Excellent class of centers this year

[TheRealJoker]

I think that if we are willing to use the 46 on a center this year we'll get a 10 year starter from whomever is available between Mack, Unger, and Wood. I know there are bigger "needs" but I think the safest pick/great value selection would be a center in the 2nd or if we trade down late 1st.

Who else agrees with me on this?

Pick one of those 3 and we solidify the OL plus add some decent depth by pushing Myers down to the bench, a guy that started 16 games for us last year and can start at C/G for us.

 

[infantrycak]

Wouldn't have a problem with it, but don't see it happening. Frankly Gibbs' impression of Myers is what is going to count here. If Gibbs thinks Myers has the athleticism but just needs to refine his technique and is a worker, then it ain't happening.

 

[bckey]

Mack probably will not fall to 46. I have been hoping that the Texans can trade down and grab him later in the 1st if all the USC LB's and a few others are gone by the time we pick. The Texans have picked up a DE, DT and 2 LB's already in free agency so don't rule an offensive player out. We need OL and RB. I doubt the Texans would draft a RB in the 1st so that leaves OL.

Even if Gibbs thinks Myers has the athleticism but just needs to refine his technique and is a worker I still can see them drafting a guy like Mack. Our OL lacks quality depth. Mack can play center or guard. I have a feeling Minnesota may try and get Mack after losing Birk to the Ravens.

 

[Hottoddie]

The Texans should be able to pick up Anthony Parker out of Tennessee in the 5th. He's currently listed as a guard, but has been projected as a potential center. He sounds like someone we could groom for the future.

 

[CloakNNNdagger]

Wouldn't have a problem with it, but don't see it happening. Frankly Gibbs' impression of Myers is what is going to count here. If Gibbs thinks Myers has the athleticism but just needs to refine his technique and is a worker, then it ain't happening.

With all due respects to Gibbs, I hope that Myers benefits from the new strength and conditioning program. We've heard of some on the team who have noticeably bulked up in the off season.........not Myers. I know that for the Gibbs system he need to be quick and mostly "deflect" the DL with technique, but if strength is what is needed, Myers will not fare any better than last year with Red Zone/short yardage plays which basically require straight line head-to-head push..........especially against a prototype NT.

 

[Wolf6151]

I think that if we are willing to use the 46 on a center this year we'll get a 10 year starter from whomever is available between Mack, Unger, and Wood. I know there are bigger "needs" but I think the safest pick/great value selection would be a center in the 2nd or if we trade down late 1st.

Who else agrees with me on this?

Pick one of those 3 and we solidify the OL plus add some decent depth by pushing Myers down to the bench, a guy that started 16 games for us last year and can start at C/G for us.

I'd add Antoine Caldwell and Jonathan Luigs to that list of possible Centers. I like the idea of adding a Center in the draft since Centers can play Guard as well, but I'd do it in the 3rd round. The guys that I'd go after in the 3rd are:
Antoine Caldwell-C, Jonathan Luigs-C, Trevor Canfield-G, and Tyronne Green-G.

 

[mr. peebs]

I am definitely in agreement on this idea. For a while now I've been wanting to get Unger. I think if we add him he will solidify our line from an average one into a very good unit.

 

[mussop]

I'd add Antoine Caldwell and Jonathan Luigs to that list of possible Centers. I like the idea of adding a Center in the draft since Centers can play Guard as well, but I'd do it in the 3rd round. The guys that I'd go after in the 3rd are:
Antoine Caldwell-C, Jonathan Luigs-C, Trevor Canfield-G, and Tyronne Green-G.

I think its well documented her what my stance is on this subject.

For the post above Caldwell doesnt look agile or athletic enough for our system IMO. Alot of people will dissagree with me on that but I wont change my mind. I watched him play several times last year and came away unimpressed. He is a good run blocker and is very good at pass protection as long as he satys in his little middle zone. If he has to venture out of the middle area he isnt very good. He looses his balance and falls forward alot.

Luigs is a Myers clone. If yo want another C that gets pushed back alot you have the right guy.

Canfield and Green might be good fits 5th or later.

 

[Maddict5]

im in the camp that the earliest we should take some o-line is the 4th/5th. somebody already mentioned anthony parker. another guy i like but mightn last as long is tyronne green from auburn

 

[beerlover]

everyone just needs to relax & focus on the big picture. this may very well be the end of a Hall of Fame career of Alex Gibbs. the staff including the head coach Gary Kubiak will grant him his wish if there is a prospect or two he feels important enough to finish his buisness & cement his Texans legacy. as the header indicates this is an excellent class of centers. Myers best 3-4 years may be ahead of him so drafting a Center is not a priority, however adding a potential upgrade down the line while improving OL depth with a player who has the skill set to play muliple positions LG, C, RG & althletic enough to fit zbs is spot on.

