Beerlovers Early Texans 2010 Mock
 

My #1 concern is, has been Texans run game so I address it big time. Use the current roster to build depth/expereince between Slaton & Foster. Next address interior OL with impact immediate starter @ LG. This should faciltate moving Bama ex-teammate Caldwell to Center as Brisel returns to RG. Dixon is the thunder to the lightening, a smash mouth between the tackles short yardage specialist, with ability to hurt teams 2nd level. After fixing running game & OL move over to the defensive trenches introducing sleeper DT Joseph (more productive than Dan Willams) who can get after QB's & penetrate spaces Texans have been unable to in past. Did not throw a CB in mix because I think the Texans and Dunta Robinson will come to their collective senses, but I did add Safety Rolle & OLB Kristick who can both cover & lay wood. Finally Special Teams..... Breath.....It's too important to overlook anymore, the cost immeasureable as in losses, missing playoffs & getting coaches axed.


1. C. J. Spiller, RB 5-11 195 Clemson
pro comp: Felix Jones - Explosive burst/change of direction, durable, academic all-american, 2nd team Walter Camp.

2. Mike Johnson, OG 6-5 305 Alabama
pro-comp: Justin Smiley - Athletic, great footwork for ZBS moves freely 2nd level locating assignments, First Team All-American.

3. Anthony Dixon, RB 6-1 235 Mississippi State
pro-comp: Kevan Barlow - Power one-cut downhill style, compilments C.J. has tools to effective blocker, needs work.

4. Linval Joseph, DT 6-6 320 ECU
pro-comp: Marcus Stroud -Dominant interior DT who can penetrates gap or just bull rush over/through blocker. Should have a dominant combine matching up with elite tackles in class.

5. Myron Rolle, S 6-2 222 FSU
pro-comp: Tank Williams - Rhodes Scholar, needless to say possess multiple intangibles also a pretty good safety to throw into Texans depth chart.

5. Leigh Tiffin, K 6-2 212 Alabama
pro-comp: Stephen Gostkowski - First Team All-American. Accountability Kubiak, please. Let's make Travis Johnson pick mean something like winning close games.

6. Keaton Kristick, OLB 6-3-230 Oregon Sate
pro-comp: Thomas Davis - Physcial player, high effort/motor, will out-work Cushing if possible making fearsome tandem on other side. First Team All PAC-10.

7. Clint Gresham, LS 6-3 225 TCU Horned Frogs
pro-comp: better than Pittman - Rated #1 Long snapper in nation. Special Teams is no joke it cost Texans big time. Invited to combine.

Re: Beerlovers Early Texans 2010 Mock
 

Like all of the picks except

Tiffin - I feel he's overrated.

Spiller- I understand what you like about Spiller but Dwyer would be my choice.

Love the Joseph pick. If you choose Dwyer you dont have to choose Dixon. In that case I would take Spievey,Wilson or a CB thatmay fall but be rated higher.

Do you have anymore info about Kristick? He sounds like he would be a great ST guy. With potential to become a starter down the road. Intriguing

Great work

Re: Beerlovers Early Texans 2010 Mock
 

I like your thought process and your dilligence. If this was our draft, I would be very happy. However, since its a mock, I had a few disagreements.

1. Spiller or Dixon, not both. I understand the need for a running back, but I don't like the idea of taking both of them. We have Slaton, Foster, and Moats already on the roster. Don't forget Jerimiah Johnson on the IR who should be ready to go. If we draft these two we end up with 6. I think its more prudent to go with 1 drafted RB and 1 undrafted FA. We have more holes on the team.

2. Rolle. I like the player and I like the man. As a person who has pursued education I respect the man that does so as well. However, he is more of a SS type player. And I thought we were set there with Mr. Pollard. Unless Mr. Pollard is not resigned, it seems we are signing Rolle for depth. How about a solid FS in this spot? Nolan last year's 7 was a FS but was injured. Let's draft another one and let them compete with Wilson for the starting spot.

3. Snapper. Way to think outside the box. I like the idea here. I just wonder if we would be better served getting a snapper as an UDFA and using this spot for a monster kick/punt returner?

I really liked all your other picks. The one that stood out to me though was Keaton Kristick. An excellent find and an awesome player I would love to get. I currently have him as a 5th rounder and would love to get him.

