Death to Google Ads! Texans Talk Tip Jar! 🍺😎👍
Thanks for your support!

Sold on Barron?

pittbull

Rookie
All the "experts" feel like Alex Barron is going to fall to the Texans at #13. Although it looks good on paper, this guy seems to be an enigma to most. Hasn't and doesn't fully play up to his potential. Others belive there could be better OL in the second round, who can provide us the same stability to protect Davie Franchise. I would love to see us trade down, gain another pick, and draft Clayton, WR, Oklahoma, to place opposite Johnson, but what does everyone else think about the OL potential? :hmmm:
 

D-ReK

RAWWWRR!
I'm not really sold on him, but that's inconsequential since Cass seems to be high on him and claimed he could start from day one...I don't want to see the third rookie LT (Wand wasn't technically a rookie, but it was his first full season) protecting the franchise's blind side in fourth year, but if we draft him, I'll have to accept him...He has "franchise" potential at LT, but he has just as much potential to go the opposite way...
 

Marcus

Windmill cancer survivor
Contributor's Club
If you want Casserly to take the BPA at #13, then Alex Barron shouldn't be in your picture. Now, if Casserly trades down to say, the 20th thru the 25th pick, then yeah, Barron might be an option.

But at #13? There's plenty of players that will be available at #13 that will be much better than Barron. Barron is the best prospect out of a very poor crop of OL in this draft. In last year's draft, Barron wouldn't even go in the first round.

And despite what that empty-headed hack Lopez said in today's Chronicle about the left tackle position, Casserly has stated on numerous occasions that the coaching staff is pleased with the progress with Seth Wand. So don't look for an O lineman on the 1st day.
 

Htown34s

Waterboy
I love Steve McKinney, but center is the weak link in our line IMO. Pitts was learning his new spot, so he can be excused for his mistakes, but Steve is a veteran who looks like he has lost a step and wasn't all-pro quality to begin with.

If we take Chris Spencer in the 2nd round our line should be upgraded as soon as he is ready to start in place of McKinney.
Doing this we'd still get BPA at #13 and bolster our line. I really hope we don't trade up and give away our 2nd round pick.
 

El Tejano

Hall of Fame
I also believe we wont go with an Olineman on first day. I don't think they wanna start a rookie all over again either and I am quite sure we wanna actually see the same Oline for the first time in our history. Remember our tackles will be in the same offense in consecutive years for the first time. If we wanna see progress we need to see if it can be done using the same guys right now. Besides next years crop of Olineman is better.
 

Vinny

shiny happy fan
D-ReK said:
I'm not really sold on him, but that's inconsequential since Cass seems to be high on him and claimed he could start from day one.
He made some nice comments about him once but that doesn't mean he is sold on him. I also heard him say he doesn't like the value of the Tackles at the top of the draft class. Lots of posturing, spin, and diplomacy is done before the draft. I wouldn't bank on a few flattering words being an indicator that CC is sold on Barron. I get the opposite impression from Casserly.
 
S

SESupergenius

Guest
Speaking of which, where are all the rumors that drop players? In years past there were several players dropping at this point (Suggs comes to mind)
 

cadahnic

Rookie
Barron is a good not great Tackle. He is not however in the same class as the guys that came out last year or that will come out 2006. I think the Texans should hold off on the first round tackle until next years over achieving crop and get a defensive playmaker. Mainly at the LB or DB spot. A solid work hard guy later in the draft would be great. We need more interior blocking than tackles anyway. the two guys out of central michigan would be nice as would Adam Terry, or David Baas.
 

Cupps

Waterboy
I think that Alex Barron, while the best OL in this year's draft, is not worth the 13th pick. With so many guys clumped together near where we'd be picking, and some I'd love to see us take (Benson, Williamson, maybe a move for DJ), I don't want us to waste a high pick on a risky OL. Wait and take one later in the draft perhaps, but not Barron. No please.
 

pittbull

Rookie
Htown34s said:
I love Steve McKinney, but center is the weak link in our line IMO. Pitts was learning his new spot, so he can be excused for his mistakes, but Steve is a veteran who looks like he has lost a step and wasn't all-pro quality to begin with.

