Mel Kiper's first mock draft

[AndreJ]

Originally Posted by playoffsin2005

The Colt's were the best at play action this season. Wher are they at? Home. What we need is to develop a short passing style and take shots downfield on One on one situations. Need proof ? Of the 4 teams left in the playoffs, 3 of them use a short passing game Atlanta, Philly, and NE. Williams would work . He big , physical pressance makes him an easy target off the ball.

I've been wondering why we haven't tried that the entire season seeing as how our O-Line can't pass block for more than 2 sec.

[playoffsin2005]

The learning curve is too great for rookies on either side of the line. Rookies make a bigger impact at the skill positions. Take Baas or vince Carter In the 2nd or 3rd.

[playoffsin2005]

Carr got off 466 passes and completed 61.2% of them. Not bad for someone with pressure. DD was the 2nd leading receiver, meaning Carr was checking down often. He had time once in awhile, but it seems like we look down field often. Short passing = ball control = less time for opposing offenses. See NE vs. Indy

[ArlingtonTexan]

Originally Posted by infantrycak

You know we are water processing into the wind on this don't you? Gotta keep up the good fight though.

At least I know I am not alone

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by SESupergenius

This team needs playmakers.

Do teams like New England or Philly really have that many more playmakers than the Texans? Should the Texans continue to dip into the free agent pool for line help, only to pay premium $'s for mediocre talent? McKinney & Wiegert will be paid like top 10 players at their position next year. When will the Texans bring in some legit young talent to push these guys? 2006 when their combined cap hit approaches $9 million?

And the Texans have used one 1st day pick on a defensive lineman ('02 3rd rounder Charles Hill). He didn't make the team. The Patriots will go into this draft with 6 d-linemen still playing on their rookie contracts. I'm not criticizing the Texans past draft choices. I'm saying it's time to catch up. Maybe, just maybe, 30 year old guys like Walker & Payne will play at a higher level if their snaps can be reduced.

Maybe that's just me looking at the stat sheet where the Texans are at or near the bottom in QB sacks on both sides of the ball. I don't know, but it seems to me that if the QB can stand up a little longer & the opposition's QB can feel a little more heat, maybe the playmakers already on the team (like AJ, DD, Gaffney, Armstrong, Dunta, Glenn, & Coleman) can make a few more plays.

oh you seem to be stalking me. Yes absolutely the Patriots and Eagles have more playmakers than we do. If you want to talk about overpaying then you can say that about MOST of the positions on our team. Wong has a huge salary so does Glenn, Walker , David Carr, etc.

If you want sacks then ask Fangio to bring more heat as we already switch out players contantly to give them breaks. You tell what impact NT there is with our 1st pick? You could very well be wasting a pick on mediocre talent if you are drafting for need in the 1st round. Give me Mike Williams over most of those NT anyday.

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by SESupergenius

oh you seem to be stalking me.

Sorry it seems that way. You were just posting on topics I wanted to discuss.

You want Mike Williams, but how much are you going to use him? If you give him Bradford's throws, that's 54 balls Williams will see. Are you going to cut into Gaffney & Armstrong's targets (68 & 39, respectively)? OK, now you added Williams, but devalued Gaffney & Armstrong. The Texans could feature the pass more, but they would be featuring the QB sack as well if the line isn't addressed.

Do you see Texans changing their offense because of a Mike Williams addition? I don't think Williams would even see a 100 balls his way. And if Mike is automatically among the elites in catches/ target (60-70%), he gets maybe 60 catches for 800-900 yards? Looks like a fantasy football type pick to me. Similar to the Cards taking Fitzgerald when they already had Boldin. Now they can't get the ball to either.

[beerlover]

from what I remember last year Mike Williams was considered somewhat of a tweener, he had the size/frame of a TE but didn't excell at blocking, had WR hands but lacked the speed. where he goes in the draft will largely be influenced by his combine workouts, he needs to bench at least 25-30 reps, run close to a 4.5 40, show great fitness & work ethic. if he does these things chances are he'll be a top 10 pick, I'm leaning towards the Raiders @ #7.

would like to also add that if the Texans release Corey Bradford the Texans will need to address the WR position with a speed kinda guy, a latter round pick who slips through the cracks, depending how the 1st day draft goes I could see the Texans aquiring a speedster (sub 4.4) the 2nd day. there are a few lesser known names out there, one of them being Courtney Roby out of Indiana, not only is he fast (4.38) but has excellent character & pedigree (former NFL All-Pro punter Reggie Roby is Courtney’s cousin).

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by Lucky

You want Mike Williams, but how much are you going to use him? If you give him Bradford's throws, that's 54 balls Williams will see. Are you going to cut into Gaffney & Armstrong's targets (68 & 39, respectively)? OK, now you added Williams, but devalued Gaffney & Armstrong.

Not being a Mike Williams advocate here (something about him makes me a little antsy at the next level and he certainly doesn't give the Texans a speed threat opposite AJ) but the throws would hopefully come from Bradford who he would be replacing and some of DD's tosses--DD got about 90 targets this year. Wouldn't mind seeing 50 of those go to other WR's. Of course DC has to have time to get the ball to them.

[TheOgre]

Originally Posted by SESupergenius

Gaffney should be our 3rd WR, not our 2nd. He may be able to catch the balls throw to him but doesn't get the separation or speed to outclass defenders. He is not another go to guy. If you are satisfied with Gaffney as your #2 when Johnson is doubled and we check down to Davis, feel free to enjoy another sub .500 season. This team needs playmakers.