Awesome job overall! What separates you from many other online mockers are these awesome finds late in the draft!
Keep up the great work!

Re: Beerlovers Early Texans 2010 Mock
 

I'll take the kicker from Nebraska.

Re: Beerlovers Early Texans 2010 Mock
 

Is he a SR?

Re: Beerlovers Early Texans 2010 Mock
 

thanks.

Tiffen - nobody knows for sure how a kicker responds under intense pressure, until the game hangs in the balance & their performance deceides outcome of an entire body of work by your teammates in the heat of battle. You have to earn respect of them first & you focus on that the rest will take care of itself. Leigh has the accuracy & leg strength to become a big time game winning field goal kicker in the National Football League. Well worth the chance on a 5th aquired from a lost cause in the 1st, call it Kharma.

Spiller - Speed kills, Texans need a break away threat from scrimmage to gain respect of defenses. Don't think for a minute that Dennison would not attempt to spread teams out with a weapon like Spiller out of the slot or backfield, heck Denver spent the 12th pick in the draft on a RB last year who doesn't come close to the same break away threat as Spiller who would strike fear into defenses, not the same at all as Dwyer.

Kristick - I think he is playing in the East West Shrine game latter today.

Re: Beerlovers Early Texans 2010 Mock
 

that's pretty high praise maybe I should be the one to rep you :fingergun:

The Texans secondary is evolving into something special & Dunta is a big part of that. As a group, they are smart, read coverages well, know their assingments, are physical in run support & eventually going to become playmakers (Int's/forced fumbles) but not without safety help & that is what Rolle does. I don't get hung up on position if this guys a SS or FS what matters is continuity & range of group together on the field. I think he can play up in nickle or last line of defense & this would allow Pollard freedom to get after QB's which you know they're going to get nervous about. The more versatile our DB's are the more unpredictable they become & guys like Manning are going to have a harder time picking them apart, but you have to be smart about it, which should be easy for a Rhodes Scholar.

Already addressed the RB situation, but in my scenero both Moats & Brown are cut. So really its an overnight transformation. Drastic? Yes but much needed & I want Kubiak to be our coach but not with these backs currently on his roster.

Re: Beerlovers Early Texans 2010 Mock
 

Myron Rolle won't last till the 5th round. He's a beast.

Re: Beerlovers Early Texans 2010 Mock
 

1. Spiller, I like the pick, great speed and quickness that would fit our one cut a go style of play.
2. Johnson, another good pick, we desperately need talent on the O-line.
3. Dixon, I like the player but I agree with Awtysst, not 2 RB's when we have other major holes that need filling.
4. Joseph, not familiar with him but I like the position picked and size.
5. Rolle, I doubt seriously that he's available here but if so he'd be great depth to Pollard and most likely a ST standout.
5. Tiffin, I like the pick.
6. Kristick, not familiar with the player, I'll take your word for it but I don't see LB as a need.
7. Gresham, I never would have thought of drafting a LS.

Re: Beerlovers Early Texans 2010 Mock
 

Really? I have him falling to the Texans 6th. The guy spent a year out of football. A year. Remember Clarrett (SP?) after his little hiatus?

Re: Beerlovers Early Texans 2010 Mock
 

I like the thinking, & I would be happy were our draft to go that way.

I do have concerns however.

You really believe Spiller will still be there? Is there another RB that you believe will go higher? I can't believe we would be the first to draft a RB.

Again, your idea about our starting OL is close to where I am. I believe we'll see a new face, and there will be some re-arranging. But I see a new RT, with Eric moving inside.

Re: Beerlovers Early Texans 2010 Mock
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjZLxsxmBSc

i'd rather have this guy. maybe it's the homer in me, but anything can be better than kris brown right now, right?

Re: Beerlovers Early Texans 2010 Mock
 

BL
Aren't a healthy Slaton and Spiller redundant?

Dont you think Dwyer and Slaton would be a better cotrasting duo than Spiller and Slaton who are kind of the same RB. IMO

The reason I like Dwyer is he reminds me of Jonathon Stewart. We will see what he runs at the combine.

