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Texas-sized Drafting

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:00:00 -0500

Greg Tepper recaps another Lone Star-studded first round of the NFL Draft.

By Greg Tepper
DCTF Associate Editor

Ah, the NFL Draft. There’s truly no spectacle quite like it. If you ever had any doubts as to the marketing genius behind the National Football League, consider that no league has turned their draft – which is basically a meeting – into as big of a primetime event quite like the NFL.

And since it has to do with football, guess what? The state of Texas played a big, big factor in last night’s first round.

Over the span of about four hours, 32 players from across the nation were drafted. From Washington to Miami, California to Ghana (yes, Ghana!), the newest members of the National Football League were called one by one. And perhaps no state had a bigger impact on last night’s proceedings than the Lone Star State.

In all, six players taken on Thursday night had something to do with Texas – either they played ball their high school ball here, played their college ball here, or they will play their pro football here.

And while the state didn’t repeat the feat of having both the No. 1 and No. 2 pick hail from Texas like last year, we didn’t have to wait long to have a Texas connection.

No. 2, Jacksonville Jaguars: OT Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M (Arlington HS)
There was a time – pretty much until commissioner Roger Goodell said “Eric Fisher, tackle, Central Michigan” – that Joeckel was considered the best player in the Draft. In fact…there are many that still think he was the best player in the Draft! And for good reason: the mammoth tackle and reigning Outland Trophy winner has all the skills to be a franchise left tackle, one of the most pivotal spots on a football team. His technique is nearly flawless, and for a guy tipping the scales at over 300 pounds, he moves exceptionally well and has terrific balance. Joeckel becomes the 20^th player since the NFL-AFL merger to go in the top 5 after playing both his high school and college football in the state of Texas. While it’s disappointing that Joeckel didn’t go first – Texas A&M has still never produced a No. 1 overall pick – he’ll be in a position to start right away and protect Blaine Gabbert’s blind side in Jacksonville. The Jaguars are a work in progress, but having an All-American tackle will speed the progress.

No. 4, Philadelphia Eagles: OT Lane Johnson, Oklahoma (Groveton HS)
Perhaps you don’t remember a tackle named Lane Johnson, but boy, he was something else coming out of high school. Oh, did I mention that he was a quarterback at Groveton High? That’s right: the beefy Johnson beefed up even more at Oklahoma, eschewing taking the snaps in favor of blocking for the guy snapping. And guess what? He’s really, really good at it. His size and quickness make him a rare combination, and helped him start every game except one in 2012 for the Sooners. He’s still a little raw – after all, he moved from quarterback to offensive line – but the upside is there, and if he reaches it, Johnson could prove to be a steal for Chip Kelly and the Eagles.

No. 12, Oakland Raiders: CB D.J. Hayden, Houston (Fort Bend Elkins HS)
With all due respect to everyone drafted yesterday and everyone who will be drafted tomorrow, this is the best story of the weekend. Hayden, a superstar at Elkins who took his talents to the hometown Coogs, quickly drew the eye of scouts with his blazing speed and outstanding ball skills with Houston. He’s known as a tough player, but that toughness became somewhat legendary when he nearly died on the field during his senior year. In a freak accident in which he collided with teammates, Hayden suffered severe internal bleeding and needed emergency medical attention to save his life. He’s expected to make a full recovery, and dazzled scouts at the Combine (which is a large part of why the Raiders traded up to get him), but there’s still a ways to go to get back to his promise. If he lives up to his promise, he’s a No. 1 lockdown corner for the Raiders. But regardless of whether he gets there, D.J. Hayden has already won.

No. 15, New Orleans Saints: S Kenny Vaccaro, Texas (Brownwood HS)
One of the stalwarts of the Longhorns defense for the past couple of years, Vaccaro got his start at Brownwood, the latest in a long line of Lions alums to go on to big things. Once he got to Texas, he began to make his impact as a sophomore in the Longhorns’ disappointing 2010 campaign, but he truly broke out in 2011, earning All-Big 12 honors with 67 tackles, 2 INTs and 7 pass-breakups. He was just as good as a senior (92 tackles, 2 INTs), and now will take his talents just east to New Orleans, where he’ll fill in some of the gaps in the Saints’ secondary. Vaccaro’s biggest attribute is his versatility: he can cover a man, play “center field” in coverage or even play up at the line of scrimmage. He needs some work when playing the deep safety (and in the NFL, that’ll get exposed if he doesn’t improve), but Vaccaro has a bright future in New Orleans.

No. 27, Houston Texans: WR DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson
Entering the Draft, the Texans’ needs were pretty clear: a big-play wide receiver to take pressure off of Andre Johnson, depth on the offensive line and some additional help in the defensive front seven. Well, one pick in, and you can put a big check-mark next to the first one. In comes Hopkins, affectionately known as “Nuuuk” (long story), and he can be a gamebreaker. After a breakout sophomore year and an injury-shortened junior year, Hopkins was incredible as a senior, breaking Clemson’s single-season receiving mark with 1,405 yards and breaking the ACC record with 18 touchdowns. His routes are strong and he has breakaway speed once he’s out in the open, bringing with him a toughness and a wiliness to fight for the ball. He’s not an oversized WR like the Calvin Johnsons of the world, but when you’re starring opposite Andre Johnson, all you have to be is good, and Hopkins is most certainly that. The Texans now have a legitimate 1-2 punch on the outside, something they really have never had.

No. 31, Dallas Cowboys: OL Travis Frederick, Wisconsin
The Cowboys had the No. 18 pick, but once it became clear that the offensive linemen that they were interested in weren’t there, they traded back with the defending NFC champion 49ers to grab the 31^st and 47^th overall picks. And when the pick came, the Cowboys got their interior lineman – the biggest position of need on the squad – in Frederick. The star center at Wisconsin, Frederick can play guard or center and will most likely play guard for the Cowboys. He’s a big boy – 6-4 and 312 pounds – and he’s known as being a fantastic leader and exceptionally bright. He’s got very good strength and uses his legs very well to drive his man out of the hole. But this was generally regarded as a reach – even Frederick told the media afterwards that he was not expecting to be taken in the first round – and he’ll need to prove that he was worth a first-round pick. Here’s the good news: he’ll get his shot to start right away, and there aren’t many more places that teams like their offensive linemen to come from than Wisconsin. Time will tell whether this pick was brilliant or a bust.

Greg Tepper is the associate editor of Dave Campbell's Texas Football and TexasFootball.com.

He can be reached via e-mail, via Twitter (@Tepper) and via the DCTF Facebook page.

Texas born, Texas bred, NFL ready

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 08:00:00 -0500

Luke Joeckel can make Texas football history at tonight's NFL Draft.

By Greg Tepper
DCTF Associate Editor

As sports fans, we inherently enjoy transitions. The reason we enjoy National Signing Day so much is because we can follow our favorite high school players as they move on to college.

Tonight will be a big moment of transition for 32 college football players, as the 2013 NFL Draft gets underway from New York.

And for one player inparticular, he could join a unique piece of Texas history.

Since he came out of Arlington High School, Luke Joeckel has been a guy that everyone has had their eye on. Sure, he plays one of the positions that most casual fans don’t notice much – offensive tackle – but the well-trained eye always noticed something special about Joeckel during his time for the Colts and at Texas A&M. He’s a huge guy, tipping the scales at over 300 pounds, but he moves his feet with such ease and quickness. Combine that with terrific technique and a ferocity that plays to the whistle, and you have a guy tailor-made to play offensive tackle, one of the most important positions on the field.

And if no one else will say it, I will: I’m not sure Johnny Manziel wins the Heisman Trophy last season if he doesn’t have a guy as good as Luke Joeckel protecting his blind side. I think he was that important to Texas A&M’s offense.

And now, Joeckel is ready to make one last transition, as he almost assuredly be drafted in tonight’s first round (I suppose nothing is guaranteed, but I’ll eat my hat and every hat in the surrounding three categories if he doesn’t go tonight).

Most draft experts project that either Joeckel or Central Michigan tackle Eric Fisher will be drafted first overall tonight by the Kansas City Chiefs. What’s (almost) guaranteed is that Joeckel will be taken in the top 5 of the draft, and that’s where he’ll make his Texas history.

Since the AFL and NFL merged in 1970, just 19 players who played both their high school and college football in the state of Texas have gone in the Top 5 of the NFL Draft.

The first: Houston TE Riley Odoms back in 1972, as the Corpus Christi West Oso grad was taken fifth overall by the Denver Broncos.

The most recent: Baylor QB Robert Griffin III just last year, as Copperas Cove’s own Griffin was selected second by the Washington Redskins.

The list is dotted with some of the most famous names in Texas football history, guys like Earl Campbell and Eric Dickerson and LaDanian Tomlinson and Vince Young. It’s extremely, extremely rarefied air, and Joeckel will almost assuredly breathe it tonight.

What’s more: If Joeckel is, in fact, the top overall pick, he would be just the third Texas HS/college player to be taken first overall. The other two: the aforementioned Campbell, as the Tyler Rose was taken out of Texas by the Houston Oilers in 1978; and Texas DE Kenneth Sims, a Groesbeck Product who went first overall to the New England Patriots in 1982.

The state of Texas has been the premier football state in the country for quite a while, and tonight, Luke Joeckel will etch his name in Lone Star football history.

The complete list of players taken in the top 5 of the NFL Draft since the merger who played both their high school and college football in Texas is below.

