Texansballer74
The Marine
I'm going to win this debate no matter what. 
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State of the O-line
- Thread starter jradMIT
- Start date
OptimisticTexan
2024 / Rebuilding Block 4 After Playoffs / Texans
Like I mentioned in the past, I'm going to hold judgement of the OL assembled b/c in all reality, it's going to be an almost fully renovated unit.
Kelemete and Fulton were solid backups for their respective teams...does that make that make them second rate OL? Probably not, the OL on their teams were solid and they did what their contracts dictated they do, bring solid contributions to the team while playing behind the starters. Sometimes guys just wind in a tough situation and as for these two, they kept their heads up and played good football when they were called upon. I'm going to side with the idea that they may get much better when they get to stay on the field full-time and perfect their skills under game conditions.
As for Henderson, I was lobbying hard to get this guy since I viewed him as a value signing with upside at a position of crucial need. He had a pretty promising rookie campaign and due to his health condition regressed over the next few seasons. If the Texans can get his health and quality of life back on track, they could be looking at a guy who can hold the RT position down for the foreseeable future.
The biggest question is Davenport and he is the blindside protector. Physically he has the tools and he has a good mind....can he put together under high expectations and pressure this season. If Davenport can make a 20-30% improvement over where he was at last season, that could be a big bump in the realm of what his potential would be in 2019.
I was looking at OURLADS forecast for the Texans projected starting OL:
PROJECTED STARTERS
LT- Davenport
LG- Fulton
OC- Martin
RG- Kelemete
RT- Henderson
GUARANTEED BACKUPS
ST/LT- Rankin
OG/OC- Fuller
OC/OG- Mancz
GROUP PUSHING FOR FINAL 2 SPOTS IF TEAM GOES W/ 10 OL
OT- Lamm (HOU)
OT- Johnson (CLE)
OG- Slade (HOU)
OG- Quessenberry (HOU)
PROBABLE PRACTICE SQUAD OL
OT- Jones-Smith (18 UDFA / Pitt)
OT- Coyle (18 UDFA / Fordham)
If Rankin gets healthy, has camp time to work on becoming an NFL OT, and lives up to expectations....this could help solidify the OL, especially if Davenport is having an upswing in his learning curve.
If Martin isn't living up to his draft spot, it's good to know that Mancz is there. To be honest, if the competition is on a level playing field I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Mancz won the starting job at center.
Also, if Watson stays healthy he may play a big part in keeping defenses honest and not trying to use the blitz too often....he has the ability to make them pay. This could help take the pressure off the OL as well. From another angle, for this to work the OL cannot be blown-up...if this happens, even Watson's escapability will be tested heavily.
One thing I actually feel ok with, I think this OL could create decent running lanes provided we have a starting back who would take advantage of it.
Kelemete and Fulton were solid backups for their respective teams...does that make that make them second rate OL? Probably not, the OL on their teams were solid and they did what their contracts dictated they do, bring solid contributions to the team while playing behind the starters. Sometimes guys just wind in a tough situation and as for these two, they kept their heads up and played good football when they were called upon. I'm going to side with the idea that they may get much better when they get to stay on the field full-time and perfect their skills under game conditions.
As for Henderson, I was lobbying hard to get this guy since I viewed him as a value signing with upside at a position of crucial need. He had a pretty promising rookie campaign and due to his health condition regressed over the next few seasons. If the Texans can get his health and quality of life back on track, they could be looking at a guy who can hold the RT position down for the foreseeable future.
The biggest question is Davenport and he is the blindside protector. Physically he has the tools and he has a good mind....can he put together under high expectations and pressure this season. If Davenport can make a 20-30% improvement over where he was at last season, that could be a big bump in the realm of what his potential would be in 2019.
I was looking at OURLADS forecast for the Texans projected starting OL:
PROJECTED STARTERS
LT- Davenport
LG- Fulton
OC- Martin
RG- Kelemete
RT- Henderson
GUARANTEED BACKUPS
ST/LT- Rankin
OG/OC- Fuller
OC/OG- Mancz
GROUP PUSHING FOR FINAL 2 SPOTS IF TEAM GOES W/ 10 OL
OT- Lamm (HOU)
OT- Johnson (CLE)
OG- Slade (HOU)
OG- Quessenberry (HOU)
PROBABLE PRACTICE SQUAD OL
OT- Jones-Smith (18 UDFA / Pitt)
OT- Coyle (18 UDFA / Fordham)
If Rankin gets healthy, has camp time to work on becoming an NFL OT, and lives up to expectations....this could help solidify the OL, especially if Davenport is having an upswing in his learning curve.