I bet it will be under 4.5

Re: Beerlovers Early Texans 2010 Mock
 

You guys are gonna go around & round until figure it out, the Texans lack of a conisistant run game must be improved not just better, much, much better similar to Jets. By changing out stable of RB's & fixing the OL it will balance Air Schaub making the Texans a complete offense. Taking two premium RB's & keeping best of whats left currently on roster there is no question about committment to solving this problem.

Re: Beerlovers Early Texans 2010 Mock
 

I agree, this is a do or die season for Kubiak. Can't really take any chances, and hope Slaton can come back and be that guy again. All things being equal, if we could have provided the 2008 running game in 2009, we would be playing in the AFC Championship game today.

Even if we take two running backs in the draft, I'd like to see a couple of FAs on the team as well.

I'm fine with straight up cutting Moats & Brown. But our new draft picks, free agents, Slaton, Foster, Jeremiah Johnson, & Chris Henry will be fighting for 3 spots.

Re: Beerlovers Early Texans 2010 Mock
 

Agreed with fixing the run game.

Your mock shows that commitment that's for sure.

Now I get what your saying.

I want the run game to improve too. It should be job 1. I would just go about it a little differently.

Spiller would certianly be a great weapon out of the slot. Like Harvin

It also would allow JJ to become the no.2 receiver and Kevin Walter to walk. The offense would be alot more explosive. Plus they could use the $ they didn't spend on Walter to get help on the OL. In addition to the draft pick.

I could get on board with this.

Re: Beerlovers Early Texans 2010 Mock
 

1) Spiller is a decent pick here, and would give the Texans a dangerous weapon. However, I worry about his inside running, and the ability to get that one yard at the goal line. I could live with the pick.

2) Good call going OL in the second, I like this pick.

3) I am not a Dixon fan. I dont know what it is, but he does not impress me. I like the idea of going for a power back, but I dont think Dixon is our guy.

4) Good pick!

5) I like Rolle here, although I have him falling more than you do.

5) Same as with 5, I have him falling one more round.

6) I honestly dont know much about this guy. I like the idea of going to the LB corps late. If he is that much of a workout guy, awesome!

7) A LS? Eh, its a 7th rounder. I wont get up in arms about it, but I think we could get depth somewhere and grab this guy as a UDFA.

Re: Beerlovers Early Texans 2010 Mock
 

Spiller is an impact player regardless if he lasts this far. It's a best case scenero, unless Earl Thomas is on the board who I also would love Texans to draft. Just a random pull of GBN's 'Big Board' C. J. Spiller is rated #20 while Thomas is #16 which when I did my 1st rd. mock a couple weeks ago is excatly where I had both players going (Thomas to 49'ers #16, Spiller to Texans #20) so at least I'm consistent.

I was intially cold on Mike Johnson he get's so much exposure for an offensive guard, but when I looked at tape he blew me away. He is an elite pulling guard, always downfield impaling would be tacklers. Since Alabama does not pass the ball that much I just figured he lacked pass blocking skills, again not the case. Decent anchor & hand punch to stiffle bull rush & athletic enough to use footwork to reposition on spin moves.

Dixon stocks rising, fast. He would be the Texans power-back in short yardage & appropiate pick in 3rd given Texans lack of power running game. If he is off the board (likely) I have no problem taking a power back later, then maybe getting a CB or FS here where the last good ones are still available.

Joseph is a beast. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu9sFXqtPUk

We're at least on the same page :)

I'm pretty sure the Texan will draft a cover LB somewhere, Im just hoping its not any earlier than this, its a deep group.

Long snapper is a dire need, its always in flux & when Owen went down Dreessen stepped up but it was too much with all the starting reps @ TE. I wouldn't mind I guess if they went TE in the 7th, kept Pittman for long snapping duties, really liked what I saw today in Shrine from a solid TE group Pitta, BYU (gone) Nathan Overbay, E. Washington, 6-5 270 like an extra LT with good hands. In the final cut went with a top tier Long Snapper because I want to see drastic improvement in special teams & continue Dreessen reps @ TE.

Re: Beerlovers Early Texans 2010 Mock
 

BL my favorite coverage LB that could be available later in the draft is Dakota Watson. I've watched him play several games at Fla St. He's undersized but is always flying around the field making plays. At the very least he would be a great ST guy. I would draft him in the 5th rd if available.

What rd do you think he goes in?

Re: Beerlovers Early Texans 2010 Mock