Death to Google Ads! Texans Talk Tip Jar! 🍺😎👍
Thanks for your support!

Texans draft grades.

RGV82

Random guy
Yes I agree with that but at the same time witnessing some great veteran running backs getting the injured bug too. Hey he's a low cost UFA that should take off some of the scariness. I do not know him as in college but was he a full time runner because as a Texan I'm sure he would not be used that way?
Veteran running back injuries always happen, wear and tear at the NFL level. It’s when they come out of college with an injury history before even hitting an NFL field that scares me. He only played 20 games in college in 2 seasons, so it is a very small sample of his capabilities. In 2018 he had a 6.1 YPC, and in 2019 he had a 4.3 YPC. He was definitely slower in 2019. He will be a special teamer at best in 2020, if he makes the team. I am still high on Karan Higdon, and think he may be our 3rd RB. There won’t be much playing time behind Duke and David Johnson this year.
 

TexanBorn51

Veteran
Veteran running back injuries always happen, wear and tear at the NFL level. It’s when they come out of college with an injury history before even hitting an NFL field that scares me. He only played 20 games in college in 2 seasons, so it is a very small sample of his capabilities. In 2018 he had a 6.1 YPC, and in 2019 he had a 4.3 YPC. He was definitely slower in 2019. He will be a special teamer at best in 2020, if he makes the team. I am still high on Karan Higdon, and think he may be our 3rd RB. There won’t be much playing time behind Duke and David Johnson this year.
I liked Higdon too last year. Out of 5 RBs I assume one is to go. Depending on later would it be Howell vs Phillips?
David Johnson
Karen Higdon Jr
Buddy Howell
Duke Johnson
Scottie Phillips
 

TexanBorn51

Veteran
Veteran running back injuries always happen, wear and tear at the NFL level. It’s when they come out of college with an injury history before even hitting an NFL field that scares me. He only played 20 games in college in 2 seasons, so it is a very small sample of his capabilities. In 2018 he had a 6.1 YPC, and in 2019 he had a 4.3 YPC. He was definitely slower in 2019. He will be a special teamer at best in 2020, if he makes the team. I am still high on Karan Higdon, and think he may be our 3rd RB. There won’t be much playing time behind Duke and David Johnson this year.
Not all the time on some 1-3 year NFL running backs have gone down with season ending injury too no?
 

RGV82

Random guy
I liked Higdon too last year. Out of 5 RBs I assume one is to go. Depending on later would it be Howell vs Phillips?
David Johnson
Karen Higdon Jr
Buddy Howell
Duke Johnson
Scottie Phillips
Both Johnsons are the only 2 guaranteed spots. Training camp and preseason will determine who stays and who goes.
 

RGV82

Random guy
Not all the time on some 1-3 year NFL running backs have gone down with season ending injury too no?
Of course, but there is a difference between freak injuries and injury history. Some guys go down with freak ACL tears, and some players have lingering injuries that continue to resurface. Freak injuries are unavoidable, it is the players with lingering injury histories that worry me.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
I get this and dont think Blacklock is an every down guy, but if you're playing nickle defense (Which is about 60% of the time then Blacklock should be on the field because he can provide interior pressure.
He'll get playing time, I'm sure. But he's got to split with Jernigan.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
On passing downs Blacklock will be in the game at 1 DT spot with Jernigan at the other and Watt/Mercilus or Greenard out side.
I hope. Last year, even with Reader, we had to move JJ inside to get pressure on the QB. Especially against KC in the playoffs.
 

DocBar

Hall of Fame
Contributor's Club
Deeper can be better and I think it is in this situation. It helps to have multiple D lineman to rotate and use throughout a game. We missed that the last few years, part of why we signed Dunn and Blackson to $3-4M per multi year deals. Greenard has a lot of opportunity to play given the lack of depth at OLB.

I think Watt is actually the restriction here on the DL. He’s so expensive, I don’t think they wanted to pay Reader and have to still invest assets to upgrade the group.
Can you imagine the public relations firestorm there will be when OB eventually trades or cuts Watt?
 

