LZ's Blog Mock 3.0

[Playoffs]

Love Aldon's interview: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos...-The-interview

More than Prince's, who seemed a little wide-eyed -- and much more than Quinn's where I felt like something was just missing.


It's just interview, I know, but I think you can see a lot in those.

[TexCanada]

Originally Posted by asleep

Love Aldon's interview: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos...-The-interview

More than Prince's, who seemed a little wide-eyed -- and much more than Quinn's where I felt like something was just missing.


It's just interview, I know, but I think you can see a lot in those.

I think interviews are extremely important. I'd be very happy if we picked Smith at 11.

[Corrosion]

Originally Posted by gary

I'd love to have Watt or Bowers.

Why ? So he can sit on the sidelines while MW and A.Smith get the majority of the snaps ?

DE is the worst pick this team could make in terms of instant impact out of a player. This front office crew is playing for NOW. If they dont produce a playoff team (and maybe one that makes a deep run) they will be gone.

The positions that will have the greatest impact on this teams playoff chances are OLB , NT ,CB and both S spots.

There isnt a safety worthy of an early first rounder.

I dont think the front office would be willing to hang their jobs on the line with a kiddie corps secondary again .... Unless they could get Peterson and I have my doubts that they would take that risk with him either.

That leaves NT and OLB which I think are the most likely positions to be filled with their first rounder - Unless they move out of that #11 spot. Even moving out of #11 , its highly likely that they target a player at one of those two spots.

Moving up - Miller or Fairley.

Moving back - Taylor , Paea , Houston , Ayers.

[Ole Miss Texan]

Originally Posted by Corrosion

Why ? So he can sit on the sidelines while MW and A.Smith get the majority of the snaps ?

DE is the worst pick this team could make in terms of instant impact out of a player. This front office crew is playing for NOW. If they dont produce a playoff team (and maybe one that makes a deep run) they will be gone.

The positions that will have the greatest impact on this teams playoff chances are OLB , NT ,CB and both S spots.

There isnt a safety worthy of an early first rounder.

I dont think the front office would be willing to hang their jobs on the line with a kiddie corps secondary again .... Unless they could get Peterson and I have my doubts that they would take that risk with him either.

That leaves NT and OLB which I think are the most likely positions to be filled with their first rounder - Unless they move out of that #11 spot. Even moving out of #11 , its highly likely that they target a player at one of those two spots.

Moving up - Miller or Fairley.

Moving back - Taylor , Paea , Houston , Ayers.

While I agree with you regarding impact, I disagree on the term "starter" that a lot of people use. To me, it's not an either / or situation. Ideally, we take an OLB at 11 because he's the best player available, its' arguably our biggest need, and he would in all certainty start and impact from the first snap to the last.

But the process of elimination you just went through pigeon holes us into a corner. I'm not convinced that Phil Taylor or Stephen Paea would be a bigger impact THIS season and get more snaps than Cameron Jordan or JJ Watt. They'd still rotate with Mitchell and Cody.

Just looking at our needs and wanting a starter and then picking the best available at that spot omits a lot of players that could be better and potentially could make an even bigger impact even if not playing as much.

What if Kubiak still had AJ and Walter as our starting WRs but we drafted Julio Jones? Julio would see a ton of snaps even though he may not be deemed the "starter" his rookie season. Obviously that's a little different than DE but I would love a DL of Jordan-Smith-Mitchell-Mario and then Barwin as the Joker, on passing situations.

[gary]

Originally Posted by Corrosion

Why ? So he can sit on the sidelines while MW and A.Smith get the majority of the snaps ?

DE is the worst pick this team could make in terms of instant impact out of a player. This front office crew is playing for NOW. If they dont produce a playoff team (and maybe one that makes a deep run) they will be gone.

The positions that will have the greatest impact on this teams playoff chances are OLB , NT ,CB and both S spots.

There isnt a safety worthy of an early first rounder.

I dont think the front office would be willing to hang their jobs on the line with a kiddie corps secondary again .... Unless they could get Peterson and I have my doubts that they would take that risk with him either.

That leaves NT and OLB which I think are the most likely positions to be filled with their first rounder - Unless they move out of that #11 spot. Even moving out of #11 , its highly likely that they target a player at one of those two spots.

Moving up - Miller or Fairley.

Moving back - Taylor , Paea , Houston , Ayers.

