Pure Texans Bull - Post Draft Edition

Pure Texans Bull
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Inaugural Issue – Post Draft Edition Part 1
April 28, 2010

Once again I changed the name of the blog. I believe this is the third name but I like this one better than the previous titles. I changed up the colors a few weeks ago to actually match the steel blue and battle red of the Texans. I added a background to the title banner of a picture I actually took myself. So I thought it fitting that a name change would be appropriate.

What a better time for change than at the draft? New players breed new hope for teams looking to build, improve and look for another piece to a hopeful championship campaign.

The Houston Texans entered the draft with less needs than at any other time in the short history of the franchise. The team is at a point where they look to bolster a few need areas and otherwise draft for depth and special teams. They took care of a cornerback, running back and a passing down defensive tackle. They added to linebacker depth, corner competition, TE fodder, a return specialist, offensive line project and a wide out project.

My gut reaction Monday after the draft was dismay. Two tight ends, one defensive tackle and players expected to be projects or special team contributors led to my angst. I thought they should have taken at least two DTs and one safety.

After digesting the tight end situation, I understand where the thinking. Three of the four TEs on the roster just had off season surgery. Owen Daniels probably won’t fully recover until training camp or preseason. Joel Driessen’s status is unclear at the moment and Anthony Hill is projected to spend start the year on the PUP list or IR. Of the two drafted TEs, only 4th round pick Garrett Graham will get time at TE while Dorin Dickerson will learn under tutelage from Andre Johnson at WR.

For the first round, I figured the Texans would draft a corner or running back while possibly drafting two corners and a running back in the first three rounds. I didn’t think defensive tackle was on the board in the first round.

1st Round – Kareem Jackson CB Alabama
The Texans definitely drafted for the most glaring hole on defense. With the departure of Dunta Robinson, they needed a corner with the ability to step in and start soon. Hopefully Jackson opens the season as the starter. The Texans many corners on the team but most are unproven. Jacquez Reeves, Fred Bennett, Grover Quin, Brice McCain and Antwan Molden currently occupy roster spots. Bennett and Moulden will battle for their Texans careers this off season. The addition of Jackson turns up the heat several degrees.

Depending on whom you ask, Jackson was rated as high as second best corner in the draft. The phrase most often used to describe Jackson is “NFL ready” over the other draftees. In other words, the majority of scouts believe Jackson can walk into camp and claim a starting position. He is considered well coached in college where he learned a complex defensive system under coach Nick Saban. Scouts and coaches love that he played at a top notch SEC school against top notch competition.

My two favorite sources are the Houston Chronicle’s Lance Zierlein and Pro Football Weekly’s scouting reports. I read other reports too just to get a cross section of analysis and reaction.

My Consensus Take on Jackson
For the most part, the reviews and reports speak highly of Jackson. He wasn’t the highest rated corner on anyone’s board but he was rated second highest on many.

Described as well coached and the most “NFL ready” of any of the corners, the Texans, barring catastrophe, will pencil in Jackson as a starter.

The Good
Jackson excels in getting up on receivers and knocking them off their timing. He is described with the ability to read a quarterback and anticipate throws. He is also not afraid to come up in run support and hit the ball carrier. He is a good tackler most of the time.

The Bad
An anonymous scout on PFW claims Jackson is “overrated.” The scout goes on to say Jackson is limited in run support and isn’t as strong as expected. PFW’s scouting report lists arm length and lack of explosiveness as weaknesses. The report goes onto say that Jackson doesn’t cover well in space and can get exposed in open space and will bite on double moves.

The Skinny aka My Conclusion
The Texans took exactly what they needed in Jackson. A team needs “NFL ready” if they expect to contend now rather than later. Some say that Jackson has limited upside when compared to other drafted corners. I’m fine with that. He needs to step in and be ready when he lines up across from Reggie Wayne and Payton Manning twice a season. The Texans need him to contribute early and often not upside for a year or two down the road. My only major concern is his lack of interceptions over his career at Alabama. As a three year starter, he had only five interceptions and only one each in his last two years. He needs to up that number and take possessions away from the opponents.