Who would I take with #20
 

It's official now, we are picking #20.

The Texans have a lot of holes IMO, and as such can be looking BPA in the 1st. Who are those guys that I would take.

C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson, if he falls to us, I think we jump, most likely gone by 15.

Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho poor showing in the 1st quarter of the Senior Bowl. In the games I watched when he played LG, he was a beast, and in the Senior Bowl, when he moved back to LG he looked solid in the 2nd quarter. IMO his poor showing may have had something to do with the move to his off side. I liken it to me trying to swing at a baseball left handed, it's not pretty. I have moved him back into my draft at 20 guys.

Earl Thomas, SS, Texas, not the top of my list, but if Gibbs wants him, who am I...

Brian Bulaga, OT, Iowa, I think he is gone, but have seen him listed as available at 20. Jump all over this guy, play him at OG or OT, move one of our OTs, Brown cough, to OG and our OL has jumped in size. Is Brown a wasted pick no you make him a guard. Bulaga, Pitts, Caldwell,Brown, Winston? Maybe.

Taylor Mays, FS, Southern California, not my choice, but if the coaches think coaching was his issue, then go for it. He did have a nice pick in Mobile.

Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan, Reminds me of Freeney. Almost unblockable at the Senior Bowl.

Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee, stud!!!! IMO.

Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State, I can see 1st round but 20?...

Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri, See above...

Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno State, even though I see him as a 2nd rounder, I do not put it past Smith to take him in the 1st. Solid back but is he worth #20.

Who would you add to this list and why and do we need to do round 2 and 3?

OT Bryan Bulaga - Improves run game. Ex: Jordan Gross.
OT Trent Williams - Improves run game. Ex: Jamal Brown.
DT Dan Williams - Reminds me of a DT in Minnesota
S Earl Thomas - Loves a playmaker, but worried about time in the tub. Maybe Reggie Nelson?
LB Sean Weatherspoon - My favorite player at a non-need postion. I think he's better than Derek Johnson and people wanted to draft him at #13.
LB *Rolando McClain - I see him going MUCH higher. Patrick Willis?
CB Patrick Robinson - Reminds me of Dunta, hopefully not in personality
CB Kyle Wilson - Carlos Rogers is my comparison.
DT Brian Price - Boom or Bust like Amobi.
CB Devin McCourty - Aaron Ross was drafted at #20.
RB Ryan Matthews - Laurence Maroney maybe?

Personally, my first option would be to target about five players I like in that range (Thomas, Iupati, Wilson, Matthews, a good OT) and then trade down into the high second and hope one is still there.

The draft chart says a 20th overall choice is worth 850 points. and a team that gave us a high second and a third would get the points advantage but I'd still do it if the pick was between 33-38. I'm betting one of those guys is still there at 33-38 and we'd gain a third-rounder and save some money at the same time.

I think the value in this draft is 2nd-3rd round. There's not a lot of guys in the first that I think are worth first-round money so trade down, double up on your mid-round picks and have something to address each key need (OL, DB, RB and DL). Kubiak/Smith have done a decent job in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th so getting an extra one will probably pay off although I'll likely curse the choice because it almost never matches who I'd would take.

I think we have a winner....

I figured he was long gone before we picked, I have to think long and hard on passing him. I agree with you the next Patrick Willis.

Could be used as the future MLB/ backup and current WILL. Possibly he moves the current MIKE to WILL?

For now, I have narrowed it down to DT Dan Williams, or FS Thomas with pick #20. JMHO. Of course I wouldn't be mad if we traded out of the first round for some good picks in the second or third.

Trading down seems to be the netter way to fly. Then we can obtain 2 or 3 more TE's!

Right now, I have Brian Price, Earl Thomas, or trading down a few spots and taking Jahvid Best or best CB available. I have cooled on Dwyer.

I like Price because of his ability to put constant pressure on QB's right up the middle forcing them out of the pocket, therefore helping our DE's. Having a true penetrating DT would do wonders for this team.

Brian Price, UCLA
Height: 6-2. Weight: 300.
Projected 40 Time: 5.05.
Projected Round (2010): Top 25 Pick.
11/20/09: A 4-3 under tackle only, Brian Price has 16.5 TFL and five sacks in 10 games as a junior.




Mike Neal, Purdue
Height: 6-4. Weight: 302.
Projected 40 Time: 4.92.
Projected Round (2010): 2-3.
11/28/09: An All-Big Ten honorable mention, Mike Neal had 34 tackles, 11.5 TFL and 5.5 sacks in 2009. His versatility certainly helps his draft stock.

Lamarr Houston, Texas
Height: 6-2. Weight: 300.
Projected 40 Time: 5.02.
Projected Round (2010): 3-4.

11/28/09: Having a monster year for the Longhorns with 37 tackles, 13.5 TFL and five sacks in 11 games.

Corey Peters, Kentucky
Height: 6-3. Weight: 295.
Projected 40 Time: 4.97.
Projected Round (2010): 4-5.
11/28/09: Having a monstrous senior campaign for the Wildcats with 49 tackles, 11 TFL and four sacks.

Nate Collins, Virginia
Height: 6-2. Weight: 290.
Projected 40 Time: 5.10.
Projected Round (2010): 5-6.
11/28/09: Has a whopping 70 tackles, 9.5 TFL and five sacks in 11 games as a senior.

