DGDB&D: a Texans blog.

Chuck D isn’t sure whether to buy the hype

Jun 9, 2007 Amobi Okoye is 19, Hype, Preview, Tequila, Vacation-related posts

Greetings from the Redneck Riviera! Stage Two of Vacation 2007 took us from Phoenix, where it was 109 degrees with zero humidity, to the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, where it is 90 degrees with 90 percent humidity.

Not that you care about the weather, or even about my whereabouts.

Anyway, on the drive down here Thursday night, I was thinking about hype. More accurately, I was trying to think of things that had lived up to their advanced level of promotion. The list was pretty short.

Pulp Fiction. Roger Creager in concert. Bo Jackson’s arm. Patron tequila. Miami nightlife. The Mousetrap. LeBron James. That’s about it.

What does this have to do with anything? Well… I was thinking about all of that in the context of Manchild.

[Author's Note: Right here is where I'd planned to do a long post about defensive tackles taken with top 10 picks. That will have to wait, though, as a I have a beach and cooler full of beer calling me. More later.]

Gary Kubiak understands defensive line positioning

May 30, 2007 Amobi Okoye is 19, Football 101, Gary Kubiak, Jason Babin, Preview, Sam Adams, Super Mario

For the second time this month, I find myself linking to a Seahawks Huddle post regarding the Texas. Odd. Really, though, the only reason I’m linking to it is for this line regarding Manchild.

All indications are that he will start next to Mario Williams on the right side.

Um… what? The Texans depth chart on NFL.com currently shows Amobi at the Under Tackle position, alongside Anthony Weaver, with Maddox playing the Nose. The Texans’ own website says the same thing. If such early charts indicate anything, it’s that Okoye is likely NOT going to be playing beside Super Mario.

Do you know why these two depth charts have Okoye at the under position? Because Victor Petersen’s alignment is stupid. And even the Texans try to avoid do stupid things on purpose.¹

[Author's Note: The following discussion of defensive tackle positioning and technique is going to be simultaneously tedious and--for many of you--common friggin' sense. Still, to make my larger point here, I feel like I need to lay out exactly why the Amobi-by-Mario alignment would be wrong.]

Okoye is a prototypical under tackle. He’s a fast (for his size), penetrating, one-gap player. Such players almost always line up off of the center. Wait… let’s start with a visual aid.

(clicky to embiggen)

OK… back to Okoye. Players of his size and skill set are best suited to line up away from the center, usually a half-step past the guard (toward the respective tackle). This is the 3-technique and makes him a one gap player. The 3-technique tackle’s job is to shoot that gap, create penetration, and either disrupt the running play or sack the QB. In Okoye’s case, he will almost certainly play the under tackle in the 3-technique position over the offense’s right guard.

Anthony Maddox, on the other hand, has a completely different skill set as a defensive tackle.² He is a traditional 0- or 1-technique DT, meaning he will line up over the center, one half-step toward the left-guard. In this position, a tackle will see frequent double-teams from the center and left guard, with the left guard engaging first and the center picking up. [Author's note: Technically, this off-set alignment is a 4-3 Over and not a straight 4-3.]

[/End of tedious football 101 recap]

So, this configuration, with Maddox next to Mario makes sense now, doesn’t it? The goal in drafting Okoye was not to have him take blockers off of Williams; the goal was to have him take pressure off of Williams, by forcing the opposing offenses to account for two quality pass rushers. Now, Weaver (or Babin) might benefit from getting more one-on-one matchups with TEs if teams try to double Okoye. That would benefit Mario, too, as he would be solo on the offense’s RT without TE interference. If that’s how teams want to play the front four, then I suppose Okoye has technically taken a blocker off of Williams, but not in the manner suggested by the above quote.

For argument’s sake, what would happen if Petersen’s lineup were used? Okoye’s primary skill–interior penetration–would be negated as he would be trying to draw a second blocker on every play. Maddox’s primary skill–playing the 0-technique as a run-stuffing two gap player would also be negated, as he would be lined up to plow through the B gap without reacting to the actual route taken by the running back. While Weaver is a good run defender from the 6-7 position, there is only so much he could do in this configuration. Moreover, teams could basically run through the right-side A gap at will, as Maddox lacks the mobility to read-and-react from the 3 position consistently.

