If you could change one thing about the draft.....

[Blitzwood]

what would you have done differently in the Texans' draft?
I don't think I'm smarter than any GM or professional scout, nor do I pretend to be, but I thought it would be interesting to see how we'd fare in this one decision now, versus commenting on here that I would have done xxx differently in the draft in week 6 or 7 into the regular season.

I'm pretty happy with the draft overall. I thought we did really well on the first day, and did pretty good on the second. The only thing I may have done differently was probably select Rashad Jennings, who, IMO, would have come at a major bargain in the seventh round. I thought that he could have really helped this team in goal line and short yardage situations being a larger RB at 6-1, 236, and would have played with some grit after being selected in the last round.

I know we got Troy Nolan, who is a fine prospect, and think he's gonna be a fine FS, but wonder just how many snaps he'll take this season as compared to what Jennings might have seen.
I guess we'll see how right(or wrong) I am twice a season the next few years since he went to the Jags.

So, go ahead and go out on that proverbial limb....

[HPF Bob]

I agree although I was actually pushing for Andre Brown with one of our fourth-rounders. I would have valued him more than a blocking TE. Of course, when you're bitching about who the team drafts that far down, you're really saying the team did okay by you.

The Smith/Kubiak war room has yet to make a truly horrific mistake so I think most of us simply trust them rather than being critical of them. I know that's how I feel. I also know we've done very well in the fourth round in this team's short history so I guess I expect our two picks to turn out better than advertised just as Domanick Davis, Jerome Mathis, Owen Daniels and Fred Bennett have been.

[Roy P]

I suppose my biggest wish looking back upon the draft would have been having the Texans select SS Chip Vaughn at #112. I realize that Glover Quinn was selected to be the Nickle and had pretty impressive statistics in terms of collecting INTs. However, with Bennett, Reeves, and Molden along with being able to draft Nolan in the 7th round, I'd been more than happy to pass on Quinn in favor of Vaughn. Also, McCain has some "nickle" ability. I wonder how much input David Gibbs had on this selection along with how much of it had to do with Dunta Robinson's situation with a contract.

So, put me down for Chip Vaughn over Quinn in the 4th as the ONE thing I could change about the draft.

[painekiller]

I did not put out a version of my cherry pick for a good reason, Rick Smith did a pretty dang good job with draft.

So instead of dissecting Smith's draft, I decided for me the best thing was to look forward to how these guys and the new defensive coordinator change the 2009 Texans. I'm am not going to cry about the ones that got away this time.

And for me that is a new leaf.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by painekiller

I'm am not going to cry about the ones that got away this time.

And for me that is a new leaf.

I didn't want to, but HE asked.

[Blitzwood]

Originally Posted by painekiller

I did not put out a version of my cherry pick for a good reason, Rick Smith did a pretty dang good job with draft.

So instead of dissecting Smith's draft, I decided for me the best thing was to look forward to how these guys and the new defensive coordinator change the 2009 Texans. I'm am not going to cry about the ones that got away this time.

And for me that is a new leaf.

pk, this is simply a voluntary exercise of ONE thing you would change, nothing else. I'm not dissecting anyone's draft, just clarifying NOW what one thing anyone would do different, if anything at all, on the record.

I did this because there might be some folks that will come on here mid season and say,"we should have taken Matthews in the first like I wanted" with all their hindsight on display. IMO, If there are any reservations, let's hear them now.

[Bigtinylittle]

All the picks were at positions of need. Moreover, we have a very specialized run offense that requires enough speed to run the stretch play.

Having a guy who can't do that and keeping him on the 45 man active roster every week just to run a couple of plays doesn't sound like a good use of a draft pick. Im not in the group who say we've got to have a big back to be sucessful.

So right now, I have no criticisms of the Texans draft. I'm sure that not all
the players will be a sucess, though. They never are.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by Blitzwood

pk, this is simply a voluntary exercise of ONE thing you would change, nothing else. I'm not dissecting anyone's draft, just clarifying NOW what one thing anyone would do different, if anything at all, on the record.

I did this because there might be some folks that will come on here mid season and say,"we should have taken Matthews in the first like I wanted" with all their hindsight on display. IMO, If there are any reservations, let's hear them now.

Blitz, I was not complaining about your question, I think it is a fair question. I was pointing out that I thought Rick Smith did a heck of job, and I did not think I was able to add anything to his draft.

BTW that is a major shift for me.

[NBT]

Originally Posted by painekiller

I did not put out a version of my cherry pick for a good reason, Rick Smith did a pretty dang good job with draft.

So instead of dissecting Smith's draft, I decided for me the best thing was to look forward to how these guys and the new defensive coordinator change the 2009 Texans. I'm am not going to cry about the ones that got away this time.

And for me that is a new leaf.

Well, good for you PK. And to tell the truth, I feel the same way. I know I initially questioned Glover Quinn, because to be honest, I had never heard of him.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by painekiller

I did not put out a version of my cherry pick for a good reason, Rick Smith did a pretty dang good job with draft.

So instead of dissecting Smith's draft, I decided for me the best thing was to look forward to how these guys and the new defensive coordinator change the 2009 Texans. I'm am not going to cry about the ones that got away this time.

And for me that is a new leaf.

OK I've changed my mind.

1st Maclin WR Missouri
2nd Barwin
3rd Caldwell
4th a Quinn
4th b Tolar CB St. Paul
5th Casey
6th Follett, Zack OLB Cal.
7th Jennings, Rashad RB Liberty

UDFA I would have added to our signings
PJ Hill RB Wisconsin (predraft arrest hurt his stock, charges have been dropped)
Ian Johnson RB Boise St.
Ryan Purvis TE Boston College


So overall I would say I liked the job Smith did, just a few changes to BPA, as Roy kept telling us, Maclin is a stud. Add him to our guys and lookout. JJ is gone. And Walters is let go after the season.

[Roy P]

Good thing we didn't draft Andre Brown, he just destroyed his Achilles tendon.