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John Harris talks Texans First Round Draft

Harris (like his sidekeick LZ on 1560s morning show), really knows the nuts & bolts of football/football talent, though my impression is he really likes the college component more than the NFL, which I guess makes him perfect for analizing players in the NFL Draft ? BTW, I'm not familiar with JHs guy Paul Kruger, but I'm gonna check him out.
I'd sure like to know JHs take on our first round pick Duane Brown now that he's concluded his rookie season ? I was listening to 1560s Sean & John Draft show last April when the Texans pick came down and Harris went ballistic. He hated the pick and said he'd watch Brown all week long at the East-West Shrine game practice earlier in the year in Houston and came away thinking
Brown was a fourth round pick, tops.
 
Texans_Chick said:
I asked John Harris who he liked at the 15th pick. Here is his answer:

John Harris Talks First Round Texans Draft Pick

Pretty basic stuff, but it lays out the candidates as he sees them for fit with what the Texans do.
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Good work. Interesting on E. Brown. I'm not sold on the guy either but can't put my finger on it...maybe it the fear of D-linemen from Fla. St.:). But I like motor guys like Kruger. If you ask me I'd like to go the MLB route because I really think DeMeco is losing years in the middle. But it all depends, of course, on who falls.
 
Good quick read. The water is to muddy to tell what the Texans need to draft in round 1. But I did want to point out that with Orakpo getting beat up over the senior bowl, he just might be there at 15, unless he destroys the competition at the combine, and if you know anything about Orakpo he will.
 
Super Mario said:
Good quick read. The water is to muddy to tell what the Texans need to draft in round 1. But I did want to point out that with Orakpo getting beat up over the senior bowl, he just might be there at 15, unless he destroys the competition at the combine, and if you know anything about Orakpo he will.
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Is Orakpo even at the Senior Bowl?
 
Super Mario said:
Good quick read. The water is to muddy to tell what the Texans need to draft in round 1. But I did want to point out that with Orakpo getting beat up over the senior bowl, he just might be there at 15, unless he destroys the competition at the combine, and if you know anything about Orakpo he will.
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Getting beat up in just practice but doing well in shorts wouldn't be much of a recommendation for him. Now if he does well in the game....that means the most, but then if he does that and well at the combine then he probably won't be there at 15.
 
D-ReK said:
Nope. Orakpo, Jason Smith, Michael Johnson, and James Laurinaitis all opted out of it.
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That's what I thought.

There seems to be no reason for him to be there. He dominated all season long and he is going to blow up the combine. No reason to risk injury in a game where your stock can't go anywhere but down.
 
D-ReK said:
Nope. Orakpo, Jason Smith, Michael Johnson, and James Laurinaitis all opted out of it.
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Curry as well.

Which is one of the reason why the 3 USC LBs are dominating in 11 vs 11s right now, and will likely start the game as a unit.
 
bah007 said:
That's what I thought.

There seems to be no reason for him to be there. He dominated all season long and he is going to blow up the combine. No reason to risk injury in a game where your stock can't go anywhere but down.
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Agreed. He decided to skip the combine so he's now falling in all the mocks, but after the combine he will be a top 10 pick. We won't have a shot at him unless we trade up which is not going to happen.

This disappoints me because if we were going to get anybody in the 1st round it would be Orakpo. He is the perfect DE opposite Mario imo. They both have the ability to speed rush & bull rush with Mario being a better power rusher and Orakpo being a better speed rusher. They would complement each other perfectly.

If Orakpo is gone then take Raij the DT from Boston College. If he's gone then trade back and take Alphonso Smith, CB from Wake Forest. I say Everette Brown would be our last resort if we feel we NEED a DE. If we don't NEED a DE in the 1st take one of the other 2 guys.
 
B.J. Raji is a high end DT and fits a need. I don't know if it's the need or not...what ever. their chips are on Okoye....this is a redundant pick. Brace in the third or fourth gives you a run stuffer a lot cheaper. So do we want to replicate the Okoye pick...or a true nose tackle ? If you want another Okoye...wait and draft Ziggy Hood from Missouri.

