JJ Watts draft day.

[76Texan]

Originally Posted by houstonspartan

In all fairness, did anyone like the JJ Watt pick? I know I wasn't all that impressed. Was anyone?


It was Wade's first pick as DC, and it was the first round, and we all expected a big splash. We didn't get one, and very few people were impressed, including myself.

Clearly, we were all wrong.

My records on the Texans draft picks are pretty pretty good.

[Lurvinator11]

Originally Posted by powda

I remember reading a lot of scouting reports about Watt and liking him. At the time, Mario was assumed to be a defensive end in Wade's scheme. I dismissed him as a draft possibility. When we picked him I felt like he was a safe selection and not the "sexy pick" to impress fans.

I remember wanting Fairly as well. When they took Watt, at first my reaction was who? but luckily I was lurking TT by that time and I really liked the pick by the end of the night. I like the high motor in him, and I am glad he worked out the way he did. I remember when I got home, my dad said he was "the worst pick in Texans history" I love it when my dad is wrong. haha.

Anyway, when he was drafted, I actually thought they were Smith was going to be the odd man out. I'm glad I was wrong about that one!

[SteveSlaton20]

Originally Posted by Hooston Texan

The interesting thing about the first round picks in the Kubiak era is that the ones that were most heavily criticized were the ones that have worked out the best.

2006: Mario over Bush and VY. I don't think there's ever been more criticism for a #1 overall pick in the history of the league. Mario worked out well enough to snag a $100,000,000 contract.

2007: Amobi Okoye. Not that much criticism at the time, though there are legions of folks who later claimed they were for drafting Patrick Willis all along. General consensus was that nobody thought he'd be there for the Texans' pick.

2008: Duane Brown. Widely seen as an unwarranted reach, but he's now one of the premier players at a premium position.

2009: Brian Cushing. "I hate this pick with the fire of a thousand suns" or something like that was the general feeling.

2010: Kareem Jackson. Some thought he was a reach, but the criticism was pretty mild. Like Brown, he took some time to develop, though it is too soon to tell if he's really turned the corner the way Brown did a couple years ago.

2011: Watt. We know that deal.

Too soon to tell on Mercilus, but I really like how he's being worked into the rotation recently.

If any fan base should trust its folks on draft day (at least in Round 1), it should be ours.

I didn't hate the Cushing pick at all. In fact, most of us wanted a LBer, but I think we wanted Matthews, not Cushing. But I didn't hate the pick.

I did hate the Watt pick at the time because I thought Fairley would be better.

[b0ng]

Originally Posted by houstonspartan

In all fairness, did anyone like the JJ Watt pick? I know I wasn't all that impressed. Was anyone?


It was Wade's first pick as DC, and it was the first round, and we all expected a big splash. We didn't get one, and very few people were impressed, including myself.

Clearly, we were all wrong.

I was ambivalent at the time, I was actually hoping for Aldon Smith but the 9ers scooped him up first. I figured if Watt started his rookie it was probably a sign of our defense being in dire straits, not because of actual talent. I was definitely wrong on that part.

[Scooter]

Originally Posted by SteveSlaton20

I didn't hate the Cushing pick at all. In fact, most of us wanted a LBer, but I think we wanted Matthews, not Cushing. But I didn't hate the pick.

I did hate the Watt pick at the time because I thought Fairley would be better.

that's how i remember it as well, most wanted a USC linebacker - preferring matthews and then cushing.

[Allstar]

I remember us worrying that Cushing was just the next overrated LB that comes out every year. A lot of us were intrigued by Matthews' potential, despite having so little experience, but I do seem to recall some people getting worried we'd reach on him just because Bruce Matthews was on the staff. What a great couple of options we all argued about

[76Texan]

Originally Posted by Allstar

I remember us worrying that Cushing was just the next overrated LB that comes out every year. A lot of us were intrigued by Matthews' potential, despite having so little experience, but I do seem to recall some people getting worried we'd reach on him just because Bruce Matthews was on the staff. What a great couple of options we all argued about

I distinctly remember more than one person asked me in the draft section, and I said I would take either one of them (they each had their own flavor).

There was one guy that I considered and it was Alex Mack.
His tapes looked really good and he was killing all the competition that entered the draft.

I was a great supporter of Myers, but I also think that with Mack, he can move back to guard where he also played very well when he was with the Broncos.