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Houston Texans 4th Round pick, Julien Davenport, OT, Bucknell

I

IDEXAN

Hall of Fame
Contributor's Club
Strengths
Possesses elite arm length and hand size for the position. Can unravel his arms and stick them into the chest of a frustrated edge rusher. Able to gain necessary ground to race to the edge over first two kick slides. Keeps head back and out of pass sets when he punches. Team leader and two-year captain. Good strength in hands to snatch and secure the frame of defenders. Has adequate athleticism to reach and hook the edge. Able to get out in space as pulling tackle or on screens. Has moldable physical traits to work with.
Weaknesses
Competition level won't have him prepared for NFL rushers. Feet are a little heavy. Struggles to redirect back inside against stunts. Plays with inconsistent base width and balance. Will allow secure blocks to slip out of the side door due to poor footwork. Leans into run blocks rather than running feet under him. Has to keep his feet alive and moving after initial contact. Hand approach and placement is spotty. Loses base on lateral work due to tall pad level and uneven weight dispersal.
Draft Projection
Rounds 4-5
NFL Comparison
LaAdrian Waddle
Bottom Line
Raw tackle lacking in technique but long on physical traits. Has been able to dominate against lower level of competition and his step up in competition during pre-draft workouts will either throw a wet blanket over his draft grade or send his stock soaring. Despite a lack of technique, his traits will have teams willing to draft and wait for him as a project. He will be a work in progress and might be forced to move to the right side.
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/julien-davenport?id=2557963
 
Hoptimus Prime said:
This worked out. Only 1 OT was taken after we took Foreman in the 3rd. Pretty much got the same selection we would've had if we went the OT route in the 3rd.
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This is why I didn't mind not picking up an OL player in R3; none of them were worth picking in the 3rd.
 
At the Senior Bowl, Davenport measured in at 6’6” and 310 pounds, with 36-inch arms and an 87.5-inch wingspan, the longest of any player at the Senior Bowl. His hands measured 10 3/4 ". How does that grab you? :)


OxCx18Q.jpg
 
Yeah I'm not worried about him not being NFL ready on day one. If he can learn to block our defense he can block anyone in the league. Put him on the line in front of Watt and tell him "Now don't let him get near the QB" that will teach him real fast.
 
Davenport was sorta overwhelmed at the Senior Bowl as he'd never faced that level of competition before so it's gonna be a long haul for the young man but there's enough potential there to take a gamble on this guy because with his incredibly length he's more of a LT than RT prospect and potentially could be Duane Browns replacement in a couple year but that's a long ways from here.
Wow this is the weakest OLine draft class I can recall and it's particularly thin for tackles. OK so Ricky is gonna have to hit the UNDFA rookies now especially hard for some OTs and lets hope they find a sleeper or two out there.
 
Although regarded as something of a developmental prospect coming out of the Colonial Athletic Association, Davenport could compete for playing time quickly at right tackle with three-time Pro Bowl blocker Duane Brown entrenched on the left side.

The Texans needed reinforcements along their offensive line, particularly at the tackle position after starting right tackle Derek Newton tore both patellar tendons last season and isn't expected to play this year.


"I'm coming in and I'm ready to get right to work and I'm ready to be fighting for that starting spot," Davenport said. "I want to play right away. Anybody that doesn't have that mindset, then I don't know if they belong in this league because I'm real competitive and I want to be one of the best to go down. I want to be that overachiever, hard worker that comes every day with a purpose. Davenport is a two-time team captain with 36 1/2 inch arms and an 87 1/2 inch wingspan who scored a 34 on the Wonderlic exam. At 6-7, 318 pounds, his wingspan is the longest of any one in the draft.
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http://www.chron.com/sports/texans/...nell-tackle-Julie-n-Davenport-in-11108923.php
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I'm pumped about this guy though I'm still skeptical he can help us this year because that's just probably too soon to expect him to develop that quickly.
He sounds mature and he's smart and a good teammate, elected captain for two years. I'm telling you there's a lot to like with this guy !
 
IDEXAN said:
Although regarded as something of a developmental prospect coming out of the Colonial Athletic Association, Davenport could compete for playing time quickly at right tackle with three-time Pro Bowl blocker Duane Brown entrenched on the left side.

The Texans needed reinforcements along their offensive line, particularly at the tackle position after starting right tackle Derek Newton tore both patellar tendons last season and isn't expected to play this year.


