m5kwatts
Veteran
After looking at several early mock drafts all over and reading early scouting reports I came up with a list of sleepers who could surprisingly be in play when the Texans pick at 19/20.
There's a lot of big names out there being tossed around who are overhyped and undeserving of their early mock status and a lot of under-the-radar players not getting enough publicity and will end up being far better pros. This is a list of who I think those players are:
Brandon Graham, Defensive End, Michigan
Comes in the Indy cover 2 Freeney/Mathis mold, short (6'0") but stout (274) and has whats been called the best motor in the draft. He led the nation in tackles for loss and plays hard til the play is over regardless of the score or the Wolverines' record. Connor Barwin completed just his 2nd season as a defensive player and is probably much more of a project player than the front office assumed. The Texans simply didn't sack quarterbacks enough and this kid Graham is just the relentless motor/leader/football intelligent immediate impact kind of player you look for in the 1st round.
Patrick Robinson, Cornerback, Florida State
Think Dunta. This kids report reads a lot like Dunta's coming out, top-end speed, above average balance, interception rate dipped due to being tested much less and did miss 3 games, plays the run well and is a willing tackler. Does not have great hips and his feet are often too quick for his stiff hips leading to bad angels/catches allowed. Will catch balls you'd expect a top flight corner to make (not like Dunta in that respect). I think he fits the Smithiak mold for corners and it helps that he was a leader on that defense, one report said he's often seen getting teammates in proper alignments. Don't overlook that when considering Smithiak's thought process, 4 out of the 8 picks last year were team captains on their college teams.
Vladimir Ducasse, Guard, Massachusetts
Very interesting prospect. Sort of the Brandon Albert of this years draft in that he's come out of nowhere to being looked at as a 1st rounder. A very athletic light footed guard despite a larger than normal (for the ZBS frame) 6'5" 327. Has only 6 years of football under his belt so he's very raw. I question his ability to immediately come in and start but he's got big time NFL tools and fits the scheme perfectly. I don't see his size being too big of an issue in our scheme because mobility is his best quality, hes outstanding in space, is equally as good of a run blocker as pass, has long arms, has quick first step. Reports also say he carries his weight extremely well and has excellent core strength. Also Dennison is a former o-line coach, came from Denver where they had PBS size on their o-line but used ZBS concepts as well. This kid is exciting and his stock will only rise.
A few other names that may or may not surprise and you've probably heard a thing or two about that will be considered at 19/20:
Jerry Hughes, defensive end, TCU
Jared Odrick, defensive tackle, Penn State
Arthur Jones, defensive tackle, Syracuse
Eversen Griffen, defensive end, USC
Ryan Matthews, running back, Fresno State
(Please note guys like Brian Price, Dan Williams, Taylor Mays, Earl Thomas, CJ Spiller, Javhid Best, Jonathan Dwyer would be great if they're on the board but the purpose of this thread is to explore players will little sizzle right now as far as hype but could end up being who the Texans pick and could end up being the better pro players then the big name guys being thrown around on every mock)
There's a lot of big names out there being tossed around who are overhyped and undeserving of their early mock status and a lot of under-the-radar players not getting enough publicity and will end up being far better pros. This is a list of who I think those players are:
Brandon Graham, Defensive End, Michigan
Comes in the Indy cover 2 Freeney/Mathis mold, short (6'0") but stout (274) and has whats been called the best motor in the draft. He led the nation in tackles for loss and plays hard til the play is over regardless of the score or the Wolverines' record. Connor Barwin completed just his 2nd season as a defensive player and is probably much more of a project player than the front office assumed. The Texans simply didn't sack quarterbacks enough and this kid Graham is just the relentless motor/leader/football intelligent immediate impact kind of player you look for in the 1st round.
Patrick Robinson, Cornerback, Florida State
Think Dunta. This kids report reads a lot like Dunta's coming out, top-end speed, above average balance, interception rate dipped due to being tested much less and did miss 3 games, plays the run well and is a willing tackler. Does not have great hips and his feet are often too quick for his stiff hips leading to bad angels/catches allowed. Will catch balls you'd expect a top flight corner to make (not like Dunta in that respect). I think he fits the Smithiak mold for corners and it helps that he was a leader on that defense, one report said he's often seen getting teammates in proper alignments. Don't overlook that when considering Smithiak's thought process, 4 out of the 8 picks last year were team captains on their college teams.
Vladimir Ducasse, Guard, Massachusetts
Very interesting prospect. Sort of the Brandon Albert of this years draft in that he's come out of nowhere to being looked at as a 1st rounder. A very athletic light footed guard despite a larger than normal (for the ZBS frame) 6'5" 327. Has only 6 years of football under his belt so he's very raw. I question his ability to immediately come in and start but he's got big time NFL tools and fits the scheme perfectly. I don't see his size being too big of an issue in our scheme because mobility is his best quality, hes outstanding in space, is equally as good of a run blocker as pass, has long arms, has quick first step. Reports also say he carries his weight extremely well and has excellent core strength. Also Dennison is a former o-line coach, came from Denver where they had PBS size on their o-line but used ZBS concepts as well. This kid is exciting and his stock will only rise.
A few other names that may or may not surprise and you've probably heard a thing or two about that will be considered at 19/20:
Jerry Hughes, defensive end, TCU
Jared Odrick, defensive tackle, Penn State
Arthur Jones, defensive tackle, Syracuse
Eversen Griffen, defensive end, USC
Ryan Matthews, running back, Fresno State
(Please note guys like Brian Price, Dan Williams, Taylor Mays, Earl Thomas, CJ Spiller, Javhid Best, Jonathan Dwyer would be great if they're on the board but the purpose of this thread is to explore players will little sizzle right now as far as hype but could end up being who the Texans pick and could end up being the better pro players then the big name guys being thrown around on every mock)
with this pick in the 1st.......assuming neither of the top 2 safeties & hayden isnt their for us..
