Do the Texans really want to start over?

[tcmcewen]

All I can say is that if the Houston Texans draft Vincemania, they might as well start all over and spend another four years in turmoil. Sure, Vince Young was a one man show at Texas and won a national championship for the school pretty much by himself - his effort in the title game was legendary. But the fact is the Texans are in the NFL, where the players are bigger, stronger, and faster. To make a long story short, Vincemania will not be able to dominate the league by himself - i.e. Michael Vick. The Falcons will never be able to win a superbowl with Vick at the helm.

It is for this reason that the Texans need to draft Reggie Bush. With an already good quaterback leading the charge in David Carr, Reggie Bush will only make the team better - significantly better, without the team having to start over. Therefore, it is my plea to Texan management to either draft Bush or trade their number one pick to the 49'ers, so Bush can be teamed up again with his high school quaterback - Alex Smith. GO TITANS & long live the 49'ers.

[supergenius]

All I can say is that if the Houston Texans draft Vincemania, they might as well start all over and spend another four years in turmoil. Sure, Vince Young was a one man show at Texas and won a national championship for the school pretty much by himself - his effort in the title game was legendary. But the fact is the Texans are in the NFL, where the players are bigger, stronger, and faster. To make a long story short, Vincemania will not be able to dominate the league by himself - i.e. Michael Vick. The Falcons will never be able to win a superbowl with Vick at the helm.

It is for this reason that the Texans need to draft Reggie Bush. With an already good quaterback leading the charge in David Carr, Reggie Bush will only make the team better - significantly better, without the team having to start over. Therefore, it is my plea to Texan management to either draft Bush or trade their number one pick to the 49'ers, so Bush can be teamed up again with his high school quaterback - Alex Smith. GO TITANS & long live the 49'ers.
There are $8 million reasons that the Texans will not draft Young. The team has/ will exercise the option on Carr. RTR

[HSVTider]

The Texans also do not need Reggie Bush.

They have an excellent Running Back in Dominic Davis. There are highly ranked players at spots they need to fill that they should use the first round pick on.

However, they may decide to take Bush and trade him later..or trade their first pick for a couple of second round picks where they can have a good shot at getting some quality offensive linemen (which they need really badly).

[fernandomike]

The Texans also do not need Reggie Bush.

They have an excellent Running Back in Dominic Davis. There are highly ranked players at spots they need to fill that they should use the first round pick on.

However, they may decide to take Bush and trade him later..or trade their first pick for a couple of second round picks where they can have a good shot at getting some quality offensive linemen (which they need really badly).


I disagree a bit. I would not characterize Davis as an excellent running back. Houston should definitely take Bush unless they get a ridiculous offer which would have to include more than a couple of second round picks. The media would tear them to pieces for giving away a potential franchise guy with limitless merchandizing potential for a couple of big uglies. They can always address that particular need after the first round.

[supergenius]

I disagree a bit. I would not characterize Davis as an excellent running back. Houston should definitely take Bush unless they get a ridiculous offer which would have to include more than a couple of second round picks. The media would tear them to pieces for giving away a potential franchise guy with limitless merchandizing potential for a couple of big uglies. They can always address that particular need after the first round.
I am forced to agree with Nando on this one. Although Bradshaw, the LT from Virginia, then LenDale White in the 2nd round would work as well. RTR

[fernandomike]

I am forced to agree with Nando on this one. Although Bradshaw, the LT from Virginia, then LenDale White in the 2nd round would work as well. RTR

That would be a pretty solid start to the draft for Houston. A lot of teams are unwilling to take a offensive lineman as high as Ferguson is projected though. I think that they are haunted by the infamous Tony Mandarich. I haven't seen D'Brickshaw play, but if he is thought by many to be a safer choice than either Leinart or Young, then he must be amazing.
White is projected to go late first or early second if he comes out so that makes sense. Still, the thing that is so intriguing about Bush that neither Davis nor White has is his potential to be a gamebreaker. Could he be the second coming of Marshall Faulk? If he is, then number one overall is clearly where he should go. Imagine the soaring jersey sales if you take him or a V. Young. Atlanta might not be winning with Vick, but I promise you they ain't complaining because the money is rolling in from sales of team apparell.

[supergenius]

That would be a pretty solid start to the draft for Houston. A lot of teams are unwilling to take a offensive lineman as high as Ferguson is projected though. I think that they are haunted by the infamous Tony Mandarich. I haven't seen D'Brickshaw play, but if he is thought by many to be a safer choice than either Leinart or Young, then he must be amazing.
White is projected to go late first or early second if he comes out so that makes sense. Still, the thing that is so intriguing about Bush that neither Davis nor White has is his potential to be a gamebreaker. Could he be the second coming of Marshall Faulk? If he is, then number one overall is clearly where he should go. Imagine the soaring jersey sales if you take him or a V. Young. Atlanta might not be winning with Vick, but I promise you they ain't complaining because the money is rolling in from sales of team apparell.
Sales from team apparell is evenly distributed amongst all the teams therefore the Falcons may be complaining. BTW, for every Mandarich, I give you Ogden, Pace, Samuels,Roaf, and Boselli. However Bush will be in Houston. RTR

[fernandomike]

Sales from team apparell is evenly distributed amongst all the teams therefore the Falcons may be complaining. BTW, for every Mandarich, I give you Ogden, Pace, Samuels,Roaf, and Boselli. However Bush will be in Houston. RTR

Damn, you almost out-homered Geaux on that one. Slipping Chris Samuels in with the likes of Ogden, Pace, Boselli, and Roaf, ole Chrissy would have to be pretty flattered by that. Hell, he'd probably make you his pr man. :)
Anyway, I didn't realize that about the sharing of the apparell money. That flat out sucks.