If we take Chris Spencer in the 2nd round our line should be upgraded as soon as he is ready to start in place of McKinney.
Doing this we'd still get BPA at #13 and bolster our line. I really hope we don't trade up and give away our 2nd round pick.
Although Pitts was officially moved back to Guard, this was a position he had played in the past. I felt Pitts should have been left at Left Tackle. I think the guy personally got set back a year, all due to the great experiment at tackle with Wand. Now since Wand is there, give him an opportunity to prove he can play there, if not draft someone for competition reasons are spend the big bucks in free agency! To me, the Texans have a greater need for a #2 receiver, than another experiment at Left tackle with the draft pick. When Johnson is double teamed, the offense fails to move the ball. Get someone to take all the added pressure off the guy!
 

Vinny

shiny happy fan
pittbull said:
Although Pitts was officially moved back to Guard, this was a position he had played in the past.
I find it hard to believe hard core Texan fans don't have a clue on this after 3 years. Guys who post here a TON still don't grasp this (Grid said the same thing a week ago).

PITTS HAS NEVER EVER PLAYED GUARD BEFORE LAST YEAR!!!
 

cadahnic

Rookie
Vinny I am with you, If you are going to post and want some type of credibility at least know where people have played.
 

Vinny

shiny happy fan
Pittbull is a rabid fan...good fan....but I just don't understand this Pitts thing. It happens over and over and over. The misinformation is not good. I see it all over rival boards too, by OUR fans! Its crazy.
 

D-ReK

RAWWWRR!
Vinny said:
He made some nice comments about him once but that doesn't mean he is sold on him. I also heard him say he doesn't like the value of the Tackles at the top of the draft class. Lots of posturing, spin, and diplomacy is done before the draft. I wouldn't bank on a few flattering words being an indicator that CC is sold on Barron. I get the opposite impression from Casserly.
This thought has crossed my mind too, but I figured I'd throw his ESPN radio comments out there in case someone here hadn't heard the interview or seen a synopsis of his comments...

Since no one in this thread has really praised Barron, I'll go ahead and give the reasons why we should go Barron, simply for argument's sake...

Wand gave up the most sacks in the NFL last season and while it may not be his fault totally, he deserves some of the blame...Think back to the Cleveland game last season, Wand did so badly against them that he was pulled on passing downs...That doesn't seem like a "franchise" LT to me...

Since nobody wants to see a rookie guarding the franchise's blind side another year, Barron would provide quality depth at the least this season before he takes over full time in 2006...If Wand or Wade were to get injured, that would mean either Garrick Jones or Chad Beasley would start or Pitts would be temporarily moved back to LT and Milford Brown would take over at LG...Neither of these scenarios are pleasant thoughts for me...Depth at OT needs to be addressed, and what better way to address it than with the best LT in the draft?
 

jacquescas

Veteran
My final views on the Barron situation. He may just be the best player available at the 13 spot. I think if someone falls we take them before Barron because a better center can be found later on.
 

cadahnic

Rookie
You would address it with a good LT in the draft at a lower than first round draft pick price. Check out Adam Terry or Khalif Barnes they will be around in the second round. Also Elton Brown could be around as well as the kid from Central Michigan in later rounds. That would address our O-line depth needs.
 

D-ReK

RAWWWRR!
cadahnic said:
You would address it with a good LT in the draft at a lower than first round draft pick price. Check out Adam Terry or Khalif Barnes they will be around in the second round. Also Elton Brown could be around as well as the kid from Central Michigan in later rounds. That would address our O-line depth needs.
Khalif Barnes is a concensus top 25, and Adam Terry may be gone by 47 also, not to mention he is nowhere near the athlete that Barron is, plus Terry is 330 lbs and needs to get stronger...I don't get why you would want to make due with an average player like Wand at LT when you could have a potential superstar...
 

cadahnic

Rookie
It is simple D-Rek. We leave the line together and make the neccessary adjustments as the season goes on. Next year (because our pick will be about the same) we get one of the 4 better tackles that will be coming out. If you want I will list these tackles for you so you can understand. DELAYED GRATIFICATION MAN!!
 

