Htown's Mock

[htownfan32]

Hey, guys. After witnessing the total systems failure that was the Boston Massacre of MNF, this is my reaction mock. Be gentle, I've never done one before . Just kidding, comments thoughts counterarguments and reactions absolutely welcomed.

1st Round: Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU, 6-5 270 Senior

Sorry, guys. I know everyone wants a WR in the first round, but... after watching our pass rush all season long, I'm convinced we need to upgrade much of our D-line. I'm going to assume that Barwin is out of a job and that Mercilus is starting (I like his development, I think he'll be good for us next season). I think Brooks Reed keeps his job. But aside from Watt, our D-Line absolutely isn't getting it done. With Antonio Smith aging and his contract up in 2014... we need help with the rush. And Ansah is the man. I'm not sure that he'd wouldn't be used as an OLB, actually, and push Brooks to the inside, but whether as a DE or OLB, we need the pass rush help.

2nd Round: Cordarelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee, 6-3 205 Junior

Now we address the offense. It is way too sluggish and once people figure out how to shut down Andre we are done for the day. If Andre gets shut down in 1 on 1 teams stack the box against the run and we are treated to Foster carries for 1, 2 yards. We need a big, physical WR to help open up our game and this guy is an athlete. He could potentially become the heir to Andre, and if Lestar Jean continues his growth and Martin fleshes out, we may have a solid 1-2-3 knockout punch at the WR position.

3rd Round: Gabe Jackson, OG, Mississippi State, 6-4 320 Junior

I think Wade Smith's play is declining. We need help at guard, and Jackson is a good 3rd round pick up who I can see developing into a steady cog in our offensive line, playing next to Duane Brown. If not replacing Wade Smith, he'll have to switch sides and play RG, but I feel that that is better than the mess of a rotation we have going on. Gardener, the practice squad guy, was thrown around in Foxborough. I'm not entirely sold on Derek Newton at tackle on the right side but I feel as if his play had improved throughout the season and that guard becomes a nice hole to fill.

I will post later rounds in a bit. Exams coming up xD

 

[Wolf6151]

JMO:

1. Ansah, at 270 lbs. I don't think he fits the mold of a 3-4 DE and if he were to add 20 lbs. how much speed and athleticism would he lose. I also don't see the need for a 1st round OLB unless we lose Barwin and move Reed to ILB which I'm not opposed to doing and I think Reed could handle the move. I like Ansah the player but just don't see that he fits our defensive system. His size says 4-3 DE to me.
2. Patterson, I love the player and know that he's currently listed as a 2nd round pick but after the Combine I think he goes in the 1st round because someone is going to fall in love with his measurables and speed. He'd be a great fit for the Texans if available but I think it takes alot of luck for Patterson to be on the board at the end of the 2nd round.
3. Jackson, I really like this pick and the round selected. I think Brooks plays RG next year and that Jackson would sit and learn for a year, occasionally getting some playing time, behind W. Smith and that he takes over at LG in 2014.

 

[TimeKiller]

JMO:

1. Ansah, at 270 lbs. I don't think he fits the mold of a 3-4 DE and if he were to add 20 lbs. how much speed and athleticism would he lose. I also don't see the need for a 1st round OLB unless we lose Barwin and move Reed to ILB which I'm not opposed to doing and I think Reed could handle the move. I like Ansah the player but just don't see that he fits our defensive system. His size says 4-3 DE to me.
2. Patterson, I love the player and know that he's currently listed as a 2nd round pick but after the Combine I think he goes in the 1st round because someone is going to fall in love with his measurables and speed. He'd be a great fit for the Texans if available but I think it takes alot of luck for Patterson to be on the board at the end of the 2nd round.
3. Jackson, I really like this pick and the round selected. I think Brooks plays RG next year and that Jackson would sit and learn for a year, occasionally getting some playing time, behind W. Smith and that he takes over at LG in 2014.

I feel the same way about Ansah. I don't know if he could stand up full time (might need to drop 5-10 pounds) and I don't really think he fits in at Dend. I like the player though...just don't see him converting well into this defense. Then again, he'd probably do better than Barwin has this year lol...

 

[Rey]

I think Ansah would be a good 3-4 DE for us. I don't want him playing OLB...

 

[Wolf6151]

Ansah has the height to add some weight and play 3-4 DE but how long would it take him to add 20+ lbs. of weight and what affect would it have on his speed and athleticism. 270 lbs. says 4-3 DE to me, or lose some weight and move to OLB if he's fast enough. If I'm looking for a 3-4 DE in the first round I'd go after Sheldon Richardson-DT from Missouri, he's already got the size to go along with a high motor. Our 3-4 D-line is undersized as is, we need to add some beef.

 

[htownfan32]

Thanks for the good feedback/discussion, guys. Yes, I think Ansah may actually end up as an OLB, but I'll leave that up to Wade and how he decides to fit his scheme around his personnel.