YEAR	PICK	PLAYER	POSITION	COLLEGE	HIGH SCHOOL
2012	2	Robert Griffin III	QB	Baylor	Copperas Cove
2011	2	Von Miller	LB	Texas A&M	DeSoto
2009	2	Jason Smith	OL	Baylor	Dallas White
2006	3	Vince Young	QB	Texas	Houston Madison
2005	4	Cedric Benson	RB	Texas	Midland Lee
2002	4	Mike Williams	OL	Texas	The Colony
2002	5	Quentin Jammer	CB	Texas	Angleton
2001	2	Leonard Davis	OL	Texas	Wortham
2001	5	LaDanian Tomlinson	RB	TCU	Waco University
1992	2	Quentin Coryatt	LB	Texas A&M	Baytown Lee
1985	3	Ray Childress	DL	Texas A&M	Richardson Pearce
1983	2	Eric Dickerson	RB	SMU	Sealy
1982	1	Kenneth Sims	DE	Texas	Groesbeck
1980	2	Lam Jones	WR	Texas	Lampasas
1980	5	Curtis Dickey	RB	Texas A&M	Bryan
1978	1	Earl Campbell	RB	Texas	John Tyler
1975	5	Mack Mitchell	DL	Houston	Diboll
1973	3	Jerry Sisemore	OL	Texas	Plainview
1972	5	Riley Odoms	TE	Houston	CC West Oso

Greg Tepper is the associate editor of Dave Campbell's Texas Football and TexasFootball.com.

He can be reached via e-mail, via Twitter (@Tepper) and via the DCTF Facebook page.

Texas ties, Super stage

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 07:30:00 -0600

How did the players with Texas ties fare in last night's Super Bowl XLVII?

By Greg Tepper
DCTF Associate Editor

Order your
2013 Winter Edition

The 2013 Winter Edition of Dave Campbell's Texas Football is on shelves across Texas, but you can get your copy sent to you today from the TexasFootball.com store! Featuring recaps for every college team in the state, a complete high school recap, loads of recruiting info and more — including a captivating look at Johnny Manziel's unforgettable Heisman season — it's a must-read for all true football fans! Order your copy today!

It’s a day of mourning across America today. No, not because we all have heartburn from all the food we ate during the Super Bowl (well, not just because of the heartburn).

Today is the official start of the football offseason. There won’t be another meaningful football game in America until August.

I hope you’re wearing black today.

But if the 2012-2013 football campaign across America was going to go out, it went out in style with a tremendous Super Bowl last night, as the Baltimore Ravens held off the San Francisco 49ers to win the championship.

As you probably know – we know you watched it – it was thrilling game, complete with a late goal-line stand and a power outage. Perhaps what you didn’t know was that despite the teams being from Maryland and California, there was quite a bit of Texas influence in the game.

Here’s how all the players with Texas ties fared in Super Bowl XLVII.

Baltimore DB Chykie Brown (Galena Park North Shore/ Texas)
The former star for the Mustangs and Longhorns hasn’t had a great postseason, as he lost his starting job in the AFC championship game and therefore saw limited time in the Super Bowl. His biggest play was a rough one, getting flagged for running into the kicker as 49ers K David Akers missed a 39-yard field goal in the third quarter. A play later, Akers made a 34-yarder.

San Francisco DB Tarell Brown (North Mesquite/Texas)
On the flip side, this Texas-ex named Brown had a pretty good Super Bowl, coming up with a big play in the third quarter. Brown was covering Baltimore RB Ray Rice as he caught a pass in the flats. Brown tackled him, forced a fumble and recovered it. It was a potential game-changing play in the third quarter, but San Fran could only manage a field goal to pull within five. Brown finished with 3 tackles (2 solo) and the forced fumble and recovery.

San Francisco DB Perrish Cox (Waco University)
It was a tumultuous journey to the Super Bowl for the Waco University product and former Oklahoma State star. This time last year, Cox was in court fighting sexual assault charges. The jury would later find him not guilty, and Cox would get signed by the 49ers, where he spent the season as a backup. He didn’t factor into last night’s game, but it’s understandable that he was just happy to be there.

San Francisco WR Michael Crabtree (Dallas Carter/Texas Tech)
Get your guns up, Tech fans: no Texan had a bigger impact on the game than the former Red Raider (and Carter Cowboy). Crabtree led all receivers with five catches for 109 yards and a touchdown, joining the likes of Wes Welker, Timmy Smith and Donny Anderson as Red Raiders to score in the Super Bowl. Of course, the pivotal play of the game will be the one people remember Crabtree’s involvement in, as Colin Kaepernick couldn’t hook up with him on 4^th down near the goal line for what would’ve been a go-ahead touchdown. 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh complained to no avail that Crabtree was held (and I tend to agree). Regardless, a sparkling Super Bowl debut for Crabtree.

San Francisco OL Leonard Davis (Wortham/Texas)
The wily 12-year veteran who has all sorts of ties to Texas – Wortham High, University of Texas, a stint with the Dallas Cowboys – didn’t see the field during the game, and came up short in his bid to win his first Super Bowl.

Baltimore LB Adrian Hamilton (Dallas Carter/Prairie View A&M)
The other half of the Dallas Carter duo – the only high school in Texas with two alums in the Super Bowl – had a terrific year, going from being cut by the Cowboys to making the active roster for the Ravens as they marched toward the Super Bowl. He was inactive last night, but I imagine he’s OK with the consolation prize of a ring.

San Francisco RB LaMichael James (Texarkana Liberty-Eylau)
It was a night of mixed results for the dynamic James, who got his start with the Liberty-Eylau Leopards before starring at Oregon. James only had three carries, but that included a 9-yard burst that had people thinking he would have a big impact on the game. But his most impactful play was a critical second-quarter fumble that helped the Ravens extend their lead. James also had three kickoff returns for 75 yards.

San Francisco DL Tony Jerod-Eddie (DeSoto/Texas A&M)
The former DeSoto Eagle and A&M Aggie made big progress this year as a rookie, getting called up from the practice squad in late December with the injury to DL Justin Smith. He only appeared in one game, though, and it wasn’t the Super Bowl (he was inactive last night), but the big man looks to have a promising future.

San Francisco DB Darcel McBath (Gainesville/Texas Tech)
Another Red Raider, but also the only Gainesville Leopard in New Orleans last night. McBath only managed one tackle, but boy, was it a big one. Leading 14-3 late in the first half, the Ravens lined up for a short field goal…and faked it. K Justin Tucker (we’ll get to him in a moment) took the snap and ran to his left, needing 9 yards for the first down. It was McBath who brought him down just short of the first down, saving the Niners’ bacon for the time being.

Baltimore OL Kelechi Osemele (Langham Creek)
The Iowa State ex made a name for himself in Texas at Langham Creek, and was one of the few Texans to start the Super Bowl last night, holding down the left guard spot for the Ravens. I haven’t had a chance to break down film, but matched up with star DL Justin Smith for most of the night, he held him to three tackles and no sacks. A pretty strong effort for the now-champion Osemele.

Baltimore K Justin Tucker (Austin Westlake/Texas)
It was an eventful night for the rookie kicker out of Texas via Austin Westlake. The former Chap went 2-for-2 on field goals, and while both were short (19 and 38 yards), they were critical, coming in the fourth quarter. Tucker also went 4-for-4 on extra points and had 8 yards rushing on the fake field goal late in the second quarter (unfortunately for him and the Ravens, he needed 9 for the first down).

Baltimore OL Bobbie Williams (Jefferson)
The pride of Jefferson, Texas is in his first year with the Ravens after swims through Philadelphia and Cincinnati, and he picked an excellent time to hop on board. He didn’t see any action last night, serving as the backup to both left guard Kelechi Osemele and right guard Marshal Yanda, but now you can add “Super Bowl Champion” to his résumé.

Greg Tepper is the associate editor of Dave Campbell's Texas Football and TexasFootball.com.

He can be reached via e-mail, via Twitter (@Tepper) and via the DCTF Facebook page.

Drafting from the Lone Star State

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

DCTF's Greg Tepper breaks down the 7 players with Texas ties taken in the first round of the NFL Draft.

By Greg Tepper
DCTF Associate Editor

Mock drafts are so very rarely correct. With all the wheeling and dealing that goes on at the NFL Draft itself, it’s a bit of an exercise in futility to attempt to predict past the first two or three picks of any NFL Draft.

And last night’s first round of the 2012 NFL Draft was no different.

How’s this for an amazing statistic: of the 32 picks in last night’s first round, 16 of them – exactly half of them – were part of some sort of trade. Half of the picks were traded at some point! That’s incredible.

What’s not incredible: once again, players with Texas ties made a huge impact on the first round of the NFL Draft. In all, seven players taken on Thursday night have something to do with Texas – either they played their high school football here, they played their college football here or they will play their professional football here.

And it all starts at the top…

No. 1, Indianapolis Colts: QB Andrew Luck, Stanford (Houston Stratford HS)
It’s been official-official for a couple of days now that Luck would be the first pick in the draft, but it’s been unofficially known since Peyton Manning was released by the Colts a couple of months ago. In steps Luck, the Stratford product, to become the new face of the franchise for Indianapolis. Luck becomes the third quarterback from a Texas high school ever taken No. 1 overall (joining Highland Park’s Matthew Stafford in 2009 and Brazosport’s King Hill in 1958), and the 11^th Texas high school football player taken No. 1 overall. And you can see why: Luck is as polished a quarterback prospect to come out of the college ranks since, well, probably Peyton Manning. Any criticism you would levy against him – like that he’s only kind of mobile and the very occasional poor decision – would qualify as nitpicking. He’s the real deal, and another in a long line of outstanding Texas high school products turned No. 1 picks.

