Time to Look Back at the Rick Smith Drafts

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by barrett

I was desperate to trade down and would have taken less than the trade chart. I said that before the draft. Then in the preseason I fell in love with Clowney off of that one great series against Atlanta. So what do I know.

You know atleast as much as any GM in the NFL when it comes to predicting the future, so as far as I'm concerned Rick Smith (and you) are off the hook for not knowing Clowney was going to have these injuries, just like the Texans' organization should not be blamed for drafting Benny Joppru back in 2003 because he ended being IRed multiple seasons for knee issues and did nothing while in Houston (or the NFL for that matter).
It just annoys me that so many people affix this "bust" label on players who fall short of expectations because of injury. Aaron Curry & Vernon Gholston are busts, but Luke Joeckel and Jadeveon Clowney are not busts, net yet anyway.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

You know atleast as much as any GM in the NFL when it comes to predicting the future, so as far as I'm concerned Rick Smith (and you) are off the hook for not knowing Clowney was going to have these injuries, just like the Texans' organization should not be blamed for drafting Benny Joppru back in 2003 because he ended being IRed multiple seasons for knee issues and did nothing while in Houston (or the NFL for that matter).
It just annoys me that so many people affix this "bust" label on players who fall short of expectations because of injury. Aaron Curry & Vernon Gholston are busts, but Luke Joeckel and Jadeveon Clowney are not busts, net yet anyway.

As long as Clowney had a clean bill of health with every team before the draft then the Texans are off the hook for taking him (but on the hook for having a poor quality field surface that injured him).

[Keith]

Originally Posted by barrett

(but on the hook for having a poor quality field surface that injured him).

I understand the trays and the seams and the potential issues that come with it... but if the field was truly an issue like this, far more than just Clowney would be hurt here more often.

At least until I see better evidence otherwise, I am not blaming Clowney's (or Welker's or that punter's or whomever's...) injury on the NRG Stadium turf. Injuries happen on all kinds of surfaces. To my (albeit untrained, non-medical) eye, Clowney looks like he has a freakish amount of weight and muscle which is certain to be a burden on his joints doing the type of freakishly athletic things he asks of them to do.