2007 Draft. What should we do?

[Navy_Chris]

In my opinion, drafting Adrian Peterson would be just about as pointless as when we wasted draft picks to get Phillip Buchanon. We have too much talent at RB to even be thinking that way. Chris Taylor is a diamond in the rough at the position and if given a legit chance to show what he can do, I think everyone else will see that. What I think we need to do is trade down and draft Amobi Okoye out of Louisville. Nobody is going to tell me that we're going to have a stellar run defense with Maddox, Thomas and Travis Johnson, and Seth Payne playing in the middle. Everybody knows that you build a team from the inside-out, and this makes perfect sense. Eric Steinbach is a top free-agent guard we should also be focusing on in the offseason. Lance Briggs is likely to be franchised by the Bears, so that's out of the question. Other players we should think about in the later rounds are CB David Irons, LB Patrick Willis, CB Michael Coe, LB Prescott Burgess...just to name a few that I think could help this defense out a great deal. WR Jacoby Jones is also someone to look at in the late rounds if you're looking for 2007's version of Marques Colston.

Everybody looking at this situation as if we need to "win now" is looking at it completely the wrong way. Rick Smith is charged with rebuilding this team from the bottom-up to make it a success. This problem goes deeper than just patching up a few holes here and there.

 

[Silver Oak]

Bingo! We have a man who hit the nail on the head!

I think what alot of people want is to get the flashiest, most talked about player, but you're exactly right Chris. Build the support first.

p.s.
I hope you're right about Taylor.

 

[Texian]

Aye, aye Chris. Let me add this in support of your argument. Peterson running behind last years line and this is what you might expect:

With the addition of a healthy AP playing 16 full games a yr and putting the ball in AP's hands 20 times a game, 320 times a year and using the productivity of the last years Oline play, projecting an aggressive 4.2 ypc for AP is 84 yds per game/1344 yds per yr.

Based on last years numbers, the other backs would get 7 rushing attemps per game or 111 yds a yr at 3.9 ypc is 28 yds per game/433 yds per year. AP's 1344 total yds and the other backs 433 yds comes to 1777 yds per yr.

AP would have given you 5 or 6 yds more per game or 90 additional yds for the year.

Now if you going to say the Oline will be better, which I hope it is, it will also be better for the other backs. If you going to say AP will get better ypc than 4.2, keep in mind that Larry Johnson, Steven Jackson, Deuce McCallister and Tatum Bell all avg 4.4 yds per carry. If you want to project 4.8 ypc for AP, thats 1536 yds per year or additional 282 yds to last years total or 17-18 ypg more.

I don't know if I call that sexy and can understand why Kubiak shys away from RBs in the 1st RD.

 

[texanfan2100]

I love your plan, but I think it's a little too heavy on defense. Our offense sucked last year also. They have to spend at least one draft pick on an offensive lineman, even if they do sign Steinbach. Remember, Spencer is still a question mark at this point.

 

[Carr Bombed]

If Adrian Peterson is there, he's the best player on the board and you take him. People look at stats too much. One of the biggest reason's why this team struggled so much on defense or stopping the run, was because the offense stalled and went 3 in out, too many times.

Adrian Peterson would do alot more than a DT.

I'm sorry but if I'm the GM and A.P. is there, I'm taking him and ain't looking back, I'm taking him to give my offense some sort of Identity and a threat outside of A.J. I'm taking him to force teams to recognize I have a threat outside of A.J. so they will stop blitzing every damn down.

Adrian Peterson is special, a special player you don't pass on...........period, especially when you have a chance to draft him at #8. This is a guy who without injury concerns would go Ovrl. #1 in most drafts.

 

[the wonger need food]

1) Adrian Peterson is a playmaker and our front office has stated several times that we are looking for playmakers on offense this offseason.

B) Adrian Peterson's nickname is AD.... not AP.

