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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.

Did we miss somebody? Email us here and fill us in.

Finders keepers

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Travis Stewart // Texas Football -- Texas talents fall to unexpected teams.

So, as a Cowboys fan, did you see that coming?

Though the national perspective can't get enough Tim Tebow, here in Texas, the main storyline of the evening was Lufkin product and Oklahoma State star Dez Bryant falling (via trade) to the Dallas Cowboys, a move that gives Tony Romo an exceptionally dangerous weapon on the outside and Jerry Jones a hometown hero to roll out every Sunday to the masses. Baggage? No baggage for Bryant can top the aplomb of such a draft move. But more on that later. As for now, here's a look at how the state of Texas did in last night's first round — plus a comparison to how we predicted it playing out months ago.

Oklahoma OT Trent Williams (Longview): Washington Redskins, No. 4

Predicted spot: No. 18, Pittsburgh Steelers

Trent Williams' meteoric rise up the draft boards over the past two months caught everyone by surprise, especially with the fact that he eventually leapfrogged Russell Okung, once considered the top OL in the draft, and became one of three Oklahoma players selected in the top four. But the Redskins desperately needed a tackle to help protect newly-acquired QB Donovan McNabb, and Williams' has the most upside of anyone available. I think Okung would have been the safer pick, but Williams, if he hits his potential, could be a Pro Bowler. Hey — don't you think he's just glad he didn't go to Pittsburgh, like we predicted? And at least this way most Texans will get to see him twice a year in the NFC East. Good luck with DeMarcus Ware, kid.

Oklahoma State OT Russell Okung (Fort Bend Bush): Seattle Seahawks, No. 6

Predicted spot: No. 5, Kansas City Chiefs

This is as numerically close as we came to getting any pick right in the first round, but it wasn't a tough call — Okung, in my opinion, was the top Texan in the draft and his No. 6 spot proves it. Believe it or not, I think Seattle was actually hoping to go another direction at the No. 6 spot, but there just wasn't a quarterback, running back, wide receiver or really anything else that provided the right "value" (draft buzz word alert!) at this spot. Considering the Seahawks are taking flight on a new era with Pete Carroll as the GM — and his track record of NFL football decisions ... well, sucks — this was a solid double off of an easy underhand pitch. Right guy, right space, and it'll be tough for Seattle fans to get mad and argue if Okung doesn't live up to potential. I think he will, for what it's worth.

Texas S Earl Thomas (West Orange-Stark): Seattle Seahawks, No. 14

Predicted spot: No. 19, Atlanta Falcons

Thomas was one of the first-round's great enigmas, a guy who's college career clearly suggested top-15 status, but lack of position made teams wonder about his pro potential. Again, it was Pete Carroll and the Seahawks who eventually rolled the dice, and like anyone who could have drafted Thomas, I think the franchise will be extremely pleased with the results. If there's one thing Thomas showed us at Texas, it's that he has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, and that he's capable of making game-changing plays on defense at any moment. How many guys can you really say that about? Seattle has lacked an identity since Matt Hasselbeck famously opened his mouth and said, "We'll take the ball, and we're gonna' score!" Adding impact names like Thomas, someone you can build a defensive concept around, is a good start to getting this one highly-respected franchise back on the national radar. Oh, yeah, and they had, like, no safeties at all on the roster. So there's that, too.

Missouri LB Sean Weatherspoon (Jasper): Atlanta Falcons, No. 19

Predicted spot: No. 38, Cleveland Browns (second round)

What a great choice for Atlanta — when I saw this was the selection, I nodded and offered a mental round of applause. Here's the deal — when Atlanta is able to stay fully healthy, they're a very tough team to beat offensively. But the defense has been average at best, despite the presence of one of the league's leading-tacklers a year ago (Curtis Lofton, 133), and a tackling-machine like Weatherspoon might be able to hide the fact that Atlanta has a terrible secondary in desperate need of corners. As a matter of fact, you could say the Texans' choice — 'Bama's Kareem Jackson — could have been a better call here. But Weatherspoon, in a way, could end up being like former Falcon (and Longhorn) Tommy Nobis: A guy who plays with the franchise for a long time and makes a ton of tackles. One thing I always liked about Weatherspoon was leadership, and I think he has a chance to utilize that here once Mike Peterson is too old to be a three-down guy.

Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant (Lufkin): Dallas Cowboys, No. 24

Predicted spot: No. 16, Tennessee Titans

If we weren't going in numerical order, this would be our starting point, of course. Dallas' move up to get Dez Bryant was, in short, a wise one. This Cowboys team is already more or less set everywhere — yes, there are still some valid questions at tackle and safety, but those are things that could still be addressed later in the draft or via free agency. So bringing in a "risky" guy like Bryant is the perfect decision, because if he fails, you're still a legit Super Bowl contender. But everyone seems to be very, very concerned about Bryant's personal life. It's consumed his draft status, dragging what should have been a top ten pick to the bottom of the first round. Could that "baggage" he carries eventually sink his ship? Of course. Will it? I doubt it. Jerry Jones is used to guys who have had troubles, and I think he could actually help Bryant fit in and mature. He seems like someone Jones would take under his wing and pay personal attention to. And as far as on-the-field talent goes ... well, you don't need me there. He's ridiculously talented. If Miles Austin can produce even half of what he did last year, Bryant will have plenty of opportunities. And Patrick Crayton ... I don't think you're the punt returner anymore. Sorry, bud.

TCU OLB Jerry Hughes (Fort Bend Austin): Indianapolis Colts, No. 31

Predicted spot: No. 43, Miami Dolphins (second round)

The pleasant surprise of the first round. As the clock ticked away, it looked more and more likely that Hughes would not find the first-round gold we were all hoping he would. But then the Colts made a wise choice and selected someone that, from Day 1, has reminded me of Dwight Freeney, the Indy DE that has spun his way into the NFL forefront. Now, I'm assuming the Colts would do as we all expected and put Hughes at OLB, not DE. But I guess you never know. If he does go to LB, he'll help support Gary Brackett at a spot that Indy has had trouble manning over the years. Hughes becomes TCU's highest draft pick since (wow!) 2001, when LaDainian Tomlinson was selected by the Chargers.

Predicted first-rounders not drafted: Texas LB Sergio Kindle (Dallas Wilson)

Bonus coverage: Houston Texans, No. 20, Alabama CB Kareem Jackson

Positionally, this was the right choice for Houston. Yes, the Texans wanted a running back or Texas' Earl Thomas badly in this position, but the truth of the matter was that Thomas wasn't available and that there just wasn't a runner on the board that was worth the value of the choice. Jahvid Best? I'm sorry, but the Texans needed a corner just as bad as a running back, and instead of reaching for a guy that was nearly a second-rounder, they got a cover-corner talent that made sense at No. 20. Plenty of teams have found great runners outside of the first round. The Texans have a chance to do the very same this year. And without Jackson, Houston really had no options for a No. 1 corner. Perhaps Glover Quin, or Brice McCain? Maybe, and maybe, despite the flashes both have shown. But Jackson is as close as a slam-dunk for the spot as anyone in the draft. Every pick is a gamble, but this was a very low risk, very high reward one. That's a no-brainer, in my book.

NFL Draft Analysis: The potential free agents

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

By Travis Stewart//TexasFootball.com

In last year's NFL Draft, 36 kids from either Texas high schools or Texas colleges were picked by an NFL franchise to be a part of its future. As you would expect, that led all states -- as a matter of fact, the state of Texas had more draft picks (36) than the number of states that had a draftee (34)! Six of those kids went in the first round, and had Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree not fallen down the draft boards, three of the top five could have called the Lone Star State (and Dallas, specifically) home. So with that in mind, what does the 2010 Draft look like?

Obviously, we're still about a month and a half away from the big day. But we already have a somewhat solid idea of where our natives will go and what the Draft order will look like. Starting today, TexasFootball.com is offering an eight-part series on the upcoming draft and how are Texans fit into the picture. Today is the final installment -- some noteworthy guys who should end up as undrafted free agents. Notice someone missing from the list? Email us.

Undrafted Free Agents
Like we discussed in the seventh-round segment yesterday, winding up as an undrafted free agent is almost better than getting drafted in the sixth or seventh round. These guys will get a few options to think about after they work out for teams following the draft. Sometimes, the guys that get snatched up here perplex me -- Graham Harrell being ignored, especially -- and sometimes they don't. Here's a smattering of the talent that should still be available after the top 224 guys go off the board.

Todd Reesing, QB, Kansas (Lake Travis)
>> One of Big 12's top passers over the past few years relegated to FA status after an inconsistent and disappointing 2010 season. Still highly accurate and competitive.

Chris Hall, OC, Texas (Irving)
>> Longhorn line's inconsistent showing in 2010 hurt Hall, but he's still one of the better centers available in this year's class.

Joe Turner, RB, TCU (Austin LBJ)
>> Injuries throughout career slowed Turner, but he still has the strength and running power to find a scout team roster somewhere.

Tony Washington, OT, Abilene Christian (Alcee Fortier, LA)
>> Late bloomer made enough of an impact at Abilene Christian in a short amount of time to get noticed. Originally pledged to LSU.

Shawnbrey McNeal, RB, SMU (Dallas Madison)
>> Draft decision pushed more by monetary necessity than positional ranking -- another year could have helped the speedy McNeal.

Jeff Moturi, WR, UTEP (Irving MacArthur)
>> One of the state's most consistent and prolific pass catchers couldn't get noticed with UTEP living off of the Bowl radar.