[supergenius]

Damn, you almost out-homered Geaux on that one. Slipping Chris Samuels in with the likes of Ogden, Pace, Boselli, and Roaf, ole Chrissy would have to be pretty flattered by that. Hell, he'd probably make you his pr man. :)
Anyway, I didn't realize that about the sharing of the apparell money. That flat out sucks.
Chris Samuels was just elected to his 4th Pro Bowl. If not for the Spurrier experiment, it would be more. As for the NFL's Socialism, Jerry Jones agrees with your assesment. BTW, who won the MVP Award, your man Tomlinson or THE Man Shaun? RTR

[HSVTider]

I am forced to agree with Nando on this one. Although Bradshaw, the LT from Virginia, then LenDale White in the 2nd round would work as well. RTR

Who cares what the media says..its about winning football games.

If you win football games, all else will be forgiven.

Like I said, trade your pick for a good deal (including some extra second and third round picks) or draft him and trade him before the round is over for the same deal.

There is virtually no difference.

They need help on the o-line and on defense.

Winning will cure every media complaint.

[fernandomike]

Still, pretty high company for Chrissy. Each of the others was the best player in the game at his position at some point, I don't think that Samuels has attained that status quite yet even with 3 pro bowls.
As for Shaun, he had an excellent season as I expected. I am not surprised at all by him earning the MVP. Still, LT is unquestionably the best back in football. Ask any non-SEC homer and you'll get the same answer.

[Cianne]

If they re-did the draft and all the teams, the back I would take would be Tomlinson. Stick him in that craptastic NFC West and he'd do the same thing as Alexander except he can catch better. Tomlinson + NFC West = 35 TDs combined atleast.

[supergenius]

If they re-did the draft and all the teams, the back I would take would be Tomlinson. Stick him in that craptastic NFC West and he'd do the same thing as Alexander except he can catch better. Tomlinson + NFC West = 35 TDs combined atleast.
All speculation my friends. The real world deals in facts. RTR

[Cianne]

All speculation my friends. The real world deals in facts. RTR

Well we can look at first the NFC West opponents:

Arizona: 313 yards in 2 games.
SF: 223 yards in 2 games.
St. Louis: 284 yards in 2 games.

Total: 820 yards in 6 games.

The best defense out of these was actually Arizona. Yet their rushing defense is offset by the fact that they surrendered the most rushing TDs in the league thus giving you a good chunk of Alexander's record.

Alexander didn't draw any of the top defensive teams in the NFL on the schedule this year that also helped out. The best he played against was Arizona who was #8 in total defense but when your offense gives the ball up to the other team at midfield everytime. It's not hard to do that. Next was Dallas at #10 who limited Alexander to 61 yards.

However, if you really want to compare the two guys. Just look at their careers.

Alexander - In 6 years: 1717 carries for 7817 yards, a 4.6 average, 89 TDs. 188 receptions for 1387 yards and 11 TDs. 22 fumbles, 14 lost.

Tomlinson - In 5 years: 1702 carries for 7361 yards, a 4.3 average, 72 TDs. 342 receptions for 2392 yards and 8 TDs. 22 fumbles, 9 lost. 5 for 7 passing for 106 yards, 4 TDs, and a 153.3 passer rating.

Now you have to take off Alexander's first year because he did very little of anything only accumulating 313 yards rushing. But even then, the NFC West was still horrible. The Rams were in the heydey of all offense, no defense. Terrell Owens was busy blowing up the Niners, and the Cardinals were just the Cardinals. Tomlinson still had to deal with the Chiefs who couldn't defend a pass but could stop the run, the Broncos who are always solid against the run, and the Raiders who used to be good but now have been sucked into their own black hole and shall not ever return from it.

I guess the point is, in 5 years production, Tomlinson has put up 700 more yards of offense while carrying a god awful team on his back up against perennially stiffer competition until last year when Drew Brees finally figured out how to get people to catch the ball and Marty Schottenheimer who is just a goob that needs to retire.

[fernandomike]

Excellent job, Cianne. Also take a look at their respective offensive lines, Alexander ran left time after time behind pro-bowlers Walter Jones and Steve Hutchinson on what is regarded by many as the best line in the game. If you watched them play games, Shaun usually glided past the line of scrimmage with little, if any, interference from the defense. San Diego's line is average at best. Put LT behind the Seahawks line and you'd have the best single season in the history of the league.

[WayzUp]

The Texans also do not need Reggie Bush.

They have an excellent Running Back in Dominic Davis. There are highly ranked players at spots they need to fill that they should use the first round pick on.

However, they may decide to take Bush and trade him later..or trade their first pick for a couple of second round picks where they can have a good shot at getting some quality offensive linemen (which they need really badly).
DD is a solid NFL back & he can hurt defenses in a lot of ways but his durability is a real and justified concern so throwing another back in the mix...not one to completely supplant DD, rather to complement him...would be a huge boon for Houston, I think.

Their major problem is their offensive line...look how many times Carr's been sacked over the past however-long-Houston's-been-a-franchise and there's no argument for them as a group. If Carr had more than 2.4 seconds to get the ball off, they could run the longer routes that Indy and New England and San Diego run. And Seattle...virtually all the best teams have the best offensive lines with a solid defensive line to test them. You are what you practice against, so to speak. Look at Detroit...they've spent an EARLY first round pick each of the last 5 years on skill position offensive players and thus far, none of them have really taken off except in flashes; and Harrington barely has hold of his job.

It's one of those things that's so obvious, it's overlooked, i think. Every great team over the years in football has been anchored by a strong offensive line and a triumvirate at the offensive skill positions; the dynasty teams being lucky enough to have a special tight end to top it off. Think of any great football team in history and inevitably, they have a solid if not awesome offensive line. The shoddy teams in the NFL now have the worst offensive lines and it affects how they call plays and Detroit is a perfect example since their fans rightfully boo the hello out of them throwing 7 yard stop routes when it's 3rd & 9. IT'S BECAUSE HARRINGTON IS ONLY ASSURED OF 2.4 SECONDS TO THROW! The DET coaches know that it takes a 5 step drop to get the routes run for a 10 yard pass in the west coast/pro style offense. They also know that there's probably a 65% chance that their line is going to let someone come through untouched so they call a play that has a 75+% chance instead and hope the WR breaks a tackle or wins a jump ball cuz it's either that or lose 10 yards and punt from within your 5 yard line and put it in the hands of that same offensive line.

I look at it as a self-fulfilling prophecy when it comes to Detroit and it's probably the same for the other struggling franchises who pick names instead of needs. If you pick skill position guys because they're high on some board you or some "experts" put together, you're never going to have a dynasty. You draft your line, you draft your skill positions and you free agent your defense with guys who aren't flashy but get the job done. Something as simple sounding as that completely escapes the grasp of the Matt Millens of the world.

That rant all being said (my apologies on the length once again), I can count on one hand how many running backs who didn't need anyone to block for them and Reggie Bush is one of them. He looks like a stronger Marshall Faulk to me and you cannot pass on a talent like that no matter who you have...you pick him or trade down a couple spots, get another pick in return and draft for need.

Best Regards,
sMELly KIPER
:D

[supergenius]

Excellent job, Cianne. Also take a look at their respective offensive lines, Alexander ran left time after time behind pro-bowlers Walter Jones and Steve Hutchinson on what is regarded by many as the best line in the game. If you watched play games, Shaun usually glided past the line of scrimmage with little, if any, interference from the defense. San Deigo's line is average at best. Put LT behind the Seahawks line and you'd have the best single season in the history of the league.
Once again I am reminded of an old saying; "if if and buts were candy and nuts" well you get the picture. RTR

[Noah.Dreams]

Chris Samuels was just elected to his 4th Pro Bowl. If not for the Spurrier experiment, it would be more. As for the NFL's Socialism, Jerry Jones agrees with your assesment. BTW, who won the MVP Award, your man Tomlinson or THE Man Shaun? RTR

OUCH, now that little slice of reality really hurt!

And don't forget that UT's player of the century finished second in the NFL's MVP award.

[SeattleGamecocks]

Excellent job, Cianne. Also take a look at their respective offensive lines, Alexander ran left time after time behind pro-bowlers Walter Jones and Steve Hutchinson on what is regarded by many as the best line in the game. If you watched them play games, Shaun usually glided past the line of scrimmage with little, if any, interference from the defense. San Diego's line is average at best. Put LT behind the Seahawks line and you'd have the best single season in the history of the league.
I agree. We love Alexander up here but he definitely benefits from our O-line. Hell, Maurice Morris (his back up) had at least one 100+ yard game in the second half after Alexander was benched.

Playing devil's advocate, I'm not sure Bush or Young will be spectacular in the Pros. Houston definitely should NOT take Young. Way too much invested in Carr. I say trade the pick for a couple of proven O-Linemen.

[SeattleGamecocks]

I guess if I had kept reading the thread, I'd know my opinion had been expressed and not really a devil's advocate opinion.....

[Dr. Pepper]

I predict that some team will make an offer to Houston that they cannot refuse. I don't look for the Texans to be making the first choice.

[1000x]

The fans want the Texans to use that #1 pick and get Bush or Young. It's a good thing they don't run the front office, because neither QB nor RB was the problem with the team. Neither one of those players has declared for the draft yet, so they're all getting excited a little too soon.

Maybe if they traded David Carr or Domanick Davis for offensive line help they could still use Young or Bush, should they enter the draft. If not, they'd better trade that #1 pick away. My best guess is that the Texans are going to make the fans very unhappy on draft day and draft for need. I see some other team with that draft pick.