In the end, it’s hard to fathom an argument for putting Okoye alongside Williams. Either Petersen knows something NO ONE else does, or he’s just talking for the sake of talking. One thing is for certain, though… the only “account” that suggests this alignment is Petersen’s. Thankfully.

UPDATE: You might wonder how this discussion relates to my “Babin at LE” post.³ Well, here’s the deal: Despite the fact that Weavs is more or less entrenched in Kubes’ mind as an end, the truth is Weaver is a ‘tweener. He is a little too be to be a 4-3 end and he’s a little too small to play nose tackle. He’s a good run defender from the end, but a better pass rusher from tackle. The team knows this to an extent–Weaver did play some tackle in passing downs last season. In my Babin-centric theory, Weaver would be relegated to playing some under tackle when Amobi needed a break as well as playing backup to Babin. In effect, he would be playing the same two positions he played last season, but in a reserve capacity. In theory, he could also play a few snaps at nose, if the team wanted to go small or play a pure 4-3 stack (all linemen playing one-gap). Bottom line: I stand by the Babin post, dammit.

¹ I choose to believe that this is true.
² Sam Adams would also play this role. Please come to Houston, Sam. Please?
³ I choose to believe that this is true, too.

Sam Adams listens to Timex Social Club

May 29, 2007 Amobi Okoye is 19, Andre Johnson, Athletes who don't stab people, DeMeco Ryans, Gary Kubiak might be high, Sam Adams, Teams that aren't the Texans

Two stories regarding the Texans are bouncing around the internets today, which I suppose makes today a busy news day, at least compared to the past four.

The first story is that Sam Adams is supposed to visit with the team, possibly as early as right now. Now, granted, Adams is entering his 14th season and is not the same player he was when he won a Super Bowl with Baltimore. That said, I still think this move makes sense. I mean, obviously you get veteran leadership for a very young defensive front seven. What you also get, though, is a two-gap DT (playing the 0 or 1 technique) who could (a) stuff the run, (b) free Manchild to play more of a 1-gap 3 technique DT, and (c) keep offensive lineman off of DeMeco the same way he did for Ray Lewis.

Would he give you 30 snaps per game? Of course not. He would give you 20 or so, though, which is enough to make an impact on run defense. He could be spelled by Maddox (or Weaver on clear passing downs), while still providing fantastic mentoring for Okoye, et al. Most importantly, however, is that even at this age, he is a clear upgrade in our run defense.

The biggest criticism people seem to be voicing over this news is that the Texans already have too many DTs as it is. While this might be true now, it is highly unlikely that the team is unwilling to cut one or more of those guys during camp. Travis Johnson and Thomas Johnson should probably be a little concerned.

The second story/rumor is that Kevin Walter has pretty much locked up the WR2 position. Without rehashing all of the stuff I’ve written about this position, I’ll just say that I am less-than-thrilled with Walter. I hope he proves me wrong, I really do, but I just don’t think he is our best choice to play second fiddle. Still, this news isn’t surprising (as Kubiak seems to have a mancrush on Walter). Really, I just mentioned it to throw this theory out there: The Jacksonville fans over at Big Cat Country seem to think that Ernest Wilford will not be a Jag at the end of camp. If their suspicions turn out correct, I just want to be the first to cast my vote for signing Wilford. He’s a big, physical receiver who would be a perfect compliment to Andre Johnson’s skills and would let Walter or JJ play the slot (where I think they would both be better, at least in the short term). He would also likely relish the idea of playing against his old team twice per season.

Shaun Alexander fans know Gary Kubiak is no Dom Capers (thank god)

May 21, 2007 Amobi Okoye is 19, Barbaro is dead, Batman, Demarcus Faggins sucks, Gary Kubiak, Jacoby Jones is unheralded, Offensive (punch)Line, Teams that aren't the Texans, The Schaub Experiment

At some point prior to the preseason games, I plan on doing a 2007 preview, both in terms of the Texans schedule and of the NFL as a whole. I want to get a better handle on some of the teams as they go through real camp and not merely OTAs, though, so I am holding off for the time being.

“So what,” you say?

Well, the guys at Seahawks Huddle have already done one for the Texans. (How’s THAT for a nice segue? Oh yeah, baby… you know you like the way I lead a story. I’ll shut up now.)

