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Texans Draft Re-cap from one of the best

beerlover

beerlover

Hall of Fame
Nolan Nawrocki of Pro Football Weekly, a free service & excellent NFL resource gives his pick by pick anaylsis, note these are not grades but evaluations of players & why. hope you enjoy, I'll pull out as it pertains to Texans only.

20 (20) Houston: CB Kareem Jackson, Alabama


The Texans needed a big, physical cornerback to replace the departed Dunta Robinson, and Jackson fits the bill. He will enter training camp with the expectation to start and should not have any problems after playing every coverage for Nick Saban at Alabama. He is quick to support the run, plays smart and very seldom gets beat, with deceptive functional playing speed given his smooth stride.
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26 (58) Houston (from Arizona through New England): RB Ben Tate, Auburn


Steve Slaton battled injury for much of last season, and the Texans needed a workhorse back who could handle a heavier workload. After missing out on Ryan Mathews in the first round, they found a very suitable stretch-zone runner for Gary Kubiak's zone running game in Ben Tate, who really improved as a senior. He is tight in the hips, but he can stick his foot in the ground and get upfield quickly and should excel for the Texans.
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17 (81) Houston: DT Earl Mitchell, Arizona


The Texans have not received the consistent production that was expected out of first-round pick Amobi Okoye. Earl Mitchell really opened some eyes at the Combine when he clocked sub-4.9 40-times and has physical talent to be molded. He could provide an immediate return as an inside nickel rusher and develop into an every-down contributor in time.
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The fourth round is where teams like to find solid special teamers and the Texans landed one here in Darryl Sharpton, who is capable of playing all three spots and will likely make the greatest impact on special teams. He should be able to compete with the injured Zach Diles for a job on the weak side in one of the strongest LB units in the league featuring Pro Bowlers DeMeco Ryans and Brian Cushing
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The Texans place an emphasis on toughness and physicality at the cornerback position, and Northwestern CB Sherrick McManis fits the mold, with good short-area cover skills and enough toughness to potentially help as a free safety.
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The selection of return specialists highlighted the end of the round, with Antonio Brown creating a run that included LSU's Trindon Holliday (Houston), James Madison's Scotty McGee (Jacksonville) and Arizona State's Kyle Williams (San Francisco). All three should have a chance to earn roles as return men
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What the seventh round could be remembered for, if Pittsburgh TE Dorin Dickerson can learn to apply his immense athletic ability to the field, and Miami TE Dedrick Epps can stay healthy, is the quality of tight ends that the round produced. Dickerson possesses great upside to develop in Houston alongside Owen Daniels, and Epps has the athletic ability to develop in San Diego under Antonio Gates.
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sorry could not find any write-up for Garrett Graham or Shelly Smith.

http://www.profootballweekly.com/draft
 
they found a very suitable stretch-zone runner for Gary Kubiak's zone running game in Ben Tate, who really improved as a senior. He is tight in the hips, but he can stick his foot in the ground and get upfield quickly and should excel for the Texans.
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This is very close to what Lance Zierlein (aka on this board, LZ) said (cheap plug starts here, on 1560 The Game.)

Listen to John and Lance on 1560... another cheap plug...
 
wasn't that two years ago now? I thought he played every game last year...

When you've got two probowlers at LB, the third guy just needs to be a janitor and clean up what's left of the tackles. Diles has proven himself a capable tackler and good fit for the defense. Also, he hasn't been overthrown by anyone yet so there's also the fact that he's a pretty decent LB. Diles-Ryans-Cushing and I hope it stays that way.

I can't wait to see Kareem Jackson on the field. I think this D is set to reach a hoooo nuuuubba leeeevaaaahh with a REAL #1 CB on the edge. Jackson-Quin sounds big, physical and better than any previous duo.
 
The Pencil Neck said:
Zach is injured?
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BigBull17 said:
He broke his leg running down the field once, guess thats what home boy is talking about.
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This happened in 2008. It was sort of weird if you remember. He broke his leg after he kicked himself accidentally while running at half-speed. Guess the author was trying to make a case for accident/injury prone concern. Since this was a singular event, no previous injury history.......or since, a dire fear of re-injury is unfounded. However, a player that can sub any of the 3 LB positions has got to give an increased feeling of security in the case that any of our LBs goes down during the season.
 
Dickerson won't be a TE, per Kubiak.
Diles is no longer injured.
McMannis isn't going to change to FS.

I like reading wrap ups, but its frustrating to hear the same misinformation being parroted by all the talking heads out there.
 
TimeKiller said:
wasn't that two years ago now? I thought he played every game last year...

When you've got two probowlers at LB, the third guy just needs to be a janitor and clean up what's left of the tackles. Diles has proven himself a capable tackler and good fit for the defense. Also, he hasn't been overthrown by anyone yet so there's also the fact that he's a pretty decent LB. Diles-Ryans-Cushing and I hope it stays that way.