"I'm coming in and I'm ready to get right to work and I'm ready to be fighting for that starting spot," Davenport said. "I want to play right away. Anybody that doesn't have that mindset, then I don't know if they belong in this league because I'm real competitive and I want to be one of the best to go down. I want to be that overachiever, hard worker that comes every day with a purpose. Davenport is a two-time team captain with 36 1/2 inch arms and an 87 1/2 inch wingspan who scored a 34 on the Wonderlic exam. At 6-7, 318 pounds, his wingspan is the longest of any one in the draft.
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http://www.chron.com/sports/texans/...nell-tackle-Julie-n-Davenport-in-11108923.php
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I'm pumped about this guy though I'm still skeptical he can help us this year because that's just probably too soon to expect him to develop that quickly.
He sounds mature and he's smart and a good teammate, elected captain for two years. I'm telling you there's a lot to like with this guy !
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I'm liking this pick more today than yesterday. I liked the selection but didn't think he would contribute much his first year. Last night I was wondering what his Wonderlic was. I also read about his background this morning. This morning I'm thinking he may absorb and apply his lessons more quickly than I first anticipated. With as little as we have at RT and as raw as he may be, could he be our starter game one?
 
Watched some film of him and buddy needs a lot of work. I expected to see him dominating the level of competition he was going against and man handling defensive players....he looked like he just fit right in....

I'd be surprised if there is anyone in the entire camp that he can hold off in pass pro and the reason is because his feet are so heavy and slow.

Even with those long arms he let guys get into his body. I'd be shocked if he's in contention to start at RT this season. There's probably 3 or 4 better options.
 
More interest in him now drafted but not much out there when I began to research him prior to last season. Not much here but some if you're interested. *Note I cherry picked article. Full article at link.

The scouts (real and otherwise) are generating a lot of buzz around the Bison, thanks to a 6-foot-7, 315-pound offensive tackle named Julie’n Davenport. He’s the primary reason those scouts are venturing to Lewisburg, Pa. He’s big, he’s flexible, he’s quick, he’s intelligent and he’s humble—oh, and there’s that 84-inch wingspan that seems like it could cover a city block.

The scouts love him, and they love how he handles himself.

Bucknell-JulienDavenport-football-2016-e1473880925165.jpg
“He’s really learned the art of humility, and I think it goes back to his home,” Susan told HERO Sports. “He doesn’t say much, but when he says something, people listen. To be a junior captain with the players voting on it and then to repeat that as a senior. That says a lot.”

Davenport is projected by NFLDraftScout to be the No. 13 tackle taken in the draft, landing him roughly in the fourth to fifth rounds. ProPlayerInsiders.com has him as the No. 88 overall senior available, which would land him in the third round if it came to fruition. Others have him going in the third to fourth round.

A diehard Pittsburgh Steelers fan growing up in Paulsboro, N.J., Davenport was just like any other kid. Of course he dreamed of playing pro sports one day, that’s a no brainer. Naturally for a tall kid who also shares cousinly genes with NBA star Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Davenport found success playing basketball too, leading to the good footwork he exhibits while protecting his quarterback and pile-driving forward on the run play. He's quite athletic, as evidenced by his critical block of a field goal attempt in overtime against VMI.

In his interview with HERO Sports, Davenport was somewhat reserved, choosing his responses thoughtfully. He wasn’t a brash loudmouth, but a guy who almost seemed a bit introverted, yet confident. Susan said that’s what you get with offensive linemen, many times. Ignored by the media most of their playing careers, they don’t expect attention. A standout lineman himself at Delaware, Susan’s been in those shoes.
Working with line coach Darnell Stapleton—the former Pittsburgh Steeler—has been a huge part of his development.

“We stayed with him and things worked out, and he’s a four-year starter and a very good person and player,” Susan said. “He has really polished his craft and he’s a much better run blocker now … He’s really mastered the ability to play with his hips low to deal with that buzzsaw kind of guy, the 6-foot, 290-pound guy that’s hard to deal with.”
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http://herosports.com/news/fcs-football-bucknell-lineman-nfl-draft-prospect-julien-davenport
 
It's hard to tell if Julién Davenport is more David or Goliath.

The Goliath part is pretty obvious.

