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McClain: Look for Texans to draft USC linebacker
- Thread starter MojoMan
- Start date
Jackie Chiles
Veteran
Most interesting part of that article:
"The Texans selected left tackle Duane Brown with the 26th pick. Their backup choice was cornerback Antoine Cason, whom San Diego took 27th . Chargers coach Norv Turner admitted the next day they intended to take Brown."
Most of us knew about Turner reportedly wanting Brown, I did not know Cason was our backup choice.
"The Texans selected left tackle Duane Brown with the 26th pick. Their backup choice was cornerback Antoine Cason, whom San Diego took 27th . Chargers coach Norv Turner admitted the next day they intended to take Brown."
Most of us knew about Turner reportedly wanting Brown, I did not know Cason was our backup choice.
TexansFanatic
Extremist
If the Texans take Cushing I will vomit.
Ole Miss Texan
Hall of Fame
Wow that's so interesting! I wonder how he knows? My "worst case scenario" pretty much happened last year when we were on the clock. Only difference was Mendenhall was available but we didn't have the insight that a lot of front offices thought he was soft, glad we passed. Cason was a player I really liked and in that worst case situation I was wondering about taking him at our spot if we couldn't trade down. Once we traded down I was hoping it was Cason we'd take!
Interesting both SD and the Texans had Brown #1 and Cason #2.
Mailman
Pwned by Hakeem
I had this same thought late last night reading some mock drafts.
HoustonFrog
Dallas Frog
I hear you. The most recent ESPN mock where all the division bloggers makes picks has Matthews like everyone else. There is no variation. Seems too easy. I'd like to think that it is a sign of a trade down.
Texecutioner
Hall of Fame
Are you saying that you don't think we'll take Mathews or Cushing because that is who everyone keeps saying we'll take?
Thorn
Dirty Old Man
Dollars to donuts the player the Texans take in the 1st round none (or very few) of us has even mentioned yet. I'm just going to wait, beer in one hand and keyboard in the other, for Saturday to find out. 
At least Saturday is closer now than it was yesterday at this time. LOL
At least Saturday is closer now than it was yesterday at this time. LOL
HOU-TEX
Ah, Football!
I agree with Vinny. Especially if McLame says it.
Hell, I think half this board has more knowledge of the NFL than he does. Read through a couple of his chats and you'll agree with me. lol
And honestly, he'd better do something about his weight soon. As much as I rag on him about parroting, I don't want him to keel over from heart disease.
The dude's beginning to look like Chet from Weird Science.
Hell, I think half this board has more knowledge of the NFL than he does. Read through a couple of his chats and you'll agree with me. lol
And honestly, he'd better do something about his weight soon. As much as I rag on him about parroting, I don't want him to keel over from heart disease.
The dude's beginning to look like Chet from Weird Science.
Vinny
shiny happy fan
I think teams help the media shape some of the perceptions that fans tend to take as common knowledge leading into the draft. It just seems too convenient and too global in thinking. Also, Rick Smith has tended to go against the grain when it comes to common perception early in his drafts.
nero THE zero
All Pro
If you listened to LZ on 1560, you did.
nero THE zero
All Pro
Hopefully that means we end up with Pettigrew. He's a long shot, but I think he could help so many facets of our offense.
McClain is trying to sell newspapers and this would be the best story coming out of the Draft, that is if draft new Texans coach Bruce Matthews nephew.
If we stay at 15, I don't see it happening because 4-3 backers just aren't as valuable as corners and edge-rushers, and we got uncertainty with D-Robs remaining time here plus Antonia Smith may move to the inside on passing downs. We can still good backers after the first round, especially this year.
If we stay at 15, I don't see it happening because 4-3 backers just aren't as valuable as corners and edge-rushers, and we got uncertainty with D-Robs remaining time here plus Antonia Smith may move to the inside on passing downs. We can still good backers after the first round, especially this year.
Second Honeymoon
Hall of Fame
and ironically LZ's dad's team, the Steelers, drafted him. I wouldn't label him as soft yet. He got injured, it happens. The Steelers don't draft too many losers so I think you gotta be patient with the guy. Basically he talked some rookie smack before facing the Ravens and Lewis gave him a little extra heat.
Lewis blatantly twists his legs violently on the play he got hurt on after Lewis just blew up the guys shoulder. He got hit hard and Lewis gave him a little extra 'pepper as its called on the gridiron. I wasn't surprised he didn't last 4 quarters in that game but I was surprised he missed the rest of the season...obviously the Steelers didn't miss him that much considering they won another Lombardi trophy.
as for the original topic, I am not a fan of either Matthews or Cushing. Both of them look like over bulked WWE wrestlers. Both guys look like roid freaks....just sayin. Yeah, it looks like they were clean but both those guys have used steroids. no doubt. when your neck is wider than your skull, you know your on steroids.
I also dont think either player looks to have the speed you need to be an impact OLB and if they aren't impact OLB they don't deserved to be drafted at #15 overall. Pretty simple. I am pining for Andre Smith or Malcolm Jenkins or Michael Oher to be around when we draft. You can never have too many OL and you can never have too many corners.
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Texecutioner
Hall of Fame
I've sort of thought that since their is so much of a strong consensus that we're taking Mathews or Cushing that possibly it's a bunch of bull. Why would we want to show our hand like that so hard before the draft.
I really hope that we don't take either one of those guys.
TheRealJoker
Hall of Fame
One of our biggest priorities this offseason imo is improving the athleticism in the back 7 of our defense. June is a solid vet who can run, we resigned Eugene Wilson, that's two good moves for the back 7 imo.
Doesn't necessarily have to be a LB but we need to get an impact player in the back 7 who can run with anyone we'll be playing. On defense we've been hamstrung not just by Richard Smith's lack of football IQ but also by our player's physical limitations. We need to get some athletes who are versatile that we can move around presnap and confuse the offense. Hit em from anywhere and keep them guessing. Take the predictability out of the vanilla Homer Simpson defense we've been fielding.
Doesn't necessarily have to be a LB but we need to get an impact player in the back 7 who can run with anyone we'll be playing. On defense we've been hamstrung not just by Richard Smith's lack of football IQ but also by our player's physical limitations. We need to get some athletes who are versatile that we can move around presnap and confuse the offense. Hit em from anywhere and keep them guessing. Take the predictability out of the vanilla Homer Simpson defense we've been fielding.
Texecutioner
Hall of Fame
bah007
Hall of Fame
I'm pretty sure they don't need him to be in there 24/7.
Texan4Ever
All Pro
After watching highlight tapes of the three LBs for USC (Maualuga, Cushing, and Matthews), I don't think any of them would be a good fit for our team. USC runs a 3-4 Elephant defense and ths is why I would not wan't any one from this trio....
Rey Maualuga has been introuble before and he has a habit of partying like a rockstar and I don't think the Texans want a problematic guy n there team. He's like a guided missile that wants to deliver the big hit and in the process overpursues an opponent.
Brian Cushing is not a good tackler, he sorta drags his opponents down by the jersey or goes after a player once he has been slowed down by another teammate. He seems to have a high bust potential.
Clay Matthews hasn't played much as a starter and I think his best fit would be in a 3-4 role rather then a 4-3.
Right now, I would want the Texans to trade out of the 1st round and pick up a few more picks since we seem to have success with player outside of the 1st round.
Rey Maualuga has been introuble before and he has a habit of partying like a rockstar and I don't think the Texans want a problematic guy n there team. He's like a guided missile that wants to deliver the big hit and in the process overpursues an opponent.
Brian Cushing is not a good tackler, he sorta drags his opponents down by the jersey or goes after a player once he has been slowed down by another teammate. He seems to have a high bust potential.
Clay Matthews hasn't played much as a starter and I think his best fit would be in a 3-4 role rather then a 4-3.
Right now, I would want the Texans to trade out of the 1st round and pick up a few more picks since we seem to have success with player outside of the 1st round.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Most likely final say. Dude can't go for a run without being questioned on commitment or authority?
bah007
Hall of Fame
Aaron Curry played in a 43 at Wake Forest. Does that mean he can't play ILB in a 34?
Plus, USC runs a lot of different defenses. They don't run anything exclusively.
J-Russ
Veteran
Likewise for Matthews. That leaves Rey Rey as the only USC linebacker that I would be pleased about taking.
Anyways, how would McClain know that we're looking to draft a USC linebacker, let alone who's on our top list of prospects? Haven't there been words going around (or common knowledge) that McClain haven't been getting any inside bits since the Kubiak/Smith regime came into the organization? If that's true, then that should make him as much of an "insider" as everyone else on this board. So him saying we're "looking" to draft a USC linebacker is a load of crap.
Jeremy Maclin
TexansFanatic
Extremist
I would love it if you were right. I don't think there's going to be a linebacker available at 15 (or even if we trade down a few spots) who is worth that pick.
Texans_Chick
Utopian Dreamer
A random story.
The other evening, I watched the series called The Greatest NFL Games Ever Played or somesuch about Super Bowl XXXII. Denver v. Green Bay. 1997. Lots of interview stuff with Kubiak.
One thing that was interesting to me is that Kubiak was on the Denver staff and Andy Reid was on the Green Bay staff. Kubiak basically looked like the same guy he looks like now. Andy Reid back then looked like an entirely different person.
Reid is only 3 years older than Kubiak. I looked it up because it was so weird.
You can't take care of others if you can't take care of yourself. It is harder to preach discipline to others if you aren't disciplined yourself. The NFL season is now pretty much year round and is a very stressful job that burns people out. Dude needs a good run. Human beings aren't meant to sit around a lot.
Reid is a timebomb. Human beings are resilient things until they aren't.
/minor blather about some such that is pretty ancillary to the thread, but Vinny is right. Texans never draft the guy conventional wisdom says they are going to draft. So I might as make the observation about how young Reid looked in 1997.
The1ApplePie
Hall of Fame
Would be a great pick. The Anquan Boldin to our Fitz, the Welker to our Moss
The Texans won't take an LB in the first. They wouldn have taken Pat Willis or Jon Beason if they valued LB that much. They were closer to sure things than any of the 3 USC backers
Mediocre LBs, terrible DBs, and tweener DEs. Just take the WR or an offensive lineman
Thorn
Dirty Old Man
I don't want them to use a 1st day pick on a WR, but taking a lineman (of any flavor) in the 1st round is always good by me. You just can't have enough good linemen.
I understand we've got a great WR corps right now, but the minute we're satisfied with the status quo..... well, that's the onset of a sure, certain death.
I love K-Dub, and I'm not looking to replace him, but if we had another playmaker at the WR position......... all I can say is wow.
I'd also like to remind everyone, we wanted Gin even though AD & K Dub were on the roster. & I think Maclin is a much better prospect than Gin was.
Vinny
shiny happy fan
Thorn
Dirty Old Man
If they take an offensive player (not a lineman) in the 1st round I'd rather see them go with a RB than a WR. We have good WR's right now, but another good RB to go along with Slaton wouldn't upset me at all.
Vinny
shiny happy fan
Thinking outside the box leads me to think they will throw us for a loop and draft TE Brandon Pettigrew. Heck, the Patriots did a similar thing when they took Ben Watson high just two drafts after taking Daniel Graham with a number 1 pick.
TheRealJoker
Hall of Fame
That was one season after Eric Moulds was the number 2 and David Carr was the QB. AD hadn't played a snap as a Texan and K Dub had yet to start for us. That kind of logic would be like saying, "We really should've taken Mendenhall number 1. If Ahman Green goes down, there's no way Steve Slaton will be able to start for us!!!"
The Ginn vs Maclin draft comparison is like apples to oranges. Back then the WR unit was a question mark and a weakness outside of AJ, now its the strongest and deepest unit on the team.
I'd much rather have a running back as well. I wouldn't complain if we were to draft Moreno, or Wells.
But I'd rather have Maclin with the 15th.
The1ApplePie
Hall of Fame
Upgrading at WR might open up the offense like nothing before. Walters is good but he shares the field with the best WR in football.
Kubes coveted Ginn more than any other player in that draft and Maclin grades out to be a similar player. Crabtree being there would be a godsend.
With a budding young offenseive line, AJ, Crabtree/Maclin on the outside, and Slaton in the backfield, the Texans could field a Colts-like offense for years. The Texans aren't going to be a power run/defensive team. No reason to pretend to be
Thorn
Dirty Old Man
You make an interesting spin to that. I like the "fielding a Colts-like offense for years" thing. However, you and I both know if they draft anything but a defensive player in the 1st round, it'll be out of the blue. I still suspect a CB/Safety in the 1st round, and probably a trade down to boot.
but hey, who knows what they'll do. I'll bet the huge majority of us on this board didn't expect Mario a few years ago.
Jackie Chiles
Veteran
This is accurate but at that time Walter hadn't been a full time starter. After two years of improvement and good production I don't know if Kubiak still believes he HAS to get another wideout. I understand that your round 1 WR crusade has a lot to do with BPA but I think we have two bigger needs on offense (C/G and RB) and pretty much everywhere on defense.
The1ApplePie
Hall of Fame
There is no defensive value outside the top 10 is my argument. Besides Raji, Orakpo, and Curry there are no studs. The best CB prospect is also the best S prospect. Not good
The Texans seem to always have need directly opposite of the draft (ie Amobi Okoye being the best of a terrible class instead of Dorsey and Ellis the next year)
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Stated with great conviction and no factual basis, but a long track record of wanting another WR. What a coincidence.
The Pencil Neck
Hall of Fame
Think about AJ on one side, Maclin on the other, and KW in the Slot.
That would be dangerous.
threetoedpete
Hall of Fame
The number gentlemen is twenty five. If they want to move past the division they have to move that '08 sack number as close to forty as they can. And a first round TE or WR isn't going to do that.
The1ApplePie
Hall of Fame
Sadly no defenders out of the top ten in the draft will do it either
Carr Bombed
Hall of Fame
I gaurantee you there are defenders in this draft that will produce sacks that will be available at the spot we're drafting....it's up to our scouting department and FO to find them.
WR is absolutely THE LAST THING this team needs and Crabtree and Maclin most likely won't be there anyways......so want do you want us to do, trade away two 2nd round picks to move up and grab one?
This team needs toughness and grit (that's what wins you ball games in this league) I'd draft a C and another RB in the first round before I would spend another pick on a pass chatcher
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I sort of agree with you on this. This is a weak draft compared to say, '06. That's why, IMHO, we should do our best to trade down and still address defense. With some luck we'll find a starter. Worse case, we'll at least upgrade our depth.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
The1ApplePie
Hall of Fame
There are no total defensive ends in the first two rounds. Maybe only 2 true DEs (Ayers and Johnson) on day one and both are combine warriors that have a huge chance to fail.
No DEs, no CBs, no DTs, no first round pick on defense