2011 NFL Mock Draft: The Houston Texans Select...

by Jon Banks on Mar 31, 2011 12:00 PM CDT in 2011 CSC Community Mock Draft

With the eleventh pick of the 2011 CSC Community Mock Draft, the Houston Texans (represented by the wise Jon Banks) select...

Robert Quinn, DE/OLB, North Carolina

Let me start out by saying, this dude is a beast. This is a top five talent who should have already been drafted, yet will fall on draft day simply because the NCAA is hypocritical. The Texans need a day one defensive impact player and Quinn would be the best one to take.

As most people know, the Texans defense, specifically the secondary, sucked. And not just sucked, but was one of the worst defenses in modern NFL history. But if the secondary sucked, why draft a lineman?

Well I’m glad I asked. There were a few reasons why the secondary was utter Ja*** Dav** in 2010.

First off: poor safety play. Free safety Eugene Wilson is barely qualified to be a backup. He had poor speed, stone hands, no range, took poor angles, and couldn’t tackle. Yet he still played in 14 games and started 13 of them! We will come back to this point later. The other safety, Bernard Pollard, is a run stuffing, lay the wood, blitzing safety with mediocre to poor coverage skills (sound familiar?). With these two as the last line of defense, is it surprising that the Texans gave up 56 plays of twenty yards or more and 18 plays of forty yards or more?

The second reason the secondary was so poor was a lack of experience. The starting corner for the Texans? Glover Quin, who was in his sophomore season last year. The other starting corner for the Texans? Kareem Jackson, the Texans first round pick in 2010. The nickel corner? Brice McCain, another second year guy. Tell me, do you really want to add more inexperience to an already inexperienced group? The only corner the Texans should be taking in this draft is Patrick Peterson, since he is the only corner who can come in and make an impact on day one.

The final reason the secondary sucked was recently fired defensive coordinator Frank "PB&J" Bush, who took a basic Cover 2 zone scheme...and simplified it.

Basically, he took this:

via www.footballtimes.org

And turned it into this:

via www.haagen-dazs.com

And again if you recall, a free safety who was incredibly poor, started 13 games. Let me remind the readers that in Week 8, the Texans were 4-2 and going up against the Colts for the chance to take a big, early lead in the division. As well Pollard, a poor coverage safety, was being asked to cover the entire left half of the field. A better coordinator would have used Pollard strengths of playing on the line like Gregg Williams has done with Roman Harper.

So to summarize all that gobbledygook, the Texans defense sucked because of a bad coach, bad safeties and inexperienced corners. In order to fix the secondary, they need a new defensive coach (check), experience in the secondary (kinda check) and new veteran players to come in and help out (new CBA needed).

So drafting a secondary player in the first round is not in the Texans best interest. They need players to come in and solve their problems on day one, because the fan base has gotten angry with all the promises and the lack of results.

Why is offense off the table?

Pts/Game	Total Points	Comp	Att	Pct	Att/Game	Yards	Average	Yards/Game	TD	INT	1st Downs	1st Down %	LNG	20+	40+	Sack	Rate
26.7	427	354	547	64.7	34.2	4280	8.2	267.5	33	13	211	38.6	73T	56	18	30	100.5

Do you know how many quarterback's in the league would kill for those stats? And the Texans defense collectively gave up those stats on the other side of the ball.

Where does Quinn fit in the Texans defense?

This is probably the best question to ask. Currently the roster looks something like this:

LE: Antonio Smith

NT: Someone mediocre (Has occupied a roster spot since 2002)

RE: Mario Williams

SOLB: ???

SILB: Brian Cushing

WILB: DeMeco Ryans

WOLB: Connor Barwin

CB1: Glover Quin

CB2: Kareem Jackson

FS: No one (An improvement over Eugene Wilson)

SS: No one (The run defense will fall without Pollard, yet strangely the passing defense went up)

Now the Texans have two choices: make Quinn an OLB (however he has little to no coverage skills as he was a 4-3 defensive end in college) or put him in as a LE (however the Texans just signed DE Antonio Smith to a huge free agent contract; it is hard to just eat that money up). But the best solution for the Texans would be to try out Quinn at SOLB and LE and see where he best plays. And go from there.

There are only two other choices for the Texans to make at No. 11 overall that would do them any good considering they need improvements now: draft Patrick Peterson, who isn't dropping that far, or take Julio Jones. Otherwise, the Texans may be better off trading down with a team and picking up more picks later to fill all their holes (TWSS).

Thanks to all the CSC members who participated in this years community mock draft. Without your help, none of this would be possible.

Below are the complete results from our community mock draft.

Catch up with all of the mock draft selections in our 2011 CSC Community Mock Draft Section.

Pick	Team	Selection	Team Representative	Approval Rating
1	Carolina Panthers	QB Cam Newton - Auburn	DatFan	35%
2	Denver Broncos	DT Marcell Dareus - Alabama	Jeff.l.b	71%
3	Buffalo Bills	QB Blaine Gabbert - Missouri	SpreeGoogs	52%
4	Cincinnati Bengals	DE Da'Quan Bowers - Clemson	coldpizza	73%
5	Arizona Cardinals	CB Patrick Peterson - LSU	GRIZZ	61%
6	Cleveland Browns	DE Cameron Jordan - Cal	theprogrammerman	11%
7	San Francisco 49ers	LB Von Miller - Texas A&M	who dat patate	68%
8	Tennessee Titans	WR A.J. Green - Georgia	shipgoalie05	48%
9	Dallas Cowboys	CB Prince Amukamara - Nebraska	saints fan in cowboyland!	67%
10	Washington Redskins	WR Julio Jones - Alabama	VAsaintsfan
11	Houston Texans	DE/OLB Robert Quinn - UNC	Jon Banks

Poll

Do you approve of this pick?

Yes

39 votes

No

16 votes

Indifferent

7 votes

62 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 18 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

If they need an OLB this badly, why the heck would you draft one without any coverage skills? The whole point of a 3-4 is that you don’t know where the fourth guy is going to come from… could be the SOLB or the WOLB or even one of the ILBs. (Assuming, of course, that you send four, which isn’t guaranteed.)

So then you draft a guy to put him at SOLB… but he MUST be a rusher because he can’t cover a wet paper bag?

Nope. Can’t buy it. There are other options. Granted you can’t trade down here, but they could still grab somebody else who fits their needs better, even if he’s not the “next” guy on the “best players” list. Most of those rankings are made up crap anyway, and even when they get it right, that still doesn’t mean any team HAS to follow it.

by FriarBob on Mar 31, 2011 12:48 PM CDT reply actions

who fits their needs better that isn't a reach?

Justin Houston and Akeem Ayers are the only ones I can even think of a case for as filling one of their big needs while not being a massive reach.

Choke/Clutch is the fetishization of the small sample size.

"Man is still the most extraordinary computer of all and women are even cooler" JFK

by shake n bake on Mar 31, 2011 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Aldon Smith.

"Aristotle was not Belgian. The central message of Buddhism is not 'every man for himself.' And the London Underground is not a political movement. Those are all mistakes, Otto. I looked 'em up."

by jeff.l.b on Mar 31, 2011 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Pre-Reply

Though I’ll go on record saying I like Quinn better as a player. Aldon Smith, however, projects as a more true 3-4 outside backer and at this point is scheduled to go anywhere from the 10-18 range so he’s not a terrible reach by any means.

"Aristotle was not Belgian. The central message of Buddhism is not 'every man for himself.' And the London Underground is not a political movement. Those are all mistakes, Otto. I looked 'em up."

by jeff.l.b on Mar 31, 2011 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions

but he has the same issue of lacking experience in coverage

Choke/Clutch is the fetishization of the small sample size.

"Man is still the most extraordinary computer of all and women are even cooler" JFK

by shake n bake on Mar 31, 2011 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions

That’s going to be true of just about anyone coming out of college from a DE or 3-4 OLB experience. The difference is, is that Smith has worked out in both DE and OLB drills since the beginning of this process showing his ability from an athletic standpoint to be able to drop into coverage etc. He may not have a lot of tape on it…but he has shown it for scouts and GMs. Quinn currently has yet to participate in a single OLB drill hence some worry about whether or not he is capable of it from a fluidity standpoint.

