Houston 2008 Draft Rating - the Pundits

(B) AOL Sports Blog by Stephanie Stradley: NFL Draft Grades: Houston Texans

(C) USAToday by Larry Weisman: Draft grades: Which team scored the best?

(B-) Bleacher Report by Peter Bukowski: NFL Draft 2008: Report Card

(F) Viking Report by John Holler: Draft’s Winners and Losers

(C-) KFFL by Cory J. Bonini: NFL Draft Grapevine: 2008 Losers

(B) NFL Draft University by Greg Trippiedi: NFL Draft Recap and Grades

(C-) MertleBeachOnline.com by Rick Gosselin: Making the Grade?

(C-) SignonSanDiego.com by Jerry Magee: Handing out the grades

(C) CBSSports Community by Billdawg12185: NFL Draft Grades

(C-) Star-Telegram.com by Charean Williams: Grading the Draft

These are the first ten grades I found. What does this mean? Probably not much, but you get an idea that people weren't terribly impressed with the Texans' draft. The pick of Duane Brown was widely slammed, most people thought he was anywhere from a second round to a third round pick. As the Texans didn't have a second round pick, they probably felt they needed to take a tackle with this pick. They gambled once by moving down, and the Chargers were apparently looking for a tackle as well. Not much was said about the other picks, which I think were decent.

Average grade: C

Like I said, no one was too impressed.

The Texans' 2008 Draft

The draft went fairly well for the Texans. They moved down in the first to acquire more picks later, a strategy that many successful teams employ. The Texans filled their stated needs (OT, CB, RB) in order, and used later picks on some lesser needs (OLB, DT). Overall, I gave it a B.


They've shown the ability to find good players (DeMeco Ryans 2nd rd, Owen Daniels 4th rd, Fred Bennett 4th rd, Jacoby Jones 6th rd) which makes me think that one of the later picks will make an impact.


The Texans have spent a lot of high draft picks (2002 - 3rd, 6th, 7th, 7th; 2003 - 3rd, 6th; 2004 - 1st, 7th; 2005 - 1st; 2006 - 1st; 2007 - 1st; 2008 - 5th) and a lot of money on the defensive line, so I was happy that they didn't go there again. They haven't spent high picks on offensive line players. The OL picks by round (2002 - 2nd, 3rd; 2003 - 3rd, 7th; 2004 - NONE; 2005 - 5th; 2006 - 3rd, 3rd; 2007 - 2nd, 5th; 2008 - 1st). The Texans haven't even tried an OL in the first, so there isn't much track record there.


It does feel like the Texans kinda got burnt by the Dallas Cowboys. They got both Felix Jones, a coveted RB and Mike Jenkins, a CB who was probably on the Texans' draft board. When Jenkins came off the board right in front of the Texans' pick, it sure didn't look to me like there was anyone there for them to pick. I was rooting for another trade, letting the Texans slip lower (where they probably still could have picked Duane Brown) and pick up another 3rd round pick. Jerry Jones didn't think there was anyone good enough to pick in the 3rd, but Dallas is a lot better team than the Texans.


Draft Pick #1 - Duane Brown, Virginia Tech, OT


The Good - "I think I can fit in great with what (Alex Gibbs, a new assistant head coach) does," Brown said about the zone blocking system. "His zone scheme fits athletic tackles and guards. My athleticism is my biggest asset, being able to move, get on the second level and cut (block) down." That's the hope anyway.

- Brown was the fastest player at his position at the combine, running the 40-yard dash in 5 seconds.


The Bad - "Brown was a former tight end like Texans right tackle Eric Winston." Winston is just that, a right tackle. Hopefully Brown can stay at the left tackle position and doesn't need to get hidden at G.


The Ugly - "The Texans will ask Brown, who allowed 8 1/2 sacks as a senior, to make the field a safer place for Matt Schaub" 8 1/2 sacks as a senior?!? That's not very good. Jake Long hasn't given up a sack in like two years. The NFL will be harder than college, and if he allowed that many sacks in college...


Draft Pick #2 - Antwaun Molden, Eastern Kentucky, CB


"Molden will compete for the nickel job." Ouch. Hopefully that's meant for just this year. In the third round, you'd like to get a guy who could compete for the #2 CB spot, especially with Dunta Robinson down through half the season. Not a glowing endorsement.


