Inland Waterways » choosing defenders

HOUSTON - The first two times the Houston Texans had the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, they chose quarterback David Carr and defensive end Mario Williams. Odds are that theyll use this years top choice on one of those two positions again. South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is widely considered the best player available in this years draft. Pairing him with 2012 Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt could give the Texans the best 1-2 pass-rushing punch in the NFL. The problem is that while Houston could use another game-changing defensive player, the need at quarterback is more dire. The Texans traded Matt Schaub in the off-season after a terrible year in which he was benched after six games. The Texans signed veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick in the off-season, but he probably isnt the long-term solution to their quarterback woes. Several talented quarterbacks in this draft have questions attached to them concerning whether they are cant-miss prospects worthy of the No. 1 pick. Considered the best of the crop are Texas A&Ms Johnny Manziel, Louisvilles Teddy Bridgewater and Blake Bortles of Central Florida. Some worry that Manziels size will be a detriment in the NFL. Bridgewater had a bad pro day. Bortles has taken criticism because of his limited mobility. Manziel is somewhat of a folk hero in Texas after winning the Heisman Trophy in 2012. Billboards imploring the Texans to "Keep Johnny Football in Texas" dot the freeways around Houston, and Manziel, of course, has said hed love to play here. Though the team is under different management than in 2006, Houston is unlikely to let public sentiment about not letting the homegrown player get away sway its decision. The Texans passed on former Texas quarterback Vince Young, who grew up in Houston and led the Longhorns to a national title, in favour of Williams the last time they had the first pick. Houston general manager Rick Smith did say this week his team would consider trading out of the top spot. "If we take the first pick, we know who we want," Smith said. "(But) we are obviously open to moving out of the first pick, if in fact there is an opportunity for us to do so and if we think that is in the best interest of the organization." Five things to know about the Texans heading into the draft: LATE-ROUND QBs: If the Texans do use their first pick on Clowney, recent history has shown they could still pick up a solid (or better) starting quarterback later in the draft. San Franciscos Colin Kaepernick was chosen in the second round in 2011, and Seattles Russell Wilson was taken in the third round a year later. "I think theres an idea of a traditional quarterback that is successful in the NFL and I think those two examples are guys that dont necessarily fit the ideal mode. And I think theyve also given people some confidence that you dont necessarily need to have a traditional type of quarterback to be successful in our league," Smith said. CANT GET ENOUGH: Though Smith shied away from discussing specific needs of his team on draft day, he did acknowledge one thing. "There are two positions that I never think you can have too many of: corners and tackles," he said. NEW PROCESS: Smith is adjusting to new coach Bill OBrien after working on the draft with Gary Kubiak, who was fired in December, for the last seven seasons. "The opportunity to step outside of that comfort zone, and learn something, gives me a chance to grow personally and professionally," Smith said. "That was a fun part of it." NO LOVE FOR Defence: Williams was the last defensive player selected with the first overall pick when Houston chose him in 2006. Before that, the last player on that side of the ball to go first was Penn State defensive end Courtney Brown to the Browns in 2000. The Texans have overwhelmingly gone with defence in the early rounds, choosing defenders with 14 of their 17 first- and second-round picks since 2004. FINE WITH THE MOVE: This years draft was pushed back from its usual time in April to May because Radio City Music Hall was unavailable. Smith was perfectly happy with the change for at least this year. "To have the first pick, the extra time has been good," Smith said. "I think that I enjoyed the schedule and the rhythm of the draft in April and would probably want to see it moved back, but Im enjoying it the fact that its in May this year for our selfish purposes." Wholesale Air Max China . Patton was placed on the restricted list testing positive for a banned amphetamine. Patton took Adderall, a drug commonly used to combat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, late in the 2013 season and then was given a random drug test. Cheap Air Max China Free Shipping . Colorado came up big against Chicago last spring, and repeated that performance Tuesday night. Varlamov stopped 36 shots and Paul Stastny had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche in a 5-1 victory over the Blackhawks. http://www.cheapchinaairmax.com/ . PETERSBURG, Florida – Heading into Thursday nights action, Dioner Navarro had caught 14 innings combined from starters Drew Hutchison and Mark Buehrle. Discount Air Max Shoes . Still, Inter moved one point ahead of Parma in the race for fifth place and the final Europa League spot. Udinese remained 14th, 11 points above the relegation zone. Inter was beaten 2-1 by Atalanta at home on Sunday and has won only seven of 16 matches at the San Siro this season, as the squad seems to still be searching for its identity under new owner Erick Thohir and first-year manager Walter Mazzarri. Cheap Air Max Shoes China . He wants to seize that opportunity. The trouble is, Firus has had more bumps on the road to Sochi than most. Last year, Firus had the skate of a lifetime in the short program at the Canadian championships when he landed his first triple Axel in competition and finished third in a stacked field.Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. This week they discuss Stephen Strasburg, super-sizing and finger-wagging in the NFL and the acting prowess of the Manning family. Bruce Arthur, National Post: My thumb is down to the NFL, which has decided that in a league where men attempt to turn one anothers limbs, brains and organs into a fine jelly, taunting is too savage an act to be allowed. Therefore, new limits on, lets see: "sack dances, the home run swing, the Incredible Hulk, spiking the ball, throwing or shoving the ball, pointing, pointing the ball, verbal taunting, military salutes, standing over an opponent, or dancing", if theyre directed at an opponent. NFL players are the lowest paid of the four professional sports with the shortest careers and the most brutal working conditions. But the NFL has apparently decided that in their particular war, the soldiers must focus on their body language, and stop to take tea. Steve Simmons, Sun Media: My thumb is up to Stephen Strasburg, who only has five wins with the disappointing Washington Nationals, but has pitched way better than you might think. Strasburg has had 16 starts in which hes given up two or fewer runs against and hes dead last in the National League in run support. By comparison, Max Scherzer has a 17-1 record with the Detroit Tigers, leads in run support, and hes had 15 starts of two runs or fewer. One of them is supposed to be having a great year, the other guy disappointing. The truth? The great Strasburg is still pretty great. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated: My thumb is down to the ongoing super-ssizing of NFL linemen, a thought driven home this week by the passing of Art Donovan.dddddddddddd Donovan played in the 1950s at almost 300 pounds, a roly-poly tackle known to Colts teammates as “Fatso”. No one played at three bills then. Now early into exhibition season, some 500 players of 300 pounds or more dot NFL rosters. Donovan said the game once was played by oversized coal miners and West Texas psychopaths. Football currently is played by men who are at heightened risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Chalk it up to evolution? Hardly. The concussion is not the only health crisis facing the NFL. Dave Hodge, TSN: My thumb is up to an idea well call "rapid fire" survey thumbs. The NFLs latest YouTube sensation – featuring the Manning brothers, Peyton and Eli - is pushing football on your phone. Now, around the desk we go. Do you like this stuff, this one in particular, or not, and if you do, who should do hockey on your phone? Arthur: Im am willing to watch almost anything Peyton Manning does in the entertainment sphere. Im okay with Eli, I think this is probably his best performance. I think Peyton Manning is the most bankable celebrity name in all of sports. Simmons: Thumbs up. It looked like an Andy Samberg Saturday Night Live skit! I liked it. Farber: Yo! I liked it. Hodge: Alright … I thought I was watching Alec Baldwin in “Rock of Ages” and wasnt sure I wanted to see any more of it. But Ill go with you. Thumbs up to football on your phone. Now, hockey on our phones… Think about that and who should do it. Thats another story for another day. Authentic Nike Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Tennessee Titans Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Washington Redskins Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Arizona Cardinals Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Denver Broncos Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Green Bay Packers Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Los Angeles Chargers Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike New England Patriots Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Oakland Raiders Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Seattle Seahawks Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Carolina Panthers Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Cleveland Browns Jerseys Cheap Cheap Throwback Baseball Arizona Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Atlanta Braves Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Baltimore Orioles Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Boston Red Sox Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Chicago Cubs Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Chicago White Sox Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Cincinnati Reds Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Cleveland Indians Jerseys ' ' '