 

[rickyb]

I've read and considered many opinions by long-time posters on these forums. what puzzles me most is the "draft a defensive player even if peterson is available."

our defense kept us in many games this year, so it is more than serviceable. yes, i acknowledge a biting need at SS and FS and CB. yet, i also underscore that AJ is our only, repeat only, playmaker on offense. and, unless your team rhymes with "bears" it is offense which lights up the scoreboard.

i say use the 1st round pick on a playmaker. if that is at #8, peterson it is. i would like to point out that spencer and winston both were found in the 3rd round last year. spence looked the stud before the injury, and yes, winston looks pretty good to me at RT. i'm not saying that our work is done on the OL (quite the contrary), but I am saying that we do need someone to light the scoreboard. All Day improves the stock of AJ (already a proven asset) and Daniels.

we have so many needs. All Day would be an exciting addition to the team. My opinion, humbly submitted.

 

[fdknuckles]

I like the idea of going defensive again, indeed looking to find a big man for our dline in the FA period. I also like the idea of bolstering our secondary in the first round. I'm not huge on LaRon Landry and think we might be able to trade down a little and still pick up some Safety talent/ ballhawk like Reggie Nelson.
The o line needs help if we want Taylor to develop. Big guys like Joe Staley or Josh Beekman will probably still be there in the second.
OUR team has plenty of talent in the skill positions even Carr could be better if our run was a serious threat. If not give Porter a shot or Sage we have them on staff for a reason. Just my

 

[Ole Miss Texan]

If AP is there at 8 I would take him. If he's gone (50/50 chance?) I don't know what'd I'd do. Texian made a great case for Adams or Anderson. I really think Landry or Nelson could help us a lot but 8 might be too high. I think we should look at a FS in FA....the CB will be too hard to get. Our team would be improving a lot if we did this...

1.Gaines Adams (Pass rusher opposite of Mario...put pressure on the qb's without having to blitz our lb's)
2.Ryan Kalil (once thought we could get him in the 3rd..but is steadily gaining ground. We are in desperate need of oline help and C is the very middle of it..we dont have a legit C for long term.)
3. David Irons (3rd round may be where we see a cb that can come in, i'd like to get the best cb available unless it would be reaching too much. if they can come in and start over petey...pull the trigger.

Under this scenario we are addressing both the o and d lines which need improvement to help the rest of the team.

 

[gtexan02]

Why is everyone so hot on Chris Taylor? He did nothing all year, and then had some OK games in meaningless situations. He played 2 games at the end of the season when the games didn't matter at all. Dayne outrushed him one of those games, and no one is dilusional enough to think he's going to be the go to guy for us all year.

There is a reason he didn't start all year, and its the same reason he's not going to be the #1 guy next year

 

[Navy_Chris]

Come on! The reason Chris Taylor didn't do anything all season is because he wasn't given an opportunity!! I think the combo of Chris Taylor and Ron Dayne next season will be a big threat next season. What good can come out of drafting Adrian Peterson in the First Round? I would be willing to bet Taylor has more speed...Taylor is equal in strength....I mean, the only real weakness I see in Chris Taylor is his pass blocking skills, which can be corrected. Kubiak's main concern with him last season was his tendency to put the ball on the ground. I didn't see him having a problem with that in the few games he played in last season. The Texans have passed on too many talented, gifted players in the past and I don't want to see them let Taylor get away. Now, about the draft...I think you have to go defense heavy. Somebody posted before that our defense held us in games last season. Did you happen to see the Buffalo game? Our defense made JP Losman look like an All-Pro QB. He's really not that good. Why wasn't Dunta covering Lee Evans? Why was Petey on him? That's another conversation. I think you trade down for Okoye in the first round, take Irons when you can, and try to get your hands on Prescott Burgess and Jacoby Jones in the mid-rounds. If the Taylor experiment doesn't work out this season, Ray Rice is coming out next season...who in my opinion, is a heck of a RB and would fit in very nicely with Houston. Plus, next year you would have the added advantage of already having your run defense in place with Okoye already there. Drafting Ray Rice in 2008 wouldn't hurt, only help....whereas drafting Peterson this year wouldn't make much sense.