4th Round: Kiko Alonso, ILB, Oregon, 6-3 242 Senior

I think this is a consensus: the ILB position needs more depth. After the loss of Cushing we have been severely, severely exposed at that position. Bradie James simply isn't a good fill in for DeMeco, and I think Sharpton will take time to get back into things after missing a whole year of football. Dobbins is a great run-stuffer but that's just about it. Alonso's got good measurables and can provide great depth while becoming a future second in command to Cushing. And he intercepts like a corner (Rose Bowl, anyone?)

5th Round: Daimion Stafford, S, Nebraska, 6-1, 205 Senior

All B1G Second team, good measurables, potential starter at some point down the line, and great depth pick. Good reward low risk pick.

6th Round: Tyrann Mathieu, CB, formerly LSU, 5-9 178 Junior

I am all aboard the "Draft Honey Badger" train. Why? Simple: Low round, low value, potential high reward pick. Yes, he's got a billion question marks surrounding him. But we're a quality organization and there are no Texans who he can collaborate with to be a divisive influence with in the locker room. Put simply, the locker room vets are going to straighten him out if he gets out of line. The organization will take care of him, I believe, and with success on the field and a little coaching from Kubes and Wade, and I think he'll be okay. In any case, for those who knock on his size - Brice McCain is only 7 pounds heavier and the same height, and I'm more excited about Honey Badger, KJax, and JJo stifling the hell out of other WRs.

 

[htownfan32]

Will do a 7th round pick later, not that it matters immensely enjoy the mid rounds!

 

[TimeKiller]

Did I mention I'm all about Patterson? That guy is the truth. His highlights just juked me out while I was watching, suddenly I was turned around and looking out the window instead.

 

[Wolf6151]

4. Alonso, I love the player and pick if available but remember we select at the end of each round, I doubt he's available at the end of the 4th. As an athletic ILB I think you'll have to take him in the 3rd if you really want him.
5. Stafford, I'm not familiar with him but some Safety depth and competition is a good thing.
6. Mathieu, Hell NO, not even as an UDFA. No use in buying cancer for your team. Your trying to draft a memory.

 

[Rey]

I like the Nebraska picks....

My "younger bro" plays OL for Nebraska so I can get a lot of insight into some of their players...

I'll ask him about the Simpson...

 

[htownfan32]

7th Round: Knile Davis, RB, Arkansas, 6-0 226 Junior

Arian Foster simply has not performed up to his paycheck. I'm not blaming him, because there are a whole lot of factors - his workload, the fact that Ben Tate's not there to be his second punch, the retooled (and rotational - not a good thing, because they have no time to gel) right side of the O-line... but the main thing is that unlike last year, Foster does not have the second RB to complement him. I think Kubiak's got beef with Tate and Tate gets traded. I don't think Forsett is the guy to pick up Tate's spot, not because he's not good but because he's not the physical, punishing downhill runner that Tate is. And Knile Davis is. A big, physical RB, Knile Davis will be the firepower to match Foster's finesse. When Davis sees the hole, he explodes out of it. Not the absolute fastest guy, but he makes up for it with physical play and that aforementioned burst. I personally like Christine Michael much more than him, but Knile Davis will be available in a later round pick which we can afford to use on an RB

 

[htownfan32]

I think we might trade up for a third round pick (what with all the compensatory ones we'll be getting) or we'll have a compensatory third. If so, that third goes to Kiko Alonso, no question.

I wouldn't be surprised to see us go with Kevin Minter in the second, either. Dude is underrated and will be a beast next to Cushing.

 

[Rey]

I watched minter some...he's ok...I like him better than some of the other ilb prospects around that area...

 

[badboy]

I think we might trade up for a third round pick (what with all the compensatory ones we'll be getting) or we'll have a compensatory third. If so, that third goes to Kiko Alonso, no question.

I wouldn't be surprised to see us go with Kevin Minter in the second, either. Dude is underrated and will be a beast next to Cushing.

Ok you put it out there. I'll question it. I prefer Andrew Jackson in 3rd or maybe he will even be there in 4th. He is a brawling tackler that can go to sideline & cover as well as Cushing. I've watched all three and prefer Jackson especially when you view the round comparison over Minter.

 

[htownfan32]

Ok you put it out there. I'll question it. I prefer Andrew Jackson in 3rd or maybe he will even be there in 4th. He is a brawling tackler that can go to sideline & cover as well as Cushing. I've watched all three and prefer Jackson especially when you view the round comparison over Minter.

I'll have to do my homework on Jackson, I'm not familiar with him other than someone's mock here on TT. Perhaps it was yours?

If he's as good as you say, though, I doubt he falls to the 4th. We may have to pick him up in the third.

 

[rmartin65]

Ansah- I like this pick a lot. Crazy athletic, has tons of upside, and can play multiple positions. I really think he could be the next JPP.