Justin Akers, TE, Baylor (Deer Park)
>> Being the top tight end in Texas doesn't get you very much notice these days. A skilled blocker with game smarts that could get a chance somewhere.

J'Marcus Webb, OT, West Texas A&M (North Mesquite)
>> One of the highest-profile high school OL of the decade struggled to stay eligible before leaving the Longhorns. Someone will surely take a chance on him.

Charlie Tanner, OG, Texas (Austin Anderson)
>> See Ulatoski, Adam; and Hall, Chris. Tanner is a good run blocker with a veteran's sense for the game.

Auston English, DE, Oklahoma (Canadian)
>> Once-promising Sooner talent was derailed by an injury and buried on the depth chart. Could be an impact run-stopper for a team in need of an end.

Brandon Sharpe, DE, Texas Tech (Toombs County, GA)
>> Surprise talent at Tech broke down opposing backfields in the college ranks, but pro scouts are not convinced of his long-term potential.

DeMarcus Granger, DT, Oklahoma (Dallas Kimball)
>> Never lived up to the high school hype his prep career generated. His questionable attitude has contributed to his fall to this spot.

Joe Pawelek, LB, Baylor (Smithson Valley)
>> One of the most unappreciated talents in Texas in recent memory. Bear's tough 2010 year really cost his draft stock -- he'll surely resurface somewhere. Perhaps San Francisco?

Brandon Brinkley, CB, Houston (Bay City)
>> An excellent cover corner who can break on the ball with ease. I would fully expect he gets a chance to make a scout team somewhere.

Rafael Priest, CB, TCU (Dallas Madison)
>> A very experience corner with good defensive coaching. But he's not a big kid, putting him at a disadvantage against tall, strong NFL receivers.

Da'Mon Cromartie Smith, S, UTEP (Rancho Verde, CA)
>> Led tha nation in tackles for a good chunk of the season, but the talent around him suffered all year long. May be one guy we never hear from again.

Jordan Lake, S, Baylor (Houston Memorial)
>> Like Pawelek, Lake's stock suffered in 2010. But he probably wasn't a true NFL draft pick anyways. A sound tackler and big hitter, but elite speed may keep him out of the league.

Chase Turner, P, Houston (Friendswood)
>> Could find a home with a number of programs -- perhaps the Texans could turn to him when Matt Turk finally opts to retire.

Andrew Sendejo, S, Rice, (Smithson Valley)
>> A veteran's sense for the game and a savvy defender, but doesn't have the explosion or top speed to be an NFL starter.

Jamie McCoy, TE, Texas A&M (Midland Lee)
>> Athleticism and pass-catching skills could make him an attractive choice for a team looking for a backup or third-string tight end.

Evaluating the Draft: The Seventh Round

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

By Travis Stewart//TexasFootball.com

Obviously, we're still about a month and a half away from the big day. But we already have a somewhat solid idea of where our natives will go and what the Draft order will look like. Starting today, TexasFootball.com is offering an eight-part series on the upcoming draft and how are Texans fit into the picture. Today we'll look at the seventh round, and tomorrow will be our final installment -- potential undrafted free agents. Notice someone missing from the list? Email us.

The Seventh Round
Believe it or not, at this point in the draft, a lot of players are actually hoping that they don't hear they name by one of these last 32 teams. The reasoning? They might actually have more leverage and more say in where they take their skills if they're allowed to compete on the open market as an undrafted free agent. Does it work for everyone? Of course not -- Graham Harrell's case proves that. But in some instances, players actually can do better for themselves in the open waters. So this final handful of players may be considered the lucky few or the unfortunate final four. Depends on your outlook.

#13 (204 overall), Denver Broncos: John Skelton, QB, Fordham (EP Burges)
Skelton might be the most anonymous player from Texas in the draft -- being from El Paso, he was largely overlooked by the rest of Texas during his high school career (he wasn't even a Top 300 selection his senior year) and then took his game out to Fordham, where nex to no one from the Lone Star state would ever find him. But he was critical to the team's success almost immediately -- he started seven games as a true freshman, all 12 as a sophomore, all 11 as a junior and all 11 as a senior. Phew! An iron man! But then again, he should be -- he's a massive, powerful guy that sports a truly prototypical NFL frame. Though he wasn't playing at the FBS level, his career numbers, overall athleticism (he used to be a pretty good baseball player, too) and build make him an attractive option at this point in the draft. Wherever he goes, he won't be starting right away. He may not ever start. But he has the tools to hang around the league for a while, and there's absolutely no shame in carving out a career as a backup QB in the NFL. Shoot, I'd take that job.