Davenport, an offensive tackle at Bucknell University in Central Pennsylvania, is biblically big. At 6 foot 7 inches and 318 pounds, Davenport is a large man in a world of large men.

"I don't look up to many people," said his college coach, Joe Susan. "He's one of the guys, as soon as you meet him, you'll say he's a little bit taller than I thought he'd be."

Then there's the David side of Davenport — a kid so unassuming and overlooked most people don't know how to spell, or say, his name.

The first time we meet, Davenport tells me his first name is pronounced Julie-own, with a French inflection on the second syllable. In the three days I spend with him. every single person we meet calls him Juli-en, the way you'd pronounce "Julian." He never once corrects anybody.
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http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/...with-an-nfl-draft-prospect?linktype=hp_impact
Check it out, really cool story about Davenport, his family, and finally when he got the call when the Texans selected him. If you are a red-blooded Texans fan you will enjoy his story.
 
IDEXAN said:
Ok he wasn't as helpless in those reps at SB practice as some folks had made him out to be. I'm still looking forward to see what our line coach Devlin can do with him who
must have signed off on him before we drafted him.
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Thanks for posting the video. I'm impressed with Davenports footwork and smooth athleticism. He's got a nice wide base, knees bent well, quick feet, and makes it look smooth. He's got work to do, but overall I'm impressed. This guy could be a steal by 2018.
 
Davenport seems like a good kid with a lot of the measurables needed to be a good OT and I can understand why the Texans selected him, and later Fuller. My only concern is these are both developmental guys with probably a small chance of seeing the field any time soon, and if they do see the field early it will probably be because of an injury to another lineman. And, this still leaves the O-line, as it was before the Draft, the weakest area with the least amount of depth on the team IMO. So, once again the O-line will probably be a patch work, especially on the right side, and will probably take some time to gel. I hope at some point during the season, provided Davenport is ready, that he will be able to move in at RT and make it his own. Then, in a few years when Brown is ready to leave, Davenport may be able to take over at LT.
 
Insideop said:
Davenport seems like a good kid with a lot of the measurables needed to be a good OT and I can understand why the Texans selected him, and later Fuller. My only concern is these are both developmental guys with probably a small chance of seeing the field any time soon, and if they do see the field early it will probably be because of an injury to another lineman. And, this still leaves the O-line, as it was before the Draft, the weakest area with the least amount of depth on the team IMO. So, once again the O-line will probably be a patch work, especially on the right side, and will probably take some time to gel. I hope at some point during the season, provided Davenport is ready, that he will be able to move in at RT and make it his own. Then, in a few years when Brown is ready to leave, Davenport may be able to take over at LT.
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I don't necessarily want a good kid as an OL.

I want a mean nasty street fighter who would just as soon spit in your eye as look at you OL. This is what the Texans OL has been missing.
 
steelbtexan said:
I don't necessarily want a good kid as an OL.

I want a mean nasty street fighter who would just as soon spit in your eye as look at you OL. This is what the Texans OL has been missing.
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I didn't mean it in that way, but come to think of it, I don't really remember hearing/reading anything about his demeanor on the field.
 
Insideop said:
I didn't mean it in that way, but come to think of it, I don't really remember hearing/reading anything about his demeanor on the field.
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From what I could tell from watching Davenport, he needs to improve his S&C. He also has avg feet, (You can get by with this if you have extremely long arms. He does) He's kinda the Anti Duane Brown. Brown has shorter arms and great feet.

Since he was playing at a lower level of college football, it's hard to tell about his aggression. But against lower level comp Sheehan stood out for his aggressiveness. Davenport not so much. He looked like a varsity basketball player playing against the JV. IMHO
 
steelbtexan said:
I don't necessarily want a good kid as an OL.

I want a mean nasty street fighter who would just as soon spit in your eye as look at you OL. This is what the Texans OL has been missing.
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I want a tackle who can keep the opponent away from the QB, block well for a running back or WR/Te and get to second level blocking downfield. Spitting or street fighting usually gets a penalty. You don't have to be a thug to be good.
 
badboy said:
I want a tackle who can keep the opponent away from the QB, block well for a running back or WR/Te and get to second level blocking downfield. Spitting or street fighting usually gets a penalty. You don't have to be a thug to be good.
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Ask Jimmy Johnson's Cowboys OL about that. Conrad Dobler?

