Houston Draft Strategy

[Nixon]

To me, it would depend if they were in love with any of the QBs or not. If they do, take their guy. If not I would consider trying to trade down and attempt to maximize the value. They're starting to turnover, and have some young talent. If it were my team, that's probably what I'd want them to do.

[voiceofunreason]

I doubted it earlier but I think Clowney is a lock to go 1.01. Forcing a qb and drafting a player like Locker, Ponder, or Manuel is a bad move. Just doesn't look like any of the qbs are worth it.

[Doggie]

I just don't see how Houston passes on pairing Clowney with JJ Watt. They would be absolutely nuts if they reached for a QB over him. I think the mirage of these QB is coming to surface. Sure, it's always tempting to take the 1st QB in the draft because they have a need.. but why not take Clowney, then make a play for Ryan Mallett? O'Brian knows him from NE and from what I've heard and (limited) seen it sure looks like Mallett is better than the majority of these Rookie QB's anyway.

[Igwebuike 4 Prez]

We hear the argument that teams force QBs at the top of the draft, virtually every year. Truth is, it doesn't stop teams from drafting a QB, when they don't have one. If a QB has to be Andrew Luck or Peyton Manning caliber to go #1, then a QB would only get drafted 1st overall every 15 years or so. Everything Houston has done this off season (trading Schaub, signing Fitzpatrick to backup money, hiring a former QB coach/offensive coordinator) points to taking a QB.

Taking Clowney would only make sense if Houston had its future QB in house. If none of the top QBs are worthy of going #1 overall, then why would the "leftover" QBs in the 2nd round or later be any more worthy of taking over a better player? What is to say that Houston won't have players rated higher on its draft board, when it comes time to draft a QB outside the 1st round? That is why the taking Clowney then finding a QB later approach doesn't make sense to me. Successful teams don't go into the draft thinking, "Let's take X player with this pick then follow it up with X position on the next pick".

I don't see Houston having a player other than QB rated as its top prospect, but who knows.

[DJB]

When was the last time Bruce Smith or Mario Williams won the Lombardi trophy? Ya never. You win Championships with QB's not DE's.

There is no doubt in my mind that Clowney is the far more talented athlete over anyone else in the draft, but when you are picking #1, it's because you have no QB whatsoever.

[italian_stallion21]

Seahawks D did a pretty good job of winning a Super Bowl.

[dxw100]

Stumbled Upon this the other night.
http://freakonomics.com/2012/01/20/does ... pionships/

But I don't have much to add about Houston. JJ and Clowny would be pretty terrifying but JJ is terrifying by himself. There are some very solid DE/OLB that will be around the top of Rd 2 so if they don't trade back I think they will grab a QB with the first pick.

[cgcthem]

Seahawks D did a pretty good job of winning a Super Bowl.

Not taking Clowney seems Crazy to me at this point.Wilson was a 3rd Round pick why can't you take a chance on a guy later like that and draft a diffrence maker in Clowney the QB position is very questionable to me and although it is a need take one later.

DRDOOM

[DJB]

Seahawks D did a pretty good job of winning a Super Bowl.

They still had a top 10 QB though, and overall their entire defence was solid, not just one super talented DE. If I am trying to win a Super Bowl, I'll take the stud QB over the stud DE any day of the week.

[heydangle]

Seahawks D did a pretty good job of winning a Super Bowl.

They also had Russell Wilson as well. If they think they can find that in the 2nd or 3rd round, they'll go Clowney. Worth noting, last I checked, they only had 4 defensive linemen on their roster. With all the QBs coming out next year, I'd be okay if they went Clowney and waited on a QB. At first, as a Texans fan, I wanted to Teddy, to go compete now... but they really need a lot of bodies after letting so many go the last couple years.

[Igwebuike 4 Prez]

Seattle and Russell Wilson are an exception. There probably isn't another team in the NFL with a roster made up of more non-1st round players.

Seattle liked Wilson, but they didn't know what they were getting when they drafted him. They had just signed Matt Flynn to a big FA contract.

Seattle was 31st in pass attempts last year (32nd in Wilson's rookie year). I doubt Bill O'Brien can get by with a QB like that in his offense.

[italian_stallion21]

Exactly, don't get me wrong, I like Wilson (tough to say as a Niner's fan), but he's literally had to do very little to win in Seattle. He reminds me of Mark Sanchez but better, he came into a great situation where he doesn't have to do too much as his team has an amazing running game and amazing D. Just like the Jets had.

[1standgoal]

Am I the only person that wants to see Houston draft Johnny Manziel? Texas Born and Raised doin it Big Time in his home state. That would be box-office.

[Jimmy Jones]

Am I the only person that wants to see Houston draft Johnny Manziel? Texas Born and Raised doin it Big Time in his home state. That would be box-office.

As an owner of the 1.01 on my Superflex I would cream myself the Texas drafted Johnny Football.

[clarion contrarion]

Seahawks D did a pretty good job of winning a Super Bowl.

They still had a top 10 QB though, and overall their entire defence was solid, not just one super talented DE. If I am trying to win a Super Bowl, I'll take the stud QB over the stud DE any day of the week.

true but his team passed on a qb the 1st 2 rounds and drafted him 75th or whatever ... if there was a surefire guy ... take him but since this group is looking like the ponder gabbert locker group perhaps a defensive player is the proper way to go.