i call BS - the texans have the luxury of looking at a quick turnaround to a at least a .500 team with the overall talent. insert a QB like TB, despite being a rookie, things should be fine. IMO its really not a hard choice. not that TB is the second coming but all things considered thats where they need to go.
McNair is a SC Alum and openly gushes about Clowney in the video. A Rookie QB is not a quick fix to any problem. Much higher rated prospects coming out did not lead a team to the playoffs in their first year. If Houston wants to compete now, they will add a vet. Hell it would be a wonderful landing spot for Mr. Hairband himself. Teddy is the best QB in this draft, but he is not a Luck, Newton, or even Stafford type where its a slam dunk he is the pick. This year reminds me more of 2008 where there are a couple very good prospects but not a great one.
It wouldn't surprise me at all if Houston did take Clowney. But an owner openly gushing about a prospect, especially after same owner has openly suggested a willingness to trade out of top spot is hardly a hint. If anything it tells me more that the true hope is to trade down and still get their QB.
I wouldn't read too much into this. McNair is an SC alum and of course would gush about Clowney. Even if he wanted him, he's not the type of owner to meddle in the football affairs and might well allow himself to be overruled by his football guys anyway. But- I think Houston should draft Clowney. I am a little biased because I've followed his college career closely and am not as high on Bridgewater as many, but Houston's D could be historically dominant with Clowney AND Watt rushing the passer. They should really consider it. You can acquire a QB elsewhere.
While all of what you said is true, I think the Texans would be morons to not take Bridgewater, unless they just don't think that Bridgewater is any good. If they think that, then I think they're nuts. They don't need Clowney. Their D is already great. Think of how stupid they'd look if they took Clowney and he busts or turns out to just be a player that only plays hard on occasion like Peppers and numerous other great athletes, and Bridgewater turns into a star elsewhere. Just because they take Bridgewater in the draft doesn't mean he has to start immediately. Yes, there would be expectations that as the #1 pick he would start, but they don't have to cave to those expectations. They could still sign a vet and either anoint him the starter or let the two of them battle it out for the starting job.
Thought the exact same thing. If Derek ended up being all his brother wasn't, the story arcs would be amazing. It wouldn't be so bad to have that kind of feel good story, especially for a seeming never-do-well team like the Texans.
That is a huge false idea there. The Texans finished with 32 sacks last season. That is only one above the league low. They did well enough in yards against per game, but were in the bottom 1/3rd of the league in points against. Stats aside, there is not one team in the league that could not use a guy like Clowney, not a single one. He is the most gifted physical defensive player to come out in some time with only concerns about his motivation holding him back. He is the only great prospect in this draft. Many others are seen as very good NFL prospects, but none of the others have been mentioned as a once in a generation type talent like Clowney has. QB has by far the highest positional value in the NFL and that is what may lead to Teddy being the number one overall pick, but its not that he is a lights out great prospect.
Curious to see why people STILL think McCarron is a 2nd round pick or a 3rd rounder. He is prob the 11th best QB out of the group. Back to the topic. Clowney and Watt in a 4-3 defense is extremely scary. Not sure if they could pass that up.
I think it would be the smartest move to take Clowney. Clowney is not only the safest pick but he is also the best player in the draft. QB is a position that is never a lock, and I dont think the Texans are 100% sold on Bridgewater or Manziel. Not for anything to, they do have Keenum and Schaub. Obviously neither are the greatest but good coaching might change that.
Clowney is not the safest pick. His weird offseason combined with a big production drop off has some people questioning how bad he wants to be great. The physical tools are the elite of the elite, but his head scares some. Safe picks in the top 5 would be Matthews, Perhaps Barr and Watkins. These are guys with low complete bust potential due to both physical attributes and mental make up. Teddy would be a safe pick in that no one is going to question you taking the top QB in the draft when he is rated as highly as he is. Clowney is the one that is the scariest because he could be the next LT, or the next VG, depending on where his heart lies.
I agree with you, but I just want to point out that the Texans had a ridiculous number of returns against them (8) for TDs. For comparison, the top 4 defenses in the league (SEA, SF, CAR, KC), their ST and offense only allowed a combined 3 TDs.
I hear what you're saying and can't argue with any of it, but they don't need Clowney more than they need a QB. Before the injuries piled up last year and Schaub self-destructed, their D was plenty good enough, that with good QB play, they would have definitely been a playoff team and would have had a good chance of competing for the VLT. Conversely, imo even if they add Clowney and become the NFL's top D, if they don't have a QB any better than Schaub, more than likely they'll be one and done in the playoffs if they even make the playoffs.
So your putting need ahead of best talent available in the top of the draft? If you agree their D is not great, and that a rookie QB is not a sure thing as far as his play early on, then they need to sing a vet and go BPA to make the playoffs. Teddy will not make that roster a play off team next season.
Perhaps not, but as you know, the draft isn't just for that season. As I said in my earlier post, they could sign or trade for a veteran if they were concerned that Bridgewater wouldn't get them to the playoffs next season. They could name the vet the starter or let them compete. As for BPA vs need, while Clowney is a great talent, because his attitude/motivation is at best questionable, and because franchise QBs are THE most important player on any team, yes, I'd draft Bridgewater over Clowney 10 times out of 10, unless I already had a Peyton Manning, Drew Brees or Tom Brady playing QB for me.
