Houston we have a problem

Looking back on the 2006 NFL Draft, by every measurement a recurring theme emerges: Houston fraked up. Only the production of DeMeco Ryans from the second round takes them out of the historically bad group photo. Based on what we know now, Vince Young clearly should have been the number 1 pick. Vince Young is no sure thing and at times last year I was sure I was watching Willie Beamon, but the Titans were a force down the stretch last year, so if you could roll the dice with VY you probably would. But since Houston took Mario Williams, they exercised an $8.5 million option with David Carr, who they cut, and then traded the equivalent of a mid first for Matt Schaub.

With the second pick I'd take Marcus McNeil, who dropped to San Diego at the 50th pick. He dominated this year paving the way for LT ridiculous season, Pro Bowl left tackles are simply not available by trade or through free agency, so San Diego has to be picturing him manning the line for the next decade. Houston decides not to trade down with the Jets last year, maybe with the extra picks they retool their line with a Marcus McNeil or Nick Mangold to go along with the guy they drafted any way, because no one in the top three was taking Mario Williams.

It's hard to say who would be the third pick between Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, and Jay Cutler, but the top defensive pick would be Haloti Ngata if the team ran a 4-3, or Kamerion Wimbley if the team ran a 3-4. Admittedly I've seen more of Ngata than I've seen of the rest of the rookie crop, but his importance comes out in the stats. The Ravens run defense improved from 9th in the NFL in 2005 to 2nd in 2006, and the run stuffing DT was huge reason why. Wimbley had 11 sacks last year, but that doesn't tell the whole story, because he showed the ability to drop into coverage, and defend the run with 8.5 tackles for loss.

The defensive players who were drafted ahead of those two are Williams, LBs AJ Hawk and Ernie Sims, who both disappeared in traffic at times last year, and safeties Michael Huff and Donte Whitner, who were drafted during an idiotic run on safeties. Rookie of the year DeMeco Ryans could be the third pick among defensive players, but his high tackle total could be the product of a defensive line weak against the run. That defensive line is of course led by Mario Williams.