With The 20th Pick In The 2010 Arrowhead Pride Mock Draft, The Houston Texans Select...

by Joel Thorman on Mar 29, 2010 10:30 AM CDT in 2010 Kansas City Chiefs Draft

ChiefsDude with the pick...

If there's anybody who understands the pain of having a top notch offense with no post-season potential better than a Chiefs fan, it's a Texans fan.

Throughout Houston's building years, they've had a number of superb draft picks on both sides of the ball. Guys like Andre Johnson, Mario Williams, Owen Daniels, DeMeco Ryans, and last year's defensive rookie of the year, Brian Cushing. Even with the amount of busts they've had (and there've been a few), it's tough to understand why they still haven't reached the playoffs.

I can offer at least one reason: Peyton Manning. If Houston has any hope of making the playoffs in 2010, they need to find a way to mitigate Manning's relentless offensive attack and climb their way to the top of the AFC South.

As we've seen in recent years (unfortunately not so much from the Chiefs), there are a number of ways to beat teams like the Colts. It takes a bit of luck, but you can build dominance on both sides of the ball like the Patriots did throughout the Pioli years. You can build a defensive beast like that of the Steelers. Or you can just beat the Colts at their own game, ala New Orleans. Well, Houston was already a better passing team than any of last year's offensive behemoths but they lacked one critical element: the running game. And, in my humble opinion, that's Houston's fastest track to the Super Bowl in 2010. It's a gamble, for sure, but one that could pay huge dividends if the right players are selected.

And it just happens that my fellow mock GMs have left me with an answer for Houston:

Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State.

Mathews is a runner with ideal size, strength, and speed who had very good combine and pro day numbers on top of being last year's top rusher. Someone who can rush for 234 yards and 3TDs against Boise State is not someone you want ignore if you're looking to improve your running game. There's certainly room for development with Mathews and a little concern about durability, but there's too much to like about him not to take him in the 1^st round. He'll have to work hard this off-season, but Ryan Mathews is a guy that can help nudge the Texans over that playoff hump.

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is this still going on?

blows up my twitter

by TonyG88 on Mar 29, 2010 10:45 AM CDT reply actions

Question........

Boise State CB Kyle Wilson, whose bandwagon I’ve been driving since before the Fiesta Bowl and Senior Bowl Week, has been climbing the draft boards due to his fine performances at both those events AND his good Combine performance. I’ve been pushing for the Lions to draft Wilson at #34. Lately, some over at the Pride of Detroit site have suggested that Wilson will be gone in the 1st, even though most mock drafts I’ve seen have Wilson still available at #34, with Minnesota at #30 the most likely team to take him before then. I think the mentality is that people casually call 45-60 guys “1st-Rounders”, but when you do the math and actually do a full mock, only 32 guys get picked and the rest fall to the 2nd round. Footstock from the P.O.D. site drafted for the Lions in the recent Mile High Mock Draft. I predicted Wilson would still be there for him at #34, and Footstock was pleasantly surprised when that happened, and drafted him.

So my question is this……..As one of the teams most likely to have at least some interest in a CB (along with PHI at #24, BAL at #25, ARI at #26, and MIN at #30)……..

How big a need was CB for you with this Texans pick, and how serious a candidate was Kyle Wilson for this pick?

Two thirds of the Earth is covered by water. The rest is covered by Eric Berry.
Honorary Driver of the Kyle Wilson Bus and Keeper of the Dreadlocks!
The 313 Missile Squadron: Delmas, Berry, Wilson, Houston......seek and destroy!

by GRLion on Mar 29, 2010 10:58 AM CDT reply actions

DB is a huge need

And, honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Texans grab one of the available CBs given that Dunta Robinson left town. But with Wilson and Graham gone from our mock, I had a tough decision to make. I could’ve gone after Joe Haden, but seriously, I think he’ll be gone by the time the Texans pick this year. So, I went RB. I also considered Mike Iupati.

by ChiefsDude on Mar 29, 2010 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions

Thanks, that helps!

by GRLion on Mar 29, 2010 12:14 PM CDT up reply actions

(insert gratuitous Kyle Wilson bus pic here)

by GRLion on Mar 29, 2010 11:00 AM CDT reply actions

GRLion ... can't wait to see how this 1st round shakes out so I can get back over to PoD and grill you guys on who I should take in 2nd for Det

nicely done, ChiefsDude

"I shall conquer untruth by truth" - Mahatma Gandhi
Whitlock Rocks!
hi, Mo!
5 minutes!!!

by upamtn on Mar 29, 2010 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions

Simple answer.......if he's there, take the guy with the bus (see above)

I’ll see you back over there!

by GRLion on Mar 29, 2010 12:12 PM CDT up reply actions

and if he's gone, who's the alternate?

is the concensus 2nd rounder secondary? not a bad move from what I was seeing a few weeks ago my first time over at PoD … lot of guys here on AP think Detroit would be best served with OLineman (it’s been fashionable to say that the Lions NEED Okung to protect the QB, but it seemed to me most of PoD was intent on Suh, and a good choice he’d be)

that said, what REALLY matters is who the GM wants

"I shall conquer untruth by truth" - Mahatma Gandhi
Whitlock Rocks!
hi, Mo!
5 minutes!!!

by upamtn on Mar 29, 2010 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions

I was thinking Chester Taylor or LDT would've been

an excclenet choice for the Texans this offseason with the passing attack they have and being that both of those back want a full load and can catch why not. And as a decent second option Steve Slaton. then draft a L. Blounte as a bruiser in the later rounds. But definitely thought they would’ve wanted to go CB or Safety in the first.
Good and interesting pick though.

Vanity is definitely my favorite sin.

Draft anyone but a QB or a OL w/ the #5 pick and I'll be a happy camper.

by madtheory on Mar 29, 2010 11:11 AM CDT reply actions

*excellent

Vanity is definitely my favorite sin.

Draft anyone but a QB or a OL w/ the #5 pick and I'll be a happy camper.

by madtheory on Mar 29, 2010 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, I figure the Texans will take a safety, Earl Thomas of Texas at #20......was he still on the board? Was he a serious candidate?

by GRLion on Mar 29, 2010 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions

unfortunately not

I really had my sights set on that dude. Same thing happened to me last year. I was actually going to pick Brian Cushing and but someone got to him first.

by ChiefsDude on Mar 29, 2010 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions

excellent almost-picks

Too bad, those would have been great picks. I like the Mathews pick, too.

by GRLion on Mar 29, 2010 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions

Yep

Houston’s defintely going to have to do something about the pass rush this year. I think they’re pretty disappointed in Okoye but can they really afford to use a first round pick on the same position twice in four years? My prediction for Houston is truly Earnest Graham. I think that’s the guy they end up going with.

by ChiefsDude on Mar 29, 2010 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions