Hello everyone! With the draft just a few short weeks away, here is the 3 Amigos' 2014 Mock Draft. As always, this mock is done under the assumption that no trades are made, as trades are just too unpredictable to deal with.
As for the mock, it was a tough one. There was a ton of debate, and I think we discussed every potential pick at 1.1 ad nauseam. The team has a lot of holes to fill, and, unfortunately, were not able to address them all. However, we took the best players available at each pick, and are very satisfied with the result.
I think that about covers my opening remarks... have at it! We encourage comments (about players, about our discussions, whatever), and will get back to any questions as soon as possible.
Round 1, Pick 1: Auburn OT Greg Robinson, 65 332 lbs
With our first pick, we, after much debate, decided to use the first overall selection to land the drafts premier tackle prospect. While the other candidates for the first overall pick have significant flaws, Robinsons biggest flaw is the most correctable- inexperience. Due to Auburns style of offense, Robinson was not asked to pass block as much as some of the other draft-eligible tackles. However, film review shows that when called upon, Robinson is more than capable of protecting his QB. Furthermore, he is a mauler in the ground game, making him a day 1 starter at RT. Drafting Robinson gives the Texans flexibility in the future as it pertains to the OL, as he could either remain at RT or move to LT should Brown be traded, injured, or moved to LG or RT. Salary should not be a concern, as the rookie wage scale will help keep Robinsons contract relatively low for the next handful of years.
Round 2, Pick 33: Washington State S Deone Bucannon, 61 211 lbs
Four year starter, Pro-ready, day one starter for Texans. Brings range, size, ball hawking skills, physical presence & run support (384 tackles, 7 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries & 15 interceptions). One of the best players in this draft few talk about w/exception of our own Texan Talk members.
Round 3, Pick 65: Alabama QB AJ McCarron 6'3" 220 lbs
Durable & started every game last three seasons. Well versed in pro style offense with only 4 losses (each against top 15 team). Finalist for Davey O'Brien and Walter Camp, Won Maxwell (player of year) & second in Heisman, won Johnny Unitas Golden Arm all in 2013. Very consistent QB that should translate quickly to NFL and will not lose many games himself. Very cerebral, comfortable under center or in gun, 67 % career & throws with accuracy on the run. Exhibits good wrist snap and mobile enough to evade first wave under duress remaining calm. Mature leader who was constantly "under the lights" with good decision making. Excellent caretaker ability to make all NFL throws but core strength is short to intermediary passes that are bread and butter with 4-1 TD to INT ratio. Very effective career passing on 3rd down. 2013: 3,063 67.3% YPA 9.12 24 TDS 4 INTs 10 inch hands.
Coaching staff is drooling to work with this player who can be face of team.
Biggest complaint is he had a great Oline and 3 Amigos are giving him the same to succeed in H'town!
Round 4, Pick 101: Iowa TE CJ Fiedorowicz, 66 265 lbs
A 3 Amigos favorite, Fiedorowicz was a no-brainer here. Fiedo possesses the size necessary to be an inline blocker, but also the athleticism and hands to be a threat in the short and intermediate passing game. His versatility and old-school style of play will make him both a fan-favorite and a favorite of the coaching staff.
Round 4, Pick 135: Duke CB, Ross Cockrell, 6 191 lbs
Tall, angular CB for a retooled Texans secondary which was a high priority for three Amigos to address. Two time captain who excels in man coverage. Good ball skills, foot quickness, plays with leverage & goes for the strip. All time Duke leader in defended passes with 53. End of fourth based off minor medical condition for acl. Cockrell ran the 40-yard dash in 4.46 and 4.50 seconds, short shuttle in 4.20 seconds and the three-cone drill in 6.92 seconds. He had a 39-inch vertical jump 10-foot-5 broad jump with 12 reps on bench. Notable match-up he faced 65 Texas A&M WR Mike Evans, holding him to four receptions, 72 yards & zero TD's. Cockrell has shown excellent closing speed and has displayed the ability to be a ball hawk, amassing twelve interceptions and forty pass deflections in his four years at Duke.
Round 5, Pick 141: UCONN ILB Yawin Smallwood, 6'2" 246 lbs
Red shirted 2010 then started 36 games Stats:
2011: 94 Ts 1.5 sacks, 3 pass break up 1 FF
2012: 120 -- 4.0 ---- 4 ---- and 2 FF
2013: 118--4.0 ----- 9 pass breakups 54 yd INT for TD and team captain.
MLB who was used in coverage even against WRs, keep eye on this player who could be even faster @ OLB. Hammy in combine. More fluid than Skov or Borland and has long arms with strong hands.
Round 6, Pick 177: East Carolina OLB Derrell Johnson, 62 257 lbs
In an attempt to increase the defenses ability to put pressure on the other teams quarterbacks, we elected to draft an experienced edge rusher at this point. As a four year starter (2 years at DE in a 4-3, 2 years at OLB in a 3-4), Johnson boasts a statistical resume that few in this class can match, notching 221 total tackles, 35 TFLs, and 19 sacks in his career. Known for being a tireless and relentless pass rusher, Johnson allayed concerns about his overall athleticism at his pro day, running a 4.61 forty (1.59 10 yard) despite an injured calf.