Incognito
 
infantrycak said:
Jimmy Johnson's OL was built on the skill of Hudson Houck. You can't always have one of the 2 best OL coaches in NFL history.

I'd love it if the Texans would throw a bag of money at Houck but he's 74 and retired 5 years.

Every once in a while pick a reasonable analogy.
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Agreed about Houck, he and Gibbs are HOF'ers. IMHO

Tuineu (SP) Newton Williams are the kind of nasty not so Texans worthy type OL I want on my OL.
 
steelbtexan said:
Agreed about Houck, he and Gibbs are HOF'ers. IMHO

Tuineu (SP) Newton Williams are the kind of nasty not so Texans worthy type OL I want on my OL.
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http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2013...-at-the-offensive-line-that-made-the-triplets

Well, they thought they could do it because that's exactly what they did to build this line. These were castoffs, rejects, guys on their last chance with the league, and players overlooked by other teams. A couple of third-rounders, a seventh-rounder, two free-agents, a player traded away because he was unwanted - that was the material this bulldozer of a line was built from. Players from small schools, and a guy that Tex Schramm told Jones and Johnson to "not waste your time on because he has eaten himself out of a job".

But the front office, particularly Johnson, saw something in them. They became the best in the business, opening gaping holes for Smith and guarding Aikman from all comers. It didn't happen overnight, however. In learning how to play together, and in getting all the pieces in place, the quarterback got beaten up, including one memorable game with eleven sacks just before it all clicked. But when it did finally coalesce, this was as good a line, given the style and nature of the game at the time, as has ever existed.

Outstanding players. Very imperfect human beings. Some were not just aggressive, they were violent by nature. One was described by someone who knew him before the NFL as simply a bully. Another was involved in the only incident I know of where players were ejected for fighting - in the Pro Bowl. Three had illegal drugs play very big roles in what happened to them after their careers ended.
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Insideop said:
I didn't mean it in that way, but come to think of it, I don't really remember hearing/reading anything about his demeanor on the field.
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Neg:
Stiff, struggles to adjust and is often beaten by inside moves. Gets upright as the play proceeds. For the most part does not drive opponents off the line run blocking or play with a nasty attitude.
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LINK
 
IDEXAN said:
http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/...with-an-nfl-draft-prospect?linktype=hp_impact
Check it out, really cool story about Davenport, his family, and finally when he got the call when the Texans selected him. If you are a red-blooded Texans fan you will enjoy his story.
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Good story, thanks for posting. Growing up with the Oilers' OL spoiled me. Those guys were tough and talented, although I don't remember them being Conrad Dobler types. Davenport has elite NFL size and although from a lower level of competition in college, he'll be going against the BEST in the NFL in practice. I'm less concerned about his nastiness and more interested in his work ethic and desire to be great. Going against Watt, Clowney, and Merciless in practice every day will certainly test his will and desire. This is apparently the OL coach's pick. He has the raw clay, let's see what kind of player he can sculpt. I'm certainly rooting for JulieOWN to be make the transition quickly!
 
It took a few years but it’s safe to say that, when he first saw Julie’n Davenport, he found his prototype.

Davenport, all 6-foot-7, 315 pounds of him, is a textbook example of an offensive lineman. No, strike that: He’s the textbook example of a left tackle.

The web site proplayerinsiders.com predicts that Davenport will be drafted in the third round of the next NFL draft. He’s just one of four FCS players the site lists in the top 100.
“A guy like that, with that size and strength ... once he latches onto you, good luck,” Lafayette coach Frank Tavani says.

Like many in high school, Davenport played on both sides of the ball. He admits there was something special about the glory that came with sacking quarterbacks and stuffing running backs as a defensive lineman.