If Martin isn't living up to his draft spot, it's good to know that Mancz is there. To be honest, if the competition is on a level playing field I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Mancz won the starting job at center.
Also, if Watson stays healthy he may play a big part in keeping defenses honest and not trying to use the blitz too often....he has the ability to make them pay. This could help take the pressure off the OL as well. From another angle, for this to work the OL cannot be blown-up...if this happens, even Watson's escapability will be tested heavily.
One thing I actually feel ok with, I think this OL could create decent running lanes provided we have a starting back who would take advantage of it.
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This is an optimistic post and I hope it happens. Logically only one or two out of the 4 new OL will work out. If only 2 workout and the other 2 are on par with Clark/XSF that would be a win and the OL would be better. This is why I've always said the OL will be better but still the bottom third of the league. I really like the Henderson signing, the most physically gifted guy they signed this offseason and it made me think the Texans org had turned a new leaf in how they acquire players. Then the draft happened and I realized Henderson was the exception to the rule and the GM's hands are tied as to the type of players he can add to the roster in the draft/FA.
welsh texan
You may say I’m a dreamer but I’m not the only one
Sorry Steelb, but are you now claiming that nothing that happens can possibly be the new GMs fault as his hands are tied?
What I'm saying is the on field product will never be as good as it could be because McNair only wants a certain type of player on HIS team. (Look at all of the feel good stories on the 4-12 team.)
Can the GM work around those constraints? Ricky couldn't, hopefully Gaine can. But make no mistake, these type of players on McNair's team is not a coincidence. The directive comes directly from the top.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
And the Eagles have no feel good stories? FOS
Texansballer74
The Marine
I
Do they?
Compared to the Texans probably not.
They do have a bunch of kneelers though.
TheRealJoker
Hall of Fame
If by physically gifted you mean only player acquired that has been suspended by the league at any time you may be onto something...
Who did you not like that the team drafted? Justin Reid not a good enough value for you? Martinas Rankin not the OL you wanted? I realize it is the slowest time of the football offseason but this is just ridiculous...
Someone alert me when there is something to talk about!
PapaL
Loose Screw
Are you saying that from the top, the GM is mandated to only acquire clean cut guys and not the best football players possible?
I would've liked them to take late rd chances on OT's like Richardson/Harrison.
This is exactly what I'm saying.
It's been this way from the beginning and will continue to be this way. Hopefully Gaine can overcome these restraints. The Jags are playing on a different playing field being able to draft guys like Richardson while Gaine isn't allowed to draft guys like Richardson/Fowler etc....
TheRealJoker
Hall of Fame
Richardson was a 4th rounder not a “late round pick”.
Harrison went undrafted and is light in the loafers. Just because he got kicked off UT doesn’t mean he has a “mean streak” and can do much to help the OL than another undrafted OT we took like say Jones-Smith. But Rankin and Jones-Smith don’t have any DWIs and/or weren’t kicked off any teams so this whole draft is a bust and Mcnair only allows. choir boys on the roster.
Look on the bright side though... at least Honey Badger was kicked off his college team!
Uncle Rico
Ur apology should be as loud as Ur disrespect was
Brian Cushing says 'hi' ... McNair will deal with a bad boy as long as he's the right kind :cough:
On the cap derailment topic: takes two to tango. These jokers can have the most cap space, but if they have a reputation of an intolerant and toxic workplace you won't be getting much reciprocation in your interest.
On the Oline: yep they still suck. We aren't the only people who see this. Buttchin better have a ton of new plays to address the deficiency ie. Quick passing. Efficient run game. TE incorporation.
PapaL
Loose Screw
I would agree with that. The only borderline guy was Cushing and he lasted much longer than needed. Any of the other "troublemakers" were removed from the team fairly quickly. La'el Collins is a guy that in hindsight and even through his situation should have been looked at IMO. While I agree we shouldn't have total psychos like Greg Hardy, I think we are lacking a certain toughness.
FuzzyLogic
Mathematically Possible
I just think its flawed logic - I'm pretty sure there have been a lot of damn tough players in the NFL who never crossed a line, broke a law, beat their wife etc. etc. etc.
Being stupid doesn't make you tough.
A team lacking in toughness is lacking in coaching not felons - IMO.
Being stupid doesn't make you tough.
