You've been on this board since 2010.... three drafts... you shouldn't have to ask that question.
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What should the Texans do with their number one pick?
- Thread starter 76Texan
- Start date
You've been on this board since 2010.... three drafts... you shouldn't have to ask that question.
Kinda like Russell Wilson being drafted in the third, Schaub in the third, Romo undrafted, & yeah, Tom Brady.
No doubt in my mind Bridgewater will not be the most successful QB in this draft. I have no idea who will, but I know the odds are against Bridgewater.
kiwitexansfan
Hall of Fame
Only if they happen to be standing next to the buffet table.
bah007
Hall of Fame
As good as Manziel is at avoiding hits, if you listen to his biggest supporters, they will tell you that his weaknesses on film are due to injuries he suffered this year.
So either:
-he isn't good at avoiding big hits (big deal since that is one of the factors that offsets his size concerns)
-he was injured by sustaining smaller hits (possible durability issue)
-his weaknesses on tape are real and were not due to injury (possible mechanical or physical flaws in his game)
Uncle Rico
Ur apology should be as loud as Ur disrespect was
"I have NO DOUBT in my mind that Bridgewater will not be the best QB in this draft" That is probably the single most hilarious and utterly hateful comment I've read on this message board. LOL
Im sure you'd say AJ McCarron would be the most successful right? Another Tom Brady because they share the same 'body type' ?? hahaha wow I needed a laugh too thanks!
Im sure you'd say AJ McCarron would be the most successful right? Another Tom Brady because they share the same 'body type' ?? hahaha wow I needed a laugh too thanks!
It's no hate. It's odds.
I feel good about Aj McCarron. If I were in charge of this draft, he would be the one I target.
But it's a pretty safe bet to pick any one QB in this draft & say he won't be the most successful. Odds are against any one.
Honoring Earl 34
Something Witty !
AJ at #1 ?
2-1
Or trade up into the bottom of the 1st so we can say we got a 1st round QB.
Honoring Earl 34
Something Witty !
Draft Fales in the 4th instead of AJ .
Again he was used as a runner a lot at A&M. That won't be the case in the nfl. And yes he's not mechanically sound. Not many QB's are after only two years in college. Despite his mechanical flaws he still put together one of the best freshman seasons of all time And improved his second year.
Against #1 ranked Alabama Manziel's final stat line was 28-of-39 for 464 passing yards and five touchdowns, with two interceptions, as well as 98 rushing yards on 14 carries. No other quarterback has done anything remotely like that against Nick Sabans defense.
A few weeks later
Manziel injured his left knee on a rollout during the Mississippi game. He only sat out one series. Then he returned to lead the Aggies on a game-winning drive as time expired.
Don't know how anyone could look at that negatively. I would say that shows toughness.
Skip ahead a few more weeks.
Playing Auburn who would eventually make it to the championship game, Manziel threw for 454 yards and four touchdowns and ran for a fifth score, but was intercepted twice. He missed a series in the fourth quarter with an injury to his right shoulder on a running play. He got up after the tackle and then went to the ground before he reached the A&M sideline. A&M officials looked at him for a couple of minutes on the turf before he got up and walked off on his own power.
He tried to warm up on the sideline after being tended to by trainers and stopped as he started to attempt to throw to WR Mike Evans, shaking his head as if he could not make the pass. Manziel, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, left the bench momentarily, but returned, made some warm-up tosses and went back into the game.
Upon his return he completed 9-of-10 passes for 102 yards and ran for a touchdown. He was still in a sling on the following Monday, and was limited in practice throughout the next week.
Here is a video of the injury
Texas A&M said Manziel was to be evaluated after the game.
Again the fact that he came back into the Game shows how tough and competitive he is.
Did he have a bad game against LSU and Missouri? Sure he did. The whole team played like crap. Against LSU Sumlin abandoned the run way to early. The OL was outplayed and the WRs got pushed around throwing timing routes off. Yet Manziel was still able to put up 34 and 28 points. And after a couple of weeks of rest destroyed Duke.
Manziels thumb was reported to be badly dislocated yet he never once used that as an excuse. He made several bad off field decisions his first year. Was clean as a whistle last year.
He has shown toughness, maturity and the ability to lead. He is still behind Bridgwater and Clowney on my short list for 1.1. If we draft him I will be very happy.
Uncle Rico
Ur apology should be as loud as Ur disrespect was
You're backtracking. That's not how you worded your original audacious comment. It's cool everyone knows who is in who's camp. Just that your original comment is chuckle worthy. If you realize as much, then ok if you meant that there is no 1 sure fire QB then that is more plausible.
htownfan32
Hall of Fame
Drafting McCarron is like wanting 1/2 of Matt Schaub. No way.
