinking the same. Hopefully they'd reconsider drafting a franchise back in the high rounds if the team really needs it. Texans woulda looked AWFUL dumb this past draft if they passed on Adrian Peterson if he'da somehow been available..(though they looked "dumb" passing the greatest college running back ever two drafts ago... ) I say trade down for EXTRA picks to make up for the Shaub trade. This current staff seems to have FAR better luck drafting players. So they could be trusted more to get players that'd contribute, regardless of the draft spot the are picked.
I gotta agree that teams have shown you don't need to use a first round pick on a running back. They typically have a short "lifespan," and look at some of the players who found success this past year. It's about a quality O-line and a system that matches the strengths of the rb's you have or are looking to acquire. It's exactly why Denver can succeed with seemingly any back they have- they look for rb's that fit well into their zone blocking scheme. Being a UT alum and huge UT fan, I've seen every one of JC's games at UT. He has game-breaking speed, but he still does have a tendency to put the ball on the turf way too much. He put on some size this past season, but he's still not great at fighting through traffic for tough yards. They are much better when they get him into space, and he can break tackles that way. He's solid at catching the ball out of the backfield. I do think his biggest asset is something you can't teach, though, and that is his speed. If you have doubts, go back and watch the OU game his freshman year, or the Nebraska and OK st. games from this season. I vote that Texans FINALLY try to draft to improve the o-line in the first round. Look at how it helped Cleveland this year.
No thanks on Charles based on the fact that he'd probably go higher than he should if he comes out. I'll say it again and again...Tashard Choice (GT) would excel in this system, imo
Stewart is the only RB that can take on a full load, which is what the Texans need. Man here's to hoping Vernon Gholston as a horrible combine .
As a Longhorn, if Charles comes out this year, you don't take him before the third round as he'd be a project. I'm pretty sure he's staying at UT, though. If he can learn to hold onto the football over the next year he can move up into the first round.
uh, McFadden is clearly way better than any other RB in this draft. You guys should watch football sometime.
He will come out this year and he will come out because he will get assured he will be drafted in the first round, which he will.