I have to say, I agree with many of their premises, including the idea that Jacoby Jones was a very good pick and that Manchild might wind up being even better than anticipated.

They also suggest that the Texans might finally be poised to turn the corner and–possibly, if the fumbles bounce just right–turn in their first non-losing season. This is pretty much what the guys at Battle Red Blog and I have been saying ad nauseum. Still, it’s nice to see the same conclusion from someone who has no reason to be biased toward the machine that is Kubiak’s Texans.

Speaking of non-biased analysis, KC Joyner offered this nugget in his latest ESPN chat (Insider only):

With the addition of Schaub and with the other moves Houston made, I like their chances a lot. I’m not sold on their secondary** and banking on Ahman Green is a bit risky, but I could see Houston putting up 7-8 wins this year, maybe 9 if things bounce right for them.

People outside the US also seem more knowledgeable than the random Screaming Heads on your television, at least when it comes to the Texans. From the same chat:

Randy (Greenich, England): You know what… I am sick and tired of the media claiming the same old excuse that the Texans have no line. The truth is that the media has no clue because they don’t even pay attention to the Texans. The Texans have drafted numerous linemen over the past few years and last year they were pretty solid although banged up. David Carr was the problem because he has ZERO pocket presence. Can you please be one media person who can actually look at their off-season and see a little hope? Shaub, Green, nice draft, good value free agents and a solid young core defense should be better than 4th worst. What do you say?

KC Joyner: Randy, I agree with you on Houston being an up and coming team. I see 6-8 wins out of them this year, including another win against Indy.

Sure, no one in his right mind is talking Super Bowl. (PLAYOFFS?!?) Still, it’s nice to be entering a season where a winning record is a realistic possibility. It’s even nicer to be hearing the same thing from people who are on the outside looking in.

And, with that, I’ll stop kicking Barbaro. For a little while.

*Who is?

Jason Babin approves of this message

May 20, 2007 Amobi Okoye is 19, DeMeco Ryans, Demarcus Faggins sucks, Dunta Robinson, Jason Babin, Michigan Wolverines, Secondary issues are primary, Spanish, Super Mario

It is possible that the following is only of interest to Jason Babin and a few of his relatives.

Anyway, though I don’t think I’ve just come out and said it, it’s my not-so-radical theory that the starting defensive line will be Super Mario, Manchild, and Dos Anthonys*. I am generally ok with this. However, it does raise one interesting question: ¿Dónde es Jason Babin?

Fans may recall that Babin was the second of two first-round picks by the Texans in the 2004 draft. A defensive end out of Directional Michigan, Babin ended his collegiate career with 299 tackles (including 202 solo and 75 for a loss) and 38 sacks, despite missing all of his senior season with a broken leg. He was described in various scouting reports as “one of the fastest down linemen in the game of football” and having “tremendous potential as a pass rusher.”

At the time Babin was selected, the Texans were still running Dom Capers’ 3-4 defense. Babin was therefore converted from defensive end to outside linebacker; Capers apparently assumed that a pass rusher was a pass rusher, regardless of where he lined up. (Gee, I wonder why Dom wasn’t successful…)

So it went for the 2004 and 2005 seasons. Babin put up 63 tackles and 4 sacks in his first year, then followed that up with 37 and 4 (and 2 forced fumbles) in ‘05.

Prior to 2006, as the team converted from a 3-4 to a 4-3, Babin was unconverted back to defensive end. Of course, by this time Babin was a man without a starting slot (he started only three times in ‘06). Still, now that he was being asked to do what he was actually drafted to do**, he turned in a career high in sacks (5) regardless of his diminished playing time.

And my point is?

I suppose the underlying point is that Babin has talent and loads of untapped potential, thus it is far to early to relegate him to permanent backup. However, the point of this post is this: I propose that the starting d-line should be (from the right) Williams, Maddox , Okoye, and Babin. Weaver would still get plenty of reps spelling Babin and Okoye (and possibly playing Nose Tackle in certain situations).

Crazy? Hardly. Weaver is a solid run-stopper and he has played tackle on passing downs numerous times before. More importantly, this line would (in theory, at least) give the Texans a very strong pass rush from the front four, meaning the LBs would be free to assist in short pass coverage. Given our secondary of “Dunta and these friggin’ guys,” ANY assistance from the LBs would be worth its weight in cliches.