“I really did like defense in high school,” he says. “You get to chase after the ball carrier, get some tackles, get a few stats. The offensive line is more like the glory without the glory.”
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http://www.dailyitem.com/sports/col...cle_69463942-2206-5771-8cf7-86138afaed2f.html

I am going to wait and see if he has nasty attitude or for now just the ability to keep opponent away from QB's hula hoop.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
LINK
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There is this
Explosive, fires into blocks and keeps his feet and hands active throughout the action. Sized well, jolts defenders with outstanding hand punch and flashes the ability to be an overwhelming force. Anchors in pass protection, flashes footwork off the edge and displays decent lateral blocking range. Possesses an NFL body.
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http://draftanalyst.com/julien-davenport

He started 44 games at left tackle 2013 thru 2016 must have done something right. lol
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
Understand that I was ONLY responding to a poster's comment re. no description of his football demeanor. I feel that Davenport, given some red meat and reasonable time to develop has the potential to become a viable and possibly a dominant NFL tackle.
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Whoa C&D I love it when you step up and make optimistic predictions like that about our newly drafted tackle prospect.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
Understand that I was ONLY responding to a poster's comment re. no description of his football demeanor. I feel that Davenport, given some red meat and reasonable time to develop has the potential to become a viable and possibly a dominant NFL tackle.
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I assume clean injury history? ;)
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
Understand that I was ONLY responding to a poster's comment re. no description of his football demeanor. I feel that Davenport, given some red meat and reasonable time to develop has the potential to become a viable and possibly a dominant NFL tackle.
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Yes, I was just adding info. On relatively unknown guys I like to post anything I can find for others as I have more time to research than most. Please keep putting your info out here.
 
steelbtexan said:
Flat out kick your ass and steal your lunch money type of nasty SOB's. My kinda guys.

Not great contributors to society and certainly could never become Texans. I see Dawkins/Moton as this type of OL.

Thanks for the read. Don't forget about Gogan another nasty SOB. Trench warfare baby.
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Bruce Matthews, Mike Munchak, Jonathan Ogden, Anthony Munoz, and guys like that weren't dirty, "steal your lunch money" guys.
But they'd beat your azz in the trenches.
 
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ObsiWan said:
Bruce Matthews, Mike Munchak, Jonathan Ogden, Anthony Munoz, and guys like that weren't dirty, "steal your lunch money" guys.
But they'd beat your azz in the trenches.
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Enjoyed them much. But you gotta spend 1st rounders on those type of ol.

Give me the jj cowboys type ol.

With that said, tell me when RiCky has made that type of investment in the Texans ol , talking about the guys you mentioned?
 
steelbtexan said:
Enjoyed them much. But you gotta spend 1st rounders on those type of ol.

Give me the jj cowboys type ol.

With that said, tell me when RiCky has made that type of investment in the Texans ol , talking about the guys you mentioned?
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At one point we had one of the best OL in the league. Duane Brown for instance is one of those type of investments.
 
chenjy9 said:
At one point we had one of the best OL in the league. Duane Brown for instance is one of those type of investments.
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Beat me to it.
I'll just add that when Alex Gibbs got here (remember all those Alex Gibbs/Chuck Norris jokes) Smith made it his business to get the guys Gibbs identified.

We need another Alex Gibbs caliber guy to identify prospects and train them.
 
steelbtexan said:
Enjoyed them much. But you gotta spend 1st rounders on those type of ol.

Give me the jj cowboys type ol.

With that said, tell me when RiCky has made that type of investment in the Texans ol , talking about the guys you mentioned?
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Y'know, I thought you were a results oriented guy. But you seem to focus on the front end. Sure, the Cowboys have invested quite a bit on their OL. They have the QB many teams are kicking themselves for passing. & with Ezekiel Elliot that offense looks nigh unstoppable.

But what has it gotten them? No more than what Ricky McNair has been able to piecemeal together with 1 first rounder, three former 2nd round picks & mystery meat at the RT position.

The Cowboys went toe to to with but got bounced by a team that didn't make it to the Super Bowl. While Ricky McNair's team goes toe to toe with & eliminated in the divisional round by the eventual Super Bowl Champs.

You point to Jerrah's team as an example of what to do, but campaign to have Ricky McNair ousted.

I understand wanting Rick out. I don't understand the Jerrah nut hugging. At least Texian chooses teams that have achieved more than the Texans have to illustrate their faults.

Your arguments, regardless how you paint it, reads, "Rick's team did the same thing this "great" team did, but I want him gone anyway." Or, "this is an excellent product on the field when another team does it, but only mediocre when the Texans do the same thing."

Maybe Ricky is building his OL the way the Packers, Falcons, Steelers, & Patriots did. F'ck the Cowboys.
 
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[QUOTE="thunderkyss, post: 2714545, member: 4189 " F'ck the Cowboys.[/QUOTE]

Once every blue moon you post something I am in complete agreement with.

:coffee:
 
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