2010 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft: Round 1, Pick 20
by Brian Galliford on Mar 30, 2010 4:00 PM EDT
in SB Nation Writers Mock Draft
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PrintThe 2010 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft rolls on, with each SB Nation blogger making selections for their respective teams. Bigfatdrunk, lead blogger at SB Nation's Houston Texans blog, Battle Red Blog, checks in to make the No. 20 overall selection in this year's mock. Analysis is from appropriately named BRB'er bigfatdrunk. Take it away, you alcoholic!
With the No. 20 overall pick in the 2010 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft, the Houston Texans have selected Dan Williams, defensive tackle, Tennessee.
Bigfatdrunk says: Since the beginning of time, man has yearned to have a defensive tackle who wasn't an embarrassment. No, wait... I mean the Texans have yearned for that. Over the past couple of years, we've trotted out the likes of Travis Johnson, Anthony Maddox, Shaun Cody, and Jeff "Cankles" Zgonina. In fact, when fans voted on an all-decade Texans team, the eminently mediocre Seth Payne and underachieving Amobi Okoye were our big winners at DT. Hold on, I need to chug some whiskey.
...
...
Okay, I'm back.
Some of you might be saying, "Hey, the Texans' run game last year was a joke! You guys need a running back." This is half right, but the basic assumptions are incorrect. Our run game was horrible because we trotted out two of the worst starting guards in football last year, and our run game play-calling was dark humor. We believe we can address the run game in later rounds, and with Iupati and Pouncey already off the board, the talent gap at NT is simply greater. Ryan Mathews might be a good pick here, but not even the love child of Adrian Peterson and Barry Sanders would've done much behind the play of our offensive line last year. Plus, Steve Slaton should be back and healthy, and he's just one year removed from a 1,282-yard rushing season.
So, why NT? Simply, we need to free up Antonio Smith, Okoye, and Mario Williams, and getting to the QB quicker means our secondary needs less time to hold coverage. In addition, Dan Williams strengthens our run defense even more, and his presence could (and should) allow us to blitz Brian Cushing and DeMeco Ryans more freely. With only 30 sacks last year, we just aren't getting to the QB on a consistent basis. Super Mario is a deity, and Smith isn't going anywhere. Okoye could blossom with his ability to shoot gaps, and we believe a true NT will help him explode in 2010.
The Texans are going to put up points by the bushel, but we need to do a better job keeping points off the board. The Battle Red Blog brain-trust (sic) believes Dan Williams will bring better interior line play and help push us over the brink and into the playoffs.
Mocking Dan reacts: A player like Williams is what the Texans' defensive line has needed. Dez Bryant would have been a neat pick, but Williams is a necessity pick. The play of Okoye has been unimpressive because he's been miscast as a run stuffer. Williams could be that presence and Okoye could more easily split gaps.
There are plenty of second-round running backs that will be available for Houston.
Mocking the Draft's Top 5 remaining prospects: 1 - Dez Bryant/WR/Oklahoma State, 2 - Everson Griffen/DE/USC, 3 - Jermaine Gresham/TE/Oklahoma, 4 - Anthony Davis/OT/Rutgers, 5 - Sergio Kindle/OLB/Texas
Sound off, SB Nation! What say you of Houston's pick of Dan Williams? Please be sure to check out Battle Red Blog for all of your Texans needs.
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Dez Bryant would've been interesting indeed
Andre, Dez, Jacoby, Kevin Walter, and Owen Daniels? Would’ve been sick, but definitely not necessary.
Dan Williams could be for the Texans what Pat Williams is for the Vikings. He won’t grab huge stats, but he could make that defense (especially the front 7) better.
/crosses fingers that it plays out this way
Nice write-up, BFD.
How many rounds are we taking this fantasy funship on?
If the Treasury Secretary doesn't have to pay taxes, then why do I?
Two rounds
Not holding my breath, but this would be a nice outcome.
I should add that this pick was unanimous from the BRB writers. I don’t think there was ever any doubt.
A Texans fan. Really. No, I'm not kidding.
http://www.battleredblog.com
For those of you giving lesser grades
I’d love to hear why. Think we should’ve gone with Mathews? Somebody else?
A Texans fan. Really. No, I'm not kidding.
http://www.battleredblog.com
Good pick
Not sure on it tho.
I see Antonio Smith is a DE..even tho he’s pretty gigantic, especially for a 4-3 DE. I know Mario is bigger, but he’s got the athleticism of a LB..so that doesn’t matter.
Why not move Smith inside to DT?
Everson Griffen’s solid against the run, and even tho he’s an underachiever…maybe operating one one one would allow him to use his talent better (cuz they’re double teaming Mario)
I’d avoid Jason Pierre Paul with even Jerry Jones’ picks..but I’d think Griffen could be a solid pick here.
DWTDD
The thing is the Texans invested a 2nd round pick in DE Connor Barwin. He showed some promise last season, and they will give him the opportunity to step up this season in a similar function.
Occassionally, Antonio Smith does move to DT (out of scheme? out of need to get Cody off the field?), but I don’t think he could play there full-time, and the idea of Smith/Cody rotating just doesn’t sound too appealing to me. I’d rather have the big Williams (especially with Haden, Wilson, Iupati, and Pouncey off the board) than a combo of average dudes.
I think the Texans have a steal at this point.
The 2010 New York Mets: Maybe it's the Phillies' turn to have 95% of its roster on the DL
The 2009 New England Patriots: At least we got our division title back
The 2009-10 New Jersey Devils: Allergic to second periods
I gave you a B+, although it just came out as a B on the poll.
It really is a good pick, but did you consider Brian Price? I see you are saying that you already have a UT in Okoye so maybe Williams is the best pick for you. I mocked you Price [in my mock Williams was long gone] because no self respecting defence can have Shaun Cody as a starting DT.
With their secondary needs I give this a big fat F
Who are the starting corners in Houston? With the loss of Dunta to the Falcons CB is far and away the biggest need for Houston. They do still have to play Indy twice a year right?
Dunta
Losing Dunta is a classic case of addition by subtraction. With Wilson and Haden off the board, somebody like McCourty would be a stretch here. Plus, there’s a high likelihood of good CB talent in the 2nd round.
We’d hope the addition of Williams would increase pressure on the QB, thus, the time to cover would be shorter. Merely getting Dunta off the field will help quite a bit.
A Texans fan. Really. No, I'm not kidding.
http://www.battleredblog.com
by bigfatdrunk on Mar 30, 2010 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
exactly
there’s value in round 2 with the CB’s too..so drafting player you could possibly get in round 2…wouldn’t be all that smart, especially with a player like Williams on the board
DWTDD
by FreeBradshaw on Mar 30, 2010 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Yearh there should be plent of really good corners in the second. Kareem Jackson, Chris Cook, Domonique Franks, etc.
Agree
They could address their secondary in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. At this point Dan Williams is way too hard to pass up. I grade this an A, not only for value but you make your Defensive front even better, which can help hide deficiency’s in the secondary.
That is what you thought with Amobi Akoye as well. How did that work out.
This is a passing league and team must have top flight secondaries. Seriously one of your LBs was your leading INT guy. Fred Bennet is pretty good, but other than that you have no one worth a crap in the backfield. McCourty is not a stretch IMO at 20. Personally I think he is going to be a much better pro than Haden. Pass on him here and you are possibly stuck with Dominique Franks or Parrish Cox a real pair of stiffs.
You’re missing the point on what Williams can bring. Amobi’s a good under-tackle, but he’s not a run-stuffer. Dan can play the role of Pat Williams in Houston. Pat can hold the point of attack and command 2 bodies. This allows Kevin Williams (Amobi Okoye) to shoot gaps while also allowing the DEs to go one-on-one or even have LBs blitz clean. A better pass rush will mask a sub-par secondary (again: See Minnesota)
A big NT will also help clog the running lanes and keep bodies off of MLB DeMeco Ryans to allow him to make more plays.
Dunta Robinson was a bum. Even a guy like Parrish Cox would be an improvement.
Apparently the Texans dont think Fred Bennet is any good, considering he was innactive most of the second half last year, despite all the problems with the DB. Also Cox and Franks are far from stiffs.
I thought he was injured
or maybe that was Reeves. Can someone help me out here?
A Texas Wannabe, born and raised in New Zealand. Currently located 7539 miles South west of Houston.
by distant_texans_fan on Mar 30, 2010 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Disease
The Gamecock Ballhawk caught a terrible case of teh suck.
Frenchy was hurt (leg).
A Texans fan. Really. No, I'm not kidding.
http://www.battleredblog.com
by bigfatdrunk on Mar 30, 2010 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Point taken
You know how a black hole sucks everything into its gravitational force, including light? That’s what our NTs have done to Okoye the past couple of years. We’ve asked him to stop the run, yet shoot gaps. Jeff Zgonina has, literally, been the best NT on our roster. There’s been a lot of suck next to Okoye. Yes, Okoye’s been a borderline bust so far, but if we can put somebody worth a darn next to him, then we might be seriously upgrading two positions.
