Official 2014 NFL Draft - Round 2 & 3 Thread

[barrett]

Originally Posted by popanot

Freaking TE, C.J. Fiedorowicz!! Guess we don't need a decent QB prospect!

Welcome to Houston, Ryan Mallett!!

What do we want with a decent QB prospect? Seriously. What good does decent do us? We just spent 5 years with a guy who was better than decent and it got us nowhere.

You can draft a decent OL/DL/RB/WR/TE... But what is the point of drafting a decent QB? Do we really think O'Brien liked one of these guys, and we failed to draft him multiple times? We had our pick of the top 3 and our pick of everyone else and we passed both times. That tells me O'Brien didn't want any of them. Why go trading around the board for a QB our HC doesn't like simply because we have a need there?

We are building both lines and adding players that will allow O'Brien to play the style he wants to play (multiple TEs). It is his first draft and first chance to acquire players he wants (since we sat out FA with $20 million in dead money thanks to Kubiak).

Did anyone think we entered this draft as a team who was a QB away from winning? Then why force it? Buckle in for a losing season under a Head Coach who has the patience that only a 4-5 year leash can give. It looks like O'Brien will spend the next year remaking the roster and is content to address QB at a later date. I can't blame him with what was available.

[Warren]

Mort speculating that O'Brien was eyeing Garoppolo.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Warren

Mort speculating that O'Brien was eyeing Garoppolo.

Mort's an idiot.

Not only did O'Brien pass on Garoppolo at 33, he watched half a dozen potential QB teams draft in the 50s and never felt compelled to move up (even though we have plenty of extra picks).

All Mort is doing is perpetuating the ESPN Bristol myth that the Patriots always outsmart everyone.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by Warren

Mort speculating that O'Brien was eyeing Garoppolo.

I wonder if we could get an SEC QB in the 5th round: Mettenberger, Murray, McCaron? There's also Logan Thomas and Taj Boyd. Who knows? Tom Savage or David Fales getting anybody's hopes up?

[barrett]

If you draft a QB in round 4 or 5 and then cut him a year later nobody cares. If you draft a QB in round 1 or 2 you are tied to that guy and cannot get out from under him for a while (Gabbert, Locker, etc...).

If O'Brien doesn't want to bet his future or his job on a QB in this draft, then it is a self-serving and calculating move (and a smart one for the team), to not tie us to a QB he doesn't really believe in, just to get some young guy in here.

Either way it doesn't appear he is in any particular hurry to turn this team around (no real FA, no urgency at the most urgent position). I figured this was in store with any new coach, but especially with a guy known for doing it his way.

We will see a remade roster before we see a winning season (if we see one). And not going in big with a QB assures that O'Brien will not be judged on the results until he has his guys in place.

I am ok with taking the long view right now. If we have the right HC it will be worth it. If we don't, it just means we wasted 5 years instead of 3.

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by barrett

If you draft a QB in round 4 or 5 and then cut him a year later nobody cares. If you draft a QB in round 1 or 2 you are tied to that guy and cannot get out from under him for a while (Gabbert, Locker, etc...).

If O'Brien doesn't want to bet his future or his job on a QB in this draft, then it is a self-serving and calculating move (and a smart one for the team), to not tie us to a QB he doesn't really believe in, just to get some young guy in here.

Either way it doesn't appear he is in any particular hurry to turn this team around (no real FA, no urgency at the most urgent position). I figured this was in store with any new coach, but especially with a guy known for doing it his way.

We will see a remade roster before we see a winning season (if we see one). And not going in big with a QB assures that O'Brien will not be judged on the results until he has his guys in place.

I am ok with taking the long view right now. If we have the right HC it will be worth it. If we don't, it just means we wasted 5 years instead of 3.

This makes sense but it's nevertheless depressing to pretty much write off this year already (and probably next year as well). O'Brien better be right that there wasn't an elite QB in this draft.

[Arky]

Radio saying the Texans are moving up! 83rd pick....

[Arky]

Nix!

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[Roy P]

NT Louis Nix ok. Why not. Need a big boy in the middle.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Joshua

This makes sense but it's nevertheless depressing to pretty much write off this year already (and probably next year as well). O'Brien better be right that there wasn't an elite QB in this draft.

NFL coaches that will try to win with someone else's guys are rare. You don't get a ton of credit for winning with someone else's guys. You don't get to be declared a genius. Only pre-existing geniuses are willing to try it (Dungy and Gruden).

Bellachik guys are particularly well known for tearing down a franchise to rebuild it in their own image (McDaniels).

It's like you said, O'Brien better be right (about the QBs and everything else). But unless he was going to go way outside the box and roll the dice on Manziel, I am glad we passed on all these guys. I'll find some young guys to root for next year, I'll try not to let myself realize we have begun wasting JJ Watt's prime like we wated AJ's, and I will remain optimistic about the future.

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by barrett

NFL coaches that will try to win with someone else's guys are rare. You don't get a ton of credit for winning with someone else's guys. You don't get to be declared a genius. Only pre-existing geniuses are willing to try it (Dungy and Gruden).

Bellachik guys are particularly well known for tearing down a franchise to rebuild it in their own image (McDaniels).

It's like you said, O'Brien better be right (about the QBs and everything else). But unless he was going to go way outside the box and roll the dice on Manziel, I am glad we passed on all these guys. I'll find some young guys to root for next year, I'll try not to let myself realize we have begun wasting JJ Watt's prime like we wated AJ's, and I will remain optimistic about the future.

I wish I shared your optimism. I see Fitzpatrick as a caretaker this year. Probably go 6-10 or so. Pretty much have to draft a QB next year, which may even require us to trade up and mortgage some future picks because we can't spin our wheels without even trying to get a QB for 2 straight years. Assuming we draft one, we then have a year with the rookie getting his feet wet (maybe he can take the league by storm but I doubt it). So, 2015 is likely a lost cause as well. As it stands now, 2016 is realistically when this team can reasonably be expected to compete again.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Joshua

This makes sense but it's nevertheless depressing to pretty much write off this year already (and probably next year as well). O'Brien better be right that there wasn't an elite QB in this draft.

What makes it hurt more is that 2014, like 2013, is another opportunity for a playoff run. The division is weak, the conference is full of incomplete and/or aging playoff teams, and the schedule this fall is not all that daunting on paper.

If 2013 taught us anything, it should be that you need a QB to win. Perhaps if we were clued into the long-term plan at the position, I might feel better.

That said, I do like all of the picks made so far. But you need a QB to win.

[Warren]

Whatever QB they pick at this point, assuming they do, won't be anointed the QB of the future. I'm better with taking one of those guys under those circumstances, especially Savage or maybe Mettenberger. I think McCarrron and Murray are backups at best and I don't think Boyd is an NFL QB.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Warren

Whatever QB they pick at this point, assuming they do, won't be anointed the QB of the future. I'm better with taking one of those guys under those circumstances, especially Savage or maybe Mettenberger. I think McCarrron and Murray are backups at best and I don't think Boyd is an NFL QB.

Exactly. You just said in 1 sentence what I rambled for a page about.

[Roy P]

ILB Jordan Tripp, DE Kareem Martin, OL Brandon Thomas or OL Trai Turner could also help this roster. Interested in seeing where they are selected.