Round 6, Pick 181: Cal DE DeAndre Coleman, 6'5" 314 lbs
24 x 225 with broad shoulders, trim center with tree trunks for legs, good power POA, strong upper body and arms that allows him to shred blocks & get hands on ball carrier. Played all 37 games last three years, uses bull rush and will be utilize in NFL to stuff run as either nose or 5 Tech.
2014 combine enjoyed fine day against Gabe Ikard and Travis Swanson proving more athletic. May have allowed team's 2013 record to affect his play. Appears ready to step up and earn an NFL contract.
Round 6, Pick 211: Arkansas State NT Ryan Carrethers, 6'1" 337 lbs
26 inch vert. In 2013 had 93 tackles and two blocked kicks. Low body weight in comparison to the other "fatties" and can "lift a house" with wrestling background college; 2 gap ability who will earn his salary clogging middle with solid anchor to contain double teams. He will become known for telling Watt "go ahead, I got this."
Round 7, Pick 216: Vanderbilt OT/OG/C, Wesley Johnson, 65 297 lbs
First team All-SEC. Has played every OL position for Vanderbilt against best competition in the nation. Moves well in pass pro mirrors & kick-step like a seasoned pro has faced Clowney & given up only one sack per season last two years. Looks like a typical Patriot OL with rough beard mountain man like exterior but don't be fooled by appearance, Johnson is a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient. New England Patriots coach did take time while in Nashville (to run the Rock & Roll Half Marathon) to oversee a private workout from Johnson despite being slightly undersized but exceptionally athletic tackle who excels in the open field with his ability to pull and lead stretch plays. In ironic twist Vanderbilt Head Coach James Franklin left to take over the Penn State football program.
Round 7, Pick 256: Indiana RB/KR Stephen Houston, 511 225 lbs
Meet Mr. Irrelevant; a bowling ball of a back with speed (4.52 forty), power, and explosiveness (40 vertical, 11 broad jump). Houston did not have a decorated career at IU, but did average 5.4 yards per attempt and tallied 25 TDs over his 3 years in Bloomington. He brings value as a receiver and as a returner, and will leave dents in defenders trying to tackle him.
As for the mock, it was a tough one. There was a ton of debate, and I think we discussed every potential pick at 1.1 ad nauseam. The team has a lot of holes to fill, and, unfortunately, were not able to address them all. However, we took the best players available at each pick, and are very satisfied with the result.
I think that about covers my opening remarks... have at it! We encourage comments (about players, about our discussions, whatever), and will get back to any questions as soon as possible.
Round 1, Pick 1: Auburn OT Greg Robinson, 65 332 lbs
With our first pick, we, after much debate, decided to use the first overall selection to land the drafts premier tackle prospect. While the other candidates for the first overall pick have significant flaws, Robinsons biggest flaw is the most correctable- inexperience. Due to Auburns style of offense, Robinson was not asked to pass block as much as some of the other draft-eligible tackles. However, film review shows that when called upon, Robinson is more than capable of protecting his QB. Furthermore, he is a mauler in the ground game, making him a day 1 starter at RT. Drafting Robinson gives the Texans flexibility in the future as it pertains to the OL, as he could either remain at RT or move to LT should Brown be traded, injured, or moved to LG or RT. Salary should not be a concern, as the rookie wage scale will help keep Robinsons contract relatively low for the next handful of years.
Round 2, Pick 33: Washington State S Deone Bucannon, 61 211 lbs
Four year starter, Pro-ready, day one starter for Texans. Brings range, size, ball hawking skills, physical presence & run support (384 tackles, 7 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries & 15 interceptions). One of the best players in this draft few talk about w/exception of our own Texan Talk members.
leebigeztx said:
bah007 said:
After what seemed like weeks of back & forth in the war room the three Amigos concur, Deone offers solid value, fills a high priority need (exacerbated w/Daniel Manning release) who will work hard to earn his new teammates respect both on & off the field. Bucannon has been a consistent performer his whole life in football, he is smart, solid young man who was nicknamed Sulton of Swatt on fast track to become a valued weapon for Romeo Crennel & is Texan worthy.WolverineFan said:
Round 3, Pick 65: Alabama QB AJ McCarron 6'3" 220 lbs
Durable & started every game last three seasons. Well versed in pro style offense with only 4 losses (each against top 15 team). Finalist for Davey O'Brien and Walter Camp, Won Maxwell (player of year) & second in Heisman, won Johnny Unitas Golden Arm all in 2013. Very consistent QB that should translate quickly to NFL and will not lose many games himself. Very cerebral, comfortable under center or in gun, 67 % career & throws with accuracy on the run. Exhibits good wrist snap and mobile enough to evade first wave under duress remaining calm. Mature leader who was constantly "under the lights" with good decision making. Excellent caretaker ability to make all NFL throws but core strength is short to intermediary passes that are bread and butter with 4-1 TD to INT ratio. Very effective career passing on 3rd down. 2013: 3,063 67.3% YPA 9.12 24 TDS 4 INTs 10 inch hands.