RGV82

Random guy
Can you imagine the public relations firestorm there will be when OB eventually trades or cuts Watt?
He is going to have a decision to make. He will play out this year, and either have to take a team friendly contract restructuring in 2021, or get cut at seasons end and have an early retirement. He will have no trade value, and I doubt he would want to be traded for next to nothing to ride out the last year of his career on another team.
 

Number19

Hall of Fame
On passing downs Blacklock will be in the game at 1 DT spot with Jernigan at the other and Watt/Mercilus or Greenard out side.
Doing my homework, I have to agree. But Jernigan doesn't provide much, if any, improvement over last year. What's your read on him? Isn't he just a JAG?

Reading Battle Red Blog, it may be they are moving Omenihu inside. I have no high expectations, but if we are to see significantly improved pass rush, he may need to beat out Jernigan for playing time.
 
He is going to have a decision to make. He will play out this year, and either have to take a team friendly contract restructuring in 2021, or get cut at seasons end and have an early retirement. He will have no trade value, and I doubt he would want to be traded for next to nothing to ride out the last year of his career on another team.
I'm sure he will have some trade value even if only as a situational pass rusher for a contender.
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
Doing my homework, I have to agree. But Jernigan doesn't provide much, if any, improvement over last year. What's your read on him? Isn't he just a JAG?

Reading Battle Red Blog, it may be they are moving Omenihu inside. I have no high expectations, but if we are to see significantly improved pass rush, he may need to beat out Jernigan for playing time.
Jernigan was a decent inside pass rusher at Philly/Baltimore. Gives you more pass rush than say Dunn/Blackson
 

EKTexanz

Practice Squad
Hello guys, it's my first message here and i'd like to make a presentation, is there a specific forum to do it or i can create a topic here on the "Texans talk" ?

To reply to the subject of this topic, my draft grade overall is a B.
We drafted a DT with potential and we needed it after the loss of Reader.
In the 2nd round we picked Greenard from the Gators, from what i saw on his highlights he looks promising. !
But i don't knows much about the others choices.
 

OptimisticTexan

2024 / Rebuilding Block 4 After Playoffs / Texans
Hello guys, it's my first message here and i'd like to make a presentation, is there a specific forum to do it or i can create a topic here on the "Texans talk" ?

To reply to the subject of this topic, my draft grade overall is a B.
We drafted a DT with potential and we needed it after the loss of Reader.
In the 2nd round we picked Greenard from the Gators, from what i saw on his highlights he looks promising. !
But i don't knows much about the others choices.
Jump in look through the topics and you'll get some good info in which to base opinions and thoughts. Welcome aboard though.
 

RGV82

Random guy
Okay thanks for the advice !
Also, if you want to participate in a discussion on a specific comment, make sure you click "reply" on the actual comment, and not just a general reply on the thread. That way the user will be notified that you replied to them and can engage in discussion.
 

theCATALYST

Football Messiah
Hello guys, it's my first message here and i'd like to make a presentation, is there a specific forum to do it or i can create a topic here on the "Texans talk" ?
Welcome to TexansTalk!
Now pick your affiliation.
Will you be a member of the "Crucify BOB Squad" or the "BOB's a Beast MOB"?
Choose your gang wisely and wear your colors proudly. We go to war in a few months!
 

Attachments

IDEXAN

Hall of Fame
Contributor's Club
Outside JJ Watt should play his whole career and retire a Texans, what's the reason? He is not that JJ WATT anymore.
I agree.
I'm sure many folks around here have an inflated idea of what Watt would bring in the open market today, but I do understand the sentimental attachment the city has for him.
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
If there were no sentimental attachments to Andre Johnson, Arian Foster, Duane Brown or DeAndre Hopkins then there should be none for JJ Watt.

If he's a liability trade his ass.
Totally agree.

But the Harvey thing sealed the deal.

If Montana/Rice can be traded anybody can be traded.
 

TheKDog

Hall of Fame
Contributor's Club
What happened to height/weight/speed?