No. 2, Washington Redskins: QB Robert Griffin III, Baylor (Copperas Cove HS)
The Heisman Trophy winner – and DCTF Winter Edition cover boy – cost the Redskins an arm and a leg, and they haven’t even signed him to a contract yet. By going second, the NFL Draft had two Texas high school quarterbacks go 1-2 for the first time ever, a testament to the depth of high school training available across the Lone Star State. In fact, the last time that there were two Texas high school QBs taken in the first round was back in 1992, when David Klingler (the other Houston Stratford superstar) and Tommy Maddox (Hurst L.D. Bell) went in the same round. As for RG3, well, what can I say that hasn’t already been said? He’s an Olympic-caliber athlete who can make all the throws and make good decisions while doing it. He was a super-special player in college, and the Redskins are banking on him being just as special as a pro. Now, I don’t think Griffin is a lock to be a superstar – he’s been bitten by the injury bug before, and one has to wonder if he can translate from the Baylor system to Mike Shanahan’s West Coast Offense – but Griffin has a chance to become nothing short of the face of the NFL.

No. 6, Dallas Cowboys: CB Morris Claiborne, LSU
You can always trust Jerry Jones to make Draft day interesting. The Cowboys had a couple of areas of need, and one of them was cornerback. When they sniffed an opportunity to move up in the draft, they pounced, packaging the No. 14 pick and a second-round pick to send to St. Louis (who had already traded down to Washington from the No. 2 pick) for the No. 6 spot. Their reward: the best cornerback in the draft in Claiborne, the reigning Jim Thorpe Award winner. Claiborne is a terrific cover corner who will be a complement to the newly signed Brandon Carr, likely squeezing Mike Jenkins out of the picture (or, at least, to a reduced role). Now, there are some red flags with Claiborne – he reportedly did very poorly on the Wonderlic Cognitive Ability Test, and has a tendency to take some plays off – but Claiborne is the best cornerback on the board for a reason: he’s super talented.

No. 8, Miami Dolphins: QB Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M (Big Spring)
Attention must be paid to our friend Brent Zwerneman at the San Antonio Express-News, who has literally been telling us for months that the A&M quarterback would be a first round pick. He absolutely nailed it, and the Dolphins jumped at the chance to make Tannehill their franchise quarterback with the 8^th overall pick. Tannehill’s drafting made history, too: it marks the first time ever that three Texas high school quarterbacks were taken in the first round…and in the first eight picks alone! Simply stunning. And he becomes the second Big Spring player taken in the last 12 years, as TE Bubba Franks was a first round pick for the Packers back in 2000. And what an amazing transition for Tannehill, a guy who just under two years ago was a wide receiver for the Aggies and now is the face of one of the NFL’s premier franchises. Now, Tannehill is as polarizing a figure as you’ll find in this year’s class – some scouts love him, some scouts don’t think he’s an NFL quarterback. In short, he’s this year’s Tim Tebow. I have my doubts about Tannehill – I’m not sure the tools are there to be an NFL-caliber quarterback, specifically I wonder about his ability to make the throws necessary – but here’s what’s not in doubt: Tannehill is an elite-level athlete and as smart a player as you’ll find. That alone makes him a special player.

No. 14, St. Louis Rams: DT Michael Brockers, LSU (Houston Chavez)
Remember that No. 14 pick that the Cowboys dealt to the Rams? Well, here it is, and it’s used on another Texan: the big defensive tackle from one of the nation’s dominant defenses. At 6-5 and over 320 pounds, Brockers is a monster in the middle of a defense, a physical beast who will fit in just fine with the all-of-a-sudden-scary defensive line in St. Louis alongside Chris Long. Brockers, however, is not a finished product: he needs a good amount of coaching to realize his talent potential. But when he does, his size and athleticism should make him a mainstay in the middle of the Rams defense.

No. 20, Tennessee Titans: WR Kendall Wright, Baylor (Pittsburg)
3A football, stand up! The pride of the Pittsburg Pirates had his name called 20^th on Thursday night, becoming the newest member of the Tennessee Titans (a couple of picks before the Texans had a chance to nab him). After a brilliant career at Baylor, including last season in which he caught 108 passes for 1,663 yards and 14 touchdowns, Wright will take his talents to Nashville to join what is a pretty depleted receiving corps (save Nate Washington). It’s going to be a pretty big shift for Wright – he’s going from a wide-open spread offense to a pro-style with Jake Locker as his quarterback (or, I guess, Matt Hasselbeck) – and that’s going to take some getting used to. But anyone who watched Baylor over the past couple of years knows how talented Wright is, and that he has a chance to become a true impact player for the Titans.

No. 26, Houston Texans: DE Whitney Mercilus, Illinois
The Texans stayed put at No. 26 and had a fabulous player fall to them in the hard-hitting (and awesomely named) Mercilus out of Illinois. When I wrote about the Texans’ needs in the draft, I mentioned that you could certainly say that picking up another edge rusher would be a need, but I didn’t list them as a Top 3 need (instead going with WR, OL and CB, in that order). Instead, the Texans said “in your face, Tepper” and picked up the best edge rusher on the board in this fearsome Illini. Mercilus is as pure a pass-rusher as you’re going to find, using terrific speed and power off the edge to get to the quarterback (he racked up 16 sacks last season, his only season as a starter). He’s not totally technically sound, but the Texans basically just replaced Mario Williams and made one of their strongest assets – their pass rush – even more lethal.

Greg Tepper is the associate editor of Dave Campbell's Texas Football and TexasFootball.com.

He can be reached via e-mail, via Twitter (@Tepper) and via the DCTF Facebook page.

Draft Decisions: Houston Texans

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

What needs do the AFC South champion Houston Texans have to fill in this year's draft?

By Greg Tepper
DCTF Associate Editor

Tonight, millions will huddle around their television screens to watch NFL commissioner Roger Goodell amble up to the microphone 32 times and announce first-round picks in the 2012 NFL Draft. It’s a little silly, if you think about it out of context: we’re watching a man read names (and analysts overanalyze those names). But then again, being a sports fan is a little silly, and we do it anyway, so why stop now?

The Houston Texans, fresh off their first playoff victory in franchise history, will have the 26^th overall pick in the draft, the lowest first-round pick the franchise has ever had (not that the fans should be complaining). And here’s an interesting turnabout: the Texans have far fewer holes to fill than their Lone Star counterparts to the north, the Dallas Cowboys (whom we’ve already profiled for the draft).

And yet, there are still some needs for the defending AFC South champions, ranging from “necessary” to “well, it’d be nice.” But with a first round pick, for basically every team, you’re thinking that you need to draft someone who can help right away, or someone you can stow away and develop with the hopes that they will be a key cog in your machine as early as next season.

So, where do the Texans go with the No. 26 overall pick, assuming they don’t trade up or out of the first round? To start that process, it’s important to identify the Texans’ needs.

Wide Receiver
If the Texans are going to draft to a true position of need, then this is it. The top two receivers for the Texans last season were a tight end (Owen Daniels) and a running back (Arian Foster). Now, a lot of that has to do with Andre Johnson missing nine games with injury, but the bottom line is that past Johnson, the Houston receiving corps is underwhelming. The Texans could use another impact receiver on their roster to go opposite Johnson or, at worst, complement guys like Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walter. There’s essentially no chance that the top wide receiver in the draft – Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon – falls to 26, and I’d put the odds against Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd being there. Still, there will be some interesting wide receiver options for the Texans at No. 26 if that’s the route they decide to take.
Options: Georgia Tech WR Stephen Hill (a Combine freak with outstanding measurables, he fits the “NFL No. 2 receiver mold to a T), Baylor WR Kendall Wright (he put up freakish numbers for the Bears playing with Robert Griffin III, and Wright would provide another true deep threat for Houston), Stanford TE Coby Fleener (want to think outside the box? How about the draft’s top tight end? As a combination with Owen Daniels, he could be lights out).

Offensive line
Here’s the good news: the Texans are, right now, just fine at offensive line. The fivesome of Duane Brown (LT), Wade Smith (LG), Chris Myers (C), Antoine Caldwell (RG) and Rashad Butler (RT) should be back in force for the Texans next year, plowing the road for the league’s second-best rushing attack. But the NFL is a reloading league, and depth is always an issue, especially at offensive line. And let’s not forget: Smith, Myers and (less so) Butler are not rookies, and won’t be around forever. With a number of terrific offensive linemen in the 2012 Draft, why not pick one up and stock him away for depth purposes and as an heir apparent to one of the older members of the offensive line? If the right fit at wide receiver isn’t there, gaining some much needed depth at the offensive line – especially at guard or center – would be a savvy decision for what has proven to be a savvy front office.
Options: Georgia OL Cordy Glenn (aside from having an awesome name, Glenn looks like he will be the best lineman available, and is versatile enough to play a variety of positions), Stanford OL Jonathan Martin (he had a lackluster senior campaign for the Cardinal, but the talent is still there, and could shore up some depth at the tackle spot), Wisconsin OL Kevin Zeitler (this would be a reach at No. 26, but Zeitler has been part of big, powerful offensive lines at Wisconsin and would fit right in to the Texans’ scheme; an excellent pickup in the second round).

