2011?

[painekiller]

11 Aldon Smith Missouri OLB34 6-5 260

Aldon Smith has been moving up the Big Board and the athletic pass-rusher from Mizzou has to prove he can make the conversion to an all-around OLB in Wade Phillips 3-4 alignment. He did play on two feet for the Tigers, most often rushing the passer. Training in coverage responsibilities will be the next step in his progression. At 6'5" and 260 lbs, he immediately adds a presence to the flanks. If a team doesn't have OLB's, there is no point in running a 3-4! - Long Ball

42 Christian Ballard Iowa DE34 6-4 288

The front 7 conversion project of Wade's 3-4 continues - Ballard was the 2nd best pass-rusher in the Senior Bowl to Cameron Jordan and plays the game with a tenacity and passion not often seen today. After Smith (OLB34) in the 1st round, this is the next building block in Houston's conversion to a 3-4 defense. The Texans' current roster only has 2 candidates to play DE in a 3-4: Mario Williams and Antonio Smith. Ballard compliments this duo nicely and provides an excellent rotation pattern for the 3-man line. - Long Ball

73 Robert Sands West Virginia FS
104 Cliff Matthews South Carolina OLB34
141 Will Rackley Lehigh OG
172 Justin Rogers Richmond CB
202 Harold Ayodele Emporia State DT34

I don't see this as a Texans draft, especially towards the end.

[painekiller]

11 Robert Quinn* DE UNC 6' 5" 260
42 Drake Nevis DT LSU 6' 1" 300
73 Tyler Sash* S Iowa 6' 1" 210
104 Darvin Adams* WR Auburn 6' 3" 185
135 Caleb Schlauderaff OG Utah 6' 4" 300
173 Chris White ILB Mississippi State 6' 4" 245
202 Henry Hynoski* FB Pittsburgh 6' 2" 260

only two changes were made, the top pick and the last pick. I don't think FB is on our radar with a probowl FB on the roster. Also I do not see McNair giving a huge contract to a guy with this many question marks.

[Blitzwood]

Originally Posted by painekiller

11 Robert Quinn* DE UNC 6' 5" 260
42 Drake Nevis DT LSU 6' 1" 300

Those two players are my ideal selections at their respected draft positions.

Drafttek has Marcell Dareus still available on their mock when we select Aldon Smith, but I don't think there's any chance that he gets by us if he's still there...

[Nconroe]

Are ya'll watching the combine some on NFL network.

The next few days should be defense turn.

This articles covers some pass rushers Texans might target, DE or OLB
http://www.houstontexans.com/news/ar...c-6483ea6968ca

and a nice interview with Tim Bulman on his anticipated role as DE in new 3-4
http://www.houstontexans.com/news/ar...9-635329eef817

[painekiller]

11 Robert Quinn* DE UNC 6' 5" 260
42 Titus Young WR Boise State 5' 11" 170
73 Jonathan Baldwin* WR Pittsburgh 6' 5" 225
104 Colin McCarthy OLB Miami 6' 3" 240
135 Mario Butler CB Georgia Tech 6' 1" 185
173 Colin Baxter OC Arizona 6' 4" 295
202 Tyrod Taylor QB Virginia Tech 6' 1" 215

one of the worse mocks I have seen, 4 offensive picks when we have the worse defense in the league.

11 J.J. Watt* DE Wisconsin 6' 6" 285 or Stephen Paea DE/NT? Oregon State 6' 1" 303 (I prefer to trade down here)
42 Dontay Moch OLB Nevada 6' 1" 245
73 Stefen Wisniewski OG Penn State 6' 3" 297
104 Sione Fua DT Stanford 6' 2" 307
135 Shiloh Keo S Idaho 5' 11" 210
173 Jalil Brown CB Colorado 6' 1" 205
202 Chas Henry PT Florida 6' 3" 215

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

Are ya'll watching the combine some on NFL network.

Yes. I am recording it so I can watch and re-watch until I've nitpicked it to death.