The Texans did not grab many top athletes:
Source: Rotoworld
SPARQ score is a measurable number of Speed, Power, Agility, Reaction, and Quickness. The full list of inputs: height, weight, arm length, forty-yard dash, ten-yard split, short shuttle, 3-cone drill, bench press, vertical jump, and broad jump. Rotoworld made SPARQ bend to positions and rated it out of 100. So the Texans drafted exactly one player with an above-average SPARQ score: Reid.
Here’s how this looks if we take it into chart form for Jon Greenard:
Source: MockDraftable, comparing against one-gap EDGE rushers
 

Uncle Rico

Ur apology should be as loud as Ur disrespect was
What happened to height/weight/speed?


The Texans did not grab many top athletes:
Source: Rotoworld
SPARQ score is a measurable number of Speed, Power, Agility, Reaction, and Quickness. The full list of inputs: height, weight, arm length, forty-yard dash, ten-yard split, short shuttle, 3-cone drill, bench press, vertical jump, and broad jump. Rotoworld made SPARQ bend to positions and rated it out of 100. So the Texans drafted exactly one player with an above-average SPARQ score: Reid.
Here’s how this looks if we take it into chart form for Jon Greenard:
Source: MockDraftable, comparing against one-gap EDGE rushers
Its why the Heck pick was a wasted pick. Its why Blacklock with injury questions was not the best pick. If they knew they were cutting Gipson then Grant Delpit should have been a Texan regardless of all the $$ that has been wasted at the position with JAGS.

Greenard was scouted by Detroit and he might turn out better than all the rest!!! LOL
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
Its why the Heck pick was a wasted pick. Its why Blacklock with injury questions was not the best pick. If they knew they were cutting Gipson then Grant Delpit should have been a Texan regardless of all the $$ that has been wasted at the position with JAGS.

Greenard was scouted by Detroit and he might turn out better than all the rest!!! LOL
They must really believe in Blacklock and think he can stay healthy. I cant disagree with the Greenard pick, but I really think Burgess is going to be good.
 

Lucky

Ride, Captain, Ride!
Staff member
Its why Blacklock with injury questions was not the best pick. If they knew they were cutting Gipson then Grant Delpit should have been a Texan
Delpit also had injury questions. They're football players. If they don't have injuries, they will soon. I'm not pointing fingers, because it originates from the NFL. Previous injuries are the most overblown and overrated aspect of a NFL player. More than the 40 yard dash. More than the Wonderlic. There are no pristine players, and if you find one he probably gives **** for effort.
 

banned1976

sleeper mode
If this turns out to be an accurate assessment of this draft from the Texans standpoint they’re going to have to make up ground next offseason in free agency.

As the draft was shaping up, I thought the Texans should have nabbed safety Antoine Winfield Jr. Now with releasing Gipson, passing up Winfield makes no sense.

Winfield (and Delpit) could erase a lot of mistakes by the DL. They could have helped the defense in a variety of ways.
 

texan279

Hall of Fame
Its why the Heck pick was a wasted pick. Its why Blacklock with injury questions was not the best pick. If they knew they were cutting Gipson then Grant Delpit should have been a Texan regardless of all the $$ that has been wasted at the position with JAGS.

Greenard was scouted by Detroit and he might turn out better than all the rest!!! LOL
Correct me if I'm wrong, but Blacklock will not be replacing Reader, correct? My understanding is that Blacklock is more a 3 technique where Reader was more a 0 or 1 technique.
 

Texansphan

Football connoisseur
If there were no sentimental attachments to Andre Johnson, Arian Foster, Duane Brown or DeAndre Hopkins then there should be none for JJ Watt.

If he's a liability trade his ass.
Even in his early 30's Watt will still be better than most.
I think this will be his last year.
I hope he goes out in a blaze of glory.
I'm just sorry he may not get a ring.
That would seal his legacy as a footballer.
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
If this turns out to be an accurate assessment of this draft from the Texans standpoint they’re going to have to make up ground next offseason in free agency.

As the draft was shaping up, I thought the Texans should have nabbed safety Antoine Winfield Jr. Now with releasing Gipson, passing up Winfield makes no sense.

Winfield (and Delpit) could erase a lot of mistakes by the DL. They could have helped the defense in a variety of ways.
I wouldn't have griped if hey spent a 3rd (Greenard an a 4th (Your pick) to bring Delpit home he's special. I get it though this team's offense sucked when Howard went down and Greenard /Heck would've been the price on Delpit.

Mark me down on the getting Delpit guy.
 

Texansphan

Football connoisseur
I wouldn't have griped if hey spent a 3rd (Greenard an a 4th (Your pick) to bring Delpit home he's special. I get it though this team's offense sucked when Howard went down and Greenard /Heck would've been the price on Delpit.

Mark me down on the getting Delpit guy.
Mark me down as a wait for at least one full season to see how this class looks to be shaping up guy.
 

RGV82

Random guy
Even in his early 30's Watt will still be better than most.
I think this will be his last year.
I hope he goes out in a blaze of glory.

I'm just sorry he may not get a ring.
That would seal his legacy as a footballer.
I agree with the first statement but not the second. I think he will have a sub-par season and decide to retire at seasons end. He takes pride in being a top level dominant player, and I think he realizes his injuries have slowed him and he will retire with dignity. There would be no trade value for him at this point in his career and I highly doubt he would be willing to go anywhere to play a back up or situational pass rush role for another team. He has too much pride.
 

Texansphan

Football connoisseur
I agree with the first statement but not the second. I think he will have a sub-par season and decide to retire at seasons end. He takes pride in being a top level dominant player, and I think he realizes his injuries have slowed him and he will retire with dignity. There would be no trade value for him at this point in his career and I highly doubt he would be willing to go anywhere to play a back up or situational pass rush role for another team. He has too much pride.
Yeah not expecting 2015 Watt, just hope he gets sacks and batted balls and makes an impact enough to get national recognition once more.
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
Yeah not expecting 2015 Watt, just hope he gets sacks and batted balls and makes an impact enough to get national recognition once more.
He's going to play until his contract runs out. There's too much $$$$ riding on him not finishing out his contract. What do you do if he wants to play a couple of more yrs after his current contract runs out?

Why do people care so much about national recognition for individual players? Win and you will get national recognition.
 

Uncle Rico

Ur apology should be as loud as Ur disrespect was
Delpit also had injury questions. They're football players. If they don't have injuries, they will soon. I'm not pointing fingers, because it originates from the NFL. Previous injuries are the most overblown and overrated aspect of a NFL player. More than the 40 yard dash. More than the Wonderlic. There are no pristine players, and if you find one he probably gives **** for effort.
I'll take a high ankle sprain over a rebuilt achilles all day every day and twice on Sundays. Delpit was being criticized for missing tackles and being aloof at the point of attack, but those inconsistencies are easy to coach. It just throws me off to see OBrien go after 'his' guys, while All Americans are staring him in the face a few times in this draft. This team could have gone with Delpit at 2, and then instead of a project tackle at 4, they could have nabbed James Lynch from Baylor! The Greenard pick was the best one, but nobody really knows if Detroit called that one. I like Blacklock, he was my 6th best interior defender this year i'll just hold my breath that he is able to play at a high level for a decent career.

Just a strange way to view talent I guess, and its probably why they have been getting ridiculed on the national circuit - among others.
 

IDEXAN

Hall of Fame
Contributor's Club
Yes, that's right. The graded the off-season rather than just the draft. The Hopkins trade should be firmly on everyone's mind as an epic disaster, but it's not technically part of the draft.
That's true but I'm still so pizzed at O'Brien for the D-Hop trade, which is indefensible and unforgivable, I had to post it.
Truth is the 2020 Draft for the Texans wasn't too bad as they filled some needs
Without a first round pick (thanks O'brien you dumb fu** !), clearly it's hard to produce a Draft with any flash or pizzazz
but we plugged a couple holes, time will tell as they say.
 