Cornerback
Now, you could probably convince me that outside linebacker is more of a need for the Texans, but the bottom line is that past the outstanding Jonathan Joseph, there’s not much to talk about in the Texans’ cornerback corps. And yes, that means that I’m not the biggest fan of Kareem Jackson, the Texans’ first-round pick from two years ago. Call it a depth move, call it a move to replace Jackson in the starting lineup, call it a “best available” maneuver, call it whatever you want: the Texans, if you ask me, could use some help at cornerback. And with a draft that is very top-heavy with corners, getting one at No. 26 could be outstanding value for the franchise.
Options: Alabama CB Dre Kirkpatrick (this would represent a shift from the Texans’ philosophy of staying away from potential character issues – Kirkpatrick was caught with pot, but the charges were dropped – but he’s talented enough to warrant the risk), North Alabama CB Janoris Jenkins (another guy who flunked a drug test, but another outstanding cornerback; pick your poison), Vanderbilt CB Casey Heyward (a very smart player who constantly covered the SEC’s best receivers, he could be there in the second if the Texans get lucky).

Greg Tepper is the associate editor of Dave Campbell's Texas Football and TexasFootball.com.

He can be reached via e-mail, via Twitter (@Tepper) and via the DCTF Facebook page.

Draft Decisions: Dallas Cowboys

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Which need will the Dallas Cowboys address with the No. 14 pick in Thursday's NFL Draft?

By Greg Tepper
DCTF Associate Editor

Whenever I introduce myself to folks who aren’t from Texas or are otherwise unfamiliar with Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, I always explain to them that DCTF covers football in Texas more comprehensively than anyone, from high school all the way up to the pros.

Now, admittedly, the majority of people come to DCTF for our high school and college content. We know that; it’s a dedication to those two realms that’s made DCTF the Southwest’s leading football source for over 50 years.

But the professional realm – the NFL – is most certainly part of our coverage area, and there is maybe no more exciting time (save the Super Bowl) for NFL fans than the annual NFL Draft. And, well, it’s that time again, as the 2012 NFL Draft will kick off from New York on Thursday night, spanning through Saturday.

There are plenty of storylines to get to – like that two Texas high school football products will likely go in the first two picks in Stanford QB Andrew Luck (he of Houston Stratford) and Baylor QB Robert Griffin III (he of Copperas Cove), or where Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill will go, and many, many others – but a good place to start is with the Lone Star State’s own NFL teams: the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans.

[I took an unofficial poll on Facebook as to which team I should profile first, and the Cowboys won. So, here’s the Cowboys NFL Draft preview! Democracy!]

The Cowboys are coming off another disappointing season by Dallas standards, finishing 8-8 and missing the playoffs by a single game to eventual champion New York. Now, they’ll be picking 14^th in Thursday’s first round, and there are a number of areas of need that America’s Team could stand to address.

In this piece, we’ll identify those areas of needs and offer some players that the Cowboys could select at No. 14 (and potentially the 45^th overall pick in the second round) if they decide to go that route.

The general consensus is that the Cowboys have three major areas of need that they’ll likely address in the first two rounds.

Defensive back (Safety or CB)
Here’s a pop quiz: when’s the last time the Dallas Cowboys finished in the top half of the NFL in pass defense? Time’s up: the answer is 2008. The Cowboys finished 23^rd in pass defense in 2011, 26^th in 2010 and 20^th in 2009. It’s been since 2008, when the Cowboys finished fifth in the league, that they’ve cracked the top half. The reason is, well, the secondary just hasn’t been very good. There are big changes coming to the secondary – mainstay CB Terrence Newman is gone, replaced by big-ticket free agent signee Brandon Carr, and Brodney Pool has been brought in to solidify the safety spot – but they hardly address the entire problem. Mike Jenkins, it turns out, may not be the answer at cornerback, and the consensus is that Gerald Sensabaugh is not the long-term solution at safety (nor is Pool, who is in on a one-year deal). In any case, the Cowboys need help in the secondary, and No. 14 is an awful good place to start looking for a new playmaking defender in the backfield.
Options: Alabama SS Mark Barron (a terrific player and a top 20 talent in the draft, reports indicate this could be the guy), Alabama CB Dre Kilpatrick (a lockdown corner from one of college football’s all-time great defenses could do wonders opposite Carr), North Alabama CB Janoris Jenkins (could be a bit of a reach at No. 14, and there are character issues to deal with after he was caught with marijuana, but there’s no denying the talent).

Edge rusher (DE/OLB)
One of the great – and self-perpetuating – myths about the Dallas defense is that it’s really good at rushing the passer. This is largely because of Demarcus Ware, who is, quite simply, one of the best pass-rushers in the league. But if you take away Ware’s 19.5 sacks last season, the entire rest of the Cowboys defense managed just 22.5 sacks altogether. The Cowboys could very much use an additional pass rusher coming off the edge in their 3-4 formation, either from the defensive end spot or the outside linebacker role opposite Ware. The plan for this spot got muddied a bit when OLB Anthony Spencer was hit with the franchise tag, bringing him back for one more season, but this is still a long-term area of need. There are a couple of ways to go here: draft an outside linebacker to challenge Spencer for playing time and eventually take over the spot; draft a defensive end to step in immediately and contribute; or draft a nose tackle and move All-Pro NT Jay Ratliff to defensive end. Each route carries with it ts own risk and reward, but the bottom line is that the Cowboys could use another presence coming at the quarterback off the edge.
Options: North Carolina DE Quinton Coples (a true DE out of a 3-4, Coples could step right in and contribute right away), Boston College LB Luke Kuechly (he might not be there at No. 14, but Kuechly is the best linebacker in the draft and is considered one of 2012’s few “sure things”), Memphis NT Dontari Poe (a big guy whom the Cowboys have been all over for quite a while, if he gets the call, it’ll shift Ratliff out to the end, a risky but potentially worthwhile move).

Offensive line
Always. The Cowboys simply haven’t had a great offensive line since, well, since they were winning Super Bowls. The tackle spots look pretty well locked down, with last year’s first-round pick Tyron Smith moving to left tackle and Doug Free maintaining his spot at right tackle. And the center spot is pretty well taken care of as well, as Phil Costa looks like the guy for the future. But the guard situation is, to put it lightly, a mess. There are three guards on the roster: 30-year-old journeyman Nate Livings, undrafted free agent pickup Mackenzy Bernadeau and second-year tackle-turned-guard David Arkin. None of these guys appear to be the long-term solution (maybe Arkin, but that seems like a stretch right now). There are some viable upgrades on the board, but it’s not popular to take a guard with the No. 14 overall pick. This will probably get addressed later in the draft, but an offensive lineman could go in a strange scenario.
Options: Stanford G David DeCastro (the best guard on the board should be there for the Cowboys at No. 14, and would shore up the offensive line for the foreseeable future), Georgia OT Cordy Glenn (could be there in the second round and would be a nice upgrade to the current OL talent on the roster), SMU G Josh Leribeus (local kid could be a nice late round pick-up for the Cowboys).

Greg Tepper is the associate editor of Dave Campbell's Texas Football and TexasFootball.com.

He can be reached via e-mail, via Twitter (@Tepper) and via the DCTF Facebook page.

Draft two-step: How RGIII and Luck will make history

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III figure to go as the top two picks in the NFL Draft, which would make Texas football history. DCTF's Greg Tepper explains.

By Greg Tepper
DCTF Associate Editor

The NFL Draft is still a little more than a month away – April 26 is when it’s scheduled – but for all intents and purposes, the first 30 minutes of the draft have been set in stone.

It’s long been suspected – really, for over a year – that Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck will be the first overall pick in April’s draft. And why not? The Houston Stratford product has had scouts longing over his skill set for the last two years, drawing comparisons to some of the very best quarterbacks that have ever played in the NFL. And when the Indianapolis Colts – owners of the No. 1 overall pick – cut ties with four-time league MVP Peyton Manning last week, the writing on the wall that Luck would be selected first only became engraved deeper.

The story couldn’t be more different for the expected No. 2 overall pick, Baylor QB Robert Griffin III. Coming into the 2011 season as a respected but generally uncelebrated signal-caller for a middle-of-the-road team, Griffin lifted Baylor to new heights, smashing school records left and right en route to a 9-3 season, a victory in the Alamo Bowl and a Heisman Trophy. Since then, the draft stock for Griffin – a Copperas Cove graduate – has been skyrocketing, especially after his sensational showing at the NFL Combine. Speculation ran rampant that he could go as high as second in the draft, but that speculation ended with confirmation when, last weekend, the Washington Redskins traded a heap of picks to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for the No. 2 overall pick, making it clear that RG3 would go second.

These circumstances have considerable historical impact in the Texas football landscape. After all, for the first time in NFL history, two quarterbacks from Texas high schools should be taken as the first two picks in the NFL draft.

I needed to confirm this, however, which sent me scurrying back to my favorite place: the historical records. I traced back every quarterback from a Texas high school that’s ever been taken in the first round of the NFL draft – tracing it back all the way to the first draft in 1936. What I found is that the Luck/Griffin doublet is not just interesting; it’s unprecedented in many, many ways.

For your studying pleasure, every Texas-bred quarterback taken in the first round of the NFL Draft:

Year	Name	Pick	Team	High School	College
2011	Christian Ponder	12	Vikings	Colleyville Heritage	Florida State
2009	Matthew Stafford	1	Lions	Highland Park	Georgia
2006	Vince Young	3	Titans	Houston Madison	Texas
1992	David Klingler	6	Bengals	Houston Stratford	Houston
1992	Tommy Maddox	25	Broncos	Hurst L.D. Bell	UCLA
1990	Andre Ware	7	Lions	Dickinson	Houston
1977	Tommy Kramer	27	Vikings	SA Lee	Rice
1968	Eldridge Dickey	25	Raiders (AFL)	Houston Washington	Tennessee State
1966	Randy Johnson	16	Falcons	SA Sam Houston	Texas A&I
1958	King Hill	1	Chicago Cardinals	Brazosport	Rice
1954	Cotton Davidson	5	Baltimore Colts	Gatesville	Baylor
1951	Y.A. Tittle*	3	49ers	Marshall	LSU
1950	Adrian Burk	2	Baltimore Colts	Gaston**	Baylor
1948	Bobby Layne	3	Bears	Highland Park	Texas
1948	Y.A. Tittle*	6	Lions	Marshall	LSU
1937	Sammy Baugh	6	Redskins	Sweetwater	TCU

*-Y.A. Tittle – the pride of Marshall, Texas -- really was drafted twice, in 1948 and 1951. In ’48, he was taken 6^th overall by the Detroit Lions, but opted instead to play for the Baltimore Colts of the All-America Football Conference. Though the Colts joined the NFL in 1950, they went bankrupt and defunct after that season, opening him up for another draft. The San Francisco 49ers happily gobbled him up with the 3^rd overall pick, and he rewarded them with four Pro Bowl selections and a UPI NFL MVP in his ten seasons in San Fran.

**-Gaston School, the alma mater of Adrian Burk, was in Joinerville, TX – right inbetween New London, Troup and Henderson out in East Texas. The home of the Red Devils, Gaston closed in 1965 when, due to low enrollment numbers, the Gaston and New London schools consolidated to form West Rusk County Consolidated Independent School District.

A couple of things to draw from this:

-If Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III do go first and second, respectively, in this year’s draft, it won’t just be the first time two Texas-bred QBs have gone 1-2 in the draft; it will be just the third time ever that two Texas-bred QBs have gone in the entire first round in one year, joining 1992 (Klingler and Maddox) and 1948 (Layne and Tittle).

-If Griffin goes in the first round of the NFL Draft, he’ll become just the 11^th quarterback who played both his high school and college football in Texas to be selected in the first round.

-Luck figures to become just the third Texas-bred quarterback ever to be taken with the No. 1 overall pick, joining Matthew Stafford (2009) and King Hill (1958) in that regard.

-No Texas-based NFL team has ever selected a Texas-bred QB in the first round. It still could happen – Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill, a product of Big Spring, is gaining some draft steam – but it likely won’t be Luck or Griffin.

-Only one team has ever taken three different Texas-bred quarterbacks with a first-round pick: the Detroit Lions (Matthew Stafford in 2009, Andre Ware in 1990 and Y.A. Tittle in 1948).

-Luck figures to become the fourth quarterback from a Houston high school to be drafted in the first round, and the second from Houston Stratford, joining UH gunslinger David Klingler.

All in all, there’s Texas history that could potentially be made in New York on April 26. Just another thing to keep an eye on in this wild football offseason.

Greg Tepper is the associate editor of Dave Campbell's Texas Football and TexasFootball.com.

He can be reached via e-mail, via Twitter (@Tepper) and via the DCTF Facebook page.

Standing Dall

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600

By Jason Crisler // Special to TexasFootball.com

There’s something about flipping through old Texas Football magazine covers — each one a snapshot of what was “it” that year in Texas football — that brings a smile to any football fan’s face.

Andy Dalton is not just any football fan and the cover he was handed a few days prior to his Cincinnati Bengals taking the field against the Baltimore Ravens to end the NFL regular season wasn’t just any cover. It had him on it.

Dalton laughed upon catching sight of himself with Houston’s Case Keenum and Texas A&M’s Jerrod Johnson on that 2010 summer edition cover. Quite a bit has happened since that preseason.

Dalton defied all the odds, doubters and took every team’s best shot in leading the Horned Frogs to a second straight undefeated regular season. They then defeated Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl (where Dalton was named MVP) and Dalton was taken in the second round of the NFL Draft by Cincinnati, only to watch as the NFL labor squabbles put his professional career on hold.

Once on the field in Cincinnati he had to overcome the behind-the-scenes drama involving Carson Palmer and weekly reports he was going to return to the Bengals before being traded to the Raiders. Dalton helped lead Cincinnati to a 6-2 start, only to stumble the rest of the way, going 3-5 over the final eight games of the season — including a loss to the Ravens in week 17. Throughout it all, his name was being uttered in almost every Rookie of the Year discussion.

Oh, and he got married to his wife Jordan.

“I think back to when we took those pictures (for the cover), it feels like forever ago. A lot has happened in the past two years, basically,” Dalton said. “I have definitely enjoyed the whole process and everything that has gone on. Not only football, but getting married and all that stuff. It’s definitely been a whirlwind but I have definitely enjoyed each thing along the way.”

Yet, through it all, quarterbacking and winning is what Dalton does best and he has the Bengals in the playoffs — just the third time since 1992 that that has happened. Despite a late-season swoon, the Bengals and Dalton did enough to get at least one extra week as they play the Houston Texans on Saturday at 5:30 CT at Reliant Stadium — a place Dalton knows quite well.

“I’ve done well (at Reliant Stadium),” he said. “I think I’ve played three (games at Reliant stadium). I’ve won them all. One with TCU; the two were the first game of the season (at Katy).”

Regardless of what happens in Houston, Dalton has already had one of the best rookie seasons in the history of the NFL. He’s the only rookie signal-caller to throw for 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns and lead his team to the playoffs. Saturday's game with the Texans is the first in postseason history with two rookie quarterbacks starting under center. This, on a team picked to go winless by some, and ESPN’s John Clayton tagged Dalton as the worst starting quarterback in the NFL in the preseason. One thing Dalton has done his whole career is prove naysayers wrong.

His teams at TCU seemed to be always overlooked or underestimated. His senior season the Horned Frogs went 13-0, but it was Auburn winning the national championship. Of course, in the BCS era, TCU seemingly never had a shot. Yet, instead of sounding bitter a year later, he appreciates the struggles and work he and his TCU teammates went through to accomplish what they did in 2010.

“We knew we had to go undefeated to get a chance to play in a BCS game,” Dalton said. “We were able to do it the year before but we had a disappointing loss in the Fiesta Bowl (to Boise State). Everybody had that attitude that we were going to go out and do this again and finish this right. We did everything we could and were able to do that.

“We would have loved to (play for the national championship), but we got to play in the Rose Bowl. That’s one of the best games out there, the granddaddy of them all. We obviously would have loved to play in the national championship game but it didn’t work out and I think we ended it well.”

Fitting, it was Newton who was again stealing Dalton’s thunder early in the NFL season. While Dalton’s numbers were pedestrian, if solid, compared to the larger-than-life Newton’s, Dalton was winning. Yet both quarterbacks appear to be the future of the NFL.

Dalton finished the regular season with 3,398 yards and 20 touchdowns while completing 58 percent of his passes. Newton threw for 4,051 yards and 21 touchdowns and ran for another 706 and 14 touchdowns.

“We both came into good situations, getting the chance to play right away,” Dalton said. “Cam’s really talented. A lot of people are surprised by what he’s doing. I’m not. He has all the tools, he just has to get it all together. I don’t think either one of us would be surprised to the success we’ve had.”

And, as well as his NFL career has gone so far, the start was not so smooth. Though not of his doing, Dalton had to sit on the sidelines and wait while the NFL’s owners and players hammered out a plan to divide up billions of dollars in revenue during a lockout that cost everyone quite a bit of practice time. Which, for the Bengals, seemed to be triply troublesome. Not only was Dalton walking in as the starter with Palmer holding out for a trade, but the Bengals also drafted A.J. Green out of Georgia to be their No. 1 receiver and hired a new offensive coordinator, Jay Gruden. The offense was getting a complete overhaul with its on-field leader being untested at the pro level

“We didn’t worry about any of that stuff, not going to OTAs,” Dalton said. “We just worried about what we could control — come out and get better. Once training camp started, we tried to make ourselves the best players possible.

“But we came in and had to learn the offense as quick as we could. Playing those four preseason games helped and helped us get a good start to the season. As the season has moved on, we have definitely gotten more comfortable with everything because it’s a new offense for everybody, not just the rookies.”

Dalton obviously learned in a hurry. He showed some of the usual rookie inconsistency, but what he showed more than anything was poise and patience beyond his years. Consider this, Dalton threw only one interception in the final six games and had only 13 for the season.

“It’s a great feeling just to have a quarterback that young, a quarterback that poised, that is ready to put in that work,” Green, who has 65 catches for 1,057 yards, said. “He is going to be one of the best that ever played this game, I believe. The confidence that he has in himself and his arm is crazy.”

It’s that confidence, along with his intelligence, that may be Dalton’s greatest asset. Yes he throws a pretty ball, makes smart decisions and is accurate throwing from the pocket or on the run, but with a shortened NFL preseason, there was little time for self doubt. Gruden has nothing but praise for how hard Dalton worked and how well he picked up the new schemes and terminology.

“He came in here — he’s a very bright kid — and we were able to do a lot more than we probably could have if he was a little slow,” Gruden said. “But he’s not, he’s a dang near genius and he just comes in here and learned and studied and learned each concept against a lot of different looks. (Defensive coordinator Mike) Zimmer threw a lot at him so he had to get better and learn quickly under the gun. He was able to take every first-team snap from day one and that was very helpful. He just kept getting better and better.”

And there’s no reason to believe the Bengals and Dalton won’t get better in the years to come. If Green’s prediction of Dalton becoming one of the game’s best is to become a reality, the young talent around Dalton will have to grow with him.

