I actually had him going to the Texans in the 5th round in the only mock I created that year. He fit what Kubiak said he liked in RB's - one cut and get up field.
I could never figure out what Smith and O'Brien, later O'Brien and Gaine, then of course O'Brien and Easterby (?) were looking for at any position. I quit trying to predict with O'Brien as HC what they were going to do in the draft after the second draft. Which was a bummer for me because I enjoyed doing mock drafts until then. And I'm not trying knock the Texans for that approach, being somewhat unpredictable can be a good thing when it comes to the draft.
There was an interesting bit during the Texans’ Hard Knocks where O’Brien and Smith discuss which of 2 players to keep on the roster, one supposedly fits what they are looking for in a player while the other has played better through camp.
I remember giving OB his honeymoon period at the time, but I look on it differently now where Smith is exasperated getting players in through the door that fit what OB has asked for and then deemed not up to task.
It’s something I think is really important, can the HC give the GM an exact picture of what he is looking for at each position, and use that blueprint to sign a team and coach them up. The scouting will always be poor if they don’t know what they are looking for.
It’s like looking at the Patriots gadget players over the years, how many of those have we had through the last 6 years and not a single one of them has done anything worthwhile.
We could be developing a possession receiver of our own instead of guaranteeing Cobb $18million and wasting years of roster spots on Coutee. Same goes for gadget running backs.
OL, we’ve drafted loads, signed FA’s to high price contracts. All deemed not good enough.
RAC has had more of a handle on what he wanted on D, although seems to have gone down a few blind alleys in setting up his team for the modern game (these ILB’s when you look how other teams are able to give too QB’s fits with coverage LB’s).
This is why I keep banging on about getting the GM in first, to manage the organisation. To hold the HC accountable for what he’s asking for.
It’s not acceptable that Davenport, Rankins, XSF all turn out useless when Brooks and Jones have been run out of town.