theCATALYST

Football Messiah
I'll take a high ankle sprain over a rebuilt achilles all day every day and twice on Sundays. Delpit was being criticized for missing tackles and being aloof at the point of attack, but those inconsistencies are easy to coach. It just throws me off to see OBrien go after 'his' guys, while All American borderline blue chippers are staring him in the face a few times in this draft. This team could have gone with Delpit at 2, and then instead of a project tackle at 4, they could have nabbed All American James Lynch from Baylor! The Greenard pick was the best one, but nobody really knows if Detroit called that one. I like Blacklock, he was my 6th best interior defender this year i'll just hold my breath that he is able to play at a high level for a decent career.

Just a strange way to view talent I guess, and its probably why they have been getting ridiculed on the national circuit - among others.
As to the bolded above, I would prefer O'Brien go after "his" guys. If for no other reason than because if they are not "his" guys he will just ship them to another team a year later.
 

Uncle Rico

Ur apology should be as loud as Ur disrespect was
As to the bolded above, I would prefer O'Brien go after "his" guys. If for no other reason than because if they are not "his" guys he will just ship them to another team a year later.
Yeah I get it. I went back and edited out the 'blue chipper' part because its not really applicable at those draft slots, I just place a higher value on All Conference/All Americans than most.

OBrien just wants guys to fall in line and not add anything to the dynamic. "Shut up and play football", but there is never any innovation in that approach. Its always best when the team is one entity where everyone is afforded input and an atmosphere of flourishing is created. This tyrannical coaching is not new! LOL far from progressive and will ultimately fail because of the lack of understanding in managing basic human resources necessary for a modern game and society in general.
 

Uncle Rico

Ur apology should be as loud as Ur disrespect was
Even in his early 30's Watt will still be better than most.
I think this will be his last year.
I hope he goes out in a blaze of glory.
I'm just sorry he may not get a ring.
That would seal his legacy as a footballer.
I'd trade him to either Green Bay or Pittsburgh preferably Pittsburgh just for the sentimental value. JJ needs another monster to help take the pressure off of him and his Lil Bro would do just that for the Steelers it would be cool to see. He's easily doubled now a days, but can still apply the pressure - just doesnt get home as much as he used to plus his body is breaking down its just a matter of time. Im shocked he's still a Texan with OBrien in charge, but then again maybe Im not.
 

Uncle Rico

Ur apology should be as loud as Ur disrespect was
Correct me if I'm wrong, but Blacklock will not be replacing Reader, correct? My understanding is that Blacklock is more a 3 technique where Reader was more a 0 or 1 technique.
If you had to assign positional values to the players then yea DJ was a true NT coming out of college whereas Ross has been playing shade in a 4-3 for the most part in a defense that uses a crazy amount of line stunts, veer and slants to get in the backfield and not tasked with being a two gap run stuffer.

It all depends on Weaver and if he's going to keep the RAC base D and shell or if he's going to get funky with it. As it stands today it looks like Blacklock is listed behind Brandon Dunn as the NT in the base 3-4 so Blacklock will have to remember his #1 priority is stopping the run first.
 

Lucky

Ride, Captain, Ride!
Staff member
It all depends on Weaver and if he's going to keep the RAC base D and shell or if he's going to get funky with it. As it stands today it looks like Blacklock is listed behind Brandon Dunn as the NT in the base 3-4 so Blacklock will have to remember his #1 priority is stopping the run first.
Don't you think they'll rotate, with Blacklock replacing Dunn on passing downs? Most teams are in nickel 60-70% anyway.
 

Uncle Rico

Ur apology should be as loud as Ur disrespect was
Don't you think they'll rotate, with Blacklock replacing Dunn on passing downs? Most teams are in nickel 60-70% anyway.
yeah probably. Dunn is JAG. If Blacklock is what everyone thinks he is he should have the starting role by week 6. Passing downs I envision a front of: Martin, Omenihu, Blacklock, Watt, Mercilus and take out McKinney and add Greenard as the elephant with Zach as the coverage back (I guess?).
 
Top