Backtracking

by Peter Bean on May 2, 2006 1:27 PM CDT in Texas Longhorns Football

I know I said we were done with the NFL draft for a while, but I guess I lied. We're back. Not, particularly, because I want to dredge up dead stories, but because I goofed. In my Draft Recap story, I unwisely wrote:

So, the Houston Texans defied logic and took someone besides Vince Young. And yet, they also managed to not take Reggie Bush? Look, we're the first to admit that this blog has enjoyed, perhaps more than is reasonable or fair, USC's off-field troubles since the Rose Bowl. And yet, despite watching the joy that accompanies watching the pompous squirm, even we can't deny that passing up on Reggie Bush (if you've decided not to take a quarterback) is indefensible. So the Texans fucked up twice. First, by sticking with Carr at the expense of the wildly popular Young. Then, after deciding on Carr, fucking up by passing on Bush. Whatever his college eligibility, the guy was a better pick than Mario Williams.

It's not that what I wrote can't be argued. It can. Many have. The odd thing is that it stands in direct contrast to something I wrote before the draft:

ESPN's Michael David Smith writes a lengthy column urging the Texans to take NC State defensive end Mario Williams ahead of Reggie Bush and Vince Young. The case for taking Williams ahead of Bush is actually compelling. But there isn't a single argument for why the Texans should take Williams instead of Young.

You see the slight discrepancy. On the one hand, I noted that Smith made a compelling case for taking Williams over Bush. Then, in a draft recap, I call the Texans' draft "indefensible." That doesn't sit right with me, naturally. The reason I even remembered this was because I'm A Realist wrote a strong defense of the Williams selection as well.

Now, to the point. I -still- think that taking Williams over Bush can be argued reasonably, as Realist so ably did. I also stand by my statement that the Texans were foolish to take anyone other than Young, as argued here and here, among other places.

I guess I'd be interested to hear more on Williams over Young, as opposed to just Bush. Realist? Others?

--PB--

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Comments

I dunno PB

You sound like a draft GM who completely forgot the things Reggie, Vince, and Matt did over the last 3 seasons. Mario Williams may be a great defensive player, but you've got to draw a line in the sand somewhere.

To be honest, I'm excited to watch all 3 of the teams that drafted the Heisman contenders. Lendale and VY will be fun to watch together, Leinart has an awesome offense at Arizona, and Reggie and Brees will be a nifty twosome over in NO.

I now have 3 teams to root for, non of which include the Texans...damn the houston oilers leaving.

Fight On! Beat the Razorbacks!

by USCLink on May 2, 2006 2:37 PM CDT reply actions

Clarification

I'm not saying taking Williams over Bush IS the right move, only that my calling it "indefensible" was a mistake.

by Peter Bean on May 2, 2006 3:07 PM CDT reply actions

Ah

My bad

Finals are coming up...I'll be posting a lot in the next little bit.

Fight On! Beat the Razorbacks!

by USCLink on May 2, 2006 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions

I do not like anyone over Young.

But I think the argument for Williams over Young is more consistent. In that case at least they are drafting for need. They did not take Young because they have Carr, which is a decision I can rationalize, but if you take Bush, you are going against the same argument above, in that they were already stable (when it's the Texans "strong" does not fit) in that position. If you draft strategy is too fill needs, you can draft Williams or Ferguson, but if it is best available, you draft Young.

by billb on May 2, 2006 3:14 PM CDT reply actions

I think the decision to not draft young was simple

The Houston Texans are a business first and they have David Carr, a former 1st overall pick at quarterback. It just isnt a good move to take 2 quarterbacks with the number 1 pick within 5 years...

They do not want to admit that Carr is a bust and taking Young would pretty much do that

That is my opinion, i feel they wish they could draft him but since they are "set" at QB its not reasonable to

by APBoyd on May 3, 2006 4:40 AM CDT reply actions

in addition...

the Texans think Carr will be a great QB (not just good, but GREAT) as soon as he has a decent o-line. Having the worst o-line in the league his entire career has affected him mentally to the point where he's insecure when he drops back because he thinks he's gonna get blindsided or have to scramble every play. Lucky for him, he has above average scrambling abilities; otherwise he could already be on the Steve Young track to retirement.
When he's allowed to stand in the pocket, he makes for a good qb. As soon as he gets faith in the o-line, everyone will see what the Texans have always seen in him.