#23 (214 overall), New York Jets: Keith Toston, RB, Oklahoma State (Angleton)
I still think it's ridiculous that Toston sits this low on the draft boards, and if it were up to me, I'd have him much higher. But the consensus seems to be that he's not worth much more than a measly seventh or sixth rounder, and more often than not the consensus is somewhat close to accurate. But Toston is an impressive runner, one of my favorites over the past four years -- he's got a powerful stride and he can really hit a gap to find some open space. But he did suffer a season-ending injury in 2007 -- to his knee, which scouts usually prize like diamonds. I didn't see much ill effect from that in either 2008 or 2009, though, and I think his experience in a spread style offense could be very valuable to one of the numerous NFL teams slowly integrating the modern wide-open attack popularized in college. But ironically, I have him going to the Jets, one of the few power running teams left in the league. Toston may not be the kind of guy that you want to carry the ball 30 times a game, but he could certainly handle six to eight in an offense like New York's. With Thomas Jones now gone, the Jets will likely look higher in the draft for a guy to develop. But this late in the draft, someone to bolster depth at your most important position is a no-brainer.

#27 (218 overall), Dallas Cowboys: Hunter Lawrence, K, Texas (Boerne)
Speaking of no-brainers, the Cowboys almost have to draft a kicker, right? Nick Folk was so bad that he lost his job, and Cowboy retread Shaun Shuisham surely isn't the long-term answer at a scoring position -- hence why he wasn't tendered and is now looking for a job. Lawrence is one of the top five kickers in the draft, but none are expected to go off the board until the sixth and seventh rounds, and Dallas may not get anyone else down here that could make an impact immediately. Picking up a free agent who can connect would be the first choice, but that's far more difficult than it seems. There's a lot of kickers out there, yes. But not that many of them are good enough to kick for a team that is expecting a Super Bowl ring. Lawrence may be a rookie, but it's not like he's never seen a big kick in his life -- for example, the Big 12 title game against Nebraska. He may not have the cannon leg to hit from 56 yards out on a consistent basis, but throughout both his high school and college career, he's been very accurate and very consistent. Right now, the Cowboys will take that any day and twice on Sunday.

#32 (223 overall), New Orleans Saints: Emmanuel Sanders, WR, SMU (Bellville)
Year after year, the guy affectionately known as Mr. Irrelevant has come and gone with absolutely no impact on me. The final pick of the draft holds very little appeal besides pure novelty -- at that point, it's definitely better to just go to free agency and hope for a better outcome. But this year, I have a sneaky suspicion that Mr. Irrelevant will be a record-holder of considerable repute around these parts -- Emmanuel Sanders, one of the top wideouts in SMU history. If Sanders does indeed get picked up in this spot, he would become the first Mr. Irrelevant from a Texas college since Charles Hill (Sam Houston State) in 1971. But I digress. In a passing game like New Orleans', wide receivers are always in demand. Right now, the Saints have an excellent corps of guys to go to. But adding another for down the road never hurt, and Sanders is the kind of guy that can make tough catches across the middle, move the chains and offer a sure set of hands. I could definitely seem him working with Drew Brees.

The Sixth Round

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

By Travis Stewart//TexasFootball.com

Obviously, we're still about a month and a half away from the big day. But we already have a somewhat solid idea of where our natives will go and what the Draft order will look like. Starting today, TexasFootball.com is offering an eight-part series on the upcoming draft and how are Texans fit into the picture. Today we'll look at the sixth round -- next segment we'll view the seventh, and so on, until we get to undrafted free agents. Notice someone missing from the list? Email us.

The Sixth Round
Like we did in the fifth round, we're more looking at good fits instead of actually trying to project where guys are going to land. And the first guy in this round is a name that's been left off the list for far too long -- long enough that people have started asking some questions. After him, we'll hit several other big names that you would have thought would be off the board long ago.

#1 (160 overall), St. Louis Rams: J.D. Walton, C, Baylor (Allen)
And probably long overdue. My reasoning? Every year, one player slides that surprises me, and usually further than I would have thought possible. This may be the J.D. Walton year. Centers are just a tricky position to draft, because usually there are so many other needs that are more difficult to fill, and like kickers and punters, there often aren't many that are considered draftable. Walton is listed by some outlets as going as high as the second round, and that could very well be the case. After all, how often do you get All-Americans off of sub-.500 teams? Walton has to be considered one of the better linemen in Baylor history, and maybe the high profile of '09 draftee Jason Smith will help get his name circulating around draft boards. He has great talent, and he's a smart and savvy lineman that can make the kind of calls and reads that trace the fine line between success and failure in the NFL. This slot would also mean that Colt McCoy would be his quarterback -- wouldn't that be fun?

#3 (162 overall), Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jamar Wall, CB, Texas Tech (Plainview)
Wall is a guy that could get drafted up in the fifth round, as well, but I think he ends up here. He might actually be a little underappreciated as far as corners go, because he played in Texas Tech system that was rarely celebrated for its defense. But playing corner in the Big 12 has to be worth something, since you get thrown at so often (Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford, Chase Daniel, Todd Reesing, Jerrod Johnson, Zac Robinson, etc.) He even had to see Graham Harrell in practice! Wall brings a lot of athleticism to the table, and he's the kind of guy that can make a break on the ball or show the recovery speed you need to be a cover corner. I think he's the kind of guy that could be a better pro player than college one, but I also see a little bit of former TCU star Drew Coleman in him -- someone that could sign on with a team late in the draft and hang on for many years in a supporting role.

