NFL and Houston Texans Superthread: Are we ready for some football?

The problem I have with Clowney is that if college teams can that easily game plan for him how much harder will it be for him in the pros.

There is a story out there that Bridgewater who had a bad pro day is having shaky private work outs also. Originally Posted by BigLouie

BL, if they double team Clowney, they can't dbl team Watt, it also takes a blocker away from blitzes. If they dbl team Watt, that leaves Clowney one on one, I think the Texans like those types of match ups, capisce?

BL, if they double team Clowney, they can't dbl team Watt, it also takes a blocker away from blitzes. If they dbl team Watt, that leaves Clowney one on one, I think the Texans like those types of match ups, capisce? Originally Posted by bambino

Excellent analysis! Therein lies the very that I am intrigued with the Texans taking another pass rushing specialist with the first pick.

And now, let's see what the draft experts are saying about Khalil Mack.

From Bleacher Report:

NFL draft prospects are rarely sure things; they are more a roll of the dice than guaranteed winning lottery tickets.

That is unless you are a 6'3", 251-pound linebacker with a 40-inch vertical who can run the 40-yard dash in 4.55 seconds, as Khalil Mack's draft profile at CBS Sports notes.

Those numbers tend to drop the odds of the Buffalo product going bust to a very small number. Men that big just don't come that athletically gifted.

First-year Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine, a defensive guru, told ESPN.com's Scott Brown:

Explosive athlete. He's a guy that the tape backs it up. He can play on the ball, he can play off the ball, he plays violently, and he's played some of his better games against better competition.

If they are big, they usually aren't fast. If they are extremely fast, they usually are not that tough. If they are all of those, they usually know it, and the game can come too easy to them at times and they might be inclined to take plays off.

This does not apply to Mack.

Respected NFL draft analyst Mike Mayock is so convinced that he said Mack would be his No. 1 overall pick, via KFAN's Paul Allen and Paul Charchian (h/t Vikings.com):

If you put the tape on against Ohio State, he dominates Ohio State like no one I have ever seen dominate them. He's explosive off the edge. He's tough. He's twitchy. He's got a little edge about him.

When I watch him on tape, I feel like he's pissed off at the world, and I like that.

What can't this kid do? He must be a bad kid off the field, and then I find out he's a really good kid off the field. You talk about a kid like (Jadeveon) Clowney, who's just got superhuman abilities, versus this kid, and if I had a choice between the two, I think I'm going Mack.

But don't just take our word for it. The numbers back it up: Mack set an NCAA record with 16 forced fumbles and is tied for first in NCAA history with 75 tackles for loss.

It helps, of course, that Mack hasn't missed a game due to injury. That only adds to his draft status.

Add a check in the versatility column for Mack too. He can play in any defense. He is fast enough to be the outside rush linebacker in the 3-4 and has the strength to be the "Sam" linebacker in the 4-3.

Heck, Mack says he is even capable of putting his hand in the dirt as a 4-3 defensive end, as The Plain Dealer's Tom Reed reports:

I don't want to limit myself to just playing one specific thing. I feel like that's the biggest thing for me. I try to workout, when I workout, with the defensive ends. I work out with the linebackers. I also go over and workout with the defensive backs just to stay fresh. I work hard, and I want to stay loose and don't want to put a limit on myself.

He has all of the bases covered.

"Mack is a stud," NFL media analyst Daniel Jeremiah said on The Dan Patrick Show, according to Huguenin. "He is a big-time guy. He can rush the passer, he can cover, he can do everything."The only question mark with Mack right now is just how early will he go. ESPN's Todd McShay (subscription required) slots him as the third overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars—in lieu of a quarterback, no less.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. (subscription required) lists Mack as the third-best prospect in the draft on his big board, but his latest mock draft has the Houston Texans going the Mayock route, picking Mack over Clowney—or a quarterback—at No. 1 overall.

It is tough to argue with McShay and Kiper. It would be a bad idea to argue with a dude like Mack either.

