Fluid Mock

[Doppelganger]

Just thought I would throw a quick one together.

1. Josh Chapman, NT, Alabama
A lot of people are thinking Ta'amu but I have a feeling the Texans will pick after he is selected. Chapman is the smaller athletic NT Wade likes. He played NT in Bama's line last year and was domiannt, but that may have been due to help around him. Look forward to see how he does this year.

2. Dwight Jones, WR, North Carolina
A big athletic fast WR with good hands to compliment AJ. Will get dinged for playing at NC. An excellent compliment to AJ!

3. Barrett Jones, OG, Alabama
All he did was open up holes for Heisman Trophy Winner Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson for the past couple of years. This guy is the real deal and would be the perfect OG for the Texans.

4.Chris Marve, ILB, Vanderbilt
A knee injury slowed him down last year, but he has been doing well thus far. He reminds me of Meco. Not overly fast, but amazing instincts and a nose for where the ball will be. He is around the ball a lot.

5. Cody Johnson, FB, Texas
Yes, I am a UT fan, but CJ is EXACTLY what the Texans need. Casey is a nice FB and can catch the ball, but CJ is an old school brusier. When we get into the Red Zone having a old school Bruser is exactly what we need to clear holes. Plus, he can actually carry short yardage. Give him the ball and his momentum will fall forward a couple of yards.

6.Scott Wedige, C, Northern Illinois
First of all, his name is Wedgie. The 4th grader in me cracks up and has to take him. Second, he is a big guy, 315lbs. I am tired of having our smaller O line pushed around at the point of attack. Lets get a big boy in there!

7. Tevin Elliot, OLB, Baylor
High Ceiling, high motor guys are what I look for in the late rounds.

 

[bah007]

I'm a big fan of Chapman. He might not be as big as Ta'amu, but he's better. I'll take that.

 

[Wolf6151]

Excellent mock though I'm thinking Chapman could be had in the 2nd round. I like the first 5 picks but don't know anything about the last 2.

 

[SteveSlaton20]

I haven't been following draft prospects, but Alameda is a giant, and I prefer our NT to be at least 320+. I don't know how good they are, but I'll take Alameda over Chapman because I think we are one giant man from becoming a dominant front 7. Maybe Chapman is better, who knows, but we need someone in the middle to be able to stuff the run.

 

[Wolf6151]

Excellent mock though I'm thinking Chapman could be had in the 2nd round. I like the first 5 picks but don't know anything about the last 2.

 

[Doppelganger]

I'm a big fan of Chapman. He might not be as big as Ta'amu, but he's better. I'll take that.

Hard to say who is better at this point. Need to see how they do within their conference play.

 

[Doppelganger]

I haven't been following draft prospects, but Alameda is a giant, and I prefer our NT to be at least 320+. I don't know how good they are, but I'll take Alameda over Chapman because I think we are one giant man from becoming a dominant front 7. Maybe Chapman is better, who knows, but we need someone in the middle to be able to stuff the run.

Ta'amu has been the best touted NT prospect of the draft in preseaon and thus far has had mixed results. Still, I see the Texans drafting in the 20's and I think a big body like Ta'amu will go off the board.

I picked Chapman becuase I thought Ta'amu was gone and Chapman better fit the Wade Philosophy.

 

[Doppelganger]

Excellent mock though I'm thinking Chapman could be had in the 2nd round. I like the first 5 picks but don't know anything about the last 2.

Thanks!!!

Wedgie is a big strong powerful small school center. He is 6'4 315 lbs, which is a plus against the real big DT/NT that seem to be coming into the NFL. He was a All-MAC first-teamer in 2010 and is a great pass blocker. This year he anchored his O line to a 289 yards ground attack against Army. He is not going to come in and replace Myers, but he provides good depth early. He may even be good for a super big jumbo packages when the team needs to get a yard or two with Cody Johnson.

Elliot was an All-Big 12 honorable mention last year. He had 5 sacks and 9 tackles for loss at the DE position. He played as a 4-3 DE, but projects to 3-4 OLB due to his smaller frame. Has a high motor and is always working hard. Could develop into a very serviceable OLB and can help on the special teams.

 

[bah007]

I haven't been following draft prospects, but Alameda is a giant, and I prefer our NT to be at least 320+. I don't know how good they are, but I'll take Alameda over Chapman because I think we are one giant man from becoming a dominant front 7. Maybe Chapman is better, who knows, but we need someone in the middle to be able to stuff the run.

That is flawed logic in my opinion.

If you knew Chapman was the better player you would still take Ta'amu just because he is bigger?

The big, fat 34 NT is becoming a situational player in today's league. You need a guy who can stop the run, but also pressure the QB. Otherwise, on passing plays you are playing 10 vs 11.