#6 (165 overall), Carolina Panthers: Adam Ulatoski, OT, Texas (Southlake Carroll)
The fall from grace was hard for Ulatoski, who some draft boards were listing as a first round talent before the start of the 2009 season. His size, coaching and talent merited the ranking. But an inconsistent and somewhat underwhelming senior year really dropped the former Southlake Carroll Dragon down in the minds of NFL scouts and owners, and while it seems impossible that he'd miss getting drafted entirely, it does seem increasingly likely that he'll be a late-round selection instead of an early one. As far as his skills, I think he's a better run blocker than pass blocker, despite the fact that Texas relied almost exclusively on the passing game during his junior and senior years. The best thing he has going for him might also be considered a bit of a knock -- he's a very level-headed, good-character guy, which seems hard to find in the big leagues these days. But many scouts want to see a mean streak in their linemen ... after all, they don't call them the big uglies for nothing. I'm not sure Ulatoski will ever truly offer that. But he's worth the pick, especially this late in the day.

#11 (170 overall), San Diego Chargers: Marshall Newhouse, OT, TCU (Lake Highlands)
TCU offensive linemen always seem to go low in the draft despite usually sporting long and distinguished collegiate careers. Former Frog center Blake Schlueter and tackle Herb Taylor are both good examples of that. Now Newhouse seems to be the next in line to suffer the fate. Newhouse has been a mainstay at tackle for a program that has lived in the double-digit win territory, and he's consistently played well against teams like Utah and BYU. But yet, here he is -- which is why I have him going to the Chargers, which have done a good job developing linemen as of late. Several spots along the Bolts' line are anchored down for the immediate future, but there's always room for Newhouse to add depth.

The Fifth Round

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

By Travis Stewart/Texas Football -- Five more Texans could be drafted in the fifth.

Obviously, we're still about a month and a half away from the big day. But we already have a somewhat solid idea of where our natives will go and what the Draft order will look like. Starting today, TexasFootball.com is offering an eight-part series on the upcoming draft and how are Texans fit into the picture. Today we'll look at the fifth round -- next segment we'll view the sixth, and so on, until we get to undrafted free agents. Notice someone missing from the list? Email us.

The Fifth Round

We're officially in full-blown crapshoot mode -- so much could have happened between the St. Louis Rams' first overall pick and the fifth round that trying to guess where these kids are going to get drafted is like making predictions on dropping a tube on tennis balls through a Plinko board. So at this point, we're almost picking slots based on fit and overall talent order -- once you get to the fifth round, teams start sliding more towards the "best player available" mentality, and we've reflected that here. Enjoy!

#7 (135 overall), Oakland Raiders: Brandon Carter, OL, Texas Tech (Longview Spring Hill)
It's such a slam dunk it's not even funny. Has there even been a player that would better match his respective fan base than Brandon Carter (with face paint, of course) warming up next to the Black Hole? The Raiders have long since lost any sort of ferocity or bite that once accompanied them, now looking for all the world like a group of vastly overpaid children worrying more about Friday night than Sunday. Carter could be one small piece to fixing that puzzle -- he's a mean, rough and tough lineman that could offer a little bit of enforcer status to a creampuff group. Plus, Robert Gallery, whom the Raiders drafted high in the first years ago, has not been the answer at the guard spot. Carter is big enough to play tackle, but he could be plugged into the left guard spot right away and make a difference. The only clash? Carter spent the vast majority of his college career in pass protection, and the Raiders have the pieces to a good run game in place. Still, he'd be a good value at this spot in the draft.

#14 (142 overall), San Francisco 49ers: Vince Oghobaase, DT, Duke (Alief Hastings)
Mike Singletary is the kind of coach who is going to seek players that emulate his talents -- fierce, determined, hard-nosed and hard-working. So drafting the smart, game-savvy Vince Oghobaase to help shore up the middle of a defense that could be one of the league's best would be a good call. With Patrick Willis anchoring the middle of the field, Oghobaase could have a much easier time transferring to the pro ranks if he were to challenge for time right away. Plus, he's from Houston, like Singletary. Could that possibly play into things at all? The biggest thing working against a selection like this would be that it's San Francisco's offense that needs the most help, and if the 49ers spent almost the whole draft addressing those needs, I'd hardly be surprised.

