Draft day 2. Who do you want?

[The1ApplePie]

Wouldn't be mad if the Texans took Jerrad Crick if all the second round WRs were gone.

[El Tejano]

I'll Mitchell Schwartz OT Cal and either Marvin Jones WR Cal or Brian Quick Wr Appalachian St.

[Goatcheese]

Kendal Reyes - Good rotation player who is more disruptive presence than play maker. He made O-linemen look stupid at the Senior Bowl. Strong and wins his battles in tight spaces. Controls his area and is physical against the run. Can backup either DE position in the 3-4.

[HOU-TEX]

Originally Posted by Vinny

we won't pick a wr till the early 3rd...book it.

And I dig that.

[Playoffs]

Offense
Higher Priority: OT:Jonathan Martin, Cordy Glenn

Offense
Medium Priority: WR: Stephen Hill, Rueben Randle/TE: Coby Fleener/OT:Mike Adams

[silvrhand]

Originally Posted by The Pencil Neck

Because Fleener's not depth. He's an immediate starter.

Last season, we played 2, 3, and 4 TE sets probably more than any other team in the league. We started at least 5 games in a 2 TE set. But if you limit yourself to thinking "this guy is a TE", then you're missing the point.

Fleener, like Casey and OD, can line up in a variety of places. He can line up as a TE or he can split out and become a WR. He can probably fill an H-back position. He creates match-up problems that Kubiak can use in his formations.

He, effectively, becomes our WR2.

Last year, we had Dreessen in that role. He's gone. Right this second, we've got Garrett Graham taking Dreessen's spot but Garrett Graham hasn't stepped up so far and lived up to his "second coming of OD" billing.

With Fleener, we immediately upgrade Dreesen's position at least from an athletic standpoint. Fleener may well be a better TE option than OD even when OD is healthy.

BUT... I expect Fleener to go to the Colts at this point.

If we get another TE I'm going to divide by 0, the main reason we played so many TE's was cause that's all we had at some point. We need an upgrade over JJ/KW more than we do over worrying about losing Dressen.

[Rey]

Originally Posted by The Pencil Neck

Because Fleener's not depth. He's an immediate starter.

Last season, we played 2, 3, and 4 TE sets probably more than any other team in the league. We started at least 5 games in a 2 TE set. But if you limit yourself to thinking "this guy is a TE", then you're missing the point.

Fleener, like Casey and OD, can line up in a variety of places. He can line up as a TE or he can split out and become a WR. He can probably fill an H-back position. He creates match-up problems that Kubiak can use in his formations.

He, effectively, becomes our WR2.

Last year, we had Dreessen in that role. He's gone. Right this second, we've got Garrett Graham taking Dreessen's spot but Garrett Graham hasn't stepped up so far and lived up to his "second coming of OD" billing.

With Fleener, we immediately upgrade Dreesen's position at least from an athletic standpoint. Fleener may well be a better TE option than OD even when OD is healthy.

BUT... I expect Fleener to go to the Colts at this point.

When did we play 4 TE sets? And honestly, How often did we even go to 3?

[Playoffs]

Originally Posted by Rey

When did we play 4 TE sets?

I think we'd need to add some TEs to get to a 4 TE set.

[The Pencil Neck]

Originally Posted by Rey

When did we play 4 TE sets? And honestly, How often did we even go to 3?

Obviously, goal line and short yardage but we also run it on "normal" down and distance situations between the twenties. And we do it fairly often.

Remember way back in... 2007?... first game of the season against the Chiefs. We lined up with 1 WR (AJ) and 3 TEs (1 of those TEs might have been a FB lined up in a TE position) with everyone except Andre tight. The Chiefs bit on that run fake so hard it was silly and we hit AJ for that 70-80 yard TD.

Sometimes we line KW up in a TE type of position and make him perform TE functions. We were frequently lining up with Casey, Dreessen, and OD. Graham got out there occasionally although he didn't do much. We used to run 4 TE more in the past on those rare occasions when Hill was healthy.

I think one of the reasons KW is still our WR2 -- besides the fact that Jacoby hasn't developed the way we would have liked -- is because he's big enough and a good enough blocker to perform those TE types of functions.