Again though…all of this is hearsay from what we’re all able to pick up from NFL Network, ESPN, CNN, Sports Illustrated yada yada yada.

"Aristotle was not Belgian. The central message of Buddhism is not 'every man for himself.' And the London Underground is not a political movement. Those are all mistakes, Otto. I looked 'em up."

by jeff.l.b on Mar 31, 2011 4:25 PM CDT up reply actions

OK, so pick one of them. Or somebody else. But it doesn’t make sense to identify a need as critical, put somebody with the express intent of trying them at that position, and then go “oh, but he’s probably going to suck at it”.

That’s not logical. Even by human standards. Vulcans and computers would explode with insanity overload disease if they tried to figure it out.

by FriarBob on Apr 1, 2011 12:25 AM CDT up reply actions

I have no problem with the pick, I just don’t agree with the Sam assignment. Quinn should definitely be playing Will in a 3-4. Neither Watts nor Taylor are worth the NT reach, imo. They’d be better off trying to beef up Okoye, than sinking a first rounder into that position.

"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Mar 31, 2011 1:17 PM CDT reply actions

Fom what I heard they're pretty much given up on okoye

They’re trying to trade him. But his contract is high enough where it’s gonna be hard to

Two Dat!! Who Dat!?

by ReggieVilma on Mar 31, 2011 4:34 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I’ve read that, I’m just saying they’d be better off sticking with him, if it means not spending a first round pick on a position that isn’t going to do squat for their pass rush, regardless.

"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Mar 31, 2011 5:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Btw, was any consideration given to Pouncey? I think there’s a good chance he’ll wind up being the first overall OL off the board. No problem with Caldwell, but Studdard isn’t under contract and Wade Smith is a 30 year old journeyman OT playing out of position. You mentioned a desire to keep the running game going strong in your consideration of Julio Jones. Why not bulk things up in front of him?

"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Mar 31, 2011 5:29 PM CDT reply actions

Kubiak is a guy that's incredibly loyal.

And Wade Smith was undoubtedly a top 5 guard last year. Studdard sucked and I’m glad the Texans didn’t pick him up. They will most likely try to pick up another ZBS guard in FA when/if it starts. Although I wouldn’t doubt they take one in a later round.

Doubt is part of all religion. All the religious thinkers were doubters.
Isaac Bashevis Singer

by Jon Banks on Mar 31, 2011 10:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Wade Smith was undoubtedly a top 5 guard last year.

Seriously? I’ve never seen or heard of him being discussed in that light. Of course, I could’ve said the same thing about Brandon Lloyd, heading into last season. Guess the sun has to shine on a dog’s a** someday.

"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Apr 1, 2011 12:12 AM CDT up reply actions

Key point: Last year.

Career wise he’s probably average, but last year he was phenomenal. He was the Brandon Lloyd of guards if you will.

Doubt is part of all religion. All the religious thinkers were doubters.
Isaac Bashevis Singer

by Jon Banks on Apr 1, 2011 1:14 AM CDT up reply actions

Average + blip + 30 = next. Even if you’re iffy on drafting a guard of Pouncey’s pedigree that high …

Rotoworld:

Four the Texans’ five starting offensive linemen finished in the top six at their respective positions in Pro Football Focus’ player ratings for 2010. Eric Winston was sixth at right tackle, Chris Myers was third at center, Wade Smith was second at left guard, and Mike Brisiel finished sixth at right guard. Thanks to improved run blocking, left tackle Duane Brown even finished with his first positive rating. The Texans’ elite offensive line is another reason that Arian Foster will garner legit consideration as the No. 1 fantasy pick this year.

a.) Winston can play guard and b.) “positive ranking” (Brown) doesn’t = top six. When in doubt, consider an offensive lineman. You can’t have enough young bucks up front.

"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Apr 1, 2011 8:05 AM CDT up reply actions