#21 (149 overall), Cincinnati Bengals: Danario Alexander, WR, Missouri (Marlin)
I feel like I'm almost disparaging Danario Alexander's name by linking him with the Bengals, as Marvin Lewis seems near-obsessed with taking troubled souls and trying to convert them into NFL superstars. And this two years after he said they were on a character building kick! But Alexander doesn't fit that mold -- just a need at the wide receiver spot. The Bengals' wideout corps has been hurting, as Chris Henry's death and Chad Johnson's (I'm not calling him Ochocinco, because unlike at CBS, no one here can make me) gradual decline have left the once-great Carson palmer without a reliable group to throw to. The result? The Bengals, blessed with one of the best talents under center in the league, have become a running team. That's why the speedy Alexander could be a great fit here -- he might even be able to play right away. By the way, if there any doubt that is Chase Daniel was still at Missouri that Alexander would have been a higher draft pick? The Tigers' rebuilding year probably hurt his draft stock, but at this point in the draft, he's a steal.

#28 (156 overall), San Diego Chargers: Brian Jackson, CB, Oklahoma (DeSoto)
The Chargers' recent move of Antonio Cromartie means that there's a gaping hole at the corner spot for a team that's otherwise built for a Superbowl title -- not as good sign. Jackson won't be able to fix that issue all by himself, but he could at least provide depth while the Chargers sort the situation out. He also continues a recent streak of astounding DeSoto production -- next year, Von Miller is sure to be a high draft pick, and over the past three seasons (including expected 2011 signees), the Eagles easily have put out double-digit kids to the FBS ranks. People talk a lot about Dallas Skyline, and GP North Shore, and a few others as the top talent producer in Texas. But DeSoto is a top five choice.

#32 (123 overall), New Orleans Saints: Earl Mitchell, DT, Arizona (GP North Shore)
I think the Saints, more or less, are going to have a need at most positions heading into the draft -- the free agency rules and the large number of unrestricted guys on the roster for New Orleans means there's going to be plenty of new faces to meet and greet in 2010. So with that in mind, it only makes sense for the Saints to hit a need tough for any team to fill -- defensive tackle, where tracking down athletic talent is more or less a primary goal for draft coordinators. Mitchell can offer that kind of production, though he might not be ready to see the field right away.

The Fourth Round: Tracking native Texans through the NFL Draft

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

By Travis Stewart//TexasFootball.com

Obviously, we're still about a month and a half away from the big day. But we already have a somewhat solid idea of where our natives will go and what the Draft order will look like. Starting today, TexasFootball.com is offering an eight-part series on the upcoming draft and how are Texans fit into the picture. Today we'll look at the fourth round -- next segment we'll view the fifth, and so on, until we get to undrafted free agents. Notice someone missing from the list? Email us.

The Fourth Round

Somewhere along the line, we got locked into the number five. The fourth round of our mock NFL draft again saddles us with the same number of Texans as did the past three -- five kids for five teams in need. And if you go back to check on where everyone has gone up until this point (and add in the five below), that gives us, in four rounds of NFL action, 20 kids headed out to 19 teams. How about that for balance? As we get into the middle rounds, expect more wide receivers to start flying off the board -- after all, down in these spots, they're cheaper to get on the roster. With that in mind, let's head out to Buffalo at No. 9.

#9 (105 overall), Buffalo Bills: Jeremy Williams, WR, Tulane (Baytown Sterling)
With both Terrell Owens and Josh Reed on their way out in Buffalo, it looks almost certain that the Bills will have to address the wide receiver spot somewhere in the draft -- likely more than once. But with Lee Evans already commanding a formidable salary at the position, filling in the gaps with lower-priced options is probably Buffalo's best bet. That's why drafting Williams in the fourth round may be a better bet than, say, Dez Bryant in the first. Williams was often overlooked at both the high school and college level, so many Texans may be in the dark as to what he brings to the table. But as a slot or No. 2 guy, he has great potential. He's got a wonderful set of hands, and he's one of the more natural pass catchers you'll see in this year's draft. He runs very polished underneath routes and has a knack for finding soft spots in the zone, so he could be a nice safety valve for whoever's unfortunate enough to be playing QB in 2010. If his team had been more successful -- which is no fault of his, really -- he could have been a much higher draft pick. Buffalo should be ecstatic to get a guy that can play immediately at such a draft spot.

#16 (112 overall), Denver Broncos: Roddrick Muckelroy, LB, Texas (Hallsville)
Muckelroy is one of the more interesting prospects to come out of Texas in a while. He doesn't have the mind-blowing numbers or athleticism of Derrick Johnson back in 2004, but he consistently played well against the run during his lengthy and distinguished career for the Longhorns. He's been durable after an early injury as a freshman, and he started 25 out of a possible 26 games in 2009 and 2008. Is he going to overwhelm you with blinding speed and crushing strength? Probably not. But he's a solid, dependable guy that can plague the gaps in the run game and keep opponents from ripping off big plays. That's why I have hit headed out to Denver -- the Broncos were one of the worst rushing defenses in the league this past season, and while D.J. Williams is still a key linebacker for them, Andra Davis isn't getting any younger in the middle. Having Muckelroy to spell Davis or fill in if there's an injury would be a nice luxury for a team that's trying to win a division title. Of course, Denver's draft day strategy could change dramatically if teams start matching the tenders the Broncos have offered on a number of their key contributers.

#19 (115 overall), Atlanta Falcons: Jevan Snead, QB, Ole Miss (Stephenville)
I was at the game that may have hurt Jevan Snead's draft status more than any other -- a horrifying Cotton Bowl against Oklahoma State that made both Snead and Cowboy QB Zac Robinson look downright bad. That day, Snead was both inaccurate and out-of-whack: his decision making was terrible, his throws were way off target and, as a result, his team struggled. He even got pulled for a little bit after he took a mighty whack trying to make a tackle. But all that aside, Snead still has some physical tangibles that teams will target in the draft. He's still a good-sized kid (6-foot-3, 200+ pounds) with a strong arm and good coaching credentials. And even though he's coming out to the draft early, and even though his junior year was less than impressive, he looked good for the scouts at the Combine and showed the kind of touch and accuracy that made him attractive in the first place. So why Atlanta? Matt Ryan is obviously the answer there for the young Falcons, but drafting a quality backup is en vogue, like the Cowboys did last year with Stephen McGee out of A&M. If you saw Chris Redman play in Ryan's absence last year, there's clearly a need to find someone a little better. Snead may be a bit of a project guy, but he could be a good value here for the Falcons anyways.

#25 (121 overall), Baltimore Ravens: David Gettis, WR, Baylor (Dorsey, Los Angeles, CA)
My first reaction to seeing Gettis around this level on most draft boards was mild to severe surprise. Gettis has of course been under-appreciated playing for some bad Baylor teams and has been covered up even more by the emergence of young, dynamic Kendall Wright, but a fourth round draft pick is still supposed to be an impact guy, and I never considered Gettis an NFL-standard role player. But anyone who reads my work knows I'm wrong frequently, and I'm willing to admit I may have misjudged Baylor's overlooked pass catcher. If there's one thing Gettis has in abundance, it's speed, and when you combine that with his size and stature, he's a prototypical mismatch kind of talent against smaller corners. Is he going to be ready to play right away, like Jeremy Williams from Tulane? Probably not. But he can find a home somewhere and make an impact in the right system. Right now, Baltimore is desperate for wide receivers -- Derrick Mason (if he even returns) and Kelley Washington are both on the downside of their careers, and Mark Clayton is not a No. 1 guy. So finding pairs of hands to offer Joe Flacco has to be a high priority for a team that's supposed to be a contender. Odds are Baltimore takes a wide receiver much higher than this, then supplements it with another one or two later on.

#27 (123 overall), Dallas Cowboys: Ciron Black, OT, LSU (Tyler Lee)
The total and complete Iron Man -- Black hasn't missed a start, ever. He redshirted as a true freshman in 2005, than started every game (53) all the way through his senior campaign in 2009. That, of course, breaks the school record. Plus, he was awarded the Jacobs Blocking Trophy in 2009, which goes out to the SEC's top offensive lineman. So why is he only getting drafted in the fourth round? Well, his height (6-foot-4) works against him a little bit, and even though that kind of size would make him a giant 15 or 20 years ago, it still leaves him two to three inches short of the norm for an All-Pro left tackle. But the real knock is his feet and mobility, which is not stellar. Teams aren't going to want to draft him and use him as a pulling tackle, and for any group that loves bubble screens and such, he may not be a good fit. But Dallas needs depth along the offensive line, especially if mainstay Flozell Adams is on the way out, which seems likely. You can do a lot worse than a 53-game starter this late in the fourth round, and especially at a difficult position to fill. Jerry would be pleased to end up with this guy on the group.

The Third Round

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

By Travis Stewart/Texas Football

Obviously, we're still about a month and a half away from the big day. But we already have a somewhat solid idea of where our natives will go and what the Draft order will look like. Starting today, TexasFootball.com is offering an eight-part series on the upcoming draft and how are Texans fit into the picture. Today we'll look at the third round -- next segment we'll view the fourth, and so on, until we get to undrafted free agents. Notice someone missing from the list? Email us.

The Third Round

We're almost to the point where things become pure conjecture, but this third round -- which again gives us five Texans set to be drafted -- could still be an accurate forecast of the future. But there is one thing we're still missing -- an in-state draftee from a college besides Texas or TCU. How long do we have to wait for Baylor's David Gettis, or Texas Tech's Brandon Carter? Stay tuned later this week for how the rest of the state pans out.

#2 (66 overall), Detroit Lions: Jordan Shipley, WR, Texas (Burnet)
Were you hoping I'd send Shipley to St. Louis to reunite him with Colt McCoy? That would seem a little too perfect, wouldn't it? I'd be surprised if St. Louis opted for a wide receiver there, since the Rams have so many other needs that are more difficult to address in free agency. But here, at Detroit, Shipley makes a fair amount of sense. The Lions' receiver corps -- outside of Calvin Johnson -- is just awful, and giving Matt Stafford the pieces he needs to be successful should be Priority No. 1 for the long-suffering franchise. People have questioned Shipley's durability, and with good reason, considering his college career is infested with DNPs. But his senior year performance proves is upside is tremendous, and his astonishing speed and quickness is not unlike that of guys like Antwan Randle El or Santana Moss. Like those guys (and Wes Welker), Shipley is small, but unlike Welker, I think Shipley is a more vertical threat receiver, whereas Welker makes a living on underneath routes. I hear the Patriots mentioned a lot for Shipley, but why draft him when you already have Welker and Julian Edelman in the mix? A big body WR makes more sense for New England.

#6 (70 overall), Oakland Raiders: Perrish Cox, DB, Oklahoma State (Waco University)
You're shaking your head -- how can Oakland possibly draft a corner with Nnamdi Asomugha's crushing contract still on the books at the same position? Well, first of all, Cox could be the ninth or tenth corner drafted, which would make him vastly more affordable, and secondly, because there's a very real chance that Oakland could move Asomugha before the season begins. With this uncapped year on the horizon, it would be easier for Oakland to shed that mammoth contract now to a legit contender. And if the Raiders do, CB becomes a key need. Cox is a pretty good value in the third round -- he has multiple years of starting experience in the Big 12, meaning he's seen the likes of McCoy, Sam Bradford, Graham Harrell and Jerrod Johnson for years now. He's used to heavy passing attacks, and while he may not be a true ballhawk (just six INTs in his past two years), he is a good cover corner guy that kind of reminds me of Nathan Vasher, a former fourth round pick out of Texas who carved a niche for himself out in Chicago. The only thing against Cox is he's not a big corner, which AFC West teams should be in the market for -- San Diego and Denver both employ huge, physical receivers.

#7 (71 overall), Philadelphia Eagles: Jason Fox, OT, Miami (North Crowley)
Did you forget that Fox was a native Texan? In the interest of full disclosure, I kind of did, too. It's been a long time since we've seen him play on our home soil, working as a reserve tight end for a North Crowley team that won a state title back in 2003 (his sophomore year). But Fox has really impressed out in the Sunshine State, and his production is made even more astounding by how often the Hurricanes' coaching staff has changed over the years. But most importantly, Fox has proven himself to be an Iron Man -- he rarely misses a start, or even a snap, and that can be hard to find in the college ranks. Philadelphia may not be in dire straits to draft a tackle, but adding one to the rotation would certainly help shore things up, especially on the right side. Getting a tackle here would be quite a bargain, because so many elite ones are going in the first round. After Fox, things are going to drop off a little bit -- if we said Fox is the eight or ninth best tackle, getting down to the 11th or 12th would drop us nearly 70 spots in overall value. That's more than two rounds. Finders, keepers!

#18 (82 overall), Houston Texans: Lamarr Houston, DT, Texas (Doherty, Colorado Springs, CO.)
It just fits too well for me to ignore it -- Houston going to Houston? With Lamarr's roots lying in Colorado, a state the Texans frequently turn to for college draftees (Colorado State)? With a glaring need at the position? With him being a local star with a nice fan following? All the pieces would seem to fit here. As the 2009 season wore on, the Texans slowly began to recover from a rocky defensive start, shoring up the gaps against the run and leaning heavily on late addition Bernard Pollard to provide some fire. But behind Amobi Okoye at the defensive tackle spot, production was spotty. Frank Okam may never pan out, and Shaun Cody won't last forever as a backup. So Houston, one of the more fast and athletic tackles in this draft, could really help the pass rush production of both Mario Williams and Antonio Smith. Okoye is coming along, but giving him someone that can collapse the interior of the pocket -- which seems to be Lamarr's specialty -- could help cover up a little of the expected pass defense problems in the Houston secondary.

#28 (92 overall), San Diego Chargers: Dezmon Briscoe, WR, Kansas (Cedar Hill)
I know what you're thinking -- doesn't San Diego have enough young receivers who fit this mold? They sure do. But adding one more wouldn't hurt, and I think Briscoe is a tremendous value this late in the third round. San Diego loves to stretch the field vertically and rely on their tall, physical pass catchers to go up for jump balls or draw pass interference calls. Well, Briscoe is the kind of guy who can do that and stay short to play the middle of the field. At Kansas, he was one of the best in the league, with a stellar set of hands and some make-believe catching ability. In some ways, I think he's even better than Brandon LaFell, who could end up moving into the first round. At 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Briscoe is a bruising body that could be a perfect match in San Diego, especially if the Chargers can't dig up a running back to replace Sproles or LaDainian Tomlinson. Sneaky thought -- Dallas may steal Briscoe just one pick before San Diego does, at No. 27.