Agree. I think TE needs to be addressed too.

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by infantrycak

Wouldn't mind seeing 50 of those go to other WR's. Of course DC has to have time to get the ball to them.

Look I wouldn't mind that, either. If the QB has time to get the ball down the field. But, Domanick's catches come mainly on sit routes 5 yards or less. Would you prefer Mike Williams run that route? Someone has to. The best way to reduce the number of balls going to Davis is to improve the pass blocking and give Carr more time to look downfield. It doesn't matter how nice a cart you have, it won't go anywhere if it's in front of the horse.

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by Lucky

Look I wouldn't mind that, either. If the QB has time to get the ball down the field. But, Domanick's catches come mainly on sit routes 5 yards or less. Would you prefer Mike Williams run that route? Someone has to. The best way to reduce the number of balls going to Davis is to improve the pass blocking and give Carr more time to look downfield. It doesn't matter how nice a cart you have, it won't go anywhere if it's in front of the horse.

Hey, I agree getting the OL working next year is the number one priority for the off-season. I asked you in another thread how you saw it happening, but bottom line IMO I don't see more than one starter being replaced by the beginning of next year and maybe none. My best case scenario would be draft someone like Baas in the 2nd or 3rd to replace McKinney and otherwise keep the players and scheme the same. I just don't see wholesale changes either realistically (as in I don't think the Texans will do it) nor ideally (as in I agree they shouldn't replace a bunch of players--heck reading around here they are all incompetent and the Texans need 5 new OLmen). With that in mind, and because I like BPA, I have no problem if the 1st round pick is a WR or CB for that matter. What do you really think needs to be done to the OL?

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by infantrycak

What do you really think needs to be done to the OL?

I don't really want to hijack Mel's thread, but I definitely want to see an infusion of talent into the lines on both sides of the ball. If these guys are ready to play now, that's great. The Pats & Panthers started rookies on the O-line in the last Super Bowl. The Chargers went 12-4 this season starting 2 rookies on the line. If not, it seems reasonable that the Texans could find guys on the 1st day of the draft that would be better backups than Brown, Weary, or Spears.

I'd like to see McKinney & Wiegert replaced at a minimum. Not only did they play poorly, but their lack of ownership for the results on the field make me cringe. I think it would send a great message to the younger players that a big salary guarantees you nothing in this organization. I'd also like to see Wand face some legit competition at LT. I haven't given up on Wand as a NFL lineman, but I'm much more confident that Gaffney can be a productive #2 WR than I am of Wand becoming a good LT. We haven't seen what's going to happen with free agency, or franchise tags, or salary cap dumps. But teams are finding ways to keep their best players now & I don't think the Texans could count on help there...even if they wanted to.

And then we go back, yet again, to the whole notion of BPA. Go back through any draft and you can find good players available at almost any position. The key is to find them and that onus is on the Texans scouting department. The Texans have had the luxury the past 3 drafts of taking almost any position because they had so many holes on their roster. The holes are fewer, but some still remain. There's no doubt in my mind that there will be an offensive or defensive lineman available to the Texans when they select that would have more of an impact and bring more value to this team than Mike Williams would.

[Reddevil63]

The O-line needs an offseason of practice without any personel changes. They just need time to gel. If things dont get better this year than its obvious the personel is the problem.

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by Reddevil63

The O-line needs an offseason of practice without any personel changes. They just need time to gel.

What were they doing last offseason, playing video games? Each of the linemen who actually played in '03 regressed in '04. Why would vets like McKinney & Wiegert be likely to improve? Crossing one's fingers & hoping a situation gets better is not a proactive solution.

[TheOgre]

Wiegert was our best run blocking lineman in 2003, but h3 couldn't block my blind and crippled grandmother in 2004.

[wiley2002]

Originally Posted by texan279

I hope you are kidding. Last season, he averaged 15.4 ypc #1 on the Texans, 1 yard more per catch than AJ, his long was 69 yards #1 on the Texans, and that was 15 yards longer than AJ's longest catch, and he had 632 yards total receiving, 2nd only behind AJ.

Finally someone who agrees with me on something. Keep this info coming.

Well last year they were busy learning a new scheme, so that in part has something to do with the miscues by the line.

As for Williams, I am a firm believer that you should take the best player available in the 1st round if you have an area of improvement still for that position. WR falls into that category in my book. OL can bea addressed in the 2nd round, although our ability to draft good players in the 2nd round is making me wonder if that is a good idea. (that is a jab) If an offensive lineman is better than Mike Williams when we draft #13 then so be it, but passing up on Williams just to fill a need devalues that slot. If an offensive lineman is rated lower then to get value for that pick we would need to make a deal to trade down.

[El Tejano]

Originally Posted by Reddevil63

I just have to think that there is a reason for that, one that we dont see on Sunday's but on the practice field. I could be wrong, I dont pretend to think Im right but I can remember a few times where Gaff ran the wrong routes etc. and maybe thats a bigger problem than a couple of times a game.

The reason is the offensive line. If you look at the Eagles, Steelers, and Patriots, all of those QBs had time to wait for a receiver to get open or when the QB rolled out to buy more time the offensive line provided more protection for him to get rid of the ball and receivers got open. Carr hasn't had that luxury since he has been in the league. Bottom line is that our line is the bottom.

[wiley2002]

All I can do is hope that the right people will be picked to fill in our problems on the o-line.