Or the next Tom Brady.
Marshall
Not pretty, but ALIVE!
I'm not sure any of these will be more than a backup in three years. A couple will start because they will be drafted high, but I cannot see any of them as franchise type QBs. But this isn't different than a typical year.
TexansSeminole
Hall of Fame
Marshall
Not pretty, but ALIVE!
And will keep having until draft day...
TexansFTW
Veteran
To knock Manziel for injury is absurd. It's the NFL and everyone gets hurt. It's how you respond to being hurt that matters the most.
You can sit out of the biggest game of your life like Colt McCoy and fade into obscurity for the Cleveland Browns.
OR...
You can man up like Manziel did and 'put the team on your back'. I think how you respond to injury is more important than simply being injured.
Even the most stationary pocket guys eventually get hurt (Brady and Manning).
TB exhibited the same man up attitude JFF did in his Bowl game against Florida when he, to me, appeared to get concussed but still stayed in the game and dominated a much better team.
You can sit out of the biggest game of your life like Colt McCoy and fade into obscurity for the Cleveland Browns.
OR...
You can man up like Manziel did and 'put the team on your back'. I think how you respond to injury is more important than simply being injured.
Even the most stationary pocket guys eventually get hurt (Brady and Manning).
TB exhibited the same man up attitude JFF did in his Bowl game against Florida when he, to me, appeared to get concussed but still stayed in the game and dominated a much better team.
I think Bridgewater has his own "toughness" stories.
Pretty impressive stuff, if you ask me.
Pretty impressive stuff, if you ask me.
Did we post what Skip said yet?
TexansFTW
Veteran
If I could hate 1 "analyst" more than Steven A Smith it has to be Skip. Not for his analysis of Manziel, but because I hate everything he says and he ONLY says things to say things and create buzz and controversy.
bah007
Hall of Fame
LOL didn't even need to check the link to see what he would say.
Dutchrudder
Hall of Fame
No... that would be the other teams. LSU 34 - A&M 10 and Mizzou 28 - A&M 21. He was terrible in the LSU game, it was clearly the worst game of his career. He was OK in the Mizzou game, but missed several opportunities to do anything towards the end of the game. I think they had 3 possessions in the 4th quarter that went nowhere.
After that poor game Manning put up yesterday, would anyone have a problem if he were our starting QB next year?
Why, or why not?
I wouldn't have a problem with it, because he'll still be one of the top 5 QBs in the league. Even though he'll probably have a bad game or two next season. He's going to throw a few INTs, he's going to make some stupid throws, miss some reads... lose some games.
But he'll have more, way more positive plays than negative.
Why, or why not?
I wouldn't have a problem with it, because he'll still be one of the top 5 QBs in the league. Even though he'll probably have a bad game or two next season. He's going to throw a few INTs, he's going to make some stupid throws, miss some reads... lose some games.
But he'll have more, way more positive plays than negative.
JCTexan
Hall of Fame
No, I wouldn't have a problem with Manning coming here next year, but I would still consider taking a QB #1. Manning only has a year or two remaining in his career so a future QB would still be a must this off-season.
I'm with you... but the point of that post, was to contrast the post above mine (I guess I should have quoted it)... just because a guy has a bad game doesn't mean he's not worth a crap, or won't be successful in the NFL.
Playoffs
Hall of Fame
No one has a clue what we'll be doing with the 1st overall pick.
I've heard different draft "experts" assuredly report that we will be drafting Manziel... Bortles... Bridgewater... Clowney.
So far -- and it's early -- Texans are playing their hand perfectly to maintain the possibility of a trade.
It'll be interesting to see if, as the process moves forward, if they target a few teams/marks by leaking interest in a particular player. I think Clowney will blow up the Combine and will bring teams offers. But it could be a QB.
Fun watching the drama play out.
I've heard different draft "experts" assuredly report that we will be drafting Manziel... Bortles... Bridgewater... Clowney.
So far -- and it's early -- Texans are playing their hand perfectly to maintain the possibility of a trade.
It'll be interesting to see if, as the process moves forward, if they target a few teams/marks by leaking interest in a particular player. I think Clowney will blow up the Combine and will bring teams offers. But it could be a QB.
Fun watching the drama play out.
Ole Miss Texan
Hall of Fame
My view is this: O'Brien & Co. must solve the QB problem and it's 100% certainty the new regime will bring in their new QB('s) through FA and/or draft. Typically they draft their guy early in the first year.