Everett Brown works. For a speed rusher. You don't know if he can set the edge on the rush at this level. And you don't know if he can flip his hips and cover. You've got four months to put twenty pounds on the guy if you're drafting him as a three down hands on the ground guy. If he can't flip his hips and run...he can't stand up and play the Sam.

Ray Maualuga....can't flip his hips. He can't cover. That there thing is an inside baker in the three four. He's off our board.

Delmas works....William Moore is a bouncer. He's not a very sure tackler.

The two Smiths work.... Alphonso as Dunta insurance. Sean as a big cover corner. They're talking about Jenkins as a free safety...you figure that one out.
If we're slanting and blitzing a lot....better have corners who can man up.

The problem they have this draft is their is a ton of 3-4 tweener guys on the board. And only a hand full of true 4-3 ends on the board. What we're looking for, or should be..is a guy with a great first step. Not another Weaver. Weaver doesn't work. And the true four three guys don't have the great first step you're looking for. Lawrence Sidbury and Robert Ayers are big enough to play the four three DE. Ayers is a one year wonder from Tennessee. Sidbury has several moves as a pass rusher. Spin, inside and out side...push pull....what he doesn't have yet from what I've seen is a dip and rip....which means he's no where near his celling. Because they are so raw, they both have a shot at being there for us in the second.

Sidbury is a small school guy. So you're getting a bit of Lane college with the guy. But he has the longest arms at the position in the draft (35.5 "). Which means he can fight off the bigger tackles. His weight is wrong on the NFL senior bowl roster, 265 not 295.

I posted all of that to post this....you better get the best outside backer you can find in the first round with the fifteen. Clay Mathews....Brian Cushing...If Everret Brown can stand up...Everett Brown.

If Larry English can flip his hips next month....Him too. If you're slanting with the DTs , shooting the gaps...better have the OLBs...with size, who can scrape and fill the missing gaps. With Dilles laid up, an Adibi's injury history, Better plug that hole first with the best guy you can get your hands on.

In 2006 we sought play makers...difference makers, on offense. To drag this defense out of the cellar, they need play makers in 2009 on the defense. Trying to sneak a rush end in on defense on Manning when you're in third and long is going to be a bit of a chore. They need one of these tweeners who can stand up outside and get there when they send five.
And if they can find one guy who can do both things...that's your pick at the fifteen.
 
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I really agree with what he has to say about Alphonso Smith, db wake, similar size playmaker in secondary to a Bob Sanders less a hitter more of a cover guy yet someone to fear. key word is fear, when trying to attack a defense, thats excatly what the Texans lack, other than Mario.
Alphonso Smith has me intrigued - tough, can play man, excellent special teams player, and I have an affinity for guys from Florida, especially for guys who come from the Muck (small area in Florida known for its Sugar Cane fields) - he's from the same area that gave us Fred Taylor, Anquan Boldin and Santonio Holmes to name a few. A little cocky arrogance combined with the ability to lock up someone in man coverage, I'm going to like that.
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I might even project him to play FS in the NFL & allow him to be more involved in every play of defense.

Also like his assesment of Rey Rey Maualuga,
Take Maualuga to get a thumper in the middle and move DeMeco to the outside and let him change the game from the perimeter. That way Ryans can blitz off the edge and run to the football a little more unabated and you get 6'2", 260 pound beast who brings it - sure he's overaggressive, but when was the last time you heard a Texan defender was overaggressive? You/We haven't, so I'll take some risk with that for the impact he can have from a physical standpoint.
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would take him in a heartbeat @ #15, take Smith in a trade down or hope his height scares off enough teams to still be on the board for the Texans in the second round.....
 
Super Mario said:
Beat up over not going to the senior bowl.

