My Texans War Room Strategy

[KT2000]

We've heard endless Vince-Reggie talk down here since the Rose Bowl, and I'm taking them both out of the equation in this thread.

I draft D'Brickashaw Ferguson (Virginia) #1 overall. If the organization decides it is commited to David Carr, let's get the man a franchise LT. LT is one of the toughest positions to fill in football. Ferguson has Walter Jones/Jonathan Ogden potential and that's well worth a #1 pick in my opinion.

Next pick up is Round 3, #73 overall. This might be a great spot to look at picking up another hometown phenom, LSU running back Joseph Addai (Sharpstown product). Addai has the potential to be one of the real steals in the upcoming draft in my opinion. When 100% last year, he was easily one of the best players in college football. If you watched the great game LSU played against Arizona State, you know what I'm talking about. Addai could be gone before this pick though.

DE and Safety are more pressing position needs than RB in my opinion. We definitely need a good pass rushing DE through free agency/trade if we don't get one capable of starting in the draft.

[AZTiger]

You wouldnt take the risk of trading down to the 3-6 range, picking up extra picks, and still most likely getting your pick of Ferguson, Mario Williams, or even Bush?

I really like what I've seen from Ferguson, but if Mario Williams could be like Julius Peppers...wow.

I love Addai too, I think he's gonna make a great pro, but I think the ONLY RB we shoud take is Bush if we take him. If we don't take him, we shouldn't be drafting RBs IMO.

[KT2000]

Trading down wouldn't be a bad move at all if we get a good enough deal and can still get someone like Ferguson or Mario Williams.

[Favpack]

KT - AZ is right in that, if you want the Brick (my nickname for him) - you trade down and then take him 3rd. I think you have to take Reggie or Vince - probably Reggie. You can rebuild your line through other avenues and the big LT is no more a sure pick than Vince or Reggie - remember the greatest lineman ever - Tony Manderich? No, I didn't think so - he was a borderline bust.

[AZTiger]

Mandarich was also a walking steroid. If you trade down to the 3-6 range, you're still gonna get a player who can greatly help your team IMO

[jtk1519]

I'm going to plagiarize my strategy, but this is exactly how I feel...

The Texans "earned" this pick by losing a number of close games in bizarre fashion down the stretch and thus won "The Reggie Bush Sweepstakes", as the battle among the leagues worst teams for the top pick had been labeled. In all reality it isn't a question of if Houston will take the star running back from USC, but rather should they? This is a team that has numerous holes to fill, most notably up front along the offensive line, and a running back in Domanick Davis that has rushed for about 1,000+ yards in each year of his career who they just recently rewarded with a new $21.1 million contract extension. There is no doubt that Reggie Bush would make any team better, but for this franchise drafting him is simply not a sound strategy. Bush is a rare athlete who scouts describe as "special" and he can dominate a game with explosive plays as a runner, receiver and return man. However with the Texans he will have to split carries with Davis and won't even help out as a kick returner because they already have a Pro Bowler there in rookie Jerome Mathis. If they want to make the flashy pick and appease the fans they will take Bush, but if they want to make the right football decision they would move down for a package of draft picks and take Ferguson. From all accounts it looks like the team plans to select Bush but you have to wonder how much of an impact he will be able to have for this team with precious few weapons surrounding him and seemingly little opportunity to get his hands on the ball.

http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/sub/mockdraft.html

The Texans drafting Bush doesn't make sense from a personnel standpoint and it sure doesn't make sense from a financial standpoint. Bush is going to command a contract well in excess of $50 million... probably close to, if not greater than $70 million. That would give Houston one of the most, if not the most expensive backfield in the NFL with little salary cap room to pick up any decent linemen.

[HUM398]

I have to say that i dont think reggie bush is coming to houston. There are only two logical choices

1. Draft young
2. TRADE DOWN: look if we are not getting vince then we need to help out carr alot. Get a couple of good picks and talent on the oline

[Daniel Agnew]

Ferguson would be the best choice for the Texans he would reduce Carr's sack in half plus like JTK said Domanick Davis is a good running back & they have a pro bowl return man, nothing against Young & Bush but D'Brickshaw Ferguson would make sense, he was a hell of a left tackle & drafting him would do wonders for the Texans. I want both the Texas pro teams to kick *** my dream Super Bowl matchup is Dallas vs Houston.

[AZTiger]

$70 million? That's ridiculous, but yes he'll command a bunch of money. I'd really like to see Ferguson or Mario Williams. To me, we need playmakers on defense more than we need offensive help, and yes that includes the line. I think a new offensive scheme will help reduce sack totals.

[jtk1519]

$70 million? That's ridiculous, but yes he'll command a bunch of money.

Ridiculous... yes, especially considering that he is not an every down back. However, the idiotic hype he is getting is going to raise his asking price. Consider this, last year's #1 pick, Alex Smith, signed a contract valued around $50 million and Alex Smith isn't considered near the caliber of athlete Bush is. I would expect Bush's contract to have about $20 million in guaranteed money with the rest of the contract being very incentive heavy which could push the total possible value of the contract beyond $60 million.

As the Texans, I would try and work out a deal with the Packers who hold the #5 pick. Green Bay gets the #1 pick that they would almost without question use on Reggie Bush and in return, the Texans get the #5 pick and say a 3rd or 4th round pick. The Texans can then use that #5 pick on D'Brickashaw who is an absolute beast and could easily be one of the best linemen in the league. They could then spend their extra pick late in the first day on an OT like Eric Winston who Mel Kiper has falling to the 4th round after a disappointing Senior Bowl. Winston is a talented kid who can play either LT or RT. With D'Brickashaw at LT and Winston at RT, we may finally be able to see what Carr is capable of.

[AZTiger]

However, the idiotic hype he is getting is going to raise his asking price.

Yeah, and Bush is the only player getting ridiculous hype ;)

I'm so torn on Ferguson or Williams. I mean, Williams could be Julius Peppers or better....on a defense that DESPERATELY needs playmakers. I think your LT needs can be met elsewhere, perhaps with Winston like you said.

[jtk1519]

Yeah, and Bush is the only player getting ridiculous hype ;)

I'm so torn on Ferguson or Williams. I mean, Williams could be Julius Peppers or better....on a defense that DESPERATELY needs playmakers. I think your LT needs can be met elsewhere, perhaps with Winston like you said.

I just don't know how well Williams fits into Houston's 3-4 defense. He's a big guy obviously at 6'7 290, but I don't know if he has what it takes to be a dominant force as a DE in that scheme. I would feel much better about him if he were in a 4-3. I actually think Manny Lawson would be a better fit because he could play OLB in the 3-4 but he can also come up and play on the line. He seems to fit that DeMarcus Ware/Shawne Merriman mold.

I would also like to see the Texans draft a dominant NT and it looks like Oregon's Haloti Ngata could be just that. At 6'5 338, he certainly has the size to be a force up front.

As far as I'm concerned, the Texans have more needs than draft picks. Their D-line and O-lines suck as do their LBs. They need more help at WR and in the secondary. The ironic thing is that the two positions they are really fine at, QB and RB, are the two positions they are considering using their #1 pick on. It just doesn't make any sense to me.

[AZTiger]

I agree with your last two sentences. However, the Texans won't be running a 3-4 next year, so that's why I'm clamoring for Williams.

[jtk1519]

I agree with your last two sentences. However, the Texans won't be running a 3-4 next year, so that's why I'm clamoring for Williams.

If that is the case, then I would agree.

Something else to consider, if the Texans trade down and acquire more picks that will cost less money, they may be able to afford going after a Ray Lewis or LaVar Arrington who are both trying to leave their current teams. I think they could get by with one big play maker in the front 7 surrounded by mediocre talent.

[BigArab]

If they use their draft pick on Young or Bush, then I hate to say it, but they just wasted a lot of money. What do you do? Spend in excess of 50 million on a RB when they already have an above average RB (waiting to explode into a great running back) who's ink on his new contract isn't even dry yet. No no no. You trade down and pick up Williams or Ferguson. As of right now, David Carr's decision making is taking a nosedive because every time he takes a snap, he has 1.5 seconds to get the ball away. Domanick Davis is having to make cuts in his own backfield. That is pathetic. In this day in age with super speedy DEs like Peppers and Freeney, you MUST, and I emphasize MUST, have a LT and RT who can shuffle their butt off to keep the pocket from collapsing. Ferguson has proven he can do that. He possesses very rare athleticism for that position. So you get an All Pro potential LT and save tens of millions that you can use to bolster other holes in your roster. I'm glad to hear they probably won't be running the 3-4. They lack the speed and playmakers to run that defense. They possess no hybrid players that can be a DE or LB.

My suggestion would be to get Ferguson and then maybe take John Syptak somewhere down the line (who many are rating as a steal.)

[Reaganrattler07]

If they use their draft pick on Young or Bush, then I hate to say it, but they just wasted a lot of money. What do you do? Spend in excess of 50 million on a RB when they already have an above average RB (waiting to explode into a great running back) who's ink on his new contract isn't even dry yet. No no no. You trade down and pick up Williams or Ferguson. As of right now, David Carr's decision making is taking a nosedive because every time he takes a snap, he has 1.5 seconds to get the ball away. Domanick Davis is having to make cuts in his own backfield. That is pathetic. In this day in age with super speedy DEs like Peppers and Freeney, you MUST, and I emphasize MUST, have a LT and RT who can shuffle their butt off to keep the pocket from collapsing. Ferguson has proven he can do that. He possesses very rare athleticism for that position. So you get an All Pro potential LT and save tens of millions that you can use to bolster other holes in your roster. I'm glad to hear they probably won't be running the 3-4. They lack the speed and playmakers to run that defense. They possess no hybrid players that can be a DE or LB.

My suggestion would be to get Ferguson and then maybe take John Syptak somewhere down the line (who many are rating as a steal.)

Right on, buddy.

But unfortunately....Houston's gonna waste a lot of money. 'Course I guess there are some players you just can't pass up.

[jtk1519]

What everybody needs to keep in mind here is that Charlie Casserly is still the Texans' GM which means there is a 99.9% he will seriously f*** this draft up. Whatever the Texans should do, don't expect them to do it with that moron behind the wheel.

[AZTiger]

true, and up until last year i'd say he at least gets the first round right...but even now i'm not so sure about that

[hoo2ers]

What everybody needs to keep in mind here is that Charlie Casserly is still the Texans' GM which means there is a 99.9% he will seriously f*** this draft up. Whatever the Texans should do, don't expect them to do it with that moron behind the wheel.

BINGO !!!!!!!!

[DirtyHarry01]

Let's see, if the Tex-Anns sign VINCE or Bush, or both, they will compete for the SuperBowl in 06. NOT. All of you "experts" at football treat these guys as the answers, when the Tex-Anns answer is to overcome 4 years of poor player selection and worse on-the-field performance. What's funny is that the coaching staff was replaced, but the driver of the bus (Casserly) still has his position. Well, good luck getting to the S-Bowl next year.

[AZTiger]

Let's see, if the Tex-Anns sign VINCE or Bush, or both, they will compete for the SuperBowl in 06. NOT. All of you "experts" at football treat these guys as the answers, when the Tex-Anns answer is to overcome 4 years of poor player selection and worse on-the-field performance. What's funny is that the coaching staff was replaced, but the driver of the bus (Casserly) still has his position. Well, good luck getting to the S-Bowl next year.

Intelligent Texan fans like myself aren't as foolish to declare SB in 2006....

[Reaganrattler07]

What everybody needs to keep in mind here is that Charlie Casserly is still the Texans' GM which means there is a 99.9% he will seriously f*** this draft up. Whatever the Texans should do, don't expect them to do it with that moron behind the wheel.

Thankfully Washington fired him.....