I could see the Texans selecting at least TWO OL prospects from 2nd rd. on if they fall & are rated high enough on the Texans board. LZ has done a nice study of needs vs. rds. (unfortunately deleted) but if the Texans wanted a pure zbs center & Alex Mack was available in the 2nd I would run to the podium. Unger has the potential to be a Gibbs syle OL because he can flex & play any inteiror OL position, so I would also take him if available with their 2nd pick. Wood is a little bit harder to see going this early, if the Texans aquired an additional late 2nd or early 3rd in a trade he could also be a target very nasty/mauler type.

3rd rd. I like Kraig Urbik who can play both Guards as well swing out & fill a OT position if needed. LZ likes Andy Levitre OG who would be an immediate upgrade over Brisel. If Trevor Canfield, OG Jonathan Lugis, C & Antoine Caldwell where to fall one of those 4th rd. picks would be attractive OL fits.

I dissagree that the Texans must wait until the 5th rd. or latter to take a OL, not saying Gibbs can't find a late rd. gem just saying the importance of finishing his legacy & laying the foundation for the Texans future OL TOO IMPORTANT, to bypass talent if available

 

[mussop]

everyone just needs to relax & focus on the big picture. this may very well be the end of a Hall of Fame career of Alex Gibbs. the staff including the head coach Gary Kubiak will grant him his wish if there is a prospect or two he feels important enough to finish his buisness & cement his Texans legacy. as the header indicates this is an excellent class of centers. Myers best 3-4 years may be ahead of him so drafting a Center is not a priority, however adding a potential upgrade down the line while improving OL depth with a player who has the skill set to play muliple positions LG, C, RG & althletic enough to fit zbs is spot on.

I could see the Texans selecting at least TWO OL prospects from 2nd rd. on if they fall & are rated high enough on the Texans board. LZ has done a nice study of needs vs. rds. (unfortunately deleted) but if the Texans wanted a pure zbs center & Alex Mack was available in the 2nd I would run to the podium. Unger has the potential to be a Gibbs syle OL because he can flex & play any inteiror OL position, so I would also take him if available with their 2nd pick. Wood is a little bit harder to see going this early, if the Texans aquired an additional late 2nd or early 3rd in a trade he could also be a target very nasty/mauler type.

3rd rd. I like Kraig Urbik who can play both Guards as well swing out & fill a OT position if needed. LZ likes Andy Levitre OG who would be an immediate upgrade over Brisel. If Trevor Canfield, OG Jonathan Lugis, C & Antoine Caldwell where to fall one of those 4th rd. picks would be attractive OL fits.

I dissagree that the Texans must wait until the 5th rd. or latter to take a OL, not saying Gibbs can't find a late rd. gem just saying the importance of finishing his legacy & laying the foundation for the Texans future OL TOO IMPORTANT, to bypass talent if available

I hate this wait until the end of the draft before taking an OL talk. Yeh they have had some success in doing that in the past at Denver but that doesnt mean it will continue to happen here. I cant beleive Texans fans of all fans would undervalue the importance of the OL. Right now our depth SUCKS!!!!!!!and we need more than a 5th round or later project that will likely be no better than the depth we have now. God forbid we get a couple of OL injuries at the same time next year. If that were to happen our Franchise QB is going to take a beating and our smallish franchise RB is going to take a beating and our Franchise WR wont be getting the ball in his hands enough to make a difference. I dont want to go through another era like the David Carr one.

 

[Insideop]

I know this would take a miracle, but I'm really hoping Wood would fall to us in the 3rd. I don't think the Texans will take an O-lineman in the 2nd. I'm thinking they will be looking at SS in the 2nd and I'm hoping they get Chung, but if Wood is still there in the 2nd and Chung is gone, I definitely would jump on Wood.

It just seems hard to figure out where Mack, Unger and Wood will go and how teams have them ranked, but I think 1 of them will be there when the Texans pick at #46. I just don't think/know if they will be looking at C in the 2nd. JMHO!

 

[Mari-OWNED!]

I've wanted the Texans to draft Unger for a while now, but the more I think about it, I just get a feeling that they will stick with Chris Myers for some reason...

Kinda shifting off topic but...

One o-line player I would love to see the Texans draft is Kraig Urbik from Wisconsin. I feel like he could jump in and win the starting job from Mike Brisiel who I feel is not a starting RG in the NFL. Plus Urbik should be available in the 4th round. That would be nice!

 

[nunusguy]

I dunno if drafting a center/guard very early is a luxury we can afford ?
Looks like D-Rob will be out of here one way or the other by the end of the year (if not by the beginning of the regular season ?), so they've got to seriously look at a corner now, maybe even as their top pick.
Then we need a pass-rusher which we can't wait beyond the 3rd round for if we're gonna get a real prospect and not a long-shot. And finally a LB, probably a SAM.
IMO that's our first 3 picks because it's our top 3 prioritys. And Gibbs not only knows how to identify solid center/guards in the late rounds that's been where he's drafted them historically.