 

[QB75]

Come on! The reason Chris Taylor didn't do anything all season is because he wasn't given an opportunity!! I think the combo of Chris Taylor and Ron Dayne next season will be a big threat next season. What good can come out of drafting Adrian Peterson in the First Round? I would be willing to bet Taylor has more speed...Taylor is equal in strength....I mean, the only real weakness I see in Chris Taylor is his pass blocking skills, which can be corrected. Kubiak's main concern with him last season was his tendency to put the ball on the ground. I didn't see him having a problem with that in the few games he played in last season. The Texans have passed on too many talented, gifted players in the past and I don't want to see them let Taylor get away. Now, about the draft...I think you have to go defense heavy. Somebody posted before that our defense held us in games last season. Did you happen to see the Buffalo game? Our defense made JP Losman look like an All-Pro QB. He's really not that good. Why wasn't Dunta covering Lee Evans? Why was Petey on him? That's another conversation. I think you trade down for Okoye in the first round, take Irons when you can, and try to get your hands on Prescott Burgess and Jacoby Jones in the mid-rounds. If the Taylor experiment doesn't work out this season, Ray Rice is coming out next season...who in my opinion, is a heck of a RB and would fit in very nicely with Houston. Plus, next year you would have the added advantage of already having your run defense in place with Okoye already there. Drafting Ray Rice in 2008 wouldn't hurt, only help....whereas drafting Peterson this year wouldn't make much sense.

The Texans are going to focus on defense and offensive line. And, yes, Losman is that good. He is getting better every year.

 

[Navy_Chris]

I love your plan, but I think it's a little too heavy on defense. Our offense sucked last year also. They have to spend at least one draft pick on an offensive lineman, even if they do sign Steinbach. Remember, Spencer is still a question mark at this point.

I agree with you about Spencer, but trying to reach for Joe Thomas would just be plain ridiculous. When you're trying to rebuild a football team, as the Texans need to do, you don't trade away draft picks for the best player available. If anything, you trade down in order to get more draft picks. Because those mid-round draft picks will serve as the foundation for your football team for years to come.

 

[Carr Bombed]

I would be willing to bet Taylor has more speed...

No he doesn't.........and

Taylor is equal in strength....

No he's not.

If Chris Tayor was anywhere near the talent of A.P. or AD he would of won out the starting job last preseason. Chris Taylor is great depth on the team, but you don't pass on Peterson at #8

Passing on great players is what our last GM did and I don't want to see the current one make the same mistakes

 

[Dunta_23]

If Chris Taylor has better speed and equivalent strength to AD....then why would everyteam pass on him in a draft??? Especially if for some reason you think he may be better than Peterson who should be a top 5 pick in any given year...

Im not against drafting Defense in the first...but dont try and make it seem like Chris Taylor is better than AD, whats next...Ron Dayne is better than LJ ?

 

[Navy_Chris]

No he doesn't.........and



No he's not.

If Chris Tayor was anywhere near the talent of A.P. or AD he would of won out the starting job last preseason. Chris Taylor is great depth on the team, but you don't pass on Peterson at #8

Passing on great players is what our last GM did and I don't want to see the current one make the same mistakes

You're absolutely right, our last GM made some bad decisions that cost us a whole lot. With that being said, Chris Taylor ran for 99 yards against the Colts, while splitting time with Dayne. He looks pretty good catching the ball out of the backfield, he has breakaway speed..etc etc etc. I just don't understand why Texans fans are drooling over Peterson. Yes, he is a very good player...but he has durability concerns. If we find that after the 2007 season, we still need a young, explosive RB, Ray Rice will be in the draft next year. In my opinion, he is a just as good of a back than Adrian....AND he doesn't come with any injury issues hanging over his head.

All I'm saying is that Adrian Peterson, while talented, would not bring to this team what we need the most...and that is Amobi Okoye. This guy is going to be a star DT in the league. I have a feeling a lot of clubs may pass on him because he is only 19 years old and they may question whether he has the maturity to make it in the NFL at such a young age. After watching this guy work out during the Senior Bowl and listening to him talk and seeing his desire to be better than the rest, I think we would be foolish not to grab him while he's available. Plus, we could pick up another 3rd-rounder by trading down to get him...he is likely not a Top 10 pick. Better than Branch and Dorsey by far...more upside....need I say more?

 

[baba ganoush]

patrick willis is going to be a first rounder

 

[Please_Evolve]

Ok I am going to say it. If AP is there we trade the pick. Kubiak and this organization showed me something last year. They are willing to make the "ugly pick". I think in the long run the Williams pick will pay big dividends for us down the road. If that happens ... i hope we move backa few spots and take Laron Landry or Levi Brown. Our secondary needs the help and just for once i'd love to see us secure the future of the oline.