...til Gabriel blows his horn

by BigTexBD on May 3, 2006 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions

Right

Texans don't need a RB or a QB.
So trade your #1 pick to someone who does for 1st round pick lower and a second round pick.
That is what I dont understand.

Leslie beat Adam at pool!

by Wells on May 3, 2006 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions

confused

the hell out of me too. even if the texans traded down just to the 2 spot, they could have still picked up super mario and received some other picks too. i expected better out of casserly.

...til Gabriel blows his horn

by BigTexBD on May 3, 2006 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions

A "strong defense"?

I think you are giving me a little more credit than my thoughts deserve, but I appreciate it just the same.

My "defense" was really a rebuttal to the conventional wisdom that the talking heads were spewing forth and calling analysis. It's not that Mario Williams was a clear #1 pick over Bush in any circumstance...I just felt that for Houston this year, Williams over Bush at #1 made more sense.

I haven't really put much thought into VY at #1 because nobody was really debating its merits. Without much of a chance to stew about it, I've come to a not-so-strong opinion. My thoughts? (Beware...lots of rambling ahead)

Vince has the potential to be a dynamic player like Mike Vick. People forget that Vick doesn't have elite passing skills or a superior intellect. He does have instincts and a cut-back ability that makes most running backs gush and enough speed to outrun most defenses. In short, he's an athlete. Vince is a taller version of the same robot. Much like Vick, he can (potentially) make a sub-par team look competitive until the team can put the parts together to actually be competitive.

With regards to Houston drafting Young, I don't really see that as plausible with the amount of money that David Carr requires. If they could trade Carr, then they could plug in a second-rate veteran that wouldn't be much of a cap hit to keep the seat (the center's crotch?) warm until Vince was game ready. If I were a Houston fan (I really have no NFL loyalties), I wouldn't want to see Carr and Young getting paid. There probably wasn't an active market out there for Carr's services, which hamstrung the Texans. It's hard to swallow trading a #1 draft choice for a paltry #2 or #3, which is all the Texans could have gotten in return. If they were forced by market conditions (or to save face on Carr's pick) to keep Carr, then drafting Young would not be an option. You would still have to address another need, like Williams at DE.

Now if I were GM...I would trade down (potentially missing on Williams et al) and take some linemen and try to develop depth with an eye towards being competitive in a couple of years. If you stink it up again this year and Carr hasn't developed with the additional line help, then Brady Quinn will be available...and most likely more game ready than any of the quarterbacks in this draft. That's my wooden nickel's worth of input.

by imarealist on May 4, 2006 12:44 PM CDT reply actions

Another Wooden Nickel...

As a fan of Vince Young's talents, I'm glad he landed where he did. I think Tennessee will be a good fit...especially with White in the backfield. There won't be much pressure (the hometown crowd can be more of a burden than you think) and he'll be tutored...at least for a year...by Norm Chow who is good or something.

by imarealist on May 4, 2006 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Agree on your analysis

Especially, with where he landed (Tennessee). My complaint was the needless three-year deal they gave to Carr this offseason, when they could have drafted Young. Vince pretty much would pay for himself in Houston, being as popular as he is in the city and state. It's pretty ridiculous that Houston passed on the chance to make him the face of their franchise. From a business perspective alone, Young should have been their guy. Just baffling.

Thanks for your thoughts.

by Peter Bean on May 4, 2006 1:00 PM CDT up reply actions

Carr's Extension...

Yeah, I vaguely remembered Carr getting an extension this offseason, but I couldn't recall if that happened in real life or in a bizzarro alternate world where he deserved one.

That would be mistake one...which ultimately led to mistake two...which is not drafting Vince Young. He is the pick in a vacuum or on a team smart enough not to extend Carr's contract, but not with him stuck on their roster. Again, if they could have unloaded Carr, Vince is a no-brainer.

by imarealist on May 4, 2006 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions