I meant the best defense in the NFL. Manning was only sacked 14 times last season, the Bears had 1 sack the entire game, and our defense doesn't even come close to the Bears. My point is that we shouldn't pin our hopes on something no other team does. Peyton is going to get his, if you give him enough chances, he'll burn you. The best way to stop him is to keep him off the field
Peyton's career has shown that he is a different quarterback when he has to face the rush constantly. The whole league knows it. That's why they have geared up the pass rush and now Peyton is using all those short, quick dump off passes to backs and ends across the middle and just beyond the charging lineman. That's why you've got to have the rush and speed at the linebackers to cut off all that short stuff. It's got to be a complete defense. Steeler curtain type defense with studs in the line, backers, and fast hard hitting backfield. I still think we've got a serious running back on our roster that hasn't even gotten his shot in that Taylor kid. To me, we need a workhorse back first and foremost and for a change of pace, a scat back secondary. Taylor deserves a shot to be the workhorse back. Look, we had 3 out of 4 backs average over 4 yards per rush, Dayne, Gado, and Taylor. Taylor didn't get much action, but he is young. The other 2 guys are just mules. And we haven't even gotten to Dominick. I totally understand wanting Peterson. I just think the line is more important. Look at Indy for example. They lose a great back in James, a former #1 pick who went like #4 in his draft and replaced him with a #30 pick who was the fourth or fifth rb selected last year. A rookie back playing alongside a veteran backup running back on a team with a very good offensive line and quarterback. They never missed James. While the all-world can't miss Reggie Bush couldn't even beat out Deuce McAllister. And another back drafted after Addai was the runner up behind Vince Young for offensive rookie of the year. If we get to our pick and both AP and Okoye are on the board, we should trade down, pick up whatever else we can pick up and get Okoye with a later pick.
Another reason to pass on AP is that we could probably find a good RB later in the draft IMO...M. Bush, Irons, Pittman, S. Young all could be had in the 2nd, 3rd, maybe even a 2nd day pick. I saw a mock w/ picking Okoye at #8 and M. Bush in the 2nd, that would be a great draft IMO.
I agree with you with one exception. Even as a UT fan, stay far away from Selvin Young. He is a walking fumble. Bush or Irons were both top 10 picks prior to last season. If they can be had in the 2nd, I would also like to see the Texans trade down to get more picks. No matter how you look at them, the most glaring need is depth everywhere.
you never, ever, never pass on a player because you're expecting a viable plan b to be available 32 picks later - you have no idea, and even less control over how the draft is going to play out. and the running game is, far and away, this team's biggest need.
I for one will be in complete shock if Kubiak drafts a RB with the #8, versus a lineman. Kubiak passed on Reggie Bush and will also pass on AP.
The defense can be great, but you need to score points to win. Since it doesnt look like they will have a great QB option for next year, a prospect like AP could become a star and help the offense work. If Ap is there, he would be the best option, but if not, I would go for a safety/corner. AP is a cant miss prospect, and they cannot aford another blown first round pick
That sounds good and all--but what if you pass on a player because there's a better player at a different position? Wow, I think that's arguable.
Peterson is the opposite of a can't miss prospect. He's a feast or famine guy. He's either going to be a stud or he's going to be a bust.
i thought we started running the ball pretty well last year. i would argue it was the reason we won some games down the stretch. of the two, running or passing, i was much more confident in the Texans ability to run the ball than pass the ball. apparently kubiak felt the same way. but i'm not sure we don't have more pressing needs in the secondary, anyway.
exactly, it was. the team was 3-3 last year when their leading rusher totaled 63 or more yards (and 2 of the losses were the home games against the bills and titans, two very "winnable' games); 3-7 when they didn't. knowing this, are the rest of you comfortable going into next year with ron dayne, samkon gado and wali lundy as your RBs? with spencer/salaam at LT? pitts/weary/mckinney at G? weigert/winston at RT? we can argue what their biggest need is (though, frankly, it's depressing considering we could all make a case for 4-5 different positions); i'm merely stating that you don't let the 2nd or 3rd round dictate your first round pick regardless of what the biggest need is. and as such, if peterson represents the best upgrade available to the running game at #8 (and it's your biggest need), then you don't get cute and expect an equally viable upgrade to be available later.