I alos wouldn't be opposed to taking Micheal Bush in the second...better prospect then the other Bush IMO.

 

[Navy_Chris]

Round 1 - Amobi Okoye - our pass rush is terrible, which is one reason why our pass defense is EVEN WORSE!! Okoye can help to put pressure on opposing QBs and plug up some holes in our run defense. Also, who doesn't love a DT that's as quick as this guy is at getting off the line?! Oh yeah, one more thing about Okoye...he's only 19, which means he's going to get better....and better....and better as time passes.

Round 2 - David Harris....Somebody has to eventually replace Morlon Greenwood, and this is the just the guy to do it. We needed help at OLB last year and we drafted DeMeco, little did we know at the time that he was going to be moving to Mike.

I also like David Irons, Michael Coe, and Josh Beekman as candidates for us in the draft. But, who knows if Beekman and Irons will be there in the 3rd round after we draft Harris. With the extra 3rd-rounder I think we should pick up for getting rid of Carr, keep an eye on 3 guys...Kevin Kolb, and the aforementioned Beekman and Irons. I don't think it makes much sense to draft a QB at any point, seeing as how we have Sage....and possibly Jake Plummer.

 

[Spled]

Kiper's got Levi Brown at 14 pointed upward. He says he's "Reliable at protecting his QB's blind side." It wouldn't be the sexiest pick, but it would fill a big need and then you could concentrate on defense in rounds 2 and 3.

 

[adrianshrev]

Round 1 - Amobi Okoye - our pass rush is terrible, which is one reason why our pass defense is EVEN WORSE!! Okoye can help to put pressure on opposing QBs and plug up some holes in our run defense. Also, who doesn't love a DT that's as quick as this guy is at getting off the line?! Oh yeah, one more thing about Okoye...he's only 19, which means he's going to get better....and better....and better as time passes.

Round 2 - David Harris....Somebody has to eventually replace Morlon Greenwood, and this is the just the guy to do it. We needed help at OLB last year and we drafted DeMeco, little did we know at the time that he was going to be moving to Mike.

I also like David Irons, Michael Coe, and Josh Beekman as candidates for us in the draft. But, who knows if Beekman and Irons will be there in the 3rd round after we draft Harris. With the extra 3rd-rounder I think we should pick up for getting rid of Carr, keep an eye on 3 guys...Kevin Kolb, and the aforementioned Beekman and Irons. I don't think it makes much sense to draft a QB at any point, seeing as how we have Sage....and possibly Jake Plummer.

just thinking your 1st round pick his college coach is picking at 10 if he has that much upside as u are building up how far can we trade down??
start looking for small school or div 2 players kubiak learned from shanahan look and take where other people aren't willing and coach them up when u find that diamond in the rough he is cheaper than someone who came with all the hype... check out marques murrell/olb appallachian state ... also germaine race/rb pittsburgh state... there are a lot of small school prospects that teams won't look at due to the caliber of competition they play against even some fans won't look but this is a draft so turn the rocks over and find someone

 

[Navy_Chris]

Kiper's got Levi Brown at 14 pointed upward. He says he's "Reliable at protecting his QB's blind side." It wouldn't be the sexiest pick, but it would fill a big need and then you could concentrate on defense in rounds 2 and 3.

I agree that Levi Brown is would fill a big need for us at LT, but I think it's a bit of a reach in the sense that, in drafting Amobi Okoye you fill a need....BUT, drafting a top-caliber DT would pay much more immediate dividends than drafting a hit-or-miss guy at LT.

I always say NEVER draft an OL in the top 20 of the first round. Technique wise, they all seem to have tons of room for improvement. I'm just saying that a Round 3 OL will potentially pay off better in the long run than the Round 1 OL. Look at D'Brickashaw Ferguson last year (Round 1, Pick 4). If you notice D'Brickashaw still has a tendency to start out way too high coming off the line...a big NO NO for O-Linemen. Daryn Colledge out of Boise State (Round 3)....just watch, will turn out to be the better lineman in the long run. Just adding some support to my argument to why drafting O-Linemen in the Top 20 can prove to be a costly mistake. First Round picks are meant to be guys who can come in and instantly make an impact, especially if they're drafted in the Top 10 or 15. Why would you draft a guy that high, knowing he's a work-in-progress? That's what the mid to late rounders are for.