So going into this draft, with 1:1, they're #1 focus has to be "is there a franchise QB for THIS team in this draft and who is he?" I don't care if Clowney is the second coming of Kearse, if Bridgewater/Bortles/Manziel is determined to be a QB they feel very confident will take over this team and get us to multiple AFC Championships and Super Bowls, they MUST take him at 1:1 and never question that decision. You DO NOT get fancy and trade down thinking you might could still get him.
Second, us fans may see these top 3 QBs all ranked fairly similarly. But trust me, O'Brien does not. He may not like any of them, he may like 2, he may LOVE 1. And if there is that 1, we have to take him whoever he is.
If it were up to me, and we determined none of the top 3 QBs would fit my needs as a QB and would not be the franchise guy- then I don't select them period and I look at Taking the risk on Clowney or trading down. I would look at Clowney or Mack in that case or Barr and see "who would be the best defender for MY defense."
For me it's Bridgewater right now still. I think Bortles has a legitimate chance but I want to be careful because what gets me more excited about him is his prototypical size. That's very dangerous to push him ahead because of size alone. I think he'd need to develop behind a veteran, but if that's what OB wants I'm on board. I prefer Bridgewater, I just feel like he's pro ready day 1 and has the intelligence to succeed. Granted I'm not saying Bortles/Manziel do not... I just feel much better about Teddy. I love Manziel but do not want us taking him. I just don't have a good gut feeling at all about his long term success in this league.
Clowney is tempting but I worry about his motor and drive/passion. He says he wants to be #1 pick does not impress me. If he were to say I wanna be #1 defender in league, I want to play next to Watt, I want to dominate the NfL... I would feel better. He's saying he's going to put up insane numbers at the combine and he wants to be the first pick. Woopty freaking Doo. BUT, if he passes the interviews and the coaches feel really really good about him AND they do not love any QBs, I would be good with Clowney. I do worry about him and Watt from a salary cap point in a few years. Watts gonna get paid insanely. Then just a few short years later Clowney will want to get paid (assuming he pans out) and we won't be able to afford both. That gives us 4 years maybe 5 with both of them.... But who's our QB? Draft one next year? Free Agent pans out? Mid rounder from this year works?? If it's not till next year or 2 that limits our Super Bowl chances with out 1:1 pick Clowney to like 3 years till he's gone. Maybe I'm just thinking too much about that.
At the end of the day I think it will be Bridgewater or Bortles at 1:1, O'Brien will love one of them. My bet is Bridgewater wows them in interviews and they select him and I'll be pleased.
So going into this draft, with 1:1, they're #1 focus has to be "is there a franchise QB for THIS team in this draft and who is he?" I don't care if Clowney is the second coming of Kearse, if Bridgewater/Bortles/Manziel is determined to be a QB they feel very confident will take over this team and get us to multiple AFC Championships and Super Bowls, they MUST take him at 1:1 and never question that decision. You DO NOT get fancy and trade down thinking you might could still get him.
Second, us fans may see these top 3 QBs all ranked fairly similarly. But trust me, O'Brien does not. He may not like any of them, he may like 2, he may LOVE 1. And if there is that 1, we have to take him whoever he is.
If it were up to me, and we determined none of the top 3 QBs would fit my needs as a QB and would not be the franchise guy- then I don't select them period and I look at Taking the risk on Clowney or trading down. I would look at Clowney or Mack in that case or Barr and see "who would be the best defender for MY defense."
For me it's Bridgewater right now still. I think Bortles has a legitimate chance but I want to be careful because what gets me more excited about him is his prototypical size. That's very dangerous to push him ahead because of size alone. I think he'd need to develop behind a veteran, but if that's what OB wants I'm on board. I prefer Bridgewater, I just feel like he's pro ready day 1 and has the intelligence to succeed. Granted I'm not saying Bortles/Manziel do not... I just feel much better about Teddy. I love Manziel but do not want us taking him. I just don't have a good gut feeling at all about his long term success in this league.
Clowney is tempting but I worry about his motor and drive/passion. He says he wants to be #1 pick does not impress me. If he were to say I wanna be #1 defender in league, I want to play next to Watt, I want to dominate the NfL... I would feel better. He's saying he's going to put up insane numbers at the combine and he wants to be the first pick. Woopty freaking Doo. BUT, if he passes the interviews and the coaches feel really really good about him AND they do not love any QBs, I would be good with Clowney. I do worry about him and Watt from a salary cap point in a few years. Watts gonna get paid insanely. Then just a few short years later Clowney will want to get paid (assuming he pans out) and we won't be able to afford both. That gives us 4 years maybe 5 with both of them.... But who's our QB? Draft one next year? Free Agent pans out? Mid rounder from this year works?? If it's not till next year or 2 that limits our Super Bowl chances with out 1:1 pick Clowney to like 3 years till he's gone. Maybe I'm just thinking too much about that.
