J
johnny_tlmn
Guest
Its pre training camp and hope always springs eternal, but I have really high hopes for this years draft class. Of course being a standout draft for the Texans is sort of like being the best-looking woman at a NOW convention - it doesn't take much. Draft Day I was still numb from the Texans passing on Reggie Bush, but I started feeling much better when the team selected Charles Spencer & Eric Winston respectively in the third round. Spencer I wasn't really familiar with, but I was with Winston primarily because he played at a program which always gets plenty of exposure and also because Winston was widely considered a first-round draft pick before blowing out his anterior cruciate ligament.
The reason I mention this is because many people still feel that ACL injuries are the death knell for athletes the way they were 10 -12 years ago. Even if an athlete comes back from an ACL injury they will not be quite what they were ( see Highsmith, Alonzo ). With Walt Lowe overseeing Winston's continued rehab there is no doubt in my mind that he will make a 100% recovery. Look for Eric Winston to be one of the steals of the draft. His build and athletic ability - recruited at Miami as a tight end - make him perfect for Kubiak's offense. While we are on the subject of health, another guy with his share of injury problems - Mike Flanagan - could be huge should he stay healthy for 16 games.
With the addition of Eric Moulds and Jeb Putzier to what the Texans already have they are set at the skill positions. If Kubiak, Mike Sherman & John Benton can improve the line significantly, who is to say the Texans couldn't be one of the surprise teams of 2006 in this age of parity? Of course "surprise" for this team would be 13-3 or 4-1.(...but its late June...hope springing eternal & all that...)
I'm excited to see what a one-man wrecking crew like Mario Williams will do for our defense; I'm looking for Demeco Ryans ( whom everyone from Mel Kiper to Dan Pompei to John McClain thought was a steal for the Texans at 33 ) to win a starting spot at OLB. Jason Babin will get to return to DE which is his natural position; what will Antwan Peek do in this new defense and with someone like Williams to attract attention from offensive coordinators? C.C. Brown comes back with a year's experience under his belt. Heck, even Phillip Buchanon will be in a contract year so maybe he will start caring...ok, lets not get silly...
Training camp is around the corner...looking forward to another season of the Greatest Show on Earth NFL Football...nothing like it.
The reason I mention this is because many people still feel that ACL injuries are the death knell for athletes the way they were 10 -12 years ago. Even if an athlete comes back from an ACL injury they will not be quite what they were ( see Highsmith, Alonzo ). With Walt Lowe overseeing Winston's continued rehab there is no doubt in my mind that he will make a 100% recovery. Look for Eric Winston to be one of the steals of the draft. His build and athletic ability - recruited at Miami as a tight end - make him perfect for Kubiak's offense. While we are on the subject of health, another guy with his share of injury problems - Mike Flanagan - could be huge should he stay healthy for 16 games.
With the addition of Eric Moulds and Jeb Putzier to what the Texans already have they are set at the skill positions. If Kubiak, Mike Sherman & John Benton can improve the line significantly, who is to say the Texans couldn't be one of the surprise teams of 2006 in this age of parity? Of course "surprise" for this team would be 13-3 or 4-1.(...but its late June...hope springing eternal & all that...)
I'm excited to see what a one-man wrecking crew like Mario Williams will do for our defense; I'm looking for Demeco Ryans ( whom everyone from Mel Kiper to Dan Pompei to John McClain thought was a steal for the Texans at 33 ) to win a starting spot at OLB. Jason Babin will get to return to DE which is his natural position; what will Antwan Peek do in this new defense and with someone like Williams to attract attention from offensive coordinators? C.C. Brown comes back with a year's experience under his belt. Heck, even Phillip Buchanon will be in a contract year so maybe he will start caring...ok, lets not get silly...
Training camp is around the corner...looking forward to another season of the Greatest Show on Earth NFL Football...nothing like it.