Draft Pick #3 - Steve Slaton, West Virginia, RB

"Slaton should become the third-down back with speed that's been missing." - He's projected to play in certain situations, a reasonable expectation for the first year of a third round pick. That means the Texans will be looking again next year for a #1 RB. That said, I've always liked Slaton. The WVU offense that they ran with Pat White was one of the most fun to watch over the last three years.


"Slaton (5'9/197) might get run over in pass pro. Chris Brown is a pretty good third-down back already and Darius Walker can work those downs too. The Texans have a whole lot of competition at tailback with nothing set in stone. " - good thoughts, but the Texans haven't been afraid to cut RBs loose. They might see Chris Brown as a #1a RB (which I'd be ok with) and Slaton as the 3rd down back. Walker is probably back to the practice squad.


Draft Pick #4 - Xavier Adibi, Virginia Tech, OLB

Technically, Adibi was listed as an inside linebacker at Virginia Tech, but he said he played more like an outside backer. - That's convienent, considering the Texans really need an OLB. If nothing else, they could use him as a PR person next year. 'Technically, we were a 6-10 team, but we played more like a 10-6 team'

Draft Pick #5 - Frank Okam, Texas, DT

"The fact Okam lasted as long as he did speaks volumes about how many teams question his desire. " - Uh oh. His redeeming quality is his sheer size - 328 lbs. That type of huge DT seems better suited for a 3-4 type defense (think Wilfork) but the Texans have the luxury of experimenting with one of the DT spots already filled for the forseeable future.


Draft Pick #6 - Dominique Barber, Minnesota, S

"Barber is the younger brother of Cowboys running back Marion Barber III and the son of former Jets running back Marion Barber Jr." - Not good if that's the only thing they had to say.


Draft Pick #7 - Alex Brink, Washington State, QB

"Brink started for 3 years for the Cougars in the pass-happy Pac-10. He set the school's career passing records of 76 touchdowns and 10,913 yards. Kubiak likes the fact that Brink has been chased by some very good players and knows how to get rid of the ball. " - Well, I suppose Kubiak is only being practical (in that Texans' QBs usually get hammered)

NFL Draft

Probably the second biggest weekend in football to the Super Bowl, the NFL Draft gives a reason for fans of bad teams to get excited about football again. I would have liked to have watched more of it, but I had other things on my agenda.

Bears Draft
It wasn't sexy but the Bears took who they needed to I think. Matt Forte will hopefully light a fire under Benson or take the job himself. It's not very fun to see your favorite team draft three offensive lineman in the draft but it is something they needed to address. Jerry Angelo always does a nice job, outside of the first round. Hopefully Chris Williams won't be a bust such as Curtis Enis, David Terrell, Rex Grossman and probably Cedric Benson. Jeremy always talks about how everyone thinks it is important to find steals in the late rounds when making good picks in the first round really is key. All of the Colts starting skills players were first round picks made by them (Manning, Addai, James (now at Arizona but definetely not a bust), Reggie Wayne, Gonzalez and I think Marvin Harrison, not to mention Dallas Clark. That is how they won the Super Bowl. The Bears got to the Super Bowl with their defense, mainly drafted in the late rounds but they lost becuase of their offense that included players that haven't lived up to hype.
We won't know how this draft class will turn out for a couple years but for the moment I am pleased. There was talk about getting a quarterback in the second round but in my opinion none of the quarterbacks in this class were really that great. I think they will try to sign a free agent or trade fro one if Grossman and Orton prove they are worthless this year.

Picks I liked
Dorsey to KC for the fifth pick was a gift to KC. He's a stud and it was a no brainer for KC to snatch him up although Herm Edwards wanted to trade the pick for my draft picks.

Kevin Smith to DET in the third round. Watching a couple of his games at UCF during the late part of the season last year, this guy is a stud. He could be the pick of the draft.

Rashard Mendenhall to PIT. Luckily for PIT, Jerry Jones couldn't put aside his Arkansas bias and drafted Felix Jones one spot ahead. Both will be good players but with Mendenhall and Parker, Big Ben will have even more help.

