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

Awtysst's Stupidly Early Draft Thoughts for December

awtysst

Draft Guru
I don’t know where we will end up picking, but I figure we will finish around 7-9 to 9-7. So, that would have us picking around where we were last year. I decided that in my Texans Universe, we made a similar trade to the one we made last year, ie we got an extra 3rd and 6th rounder for moving down a few slots.

So here it is, my December Mock Draft. I will not make another one until January. Please read through the whole mock and then rip it apart!!!

1. B.J. Raji, Boston College-DT
Many people think our first round pick should be an immediate starter and someone that can improve his position. I disagree. I think our first round pick should be a starter and have the ability to improve MULTIPLE positions. Thus, I submit my first round pick of Raji. Some people might complain about taking another Dlineman or even another DT. This pick does not say that Okoye is a bust. Far from it. This pick will finally allow Okoye to play his true position. Raji is space eater that can clog the line and engage two offensive lineman. If you put this behemoth on the line, he will open up room for Okoye and Mario. I say take him, move Okoye over, and sit back and enjoy the run and pass defensive improvement. Some people may think Terrence Cody is a better DT than Raji. I think for our system, Raji is a better space eater plus I think he is gonna be available at this spot whereas Cody will be gone.

2. Everette Brown, Florida State-DE
He could be one of those first rounders that drops to the end of middle of the second round. Remember how everyone thought Limas Sweed was a first rounder for sure? He dropped all the way to the bottom of the second and Pitt jumped all over him. In my current projection he slips into the second round. With Raji occupying double teams and pushing the pile forward, Mario, Okoye and Brown will be able to converge on the pocket. Brown completes the Dline puzzle. Think about a line of Mario, Okoye, Raji, and Brown. The elder statesman Mario is only 23 right now. This could be a dominant line for a decade and a half!

3a. Antoine Caldwell, Alabama-C
A winning football team is constructed in the trenches. This might be a bit early, but sometimes you need to take a guy where you are, or you won’t get him. Myers has been a huge disappointment in our Oline. He constantly loses the point of attack and is continually knocked back. Caldwell is someone who can start from day 1 and hold that line. He will not get knocked around and he has the size and speed to actually follow the play down the field to provide an additional downfield block. It might be a round early, but if he works out (like I think he will), who cares where we draft him?

3b. Rashad Jennings, Liberty-RB/ Shone Green Iowa-RB
I have been going back and forth on this pick. I think our choice needs to be one of these two players. Slaton is a great player but he is not the pound it up the middle for a single yard kind of back. Part of that problem is center and thisis addressed by Caldwell. Another part of it is we need a big strong back that can push the chains. Enter Rashad Jennings and Shone Green. Jennings transferred from Pitt to Liberty because of family issues and has single-handedly carried Liberty. He is 6’1 232 and has 4.5 speed. Green has been a manchild absolutely running through Iowa opponents. He is a little bigger but somewhat slower than Jennings. I say we grab Jennings and pair him with Slaton. We suddenly have our own version of Thunder and Lightening. Even if we choose Green, we have out complimentary back.

4. Ray Feinga, BYU-OG
We continue with the trenches and consider RG. Feinga has good feet and is quick for a big guard (6’5 329). I have not been impressed with Briesel and think he is more of a solid depth player than a starter. Feinga could walk in and start at RG for us. Putting him next to Winston will be terrific. Feinga is the kind of guy that is not pushed around. He along with Caldwell will be placed together and will push the line of scrimmage forward, not backward. Now, all those plays in which the pocket has collapsed around our QB or Slaton getting tackled in the backfield will be a thing of the past with these two new additions to the line.

5. Rhett Bomar, Sam Houston State-QB
I am convinced that we need a QB like Rhett Bomar. He could provide solid depth and help us evaluate Schaub. If Schaub does not stay healthy, we get rid of him and turn the ball to Bomar, who has been sitting and learning all year. If Schaub does fine, we have a solid backup. As has been clearly seen, you need 2 good NFL QBs these days. Look how Cassell has kept NE in the hunt when Brady went down. At worst, Bomar becomes a solid backup. At best he is our new starting QB. For a 5th rounder, that’s a pretty good deal.

