Who is Casserly Targeting?

[Texan in Japan]

Last year we all got hyped on possibility of Sean Taylor or Roy Williams dropping to us...didn't happen. In retrospect, I'm glad it didn't. While I wasn't thrilled with Dunta initially, I quickly respected the pick and learned to love the kid last year.

While we all have visions of DJ dancing in our heads, I think Charlie knows he probably will be long gone and is really targeting some other folks, that we aren't even talking about. Here are a few names to start the conversation...

RD 1:
Darryl Blackstock - 6'4"/240; OLB/Virginia; athletic Jr. playmaker...gets off the ball quickly, good hand use, has fine speed/instincts/hitting power (draftinsiders)
Odell Thurman - 6'1"/240; MLB/Georgia; Blue chip Jr.; outstanding defender--displays big play ability + fine diagnostic skills. Runs well and has instincts/tackling ability to become pro starter/high pick (draftinsiders)
Travis Johnson - 6'5"/300; DT/FSU; Physical tackle with big upside.

RD 2 or late round 1:
Chris Spencer - 6'4"/310; C/Ole Miss; Sound Jr. technician; combines size, agility, toughness and athleticism that should rank him with any interior lineman in this class! (draftinsiders)

[Reddevil63]

Personally I dont think anybody is going to KNOW until the 13th pick is announced in April. If I remeber correctly Dunta kinda of came out of nowhere last year. Its still way to early to try and guess whats going to happen. Until April all anybody is going to have is guesses.

[beerlover]

Originally Posted by Texan in Japan

Last year we all got hyped on possibility of Sean Taylor or Roy Williams dropping to us...didn't happen. In retrospect, I'm glad it didn't. While I wasn't thrilled with Dunta initially, I quickly respected the pick and learned to love the kid last year.

While we all have visions of DJ dancing in our heads, I think Charlie knows he probably will be long gone and is really targeting some other folks, that we aren't even talking about. Here are a few names to start the conversation...

RD 1:
Darryl Blackstock - 6'4"/240; OLB/Virginia; athletic Jr. playmaker...gets off the ball quickly, good hand use, has fine speed/instincts/hitting power (draftinsiders)
Odell Thurman - 6'1"/240; MLB/Georgia; Blue chip Jr.; outstanding defender--displays big play ability + fine diagnostic skills. Runs well and has instincts/tackling ability to become pro starter/high pick (draftinsiders)
Travis Johnson - 6'5"/300; DT/FSU; Physical tackle with big upside.

RD 2 or late round 1:
Chris Spencer - 6'4"/310; C/Ole Miss; Sound Jr. technician; combines size, agility, toughness and athleticism that should rank him with any interior lineman in this class! (draftinsiders)

dude both your RD 1 picks are RD 2 picks except for Travis Johnson who I project to be on the Vikings board with their 2nd #1 pick @ 18. As seen on numerous posts with several quality prospects on the board @ #13 Casserly will take the BPA or tender offers to trade down stock piling future picks.

[F-minus67]

I think that Casserly would go after Baas before Spencer. Also, wasn't Casserly's plan to have two offense heavy drafts and two defense heavy drafts?

[threetoedpete]

Originally Posted by beerlover

dude both your RD 1 picks are RD 2 picks except for Travis Johnson who I project to be on the Vikings board with their 2nd #1 pick @ 18. As seen on numerous posts with several quality prospects on the board @ #13 Casserly will take the BPA or tender offers to trade down stock piling future picks.

Agreed. The more I study this thing, the more I feel that it's anyones guess. Got two francise type QB's on the board worth top ten money, a load of backs worth second round money and no dominte DT's, which is what everyone is coveting. Pass rushers fit 4-3 scheems. Looking at Frank Coyle's top fifty via blue northern, If we walked away from day one with three of the four of Bass, Hawthorn, Pool or Morecy I'd say we'd had a good draft as for as need. Lotsa value in the 32 through 64 spots. Finding someone who will trade is the question. Love to see D.J.or Spears here though. I have as it stands now: 13, 47,73,78,108,173, 204 & 206. We're going to get some good football players. Five out of the top 110 isn't bad. JMHO.

[Grid]

Travis Johnson has injury problems and off the field problems. we wont get him.

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by Grid

Travis Johnson has injury problems and off the field problems. we wont get him.

I don't know if the Texans will get Johnson or not. But, they haven't been adverse to selecting players with a history of injury. And if you do a little research, you'll see that Johnson was cleared of the "off the field problem".

[Texan in Japan]

Originally Posted by beerlover

dude both your RD 1 picks are RD 2 picks except for Travis Johnson who I project to be on the Vikings board with their 2nd #1 pick @ 18. As seen on numerous posts with several quality prospects on the board @ #13 Casserly will take the BPA or tender offers to trade down stock piling future picks.