Coaching staff is drooling to work with this player who can be face of team.
Biggest complaint is he had a great Oline and 3 Amigos are giving him the same to succeed in H'town!
Round 4, Pick 101: Iowa TE CJ Fiedorowicz, 66 265 lbs
A 3 Amigos favorite, Fiedorowicz was a no-brainer here. Fiedo possesses the size necessary to be an inline blocker, but also the athleticism and hands to be a threat in the short and intermediate passing game. His versatility and old-school style of play will make him both a fan-favorite and a favorite of the coaching staff.
Round 4, Pick 135: Duke CB, Ross Cockrell, 6 191 lbs
Tall, angular CB for a retooled Texans secondary which was a high priority for three Amigos to address. Two time captain who excels in man coverage. Good ball skills, foot quickness, plays with leverage & goes for the strip. All time Duke leader in defended passes with 53. End of fourth based off minor medical condition for acl. Cockrell ran the 40-yard dash in 4.46 and 4.50 seconds, short shuttle in 4.20 seconds and the three-cone drill in 6.92 seconds. He had a 39-inch vertical jump 10-foot-5 broad jump with 12 reps on bench. Notable match-up he faced 65 Texas A&M WR Mike Evans, holding him to four receptions, 72 yards & zero TD's. Cockrell has shown excellent closing speed and has displayed the ability to be a ball hawk, amassing twelve interceptions and forty pass deflections in his four years at Duke.
Round 5, Pick 141: UCONN ILB Yawin Smallwood, 6'2" 246 lbs
Red shirted 2010 then started 36 games Stats:
2011: 94 Ts 1.5 sacks, 3 pass break up 1 FF
2012: 120 -- 4.0 ---- 4 ---- and 2 FF
2013: 118--4.0 ----- 9 pass breakups 54 yd INT for TD and team captain.
MLB who was used in coverage even against WRs, keep eye on this player who could be even faster @ OLB. Hammy in combine. More fluid than Skov or Borland and has long arms with strong hands.
Round 6, Pick 177: East Carolina OLB Derrell Johnson, 62 257 lbs
In an attempt to increase the defenses ability to put pressure on the other teams quarterbacks, we elected to draft an experienced edge rusher at this point. As a four year starter (2 years at DE in a 4-3, 2 years at OLB in a 3-4), Johnson boasts a statistical resume that few in this class can match, notching 221 total tackles, 35 TFLs, and 19 sacks in his career. Known for being a tireless and relentless pass rusher, Johnson allayed concerns about his overall athleticism at his pro day, running a 4.61 forty (1.59 10 yard) despite an injured calf.
Round 6, Pick 181: Cal DE DeAndre Coleman, 6'5" 314 lbs
24 x 225 with broad shoulders, trim center with tree trunks for legs, good power POA, strong upper body and arms that allows him to shred blocks & get hands on ball carrier. Played all 37 games last three years, uses bull rush and will be utilize in NFL to stuff run as either nose or 5 Tech.
2014 combine enjoyed fine day against Gabe Ikard and Travis Swanson proving more athletic. May have allowed team's 2013 record to affect his play. Appears ready to step up and earn an NFL contract.
Round 6, Pick 211: Arkansas State NT Ryan Carrethers, 6'1" 337 lbs
26 inch vert. In 2013 had 93 tackles and two blocked kicks. Low body weight in comparison to the other "fatties" and can "lift a house" with wrestling background college; 2 gap ability who will earn his salary clogging middle with solid anchor to contain double teams. He will become known for telling Watt "go ahead, I got this."
Round 7, Pick 216: Vanderbilt OT/OG/C, Wesley Johnson, 65 297 lbs
First team All-SEC. Has played every OL position for Vanderbilt against best competition in the nation. Moves well in pass pro mirrors & kick-step like a seasoned pro has faced Clowney & given up only one sack per season last two years. Looks like a typical Patriot OL with rough beard mountain man like exterior but don't be fooled by appearance, Johnson is a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient. New England Patriots coach did take time while in Nashville (to run the Rock & Roll Half Marathon) to oversee a private workout from Johnson despite being slightly undersized but exceptionally athletic tackle who excels in the open field with his ability to pull and lead stretch plays. In ironic twist Vanderbilt Head Coach James Franklin left to take over the Penn State football program.
Round 7, Pick 256: Indiana RB/KR Stephen Houston, 511 225 lbs
Meet Mr. Irrelevant; a bowling ball of a back with speed (4.52 forty), power, and explosiveness (40 vertical, 11 broad jump). Houston did not have a decorated career at IU, but did average 5.4 yards per attempt and tallied 25 TDs over his 3 years in Bloomington. He brings value as a receiver and as a returner, and will leave dents in defenders trying to tackle him.