A team lacking in toughness is lacking in coaching not felons - IMO.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Thank you. Did Bob Lilly need a record to he tough? Randy White? On a football field just absolute ferocious terrors. Off, big altruistic kittens.
I consider anything after the 3rd round to be a late Rd pick. Richardson is very talented.
You should go check out some of Harrison tape. XTR can tell you more about Harrison and his potential than I can. He's much more talented than Jones-Smith.
Rankin's had ankle issues when he was drafted. So having foot surgery shouldn't be a surprise. I don't expect much out of him this year. I hope I'm wrong because they certainly could use a healthy Rankin's.
It's not about toughness. It's about talent and what round the most talented guys can be drafted in.
Example: I had Richardson as 2nd Rd pick
He fell to late in the 4th. That's a great value pick and Richardson wouldn't be available that late without a few warts. Because the Jags don't have the same constraints the Texans get to face Richardson twice a year for the next 5 years.
This is just one example. Justin Houston would be another etc....
If there are all these restraints then how has crennel managed to build top 10 defenses almost every year?
When he got here the pieces on defense were pretty much in place. Ricky did bring in Wolfork and drafted McKinney/Clowney with high draft picks to round out the defense along with signing street FA's Demps/Lewis.
But that's not what I'm talking about, I'm talking about taking chances on 1 or 2 guys with slight character flaws like DWI's/Smoking pot. The Jags have started doing this under Coughlin and look where they are now. The Texans GM isn't allowed the same leeway.
That's a bit revisionist. Coughlin walked into a situation where he had a stacked defense, average talent on offense and a very questionable QB. That combination has gotten several teams to where the Jags are and a couple of them to the Promised Land. I think the biggest thing Coughlin brought to the table was credibility for a hard-nosed, tough approach to TC and practice and that paid off in games.
Which players did Coughlin specifically bring in with character issues?
Really, I was under the impression that Coughlin drafted Ramsey/Jack, brought in Campbell/Dareus/Malik Jackson/Gipson/and Church on Defense.
Drafted Fournette/Robinson/Westbrook/Richardson/Grant.
FA- Norwell/ASJ/Paul/Moncrief
Character flaws of varying degrees
Darues/Jackson/Westbrook/ASJ/Robinson.
They took a chance on 4 dudes and 1 burned them (Darius.) You get 3 guys that can play and stay out of trouble and 1 turd who probably will play for them next yr. A pretty good track record. Troubling thing is the Texans are going to have to play a team with this philosophy twice a yr and the Texans are already behind the Jags talentwise.
But hey the Texans have Watson and the Jags have Bortles, so there is that.
Texansballer74
The Marine
When you're hovering around the bottom for a long freaking time, you should be able to acquire top level talent. That is one of the main reasons why the Jaguars finally had a good season. I'm always amazed at fans who find so many faults with thier team but quickly praises other teams for whatever. Oh look at what the Jaguars and Browns are doing. They are building their team the right way. They don't have a problem bringing in guys with character issues. Blah blah blah. Man please
PapaL
Loose Screw
Throw enough first round picks and FA money at a problem and eventually it has to get better.
Tell that to Cleveland
TheRealJoker
Hall of Fame
I know Richardson is talented. I brought him up in the draft forums while you were on team Chuks then you took a shine to him once you saw he had a couple DWIs. I disagree on 4th being a late round pick.
I have seen Harrison’s tape and I am not impressed/don’t see him as a talent worth the headache.
this is a post I would "Like" a thousand times.
look at the game films not their trouble history when assessing talent.
Nope, when I really started to look into Richardson I really liked him he has really good movement skills. The fact that you think I wanted the Texans to draft him because he got a couple of DWI's is laughable. I wanted them to take him because he's a late 1st/early 2nd rd talent that fell to the 4th. But that isn't my point, the point is that Coughlin is playing by a different set of rules than Gaine is mandated to play by and if you looked at my last post the differences should be obvious.
I also like Harrison because he also has great feet and plays with a mean streak. He is a talented project but from what I've heard is dumb as a box of rocks. Kind of like another JaMarcus Webb.
Richardson has late 1st/early 2nd rd game tape. IMHO
You should check out his game tape.
dream_team
Hall of Fame
SteelB... your scapegoat was Rick. You repeatedly put everything on Rick, and Rick was the #1 reason the Texans weren't perennial SB contenders.
OK, he's gone now. It seems like you moved the scapegoat tag now to McNair, and you're already setting the table for why Gaine may not succeed in his role.
Why were you harsh on Rick, but already giving a pass on Gaine?
OK, he's gone now. It seems like you moved the scapegoat tag now to McNair, and you're already setting the table for why Gaine may not succeed in his role.
Why were you harsh on Rick, but already giving a pass on Gaine?
Nope, I've been clear in my the blame starts with McNair since 2010, when both Ricky/Kubiak both should've been fired. This told me McNair was OK with the status quo.
With that said, I did think despite McNair's constraints, Ricky did a very poor job and was more of a politician than a personnel guy. Hopefully Gaine can work around constraints that McNair puts on him. He's got a better chance to succeed than Ricky because he's a personnel guy and seems to be in lock step with BOB. I know Cak/TKDOG/Obsi etc... think that's a mistake, kinda like I thought Smithiak was a mistake after the 2010 season. Time will tell if Gaine/BOB will succeed. I'm willing to give them 2-3 yrs to cleanup Ricky's mess.
Yea some folks are often enamored by workout warriors which is what Harrison was to a degree with a sub 5 second 40, quite impressive for any OLineman.
32 teams watched him remain on their Boards to the end of each and every round so obviously the league had little interest in him or even his potential.
Give me those workout warriors in rds 6-7. You may only hit on one every 4-5 yrs but when you do you've got a longterm starter at a cheap price. Plus workout warriors are usually great ST's guys.
beerlover
Hall of Fame
Give me football players who play for love of the game. Offensive linemen are generally Brainiac's so if your specifically building OL combining passion and IQ are paramount. You could have measurables and all the workout warriors you want but that doesn't necessarily translate to on the field.
TheRealJoker
Hall of Fame
With OL play as bad as it’s ever been across the league now would be the time a team would “take a chance” on a knuckle head with potential. But nobody wanted to draft him. And almost every team could use another OT with upside.
TheRealJoker
Hall of Fame
Late rounders are where teams give the ST coach first priority. Actually late rounders (6-7). Now that the Texans have a proven good ST coach in Sealy I am sure he had input in the room.
Hearing his interview on Texans radio he said the league’s rule changes on coverage units (wedge rule in particular) are causing teams to carry less linemen in favor of faster TE/LB/DB types.
And seeing our late round (6-7) round picks they took physically gifted TE/LB/DB types.
TheRealJoker
Hall of Fame
And for the record there were guys I personally would have preferred with those late round picks over Thomas/Kelly. If we were going TE/CB i’d prefer Ryan Izzo and Greg Stroman at those slots for superior production at the college level. Particularly Izzo over Thomas for his proven blocking ability but Thomas is the better athlete. And Kelly has the superior size/similar athletic measurables to Stroman.
But i’m not going to crap all over the entire draft and say it’s all Mcnair’s fault that Gaine didn’t draft “my guy”. I wasn’t in the war room and it’s clear they had a plan in place. I would love to be a fly on the wall in the ST meetings to hear what types of players Sealy wants and his overall philosophy on that side of the ball.
Being a Texans fan I have not had the opportunity to see very much good ST play and am not as well versed on ST as I would like. Sealy has been pumping top ST units out for years. Very exciting addition to the coaching staff!
But i’m not going to crap all over the entire draft and say it’s all Mcnair’s fault that Gaine didn’t draft “my guy”. I wasn’t in the war room and it’s clear they had a plan in place. I would love to be a fly on the wall in the ST meetings to hear what types of players Sealy wants and his overall philosophy on that side of the ball.
Being a Texans fan I have not had the opportunity to see very much good ST play and am not as well versed on ST as I would like. Sealy has been pumping top ST units out for years. Very exciting addition to the coaching staff!
Texansballer74
The Marine
I'm not crapping on the entire draft and hate that you see my posts that way. I'm just saying look at the trends of how/who the Texans draft vs say the Jags draft.
We have these same discussions every offseason because of the directives that come from the top. BTW, If they aren't going to be allowed draft the most talented players then Gaine is doing the smart thing by drafting guys that can atleast help improve the ST's. A very smart way to get around these constraints.
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Texansballer74
The Marine
Again when your team has truly sucked for 10 years straight. The GM will have plenty top draft picks to hopefully build up his team. They will have the money to bring in good Free agents. But I do not want to hear about a team like the Jaguars until they are consistently relevant. For the past 5 years people been saying the Jaguars were going to be good. In those 5 years they have had only one good season. And that was last season. Please stop trying to compare the way the Texans draft to the Jaguars. Talk about two totally different situations
TheRealJoker
Hall of Fame
Agreed. Jags got hot at the right time in the playoffs. And they were fortunate enough to stay relatively healthy the whole season minus Allen Robinson (who was neutered by Bortles playing QB the season before).