A Texans fan. Really. No, I'm not kidding.
http://www.battleredblog.com
Dude,
don’t be like everyone else who is not a Texan’s fan and call Dunta Robinson good. If teams actually payed attention to the film on him, he would be lucky to be a nickel corner. Dan Williams commands at least two blockers every other down which will free up everyone else on the D-line. And if they don’t double Dan Williams, (and they double super mario) then we have 3 above average d-lineman going one-on-one(i still think okoye can be good, he is only 21). And you calling fred bennett “good” at cornerback is like calling travis johnson “good” at DT.
Rockets>>>>>>Jazz
Texans>>>>>>>Titans
Super Mario>>>>>>>Vince Young
by Rockets 4 Life on Mar 30, 2010 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions
kareem jackson would be a miracle if he fell to us in the second.
Rockets>>>>>>Jazz
Texans>>>>>>>Titans
Super Mario>>>>>>>Vince Young
by Rockets 4 Life on Mar 30, 2010 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey bigfatdrunk
Bills fan so I’m not too familiar with your off-season moves but I was curious as to why you didnt go interior offensive line? Wasn’t Chester Pitts your best o-lineman? With him coming off a serious injury I would assume you guys need some big nastys at guard and center. Was the talent not good enough to take here? Lupati was taken earlier right? Or have some moves been made to address your interior line?
"you just have to know there's always going to be adversity. None of these games are going to be easy. Nothing will be given to us" - Paul Posluszny
A lot of BRBers
Would like an additional OG or C. That wasn’t a consideration here with Pouncey and Iupati of the board already.
As for the line, Mike Brisiel (a starter in 2009) is returning from IR, and Wade Smith will push for an OG or C position. Antoine Caldwell played well at RG, so hopefully these 2 men can push Chris “Ragdoll” Myers to the bench where he belongs. That will improve the line, but depth would be much welcomed. I would look for a guy like Mike Johnson, Mitch Petrus, Brandon Carter, etc to be drafted in the mid-rounds. Maybe a Jeff Byers since he plays G and C.
Personally, I’m hoping for a G and Byers as well as Dennis Landolt (athletic OT who could fit into the zone-blocking scheme in the 7th round or as a UFA).
Hey poz!
Good to see you again.
Technically, I’d say Eric Winston is our best OL. Pitts has been a very solid, consistent G, but he had microfracture surgery, and I’m not sure how he’ll respond.
Otherwise, I agree fully with what TexansDC says above. With Pouncey and Iupati gone (and the latter is questionable to fit into our ZBS), we’ll wait and address OL. Getting Brisiel back is HUGE. He’s the closest thing we have to a true mauler, and he’s progressed really nicely in the past couple of years. But for every down Kasey Studdard was out there, a gallon of bleach was chugged by the Texans’ faithful.
A Texans fan. Really. No, I'm not kidding.
http://www.battleredblog.com
I know everyone on BRB has seen this video.
But this is a video of how “good” our interior line is. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiJ9lYyj4uQ
Rockets>>>>>>Jazz
Texans>>>>>>>Titans
Super Mario>>>>>>>Vince Young
by Rockets 4 Life on Mar 30, 2010 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions
good selection
given that the top CB’s and interior linemen were gone.
good pick
He’s always open. He catches a lot of balls. He’s un-guardable, no matter how old he is
Of all the players us BRBers targeted, he was what was left on the board, but it's still a great pick
But logic would state if Dez Bryant was still on the board at this point, the Texans would also consider trading down for extra picks if someone wanted to move up to grab Bryant
I would challenge you to a battle of wits, but you appear to be unarmed.
Come on!
Travis Johnson was the man!
I blog at Ridiculous Upside. I know you'll love it.
by Scott Schroeder on Mar 31, 2010 2:31 AM EDT reply actions
Not really a Texans follower, but I really like this pick. I think a good NT type guy can make everybody else better. I think your defense has a lot of good young players, but they need that linchpin in the middle to make it all come together. For your sake, hopefully this is that missing piece you needed.
by Legoman0721 on Mar 31, 2010 4:04 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
I like the pick
not forcing anything while getting a good player that helps the team. Might not be the most pure value of a pick but considering team needs it is the perfect pick
by nicholas.rodriguez on Mar 31, 2010 3:27 PM EDT reply actions
I like the pick but I would have made a different pick
I would have picked Anthony Davis and inserted him in the starting lineup at LT and moved underachieving Duane Brown to the vacated LG spot. Or, Davis could go to LG as he is schooled for one season by the coaches to take over LT the next season.
I suppose if all of the stars, moons and planets align it could be possible, but what are the chances of that?
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