Houston, We Have Some Problems.

The Texans were last in the league in 2010 in guarding against the pass, allowing opposing quarterbacks to compile a gaudy 100.5 quarterback rating.  They were tied for 23rd in sacks with 30.  Plus, they allowed more big plays (40+ yards) than any other team in the league.  So defense would seem like a big need.


The Texans have decided to go the 3-4 route on defense, which makes perfect sense given that they’re absolutely loaded with nose tackle types, and they don’t have any smaller quicker tackles like Amobi Okoye, Shaun Cody, Earl Mitchell, Damione Lewis, and DeMario Pressley.  When your best player Mario Williams is a 295-pound defensive end, you want to move him over so he’s covered by a G and a T, where he is completely eliminated but where he frees up others.

Brilliant.

Well it is for the linebacker corps.  DeMeco Ryans and Xavier Adibi look like they could flourish in a 3-4 scheme, and Connor Barwin and Brian Cushing could do very well as OLB’s in a zone blitz scheme.

So the big need on defense is a true nose tackle.  Don’t expect the Texans to draft one and see him start immediately.  It takes a while to learn the leverage, add the weight, and build the strength to step in at the nose tackle position. It takes a special sort of player to give himself up on every play.  Ask Albert Haynesworth about  playing the nose as opposed to playing defensive tackle. It’s no fun. So let’s hear it for Casey Hampton in Pittsburgh and Kris Jenkins in New York and the few others who really do that job well for long periods.

Defensively, they may want to consider talking to a team switching to a 4-3 from a 3-4 about an established nose tackle.  Maybe they could even package a couple of players for a guy that can do the job.  Okay – we’ll make it simple.  Call Cleveland about Ahtyba Rubin.

Aside from nose tackle, the problems are really in the defensive backfield-- probably more at safety than at corner. 

The best safety in this draft is UCLA’s Rahim Moore.  He could work here.  Cornerback Jimmy Smith from Colorado has good size for a safety. He could work here, but both would be mild stretches at this point in the draft.

On the other side of the ball, it’s hard to argue that the offensive line didn’t run block or pass block well.  Houston's offensive line was ranked in the top third in the league, which allowed them to put up big numbers on offense, ranking third in overall offense.

They could lose Jacoby Jones as a free agent, and after Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter, they’d be very thin at the wide receiver spot. Julio Jones is probably the best talent on the board.  Maryland’s Torrey Smith would be a reach, but he’d provide a ton of speed in the slot and a game breaking presence in three receiver sets.

And there is no position with a bigger drop off than tight end, with  Notre Dame’s Kyle Rudolph head and shoulders above the rest of the class. Owen Daniels has been dinged up in recent years and could be a free agent.

So the smart move depends on who comes back through free agency.  If Daniels is allowed to leave and Jones returns, take Rudolph. If both return, take Julio Jones.  If only Jacoby Jones leaves, take Torrey Smith.

So the defense has its needs, but we believe in taking the best player available.  At this point, it is Alabama's Julio Jones barely edging a rising Kyle Rudolph.