Rick Smith Pre-Draft Press Conference

[Texan_Bill]

"I said this", but what I said was "this"!


Basically, fully skilled at the art of talking without ever saying anything... DUDE!! Seriously, I missed that class in college. FML!!

[steelbtexan]

Originally Posted by drs23

steel, do you think Adams will really be considered? Have the Texans gone that far from their MO? I . He seems like a really genuine guy and a hella'va OL prospect, but failing a test he KNEW was coming. Just doesn't sound like the kinda guy the FO wants.

I'd be really surprised. Not disappointed, but damn surprised.

They interviewed him at the Sr. Bowl and Combine. They also brought him in for a visit. I dont have links.

[GP]

Originally Posted by corrosion

thats not true .... Schaub will be ready barring furter injury.


Dont ask.

lol.

[SW H-TOWN]

Originally Posted by Allstar

UPDATE: transcript here. Video here. Cliffnotes below.


Excerpts from twitter:


Smith at podium: Says he applauds efforts of scouting/coaching staff. Feels better about this process than in years past.

"The work is done and the board is set."

We have to look at OL group, can help ourselves at WR position, and depth in LB corps. Plus "You can always add corners."

We'll have a quality football player available at 26th pick.

Successful last yr in Draft/Free Agency/On field last year. Reason why: we executed. Went in prepared and we executed.

Impressed w depth in draft this year w WR/OL/LB positions.

this time last yr, none of our LB's had played in the position they wound up playing. Succeeded bc of @sonofbum (Wade Phillips), Herring, scouts.

To have that season under @sonofbum has helped everyone. We're further along now. Always need LB help.

Last yr we were fortunate to get @Brooksreed42. Still think he can get better. Also think @HarrisNOFLYZONE will help us win.

Restricted free agency has never been a strong market for improvement.

I spend next day and a half calling around and asking other GM's about potential trades. Most moves happen when you're on clock, tho

We're talking to K Neil Rackers about coming back. K/P are also part of thought process in draft, but few are ever drafted.

Very confident in @MSchaub8 rehab process. Working hard, looking good, and on schedule.

Well nice try Rick, fatty just wrote that we are looking at Bullock (I believe this) and that Rackers is going to the Redskins. When I read where Rick said that few kickers are ever drafted I thought, "Rick, is that the best you can do?" I doubt we wait until round 7 to draft Bullock considering we have nobody. Maybe he is really pulling a fast one on everybody and has someone else in mind but I doubt it. Every GM has to be thinking well if we want Bullock we got to jump ahead of the Texans. Wish he would have said we have our eyes on a couple of kickers something a little less weak.

[El Tejano]

Originally Posted by SW H-TOWN

Well nice try Rick, fatty just wrote that we are looking at Bullock (I believe this) and that Rackers is going to the Redskins. When I read where Rick said that few kickers are ever drafted I thought, "Rick, is that the best you can do?" I doubt we wait until round 7 to draft Bullock considering we have nobody. Maybe he is really pulling a fast one on everybody and has someone else in mind but I doubt it. Every GM has to be thinking well if we want Bullock we got to jump ahead of the Texans. Wish he would have said we have our eyes on a couple of kickers something a little less weak.

Agree but I do like how he stated that he will spend the next day and a half talking to other GMs about trades. That shows me he at least is trying to do something creative.

[Corrosion]

Originally Posted by Lucky

Did Ricky just say that the Texans are going WR (or TE) if they draft offense in the 1st round?

I heard that part of the interview and kinda did a double take when he said that .... gave me the same impression that should they draft an offensive player in round one , It'll be a player who handles the ball.

Wont be a QB - have Schaub & Yates.

Wont be a RB - Have Foster and Tate.

That leaves TE & WR.


Kinda shocking that he may have tipped his hand here a bit .... Then again , he could just be blowing smoke.

[Section516]

Originally Posted by SW H-TOWN

Well nice try Rick, fatty just wrote that we are looking at Bullock (I believe this) and that Rackers is going to the Redskins. When I read where Rick said that few kickers are ever drafted I thought, "Rick, is that the best you can do?" I doubt we wait until round 7 to draft Bullock considering we have nobody. Maybe he is really pulling a fast one on everybody and has someone else in mind but I doubt it. Every GM has to be thinking well if we want Bullock we got to jump ahead of the Texans. Wish he would have said we have our eyes on a couple of kickers something a little less weak.

I don't care if a kickers drafted in the 6th/7th..Rarely will the result of that pick provides more value to a team than a top ten kicker anyways..

[Doppelganger]

Originally Posted by Corrosion

I heard that part of the interview and kinda did a double take when he said that .... gave me the same impression that should they draft an offensive player in round one , It'll be a player who handles the ball.

Wont be a QB - have Schaub & Yates.

Wont be a RB - Have Foster and Tate.

That leaves TE & WR.


Kinda shocking that he may have tipped his hand here a bit .... Then again , he could just be blowing smoke.