6a. Manuel Johnson, Oklahoma-WR
The overlooked OU receiver would be a tremendous value pick right here and an absolute steal. I have seen him pretty far down on a lot of draft charts, so this is not a pie in the sky dream. Team him up with Andre, Owen, Slaton, and Jennings/Green and we suddenly have a very scary looking offense. Can you imagine a play in which we have Andre and Manuel on the sidelines, OD in the middle of the field, Slaton coming out of the backfield, and Walter/Davis/Jones sneaking into the middle of the field. Yeah, scary. Oh, and Johnson and Johnson might be interested in some National TV ad spots?!

6b. Selvish Capers, West Virginia-OT
Ok, everyone, get past his last name. I know we didn’t have success with a Capers in Htown, but I say, give this pick a chance. He has the right kind of size to be a prototypical OT in the ZBS. He could become our swingtackle and provide some solid depth at both positions. This might allow us to carry one less OT and another skill position player.

7. Brandon Swain, West Texas A&M-DE
In the 7th round there is one thing you look for: football players. Sure, his level of competition wasn’t high. Sure he isn’t the biggest dog in the fight. But he has a tremendous motor and he gives it his all on EVERY single play. I think we could find a place for him on this team.
 
My flavor of the month, december style, is thinking Shonn (sp?) Green or Leshawn (sp?) McCoy in the second round. Both are feature back potential but have good size to them. McCoy is looking like a late first rounder who may slip. I haven't seen Green projected in the first to this point.
 

Honoring Earl 34

Something Witty !
I think it's a good effort for December . I enjoy these things because I pay special attention to the names in the bowl games .
 
McCoy was pretty hyped at the beginning of the season but every game I saw of his he was amazingly unspectacular.

I'd love me some Shonn Greene though. Or Donald Brown for that matter. Whoever falls to the second or third.
 
McCoy was pretty hyped at the beginning of the season but every game I saw of his he was amazingly unspectacular.

I'd love me some Shonn Greene though. Or Donald Brown for that matter. Whoever falls to the second or third.
It's why he falls. He reminds me of LJ coming out. Not quite the success but the same type of runner. Same connections. Similar build.
 

bah007

Hall of Fame
Having watched Bomar a couple weeks ago in Huntsville I wouldn't take him.
Which game did you see?

I go to SHSU and I would say that if it weren't for Bomar we would probably have finished the season with only two or three wins.

He is a little bit injury prone, but he is pretty tough.

He has a terrific arm and pretty good accuracy.

He seems to make pretty good reads, but sometimes he does have too much confidence and tries to stick a ball into a tight window.
 

b0ng

Bad Hombre
No thoughts on the mock?

Cmon people rip me!
Okay, you only spent 3 picks on defense, and really only the first 2 and the 7th. You skipped over getting a safety for 3 offensive linemen. The only help you gave the defense at all is the D-line, which is arguably not the weakest unit on defense.

Really it looks like you've done plenty of homework and it's a good mock. Those are just a few things that make me raise my eyebrows.
 

threetoedpete

Hall of Fame
No thoughts on the mock?

Cmon people rip me!
Stick Harvey Unga BYU with your other backs. Never heard of a pacific rimmer being a puss. He's a big boy and he has soft hands. Wether he can block or not....your guess is as good as mine.

Mock Looks Good to me. Nick pick I'd rather have Case Daniels in the sixeth as a slash guy.... Just might be Jacoby Jones is nearing the Jerome Mathis line. Daniels can be the fourth RB, PR, back up QB. Stash him on the PS see what happens.

Don't know your last two guys. I'll take your word for them.

I think Orakpo and Everette Brown are off the board when we come up. Unless Slaton gets dinged the last couple of games, I think the o-line is rolling. Which means with every win we're moving away from them.
 

BigBull17

Hall of Fame
It would be hard to rip because it's an optimistic view that I would take .

How about this .

1st . Aaron Curry
2nd. Derek Pegues
3rd . Antoine Caldwell
4th . Terrance Taylor
I would love Curry, but we may draft too low to get him. We need a physical, athletic OLB very much. The rest sound solid as well, especially Taylor.
 

beerlover

Hall of Fame
1. B.J. Raji, Boston College-DT

don't think Texans spend another 1st on DL

2. Everette Brown, Florida State-DE

you really think Evertte will still be available?

3a. Antoine Caldwell, Alabama-C

love this pick, great fit for ZBS.

3b. Rashad Jennings, Liberty-RB/ Shone Green Iowa-RB

do the Texans have two 3rd rd. picks? or are we assuming Rick Smith is able to trade down again? not so sure with success of this seasons current rookie class combined with teams need to fill this position because of injurys if there isn't a run on RB earlier than normal.