D-ReK

RAWWWRR!
cadahnic said:
It is simple D-Rek. We leave the line together and make the neccessary adjustments as the season goes on. Next year (because our pick will be about the same) we get one of the 4 better tackles that will be coming out. If you want I will list these tackles for you so you can understand. DELAYED GRATIFICATION MAN!!
:heh: I already know about the OTs coming out next year...It's already being hyped as "the best OT class ever"...Honestly, I was just seeing how long I could go arguing a point I don't really believe in...The only thing that bothers me about waiting til the 2006 draft to take an elite guy is that if Wand continues to fail, we may not have a better option than him until the 2007 season...
 

keyfro

Veteran
i've been one of the few people on this board who would support alex barron being our 1st round pick and i'm not sold on him...besides the question marks on him if you look at next years draft there is aboundant of talent at the offensive tackle position...i don't see him being the texans pick...i see us going either benson if he falls, rogers is our next choice, merriman if he falls, ware if he falls, spears if he falls, then williamson...i think that's our board right now if we stay at 13...i don't see us staying at 13 though i see us trading up or down...if we trade up i see us going for benson(just a gut feeling)...or DJ...more than likely though i see us trading down...the players would be pollack, barnes, maybe rogers, clayton, or maybe the shock pick of the year is that we get heath miller meaning that bennie joppru isn't getting better
 

TheOgre

All Pro
So Vinny, how do you really feel?

It does irk me too. Pitts was PROJECTED to be an OG when we drafted him. He had never played the position, though. I think some people assume he was a college OG whom we were forced to move to LT when Boselli couldn't play.

What surprises me is how many times this topic has come up yet we still have ignorant frequent posters.
 

D-ReK

RAWWWRR!
Rovator said:
just curious, who are some of the OT's coming out next year? and their schools?
D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia
Eric Winston, Miami (FL)
Jon Scott, Texas
Marcus McNeill, Auburn
Andrew Whitworth, LSU
Justin Blalock, Texas (junior)
Ryan Harris, Notre Dame (junior/my fave of the potential class)
 

tacoman_j

Waterboy
http://cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/story/8395390

By Pete Prisco
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Tell Pete your opinion!

Top Prospects: Offensive Linemen

Top Five
1. Alex Barron (T), Florida State
The skinny: The best overall lineman in the entire draft. He's a great pass protector, but his run blocking needs improving.
2. Jammal Brown (T), Oklahoma
The skinny: A powerful right tackle who can manhandle an opponent. Some teams think he can move to the left side.
3. Khalif Barnes (T), Washington
The skinny: Here's a player who is moving up a lot of team's boards. Barnes missed time with a wrist injury last season, but he's healthy now.
4. David Baas (G/C), Michigan
The skinny: He played guard at Michigan, but a lot of teams like him as a center. He's a tough, physical player.
5. Chris Spencer (C), Mississippi

The skinny: Here's a guy rising up a lot of boards. He's a power player in the middle who also has good athleticism.

Rising
Spencer. He has an outside chance to go at the end of the first round. He's an athletic center who can be tough in the run game.

Falling
Rob Petiti, Pittsburgh. Once considered a potential fourth-round pick, he'll be lucky to go that high.

Sleeper
Michael Roos, Eastern Washington. He is from Estonia, so he played just one year of high school football. But at 6-5, 300, he is intriguing to a lot of teams.

Overrated
Barron is a little overrated in part because teams are so desperate to get left tackles. He isn't in the same class as former FSU tackle Walter Jones, that's for sure.

Underrated
Ray Willis, T, Florida State. Willis is a going to be a heck of a right tackle. He is powerful and excels at blocking for the run game.

Position assessment
Linemen classes are usually measured by how many premier tackles there are, and this one doesn't have more than three. That's why it's considered a down year for linemen. But the center position is better than in recent years, which helps. Overall, there is depth at a lot of postions. You might not be getting a Jonathan Ogden at tackle, but a Barron and Brown are a notch below that level.
 

Wolf

100% Texan
OT Alex Barron, Florida State
Texans Affected: Seth Wand, Garrick Jones, Chad Beasley
How He’d Fit: He’d compete with Wand for the starting left tackle job. If he didn’t win it, Barron would be a backup since he’s not a drive blocker who could also contribute at guard. He’d play on the field goal/extra point unit and because of his rare athleticism for an offensive lineman, could also block on the kickoff return team.
Jersey Number: 74, since Fred Weary already has 70, Barron’s college number.
http://www.houstonprofootball.com/draft/

personally I feel Center is our weakest link on the line.... I can't remember the last time (if ever) that I have seen a picture perfect play where Carr steps up into the pocket and deliver a strike.
I feel that we could trade down and still get him and gain an extra pick..

We might as well take Williamson ,WAre or Davis... we know williamson would start at WR and Davis and Ware would start.
 
Top