HOU-TEX
Ah, Football!
I think this is ok to post in this section
This is a decent write up on the Texans needs and draft possibilities. I'm not sure I agree with his stance on our RB situation, but you never know.
The write up covers a lot, so I only quoted a couple positions I'd like addressed in the first couple days.
http://www.thesidelineview.com/columns/draft/ultimate-houston-texans-post-combine-draft-board
This is a decent write up on the Texans needs and draft possibilities. I'm not sure I agree with his stance on our RB situation, but you never know.
The write up covers a lot, so I only quoted a couple positions I'd like addressed in the first couple days.
1st - Keenan Allen, Cal (6-2, 206), DeAndre 'Nuk' Hopkins, Clemson (6-1, 214), Quinton Patton, La. Tech (6-0, 204), Terrance Williams, Baylor (6-2, 208)
2nd - Justin Hunter, Tennessee (6-4, 196), Robert Woods, USC (6-0, 201)
3rd - Cobi Hamilton, Arkansas (6-2, 212), Ryan Swope, Texas A&M (6-0, 205)
4th - Chris Harper, Kansas State (6-1, 229)
5th -
6th - Brandon Kaufman, Eastern Washington (6-5, 216)
7th -
I'd love to see them add a whippet quick Tavon Austin in the slot or a versatile Denard Robinson somewhere on the roster. But, that's not in The Plan. Each receiver on the board, for the most part, has size, can win at the line of scrimmage and can catch the football consistently.
Cal's Keenan Allen is hyped as the best receiver in this class, but it's not a complete slam dunk that he is in my opinion. Receivers have typically moved on down the board throughout the last few drafts and Allen may do just that. If he's available at #27, he's going to be difficult for the Texans to turn down, though.
Swope is the one many people will say doesn't fit the profile given his stereotypical comparison to Wes Welker, but let me tell you, he isn't Welker. He has great run after the catch abilities (he was a RB in high school) but he doesn't have to live in the slot but he's best served playing there.
1st - ILB Kevin Minter, LSU (6-1, 245)
2nd - ILB Arthur Brown, Kansas State (6-0, 241)
3rd - ILB Kiko Alonso, Oregon (6-3, 238), ILB/OLB Sio Moore, U Conn (6-1, 240), OLB Sean Porter, Texas A&M (6-1, 229)
4th - ILB Jon Bostic, Florida (6-1, 245), ILB A.J Klein, Iowa State (6-1, 250), ILB Kevin Reddick, North Carolina (6-1, 243), ILB Nico Johnson, Alabama (6-2, 248)
5th - ILB Bruce Taylor, Virginia Tech (6-1, 237)
6th -
7th -
Minter is the guy I've targeted for the Texans for a while. He explodes through ball carriers, reads extremely well and even if he's only a two down player, he'd make an instant impact in Houston. That said, the more that Minter proves he could be a three down linebacker, the less the Texans have to play six defensive backs and the more disguised the defense can be.
But, considering how much trouble the Texans had matching up to the Patriots, it wouldn't surprise me to see the Texans react (or overreact) and look long at Brown, who could match up with RB and TE in the passing game perhaps better than anyone on the board. Brown is an explosive player who reminds me of former Miami Hurricane star Sean Spence. But, Brown didn't endear himself to any teams at the Combine for choosing not to workout after gaining 12 pounds in the off-season.
Consequently, Alonso is a stretch given his off the field problems. However, the Texans are at that point where it's time to take the next step, even if it means thinking outside the traditional Texans' box. The game is getting faster, not slower, and the Texans have to adjust.
http://www.thesidelineview.com/columns/draft/ultimate-houston-texans-post-combine-draft-board