I can't wait to see Kareem Jackson on the field. I think this D is set to reach a hoooo nuuuubba leeeevaaaahh with a REAL #1 CB on the edge. Jackson-Quin sounds big, physical and better than any previous duo.
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Yeah, Diles is a decent fit with us, just never hurts to bring in competition for anyone. Now Diles, Bently, Adibi, and Sharpton will compete for the WLB and back up spots. Thats a good thing. I see Sharpton and Bently winning out, and Adibi may be shown the door.

Also, think about the future. Diles could potentially get a little pricey. Not a bad thing to groom his replacement.
 
BigBull17 said:
Yeah, Diles is a decent fit with us, just never hurts to bring in competition for anyone. Now Diles, Bently, Adibi, and Sharpton will compete for the WLB and back up spots. Thats a good thing. I see Sharpton and Bently winning out, and Adibi may be shown the door.

Also, think about the future. Diles could potentially get a little pricey. Not a bad thing to groom his replacement.
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I think we'll hold onto Adibi. I mean if DeMeco gets hurt then Bentley comes in, but soon Sharpton might overtake him as the backup. If Diles gets hurt then Adibi comes in, but he also might be overtaken by Sharpton soon. The problem is Cushing. We don't really have a suitable backup for him. If he gets injured then Diles moves over to SLB and then Adibi comes in at WLB. I think this is where Sharpton helps us out the most since he can play all positions. I think a 5-man combo of Cushing, Ryans, Diles, Adibi, & Sharpton is the perfect crew for us at LB and hopefully we can retain them all.
 
WolverineFan said:
I think we'll hold onto Adibi. I mean if DeMeco gets hurt then Bentley comes in, but soon Sharpton might overtake him as the backup. If Diles gets hurt then Adibi comes in, but he also might be overtaken by Sharpton soon. The problem is Cushing. We don't really have a suitable backup for him. If he gets injured then Diles moves over to SLB and then Adibi comes in at WLB. I think this is where Sharpton helps us out the most since he can play all positions. I think a 5-man combo of Cushing, Ryans, Diles, Adibi, & Sharpton is the perfect crew for us at LB and hopefully we can retain them all.
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Zak Diles can play all 3 spots.
http://www.houstontexans.com/team/player.asp?player_id=291

Bentley can play all 3 spots http://www.houstontexans.com/team/player.asp?player_id=335
 
TimeKiller said:
I can't wait to see Kareem Jackson on the field. I think this D is set to reach a hoooo nuuuubba leeeevaaaahh with a REAL #1 CB on the edge. Jackson-Quin sounds big, physical and better than any previous duo.
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This Texan defense is CRAZY AS HELL!

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The Pencil Neck said:
Zach is injured?
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not the same player he was before he broke his tibia 1 1/2 years ago. Adibi has also battled injurys. DeMeco had some issues as did Cushing but both were able to play through them. it's a high impact position, probably the most force on joints & bones of any position in football.
 
beerlover said:
not the same player he was before he broke his tibia two years ago. Adibi has also battled injurys. DeMeco had some issues as did Cushing but both were able to play through them. it's a high impact position, probably the most force on joints & bones of any position in football.
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I was just making sure he hadn't gotten injured again while he was walking down the stairs or something.

I expect Sharpton to come in and try to put pressure on Adibi and Diles for the Will spot. Our "Will" is a different "Will" than anyone else's, I think. I think we use different criteria for that position because we've got Demeco and Cush as our 3-down LBs and our Will, instead of being a coverage guy, actually morphs into a run stopper that comes out on 3rd down and passing situations.

And I think Sharpton's downhill style fits in with what Bush is trying to get out of Diles and why Diles is better in that spot that Adibi (who's more of a prototypical Will than Diles is.)

At least, that's the way I see it. Some of the guys who know more about the X's and O's may not agree.
 
The Pencil Neck said:
I was just making sure he hadn't gotten injured again while he was walking down the stairs or something.

I expect Sharpton to come in and try to put pressure on Adibi and Diles for the Will spot. Our "Will" is a different "Will" than anyone else's, I think. I think we use different criteria for that position because we've got Demeco and Cush as our 3-down LBs and our Will, instead of being a coverage guy, actually morphs into a run stopper that comes out on 3rd down and passing situations.

And I think Sharpton's downhill style fits in with what Bush is trying to get out of Diles and why Diles is better in that spot that Adibi (who's more of a prototypical Will than Diles is.)

At least, that's the way I see it. Some of the guys who know more about the X's and O's may not agree.
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We use the Will as a clean up gu, so the Will has to be instinctive and a very sure tackler.
 