Picks I didn't like
McFadden to OAK- I hate to see McFadden go to Oakland and I think Oakland could have filled other needs. They already have Fargas, LaMont Jordon and Micheal Bush and who knows if JaMarcus Russell will pan out. I would have rather seen him go to New York with the Jets to help them compete with the Patriots.

Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn to GB- I know Brett Favre is better than Rodgers Brohm and Flynn combined but you can only play one QB at a time. I felt Rodgers looked like he was ready but now, if Brohm shows up to play the Packers have a QB controversy which can't be good for the psyche of Rodgers.

Chris Johnson in the first round to TEN- Vince Young needs a number one receiver and with no receivers taken at this point in the draft they could have taken whoever they wanted. Tennessee keeps drafting running backs when they have other needs.

Rockets 2008 Playoff game #2

THIS IS A MUST WIN FOR THE ROCKETS!!! Probably. The Jazz have been very good at home (only 4 losses) and they now have home court advantage with the win in Houston on Saturday. The Jazz' record is poor on the road for the year, but they've been good on the road since acquiring Kyle Korver. Yes, you read that right, Kyle Korver. Boozer, Williams, AK-47, Okur ... and Kyle Korver made the difference.

8:40 Kady Milloy singing the National Anthem! So you don't know who that is. If you watch American Idol you would. She's from the Houston area, she's pretty decent looking, she does a good Britney Spears impression, however, she can't sing very well. And apparently brave is a two syllable word. And the home ... of the ... ba-rave!

8:43 They're announcing the starting lineups. Scola, Battier, all of them do this flying shoulder bump thing with the bench players. Except McGrady. He went with the index finger touch. Hopefully I can find a picture of it, you've got to see it to believe it. That shoulder must be a bigger problem than people are making it out to be.

8:50 I'm watching this game on local tv. The game is also being broadcast on TNT. Not really sure why it's on local, too, but I wasn't too impressed with the announcers on Saturday night.

8:56 Somebody should try guarding Darren Williams. The Rockets miss Rafer Alston. Yes, you read that right, as well. They've been trying to give his job away for 3 years and he's still the best PG on the team.

9:01 I've already mentioned Kyle Korver - Iowa tie #1, I should also mention Matt Bullard a.k.a. Bull. You may know him from the University of Iowa teams in the late '80s. He's from WDM Valley and played for the Rockets on their championship teams. Iowa tie #2.

9:08 Mario Williams sighting!!! I wonder if he drove to the game in his orange Lamborgini?

9:22 Rockets still down 30-25, but McGrady seems to be trying, so that's a plus.

9:26 T-Mac averages 28.5 ppg in the playoffs. Good for fourth best all time. Behind Jordan and Jerry West (and somebody else). Maybe it isn't all his fault that his teams haven't made it out of the first round.

9:39 Okur (7') gets a rebound over Chuck Hayes (6'6"). Bullard says, "You can't teach 7 foot." To which Clyde Drexler adds, "You can't teach height" Uh, I think that's what he just said. I suppose if you've got a half-dozen quips stocked up, you use them when you can.

9:48 The Utah Jazz are so long! You would have thought Jay Bilas was calling the game!

9:49 Chuck Hayes has missed 3 point blank shots. And Battier just had a sweet put back dunk. Drexler dubs him "Air Battier." Original. I'm guessing he didn't come up with Clyde The Glide.

10:14 Second half and its tied on a TMac jumper, but he can't make the free throw and the Rockets can't take the lead. McGrady should be a better free throw shooter (68% !!! Not to mention his three-point shooting 29%. Ouch!)

10:18 McGrady is getting eaten up on defense by Kirilenko. McGrady has never been a great defender, but usually the Rockets hide him. Who is Battier guarding?

10:22 Rockets lead! Rockets lead! And of all people to make the go-ahead, it's Diekembe Mutumbo. That dude is oooooooold.

10:30 McGrady takes a three ... and misses! Not surprising, for those of you who have been following along.

10:35 Ronnie Price just hit a buzzer beater three at the end of the third quarter. Austin dubbed them the Utah Buzzer Beaters. Better than Drexler could have come up with, I guess. Ronnie Price is Houston-tie #1. He's from Friendswood.