For some reason these draft guys get their feelings hurt when a player chooses not to come.
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its all about money or love of the game. to me its important not to hide anything, want to improve, compete, stand out & display confidence in ones own ability. It would be nice if they could back this thing up a little to include those who are coming out early or just create a Junior Bowl mixed in with other eligible draftable players who desire a chance to showcase NFL skill. I for one would love to watch Evertte Brown all week in practice to see what makes him tick, gives the average fan an inside view behind scenes, nuts & bolts of what it takes to make the next level :specnatz:
 
beerlover said:
I really agree with what he has to say about Alphonso Smith, db wake, similar size playmaker in secondary to a Bob Sanders less a hitter more of a cover guy yet someone to fear. key word is fear, when trying to attack a defense, thats excatly what the Texans lack, other than Mario.
I might even project him to play FS in the NFL & allow him to be more involved in every play of defense.

Also like his assesment of Rey Rey Maualuga,
would take him in a heartbeat @ #15, take Smith in a trade down or hope his height scares off enough teams to still be on the board for the Texans in the second round.....
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This is pretty much what I've been thinking the past few days. Right now, I'm really looking towards Maualuga or Curry in the first (no trade up, so Maualuga would be the most likely) and a stud defensive player who falls. I really like Curry. I pointed him out early in the season, and I *might* have been the one to bring him to the attention of the board. I've been on his wagon for a while regardless. I think running two smaller DTs might require some more bulk behind them. Granted Curry would slide to SOLB, but He provides good "bulk" and is just a hell of a player.
 
YoungTexanFan said:
This is pretty much what I've been thinking the past few days. Right now, I'm really looking towards Maualuga or Curry in the first (no trade up, so Maualuga would be the most likely) and a stud defensive player who falls. I really like Curry. I pointed him out early in the season, and I *might* have been the one to bring him to the attention of the board. I've been on his wagon for a while regardless. I think running two smaller DTs might require some more bulk behind them. Granted Curry would slide to SOLB, but He provides good "bulk" and is just a hell of a player.
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What about the new 3-4 teams taking Cushing early ? Is he safer than Brown or Maybin ?
 
beerlover said:
It would be nice if they could back this thing up a little to include those who are coming out early
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The East-West Shrine game here in Houston would be a perfect vehicle for the declared underclassmen to come here that week and compete with the small-college guys. The attendance at the E-W as it is now is pathetic and a few real "name" underclassmen would help a lot IMO.
 
beerlover said:
check out his weight - chiseled 287-pounds its possible Richard Smith tried to make him something he's not, a run stuffing interior 4-3 DT. playing fast with less weight Amobi was virtually unblockable all week :cool:
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Look on page 2 and see who didn't do so hot . Here's a hint both are going to the pro-bowl .
 
Honoring Earl 34 said:
Food for thought about great moments in Senior Bowl history .

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/web/COM1058129/index.htm
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from the same link

3. Patrick Willis/MLB/Mississippi: Willis gave good effort all week and looked strong in the box. Problem was he struggled making plays out to the sidelines or in reverse. He does not resemble the first-round talent many have pinned him to be.
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:spit: Haha, that guy's gonna be a bust I tell ya. I bet Mike Nolan sure was glad he was the South's coach that year. Problem is, there isn't a Patrick Willis MLB in this draft.
 
beerlover said:
check out his weight - chiseled 287-pounds its possible Richard Smith tried to make him something he's not, a run stuffing interior 4-3 DT. playing fast with less weight Amobi was virtually unblockable all week :cool:
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I always keep wondering if he could play strong side DE, and rush the QB out of the Tackle position. He could just penitrate all the time, and get a bigger guy, around 310ish to play his DT position.
 
beerlover said:
I really agree with what he has to say about Alphonso Smith, db wake, similar size playmaker in secondary to a Bob Sanders less a hitter more of a cover guy yet someone to fear. key word is fear, when trying to attack a defense, thats excatly what the Texans lack, other than Mario.
I might even project him to play FS in the NFL & allow him to be more involved in every play of defense.

Also like his assesment of Rey Rey Maualuga,
would take him in a heartbeat @ #15, take Smith in a trade down or hope his height scares off enough teams to still be on the board for the Texans in the second round.....
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I would prefer to draft someone like Rashad Johnson, Louis Delmas, Patrick Chung or Michael Hamlin in the 2nd or 3rd then to draft Smith and move him to saftey. I'm all for taking Alphonso if we want to keep him at corner, but I don't like the idea of drafting someone in the first or second and moving him to a different position. I would love him on the opposite side of Dunta, but would taking him at 15 be a reach?
 
