Roy P's Draft Board

[Joshua]

Well, Roy, here's one guy that agrees with you on Cason -

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...08draft/1.html

Underrated: Antoine Cason, Arizona

Four-year starter. Three-time All Pac-10 honoree. Fifteen career interceptions, including three touchdowns. And a signature, nationally televised performance last season against then second-ranked Oregon in which he scored on both a 42-yard interception return and a 56-yard punt return. I'm not sure you could ask for a more solid, consistent four-year career by a major-conference cornerback (Aqib Talib turned pro early), yet he's only considered a second-rounder, well behind a guy from Troy (Leodis McKelvin) and a guy from Tennessee State (Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie). What more did the guy need to do?

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by Joshua

Well, Roy, here's one guy that agrees with you on Cason -

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...08draft/1.html

Underrated: Antoine Cason, Arizona

My understanding is Cason is considered a zone coverage CB, who maybe a FS candidate. The way I am hearing the team talk about cover types they are looking at turn and run cover guys, or man to man for us old school guys.

[Roy P]

I've read the reports about Cason being a Zone or even a "Cover-2" CB. From what I've seen though, Cason has the ability to run with WRs. I saw him running step-for-step with DeSean Jackson to deflect a pass away and DeSean is being talked about as a "speed" guy.

Cason ran a 4.45 - 40 and his 4.08 - Shuttle was impressive. The guy plays smart and could run the Secondary. He tackles and can create turnovers. I compare him to a young Ty Law, and that's not bad company.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by Roy P

I've read the reports about Cason being a Zone or even a "Cover-2" CB. From what I've seen though, Cason has the ability to run with WRs. I saw him running step-for-step with DeSean Jackson to deflect a pass away and DeSean is being talked about as a "speed" guy.

Cason ran a 4.45 - 40 and his 4.08 - Shuttle was impressive. The guy plays smart and could run the Secondary. He tackles and can create turnovers. I compare him to a young Ty Law, and that's not bad company.

I think you sold me on his quality. I know he is a leader, but I am not seeing him ranked as a 1st rounder. So Trade down for anything, get me a 4th or 3rd rounder. Trade Sage for a 3rd and then I might be happy. Might

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by painekiller

I think you sold me on his quality. I know he is a leader, but I am not seeing him ranked as a 1st rounder. So Trade down for anything, get me a 4th or 3rd rounder. Trade Sage for a 3rd and then I might be happy. Might

I guess it simply depends on where you look.


http://www.gbnreport.com/top100.html (#34)
http://www.thehuddlereport.com/ppSD/...ntboard.shtml? (1st round)
http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/rankings/top.html (#31)
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings...xpos&order=ASC (1st or 2nd round)
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings...draftyear=2008 (#31)

Now, many of these sites rank players with some thought about the draft. Mock drafts that line players up with teams who need their position will move a player up or down 10 - 15 picks. If many mocks list Chris Williams as the "logical" scenario going to the Texans at #18, then their player rankings will have him around that slot (so as to not appear to be making a reach).

Again, while I love reading what the so-called experts are projecting, I take it with a grain of salt. I think Cason has talent and some of the intangibles that made DeMeco Ryans a great draft pick. Take a look back and see where Jason Witten was projected. Hell, he was a 3rd round pick (after Joppru). I don't think anybody would be complaining now if we had "reached" for him then in the 1st round.

Trust me, I'm like you and want more picks. I'm ecstatic that Cason is not getting any of the hype that D R-C and McKelvin are getting. It would be awesome to have him fly under the radar to us at pick #25 allowing us to then draft Carl Nicks with our next pick. However, if the phone doesn't ring, and there are no trade options, I'm handing in the card to the Commish at #18 with Antoine Cason's name on it.

[idymoe]

Roy, thanks for the detailed response. If your best case scenario happened, I would be tickled. I try to set my expectations a little lower on things I can't control, to reduce my possible level of dissapointment. There are many ways the draft could turn out, and I would be very happy. I am expecting the Texans' draft to be a little worse than the last two years, but still solid. Of course, I'm hoping for better, but I am nervous about our 1st round pick. I would be fine with Cason, as I consider him a safe pick to be a solid starter for years, but I would be surprised if the Texans drafted him. If the top 5 OT's are gone and Jenkins and Cason are there at 18, I guess the Texans would take Jenkins, but I think Cason is a better rounded player. I have reservations about just about everyone else. Talib has skills, but is a little too wild off the field. Would the Texans consider Mayo, moving Ryans outside? I think that would take some guts. Some think Mayo could move all the way to top 15.

Anyway, after the draft, we still won't really know how we did for awhile. I guess I'm really expecting some solid guys in the first, third and possibly fourth round. If we could come up with some rotation/reserves in the 5th and 7th, that would be great.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by idymoe

Would the Texans consider Mayo, moving Ryans outside? I think that would take some guts. Some think Mayo could move all the way to top 15.

Anyway, after the draft, we still won't really know how we did for awhile. I guess I'm really expecting some solid guys in the first, third and possibly fourth round. If we could come up with some rotation/reserves in the 5th and 7th, that would be great.

I would move Mayo outside. I think he could be a solid 3 down SAM. ANd I would try him at WILL, let him rush the QB.

[Mike]

Originally Posted by idymoe

Would the Texans consider Mayo, moving Ryans outside? I think that would take some guts. Some think Mayo could move all the way to top 15.

I do not think the Texans would move Demeco inside. he has earned his spot as ILB. Mayo is not appreciably bigger than Demeco if the listed build on both are correct. Mayo 6'2 242 and Demeco 6'1 236. I've met Demeco and since I am shorter than 6'1, I am not a good judge if his height is 6'1 or not, but IMO he is not 6'1. Zach Thomas at 5'10 (being generous) had a decent career as an undersized MLB.

I would move Mayo outside and give us some real speed and athleticism at the OLB spot.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by Roy P

It would be awesome to have him fly under the radar to us at pick #25 allowing us to then draft Carl Nicks with our next pick.

It's funny I did a long drawn out mock with us trading to #25 ealier tonight and then did not post it. I can see the Seahawks moving up.

[dadmg]

Originally Posted by Roy P

Take a look back and see where Jason Witten was projected. Hell, he was a 3rd round pick (after Joppru).

We must have visited different sites. Whichever site I followed the closest (I'm thinking Rob Rang's old site) had him as the top TE with only Dallas Clark even in the ballpark. I remember sitting stunned that a surefire first round TE lasted into the third round. Then again, I also was also happy that, even though we passed on Witten we still got Bennie Joppru. Ah, memories.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by dadmg

We must have visited different sites. Whichever site I followed the closest (I'm thinking Rob Rang's old site) had him as the top TE with only Dallas Clark even in the ballpark. I remember sitting stunned that a surefire first round TE lasted into the third round. Then again, I also was also happy that, even though we passed on Witten we still got Bennie Joppru. Ah, memories.

I saw him listed anywhere from 20 - 45, basically the same ballpark that Cason is being slotted into in this draft. In other words, a late 1st to mid 2nd round pick that would be "foolish" to draft at #18.