[painekiller]

here is there take on the Texans 5 picks in this mock:

#11 Houston Texans: Robert Quinn, DE/OLB, North Carolina
With the shift to Wade Phillips' 3-4, Houston will need a nose tackle to pair with ends Mario Williams and Antonio Smith. DeMeco Ryans and Brian Cushing would play inside linebacker, while the outside pass rushers would be Connor Barwin and... umm... Robert Quinn.

Quinn missed the 2010 season because the NCAA is ridiculously stupid, hypocritical and tyrannical. If he had played, he'd probably be a consensus top-five prospect, so Houston is getting major value with this selection.

Other 2011 NFL Draft Possibilities:

1. Aldon Smith, DE/OLB - Other rush linebacker options. If Robert Quinn is off the board, Aldon Smith could be Houston's new pass-rusher.

2. Cameron Jordan or J.J. Watt, DE/DT - The Texans want an upgrade at five technique, and either Cameron Jordan or J.J. Watt could be the best player on Houston's board.

3. Prince Amukamara, CB - Prince Amukamara could be the pick if he's available. The Texans are looking for a top-flight cornerback to pair with Kareem Jackson.

#42 Houston Texans: Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
The Texans will be targeting a rush linebacker and a cornerback with their top two selections in the 2011 NFL Draft. Robert Quinn filled the former need with the 11th pick in the first round. Brandon Harris, the top player available, would satisfy the latter.

Despite taking Kareem Jackson in the first round of last year's draft, Houston still must address the cornerback position. Kareem Jackson has to improve, while Glover Quin would be better served as the nickel or free safety.

#73 Houston Texans: Jerrell Powe, NT, Ole Miss
With Amobi Okoye as their only option, the Texans are in the market for a nose tackle. Jerrell Powe is certainly worth taking in the third round.

#104 Houston Texans: Deunta Williams, FS, North Carolina
The Texans desperately need to address both safety positions this offseason. Free safety is more dire, as Eugene Wilson was recently released.

#135 Houston Texans: Joe Lefeged, S, Rutgers
Bernard Pollard is great in run support, but he's a huge liability in coverage. That's not a good thing if you're trying to beat Peyton Manning twice a year.

How can I complain about Quinn, Harris, Powe, Williams and Lefeged, my only issue I don't have many of these guys available when we take them in this mock.

With no starting safeties on the team any more, safeties has become a huge need with this team. Quinn and Nolan maybe the safeties next year, and I can be ok with that, but we need a talent influx and numbers added to the DBs on this team.

[Blitzwood]

Originally Posted by painekiller

With no starting safeties on the team any more, safeties has become a huge need with this team. Quinn and Nolan maybe the safeties next year, and I can be ok with that, but we need a talent influx and numbers added to the DBs on this team.

I thought they would try out S. McManis at FS, guess they still could.


My take using walters

11. Robert Quinn, OLB, UNC
42. Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami
73. Ahmad Black, S, Florida
104. Nate Irving, ILB, N.C. State
135. Ugo Chinasa, 3-4DE, Oklahoma State
173. Chykie Brown, CB, Texas

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by painekiller

here is there take on the Texans 5 picks in this mock:


How can I complain about Quinn, Harris, Powe, Williams and Lefeged, my only issue I don't have many of these guys available when we take them in this mock.

With no starting safeties on the team any more, safeties has become a huge need with this team. Quinn and Nolan maybe the safeties next year, and I can be ok with that, but we need a talent influx and numbers added to the DBs on this team.

They added a 6th round

Houston Texans: Steven Friday, DE/OLB, Virginia Tech
I'd be pretty surprised if the Texans didn't draft multiple rush linebackers this April for their new 3-4 defense.

As for my cherry pick?

11 Phil Taylor, NT, Baylor why not? they have him at 21, and in this draft the difference between 11 and 27 is not so much in terms of talent, just few superstars.
42 Brooks Reed, DE/OLB, Arizona
73 Dontay Moch, DE/OLB, Nevada
104 Deunta Williams, FS, North Carolina
135 Kenrick Ellis, NT, Hampton
173 Jalil Brown, CB, Colorado