Along with Green, Dalton has young tight end Jermaine Gresham (who played at Oklahoma) and Jordan Shipley (Burnet and Texas) to throw to next season and running back Bernard Scott (Vernon and Abilene Christian) will also be back. If Cincinnati resigns Cedric Benson (Midland Lee and Texas), the Bengals’ offense will continue to have an almost exclusive southwest feel.

Shipley, who had 52 catches last season as a rookie, missed this season with a knee injury, but is expected back next season. Dalton said he’s gotten close to the former Longhorn. Not surprisingly, both being from Texas has helped that friendship.

“I think … playing in the state of Texas, playing the best high school football out there, out of all the states — it’s fun,” Dalton said. “I’ve gotten close with Ship and I know my wife has gotten close with his wife. It’s been a lot of fun because you can talk about stuff, high school teams and different things like that.”

A few Houston thoughts

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500

By Travis Stewart // TexasFootball.com

The oft-repeated claim that nothing important happens in a preseason NFL game is both true and false. It's true in the sense that no resulting statistic is worth discussing — systems and play calls and positions are so skewed and half-backwards that there's no true analytic measure to really do due justice to a player's performance.

The falsehood of it is that you can still glean a fair amount of info from actually evaluating how a player looks on the field in game action. In that sense, it's the exact same thing as the preseason high school scrimmages we all get so excited about — for the most part, you can watch a guy play and get a pretty good idea of whether or not he's going to be a factor any time soon.

That said, I find myself feeling fairly certain that Chris Ogbonnaya, the Strake Jesuit and UT-ex that seemed so far out of sight for a roster spot a few weeks ago that he wasn't even worth mentioning ... is going to make this team! It's part preparation, part providence — Ogbonnaya has drawn rave reviews for his work ethic and exactness on the field, but he's also been lucky enough to watch the four backs in front of him (Arian Foster, Steve Slaton, Ben Tate and Derrick Ward) all fall to short-term injuries.

It's not terribly common for a team to carry four running backs, and you know Foster isn't going anywhere. The coaches like Ward. Tate is a second-round pick who missed his rookie season with injury. Slaton was an exceptional talent just a few years ago. By the roster spots, it would seem like Ogbo would be one of two odd men out. But I think Slaton may be moved, somehow. That would mean Houston — a team that wants to run the ball first — could make this work if it carried four running backs. It's possible.

Side note: It's not lost upon me that Ogbo looked better catching than ball than he did running it last night. That, folks, is what playing running back under Greg Davis will do for ya'.

I didn't get to see enough of the defensive starters in Wade Phillips' new-look 3-4 style to really get a good idea of how well a relocated Mario Williams and Connor Barwin, plus a rookie DE in J.J. Watt, looked. The front seven — especially the linebackers — really got into the backfield all night, which is a positive. The defense attacked downhill for most of the evening. Compared to departed Frank Bush' reactionary style of the past few seasons, it was a welcome change.

I was a little geeked to see Matt Leinart play, largely because the coaching staff (mainly Gary Kubiak) has been shockingly vocal in their praise of the former Heisman winner so far in camp. On the field, he looked comfortable, if not spectacular. Can you really ask a whole lot more of your backup quarterback than that? I guess at the rate Houston is paying him (several million per year), the answer is yes.

Lastly, it's my personal opinion that you can draw a pretty good bead on kickers and punters in the preseason. Kickers have a history of being either good, or abruptly losing their confidence and falling off the face of the earth. Neil Rackers boomed two from 40-plus last night (47 and 49). He looks fine. And considering how tragic Houston's recent history has been in the kicking game ... shoot, they'll take it!

Scheduling conflict

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500

By Greg Tepper // TexasFootball.com

Maybe there will be football on Sundays in the fall.

In case you didn't hear, U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson ended the lockout yesterday with a ruling that sided with the players. The NFL, of course, will appeal the ruling, as it's not favorable to the owners.

I'm not going to pretend to be a legal expert, but from the dozens of articles I've read, the consensus is clear: the chances of a normal NFL season in 2011 are better now than they were this time yesterday.

Of course, it's still important to issue the the same disclaimers that we invoked when breaking down the Dallas Cowboys' schedule last week.

That is, this article could be completely moot by the time the fall rolls around.

Still, we'll give the Houston Texans' schedule, released last week, the same treatment: ranking the games on the schedule from most winnable to least winnable.

The Texans didn't get the best draw in the league -- in fact, their schedule is the 10th most difficult in the league. But it's not without its share of winnable games to go along with the brutal ones.

Let's start the rankings with the most winnable game.

16) Dec. 18 vs. Carolina

The Panthers are drafting first this week for a reason: they were miserable all around. Even better for the Texans: they catch the Panthers at home, and Carolina was winless on the road in 2010.

15) Nov. 6 vs. Cleveland

Another very winnable home game for the Texans, the Browns were a mere 2-6 on the road in 2010.

14) Jan. 1 vs. Tennessee

Tennessee is a hard team to read in 2011; they cut ties with Vince Young and longtime head coach Jeff Fisher. It's hard to imagine that the Titans don't struggle, and it's imperative for the Texans to win this game at home.

13) Dec. 11 at Cincinnati

Sure, it's on the road, but unless Carson Palmer decides to play like it's 2007, I can't imagine this being too big of a hurdle for the Texans.

12) Oct. 9 vs. Oakland

The Raiders will be one of those sexy sleeper picks before the season starts, and we'll know a lot more about them after their Week 5 visit to Reliant Stadium.

11) Oct. 30 vs. Jacksonville

If you the Texans have any hopes of competing in the AFC South in 2011, they must hold serve at home. It will also serve as a type of midterm for the Texans; not only is it in Week 8, but it's the second in a string of three quite winnable games.

10) Sept. 11 vs. Indianapolis

Here's a dirty little secret that most people don't recognize: Indianapolis, though it won the division, wasn't a great team. They were the best team in the division, but they were hardly great. This is a winnable division for the Texans, and it starts right out of the gate with the division champs on their home turf.

9) Oct. 23 at Tenneseee

If Tennessee is truly going to be the worst team in the division -- and there's ample reason to believe they will be -- this is a game the Texans need to win.

8) Nov. 27 at Jacksonville

Remember last year's Houston at Jacksonville game? Hard to imagine the Texans don't have revenge on their mind for this critical Week 12 game. And the Texans have the luxury of two weeks to prepare, as the bye week precedes this contest.

7) Sept. 18 at Miami

This game should serve as an excellent early litmus test for Houston: Miami is an decent team without much of a homefield advantage (the Dolphins went just 1-7 at home in 2010).

6) Nov. 13 at Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay was arguably the best team not to make the playoffs last season, and with another year under his belt, QB Josh Freeman stands to be better. Traveling to Tampa will be no vacation for the Texans.

5) Dec. 22 at Indianapolis

The implications of this game, if Houston plays the way it wants to in 2011, will be enormous. And with a 6-2 home record in 2010, the Colts are still the kings until someone beats them at Lucas Oil Stadium.

4) Dec. 4 vs. Atlanta

Matt Ryan brings his high-flying offense to Reliant Stadium early in December for what could be a fun matchup. Will it be dome sweet dome on the road for the Falcons?

3) Sept. 25 at New Orleans

While the Saints were not the usual juggernaut they have been in the Superdome in past seasons, this is still not a particularly fun thought for Texans fans.

2) Oct. 2 vs. Pittsburgh

Well, hey, at least the defending AFC champions come to Houston!

1) Oct. 16 at Baltimore

There was only one scenario in which the Baltimore Ravens were better than usual: at home. The Ravens went 7-1 in Baltimore in 2010. Don't expect any different in 2011.

Schedule schematics

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500

By Greg Tepper // TexasFootball.com

Very rare is the article in which the author admits its status as “possibly moot,” but that’s exactly what this is.

Such is the condition of any article written about the 2011 NFL season, considering the league’s current work stoppage. If the season started today, the season wouldn’t start today, as the owners maintain their lockout of the players. But it’s important to keep on top of the latest news, just in case a season springs up and surprises us all.

The most recent news from the league was the schedule release, a date normally pored over by thousands of fans to see if their team got a favorable draw or not. That leaves us with an opportunity to look over the schedule of America’s Team, the Dallas Cowboys.

Overall, the Cowboys got a good-not-great draw from the NFL: the share of wholly winnable games is pretty evenly balanced with extremely difficult ones. As an exercise that could possibly be moot in the next few months, we’ll attempt to rank the games on the Cowboys’ schedule from most winnable to least winnable.

Note: this is not to serve as a prediction, but rather a spot of analysis for the NFL fan. You’ll have to wait until the summer magazine of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football comes out in June to find out our official outlook on the Cowboys and Texans.

(And yes, that’s a purposeful tease. I’m mean like that.)

On to the game rankings, from most winnable to least winnable.

16 – Sunday, Nov. 13 vs. Buffalo

It’s bad enough that the Bills haven’t had a winning season since 2004. It’s worse that the Bills are 3-7 all time against Dallas. It’s even worse-er that the Bills have won nine road games in the past three seasons combined. If the Cowboys don’t win this one, something’s gone horribly wrong.

15 – Sunday, Dec. 4 at Cardinals

The only thing keeping this game against the lowly Cardinals from the “most winnable” crown is that it’s on the road; Arizona went 4-4 at home in 2010.

14 – Monday, Sept. 26 vs. Washington

Washington does not figure to factor into the NFC East race, and catching them at home on a Monday night early in the season in front of a presumably rowdy crowd should make this a very winnable game for Dallas.