He finished the year(13 games) with 23.5 TFL and 7 sacks, meaning he got 7 TFL and two sacks in his last three games.

I also like L. Houston, but most mocks have him gone by the time we pick in the second.

I'm sick of the secondary being the biggest problem. We HAVE to shore it up in this draft. I'm not a college football guy so I don't know who's worth what, but the secondary has to be bolstered BIGTIME.

There ain't much in this draft to bolster it with. We can keep throwing crap against the wall and see what sticks, I suppose. You better just get accustomed to the idea that Reeves, Quinn, and McCain are the 3 CBs who will be getting playing time. I don't know what happened to Fred Bennett. If Antwaun Molden were healthy for 16 games, we might find out if he's worth a crap.

I think the big problem is that the staff wants to disguise coverage, so they want interchangeable Safeties. We have always lacked a coverage FS. When we put in a little FS - he got hurt because he couldn't support the run. Go figure.

I disagree with about the DBs in this draft. I like a number of them and think this is a good year to fix the secondary.

But it's also a good year to fix the OL if they chose to, but IMO you can only really fix one or the other. Otherwise you are just putting band-aids on it. 1 OL guy, 1 CB, 1 S, 1 RB that is not fixing the OL and Secondary.

I try to use history to keep things in perspective. If I look back at 2005, there were a number of guys that I liked for the Secondary.

#50 Ron Bartell - He was a small school CB that caught my eye in the All-Star game and was projected in the 3rd or 4th round. Taken by Rams.

#57 Justin Miller - He was a returner that had great "cover" skills. Drafted by Jets.

#60 Kelvin Hayden - 5'10 197lbs from Illinois ran a 4.48. This guy is willing in run support. Drafted by Colts.

#62 Bryant McFadden - Fla State kid that was big enough to cover tall WR's in the red zone. Drafted by Steelers.

#72 Stanley Wilson - Stanford guy at 6' 0" running a 4.36. Drafted by Detroit Lions.

#75 Eric Green - He was 5'11" 198lbs and ran only a 4.52, so I was sure he would probably slide to the 4th round.

I'd say that Bartell, Hayden, and Green would probably start for the Texans. None of them would "solve" the Secondary woes. I'd also admit that I "missed" on Justin Miller and Stanley Wilson. So, finding a real difference maker in the 3rd or 4th to play CB is at best, long odds. So, if the Texans draft Devin McCourty at #50, I'll give them credit for trying to "fix" the secondary.

And we will not know which one of us is correct for a few years also, so see you back here is 2013 :D

I understand your concerns. I just see them differently... Which is why you and I are here.

Currently, I would say that a FS, a CB, at least ONE Guard, and a RB would be of necessity. If we do not trade down, it is hopeful that these 4 positions would be addressed in the first 4 rounds. Unfortunately, I'm not of the mindset that any of the 4 will be the BPA at #20. Especially, if Dan Williams is there at #20. I'm not even sure if this staff believes that a FS is a NEED like 90% of the fan base does. Could we sign one or more of these needs in Free Agency? I've heard that we are "interested" in Ladainian Thomas.

In my alternate universe we are able to draft FS Chris Cook, CB Devin McCourty, RG John Jerry, and RB Ben Tate. Can we get these guys in the 2nd - 5th rounds? Allowing us the ability to take the BPA in the 1st round?

How do you see John Jerry in our system, he's a classic road-grader whos much more suited to what the Cowboys or Steeler type teams look for ? I see us getting a player more like Jeff Byers or Zand Beadles in the third round who is also experienced at multiple positions. Best thing about Tate is he's probably there in late rounds - OK backhanded compliment but I really doubt the Texans use a higher pick on a back. I see them using maybe 1 Draft pick on RBs but signing 2 or more like in '09.

Jerry reminds me of Charles Spencer in terms of being a big body with good athleticism. I'd love to see him playing RG.

Jerry also had the 7th best 40 time out of ALL the OL at the Combine. A 5.15 isn't too shabby for somebody who weighs 327lbs.

Like a lot of these guys, Byers has been listed as a late round guy. That does not mean he isn't going to be drafted earlier than internet gurus have him listed. Beadles is flying a little higher.

Tate has raised his stock, making it hard for me to see him getting out of the 2nd.

But remember for every player that has now moved up, someone must be moved down.

As for Jerry, IMO he is what you said, a guy suited for the power game, not the quickness game our guys play.

In the 1st I could see us going CJ Spiller if he drops or Ryan Mathews.

In the 2nd, I see them going for someone like Mitch Pretus.

And in the 3rd, someone like Amari Spievey, Brandon Ghee, or Trevard Lindley.

That would leave someone like Kam Chancellor, Larry Asante or Darrell Stuckey in the 4th.

Then you hope Cam Thomas fallls to the 5th.

This would be a good draft but not an A+ draft.

I'd be pleasantly surprised to see John Jerry and Marshall Newhouse in Texans uniforms next year. Perhaps they could flank Antoine Caldwell and move the LOS for a Runningback like Ben Tate.

1. FS Earl Thomas
2. RB Ben Tate
3. CB Brandon Ghee
4. RG John Jerry
5. LG Marshall Newhouse
6. NT Linval Joseph
6. DT Corey Peters
7. WR Marcus Easely