YoungTexanFan said:
This is pretty much what I've been thinking the past few days. Right now, I'm really looking towards Maualuga or Curry in the first (no trade up, so Maualuga would be the most likely) and a stud defensive player who falls. I really like Curry. I pointed him out early in the season, and I *might* have been the one to bring him to the attention of the board. I've been on his wagon for a while regardless. I think running two smaller DTs might require some more bulk behind them. Granted Curry would slide to SOLB, but He provides good "bulk" and is just a hell of a player.
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http://www.texanstalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1078145&postcount=23

They'll have to move Demeco if you Take Maualuga. And Demeeco provides you little in terms of a pass rush and he will struggle against the seam busting tight ends. Curry isn't making it out of the top seven. Detroit would be justified at taking the guy number one over all. Curry Plays all LB positions in any defense. That makes him one of cleanest players in the draft. The only way we get him, like Orakpo, is sell the farm and move up.
 
Harris is an excellent evaluator and I have interacted with him for years. He is not so full of himself as some "ahem" knowledgable folks. He is a down to earth guy that does his research.
 
threetoedpete said:
http://www.texanstalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1078145&postcount=23

They'll have to move Demeco if you Take Maualuga. And Demeeco provides you little in terms of a pass rush and he will struggle against the seam busting tight ends. Curry isn't making it out of the top seven. Detroit would be justified at taking the guy number one over all. Curry Plays all LB positions in any defense. That makes him one of cleanest players in the draft. The only way we get him, like Orakpo, is sell the farm and move up.
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But don't you need to move DeMeco at some point? In my opinion he is going to wear down in the middle taking on the guys he does. It may be great now but 2 years from now is he going to lose a couple of years from shedding the bohemoths?I think he would be fine on the outside.
 
HoustonFrog said:
But don't you need to move DeMeco at some point? In my opinion he is going to wear down in the middle taking on the guys he does. It may be great now but 2 years from now is he going to lose a couple of years from shedding the bohemoths?I think he would be fine on the outside.
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Remember, we will have a big old NT soon.
 
threetoedpete said:
http://www.texanstalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1078145&postcount=23

They'll have to move Demeco if you Take Maualuga. And Demeeco provides you little in terms of a pass rush and he will struggle against the seam busting tight ends. Curry isn't making it out of the top seven. Detroit would be justified at taking the guy number one over all. Curry Plays all LB positions in any defense. That makes him one of cleanest players in the draft. The only way we get him, like Orakpo, is sell the farm and move up.
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I'm not sure what the link was supposed to mean, but I don't agree to be honest. I think Maualuga gives you the option to move DeMeco outside, or you can just insert Maualuga to the strong side. Maualuga was very good at getting off blockers in the games I've evaluated him. He has the speed to stay with most TE's. He made quite a few players in coverage the past two seasons, and compared to most college LB's, he has pretty good coverage skills. Don't read so much into "hips". As for DeMeco, he is our best blitzer. Bently may be the only guy we have who can challenge that claim. DeMeco is a natural leader, which is awesome. So is Maualuga, which again, is awesome. I think Ryans is just a player, and he will be an All-Pro caliber player wherever you put him.
 
Rey could easily move outside (SLB) in Texans 4-3, lacks communication skill set compared to DeMeco who is like a coach out there. Maualuga plays off instincts & toughness.
 