I know we haven't been world beaters against the run so far this year, but our defense as a whole is playing pretty damn well. The NFL has changed the rules of the game. Passing teams win now, because the league has structured the rules to give them a built in advantage. Running teams can still win. But stopping the pass has become the biggest priority for defenses. I would be willing to concede rushing yards as long as we are pressuring the QB and slowing down the passing game.

Ever since Wade came here, there has been an obsession from the fan base on the need for a huge run stuffing NT. Most posters on this board know that I have been extremely outspoken against this. I think that is exactly the opposite of what we should do. The only way to fill that role effectively is with an elite player, and those guys are extremely rare. Quite frankly, Ta'amu is not elite. I'll take the better overall player who brings a more complete skill set to the table.

 

[bah007]

While I'm at it, I don't mean to be harsh on Ta'amu. He is a very good player. And I really wouldn't complain if we drafted him. Because he would be an upgrade over what we currently have.

I am just against the perception that this defense needs a big fat guy in the middle to be successful.

I don't think Ta'amu would be our best choice. But he wouldn't be a horrible choice. I would rather wait until the second and get either Thompson from Clemson or Powell from North Carolina.

 

[badboy]

That is flawed logic in my opinion.

If you knew Chapman was the better player you would still take Ta'amu just because he is bigger?

The big, fat 34 NT is becoming a situational player in today's league. You need a guy who can stop the run, but also pressure the QB. Otherwise, on passing plays you are playing 10 vs 11.
I know we haven't been world beaters against the run so far this year, but our defense as a whole is playing pretty damn well. The NFL has changed the rules of the game. Passing teams win now, because the league has structured the rules to give them a built in advantage. Running teams can still win. But stopping the pass has become the biggest priority for defenses. I would be willing to concede rushing yards as long as we are pressuring the QB and slowing down the passing game.

Ever since Wade came here, there has been an obsession from the fan base on the need for a huge run stuffing NT. Most posters on this board know that I have been extremely outspoken against this. I think that is exactly the opposite of what we should do. The only way to fill that role effectively is with an elite player, and those guys are extremely rare. Quite frankly, Ta'amu is not elite. I'll take the better overall player who brings a more complete skill set to the table.

007, I don't understand this comment? in our system the nose ties up Oline so LBs can disrupt the QB a big strong Nose would do that. I do agree with yopur points on passing game but that is why we went for Joseph and Manning and drafted Harris.

 

[bah007]

007, I don't understand this comment? in our system the nose ties up Oline so LBs can disrupt the QB a big strong Nose would do that. I do agree with yopur points on passing game but that is why we went for Joseph and Manning and drafted Harris.

I guess my main point is that the perfect NT in our system would be able to stuff the run while still posing a threat to the QB on passing downs. But a guy that can do both of those is extremely rare.

So you're either going to have to settle for one of two options:

A) a guy who can stuff the run but is a wasted player on passing plays (Ta'amu is not beating a NFL center or guard to the QB).

or

B) a guy who is adequate against the run but commands respect when rushing the passer (I like Thompson from Clemson. He holds his ground in the run game, but he also crashes the pocket).

In my opinion, the current structure of the league suggests that we should go with option B. It's really great that we have upgraded the secondary. But with the ways the rules have been structured, even the elite DBs cannot cover a guy for very long. So I think the key to stopping the pass is disrupting the QB, so I place extra value on an interior guy who can do that.

 

[badboy]

I guess my main point is that the perfect NT in our system would be able to stuff the run while still posing a threat to the QB on passing downs. But a guy that can do both of those is extremely rare.

So you're either going to have to settle for one of two options:

A) a guy who can stuff the run but is a wasted player on passing plays (Ta'amu is not beating a NFL center or guard to the QB).

or

B) a guy who is adequate against the run but commands respect when rushing the passer (I like Thompson from Clemson. He holds his ground in the run game, but he also crashes the pocket).

In my opinion, the current structure of the league suggests that we should go with option B. It's really great that we have upgraded the secondary. But with the ways the rules have been structured, even the elite DBs cannot cover a guy for very long. So I think the key to stopping the pass is disrupting the QB, so I place extra value on an interior guy who can do that.

I think you are a proponent of Phillips "light"NT and I am not. Neither of our current DTs can get to QB and in my mind I could not care lesas if they are tying up opponents. Our DEs and LBs seem to be doing pretty well. So if we keep that aspect and get a NT to do better than Cody or Mitchell, we should be much improved.

 

[bah007]

I think you are a proponent of Phillips "light"NT and I am not. Neither of our current DTs can get to QB and in my mind I could not care lesas if they are tying up opponents. Our DEs and LBs seem to be doing pretty well. So if we keep that aspect and get a NT to do better than Cody or Mitchell, we should be much improved.

I agree 100% with all of that. I think we just differ in our opinion of what kind of NT is best for the system.

If we take Ta'amu, then great. He won't provide any more pass rush than Cody or Mitchell but he would significantly improve us against the run.

I just think that a guy like Thompson would greatly improve the pass rush that we have at that spot without diminishing our ability to stop the run.