After the draft, I'll go through a game or two and count up the different alignments.

[Wolf6151]

Rick Smith needs to do whatever is necessary to get an extra 2nd round pick, you did it last year Rick. In the 2nd round I want 2 of the following players.

Jonathan Martin-OT or Bobby Massie-OT
Jerel Worthy-DT or Brandon Thompson-DT

Come on Rick you got us two 2nd round picks last year, do it again. One of the above listed OT's and one of the DT's would solidify our O-line and D-line and vastly improve our depth at OT, DT, and DE with the move of Mitchell to DE depth. Come on Rick get er' done.

[The Pencil Neck]

Originally Posted by Playoffs

I think we'd need to add some TEs to get to a 4 TE set.

Exactly. Since we lost Dreessen, we have to add another TE to be able to get into 4 TE sets.

[Maddict5]

I want a trade up to get randle or hill.

Im gonna get staying where we are and taking the best o-lineman/de and one of the lesser wrs in the 3rd (which im ok with btw)

[The Pencil Neck]

Originally Posted by Rey

When did we play 4 TE sets? And honestly, How often did we even go to 3?

I just looked at the first series of the Titans game.

We were in a 2 TE set for 5 of those plays. And we went to a 3 TE set for 1.

And that was with no OD and not counting when Casey lined up at FB.

[fiasco west]

Would love to get Fleener. I think he'd work out the same as adding another WR. On offense I just look at it like you should be adding weapons. No matter if you need a WR,QB,HB whatever...just add players that can make plays and Fleener is that. Elite TEs can have a huge impact, just look at last year when you see Gronk and Brady, Brees and Graham. Also look at some of the best Offenses in the league over the years they usually have a elite TE.

Don't see him dropping to us though...I see no way he does and we'd have to move up a lot just to get him.

[RT22]

I'm thinking at #58 Alameda Ta'amu DL Washington and at#76 Brian Quick WR Appalachian St.

[Rey]

Originally Posted by The Pencil Neck

Obviously, goal line and short yardage but we also run it on "normal" down and distance situations between the twenties. And we do it fairly often.

I don't recall running three TE's "fairly often" and I honestly don't ever remember seeing 4 TE's on the field.

But whatever, no biggie.

[The Pencil Neck]

Originally Posted by Rey

I don't recall running three TE's "fairly often" and I honestly don't ever remember seeing 4 TE's on the field.

But whatever, no biggie.

Well, no, it is kind of a biggie because if I'm right, then the TE position is more important than some people think it is and losing Dreessen was more of a blow than some people think it was. I think this multi-TE strategy is something that Kubes uses to sell the run game and get the rollouts working better and it's an important part of our game.

That's why I think that Fleener would be such a good fit but also why I expect at least 1 TE (maybe Hanna) to be drafted this year and I still expect us to pick up a FA TE, as well.

[PapaL]

C Peter Konz and then WR Brian Quick are my picks.

[ChampionTexan]

Originally Posted by The Pencil Neck

I just looked at the first series of the Titans game.

We were in a 2 TE set for 5 of those plays. And we went to a 3 TE set for 1.

And that was with no OD and not counting when Casey lined up at FB.

While I think it may be pretty expensive to trade up for Fleener, I would have zero problem if Rick was able to pull it off.

Last season, the Texans threw 6 TD passes in the red zone. One of those went to OD, one of those went to Bryant Johnson, and the other four went to Dreessen.

At 6'6", I think Fleener would give us a target in the Redzone that could not only fill the void Dreessen's departure leaves, but actually result in a net improvement.

Arian's great in the RZ, and nothing's going to change that, but the more the defense has to focus (even a little bit) on something else, the better Arian - and therefore the Texans - are going to be inside the 20.

[TdotTexas2Step]

We desperately need an impact receiving threat.

We won quite a few games without Andre, but we also experienced a handful of three and outs while placing a lot of pressure on our defense to constantly play at a high level.

Some of it was on Yates' experience, but what if Schaub isn't healthy this year?

I'd prefer a Fleener or Randle. But even Stephen Hill would work as size and pure speed would allow Foster room to do this thing. He's blocking ability is an added bonus.