Centers handle the ball on every play. Peter Konz?

[Porky]

Originally Posted by Doppelganger

Centers handle the ball on every play. Peter Konz?

Are you being factiecious? Why would they take Konz? Do you think he can move to guard? If so, he isn't handling the ball. He's also got injury concerns.

I read it to mean they want a playmaker, which we sorely need. I do not think it's a guarantee we go offense, but if we do I think it's likely we go TE or WR although not a certainty - I think they'll follow their board within reason.

[SW H-TOWN]

Originally Posted by Section516

I don't care if a kickers drafted in the 6th/7th..Rarely will the result of that pick provides more value to a team than a top ten kicker anyways..

I want the Texans to draft Bullock, I have him mocked in the 6th. I just wish Rick would have been a little more coy.

[Allstar]

Originally Posted by SW H-TOWN

I want the Texans to draft Bullock, I have him mocked in the 6th. I just wish Rick would have been a little more coy.

I honestly think he's being sincere and not putting much priority on the kicker position. He has Bullock and # XXX on his board and if he's there in the 6/7th with and is the highest guy on our board then we'll take him. If not, then we'll look elsewhere for a kicker.

[Corrosion]

Originally Posted by Porky

.

I read it to mean they want a playmaker, which we sorely need. I do not think it's a guarantee we go offense, but if we do I think it's likely we go TE or WR although not a certainty - I think they'll follow their board within reason.

Thats how I take it too ....

[amazing80]

We have NEVER drafted a guy in round 1 and not had him start since Gary has been here, even Brown has started since day one, so if we draft a G in round 1, they will be inked the starter....just how we roll, so if they truly feel Caldwell and Butler can start then they will not go oline in rd 1 but likely will in rd 3 or 4


I also find it hard to believe we go olb in round 1. Again, we look for starters in that round and they would not start over Barwin and reed, we could go olb in 2, but not 1.

Also, I feel we could go corner high if Wade is over Jackson, Rick keeps emphasizing that we can never have enough corners, so maybe we go corner in 1......

[ckhouston]

Originally Posted by ThaShark316

Someone's going to call Rick about 26 and try and get Weeden for fear that he won't get to them...

OK, that's me HOPING.

Doubt Weeden is there at 26, but if he is I wouldnt be upset if we took him. We do not have a proven starting QB on this time at the current time.

[wolf123]

Originally Posted by ckhouston

Doubt Weeden is there at 26, but if he is I wouldnt be upset if we took him. We do not have a proven starting QB on this time at the current time.

You want the texans to use a first round pick on a 29 year old QB who played in a spread offense?

[SW H-TOWN]

Originally Posted by Allstar

I honestly think he's being sincere and not putting much priority on the kicker position. He has Bullock and # XXX on his board and if he's there in the 6/7th with and is the highest guy on our board then we'll take him. If not, then we'll look elsewhere for a kicker.

Where? Who? The last time I checked there were only 5 FA kickers on the market and 4 of them suck. These are the guys available per footballsfuture.com Again, they all really suck except for Scobee. Look up what they did in 2010 and 2011...The Texans need to put priority on a K if they want to win a couple of close games.

David Buehler
Dave Rayner
Josh Scobee
Rhys Lloyd
Shayne Graham

[GP]

I'm not worried at all.

Owen Daniels is our emergency kicker anyways.

[ckhouston]

Originally Posted by wolf123

You want the texans to use a first round pick on a 29 year old QB who played in a spread offense?

Didnt say thats what I "wanted", just wouldnt be upset. Strong arm and very accurate, and also has dealt with the pressure of pro sports so may handle the pressure better than most. Based on what we have going into camp, I dont see adding those skills as a bad thing. I hope TJ comes through and becomes the starter for years, but we need some insurance. Do I think they take a QB in the first? Nope. Would it upset me? Nope. Somewhere in this draft they pick up a QB IMHO.

[Rey]

Originally Posted by SW H-TOWN

Every GM has to be thinking well if we want Bullock we got to jump ahead of the Texans. Wish he would have said we have our eyes on a couple of kickers something a little less weak.

I'm not sure where we'll have to draft Bullock, but I'd say probably the 5th round, 6th at the latest.

A lot of teams aren't going to be in the market for a rookie kicker.

[Dutchrudder]

Originally Posted by Rey

I'm not sure where we'll have to draft Bullock, but I'd say probably the 5th round, 6th at the latest.

A lot of teams aren't going to be in the market for a rookie kicker.

It only takes one team to screw up your plan. Nobody thought the Eagles would take Alex Henry in the 4th last year, but they did. Nobody thought the Browns would take Owen Marecic FB in the 4th, but the Browns did. New England spent a 5th on Zoltan Mesko P a couple years ago.

These lesser valued positions are worth filling with late picks for sure, many of the players drafted in the 5-7 rounds don't even make the team, so why not get a surefire starter at a lower priority position?