One of the greatest debates in sports lies in the NFL draft. Even if one were to choose college play over NFL, or vice versa, nobody can argue the fun that takes place before every NFL draft. Who’s going first? Draft for need or draft the best player available? Is Mel Kiper’s hair real?
Nothing is more fun then watching the so-called experts announce their draft strategies. In Michael Smith’s case, he gives the Houston Texans a bit of advice: take N.C. State’s Mario Williams over Reggie Bush.
The Texans should take Williams because he plays the position with more impact, D-end. Good running backs come in all sizes, shapes and rounds. Great pass rushers are rare. That’s why backs don’t get paid what ends do. Look, money talks: The highest franchise and transition numbers (the average salaries of, respectively, the top five and 10 highest-paid players at each position) belong to quarterbacks, followed by ends, linebackers, offensive linemen, wide receivers and then running backs. You might even argue that cornerbacks have more value than running backs. Two years ago, Denver dealt two-time 1,500-yard rusher Clinton Portis (a second-round pick, by the way) to Washington for corner Champ Bailey. Running backs, which have the shortest career span of any position, seem to come and go, often because teams decide to let them. New Texans coach Gary Kubiak knows this, having served as offensive coordinator in Denver, where the system — the same one he’s brought with him to Houston — has produced five different 1,000-yard running backs (and a few yards short of two more last year) in Mike Shanahan’s 11 years as head coach. None of those backs was a first-rounder. So Kubiak should be able to get plenty of production, if not the home runs, out of Domanick Davis (3,195 yards in three seasons), Vernand Morency, or whomever.
Smith makes a strong case that you can find an adequate running back deep in the draft – there are plenty of examples of that. Terrell Davis, Jamal Anderson and even Willie Parker (as mentioned by Smith) have gotten their respective teams to Super Bowls.
Carolina Panther Head Coach John Fox was once criticized for taking an athletic half football, half basketball player by the name of Julius Peppers. Fox was thinking to first solidify his defense, and then get his star later. The move eventually landed Fox and the Panthers in the Super Bowl.
But that’s not to say the Texans will have the same success. And pass on Reggie Bush? Even with the recent allegations against Bush, his athletic ability alone could give opposing defensive coordinators nightmares.
Lets hope Michael Smith, err, the Houston Texans’ brass know what they’re doing.
