The 3-2 Mock

This is likely an overreaction, but this mock reflects my thoughts after Week 5.

1) The biggest myth I think people have bought into is that the Texans O line is a top group. Against average or worse Dlines, the Texans line is good enough, but against NO and a very underrated Oakland DL, they fell apart like a cheap suit. Even last year against elite to above average D lines like the NYG and Dallas, the O line had difficulty. Schaub had a ton of problems, this last weekend, but getting 7 passes deflected suggests to me the DL is penetrating the OL and pushing them back. All of the pressure and pass deflections seemed to come up from the Center and OG spots.

2) Schaub is a solid average NFL QB. Schaub is nice QB if you have everything he needs. Schaub would have been a fine QB in the days when teams could buy an awesome Oline and have plenty of good receivers to throw to. Problem is, these days, you need to have some mobility. Even Ben Roethlisberger can run a bit. Schaub can look great when he has the time to throw and the receivers have reasonable hands, but he cannot escape pressure. His arm strength is iffy and his accuracy can be worrisome at times. But, if we want to be a Playoff or better team, we cannot rely on an average NFL QB. He is a better version of Trent Dilfer.

3) The Texans have depth at WR. I wish they did, but they really don’t. When JJ is a starter, you know you have problems. JJ is a guy who flashes brilliance with mistakes too often. He makes a silly circus catch then drops an easy one. Corey Bradford 2.0. Kevin Walter is a nice complimentary receiver, but shouldn’t be a #2. David Anderson is so valuable that the Denver Broncos, who need WR help, cut him. Outside of AJ, the Texans don’t have any real WR depth.

1. David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
The Texans need a big nasty Guard. Decastro is the guy who has helped create the Stanford run game. With him at RG, the Stanford run game has averaged about 200 yards per game. Plus he has beena strong pass blocker. He helped protect Andrew Luck and open holes for Toby Gerhardt. A stud OG, could make a HUGE difference. He could play either LG or RG and start from Day 1.

2. Robert Griffin, III QB, Baylor
People will want to make the comparison to Vick, Mr. Wonderlic, or Cam Newton. He isn’t any of those guys. When I see him, I see a guy who can make short/intermediate/deep passes with accuracy, and has enough speed to make you think about whether he will run. He is not a run first QB anymore, he has an accurate powerful arm. He reminds me of a certain former Vikings QB named RC.

3. Barrett Jones, OG, Alabama
Yes. I go heavy O line because our O line up front really needs nasty ol. See what I said about Decastro and substitute in Mark Ingram for Toby Gerhardt. You put a stud like Decastro on one side and another one in Jones on the other and suddenly you have a stout O line that can push the DL back, protect the QB, and make holes for the run game.

4. Chris Owusu, WR, Stanford
A very solid WR prospect with great hands. He could be a great addition to the WR corp.

5. Devon Still, DE/NT, Penn State
He is the kind of guy we need at NT. A natural run blocker with some pass rushing ability. Right now, he slots more as a 3-4 DE than NT, but with the way Wade runs his D, Still may be the guy we need.

6. Damarlo Belcher, WR, Indiana
HUGE (6’5) receiver and red zone target. Has been productive at Indiana the last two years (78 recps for 832 yds +4 tds and 61 receptions for 770 yds, 4 tds).

7. Chad Diehl, FB, Clemson
Vickers was brought in to be a FB, but he did not shine in blocking and was abysmal in his one attempt at catching the football. If he can’t do either, what’s the use of keeping him? I say its time to get a bulldozer blocker and Diehl is that. At 6’2 265, he will run through defenders and blast monster holes. Use him for what he is: a monster run blocker and you won’t be sorry.