4. Ray Feinga, BYU-OG

depends I guess if Texans can add Caldwell or high rated interior OL already otherwise I think they go back to defensive side of ball.

5. Rhett Bomar, Sam Houston State-QB

I like Brink & think Kubiak does too he is just bringing him along slowly but if Sage is dealt or ready to move on after next year I think Alex finally gets his shot.

6a. Manuel Johnson, Oklahoma-WR

TE to replace Brunner would also be viable option.

6b. Selvish Capers, West Virginia-OT

I would be OK with another Gibbs selection if one where still on the board.

7. Brandon Swain, West Texas A&M-DE

good special teams players are always needed.
ask & you shall receive :)
 

awtysst

Draft Guru
ask & you shall receive :)
Thanks Buddy! I always appreciate your thoughts. To answer a question, yes, the assumption was made that Rick Smith made a similar deal to last year's

1. I am thinking they go BPA. I think that Raji makes so much sense because it frees up Amobi to play his actual position and allows less pressure on Mario. Plus he is incredibly stout on run defense and can occupy on passing plays. They may not go this way, but they should becuase he helps us yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

2. I have no idea if Everette will be available here, but I think it could definitively happen. At one point last year Calais Campbell was a top ten talent. Then he was a top 15, then a sure fire first rounder. In the end he went in the second. It is very possible he is the guy that peaks too early and starts to get over scrutinized.

3. Thanks, yeah I like Caldwell too. It will be amazing to see how different our Oline looks without him.

4. Yeah, two thirds and I think that Shone Green might go late second/early third leaving Jennings for us in the third.

5. I havent seen enough out of Brink to think he is ready as a backup let alone a starter. I do think that Bomar can be either.

6. Yeah, we could go with a blocking TE too, but i felt that MJ was too good not to take. At this point you go BPA and i felt MJ was that.

7. Always good to have another Gibbs ZBS tackle. Can't get enough of them!

8. He is someone that would be great on Special teams. He actually would not surprise me if he played his way into the DL rotation.

Thanks for the comments!
 

TexansSeminole

Hall of Fame
I honestly believe that with more scrutiny Everette Brown will only rise on most peoples boards. He is one of those guys that could rise because of combine numbers, and his production has been great over the last 3 years. He will probably run a 4.6 and he is deceptively strong. Just ask Virginia Tech LT Ed Wang, who got thrown to the ground by Brown before Brown got to the QB. I also think he will show up big time for any explosion test/drill.
 
Last edited:

Honoring Earl 34

Something Witty !
I think he can play either, which may make him even more valuable as he fits every team that needs a pass rush.
The Giants have proven that you can't have to many pass rushers ( I know we only have one ) and if Brown or Orapko was there I'd probably take them . If not then I might look at Clint Sintim as a possible 3rd down pass rush guy in the 2nd .
 

bah007

Hall of Fame
I think Hardy is more likely to fall to the second than Brown. Brown has pretty much solidified himself as a first rounder.
 

TexansSeminole

Hall of Fame
The Giants have proven that you can't have to many pass rushers ( I know we only have one ) and if Brown or Orapko was there I'd probably take them . If not then I might look at Clint Sintim as a possible 3rd down pass rush guy in the 2nd .
Stintim might be a first rounder. That's where I would rate him. He is an excellent 3-4 OLB prospect. If we ran the 3-4 I would be pulling for this guy.
 

threetoedpete

Hall of Fame
It would be hard to rip because it's an optimistic view that I would take .

How about this .

1st . Aaron Curry
2nd. Derek Pegues
3rd . Antoine Caldwell
4th . Terrance Taylor
Like it. Caldwell in the third ...nice.... Gamble on Unga falling to the fifth ? Need a big back to go with secrateriate.

Everyone is over looking Eric Wood...not a bad prospect despite the braces on the knees.


My third round guy is Adam Ulatoski. We have a history of taking guys there. Your center trumps my T//LG guy though. I'm not giving up on Brown....but I believe in insurance.
 
Last edited:

bah007

Hall of Fame
Can't see that they would be but even if they were it's a good year for centers ... you know bpa . What about Pegues in the 2nd ... to high ?
2nd round is a good grade for Pegues.

He can play CB or FS. He has ball skills, can return punts, and has speed to burn.
 
Top