Here's 20 years of draft history on running backs Running backs drafted in the first round along with other notable productive or semi-productive backs taken in draft the same year 2006 17 running backs chosen Name Round-Overall Pick number Reggie Bush 1-2, Laurence Maroney 1-21, DeAngelo Williams 1-27, Joseph Addai 1-30, LenDale White 2-45, Maurice Drew 2-60 2005 25 running backs chosen Name Round-Overall Pick number Ronnie Brown 1-2, Cedric Benson 1-4, Cadillac Williams 1-5, Frank Gore 3-65 2004 20 running backs chosen Name Round-Overall Pick number Steven Jackson 1-24, Chris Perry 1-26, Kevin Jones 1-30, Tatum Bell 2-41, Julius Jones 2-43 2003 24 running backs chosen Name Round-Overall Pick number 1-23 Willis McGahee, 1-27 Larry Johnson, 4-101 Domanick Davis, 4-105 Onterrio Smith, 4-115 Lee Suggs 2002 26 running backs chosen Name Round-Overall Pick number William Gren 1-16, T.J. Duckett 1-18, Deshaun Foster 2-34, Clinton Portis 2-51, Ladell Betts 2-56, Brian Westbrook 3-91 2001 20 running backs chosen Name Round-Overall Pick number Ladanian Tomlinson 1-5, Deuce mcAllister 1-23, Michael Bennett 1-27, Anthony Thomas 2-38, LaMont Jordan 2-49, Travis Henry 2-58, Rudi Johnson 5-100 2000 27 running backs chosen Name Round-Overall Pick number Jamal Lewis 1-5, Thomas Jones 1-7, Ron Dayne 1-11, Shaun Alexander 1-10, trung Canidate 1-31, Reuben Droughns 3-19, Mike Anderson 6-189 1999 25 running backs chosen Name Round-Overall Pick number Edgerrin James 1-4, Ricky Williams 1-5, Kevin Faulk 2-46, Olandis Gary 4-127 1998 30 running backs chosen Name Round-Overall Pick number Curtis Enis 1-5, Fred Taylor 1-9, Robert Edwards 1-18, John Avery 1-29, Ahman Green 3-76, Michael Pittman 4-95 1997 23 running backs chosen Name Round-Overall Pick number Warrick Dunn 1-12, Antowain Smith 1-23, Tiki Barber 2-36, Corey Dillon 2-43, Duce Staley 3-71 1996 32 running backs chosen Name Round-Overall Pick number Lawrence Phillips 1-6, Tim Biakabutuka 1-8, Eddie George 1-14, Mike Alstott 2-35, Stephen Davis 4-102 1995 25 running backs chosen Name Round-Overall Pick number Ki-Jana Carter 1-1, tyrone Wheatley 1-17, Napoleon Kaufman 1-18, Jaems Stewart 1-19, Rashaan Salaam 1-21, Curtis Martin 3-4, Terrell David 6-196 1994 28 running backs chosen Name Round-Overall Pick number Marshall Faulk 1-2, Greg hill 1-25, Charlie Garner 2-42, Bam Morris 3-91, Dorsey Levens 5-149 1993 20 running backs chosen Name Round-Overall Pick number Garrison Hearst 1-3, Jerome Bettis 1-10, Robert Smith 1-21, Natrone Means 2-41, Terry Kirby 3-78, Lorenzo Neal 5-89 1992 33 running backs chosen Name Round-Overall Pick number Tommy Vardell 1-9, Troy Smith 1-19, Vaughn Dunbar 1-21 1991 41 running backs chosen Name Round-Overall Pick number Leonard Russell 1-14, Harvey Williams 1-21, Jarrod Bunch 1-27, Eric Bieniemy 2-39, Ricky Watters 2-45, James Joseph 7-187 1990 45 running backs chosen Name Round-Overall Pick number Blair Thomas 1-2, Emmitt Smith 1-17, Darrell Thompson 1-19, Steve Broussard 1-20, rodney Hampton 1-24, Dexter Carter 1-25, Leroy Hoard 2-45, Larry Centers 6-115, Barry Foster 5-128, Brian Mitchell 5-130, Terry Allen 9-241 1989 45 running backs chosen Name Round-Overall Pick number Barry Sanders 1-3, Tim Worley 1-7, Sammie Smith 1-9, Eric Metcalf 1-13, Cleveland Gary 1-26, Eric Ball 2-35, Dave Meggett 5-132, Marion Butts 7-183 1988 41 running backs chosen Name Round-Overall Pick number Gaston Green 1-14, John Stephens 1-17, Lorenzo White 1-22, Brad Muster 1-23, Craig Heyward 1-24, Ickey Woods 2-4, Thurman Thomas 2-40 1987 55 running backs chosen Name Round-Overall Pick number Alonzo Highsmith 1-3, Brent Fullwood 1-4, D.J. Dozier 1-14, Paul Palmer 1-19, Roger Vick 1-21, Rod Bernstine 1-24, Terrence Flagler 1-25, Christian Okoye 2-35, Timmy Smith 5-117, Spencer Tillman 5-133
i'm not even sure what your point is...? you don't let the 2nd or 3rd round dictate how you draft in the 1st round and you sure as heck don't let past drafts dictate how you draft in the 1st round in terms of trying to formulate a pattern. because here's the only pattern that really matters: far more often than not, the best skill players in the game were taken high in the draft. case in point - in sunday's super bowl, manning, addai, harrison, wayne, clark, grossman, jones and benson (+ both starting LTs) were ALL first round picks. muhammad went in round 2; berrian round 3. only dominic rhodes (UD) and desmond clark (6th) were day 2 picks. cream usually does rise in the NFL.
Ric--if by some incredibly strange development, the following are all available at #8, which do you pick? Jamarcus Russell Adrian Peterson Joe Thomas
hmmm... well, i'm not a tremendous fan of russell's, nor, of course, do i think QB is one of the team's more pressing needs, especially given the cap ramifications. frankly, if they deem thomas zone-blocking worthy and peterson gets a clean bill of health, i'd be happy with either one.