At the end of the day I think it will be Bridgewater or Bortles at 1:1, O'Brien will love one of them. My bet is Bridgewater wows them in interviews and they select him and I'll be pleased.
I don't worry about his motor. Not one bit. With guys like Cushing & Watt... I don't think he could take a play off without getting his butt whupped.
I question how/where we will use him. If we take him, I'm going to trust that OB & Crennel & Kollar & Vrabel have a plan.
Playoffs
Hall of Fame
What makes him think Tennessee, Jacksonville, & Minnesota weren't "sure" & Cincinnatti and SF were?
Trust me, it's very possible to be 100% sure, & completely wrong at the same time.
I don't see where "waiting" = "sure"
aussie_texan
Veteran
Very true
Personally I'd take Bridgewater. I am 100% sold on this guy. I have watched him since his sophmore year and he has progressed every year. He has Aaron Rodgers type potential. Their games are very similar. Their arm strength and accuracy are similar. They can both move around in the pocket to buy time and are accurate going across the body. Their body types aren't that dissimilar coming out of college as I think Bridgewater will weigh in around 215-220 at the combine.
If I weren't going to take Bridgewater I would see about trading my second round pick to N.E. for Mallett and my #1 to Cleveland for #4 and #26 then I take Anthony Barr at 4 and at 26 I take either OT Taylor Lewing, LB CJ Mosley, or S Calvin Pryor. That gives you your young QB, a potentially dominant OLB, and either a bookend T to pair with LTD Brown, a run stuffing LB to put inside with Cushing, or a ballhawking FS to pair with Swearinger to solidify your safety position for a decade.
If I weren't going to take Bridgewater I would see about trading my second round pick to N.E. for Mallett and my #1 to Cleveland for #4 and #26 then I take Anthony Barr at 4 and at 26 I take either OT Taylor Lewing, LB CJ Mosley, or S Calvin Pryor. That gives you your young QB, a potentially dominant OLB, and either a bookend T to pair with LTD Brown, a run stuffing LB to put inside with Cushing, or a ballhawking FS to pair with Swearinger to solidify your safety position for a decade.
Uncle Rico
Ur apology should be as loud as Ur disrespect was
Trade down for Watkins, Moseley or Mack. Instant playmakers, no time needed to develop.
I'm done with the soap opera QB class of 2014.
I'm done with the soap opera QB class of 2014.
I think this is a first .... I agree with both Skip Clueless and Stephen A Stupid .... Give me Manziel.
TexansFTW
Veteran
You flipped sides? Once you leave you can't come back, you know that right? Like Charlie in "All Dogs Go To Heaven".
Someone should point out that these quotes are from January 2nd, immediately following theChik-Fil-A Bowl game where Manziel threw for 388 yds, 4 TDs and ran for another 73 yds and a TD on 11 carries against Duke. I chalk this up to post bowl game euphoria from the talking heads.
...plus it's Skip Bayless... he had (has?) a mancrush on Tebow too.
ChampionTexan
Hall of Fame
I've pretty much gotten to the point where if they don't take Clowney, Robinson, or trade down for good value (which I know is far easier said than done), I'm gonna be disappointed. In otherwords, it's basically anything but a QB with that #1 pick. No real preference out of those three options
Number19
Hall of Fame
Put me down as another who is beginning to rethink 1-1. I'm still going defense, but rather than Mack, who I still like, I'm beginning to consider Clowney.
But rather than projecting him to right side DE, or the Elephant, I'd project him to the strong side OLB, right beside JJ.
How's an offense going to block this pair? It would force the offense to keep the TE in to block one-on-one with Clowney, removing him as a receiving threat, and leaving the RT one-on-one with JJ. If the RG was to slide over to help out, I'd have Cushing shoot the wide open gap to blitz the QB.
This leaves our NT one-on-one with the OC.
My 2-33 selection is still Tuitt. He's currently projected at bottom of the first or top of the second. He can play DE on the weak side, but moving him to NT puts him one-on-one against the OC, a far more favorable matchup. He'll anchor the middle against the run and generate up-the-middle pressure on the QB.
This leaves Mercilus at the Elephant, one-on-one against the blindside LT, a not so favorable matchup as he's shown the past two years.
This requires us to address the right side DE in the mid-rounds with a player who can dominate one-on-one against the LG. I haven't found this prospect just yet.