I agree with your 3 points but disagree on your picks. The purpose of an offense is a) score points and B) control clock. This offense does this pretty well. We have to improve this defense and it does not matter who we drafted historically and when. We keep drafting a position until we get it right. Ilike Griffin but if he continues to light it up he will be a first rounder I'm afraid. We can get a WR in 2nd round to play opposite AJ and eventually replace him. Like it or not, unless a FA like SMith appears, we will continue to start Briesel and Myers. We can get a solid back up in 5th. Phillip Blake Baylor who can play center and RT. I'm looking at a guard in 4th like Washington or Rok Watkins. I do feel your pain.

Doppelganger, while I feel this mock is an overreaction to a poorly played game this past Sunday (we still have a very good team) I do appreciate your outside the box thinking and approach to this mock. A fresh perspective is always welcome. I like the all offense approach and think that it would solve alot of problems but I'd pick a WR much earlier than you did.

Clearly RB is our biggest need. Foster could barely get back to the line on most plays before he was tackled. He's only good if the O-line gives him good lanes to run through, But, if we want to be a Playoff or better team, we cannot rely on an average NFL RB. He is a better version of Antowain Smith.

I like this mock. If it fell like this I think I'd be happy. One thing I'm starting to realize is having an awesome defense is one thing but having an awesome offense is even better. Defenses have to do everything, all players on every play and even then, EVEN THEN....they'll get beat. The saints have built an OL around nasty guards and it does them just fine.

Besides, the defense got theirs the past couple years. This offense is borderline epic and it's built off of ONE great receiver, high draft pick. UDFA RB, traded for a backup Qb, late round receivers, TEs and OL. It's gonna haven to happen eventually. The defense can't lion share the draft forever.

Goatcheese said:

Clearly RB is our biggest need. Foster could barely get back to the line on most plays before he was tackled. He's only good if the O-line gives him good lanes to run through, But, if we want to be a Playoff or better team, we cannot rely on an average NFL RB. He is a better version of Antowain Smith.

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Truly do not know if you are joking or what.

Arian was NFL leading rusher last season behind this oline. So far out of 5 games he did not play against Colts or Saints. Between, in game 2, he was brought back toe early and had 10 carries & 33 yards & most thought he should not be on field injured.

Game 4 against Pittsburgh 30/155 yds.
Game 5 against Oakland 22/68 but caught 5/116yds 20.3 yd avg

There have been many posts since new CBA signed about how shortened season would lead to many injuries and our team is going thru that. No reason to draft a RB in 2012.

badboy said:

Truly do not know if you are joking or what.

Arian was NFL leading rusher last season behind this oline. So far out of 5 games he did not play against Colts or Saints. Between, in game 2, he was brought back toe early and had 10 carries & 33 yards & most thought he should not be on field injured.

Game 4 against Pittsburgh 30/155 yds.
Game 5 against Oakland 22/68 but caught 5/116yds 20.3 yd avg

There have been many posts since new CBA signed about how shortened season would lead to many injuries and our team is going thru that. No reason to draft a RB in 2012.

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Read these and compare what's being said.

Goatcheese said:

Clearly RB is our biggest need. Foster could barely get back to the line on most plays before he was tackled. He's only good if the O-line gives him good lanes to run through, But, if we want to be a Playoff or better team, we cannot rely on an average NFL RB. He is a better version of Antowain Smith.

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Doppelganger said:

2) Schaub is a solid average NFL QB. Schaub is nice QB if you have everything he needs. Schaub would have been a fine QB in the days when teams could buy an awesome Oline and have plenty of good receivers to throw to. Problem is, these days, you need to have some mobility. Even Ben Roethlisberger can run a bit. Schaub can look great when he has the time to throw and the receivers have reasonable hands, but he cannot escape pressure. His arm strength is iffy and his accuracy can be worrisome at times. But, if we want to be a Playoff or better team, we cannot rely on an average NFL QB. He is a better version of Trent Dilfer.

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As I happen to agree with Doppleganger for the most part of his post, I assume you were being sarcastic?

badboy said:

As I happen to agree with Doppleganger for the most part of his post, I assume you were being sarcastic?