Ole Miss Texan said:
from the same link


:spit: Haha, that guy's gonna be a bust I tell ya. I bet Mike Nolan sure was glad he was the South's coach that year. Problem is, there isn't a Patrick Willis MLB in this draft.
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There may not be a Patrick Willis, but in a recent interview, Rick Smith said he was impressed at the talent at linebacker at the Senior Bowl. He said safety is really deep this year, which leads me to believe he doesn't plan to draft a safety in the first two rounds.
 
mexican_texan said:
There may not be a Patrick Willis, but in a recent interview, Rick Smith said he was impressed at the talent at linebacker at the Senior Bowl. He said safety is really deep this year, which leads me to believe he doesn't plan to draft a safety in the first two rounds.
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I listened to that interview yesterday on the texans website. I wasn't really pleased to hear those to things, about the linebackers and safeties. In regards to my comment about P-Dub- he was a guy I'd move Demeco outside for in a heartbeat. This year I've been considering that action with Mauluga but I would be pretty hesitant.
 
beerlover said:
Rey could easily move outside (SLB) in Texans 4-3, lacks communication skill set compared to DeMeco who is like a coach out there. Maualuga plays off instincts & toughness.
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They are two different types of leaders. Maualuga has come into his role as a leader this season, and it was fun to watch. He tends to lead purely through examples. He sets the bar and expects this teammmates to play at his level, both with production and intensity. Maualuga is a very intense player who just does things that not many other LBs can do. Ryans is a heady leader who also leads by example. He is a tremendous player who does a great job at reading the plays for his defense. I think pairing a guy with the intensity and toughness of Maualuga with the mental dissection of plays of DeMeco Ryans would be devastating.
 
YoungTexanFan said:
They are two different types of leaders. Maualuga has come into his role as a leader this season, and it was fun to watch. He tends to lead purely through examples. He sets the bar and expects this teammmates to play at his level, both with production and intensity. Maualuga is a very intense player who just does things that not many other LBs can do. Ryans is a heady leader who also leads by example. He is a tremendous player who does a great job at reading the plays for his defense. I think pairing a guy with the intensity and toughness of Maualuga with the mental dissection of plays of DeMeco Ryans would be devastating.
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I'm glad we can agree, again :shades:

fitting pieces together to complete a part (defense) its important they work together (weakness offset & strengths multiply) in unison improving the performance of the whole (defense). all this discussion of moving DeMeco from MLB so Rey plugs the middle is non-sense. DeMeco will remain the Texans defensive playcaller & leader, has proven skill-set to play MLB & would mentor Rey making him better where he is better sutied as a playmaker & thumper coming off the edge behind Mario. I thiink he could really shine for the Texans, what I don't believe is still available with the #15 pick.
 
HoustonFrog said:
But don't you need to move DeMeco at some point? In my opinion he is going to wear down in the middle taking on the guys he does. It may be great now but 2 years from now is he going to lose a couple of years from shedding the bohemoths?I think he would be fine on the outside.
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Well I was told by multiple sources on this message board that size in the modern NFL at Middle Line back is no longer an issue. The reason he is wearing down is because the head coach gives in every time he injures the ankle and lets him play.

You're making the same assumption with Demeeco as you are with Maualuga... that he can flip his hips and run with some of the elites in the game.
And we have no evidence what so ever that is true. It's a YTF guess.
 
threetoedpete said:
As I was copying the senior bowl practices last night on to dvd....and Raji was wearing out the o-lineman, I had a Daja Voo moment about Okoye. Believe it or not Earl.
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The difference is that Raji played 4 years @ BC & is 23years old.

Okoye was just 19 when he was drafted.

Also Raji weighs 325-330 lbs & Okoye weighed 287 lbs.

40 lbs mean alot when it comes to clogging the middle. Raji also was more of a playmaker than Okoye was coming out of college.

With that said I would take Orakpo or Ayers before I took Raji.

We can only hope E. Brown falls & plays opposite MW. This would give us the instant pass rush we have been looking for since our inception.
 
steelbtexan said:
The difference is that Raji played 4 years @ BC & is 23years old.

Okoye was just 19 when he was drafted.

Also Raji weighs 325-330 lbs & Okoye weighed 287 lbs.

40 lbs mean alot when it comes to clogging the middle. Raji also was more of a playmaker than Okoye was coming out of college.

With that said I would take Orakpo or Ayers before I took Raji.

We can only hope E. Brown falls & plays opposite MW. This would give us the instant pass rush we have been looking for since our inception.
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I think the lesson learned was a week doesn't make the prospect . Okoye had a dominant senior year at Louisville and a great Senior Bowl week but so far he hasn't played to where he was drafted .

One that note , I think besides QBs DT's maybe the hardest thing to project . Off the top of my head .....

Ryan Sims
Jimmy Kennedy
Travis Johnson
Amobi Okoye
Gerard Warren
Dwayne Robertson

http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?position=Defensive+Tackles&type=position
 
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Honoring Earl 34 said:
I think the lesson learned was a week doesn't make the prospect . Okoye had a dominant senior year at Louisville and a great Senior Bowl week but so far he hasn't played to where he was drafted .

One that note , I think besides QBs DT's maybe the hardest thing to project . Off the top of my head .....

Ryan Sims
Jimmy Kennedy
Travis Johnson
Amobi Okoye
Gerard Warren
Dwayne Robertson

http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?position=Defensive+Tackles&type=position
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funny guys, I just posted something similar on the LZ mock draft thread where he had the Texans selecting DT, Peria Jerry. he looked impressive in workouts, similar to Okoye did in the 07 Senior Bowl. was active & flashed power inside against lesser Guards but was easily BLOCKED by Kraig Urbik when matched up one on one. so the reason its so hard to evaulate these guys to the next level is all about individual match-ups against quality NFL offensive linemen. these are the unappreciated, overlooked very talented players in their own right they just don't get the credit the DL does. the only thing thats true is the tape, the tape does not lie.
 
beerlover said:
funny guys, I just posted something similar on the LZ mock draft thread where he had the Texans selecting DT, Peria Jerry. he looked impressive in workouts, similar to Okoye did in the 07 Senior Bowl. was active & flashed power inside against lesser Guards but was easily BLOCKED by Kraig Urbik when matched up one on one. so the reason its so hard to evaulate these guys to the next level is all about individual match-ups against quality NFL offensive linemen. these are the unappreciated, overlooked very talented players in their own right they just don't get the credit the DL does. the only thing thats true is the tape, the tape does not lie.
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There's like 4 or 5 C/G types in that game that would look good on our OL .
 
Honoring Earl 34 said:
There's like 4 or 5 C/G types in that game that would look good on our OL .
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I concure with you good sir on this, thats why it would be nice to trade down & leverage another 2nd rd. pick. listen to me, the Texans have had only one 2nd rd. pick in like FOUR years & I want another.......time to go to work :bat:
 
beerlover said:
I concure with you good sir on this, thats why it would be nice to trade down & leverage another 2nd rd. pick. listen to me, the Texans have had only one 2nd rd. pick in like FOUR years & I want another.......time to go to work :bat:
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Yep ... I think if you could trade back for a 2nd , you could address DE , C/G , and S easily in 2 rounds .

So here we go ... Sage and our 1st to the Vikings for their 1st , 2nd , and 5th next year .
 
Honoring Earl 34 said:
Yep ... I think if you could trade back for a 2nd , you could address DE , C/G , and S easily in 2 rounds .

So here we go ... Sage and our 1st to the Vikings for their 1st , 2nd , and 5th next year .
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New England is floating their guy also....buyers Market. Will say I would....don't know about Smith or Kubes, be perfectly happy with Pat White starting for two or three games.
 
beerlover said:
I concure with you good sir on this, thats why it would be nice to trade down & leverage another 2nd rd. pick. listen to me, the Texans have had only one 2nd rd. pick in like FOUR years & I want another.......time to go to work :bat:
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I agree also. I find it hard to believe there won't be a run on them. If we see it...you can bet money the scouts and GMs see it also. Erick Woods has everything Criss Myers does not....there fore he'll end up with someone else.

When was the last time a team like Pittsburgh had a really nasty guy in the middle ?
 
threetoedpete said:
I agree also. I find it hard to believe there won't be a run on them. If we see it...you can bet money the scouts and GMs see it also. Erick Woods has everything Criss Myers does not....there fore he'll end up with someone else.

When was the last time a team like Pittsburgh had a really nasty guy in the middle ?
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Mike Webster comes to mind.
 
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