I not saying the Texans should draft a DE but I am going just off of talent and skill level and saying I'd like to have them. The trade of AS and MW might be an option too either one but whoever is drafted at 11 or a trade up should no doubt be opening day starter somewhere on the field.

[bah007]

Originally Posted by gary

I'd love to have Watt or Bowers.

Bowers is a great athlete with tons of potential but I don't see where he would fit in a 34 defense. He is a classic 43 end.

[bah007]

I would have no problem with us taking Cameron Jordan. As sad as it is, he would be one of our 11 best defensive players. Trust me, he would see the field plenty.

In this current age of football, a QB attempting 30-40 passes per game is the norm, not the exception. To defend this, a team must be able to rotate pass rushers to keep them fresh. Not only can Jordan play 5 tech, but he can rush the QB from that position. Which is rare.

[gary]

Originally Posted by bah007

Bowers is a great athlete with tons of potential but I don't see where he would fit in a 34 defense. He is a classic 43 end.

I think he could work out at least in the 3-4 though but better fit for the 4-3.

[bah007]

Originally Posted by gary

I think he could work out at least in the 3-4 though but better fit for the 4-3.

Yea I'm not saying he would automatically fail miserably. I just think he would be like Mario, who doesn't really have a true position in a 34 defense. Those guys are just natural 43 ends.

[Blake]

I think its very important to get to the QB this year. We can draft all the safties and corners we want, but without pressure on the QB it will be the same result.

I think the Texans should take Quinn since he is dropping. Then we can worry about NT or 5 teq in the 2nd.

[VTexan]

Originally Posted by asleep

Love Aldon's interview: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos...-The-interview

More than Prince's, who seemed a little wide-eyed -- and much more than Quinn's where I felt like something was just missing.


It's just interview, I know, but I think you can see a lot in those.

The missed fist bump at the end was priceless.

[J_R]

Originally Posted by asleep

Based on some intel I've received during the last three weeks, I'm going to take a shot at posting odds on who I think is the most likely Houston Texans at pick No. 11.

Aldon Smith, OLB, Missouri - 3:1
Aldon Smith is said to be the target of the Texans as they like his edge pass rushing ability. Smith is unlikely to go in the first 10 picks so he should be at 11 for the Texans if they are truly interested in him.


http://blogs.chron.com/fantasyfootball/texansnfl/

@LanceZierlein Correct RT @walterfootball: Brian Baldinger: I think you can plug this in right now - Aldon Smith will be Wade Phillips' guy with 11th pick

[badboy]

Originally Posted by Shaft75

Dareus @ 1?

And the Texans taking Julio?

We love you here at TT LZ, but you need to get off the meds!

I think you should ask LZ to loan you some of his meds. Both those players are franchise type players and you have to consider ant franchise player unless you already have a starter and Julio is better than Jacoby imo game one this season.

[Playoffs]

LZ's final mock


1. Carolina -- Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
2. Denver -- Von Miller, OLB/DE, Texas A&M
3. Buffalo --Marcel Dareus, DT, Alabama
4. Cincinnati -- Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
5. Arizona -- Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
6. Cleveland -- A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
7. San Francisco -- Julio Jones, WR, Alabama (projecting trade with Washington w/ Wash. taking Gabbert)
8. Tennessee -- Andy Dalton, QB, TCU
9. Dallas -- Tyron Smith, OT, USC
10. Washington -- Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
11. Houston -- J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
12. Minnesota -- Aldon Smith, OLB, Missouri
13. Detroit -- Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
14. St.Louis -- Corely Liuget, DT, Illinois
15. Miami -- Mike Pouncey, C/G, Florida
16. Jacksonville -- Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
17. New England --Cam Jordan, DE, Cal (will try and trade up to land Jordan)
18. San Diego -- Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
19. NY Giants -- Anthony Castonzo, LT, Boston College
20. Tampa Bay -- Adrian Clayborn, DE/DT, Iowa
21. Kansas City -- Gabe Carimi, RT, Wisconsin
22. Indianapolis -- Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple
23. Philadelphia -- Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
24. New Orleans --Nate Solder, LT, Colorado
25. Seattle -- Jake Locker, QB, Washington
26. Baltimore -- Danny Watkins, LG, Baylor
27. Atlanta -- Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pitt
28. New England -- Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
29. Chicago -- Derek Sherrod, LT, Mississippi State
30. 49'ers**trade** -- Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State (projected trade)
31. Pittsburgh -- Aaron Williams, CB, Texas
32. Green Bay -- Brooks Reed, OLB, Arizona