This Is Why.....

...I put little to no value in so called "draft gurus" or "draft geeks" that post for free on the interwebsnet.

Myron Lewis, who I profiled in a previous post, apparently stunk it up at his Vanderbilt Pro Day according to Sporting News Today.

Yet, according to Tennessean.com, Lewis impressed NFL scouts.

So which is it? Did he leave a steamer on the field or did he impress? Did those who went to the Pro Day really pay attention?

I'll give Sporting News credit. They wrote a glowing report about him earlier but they also printed a source's quotes that he didn't do well. They could have easily glossed over or ignored the quote to make their report look good. They didn't. Which is good journalism...a rarity today in my book.

It also highlights why I put little faith in writers out there and don't charge for it. If they were genuinely good scouts they would be employed by a scouting agency, college team or NFL team.

Case in point brings me to Draft Insiders Digest and this mock draft. For the record, it is widely known the Texans need to upgrade the offensive line, defensive tackle, running back and safety/corner spots. This numb nuts evidently isn't paying attention. He has the Texans taking LB Brandon Spikes with the 20th pick.

First off, if there is a position on the team the Texans don't need help it's at linebacker. You only have one of the best MLBs in DeMeco Ryans. On the strong side is Brian Cushing and his 2009 Rookie of the Year award. On the weak side, Zac Diles isn't to shabby. He was having an outstanding season on the strong side in 2008 and beat Xavior Adibi out on the weak side last season. Adibi would be the first up and Kevin Bentley can also play the weak side (he backs up all three LB spots).

Second, unless you play in a 3-4 defense, you don't draft a weak side linebacker that high.

With so many other areas of great importance on the team, this leaves me to believe that mock drafter Frank Coyle has no clue of what he is doing. Looking at the draft order, ranking the prospects and lining up them across from each other isn't a mock draft. At the very least, look at the team's needs. Some teams, especially top picks, have several needs but as the draft goes lower, you can take a good guess at what teams may be targeting.

I have no clue what Coyle's logic is giving the Texans a linebacker over other places of obvious need. He's not paying attention or is lazy and not doing his homework. Looking at his previous mock draft in February, he again selects a linebacker for the Texans. This is just sloppy lazy research by the self proclaimed "Premier Draft and Free Agency Publication."

I'm sure as I try to figure out the Texans latest moves, which I definitely have no clue about, I'll mock more mock drafts as I run into them.

Texans Draft Wish List: Myron Lewis

Okay, I admit this one is a reach in Vanderbilt cornerback Myron Lewis. Depending on who you read, he's projected from 7th to 4th to 2nd round pick. In other words, no one really knows.

So why am I highlighting him? After the first two or three rounds, part of the draft is finding an undervalued contributor. If the Texans can address running back, defensive tackle and safety in the first three rounds, they might start thinking about looking for quality in the defensive backfield. Lewis just might fit the bill.

His tape measurements look tempting: 6' 1", 209 lbs with a 40 time of 4.48.

The best scouting report I found on him comes from Sporting News. Like my previous write up, I'll try to expand more on Lewis once I renew my Pro Football Weekly subscription.

Based on rankings I've seen on Lewis, the Sporting News report might be a little to glowing of Lewis. None the less, it provides an interesting prospect.

A brief synopsis of the report:

• Good coverage skills man on man and in press coverage.
• Adjusts well from back pedaling to turn and run
• Has good recovery skills and speed from a false step
• Anticipates the ball well and can close in on a play
• Decent in run support, he is willing to slow the runner down and wait for help, not a dominant tackler
• Has the size to cover big receivers and speed to cover fast receivers

Not much negative attributes on Lewis. The report projects him as a second round pick and says he has the potential to start as a rookie later in the season. It goes on to admit he might not be taken where they have him rated but will be a quality pick regardless of where he goes.

Houston Texans Wish List: Jeromy Miles

The loss of cornerback Dunta Robinson opens a hole in the defensive backfield and raises more questions that it solved. Rumor is that Robinson is on the verge of signing with the Dirty Birds of the ATL.

Obviously the Texans need to address cornerback in the draft or free agency. Since they've so far been quiet on the FA side of things, one imagines they will draft a corner this April.

Last year the Texans filled a glaring need at safety with Bernard Pollard but you can never have too many good defensive backs.

One player I like at safety is Jeromy Miles from UMass. The Sporting News Daily profile on Miles projects him as a second round pick.

A quick run down on Miles from Sporting News profile:

1. Excellent cover skills off the line man on man. Can watch a quarterbacks eyes and track the ball. Breaks quickly on a pass.
2. Very physical in run support and in coverage.
3. Not explosive with elite speed but makes up for in with great range and instinct
4. Big hitter who can force the ball loose.
5. Excellent tackler
6. Projected to go in the second round
7. Should be an instant starter in the NFL

He started his career at Navy but transferred to UMass. Even though he left Navy that he played for them is telling. You can't be an academic slouch and enter the Naval Academy. According to his NFL Draft Bible player profile, Miles left the Academy because he felt the military life wasn't for him. He preferred to enter the civilian life instead.

So the transfer from Navy doesn't appear to be a red flag. It was just a person making a choice in life for what he thought best. Can't blame a young man for that. Personally I admire the maturity and responsibility he had to make the decision.

One caveat to my report. Apparently only Sporting News is high on him. Everybody else has him as a late pick to an undrafted free agent. That just goes to show the unpredictability of the draft and scouting reports. For what it's worth, most free sites don't really have a clue.

My Analysis: Scouts know more than I do. Todd McShay and Mel Kiper don't know dick. Most draft sites don't know crap.

I just highlighted Miles due to what I read in Sporting News.

So am I hearing what I want to hear from the Sporting News profile? No. I'm just looking at one report. I have more faith in Pro Football Weekly's reports than any other publication. I just haven't updated my subscription yet.

Anyway, if Miles is as good as Sporting News advertises and he falls, the Texans or any other team has a potential great value pick.