But for the NT position, I'm still liking Ryan Carrethers, who will probably be available at 5-129. So if Carrethers can win the NT position and can dominate the OC, this allows me to move Tuitt back to the right side DE, where I've had him all along. With Tuitt outside, this may help free up Mercilus to make more plays on the QB. As you see, we have a lot of flexibility where we play Tuitt.
At 3-65 I still have Smallwood penciled in to play next to Cushing. He's good at dropping back into pass coverage, but more importantly, he'll be excellent at shooting the gaps on the right side to blitz the QB.
So my defensive heavy draft, without any trades, is beginning to round into shape. With what I have so far, I still have pick 4-97. This selection could be for a QB. I'm anticipating the Texans signing a FA QB, maybe as soon as next week.
(edit) I forgot, 4-97 is for JaWuan James, RT, who's currently projected to go 3rd/4th round. That leaves #5 supplemental for a QB. The one I've currently got an eye on is Keith Wenning from Ball State. But he might be available as deep as the 7th round, or possibly an UFA.
But rather than projecting him to right side DE, or the Elephant, I'd project him to the strong side OLB, right beside JJ.
How's an offense going to block this pair? It would force the offense to keep the TE in to block one-on-one with Clowney, removing him as a receiving threat, and leaving the RT one-on-one with JJ. If the RG was to slide over to help out, I'd have Cushing shoot the wide open gap to blitz the QB.
This leaves our NT one-on-one with the OC.
My 2-33 selection is still Tuitt. He's currently projected at bottom of the first or top of the second. He can play DE on the weak side, but moving him to NT puts him one-on-one against the OC, a far more favorable matchup. He'll anchor the middle against the run and generate up-the-middle pressure on the QB.
This leaves Mercilus at the Elephant, one-on-one against the blindside LT, a not so favorable matchup as he's shown the past two years.
This requires us to address the right side DE in the mid-rounds with a player who can dominate one-on-one against the LG. I haven't found this prospect just yet.
But for the NT position, I'm still liking Ryan Carrethers, who will probably be available at 5-129. So if Carrethers can win the NT position and can dominate the OC, this allows me to move Tuitt back to the right side DE, where I've had him all along. With Tuitt outside, this may help free up Mercilus to make more plays on the QB. As you see, we have a lot of flexibility where we play Tuitt.
At 3-65 I still have Smallwood penciled in to play next to Cushing. He's good at dropping back into pass coverage, but more importantly, he'll be excellent at shooting the gaps on the right side to blitz the QB.
So my defensive heavy draft, without any trades, is beginning to round into shape. With what I have so far, I still have pick 4-97. This selection could be for a QB. I'm anticipating the Texans signing a FA QB, maybe as soon as next week.
(edit) I forgot, 4-97 is for JaWuan James, RT, who's currently projected to go 3rd/4th round. That leaves #5 supplemental for a QB. The one I've currently got an eye on is Keith Wenning from Ball State. But he might be available as deep as the 7th round, or possibly an UFA.
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Blake
MMQB
Understandable. But getting your hopes up for 1 or 2 players is a mistake. If we take someone else you will eventually watch their film and say "well maybe I can get behind this pick." Happens every year.
ChampionTexan
Hall of Fame
I'm a big boy - if I get disappointed, I get disappointed, and I'll deal with it.
It's not like someone else can swoop in right before our pick, and take the guy I wanted us to pick. Saying I shouldn't want a particular player or two is essentially telling me I'm not allowed to form an opinion on who I like best, and that's simply ridiculous.
And yes, if they choose a QB at 1-1 (or anyone else), I'll get behind the pick soon enough - doesn't mean I can't go for a short while (as in a few days) not liking it.
HOU-TEX
Ah, Football!
Could not agree more with this cat's assessment. I usually don't dig on people patting their own back, but what this guy said is spot on.
At this point, I'm almost willing to trade back for darn near anything that might be offered (reasonably speaking). If not, I'd be satisfied with picking Clowney, Watkins, Mathews, Robinson or Mack. I never knee-jerk with our picks, but I'd be kinda disappointed if we chose a QB with 1.1
I really don't care. I mean I know what I would do & it would be sweet if the Texans did what I want them to do... but I know they won't.
I'll be disappointed if we're not talking through play off scenarios in December. I don't mean that we should control our own destiny, but like the Steelers sitting there hoping they can get in with an 8-8 record.
We need an outside pass rusher, we need a QB, we need help on the OL, we need a safety & then some. I don't care how the Texans do it, but they need to find a way to field a competitive team in a weak AFC with a weak schedule. Draft, Free agency, trade, I don't care. Just get it done.