I’d be interested to see how Jags would have done if Jalen Ramsey or Calais Campbell missed time.
Texans made due without JJ Watt wih Osweiller at QB. Could the Jags overcome Bortles without one of their top defensive players?
They are one of the few teams that play old school smash mouth football (Cowboys will try this season with a hetter OL/worse defense). But the blueprint is there for how to beat them. Get an early lead and make them have to throw/make mistakes. Much easier said than done when the defense is lockdown and fully healthy.
Texansballer74
The Marine
Again when your team has truly sucked for 10 years straight. The GM will have plenty top draft picks to hopefully build up his team. They will have the money to bring in good Free agents. But I do not want to hear about a team like the Jaguars until they are consistently relevant. For the past 5 years people been saying the Jaguars were going to be good. In those 5 years they have had only one good season. And that was last season. Please stop trying to compare the way the Texans draft to the Jaguars. Talk about two totally different situations
Exactly.
The best thing the Jaguars did was hire Tom Coughlin. They are playing his brand of football, very old school smash you in the mouth. I wanted us to hire a coach with that type of pedigree but we went with a very inexperienced NFL head coach.
Exactly.
The best thing the Jaguars did was hire Tom Coughlin. They are playing his brand of football, very old school smash you in the mouth. I wanted us to hire a coach with that type of pedigree but we went with a very inexperienced NFL head coach.
Carr Bombed
Hall of Fame
It's funny, because I post over at the jag board and until recently a lot of them were envious of our front office... there's even people who would take our last first rounder (Watson) over their running back for obvious reasons (Bortles).
Hyping up the job the Jags having historically done in the draft is ridiculous and short sided. Say what you will about Rick Smith, but his first round selections have been infinitely better than the Jags until recently (Ramsey) and that's with picking further down in the draft... For Christ's sake, they can't even draft a first round WR that doesn't have a substance abuse problem. F.F.S.. Blaine Gabbert over J.J. Watt! I could go on and I think I will...
Leonard Fournette is a very good back, but let's face it, they screwed the damn pooch on that pick as well. First round running backs are nothing, but hood ornaments, especially if you lack a franchise QB. (We've already played that badass running back/defense card before..) I would not take a running back in the top 5 unless he was a transcendent player...and Fornette is not that. If I was drafting that high and I had any questions about my QB and was picking in a draft that was considered a strong QB draft I sure as hell wouldn't be taking a running back.
The Jaguars' should've did what the Texans did and double down on their investment at QB, because I honestly believe that if the Jags fail to win a championship with their championship caliber defense they'll have their decision to not draft a possible replacement of Bortles to blame. The Jags didn't even have to trade up and they could've had P. MaHomes or D. Watson (who now they have to face off against in the division). Fournette is not going to have a long career in this league..his running style is too punishing..and he even wore down last season.
So honestly, I don't really want to be fed a spoon full of B.S. talking about how great of a job they've done in the draft with top 5 pick after top 5 pick.
They have done better in the free agent market, but here's the thing..when you don't have to worry about resigning high drafted rookies you picked that flamed out you tend to have plenty of cap space to play with.
Tom Coughlin instantly brought legitimacy to their team and there is no denying his fingerprints on this team, but he's about to be 72 yo, how much longer is he going to go?
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austins23
Hall of Fame
Rick Smith's 1st draft was 2007. So start from there.
Jaguars 1st rounders since 2004
2004 – (9) Reggie Williams, WR Washington
2004 –(10) Dunta Robinson, DB South Carolina
139 games, 17 INT’s ( Pay me Rick!)
(27) Jason Babin, LB Western Mchigan
148 games, 64.5 sacks
79 games, 189 rec, 18 TD’s
2005 – (21) Matt Jones, WR Arkansas (LOL, Matt Jones!!)
54 games, 166 rec, 15 TD’s
2005 – (16) Travis Johnson, DT Florida St.
76 games, 3 sacks
2006 – (28) Marcedes Lewis, TE UCLA
170 games, 375 rec, 33 TD’s
2006 – (1) Mario Williams, DE North Carolina St.
