My Lessons for next year

[nero THE zero]

Another thing Smithiak seems to like to do is draft a high-potential-project fairly high in the draft. They've done it with Amobi, Jacoby, Molden, and now Barwin.

They also seem to like small school guys and guys from the Carolinas/VA. I was actually surprised that we went to the SW a couple of times in this draft. I was starting to think we didn't have scouts that worked that area of the country.

[Nconroe]

not sure if this is valid observtion, but seems the spots where we have a veteran complaining about wanting a better, updated contract even if he is not yet an RFA or FA, is where we drafted and brought in FA, maybe just depth or maybe a backup plan. Sometimes giving the boss a hard time is not a good negotiating tactic even if it is just business, things get personal real easy.

so, these aren't seen as draft needs yet, but maybe will be. is this what NE does. they seem to always get these compensatory draft picks and keep rebuilding while letting seeming good plyers go as FA. and they fill in with a few over the hill FA that know how to play smart and just want to win. easier to do when you have that winning track record and proven QB on your side.

and Smithiak do seem to find guys we all think are like rank 30 at their position by draft analysts, but then you start looking at their background and they have a good chance to succeed in nfl, as good a chance as anyone . Our first three picks were players ranked near those spots, below that seemed reaches by most boards, but we'll see. one extra TE pick doesn't bother me since we did seem to stress flexibility in our choices this year and the value seemed obvious for the pick. always could be trade if someone needs this position, which seemed to be a strategy of previous regime, ie. draft for trade value, not sure that worked to well.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by nero THE zero

Another thing Smithiak seems to like to do is draft a high-potential-project fairly high in the draft. They've done it with Amobi, Jacoby, Molden, and now Barwin.

Going into the Draft the Texans biggest top priority need arguably was finding an edge-rusher to play at the other end of the DLine from Mario in passing situations: Barwin, an unpolished but nevertheless talented pass-rusher, was drafted to meet that need now, this year.

[nero THE zero]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Going into the Draft the Texans biggest top priority need arguably was finding an edge-rusher to play at the other end of the DLine from Mario in passing situations: Barwin, an unpolished but nevertheless talented pass-rusher, was drafted to meet that need now, this year.

Barwin has played one year as a DE in the Big East.

Are you trying to say he's not a project?

[barrett]

Originally Posted by nero THE zero

Barwin has played one year as a DE in the Big East.

Are you trying to say he's not a project?

A guy who had double digit sacks in a major conference can't be called a project.

Now you can say he has only started reaching his potential due to his inexperience at the position, but he has production at that spot already. He is not a project.

[nero THE zero]

Originally Posted by barrett

A guy who had double digit sacks in a major conference can't be called a project.

Now you can say he has only started reaching his potential due to his inexperience at the position, but he has production at that spot already. He is not a project.

He's played the position for one year. Being inexperienced inherently means that he's a project, the two things are synonymous.

Read his scouting profiles, everyone of them is littered with the words raw and potential. That means he's a project.

You can argue semantics all you want. But my point still stands; Another thing Smithiak seems to like to do is draft a high-potential-project/raw/inexperienced (players) fairly high in the draft. They've done it with Amobi, Jacoby, Molden, and now Barwin.

Tomato:tomato

[barrett]

Originally Posted by nero THE zero

He's played the position for one year. Being inexperienced inherently means that he's a project, the two things are synonymous.

Read his scouting profiles, everyone of them is littered with the words raw and potential. That means he's a project.

You can argue semantics all you want. But my point still stands; Another thing Smithiak seems to like to do is draft a high-potential-project/raw/inexperienced (players) fairly high in the draft. They've done it with Amobi, Jacoby, Molden, and now Barwin.

Tomato:tomato

A project is a guy who is drafted based on what you are projecting, not based on what you have seen. And because it's based on projections, it is a guy who you are prepared to wait on for development.

Barwin on the other hand was the team MVP for a team that made it to the BCS, 1st team Big East (led the conference in sacks), and an All-American. You cannot be an All-American DE and be considered a project at that same position.

[Joshua]

I think you guys are probably talking past each other a little bit and both have a point. Clearly, Barwin produced in college, although it is a limited sample size of 1 year. However, by most accounts, he produced without being technically sound, with a limited number of pass rush moves, and with just very little experience at the position in general. I don't think it's wrong to assume that to be successful in the NFL, one generally needs more than athleticism and some technical proficiency at your position is necessary (I seem to recall numerous discussions of Mario's lack of pass rushing moves (swim, spin, etc.) early on). Thus, I don't think it's wrong to categorize Barwin as a project in that sense. However, he did produce at a high level in college without much experience at the position which is encouraging.

[nero THE zero]

Originally Posted by barrett

A project is a guy who is drafted based on what you are projecting, not based on what you have seen. And because it's based on projections, it is a guy who you are prepared to wait on for development.

Barwin on the other hand was the team MVP for a team that made it to the BCS, 1st team Big East (led the conference in sacks), and an All-American. You cannot be an All-American DE and be considered a project at that same position.

We're working off different definitions of "project."

To me, a project is a guy who takes an extraordinary amount of work, for a number of possible reasons, to develop to realize his potential. It could be because he was new to/inexperienced at his position (ie. Barwin), was extremely young (ie. Amobi), or played in a small conference against inferior competition (ie. Jacoby.)

Again, that's not to say that Barwin won't succeed in the NFL. But, it is going to take more work on Barwin to develop his pass rushing skills and DE acumen because of his lack of experience at the position. That is, by definition, a project.

Again; You can argue semantics all you want. But my point still stands; Another thing Smithiak seems to like to do is draft a high-potential-project/raw/inexperienced (players) fairly high in the draft. They've done it with Amobi, Jacoby, Molden, and now Barwin.

Tomato:tomato