Pittman could turn out to be a steal in the later rounds. I think you'll see AP, Lynch, Bush, and Irons go before Pittman so there's a good chance he'll be available in the 3rd, maybe even a possible 2nd day pick. He's a good down hill runner which would fit. Not sure if I would take him in the 3rd, we should be able to get guys w/ similar talent in the 4th or 5th possibly.
It looks like with Jamaal Anderson entering the draft either he or Gaines Adams may fall to the Texans. If the Texans go DL I would prefer they get a pass rushing DE and move Weaver to DT. Weaver only had 1 sack last year at the DE position which is unacceptable.
New mock draft just posted on nfldraftcountdown.com. 1. Raiders - Jamarcus Russell 2. Lions - Joe Thomas 3. Browns - Brady Quinn 4. Bucs - Calvin Johnson 5. Cards - Alan Branch 6. Redskins - Gaines Adams 7. Vikings - Jamaal Anderson 8. Texans - Adrian Peterson - Some may be surprised to see Peterson fall this far but not only is it possible but at this point it's almost likely. While nobody doubts his phenomenal talent there are some major durability concerns with Peterson, who was never even able to make it through a full college season without getting hurt and missing time. There are few things that will frustrate a team more than an injury-prone running back which is why he's still on the board here. The Texans actually already have a solid running back with durability problems in Domanick Williams (formerly Davis) but he's coming off a major injury and can't be counted on at this point and they certainly can't go into another season expecting the likes of Ron Dayne, Wali Lundy and Samkon Gado to carry the load. Some may counter that Gary Kubiak comes from the Denver system and doesn't believe in using first round picks on runners but they failed to turn the also-rans they had into studs like the Broncos consistently do and Peterson is a rare prospect. Bringing in a local hometown hero like Peterson might also alleviate some of the pain the Houston fan base feels and help eliminate some of the ill will that has been aimed at the franchise since they took a pass on Vince Young. 9. Dolphins - Amobi Okoye 10. Falcons - Leon Hall http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/sub/mockdraft.html
Check out this Adrian Peterson highlight clip. At about 23 seconds into it this poor high school kid gets destroyed. LOL. http://youtube.com/watch?v=9lmuVpNYVIg
That all makes pretty good sense to me. With all the underclassmen declaring in the last few weeks, it's looking to me like AP may actually fall to us. And don't believe the myth that Kubiak won't take a RB in the 1st round. Kubiak himself says that we need more "playmakers". I think it's safe to say that AP is a "playmaker". He was a threat to break one every time he touched the ball in college. And he could do it by either running around the corner OR between the tackles.
While nobody doubts his phenomenal talent there are some major durability concerns with Peterson, who was never even able to make it through a full college season without getting hurt and missing time. This is a deal breaker. You know he got hurt in college. Against bigger, stronger NFL defenses, it is a fait accompli. Bringing in a local hometown hero like Peterson might also alleviate some of the pain the Houston fan base feels and help eliminate some of the ill will that has been aimed at the franchise since they took a pass on Vince Young. I think Kubiak is more interested in building a playoff powerhouse, versus keeping local fans happy via draft selections.
I believe Weaver played DT for most of the season w/ Kalu, Babin, and Peek playing RE. As far as the nfldraftcountdown.com mock, I just don't see how the Lions could come out w/o a QB (but they are the Lions). As much as we b**** about Carr, I'd be even more pissed if Kitna was our guy. I'm not a Quinn fan, but the Lions could be lucky that Russell's stock has risen this high. Also interesting to see Hall make it back into the Top 10. After that horrible performance vs. USC, a lot of mocks dropped him out of the Top 10 and moved up Nelson and Landry.
What people are underestimating is how much Peterson has declined because of these injuries. When he played this year, even though he was effective, he wasn't nearly the powerful runner that he was as a freshman. I think people wanting Peterson are expecting the freshman Peterson. That guy was worth a top-five draft pick, but he doesn't exist anymore. Had he been evaluated on this season alone, Peterson would be a late-first-rounder at best.
I'm torn on the AP injury issue. No pun intended. On one hand, his injuries were not serious injuries that linger like a knee or shoulder. Some would even argue that they were 'freak' injuries. I mean, who hurts their collarbone while diving into the end zone? Plus, with all the games he missed in college, you would think that it would add years to his career, not subtract them. On the other hand, some people say his running style lends itself to being injured more. That makes sense, but isn't that the exact running style you want out of an NFL RB?
By definition, a NFL RB who gets 25+ carries a game is going to take a lot of hits. It would not surprise me to see AP falling to late first round (or even later).
I too am torn on AP, unfortunately some guys are just brittle. I think on the running style, most commentators are talking about him running very upright vs getting his shoulders low and running behinds his pads. This would subject him to more contact, although EGeorge ran farily upright and it didn't seem to bother him. If there is a stud Olineman or Dlineman I would almost lean that way. If you can control the LOS on both sides you can win alot of games. Maybe Michael Bush would be there in round 2, or maybe Kenny Irons drops - that would be sweet.
Odds are that Kenny Irons has dropped out of the first round. He'd be a great pick-up in the second round, but you have to remember that he has the same running style and injury concerns as Peterson. He played through his injuries, but he was definitely affected.