158 games, 97 sacks
2007 – (21) Reggie Nelson, DB Florida
170 games, 36 INT’s
2007 – (10) Amobi Okoye, DT Louisville
87 games, 16 sacks
2008 – (8) Derrick Harvey, DE Florida
52 games, 8 sacks
2008 – (26) Duane Brown, OT Virginia Tech
142 games
2009 – (8) Eugene Monroe, T Virginia
93 games
2009 – (15) Brian Cushing, LB USC
104 games, 8 INT’s, 13.5 sacks
2010 – (10) Tyson Alualu, DT California
126 games, 21 sacks
2010 – (20) Kareem Jackson, DB Alabama
116 games, 14 INT’s
2011 – (10) Blaine Gabbert, QB Missouri
HAHAHA!!
2011 – (11) J.J. Watt, DE Wisconsin
Nothing needed here, but just in case
88 games, 76 sacks
2012 – (5) Justin Blackmon, WR OK State
20 games, 93 rec, 6 TD’s
2012 – (26) Whitney Mercilus, DE Illinois
83 games, 38.5 sacks
2013 – (2) Luke Joekel, T Texas A&M
2013 – (27) DeAndre Hopkins, WR Clemson
79 games, 413 rec, 36 TD’s
2014 – (3) Blake Bortles, QB Central Florida
2014 – (1) Jadeveon Clowney, DE South Carolina
47 games, 20 sacks
2015 – (3) Dante Fowler, OLB Florida
(I think this is the kid that ripped up his knee in TC the first year)
2015 – (16) Kevin Johnson, DB Wake Forest
34 games, 1 INT
2016 – (5) Jalen Ramsey, CB Florida St
2016 – (21) Will Fuller, WR Notre Dame
24 games, 75 rec, 9 TD’s
2017 – (4) Leonard Fournette, RB LSU
2017 – (12) DeShaun Watson, QB Clemson
2018 – (29) Taven Bryan, DT Florida
So, I know the are several different variables going into who gets drafted where. But based JUST on the players taken in the draft since 2004, who has more "wins" in the 1st round, Jags or Texans?
2004 - Texans
2005 - Push (they were both bad)
2006 - Close, I'll go Texans (Mario) over Jags (M. Lewis)
RICK SMITH STARTS HERE....
2007 -Jags
2008 - Texans
2009 - Close but I'll go Texans (Cushing) over Jags (E. Monroe)
2010 - Push (both were/are good)
2011 - Texans
2012 - Texans
2013 - Texans
2014 - Texans
2015 - Jags
2016 - Jags
2017 - Texans
2018 - Jags (Texans no pick)
Jags 4
Texans 9
Ties 1
Carr Bombed
Hall of Fame
I agree with most of this, but Tyson Alualu was considered a huge bust at DT. in Jacksonville. Kareem Jackson has easily been the better player.
Also I'd call Amobi Okoye and Reggie Nelson a push, both players were busts for their teams. Reggie Nelson found a second life in the league, but that didn't happen until after he left Jacksonville. He was not a good player there and made constant mistakes in coverage there. Coaching issue, who knows, but he did finally become a decent NFL player after he went to Cincy.
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Great post
Except the since Coughlin took over and hired Marone the Jags are going to be a force to be reckoned with. As long as he's there and I know he's 72 but he's a 72 yr old ex marine the Jags are going to be good. Why, because he (A football man) has total control. Khan is letting him build the best team possible and isn't worried about $$$$. Why? because the Jags will be good in the next 5 yrs when he moves his team to London.
While I appreciate your work.
Look at the TOTAL drafts since Coughlin took over vs the Texans drafts.
Ancient history really doesn't matter at this point.
Carr Bombed
Hall of Fame
Yeah recent drafts where they were picking 4th and 5th in every round. Having said that, I still think they screwed the pooch, by taking a RB and passing on a franchise QB to pair with that defense. If our QB (a guy who they could've drafted, thus still keeping us walking around in the desert looking for a franchise QB) comes back healthy we could easily take back this division. I'll say this though, it's much easier being the hunter than the hunted, we'll see how they perform this year now that the target is on their backs.
I did also like this year too for them in the draft, but we'll see how it shakes out. On offense they have a lot to prove and if Fournette goes down, they're kinda screwed.. again, why I would've taken a QB. Mahomes or Watson would've been deadly playing with that defense... they easily could've been the new Seahawks (Legion of Boom), playing with a outstanding electric young signal caller in the AFC South. I think it's just a drastic mistake that probably cost them a SB title.
We shall see, but if Bortles doesn't work out Coughlin will trade up in the draft for another young QB like Hebert/Grier, or take on a guy like Winston if the Bucs cut him. Coughlin is 72 yrs old and he's in it to win it, morality police aside.