Senior Bowl practice comment

Senior Bowl Game

Senior Bowl practice comment

Player who will have a better NFL career than many drafted higher than him.

Senior Bowl practice comment

Senior Bowl practice comment

Player who will have a better NFL career than many drafted higher than him.

Player who will have a better NFL career than many drafted higher than him.

Senior Bowl practice comment

Senior Bowl practice comment

Senior Bowl Game

Senior Bowl practice comment

Senior Bowl Game

Senior Bowl practice comment

B+

2009 COLLEGE DRAFT REPORT CARD

by Jay Goldberg

I like what the Texans did at the top of their draft, but had some questions after that resulting on them falling short of the elusive "A".  They also added a couple of college street free agents worth watching in camp.

DRAFT PICKS

Cushing is stronger and quicker than he appears at first glance.  He will be a top SAM who will have a long, productive NFL career.  I was surprised the Saints passed on him, but the Texans were obviously thrilled.

I expected Barwin to go to a team that plays the 3-4 defense.  In fact I thought he was the perfect replacement for Vrabel in New England since he is also a fine tight end.  Barwin can rush the passer and will make an immediate impact on the Texans this year in the nickel.  He is a special athlete; he runs like safety and has the athleticism of a wide receiver and the quickness and cutting ability of a running back.  On other teams he could have been used in multiple roles.  However, with their depth at tight end, and Cushing at SAM, Barwin will be able to concentrate on defensive end and has the ability to be a "Robert-Mathis-type" of player.

I said in my team needs section prior to the draft that the Texans would grab one of the many solid centers who can also play guard in this draft.  That's exactly what they did by selecting Caldwell.  Worst case he will be a valuable, versatile backup; best case he challenges to start.  He is a skilled player.

The Texans had Quin more highly rated than I did.  His short shuttle and three-cone times raised red flags for me.  For a taller corner I liked Mickens, who was available in round seven much more than Quin.  As a corner, at this spot, I liked Macho Harris and D.J. Moore better.  However, I would not have gone corner here.  Staying within the Texans apparent draft needs strategy, I would have drafted strong safety Chip Vaughn at this spot (and then Mickens later).  Going outside their strategy I would have drafted wide receiver Johnny Knox giving them a burner with good hands playing opposite Johnson long term.  That would have caused major headaches for opposing defenses where they had to watch both receivers deep, opening up the box even more for Slaton runs.

Hill is a solid blocking tight end with good hands.  He won't get deep but is an ideal blocking tight end who casn slip out and make catches on third downs and on the goal line if defenses ignore him.

I love Casey as a player.  He was my third rated tight end in the draft.  He was great value and will be a contributor.  However, with Daniels and now Hill his impact may be less than what it could have been on another team.  Also, I believe running back Andre Brown or Javon Ringer would have been more valuable to the Texans here than Casey.  Either would have upgraded the Texans' backup running back position and provided Slaton-insurance.

I had a much higher grade on McCain than I did on Quin.  McCain is fast, quick and athletic and will grow into one of the better slot corners in the league.  He will also be very good on special teams.

Nolan was not bad value here, but in my scenario using a safety at pick #112 (Vaughn), my selection here would have been cornerback Mickens.  However, even at strong safety, I had Sanford, Greene and even Fitzhugh with higher grades than Nolan.

COLLEGE STREET FREE AGENTS

Foster had the look of a back who could be a solid backup, one who could get the tough yards.  However, after injuring his hamstring at Senior Bowl practices, his workout was very poor.  I am not sure if his hamstring was fully healed or not during that workout.  If it was, he is probably too slow to make an impact in the NFL.  If his workout was impacted by his injured hamstring, the Texans may have a nice surprise in Foster.

Helms has some skills but is an undersized lineman.  He could stick on the practice squad for further development, but he could also be cut.

You look mat Jamison and think, built like the hybrid ends, but times and workouts like the bigger defensive ends.  Let's move on.  Then he gets on the field and makes plays.  It will interesting to follow Jamison in camp.

Jones has a nice combination of size, quickness and athleticism and has acceptable speed.  Look for him to make the Texans' development squad.

Johnson is an interesting case.  He plays much quicker and much more explosively on the field than his timed numbers indicate.  As a running back this puts up a red flag since speed, quickness and athleticism are needed at running back as players move up to the the NFL.  However, I think the kid has good instinct, good visions, and makes quick decisions.  He could be a nice surprise in camp.

Watkins is a big kid who got bye in college on natural talent.  As his workout showed (and his dropping put of the draft) he will need to work hard to have a career in the NFL.  Look for him to stick on the Texans' development squad, at least early in the season.  If he works hard while on the development squad, the Texans may have a solid NFL backup tackle.

I'm sure I'm just parroting other sites, but Brown was a reach in round one.  It's not that he won't be a good starter, it's just that it is not a certainty, and there is too big a risk it won't work out for Brown to be a first round pick.  My rankings are based on a mix of talent and probability of success.  Outside of that one move, I liked the Texans' draft.  They got excellent value with Adibi and Okam on day two.  They also signed some interesting college street free agents. 

DRAFT PICKS

Brown has the talent to be a good starter, but was inconsistent in a bad way in college.  He played well against lesser competition, and didn't do as well against the better teams.  Brown is a physical specimen and looks the part, but there are a lot of athletic tackles that don't cut it as top NFL starters.  I had a third round grade on Brown, but I wouldn't have chastised a team for selecting him in the middle to end of round two.  But round one?  No.  Again, even if he makes it, this was a pick with too much probability of failure for me to say in retrospect it was a good selection.

Molden is a strong kid.  In fact, that appears to be a pattern with Houston in this draft.  They drafted players with top-end strength.  Molden also has good speed, quickness and athleticism.  He needs work on in his technique, but has a good upside.  Down the line, he could settle in as a starting free safety since he tends to get bye purely on his athletic ability.

The Texans needed a running back because Green is past his prime.  I like the free agent signing of Brown, but he is injury prone.  Slaton is a playmaker.  While short, he is strong for his size.  He makes quick, sharp cuts without losing speed.  He also catches the ball well.  He will be an effective change-of-pace, third-down back who could do better than expected if called upon to carry the ball 15 to 20 times a game.

This year's linebacker class was muddled after the top few players.  Adibi was part of that muddling.  However, I had him towards the top of that group.  He is very quick and changes directions well.  While ideally suited for the WILL, I wouldn't be surprised if he is moved to SAM (or Greenwood is moved to SAM) so that the Texans can get their best three linebackers on the field.  To play SAM, Adibi will have to hit the weight room a bit.  He has the skills to cover most tight ends.

Okam was a steal in round five.  He is a one-dimensional strong, tough, run-stuffing defensive tackle.  With Okoye and Johnson the more athletic type of defensive tackles, Okam provides an option to plug in against teams that are having success running up the gut against the Texans.

Barber is Marion's kid brother.  While he played more free safety in college he projects better as a strong safety in the NFL.  However, he will most likely settle in as a backup and special teams player.  Like his brother, he is a strong, tough kid.

Brink is a small quarterback with quick feet in the pocket who projects as a number three.  His upside is limited and he'll probably be a practice squad player.  He could be a player who can hold the fort for a couple of games if needed.

COLLEGE STREET FREE AGENTS

Bennett is a blocking tight end who plays hard but will not be a major factor in the passing game, although he has reliable hands.  He is a career third tight end type.

Grice-Millan is a quick receiver with good college production who could stick on the Texans' practice squad and develop into a #4 receiver in time.

Jenkins has similar skills to Grice-Mullin, but I like Grice-Mullins' potential a bit more.  However, they are close enough for Jenkins to have a chance to push him for a potential practice squad spot.

Moffitt is a real sleeper in the Texans' camp.  He was a true MIKE in college, who was a tackle-hound but was thought to be a bit stiff.  I was very surprised he went undrafted, especially after his workout.  What his workout tells me is that maybe he was thinking too much in the middle and that was why he looked stiff.  Certainly he has the potential to be very effective on the field based on his quickness and change-of-direction workout numbers.  Looking at his measureables (plus on-field production), I wouldn't be surprised if he is kicked outside to SAM and makes a run at Diles.  Worst case if he adjusts to SAM is that he becomes a flexible backup and a good special teams player.

Richardson is another linebacker with good production and good measureables.  He will also be in the mix for a roster spot, but could end up on the practice squad for further development.

Nading caught my eye in the East West Shrine Game.  He was disruptive against the run, but is light for a defensive end.  It will be interesting to see how he holds up against bigger, tougher compeition.