When AP plays he looks great to me. Powerfull, fuild, strong, instinctive. If he was injury free he would be a nobrainer top 3 pick. It is because he has had some injuries he might be available at all at #8. I think it is a risk the Texans need to make. As for running style, Erik D, Curtis Martin, S. Alexander and Marcus Allen are 4 guys off the top of my head with upright styles with long careers. Martin even had bad injuries in college--why he slid so far. Some times the draft and NFL health prognosis is a crap shoot, given AP hasn't had any injuries you might question his return (Amare type knee injury) I think you have to roll the dice if you are the Texans. Don't concerns about his style and its associated durability overriding his great playmaking ability sound like what we heard last year? We do know AP seems to heal well and plays with injuries, NFL RBs are bound to get injured, Emmitt Smith played on a 2nd or 3rd degree seperated shoulder with a superbowl run on the line, Alexander did his best to help his team this year--part of the game. The Texans should not overthink this one, if AP is there they should take him, I don't think there will be near a defensive or another offensive player with his likelihood of making a major difference for the team.
Yep, I'm starting to lean this way as well. I wanted us to take a DT in the 1st round to free up Mario to pass rush without having to worry about stopping the run....but, if AP is there at #8, I don't think you can pass him up. Too much upside. Agree about the running style. Eric Dickerson is the guy I thought of the first time I saw AP run in college. Dickerson worked out OK for the Rams. As far as injuries are concerned, every player in the NFL is injury prone. Football is a rough game and everyone gets hurt. Unless he has a lingering injury (and all reports say he is 100% recovered from his), you can't let that disuede you from picking him. You have to roll the dice with AP...if he's there at #8.
I disagree completely. This is a team that needs improvement at QB, RB, OL, DL, LB, C, FS, SS, P, and K. When you've got that many weaknesses, you don't gamble with a first round draft pick. If a dominant RB was the piece that would put the Texans over the top, I'd agree. But that's definitely not the case. And with this many holes, you do not pick a player who has been injured more than he's played since high school.
Everything is a gamble in the NFL draft. Over a third of 1st overall picks fail regardless of position--QBs, RBs, OTs, DLs--and the % just goes up from their. You have the whole rest of the draft and free agency to try to fill holes, but the Texans need a force and a horse, and AP has as good a chance as any to be one, AND fits a desperate need. I think if AP is there at #8 I don't expect there to be an AP equal talent at QB, OT, DL, don't take a lesser talent just because it is safer.
I have to disagree. Obviously AP has been severely hamperd by injuries, but you're not evaluating him on this season alone. You have to look at his entire body of work. If you feel like he cannot stay healthy, then I will understand, but you cannot tell me he is a late-first rounder at best. Even if you were evaluated on this season alone, AP still ran for over 1,000 yards and 12 TD despite missing the entire 2nd half of the season!! That's even more impressive when factoring in that OU didn't have much of a passing game at all.
They say they need playmakers, but that could mean anyone or anything. The bears,chargers and Ravens have as many playmakers on defense as offense. I think the texans can move back to around 16 and get Peterson or even lynch. If you look at the teams drafting after Texans, none are in the market for a rb and after gb you get into the playoff teams who do not need a 1st rd back either. Pick Team Record Strength of schedule 1. Oakland 2-14 .555 2. Detroit 3-13 .479 3t. Cleveland (x) 4-12 .535 3t. Tampa Bay (x) 4-12 .535 5. Arizona 5-11 .500 6. Washington 5-11 .512 7. Minnesota 6-10 .539 8. Houston 6-10 .500 9. Miami 6-10 .504 10. Atlanta 7-9 .457 11. San Francisco 7-9 .500 12. Buffalo 7-9 .574 13. St. Louis 8-8 .465 14. Carolina 8-8 .473 15. Pittsburgh 8-8 .496 16. Green Bay 8-8 .500 17. Jacksonville 8-8 .531 18. Cincinnati 8-8 .535 19. Tennessee 8-8 .570 20. N.Y. Giants (y) 8-8 .520 21. Denver 9-7 .531 22. Dallas 9-7 .457 23. Kansas City 9-7 .492 24. New England (from Seattle -- y) 9-7 .453 25. N.Y. Jets (y) 10-6 .469 26. Philadelphia (y) 10-6 .449 27. New Orleans (y) 10-6 .461 28. New England (y) 12-4 .496 29. Indianapolis (y) 12-4 .500 30. Chicago (y) 13-3 .430 31. Baltimore (y) 13-3 .461 32. San Diego (y) 14-2 .457 Before you get to Green Bay, the only team that might take a rb will be Buffalo if they're not happy with McGahee. If thats the case, texans could make a case for him. I ould like to see them move back and maybe pick up extra picks. Unlike last yr, no one in the top 10 wanted to move up because consensus was every player in the top was equal. If it was me here's what i would do. 1st i would try to move back to right before green bay and maybe pick up a 3rd. If bg realy wanted my pick, i would trade with them and get a 2nd from them. I would draft either Landry,Okoye,or anderson at 16. With the extra 2nd rd pick i would give that up for either turner 1st, jones 2nd, or Mcgahee 3rd. With my other 2nd rd pick i would take either hughes who may fall, merriweather who proobably will be their because of the incident, or Meecham who will probably be there. If i could come out with one of the rbs, landry,okoye or anderson, plus meecham or mwerriweather, i'm ready to roll. Of course its easier said than done.
I think you do as well. AP is a top 3 talent in this draft, and the only reason he may slide to #8 is because of his past injuries. I think you roll the dice and hope that he can have a for the most part healthy career.
What about both patriot #1's for our 8th???? We could draft Blalock, M. Griffin, Jarcis Moss, Paul Posluszny, Antonio Pitmann, etc....