BigBull17 said:
We use the Will as a clean up gu, so the Will has to be instinctive and a very sure tackler.
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I really don't see much difference between our Will and our SAM. Most plays, when the TE shifts, the LBs don't move with him, the one closer to the TE moves down on the line, and the other backs up. The only real difference I see between the two, is that Cushing is given the assignment to attack the QB, & I never see that given to Diles. I've seen Adibi get after the QB, but not Diles.
 
thunderkyss said:
I really don't see much difference between our Will and our SAM. Most plays, when the TE shifts, the LBs don't move with him, the one closer to the TE moves down on the line, and the other backs up. The only real difference I see between the two, is that Cushing is given the assignment to attack the QB, & I never see that given to Diles. I've seen Adibi get after the QB, but not Diles.
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Are you saying that Diles doesn't blitz in passing situations?
 
Rey said:
Are you saying that Diles doesn't blitz in passing situations?
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Cush stayed on the field in most of our nickel packages last year. Therefore Diles didn't see the field as much in obvious passing situations. I think Diles is a quality starter, and it would be hard to stand out playing next to 2 probowlers and a balls out SS.
 
The Pencil Neck said:
I was just making sure he hadn't gotten injured again while he was walking down the stairs or something.

I expect Sharpton to come in and try to put pressure on Adibi and Diles for the Will spot. Our "Will" is a different "Will" than anyone else's, I think. I think we use different criteria for that position because we've got Demeco and Cush as our 3-down LBs and our Will, instead of being a coverage guy, actually morphs into a run stopper that comes out on 3rd down and passing situations.

And I think Sharpton's downhill style fits in with what Bush is trying to get out of Diles and why Diles is better in that spot that Adibi (who's more of a prototypical Will than Diles is.)

At least, that's the way I see it. Some of the guys who know more about the X's and O's may not agree.
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I think your right about a Bush WILL & another coordinators version of this position can be quite different. I would like to see Cushing in more pass rush situations leaving DeMeco to cover-up underneath while Sharpton digs out the trash in between.

Sharpton in game film was impressive. maybe not the combine/measureable guy but so what he's a beast in fact I would say his football speed is above his combine time which translates nicely outside/in.

Imagine the Texans align in a 3-4 with LDT Earl Mitchell, NT Amobi Okoye & RDT Mario Williams then have Cushing & Barwin stand-up as OLB's, DeMeco & Sharpton ILB's, Kareem RCB, Quinn LCB, Wilson FS & Pollard SS. Think that would be any good?
 
beerlover said:
Imagine the Texans align in a 3-4 with LDT Earl Mitchell, NT Amobi Okoye & RDT Mario Williams then have Cushing & Barwin stand-up as OLB's, DeMeco & Sharpton ILB's, Kareem RCB, Quinn LCB, Wilson FS & Pollard SS. Think that would be any good?
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Ah, that's a great point. They did play some 3-4 last year and this pick could help out with that immensely.

Not sure if I'd have Amobi on the nose, though.
 
beerlover said:
Imagine the Texans align in a 3-4 with LDT Earl Mitchell, NT Amobi Okoye & RDT Mario Williams then have Cushing & Barwin stand-up as OLB's, DeMeco & Sharpton ILB's, Kareem RCB, Quinn LCB, Wilson FS & Pollard SS. Think that would be any good?
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I was thinking this a lot last season, thinking Adibi could be that guy... but it never happened. When we drafted Sharpton, I thought, we'll be seeing some 3-4 fronts.
 
Rey said:
Are you saying that Diles doesn't blitz in passing situations?
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Diles is a pretty good LB, but I don't think he is a very good blitzer. He shows it way to much, and at times needs a road map to the QB. He isn't as bad a blitzer as say, Morlon Greenwood, but he isn't as good a blitzer as Cush.
 
thunderkyss said:
I was thinking this a lot last season, thinking Adibi could be that guy... but it never happened. When we drafted Sharpton, I thought, we'll be seeing some 3-4 fronts.
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in a draft short on ILB's the Texans got one of the best, in the 4th, the focus 3-4 teams have placed on OLB's is over emphasized some think they can move an older player inside to do the dirty work, the smart ones (like New England who took Jarod Mayo #11th overall in 08 to replace Bruschi) spend quality picks on ones who fit their system. the better ones can fit in either scheme (3-4 or 4-3) which adds value/verstiality.
 
DT Earl Mitchell, Arizona: Recruited as an H-back, Mitchell didn't make the conversion to defense until 2008. After posting modest numbers in his first season at tackle, he really helped himself as a senior by tallying 12 1/2 tackles for loss while showing quickness off the ball and an impressive motor for an interior player. With speed in the 4.8 range, Mitchell is the type of penetrator sought at the next level. While he lacks ideal height and anchor strength, his 1.56-second 10-yard time will appeal to teams in need of a three-technique. He's unlikely to make it past the third round.
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from same source prior to the draft, also spot on! - http://www.profootballweekly.com/blogs/2010/04/20/defensive-line-sleepers
 
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