13 – Sunday, Sept. 18 at San Francisco

Traveling to the West Coast won’t be fun, but playing what could be a team still searching for consistent play at quarterback should be.

12 – Sunday, Nov. 6 vs. Seattle

Yes, the Seahawks made the playoffs in 2010 by winning the dreadful NFC West, and they even won a playoff game by virtue of a stunning upset over the Saints, but catching them at home should be enough to make the Cowboys the favorites.

11 – Sunday, Oct. 23 vs. St. Louis

Now this is a potentially interesting game: depending on how big of a step that Sam Bradford can make in his second year, the Rams could be a breakout candidate for 2011. Expect a good game, though the Cowboys will be favored.

10 – Sunday, Nov. 20 at Washington

Washington should represent the dregs of the NFC East in 2011, but road division games are always difficult, especially on Monday Night Football.

9 – Sunday, Oct. 2 vs. Detroit

A potential trap game before the bye, a potentially resurgent Lions team comes to Arlington while the Cowboys are on a short week.

8 – Sunday, Dec. 11 vs. New York Giants

The Giants always play the Cowboys tough regardless of venue, and it’s important for Dallas to hold serve at home in division play; this will be a must-win game if the Cowboys hope to win the NFC East.

7 – Thursday, Nov. 24 vs. Miami

The Cowboys should – should – be better than the Dolphins, but a variety of factors (Thanksgiving Day, extremely short week, potentially important game for both squads) could make this one tricky.

6 – Saturday, Dec. 17 at Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay was a surprisingly good team in its first season under Raheem Morris; can Josh Freeman take the next step? Good question. Cowboys should beware of this east coast trip.

5 – Saturday, Dec. 24 vs. Philadelphia

If it’s all about holding serve at home in division games, and Philadelphia figures to be the class of the NFC East, doesn’t that make this a difficult game?

4 – Sunday, Jan. 1 at New York Giants

Cold weather, on New Year’s Day, with a playoff spot potentially on the line? The Cowboys should count on the Giants playing their best game of the season.

3 – Sunday, Sept. 11 at New York Jets

Talk about a rough opener: the defending AFC runners-up on the road on Sunday Night Football will provide an early – and stout – test for the Cowboys.

2 – Sunday, Oct. 30 at Philadelphia

This game will be played in Philadelphia. This concludes the necessary analysis of this contest.

1 – Sunday, Oct. 16 at New England

There is not a single Cowboys fan out there who is looking forward to seeing the silver and blue take the field in Foxboro. This is, without question, the most difficult game of the season for Dallas.

Analyzing the NFL drama

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0600

By Travis Stewart // TexasFootball.com

Just a few weeks ago, I was talking to a number of NFL minds — players, a front-office guy and a number of financial player managers. They made one thing quite clear to me that night.

Short of hell or high water, and NFL lockout was coming. And no amount of negotiation was going to stop it.

And so here we are, roughly 12 hours until the world's most powerful sporting league loses its collective bargaining agreement. Until that point comes, almost anything can happen — the Players' Union could decertify, for example, which the league owners would fight. The owners could lock out the players, which the players would fight.

We could see an extension. Maybe. But if there's one thing I'm sure we're not going to see, it's an agreement.

The two sides are so far apart on a number of issues that it's almost as if they're two different species, completely alien to one another. If you haven't been following the stories, here's the very base version of what's happening right now: The owners want two more games on the schedule at the expense of two preseason games, and they want players to take a smaller cut of the overall revenue. Players want better benefits for retired players, and to at least keep their current cut of the overall revenue. And somewhere in the midst of all that is a rookie salary cap, something the league desperately needs.

And out of all those issues, not a single one is close to being resolved. Even with a mediator.

But truthfully, I have a feeling I know the way this is going to pan out. The owners are going to lockout the players. The players are going to wait it out, determined to make a difference. The owners, who recently lost a court ruling as to the legality of billions of dollars of assured TV revenue (supposedly compiled to lockout the players), are going to wait it out, determined to get their way.

And the players, around mid-September, are going to blink.

There's just really no other way it can turn out. The two sides are lightyears apart on these issues, and not just by dollar signs — it's from philosophical issues and ideology, and you can just check in on global religious relations to see how slowly ideology changes. In other words, a compromise is not coming. But unfortunately, the owners are better prepared to survive a lockout than the players are. The shocking truth is that, despite the cash cow of NFL player contracts, a staggering number of players are still living paycheck to paycheck. Obviously, I can't cite those numbers for you. But it's the truth. Even if the billions of dollars the league thought it has secured from TV revenue gets "seized" for legality issues and split up between owners and players, it's still going to be a matter of time before these guys' financials crumble.

As I heard on the radio yesterday from a current player ... you build a lifestyle, but then you can't maintain it. It's the same reason why so many players are broke when the finish playing. Their finances, as hard as it to believe, simply don't match their income.

So when the start date of the season passes, those game checks every player gets on Monday won't be coming. If the owners keep all the TV money, I give it two weeks before players start caving. Ask yourself this — how long could you go without paychecks at your current job? With your wife and kids counting on you? Two weeks? A month?

A season?

It's inevitable — the players will eventually have to give in. And when they do, I'd be shocked if the owners were very generous with what's being offered. We'll see an 18-game season. We'll see the owners' revenue cut increase. It'll be a slaughter of an end to what's been a fairly even fight. But in war, when one side runs out of resources in a battle of attrition, one of two things happens: surrender, or an ill-fated last assault. The players, in that case, have only option. The white flag.

Folks, this isn't going away anytime soon. And I'll bet we're going to miss some games. But unless something dramatic — and unforseen — happens in the near future, the balance of power in the NFL is going to end up even tighter in the hands of the owners, for better or worse.

Texans hire Wade

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600

By Travis Stewart // Texas Football.com — Wade and Kubiak unite.

Well, that didn't take very long.

Just two days after Texans owner Bob McNair decided to keep head coach Gary Kubiak on staff for a sixth season — instead culling nearly the entire defensive staff — the struggling franchise has hired Wade Phillips as its new defensive coordinator.

Phillips, of course, was fired as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys in midseason after the preseason Super Bowl favorites fell fair short of expectations. A 1-7 record was certainly not what owner Jerry Jones was paying for, and Phillips became the first Cowboys coach to be fired midseason under Jones.

The ties here are numerous. Phillips' father, the legendary Bum Phillips, was the successful coach of the Houston Oilers for years, both winning games and enthralling fans with his dry wit and cowboy hat. Wade has toned down Texas overtures in his approach to the game, but there's no doubt that, when in the right situation, he has proven to be successful.

As a coordinator, he has turned around a number of teams — the last four DC jobs he accepted, he took a losing team to the playoffs in his first season. Houston would obviously fit that bill. But the biggest enigma of all is the switch from Houston's current 4-3 scheme to the 3-4 that Phillips has always utilized.

The Texans have carefully built a defense patterned around stopping division rival Payton Manning, relying on strong pass-rushing ends and fast linebackers to try and limit what the legendary passer can do. But the move to the 3-4 will make some of these players less useful. While DE Mario Williams is almost impossible to move, both because of his contract size and his importance to the image of the team, opposing end Antonio Smith, who's frequently flagged every year for a variety of penalties, may not be the best fit in the new scheme. Smith isn't exactly a big-bodied space eater, even if he did play in this system in Arizona.

The linebackers will also be an issue. After all, the Texans found themselves stuck at six linebackers for a good portion of the season, meaning they'll have to add to that pool over the offseason. DeMeco Ryans, the star MLB, should return from his season-ending Achilles injury this year and once again regain his role as the defense's leader. USC product Brian Cushing, who will be entering his third year, should slot in fine at one of the outside spots.

Filling the other two blanks is a mystery. Zac Diles has been productive, if unspectacular, during his Texans tenure. Kevin Bentley, who eventually took over for Ryans after his injury, can claim something similar. Rookie Darryl Sharpton impressed coaches this season, but is still very raw. And Xavier Adibi has never truly lived up to expectations. That's a lot of question marks for a linebacker-heavy defense.

And Houston will have to make cuts along the defensive line, which actually has accrued a fair amount of talent. Williams and Smith have already been discussed, but where does that leave starting tackles Amobi Okoye and Shaun Cody? Okoye would make the most sense to stay, or perhaps move to defensive end. But reserves Connor Barwin and Tim Bulman, who have become both coach and fan favorites, may get phased out as the number of available roles decrease.

Overall, this move seems like a smart one, if a little last-gasp effort.. Kubiak kept his job because of his character, his relationship with McNair, and, probably at least in part, the possibility of a lockout next season. He knows that the defense kept this team out of the playoffs this year. That has to be fixed. Going with Phillips, who's now in his 60s after a long coaching career in the NFL, sports the kind of pedigree his two predecessors lacked.

Now we'll see how much that move will pay off.

NFL update

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500

By Travis Stewart/Texas Football -- Several former in-state players were in the news this weekend.

Most in-state football fans figured that, when Texas LB Sergio Kindle was drafted by the Ravens back in April, that they'd be hearing his name again soon. A talent like that landing on a defense like that? What could possibly go wrong?

Looks like it was the off-the-field stuff we couldn't predict.

Kindle has been hospitalized and is now in stable condition after reportedly falling down two flights of stairs at a home in Austin. He was evaluated for neck and head injuries and is not expected to suffer any long-term effects from the spill. Unfortunately for Kindle, who suffered through a variety of off-field issues during his college days with the Longhorns, such a vague incident is leaving the door wide-open for unpleasant speculation, and it's my sad duty to report that the Baltimore Sun felt it necessary to divulge the majority of his less savory problems over the past four or five years.