BL,

That's just it! Draftniks always mock folks they see on the internet picks, what I'm suggesting is there are some folks that are under the radar scope now they will become first rounders (they we may consider). Just trying a little out-of-the-box thinking.

[texasguy346]

Originally Posted by Texan in Japan

That's just it! Draftniks always mock folks they see on the internet picks, what I'm suggesting is there are some folks that are under the radar scope now they will become first rounders (they we may consider). Just trying a little out-of-the-box thinking.

I tend to agree with you about there being some surprise guys sneaking into the 1st round, and most mocks this early on aren't set in stone. Player positioning changes due to the combine and pro day performances. I think there will be plenty of these surprise guys simply because every team has guys ranked differently on their boards, and with not many any true "elite" prospects and so many guys ranked so closely together there are bound to be guys taken where most thought they wouldn't go. As far as you mentioning Chris Spencer I'd say he has a very good chance go going in the 2nd or an outside shot at the first due to what some have said about him.

Scouts spoke Thursday of Brown, who has slimmed down considerably since playing at an ungainly 336 pounds in 2003, in glowing terms. But they lavished praise on Chris Spencer of Mississippi, who appeared legitimately taken aback when apprised of some of their comments. One regional scout from an AFC franchise suggested Spencer could be one of the best centers to come into the league in the last 25 years.

ESPN

[Texan in Japan]

Originally Posted by texasguy346

I tend to agree with you about there being some surprise guys sneaking into the 1st round, and most mocks this early on aren't set in stone. Player positioning changes due to the combine and pro day performances. I think there will be plenty of these surprise guys simply because every team has guys ranked differently on their boards, and with not many any true "elite" prospects and so many guys ranked so closely together there are bound to be guys taken where most thought they wouldn't go. As far as you mentioning Chris Spencer I'd say he has a very good chance go going in the 2nd or an outside shot at the first due to what some have said about him.

ESPN

Texas Guy - You got my intent! I'd seen that quote also and one of the reasons I threw him into the mix. I've looked at past mocks 2-3 months out from the draft and they're typically off by 10+ players that move from projections in Rd 2 or 3 into Rd 1.

Another guy getting some press upwards is the other OT that played at FSU.

[nunusguy]

There are always surprises and disappointments in how players place in
first the mocks, then the real draft, and finally how they actually perform in the NFL. Last year, perhaps the best illustration of this was one Randy Starks. He was rated right there with the other top DTs (to include Tommie Harris, Vince Wilfork) in many of the mocks and was seen as a top 10 (overall) on some, then fell all the way to the 3rd round in the actual draft.
Well it turns out that the mocks were more accurate and predictive
of his performance in the NFL, because he had a good year with the Titans and I've even seen him listed on some NFL All-rookie teams. This time the pros
got it wrong and the amatuer mockers got it right.

[Number19]

Originally Posted by texasguy346

I tend to agree with you about there being some surprise guys sneaking into the 1st round, and most mocks this early on aren't set in stone. Player positioning changes due to the combine and pro day performances. I think there will be plenty of these surprise guys simply because every team has guys ranked differently on their boards, and with not many any true "elite" prospects and so many guys ranked so closely together there are bound to be guys taken where most thought they wouldn't go. As far as you mentioning Chris Spencer I'd say he has a very good chance go going in the 2nd or an outside shot at the first due to what some have said about him.



ESPN

It will take some smart trading, but I've been targeting three players for the past month: David Baas (bottom of the 1st), Luis Castillo (high 2nd round) and Chris Spencer (mid 2nd round). Baas and Spencer both play OG and OC, but I'd start with Spencer understudying OC. I've been high on this guy since he declared and I'd hate to see him rise on the boards to top of the 2nd.

[Texan in Japan]

Originally Posted by Number19

It will take some smart trading, but I've been targeting three players for the past month: David Baas (bottom of the 1st), Luis Castillo (high 2nd round) and Chris Spencer (mid 2nd round). Baas and Spencer both play OG and OC, but I'd start with Spencer understudying OC. I've been high on this guy since he declared and I'd hate to see him rise on the boards to top of the 2nd.

I'd be ecstatic with those 3 guys, but we only have one 2nd rounder. Maybe Castillo would drop to 3rd.

[Texan in Japan]

Originally Posted by Bottle-O-Bud

I happen to know Casserly because I hang with the peeps that cleans his yard... so I got inside info.... here they are:

#1) Thomas Davis (am I pimping this guy too much?)
#2) Davis Baas
#3) Dressen (TE)
#3) NT

Yes! While Davis is a stud, I think we need to give Earl a shot before adding another SS.