Bill O’Brien building an empire. Draft choice really comes down to Bortles or Clowney.
Feb 24, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks Jadeveon Clowney looks on during the 2014 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Greetings Texans Fans!
Well pro days are mostly behind us and we’ve seen the basic pro days from Teddy Bridgewater and Blake Bortles, the fun in Jadeveon Clowney and the circus that will surely follow Johnny Manziel. I have to say I think these are mostly pointless exercises in terms of seeing anything really football related. Instead they give you a sense of who the players are. Of the big four on the draft boards, I give Bortles and Clowney the highest marks. Both showed they were ready to step up and make a difference. Both have enormous upside to them. Clowney could start day one and Bortles has the potential to be a very good long term quarterback in the league.
Bridgewater, look there is no doubt he has football skills. But he didn’t handle the pro day well. It was an off performance that has to make you question his ability to handle pressure. Is that fair? Does it matter? Here was a showcase event and he was mediocre to decent. You show up to shine, and shine he did not. That doesn’t mean he’s a bust, it means you have to factor that in.
As for Mr. Johnny Manziel… what a circus. Here’s a guy who needs the world to revolve around him. I was not impressed. Too much carnival going on around him. He thrives on the drama. Sure you could say “he handles pressure!” I can see that, but here the question; Can he handle out of his control pressure? I do however think he would be a perfect fit for the Jets.
A friend asked me “what should we expect from the Texans in 2014?” Good question, let me call up OB1 and find out! Seriously though, the Texans seemed ready as Kubiak was sent packing to revamp for a 2014 playoff push. I don’t get that impression from O’Brien. I see a man meticulously building a team looking beyond this season. Don’t get me wrong, he’s out to win but I think he’s thinking long term. It’s a crazy good thing when you stop and think about it. How many times do you see a team trying to catch lightening in a bottle for this year only to flame out? He’s probably got plans extending into the next decade.
I am thoroughly impressed with every off season cut and acquisition so far. I think we’re going to see a Texans team that spends this year honing the “O’Brien Way” this year and destroying the competition from there. Adaptable, flexible, accountable. That’s what I see. I think a season that ends 8-8 or better is the goal. No stars in their eyes about a trip to Arizona next February. This is a work in progress year. I still see Clowney as the Texans first pick. He’s got what it takes to be a monster on defense, and is a good hedge bet in case JJ Watt is unable to be re-signed. The best quarterback on the board at the top of round 2 is ours. If that’s Johnny Manzeil, so be it. I don’t think he’ll still be available in round 2, but there you go.
Keep your browsers here for all your Texans needs at the Torotimes.com