I realize that the biggest possible question mark in this scenario is how the line would fare against the run. Weaver as an outside run stopper was probably the best on the team last year. I think this question is the wrong way to look at things, however. The biggest problem facing this defense right now is the complete lack of a dependable secondary; having a dominating pass rush would alleviate this. There is no reason to think that the downgrade in run defense from Weaver to Babin would even come close to outweighing the upgrade in pass rush ability. Besides, with Orr (whom I fully admit my bias toward… Go Blue!) behind Babin, you have the ability to run blitz with effectiveness. (Side note: That Orr holds the team single game sack record with three is sad, but illustrates the pressing need for a real pass rush.)

Will my plan be implemented? Unlikely. Kubiak is a fan of using Weavs primarily as an outside rusher. Moreover, it appears that Babin has–in Kubes’ mind–established himself as a ‘tweener, relegated to spot duty at a couple different positions.

Bother.

That means, this is probably all just an exercise in wishful thinking. That does not make it incorrect, however.

*That would be Anthony Maddox and Anthony Weaver.
**Novel concept, eh?

Greg Olsen is to Rex Grossman as a penis is to an Indigo Girls concert

May 19, 2007 2006 Draft, 2007 Draft, Amobi Okoye is 19, Athletes who don't stab people, Broken Record, DeMeco Ryans, Super Mario, Teams that aren't the Texans

I understand that, as the perennial AFC South doormats, the Texans don’t get the press coverage of, say, the Cowboys or even the Sam Houston State University field hockey team. I am generally ok with this.

Still, an article about the ten draft picks likely to have a big impact with their respective teams should almost certainly include Manchild, shouldn’t it? You are talking about someone who (a) is a gifted interior pass-rusher and can also play the run; (b) will take double-teams off of Super Mario, almost guaranteeing that he will break double-digits in sacks; and (c) makes life easier for ROY DeMeco Ryans (which should be a frightening thought for AFC South RBs).

I fail to see how this kind of impact will be less than a pass-catching TE who will rely on Rex Grossman’s arm or a defensive end who is being converted to tackle in order to play the run in the NFC West. Both Olsen and Carriker will likely disappear for long stretches, both within a single game and over the course of the season. Manchild, on the other hand, will make an impact on nearly every defensive snap in one (or more) of the three ways listed above.

Shit, I feel like a damned parrot at this point. BRRAWCK PEOPLE ARE IGNORING THE TEXANS BRRAWCK! PRETTY BIRD PRETTY BIRD!

Gary Kubiak eats eggs for breakfast on Tuesdays

May 17, 2007 Amobi Okoye is 19, Ha ha... you like the Lions, Super Mario, Teams that aren't the Texans, The Schaub Experiment

One of the stranger things about being a Texans fan* is that the stuff fans of other teams would ignore is generally the only stuff we even have to talk about. [Author's note: I realize that was an awful sentence. Just move along.] What do I mean? Well, while Cowboys fans are talking about Romo developing as a leader and having a certain swagger about him, we are discussing whether Matt Schaub should or should not wear number 8 due to the baggage that number apparently has. (My answer? Yes, he should.)

While Chicago beat writers are lamenting the Lance Briggs situation and wondering if he is an expendable part of a Super Bowl defense, those who cover the Texans are spending 1,200 words on the impending retirement of Kailee Wong.**

Such dichotomies are to be expected, I suppose. Lions fans probably deal with the same thing (obviously punctuated by jokes about Matt Millen, wide receivers, and The Curse of Wayne Fontes). And it’s not like we never get real news–this story about Mario Williams being healthy and happy and enamored with Manchild probably qualifies as newsworthy–but it would sure be nice to read something along the lines of “Texans add offensive firepower following first-round playoff exit.”

Someday, I guess.

In other news, the NFL is considering shortening the amount of time each team gets to make draft picks. I think this is a fantastic plan and I hope it happens sooner rather than later. Fifteen minutes has always seemed brutally long, not to mention unnecessary, ESPECIALLY for first round picks. I mean, shouldn’t teams have a pretty clear picture of who they want in the first? That would seem to be the round where teams would be the MOST prepared. I understand the idea that fifteen minutes is partly so that teams have time to make trade, but it’s my sneaking suspicion that most trades either happen or don’t within the first five minutes. If you can’t hammer the deal out in ten minutes, I highly doubt the extra five is going to create a miraculous breakthrough.

