The Texans had a good draft in 2008, trading down and still got their guy in Duane Brown. He started all 16 games at LT as a rookie, and I didn't notice him getting worked over. The other obvious home run was 3rd round pick Steve Slaton who finished with 1282 yards rushing and 377 receiving.
2009 Needs
CB, OLB, RB
CB - Dunta Robinson came back from major injury and wasn't the same as he had been. Jacques Reeves and Fred Bennett are serviceable backups but can't match up with the premier WR in the league, especially if the front seven isn't getting pressure on the QB.
OLB - The Texans could use a pass-rush OLB to compliment Mario Williams. They could put them on different sides or they could overload and bring them both from one side. It would be nice if their pick could stuff the run as well. The Jags have a good running game and the Titans will be leaning heavily on their two back system as well.
RB - The Texans DO NOT need a running back in the first round. I'd like to see them get a goal-line bruiser type latter in the rounds. Rd3 worked well for them last year, maybe they could get lucky there again.
Other needs - anything on defense. The offense is pretty set and I wouldn't be surprised to see them go defense with all 7 picks. In addition to OLB and CB, they might be looking for a DT, FS, SS. If they could find a CB with some size maybe they could try them at CB and move them to safety. For offense, they could be looking for another WR, third string QB, OL help.
Showing posts with label Steve Slaton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Steve Slaton. Show all posts
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Monday, September 29, 2008
Keeper League Corner - Rashard Mendenhall
There isn't much written specifically for keeper league players, so I thought I'd try some of my own. Most will be centered on players (probably players I have) that may or may not be keeper worthy even in 5 keeper leagues.
We get our first look at Rashard Mendenhall tonight. He has probably lost carries this year because of his fumbles in the preseason, which is a concern. Running backs can overcome dropping the ball but the stigma is a little more difficult to tackle. Even so, he got the opportunity to start tonight because of the injury to Willie Parker. Mendenhall got banged up and left the game on a cart, but even before wasn't having much success against a stout Ravens defense.
Long term look - he doesn't play on third downs. The elite backs (LT, AP, Westbrook, etc.) play every down. That's where they get their value. Especially in PPR leagues, receptions on third downs can mean lots of points. When Mendenhall was in for passes, he was not effective as a blocker, unable to stop even simple rushes up the middle. Many rookie RBs are probably not used to blocking, but some have been effective this year like Matt Forte and Steve Slaton.
Keeper? - No. Willie Parker has the lock on the spot, even if he struggles to stay healthy through the year. Mendenhall needs to play all three downs to be an elite back and recognize the full potential of the RB spot. He would also need to start and play a full game to have any sort of value. I've got him behind at least two other rookie RBs, Forte and Slaton, and most other RB that start. Take a wait and see approach, maybe his situation will change.
Since writing this, Mendenhall went down with a fractured shoulder and is out for the rest of the season. I'm keeping him in my IR spot and I'll reevaluate next fall before it's time to select keepers. If Parker leaves or gets hurt right before next season, Mendenhall would be a borderline keeper.
We get our first look at Rashard Mendenhall tonight. He has probably lost carries this year because of his fumbles in the preseason, which is a concern. Running backs can overcome dropping the ball but the stigma is a little more difficult to tackle. Even so, he got the opportunity to start tonight because of the injury to Willie Parker. Mendenhall got banged up and left the game on a cart, but even before wasn't having much success against a stout Ravens defense.
Long term look - he doesn't play on third downs. The elite backs (LT, AP, Westbrook, etc.) play every down. That's where they get their value. Especially in PPR leagues, receptions on third downs can mean lots of points. When Mendenhall was in for passes, he was not effective as a blocker, unable to stop even simple rushes up the middle. Many rookie RBs are probably not used to blocking, but some have been effective this year like Matt Forte and Steve Slaton.
Keeper? - No. Willie Parker has the lock on the spot, even if he struggles to stay healthy through the year. Mendenhall needs to play all three downs to be an elite back and recognize the full potential of the RB spot. He would also need to start and play a full game to have any sort of value. I've got him behind at least two other rookie RBs, Forte and Slaton, and most other RB that start. Take a wait and see approach, maybe his situation will change.
Since writing this, Mendenhall went down with a fractured shoulder and is out for the rest of the season. I'm keeping him in my IR spot and I'll reevaluate next fall before it's time to select keepers. If Parker leaves or gets hurt right before next season, Mendenhall would be a borderline keeper.
Monday, April 28, 2008
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
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)
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)
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