Zierlein's Mock Draft - 4/15

[Tailgate]

Originally Posted by bah007

I'm not a big fan of Moreno but he would fit our system just fine.

I think you misunderstood me. The whole historically not use a first round pick on a RB system thing, along with already having a RB that will carry alot of the load,etc,etc.. vs. big backs that fit our need and system later on,etc,etc..

[Blake]

Originally Posted by Mr teX

Too many people in the media & elsewhere have us taking matthews which leads me to believe that we're most likely taking someone else for whatever reason. Think about it..

2006- Reggie bush/ VY fever. We've rehashed this so much that's it's almost become unhealthy ......who do we take?...Mario.

2007 -before & after the trade up with atlanta we were all over the place; Leon Hall, Laron Landry, Darrell Revis, Patrick Willis. Even though all but 1 of these guys were available...who do we take?...Amobi, the guy thought to be gone by the time we were up.

2008 - Most everyone agreed we'd take a tackle. Most had professed it would most likely be Clady, Williams or Otah. A run on tackles leaves us with only Otah when our original pick at 18 pops up. we trade down, Otah's taken at 19 & we're all . Then we think "oh wait, they must be targeting mendenhall since he continues to slide?" Uhh, no......who do we wind up taking?......Duane Brown, a tackle noone in the media or on messageboards had even considered b/c he was thought to be at best the 5th best tackle in the draft.

Thinking about this actually makes me kind of sad b/c i've beat my drum for Matthews from the beginning, but the smithiak draft history suggest that it's going to be someone else.

Great post. I think the Texans focus on character and personality a lot. Which makes them put guys higher on big boards than some.

So if they stay at 15, and Matthews is the 29th best player this year, I can see them taking him. Or if they drop down to the 20's again, I can see them plucking up a guy that some consider a mid to late 2nd pick. Say a William Moore or a Darius Butler.

When it all comes together like Mario, Amobi, Duane, I think it makes their decision a lot easier.

[bah007]

Originally Posted by Tailgate

I think you misunderstood me. The whole historically not use a first round pick on a RB system thing, along with already having a RB that will carry alot of the load,etc,etc.. vs. big backs that fit our need and system later on,etc,etc..

Then I did misunderstand. My bad.

[Porky]

I just don't see them taking a RB that high, Moreno or otherwise. Maybe if there was someone truly special ala Adrian Peterson maybe you do it. I don't think Moreno is that guy. I'm cool with Matthews especially if we trade down to do it. I think he has excellent upside as a Sam in the 4/3. I think we draft a RB in rd 3 or 4.

[TimeKiller]

Originally Posted by gtexan02

Im worried about taking a risky pick in the top 15.

I think anything we do at 15 this year is going to be questionable.

Matthews, certainly a boom/bust candidate.
Cushing, possibly topped out/overrated
Moreno/Wells-Beanie has the injury thing and neither seem very much better than 3rd round guys
P Jerry-already have him, name is Okoye
Butler-like there isn't a question about him at 5'9'' trying to line up against the freaks that are lining up at WR these days plus where do you put him between Dunta, Reeves, Bennett, Molden?
Moore-reaching about a round. May as well draft Smith and look for him to play some safety
Mack/Unger-definite improvements but still too early
any WR/TE/QB-I'll just **** my pants

See what I mean?

Also, if this regime's drafting has gone against the obvious choices...so now the obvious choice is something not obvious...wouldn't the obvious choice be to choose the obvious choice now and again because it's not obvious anymore? But what if....

oh **** I just went cross-eyed....

[Vinny]

Originally Posted by TimeKiller

I think anything we do at 15 this year is going to be questionable.

Pick 15 isn't any better than pick 35 this year imo.

[Honoring Earl 34]

Originally Posted by Vinny

Pick 15 isn't any better than pick 35 this year imo.

Yep ... I think I'd rather have Connor Barwin and extra picks than I would Matthews or Cushing at 15 . I think Barwin's athletic enough to play OLB and big enough to drop down at RE on passing downs . If I had to choose between Cushing or Mathews I'd take Matthews .