Go ahead, try to tell him he isn't going to be a star in the NFL. We would suggest you say it and run away, but Mack will catch you pretty quickly. Just give in, like the Texans or Jaguars will in the first three picks next month.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...-nfl-superstar

The reason Khalil Mack missed a game he was suspended for fighting with a fellow teammate
Why was he fighting well one day at practice one his teammates was complaining about practice and Khalil Mack told the guy to " shut up and make some play " and well a fight ensured .
I like that kind of attitude

This just posted on SI:

Former South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is almost universally expected to be a top-five pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. But at least one NFL executive is “betting the under” on his performance level in the NFL.


The anonymous NFC executive told The Times of Trenton’s Mark Eckel that Clowney’s subpar work ethic will hinder his potential in the NFL.

“He’s spoiled, and he’s lazy,’’ the NFC personnel man told Eckel. “He’s never worked hard a day in his life, now all of a sudden you’re going to give him a bunch of money and expect him to work hard. I don’t see it.’

SI.com’s Don Banks thinks the Houston Texans will take Clowney No. 1 overall. The same personnel man doesn’t dispute that Clowney will be a high pick in next month’s draft. He just thinks the team making the selection will regret it.

“Oh, he’s going to be a high pick,’’ the personnel man told Eckel. “Some team will fall in love with him. But wait and see, just wait and see. I just don’t think you can count on him. I’m betting the under on him.’’

As for me, I have been leaning toward Khalil Mack over Clowney!

I've said before that Zmack may be the safer pick. If the Texans do take Clowney, they'll try him at LB as well.

The General published his 3rd Mock Draft for 2014 in today's Chronicle. He had the Texans taking Clowney at #1, Johnny Football going to J'ville at #3 (Yikes) and K Mack to the Falcons at #6.(Truthfully, I could see a level of justification for any of the 3 listed above.)

I must admit that I would prefer that JF go anywhere other than a division rival. Hell, I hate the Cowboys but I would rather them get him than J'ville. A few years back, I didn't like it when VY was selected by the Titans but by the same token, I didn't want the Texans to use their #1 on him either. (I was hoping we would take Reggie Bush that year.)

Geez, this must be the Groundhog Day Draft!

I am still holding out hope for a trade down situation but if that does not materialize, I believe the Texans should take K Mack with the first pick. And then let the chips fall where they may. We shall see if I still feel that way on Draft Day 2014. It can't get here soon enough!

Texans to workout Khalil Mack

Texans to workout Khalil Mack Originally Posted by carkido45

Now that's what I'm talking about!!!!!

Khalil Mack is working out for teams and Clowney ( bone spurs ) has stopped working out for teams
http://q.usatoday.com/2014/04/14/tex...ith-no-1-pick/

http://espn.go.com/nfl/draft2014/sto...idual-workouts

1. You’d better go to the videotape if you want to see Jadeveon Clowney work out. Clowney won’t be doing any more individual workouts for NFL teams, apparently the result of Clemson tackle Brandon Thomas, a day-two NFL draft prospect, blowing out his knee in training for the draft two weeks ago. The Clowney camp has told at least three teams he won’t be working out for teams before the draft, preferring to let his on-campus Pro Day April 2 at South Carolina stand. I spoke to two general managers over the weekend about this, and one took exception to Clowney taking a pass on pre-draft team workouts and one didn’t. He still will visit teams and interview with coaches and GMs, but his next show-and-tell football performance will be after the draft in a mini-camp, with whichever team picks him. Now, I don’t think this will prevent a team that loves him from picking him, but it might be a small factor in the decision by a team on the fence about Clowney. As one of the general managers said, “I’d want the guy who’s going to be coaching him to put him through some of our drills, and see how he responds.”

Yawn, what more can the kid do?

It doesn't matter clowney will go 1 or 2 in the draft

It doesn't matter clowney will go 1 or 2 in the draft Originally Posted by jstone420

You're probably correct, because you can't teach athleticism. You either have it or you don't.

Clowney has it!

I am still holding out hope for a trade down situation....

You might as well hope for the sun to come up in the West. Not going to happen. Trading the #1 has only happened with extremely talented picks in the first spot. Notice the story where Charlie Casserly said that there were NO offers for the #1 the last two times the Texans had the #1. The #1 has not been traded for over 10 years and that involved two very talented players. There are none in this situation. It's a dead story.