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I'm saying that knocking Schaub because he needs his supporting cast (i.e. O-line, targets) to play well for him to succeed isn't any different from saying Foster needs his line to play well for him to succeed; see Sunday and his pathetic performance behind a line that got flat out whipped all day.

They're both top 10 players at their positions and every player at their position is dependent on a strong supporting cast to help them succeed.

You know the argument that Schaub sucked costing us the game or that Foster sucked costing us the game comes down to one common factor, the O-line sucked costing us a running and passing game. There's 11 guys on the field at one time for your team and it is a team sport, if just one guy sucks his position is important and it can cost your team plenty. If 5 guys suck it's not the fault of the QB or RB that they weren't successful. I think last Sundays game and this argument should refocus us on the importance of the O-line that many of us, myself included, overlook or take for granted from time to time. It's natural to overlook these guys and focus on the flashy skill positions but our O-line only has one 1st round pick on it. The rest are either mid-late round picks or journeyman fill ins. Since the passing and running games are so dependent on the play of the O-line, concentrating some talent upgrades on the O-line would have a compound effect on the offense as a whole. I appreciated Dopplegangers mock attempt at focusing on this often times overlooked aspect of the team. Also the 2007/2008 draft thread reminds us of all the wasted draft picks and the fact that Smithiak is a terrible judge of talent. 2007 3rd round pick Jacoby Jones and 2008 3rd round pick Antwaun Molden, both small school athletes, not football players, were drafted on athletic potential alone. If those 2 picks had been spent on some quality O-linemen instead think of how much further ahead this team could be by now. Dopplegangers mock at least gets us a couple of quality studs to increase the talent level and have that compound effect on the offense.

Wolf6151 said:

You know the argument that Schaub sucked costing us the game or that Foster sucked costing us the game comes down to one common factor, the O-line sucked costing us a running and passing game. There's 11 guys on the field at one time for your team and it is a team sport, if just one guy sucks his position is important and it can cost your team plenty. If 5 guys suck it's not the fault of the QB or RB that they weren't successful. I think last Sundays game and this argument should refocus us on the importance of the O-line that many of us, myself included, overlook or take for granted from time to time. It's natural to overlook these guys and focus on the flashy skill positions but our O-line only has one 1st round pick on it. The rest are either mid-late round picks or journeyman fill ins. Since the passing and running games are so dependent on the play of the O-line, concentrating some talent upgrades on the O-line would have a compound effect on the offense as a whole. I appreciated Dopplegangers mock attempt at focusing on this often times overlooked aspect of the team. Also the 2007/2008 draft thread reminds us of all the wasted draft picks and the fact that Smithiak is a terrible judge of talent. 2007 3rd round pick Jacoby Jones and 2008 3rd round pick Antwaun Molden, both small school athletes, not football players, were drafted on athletic potential alone. If those 2 picks had been spent on some quality O-linemen instead think of how much further ahead this team could be by now. Dopplegangers mock at least gets us a couple of quality studs to increase the talent level and have that compound effect on the offense.

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Having said that, Oline did not make Matt's decision to not throw out of bounds stopping clock, nor have anything to do with Reeves dropping a pass hitting him square in hands, nor JJ not getting opn with all his speed at anytime in game. I am not saying any player sucks but it is time to start fixing the problem and on my latest mock, I select two Oline players.

badboy said:

Having said that, Oline did not make Matt's decision to not throw out of bounds stopping clock, nor have anything to do with Reeves dropping a pass hitting him square in hands, nor JJ not getting opn with all his speed at anytime in game. I am not saying any player sucks but it is time to start fixing the problem and on my latest mock, I select two Oline players.

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Jones was open when Schaub decided to throw to him. He just ran away from the ball and let Huff walk infront of him for an INT.

I don't see how anyone faults Schaub on that play. The O-line got destroyed and his receiver betrayed him.