10:39 4th quarter, 71-69, bad guys. Mehmet Okra just made an easy layup. Rockets should try playing some defense. Just heard that Darin Williams is not hurt, he's just chillaxin in the locker room.

10:45 Bennett Salvatore is bad at his job. One of the few things I agree with Bill Simmons about. Seriously, that guy's a turd. Well, both him and Salvatore.

10:49 McGrady goes 1 for 2 from the stripe. He's missed 4 ... of 9. 55%, that's about right. If someone like Amare Stoudemare can make 22 of 22 in a game, McGrady (a SHOOTING guard) should be able to go better than 70% from the line.

10:57 McGrady is rubbing off on the other players, and not in a good way. Bobby Jackson just missed two free throws - he's who they send up for technical free throws (81%). They needed that, too. Down by three, you can't miss two free throws.

10:59 Down by five, the Rockets get a five on four break, and McGrady is lucky to draw rim on a three point attempt (0 for 2 tonight). He just can't put together a complete game. This is the time when he needs to take the game over. He didn't score in the 4th quarter last night and only has one point in the fourth tonight. Maybe that's why he doesn't make it out of the first round.

11:06 Drexler and Bullard have been dogging on the refs all game long. I'd agree that there have been some pretty terrible calls. The last one was especially poor. Bullard doesn't think these refs belong in the playoffs.

11:09 Kyle Korver hits a shot and then ices the game from the free throw line. The Iowa kid killing us, that's what hurts. Kyle Korver makes the difference in yet another road game. We didn't get to the next two Iowa ties, maybe next time.

Beer Can House

Only in Houston ...

A Man’s 6-Pack Can Serve as His Castle

I'm proud to say I've been there. Mom came to Houston and asked me about the beer can house, I said I'd never heard about it and she couldn't believe it. When asked how long she'd known about it, she said "a couple days." Apparently somebody she works with had heard about it. Now, it wasn't much to look at when we drove past, but it's now been restored and made into some sort of a historical destination. This article might not be the best about the beer can house, but it made the NYTimes. This dude retired and drank a six-pack a day for 18 years. Dedication.

Master's Challenge

Having a hard time getting into most golf events, I decided to try a fantasy event on ESPN. The Master's best ball challenge is similar to other "challenge" events on ESPN.com, where you get a salary cap and get to choose athletes based on their performance. Having really no clue on strategy and possessing what I thought was not a lot of golf knowledge I sat down to make my picks. Of course Tiger is on my roster. No matter what is cost and it turned out to be 6 dollars more than any other golfer, I knew I had to take him. My next pick was kind of a homer pick with Zach Johnson. I chose Aaron Oberholser and Tom Watson to round out my four. I couldn't find a group to my liking, so I joined the Iowa Hawkeyes group and named my entry Cyclone Fan. After Day One I was atop the leaderboard and I really got into it. I picked up Immelman for Oberholser for days two and three and then picked up Snedecker instead of Immelman on Sunday so I could pick up a fourth golfer that made the cut. After all was said and done I finished atop the Iowa Hawkeye leaderboard and in the 99.6 percentile, 189th place overall. I guess I knew more than I thought.

Billy Butt Packer

Billy Packer just referred to Shawn Taggart as an "ISU Grad". I did not know you could graduate after finishing about two classes. I need to find out what track Taggart was on and finish up my degree apparantely. Jim Nance + Billy Packer equals brutal to listen to. I don't think I can go through another game of this crap.

Houston News Report - 4/4/08

There's been some interesting news in the Houston area as of late. Here are a couple links.

There's been a lot of news about these two the last week. Why are 14 year olds pregnant?!?
Juvenile Girl Will Not Be Charged for Abandoning Fetus on Airplane
Texas Police Say Baby Probably Cried Before 14-Year-Old Mom Killed Him in Flush Attempt

Maybe kids are as shocked and disappointed as everyone else
Houston teens push for better sex ed

Another example of "Texas Justice"
HPD: Convenience Store Clerk Kills Robber

72 grand doesn't seem like enough
Indonesian Woman Enslaved By Sugar Land Family For Years, Court Records Show

Not all news out of Houston has been bad - Only 78 murders during the first three months of 2008!
City Houston on track to lower homicide rate compared to 2007