*I mean “strange” in a somewhat positive way. This is different than the “strange” that refers to “constantly defending the Mario Williams pick” and “wondering if we can get to .500 this year.”
**Hold up. The ALL-TIME sack leader for the Texans has 15 sacks? Um… Super Mario could theoretically become the single-season and career sack leader for this team this year, in his SECOND season. File this factoid under: Why we’ve never made the playoffs.

Travis Johnson is having problems with his TPS reports

May 15, 2007 Amobi Okoye is 19, Andre Johnson, Batman, Gary Kubiak, Jacoby Jones is unheralded, Super Mario, Teams that aren't the Texans, The Schaub Experiment, Training camp 2007, You remind me of ____

Head coach Gary Kubiak was on Sports Radio 610 in Houston this morning, talking about all the upcoming OTAs and what he needs/wants/expects from the team this season. Nothing overly surprising or ground-breaking in that interview, I suppose, but there were a couple of points that could at least be characterized as “interesting.” For instance, Kubes basically called out Travis Johnson and Jerome Mathis by saying that both needed to become “full-time contributor[s]” to the team. Between this statement and Kubiak’s simultaneous praise for Anthony Maddox and Manchild, I am guessing that Travis has probably been relegated to second-team for both interior defensive line spots.

Other highlights from the chit-chat:

• Ahman Green is in great shape and has been working incredibly hard this offseason, as if he still has something to prove to the Green Bay front office that so unceremoniously let him go. Batman relishes the opportunity to play for Mike Sherman again and he is clearly the starter barring something catastrophic. This is great news for a team that desperately needs opposing teams to respect the running game.
• TE Owen Daniels role is going to be greatly expanded in an effort to work the deep-middle and better utilize Daniels’ abilities. (I am assuming it works like this: if Batman can indeed establish a ground game, Daniels should not be forced to block as much, which makes life easier for Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub.)
• Despite my hopes that JJ would win the battle for WR2, it looks like Kubiak is a big Walter fan. Walter “reminds [him] of Ed McCaffery.” I have no idea what that means.
• Finally, based on Gary’s comments, I look for veteran malcontent Andre Davis to have a big role, at least until he pisses someone off, in three WR sets. He showed some flashes of real talent in Cleveland, so maybe this will actually work.

Cam Cameron is a savior

May 6, 2007 2007 Draft, Amobi Okoye is 19, Bad Idea Jeans, Gary Kubiak might be high, Ohio State makes baby Jesus cry, Teams that aren't the Texans

From Len Pasquarelli’s latest tip sheet (Insider only):

One slot can mean a significant financial difference in the first round. And from a perception standpoint, it apparently can mean a lot, too. The Miami Dolphins, and in particular first-year coach Cam Cameron, caught incredible grief from their fans and the media when they chose Ohio State wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. with the ninth overall pick in the draft. Miami fans, of course, wanted the team to stop the free fall of Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn at that point. But had the Dolphins not taken Ginn, who is still recovering from the mid-foot sprain he suffered in the Fiesta Bowl after being mobbed by teammates when he returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, Houston would have grabbed him with the No. 10 slot. And the guess is that long-suffering Texans fans, tired of seeing the team field a bunch of stiffs at the wide receiver spot opposite Pro Bowl pass catcher Andre Johnson, would have had a much kinder reaction.

Ginn was the guy the Texans wanted, and one look at the wide receiver depth chart after Johnson shows why. As was the case for the departed David Carr, there aren’t a lot of inviting targets for new starting quarterback Matt Schaub. Arguably the most surprising choice in the top 10 of the 2006 draft was another former Ohio State player: safety Donte Whitner, who was chosen by Buffalo with the eighth overall pick and had a marvelous rookie year for the Bills. The Dolphins can only hope their Buckeyes’ surprise in the top 10 this year turns out as well.

I am trying to figure out on just how many levels I would have been pissed had this happened. First, there’s the fact that they would have been passing on Manchild. Second, they would have been passing on him to take the modern incarnation of Jermaine Lewis. Third, they would have been drafting one of the players I absolutely despise. (Again, I realize that my hatred for all things OSU can be irrational at best some times. I do not apologize for this.) So, yeah… three levels. At least.

The irony here is that, while I was giving Kubiak mad props (as the kids say) for drafting Okoye, he really only did it because Ginn (who, I think we can all agree, would not have been a good pick in any sense of the word) was off the board. (I picture Kubiak looking at his assistants the first day of minicamp, saying, “Normally I wear protection, but then I thought, ‘When am I gonna make it back to Haiti?’”) Adding to this stupidity, drafting Ginn would have eliminated the need for Jacoby Jones, who is bigger and actually, you know, plays wide receiver in addition to being fast. So, thank you, Cam Cameron. By taking a player who completely pissed off your fan base, you managed to improve Houston’s first AND third round picks. Nicely done. Your fruit basket is in the mail.

Amobi Okoye is STILL 19

May 4, 2007 Amobi Okoye is 19, Athletes who don't stab people, DeMeco Ryans, Fluff, Super Mario

One of my favorite bits of NFL (or any sport, for that matter) writing is the human interest puff piece. Not because I need to be reminded that the people on my television are, in fact, actual human beings, mind you. Rather, I like them because they are full of completely useless nuggets of knowledge that you can later drop in casual sports conversation, thus making you seem like an extremely knowledgeable fan. (I realize that this appearance of knowledge may apply only within my group of NFL-obsessed friends. Whatever. I’ll take what I can get.)

I think we can all agree that pieces don’t get much puffier than this one about Manchild. There’s nothing really new in this article, but it neatly sums up every Amobi-Okoye-related tidbit we heard last weekend. (It also reminds us, in case we recently suffered tremendous brain damage and have forgotten everything (in which case, I doubt we could still read) that Mario Williams and DeMeco Ryans do, in fact, play defense for the Houston Texans. Good to know.) Anyway, to recap some of the article’s highlights:

• Manchild was walking a 7 months old and was pushing a chair across the room for fun by 1. (Oh, those wacky Nigerians… is there ANYTHING they won’t do for fun?!)
• Manchild started high school at 12, was an all-state football player as a 14-year-old senior, enrolled at Louisville at 16, and earned a Psych degree in 3 1/2 years.
• Manchild is 19. Still. That, apparently, has not changed since the draft.
• Manchild once smoked weed, though he regrets it. He does not regret being honest about it, though. He may or may not regret other things.
• Manchild will be an upgrade on the interior of the Texans defensive line. (This is good to know, because I would be upset if we had intentionally drafted a downgrade.)

The article says something else about Manchild’s dad having lived in Houston and his mom not being surprised that Manchild was the youngest player ever drafted. Consider yourself learned in the history of Manchild.

To answer your other question: Yes, I used this entire post as an excuse to beat the new nickname into your brain and hope it sticks. Manchild.

Amobi Okoye is 19

May 3, 2007 2007 Draft, Amobi Okoye is 19, Athletes who don't stab people, Chocodiles, Demarcus Faggins sucks, Dunta Robinson, Mel Kiper's Hair, Suckfactor, Super Mario, The Fred, Tremendous Busts

Yeah, yeah. I’m a few days behind the curve on the draft recap. I know this. You know this. Let’s just leave it at that.

Anyway, bouncing around the internets, it seems people are not overly thrilled with the Texans’ draft. See, e.g., here, here, and here. [Author's note: Screw you, Paul Zimmerman.] Then again, other than the Browns (and, I suppose, the Pats, if you want to count Randy Moss as part of their draft), no one really wowed me. That said, I liked Houston’s draft for one simple reason: They addressed needs with every pick. While this is not a novel concept, it is certainly one that is lost on many, many NFL heads.

On to the picks.

• Round 1, pick 10. Amobi Okoye. I admit it–I love this pick. I went into this draft wanting Okoye only slightly less than Joe Thomas. And, we weren’t ever in a position to get Thomas. (Hey, did you hear that Amobi is 19? I wonder why the networks didn’t mention that a little more.) Okoye (in addition to being 19), is 6′2″/285 (or 300, depending on who is reporting) and, more importantly, should immediately be our best interior lineman. Given that Mario Williams faced double-teams pretty much every down, Okoye should be a welcome sight along the front four. He will also free up DeMeco Ryans even more, which, you know, is good. Plus, he’s 19. Not sure if that got mentioned.
• Round 2, no picks (due to the Matt Schaub trade). I still like the trade. Of course, when next year rolls around, Schaub better have played well enough to make me not unhappy about the lack of ANOTHER second round pick.
• Round 3, pick 73. Jacoby Jones. My first thought was “who?” My second thought was “where the hell is Lane College?” (Jackson, TN.) Jones is the “reason” some people are knocking the Texans’ draft, saying that the team reached to take him this high. Hell, maybe they did. Then again, this is a team that needed a #2 receiver, since the Slug Formerly Known As Eric Moulds has been released. In Jones, they got a 6′4″, 210 lb wideout, with good speed (4.5 at pro day, on grass). The kid is athletic as hell (ran track and played basketball in college) and is apparently a workout warrior. Said Jones about his workout habits following an impressive pro day showing: “I will train twice a day, every day. I will train from 9AM to 11AM, break for lunch, then get back at it for another two hours.” I’ll take that.
• Round 4, pick 123. Fred Bennett. Two things were apparently brought to Gary Kubiak’s attention before the draft. First, due to his continuing inability to bend the space-time continuum, Dunta Robinson can only cover one receiver at a time. Second, Demarcus Faggins and Dexter McCleon and Von Hutchins combine for a Suckfactor* score of roughly 9–a number that Jamar Fletcher is unlikely to bring down. While the big knock on Bennett is that he doesn’t play the run particularly well (and, perhaps, that his tackling form is not great), Fred is big, physical, and has good closing speed.
• Round 5, pick 144. Brandon Harrison. This is the one pick that I am not overly optimistic about. This team really needs a good safety (no offense to CC Brown or Glenn Earl). Harrison, however, is likely to go the way of Cato June and become a linebacker at the next level; he’s 6′1″, 227, and has room to add another 10 pounds or so to his frame. Also, from what I’ve read, he seems to be afraid of making a big hit, which is never good. He might wind up being the best nickel linebacker in the league, but that still doesn’t address the team’s needs the way a true ball-hawking safety would have.
• Round 5, pick 163. Brandon Frye. The other Round 5 Brandon is, apparently, a mutant. 6′4″, 302, with a 690 lb squat and a 445 lb bench press to go along with a 4.79 40. He may be raw (actually, that’s not true… he IS raw), but he seems to have the tools to become a good offensive lineman. He finished the season at VT playing some left tackle, but I am guessing he will move to the interior of the line, perhaps displacing Fred Weary in a year or so.
• Round 6, pick 183. Kasey Studdard. Meh. Kasey has some solid NFL lineage (his dad and uncle both played O-line in the pros) and, by most accounts, he’s strong and has a bit of a mean streak. Other than that, most of the things I’ve read about him (granted, that’s not a huge volume of stuff) say that he’s slow and has poor balance. That pretty much limits him to spelling the other two guards for a few plays per game. Still, it’s the sixth round. We’ll take what we can get on the offensive line at this point.
• Round 7, pick 218. Zach Diles. Let me be really clear about something: If my last name were “Diles,” you can bet your sweet ass that I would name my sons “Croco” and “Sun.” Also, why can I never find Hostess Chocodiles at the store? Those things are awesome. (As for Zach, he plays DeMeco’s position. Hopefully he’s adept at punt and kickoff coverage.)

Speaking of “grading” the drafts, let me just say that I find the whole process asinine. The two most important things in a draft should be (a) filling needs and (b) taking the best available player to fill those needs (with an eye on not drafting a player too early). Unfortunately, most people seem to grade the draft by guessing what the drafted players will do in the NFL. Teams that get the Can’t Miss players automatically “score” higher. But, for every Reggie Bush, there are multiple Can’t Miss guys like Robert Gallery, Charles Rogers, and Joey Harrington. Even more to the point, there are plenty of guys in this and every draft taken after the first round or two who will become stars. So, when Kiper says that the Raiders did well because they got a “franchise QB” in JaMarcus Russell, he’s talking out of his ass. Which probably also has fantastically groomed hair.

*Suckfator explained: (The number of times I scream “you SUCK!” at the player while watching him * pi)/total losses. It’s science.