Patterson- I like the guy, but he wont be here this late.

Jackson- Could definitely use some OL help, but I don’t think Jackson fits the system we use. We need more athletic guys.

Kiko is a good pick as well, and at a position of need to boot.

I don’t know a lot about Stafford, which is surprising since I watch a fair amount of Big 10 games. I would like to think that if he was a good player that he would have stood out to me, but I certainly could have missed him. My gut, however, says that there are better safeties available.

Hell no on the Honey Badger. Would not touch this moron in the draft.

Davis is a good pick though. He has some of the best ability of all the backs in the draft, but he has just missed so much time due to injury.

Solid mock, but it does not make me as excited as some of the other mocks out there. Still, it is by no means a bad draft. There are some talented players here.

 

[Rey]

Ansah looks better to me than Mercilus did in college.

I've watched more of him and he is a nice player. I'd still prefer Dion Jordan, but Ansah looks good. But I think there are better players that we can go after in the first round JMO.

 

[htownfan32]

Ansah- I like this pick a lot. Crazy athletic, has tons of upside, and can play multiple positions. I really think he could be the next JPP.

Patterson- I like the guy, but he wont be here this late.

Jackson- Could definitely use some OL help, but I don’t think Jackson fits the system we use. We need more athletic guys.

Kiko is a good pick as well, and at a position of need to boot.

I don’t know a lot about Stafford, which is surprising since I watch a fair amount of Big 10 games. I would like to think that if he was a good player that he would have stood out to me, but I certainly could have missed him. My gut, however, says that there are better safeties available.

Hell no on the Honey Badger. Would not touch this moron in the draft.

Davis is a good pick though. He has some of the best ability of all the backs in the draft, but he has just missed so much time due to injury.

Solid mock, but it does not make me as excited as some of the other mocks out there. Still, it is by no means a bad draft. There are some talented players here.

Doesn't Mississippi State run a ZBS? I think Jackson would fit nicely into our system. He might need some conditioning otherwise, but I don't think there's a system issue.

 

[rmartin65]

Doesn't Mississippi State run a ZBS? I think Jackson would fit nicely into our system. He might need some conditioning otherwise, but I don't think there's a system issue.

I think they do, but that does not mean he is a perfect fit for the system.

I did some googling, and apparently I am the only one concerned with Jackson's athleticism. I could definitely be off the mark here; its happened before, and will happen again I am sure.

 

[badboy]

I'll have to do my homework on Jackson, I'm not familiar with him other than someone's mock here on TT. Perhaps it was yours?

If he's as good as you say, though, I doubt he falls to the 4th. We may have to pick him up in the third.

Yeah I mock him in third but few seem to know of him. Here is some info off the Western Kentucky web site but you really need to watch him play. http://www.wkusports.com/ViewArticl...DB_OEM_ID=5400&ATCLID=204973474&Q_SEASON=2011

 

[panamamyers]

Don't want a receiver in this year's draft. I think we are pretty well set with Posey and Jean and Martin to go along with Andre. Maybe in the 4th round or lower.
I think we need four or five other positions more than receiver.

 

[badboy]

Don't want a receiver in this year's draft. I think we are pretty well set with Posey and Jean and Martin to go along with Andre. Maybe in the 4th round or lower.
I think we need four or five other positions more than receiver.

Okay, but based upon what? Posey 1 for 19 yds or Martin's 10 for 85? Jean's 6 for 151 I'll buy. So Martin plays PR so could not a draft pick do that? I think 3rd round pick Posey should be on bubble & I'd definitely go high if right guy (ahem, Terrance Williams or Justin Hunter or C. Patterson there). Any of those guys could be a franchise type player. Posey....

 

[Wolf6151]

Okay, but based upon what? Posey 1 for 19 yds or Martin's 10 for 85? Jean's 6 for 151 I'll buy. So Martin plays PR so could not a draft pick do that? I think 3rd round pick Posey should be on bubble & I'd definitely go high if right guy (ahem, Terrance Williams or Justin Hunter or C. Patterson there). Any of those guys could be a franchise type player. Posey....

Completely agree. Posey and Jean should be on the bubble next training camp.

 

[aussie_texan]

Okay, but based upon what? Posey 1 for 19 yds or Martin's 10 for 85? Jean's 6 for 151 I'll buy. So Martin plays PR so could not a draft pick do that? I think 3rd round pick Posey should be on bubble & I'd definitely go high if right guy (ahem, Terrance Williams or Justin Hunter or C. Patterson there). Any of those guys could be a franchise type player. Posey....

should be good over the next few weeks to see posey and jean involved more in the offence, likewise for harris and roc.

the next few weeks will have a big influence on how the FO goes about its offseason.

 

[badboy]

The problem is we are in a "must win" scenario at least next two games so not sure how many targets each will get. Jean has looked better to me & I would not be shocked if Texans go with same crew '13 & look strong at Jeff Maehl in TC.