Is it really newsworthy? Does the Sun have an obligation to report things like that, with no evidence this most recent accident is at all related to history? That's for their editor to decide. But I guess the lesson is made plain: You can never go back and undo past sins. If this accident does turn out to be a direct result of drug or alcohol abuse, his career will already be in jeopardy. Here's hoping he gets healthy before anyone casts the first stone.

Luckily, not everyone we remember from our college days is caught up in cloud cover. Let's not forget that Colt McCoy just signed a four-year deal with the Browns. We surely won't see him play this year, but odds are he'll be under center in 2011. This may be the last time we hear his name for a while — probably good after the constant spotlight he was stuck with in college.

And this is a story worth reading about the wonderfully kooky Lamarr Houston, who's made an impression on the Oakland Raiders in no time flat. Apparently he has the personality to match his on-field presence! But in all seriousness, Houston has a chance to make an impact immediately for the moribund Raiders' franchise — he's quick, agile and ferocious, and someone's doing something right if they've realized his potential to play at either end or tackle.

And by the way — if players are getting worked up at him over going hard in practice, then I think we unearthed at least one more little reason why Al Davis' team has been a consistent loser.

And lastly, the news that Dez Bryant has a backbone came as a pleasant shock to me. Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I've always thought that "hazing" is a stupid practice in general. Just a way for boys to feel more important than they are. Know what girls do when they get signed onto sorority? They get presents. Boys push each other down the stairs with the hands taped to their rears and sock stuffed in their mouths. And we do it because it makes us older boys feel in charge. Don't give me the argument that it happened to you, too, that it's a rite of passage. That just means someone years ago did it to feel powerful, and the victim did the same, etc. It's foolish stuff.

And Dez has every right to refuse to grovel before Roy Williams. And you know what the best thing is? He handled the response perfectly. He could have easily landed in hot water had he attacked Williams' production, or his overall career, or compared their talent levels. But he didn't — he went right to the heart of the matter. We're here to win, he said. We're a team. Our goal is to win games, not to pay homage to silly, meaningless rites of passage that only inflate the ego of half involved.

He's right, you know. Hazing is divisive, not cohesive. And isn't cohesion ingredient No. 1 for success?

Williams responded with some pithy comments about what you do to take care of non-responsive rookies, even making some rather threatening remarks about credit cards and such. And you know what? If he responds as such, he's the bad guy, and everyone knows it. He's best to just swallow this jagged pill ... and spend more time catching footballs than harassing rookies.

NFL Draft recap

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0500

By Travis Stewart/Texas Football -- Looking at the last six rounds of the draft and free agency,

It took the better part of three days and several sleepless nights, but the flurry of activity surrounding the NFL Draft has finally come to a close. Things will go back to normal now — we'll start talking the future of college and high school football for 2011, and ESPN.com will actually start running free content on its front page again. But before we move on etirely, let's look back at those hectic 72 hours and note all the post-first round Texas kids selected — and match that up against where predicted they'd come off the board. We'll publish later this week on free agents, when a few more have signed deals.

The Second Round

Texas LB Sergio Kindle (Dallas Wilson): Baltimore Ravens, 11/43 overall

Predicted spot: No. 22/22 overall, New England Patriots (first round)

Notes: Considering he was supposed to be a first rounder until late health concerns surfaced, this is a steal. If Kindle stays off the DL, he could play soon.

Texas DT Lamarr Houston: Oakland Raiders, 12/44 overall

Predicted spot: No. 18/82 overall, Houston Texans (third round)

Notes: I can't see how Houston wouldn't at least get to play on passing downs in his rookie year. Who else does Oakland have that's better?

TCU LB Daryl Washington (Irving): Arizona Cardinals, 15/47 overall

Predicted spot: No. 31/62 overall, Indianapolis Colts

Notes: A great player who could eventually fill the void of Karlos Dansby. This was a great spot for him to go, too.

The Third Round

LSU WR Brandon LaFell (Houston Lamar): Carolina Panthers, 14/78 overall

Predicted spot: No. 3/35 overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (second round)

Notes: A bit of a slide on draft day, but the third round is still far better than many Texas prospects. He has a chance to help Steve Smith right away.

Baylor OL J.D. Walton (Allen): Denver Broncos, 16/80 overall

Predicted spot: No. 1/160 overall, St. Louis Rams (sixth round)

Notes: Glad he didn't slide as expected, though he doesn't have a firm quarterback to block for. Hope he's not stuck on a bad team for years.

Arizona DT Earl Mitchell (GP North Shore): Houston Texans, 17/81 overall

Predicted spot: No. 32/123 overall, New Orleans Saints (fifth round)

Notes: Workout wonder ran near a 4.7 in the 40 and catapulted up the draft boards. Texans needed a pass-rushing DT, so Mitchell, a former TE, was the call.

SMU WR Emmanuel Sanders (Bellville): Pittsburgh Steelers, 18/82 overall

Predicted spot: No. 32/223 overall, New Orleans Saints (seventh round)

Notes: Talk about a draft leap! We had him as the last pick of the draft! Too bad he's stuck with Big Ben in Pittsburgh, though.

Texas WR Jordan Shipley (Burnet): Cincinnati Bengals, 20/84 overall

Predicted spot: No. 2/65 overall, Detroit Lions

Notes: With Chad Ochocinco on the decline, Carson palmer was often lacking weapons in the passing game. Shipley will play immediately.

Texas QB Colt McCoy (Jim Ned): Cleveland Browns, 21/85 overall

Predicted spot: No. 1/33 overall, St. Louis Rams (second round)

Notes: GM Holmgren seemed very high on McCoy on draft day interview — I think he'll win the job outright.

The Fourth Round

Oklahoma LB Keenan Clayton (Sulphur Springs): Philadelphia Eagles, No. 23/121

Predicted spot: None

Notes: A good jump up from where most people had him going early, but it must sting to get passed by the Texans (who took a LB this round) twice.

Miami OT Jason Fox (North Crowley): Detroit Lions, No. 30/128 overall

Predicted spot: No. 7/71 overall, Philadelphia Eagles

Notes: The Lions needed a tackle, and now Fox will get to protect a kid that also played near his stomping grounds — Highland Park's Matt Stafford.

Texas LB Roddrick Muckelroy (Hallsville): Cincinnati Bengals, No. 33/131 overall (compensatory)

Predicted spot: No. 16/112 overall, Denver Broncos (third round)

Notes: Think the Bengals were trying to make Shipley feel more at home? Muckelroy will likely need some time before he hits the field.

The Fifth Round

Oklahoma State CB Perrish Cox (Waco University): Denver Broncos, No. 6/137 overall

Predicted spot: No. 6/70 overall, Oakland Raiders (third round)

Notes: Broncos and Bengals have been Texas' two hottest cities this year. Cox has a lot of depth to power through to see the field, but here's hoping.

Fordham QP John Skelton (EP Burges): Arizona Cardinals, No. 24/155 overall

Predicted spot: No. 13/204, Denver Broncos (seventh round)

Notes: A confusing choice for Arizona, but it's good to see strong-armed Skelton get picked up this early. And if Leinart struggles, who says he can't start?

TCU OL Marshall Newhouse (Lake Highlands): Green Bay Packers, No. 38/169 overall (compensatory)

Predicted spot: No. 11/170, San Diego Chargers (sixth round)

Notes: TCU OL always seem to slide on draft day, but Newhouse actually went sooner than expected — and to a good team, too.

The Sixth Round

Houston TE Fendi Onubun: St. Louis Rams, No. 1/170 overall

Predicted spot: None

Notes: St. Louis must have seen something a lot of other teams didn't — if you go by the stats, Onubun wasn't even an NFL prospect.

West Texas A&M DE Eugene Sims: St. Louis Rams, No. 20/189 overall

Predicted spot: None

Notes: Non-native Texan is still the first small-school kid to come off the board for Texas schools, followed by J'Marcus Webb next round.

Kansas WR Dezmon Briscoe (Cedar Hill): Cincinnati Bengals, No. 22/191 overall

Predicted spot: No. 28/92 overall, San Diego Chargers (third round)

Notes: A terrible fall from his predicted spot in the third — a slow 40-time at his workout ultimately cost him three rounds.

Texas Tech CB Jamar Wall (Plainview): Dallas Cowboys, No. 27/196 overall

Predicted spot: No. 3/162 overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Notes: Hometown hero! Dallas could use another corner, and Wall was a better talent than the sixth round indicated. A smart pick by Jerry.

Baylor WR David Gettis: Carolina Panthers, No. 29/198 overall

Predicted spot: No. 25/121 overall, Baltimore Ravens (fourth round)

Notes: Becomes the second Texas WR drafted by Carolina (LaFell), and in the same mold — big, powerful, and fearless.

Texas A&M CB Jordan Pugh (Plano West): Carolina Panthers, No. 33/202 overall (compensatory)

Predicted spot: None

Notes: A blast from the past? Speedy Pugh finally gets his chance.

The Seventh Round

West Texas A&M OL J'Marcus Webb (Texas): Chicago Bears, No. 11/218 overall

Predicted spot: Free agent

Notes: Considering his hype out of high school, this could be the steal of the draft. A smart choice for a Chicago team with nothing to lose this late.

Iowa State OG Reginald Stephens (Rowlett): Cincinnati Bengals, No. 21/228 overall

Predicted spot: None

Notes: At this point, you'd almost rather be a free agent! Stephens gets drafted onto a team with a very good offensive line in place for 2010.

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