Ranger
Waterboy
The day actually started last night when the Texans announced that Mario Williams would be their first overall pick in the draft, instead of Reggie Bush, who had been projected as the Texans pick since New Year's Day, a 20-17 Overtime loss to the San Fransico 49ers.
While fans are extremly shocked and in still in awe that the Texan's Front Office could pass on what many experts are calling a sure fire Hall of Famer, the fact is that the Texans made an outstanding football decesion and had some guts to draft Mario Williams.
While to some people Williams was unknown, to draft junkeez like me, he was on top of the draft board. Since Wednesday I had him projected going here to Houston after negotations with Bush's party had come to a stall. The fact is a deal wouldn't be completed with Bush before Saturday at noon, and Bob McNair wanted this picked signed before draft day, much like David Carr was. William's party was willing to listen and sign with Houston before the draft started, and after alligations of Bush's family receiving money from agent-suitors arose, Head Coach Gary Kubiak and GM Charley Casserly met and decided it would be in the best interest to draft Williams at this spot.
Williams will become the backbone of coach Kubiak's new 4-3 defense in Houston. After signing Anthony Weaver to a deal, the Texans still lacked another DE. Williams has an incredible 6'7" frame, 295 pounds thick and can still add weight, and his speed and quickness is exceptional coming off the end. The NFL has never seen such a rare combination of frame size, speed, and pass rushing capabillites in one package before.
Williams still has questions about his performance at North Carolina State in his senior season. He did not record a sack in 5 games, but had multiple sacks in the final two games of the season against Maryland and South Florida. To live up to a #1 pick status, Williams must bring his motor every game and be consistant.
When you play Peyton Manning twice a year, and now have future Titans QB Vince Young in the division, speed off the end was a major concern. The only two teams that beat the Colts last season (Chargers and Steelers) put pressure on Peyton Manning all game long. The Texans had never had anybody to do that. Maybe that answer is now solved in Mario Williams. They also will need a contain man to Vince Young's speed, and Williams will be asked to be that man. In general, this selection was a smart football decision.
DeMaro Ryans, outside linebacker from Alabama, was drafted in the second round. The Texans have reconstructed their linbacking core with the new defense, moving Morlon Greenwood to weakside linebacker and signing Sam Cowart to play mike linebacker. Shantee Orr had been projected as the strongside linebacker, but now will be chalenged by Ryans. Ryans was a three time All-SEC Academic First Team linebacker, and won every academic award possible for a football player. He was the leader on a Alabama defense that was the best in the country.
He was once projected as a 1st rounder, but after running a 4.7 40 yard dash, his speed and size were questioned. He has the ability to read a play at the snap of the ball and be the smartest player on the filled, a born leader and his charter is unmatched. His durability and speed made him drop to the second round. What he lacks in size and speed, he makes up in smartness and heart.
In the third round, the Texans finally adressed the offensive line troubles by selecting Chris Spencer and Eric Winston in back-to-back picks in the 3rd round.
Spencer has only played offensive line for two seasons at Pittsburgh. He was a defensive tackle for his freshman and sophomore seasons. He played guard his junior year, and tackle his senior season. He still has a lot to learn and needs exprience. His technique is bad, and very raw. With the proper coaching he can reach his full potencial and become a road grader guard. His development will be crtical.
Winston was once projected as a Top 10 pick. A Texas grown prospect, Winston went to Miami as a TE and was moved to OT. He became a solid tackle, but after knee surgery in 2004 and average strenght and small arm span, he dropped tremendously. If he can stay healthy and be put into the right training program to gain weight through body strenght, he can become a steal in this round and a starter at tackle for the Texans for years. He is too raw to be penciled in as a starter right now, but will give Todd Wade a run for his money.
I am happy with these selctions, I really love the Williams pick, I think that this franchise had some guts to make this pick. It was a football smart pick, and will lead us to win championships in the end. Although is does not sit happy with the fans, in 5 years this will turn out to be the right pick.
Even though I think Ryans is a great player and a great character, I would have liked to see Winston Justice, the OT from USC with this pick. I had him going to the Eagles at #14 in my mock draft and when he was available, I almost died when I didn't here his name called. Although D'Brick Fergurson is the better tackle in this draft, I thought Justice had the most talent and was the nastiest-minded tackle on the board. He will be a franchise player for the Eagles for years, can could have been a cornerstone for this franchise.
Spencer and Winston are work in progress. Spencer's lack of experience scares me, he remindes me of another 3rd round selection, Seth Wand. He does have great potential, but needs the right coaching to learn technique. Without that, DT's in this league will tear him apart.
Winston lacks upper body strengh and arm span, which is crtical for an OT. I think he can make up for it in technique, but he is a shacky pick as well, but could be a steal if he develops right.
With the first pick in the 4th round and Darnell Bing still on the board, he would be ideal for the Texans. The Texans need to add another safty in the mix of C.C. Brown and Glenn Earl. I am surprised Bing is still on the board, and should be a steal. Remember, the Texans best players have come though the 4th round. (Dominak Davis, Jerome Mathis)
It should be an interesting 2nd day. Its too hard to grade the Texans draft right now, it all depends what they do with this 4th round pick. I think the Eagles, Jets, and Cardinals have had the best day.
While fans are extremly shocked and in still in awe that the Texan's Front Office could pass on what many experts are calling a sure fire Hall of Famer, the fact is that the Texans made an outstanding football decesion and had some guts to draft Mario Williams.
While to some people Williams was unknown, to draft junkeez like me, he was on top of the draft board. Since Wednesday I had him projected going here to Houston after negotations with Bush's party had come to a stall. The fact is a deal wouldn't be completed with Bush before Saturday at noon, and Bob McNair wanted this picked signed before draft day, much like David Carr was. William's party was willing to listen and sign with Houston before the draft started, and after alligations of Bush's family receiving money from agent-suitors arose, Head Coach Gary Kubiak and GM Charley Casserly met and decided it would be in the best interest to draft Williams at this spot.
Williams will become the backbone of coach Kubiak's new 4-3 defense in Houston. After signing Anthony Weaver to a deal, the Texans still lacked another DE. Williams has an incredible 6'7" frame, 295 pounds thick and can still add weight, and his speed and quickness is exceptional coming off the end. The NFL has never seen such a rare combination of frame size, speed, and pass rushing capabillites in one package before.
Williams still has questions about his performance at North Carolina State in his senior season. He did not record a sack in 5 games, but had multiple sacks in the final two games of the season against Maryland and South Florida. To live up to a #1 pick status, Williams must bring his motor every game and be consistant.
When you play Peyton Manning twice a year, and now have future Titans QB Vince Young in the division, speed off the end was a major concern. The only two teams that beat the Colts last season (Chargers and Steelers) put pressure on Peyton Manning all game long. The Texans had never had anybody to do that. Maybe that answer is now solved in Mario Williams. They also will need a contain man to Vince Young's speed, and Williams will be asked to be that man. In general, this selection was a smart football decision.
DeMaro Ryans, outside linebacker from Alabama, was drafted in the second round. The Texans have reconstructed their linbacking core with the new defense, moving Morlon Greenwood to weakside linebacker and signing Sam Cowart to play mike linebacker. Shantee Orr had been projected as the strongside linebacker, but now will be chalenged by Ryans. Ryans was a three time All-SEC Academic First Team linebacker, and won every academic award possible for a football player. He was the leader on a Alabama defense that was the best in the country.
He was once projected as a 1st rounder, but after running a 4.7 40 yard dash, his speed and size were questioned. He has the ability to read a play at the snap of the ball and be the smartest player on the filled, a born leader and his charter is unmatched. His durability and speed made him drop to the second round. What he lacks in size and speed, he makes up in smartness and heart.
In the third round, the Texans finally adressed the offensive line troubles by selecting Chris Spencer and Eric Winston in back-to-back picks in the 3rd round.
Spencer has only played offensive line for two seasons at Pittsburgh. He was a defensive tackle for his freshman and sophomore seasons. He played guard his junior year, and tackle his senior season. He still has a lot to learn and needs exprience. His technique is bad, and very raw. With the proper coaching he can reach his full potencial and become a road grader guard. His development will be crtical.
Winston was once projected as a Top 10 pick. A Texas grown prospect, Winston went to Miami as a TE and was moved to OT. He became a solid tackle, but after knee surgery in 2004 and average strenght and small arm span, he dropped tremendously. If he can stay healthy and be put into the right training program to gain weight through body strenght, he can become a steal in this round and a starter at tackle for the Texans for years. He is too raw to be penciled in as a starter right now, but will give Todd Wade a run for his money.
I am happy with these selctions, I really love the Williams pick, I think that this franchise had some guts to make this pick. It was a football smart pick, and will lead us to win championships in the end. Although is does not sit happy with the fans, in 5 years this will turn out to be the right pick.
Even though I think Ryans is a great player and a great character, I would have liked to see Winston Justice, the OT from USC with this pick. I had him going to the Eagles at #14 in my mock draft and when he was available, I almost died when I didn't here his name called. Although D'Brick Fergurson is the better tackle in this draft, I thought Justice had the most talent and was the nastiest-minded tackle on the board. He will be a franchise player for the Eagles for years, can could have been a cornerstone for this franchise.
Spencer and Winston are work in progress. Spencer's lack of experience scares me, he remindes me of another 3rd round selection, Seth Wand. He does have great potential, but needs the right coaching to learn technique. Without that, DT's in this league will tear him apart.
Winston lacks upper body strengh and arm span, which is crtical for an OT. I think he can make up for it in technique, but he is a shacky pick as well, but could be a steal if he develops right.
With the first pick in the 4th round and Darnell Bing still on the board, he would be ideal for the Texans. The Texans need to add another safty in the mix of C.C. Brown and Glenn Earl. I am surprised Bing is still on the board, and should be a steal. Remember, the Texans best players have come though the 4th round. (Dominak Davis, Jerome Mathis)
It should be an interesting 2nd day. Its too hard to grade the Texans draft right now, it all depends what they do with this 4th round pick. I think the Eagles, Jets, and Cardinals have had the best day.