GM DraftAce
The folks at TheHuddleReport.com came up with a brilliant idea last year which I am going to blatantly copy.
Essentially we play the role of GM for one team and at the end of each year we track how our selections compare to that team’s draft. Check out their original version which they call “THR VS.” to see how they’ve stacked up in the past.
Each year we’ll chose a team that picks in the middle of the 1st round (picks 11-20) and draft for them based on who was available. We don’t have to draft players at the same positions as the actual team, but we do need to keep team needs in mind. After each year we’ll compare the grades assigned to each player based on ProFootballFocus’ rating system.
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2011 Draft Class (Rams)
14. Phil Taylor – DT – Baylor (selected by Browns)
Actual pick: Robert Quinn – DE – North Carolina
47. Da’Quan Bowers – DE – Clemson (selected by Bucs)
Actual pick: Lance Kendricks – TE – Wisconsin
78. Casey Matthews – LB – Oregon (selected by Eagles)
Actual pick: Austin Pettis – WR – Boise State
112. Jacquizz Rodgers – RB – Oregon State (selected by Falcons)
Actual pick: Greg Salas – WR – Hawaii
158. Tyler Sash – S – Iowa (selected by Giants)
Actual pick: Jermale Hines – S – Ohio State
216. Cliff Matthews – DE – South Carolina (selected by Falcons)
Actual pick: Mikail Baker – CB – Baylor
228. Dane Sanzenbacher – WR – Ohio State (undrafted – signed by Bears)
Actual pick: Jabara Williams – LB – Stephen F. Austin
229. Jeff Maehl – WR – Oregon (undrafted – signed by Texans)
Actual pick: Jonathan Nelson – CB – Oklahoma
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2010 Draft Class (Texans)
20. Kyle Wilson – CB – Boise State (selected by Jets)
Actual pick: Kareem Jackson – CB – Alabama
PFF Grades through 2011: Jackson -12.8, Wilson -0.5
Analysis: Jackson was thrown to the wolves, and he barely survived. Wilson struggled as well, but fortunately the Jets had the depth to lessen his playing time, while the Texans couldn’t do anything to help Jackson. Neither looks like a great pick after one year.
58. Golden Tate – WR – Notre Dame (selected by Seahawks)
Actual pick: Ben Tate – RB – Auburn
PFF grades: B. Tate N/A, G. Tate 0.4
Ben Tate suffered a devastating ankle injury which wiped out his season. The injury coupled with the emergence of Arian Foster means he likely doesn’t have a future in Houston. Golden Tate saw little playing time but should see an increased role in 2011.
81. Shawn Lauvao – OG – Arizona State (selected by Browns)
Actual pick: Earl Mitchell – DT – Arizona
PFF Grades: Mitchell -1.2, Lauvao -6.4
The Texans desperately needed to improve their interior line, so Mitchel was given the opportunity to work his way into the rotation. He showed some flashes, but the Texans switch to a 3-4 system calls his future with the team into question. Lauvao’s low rating comes almost exclusively from one miserable game against the Jaguars – his only start of the season. His 2010 performance definitely was not encouraging.
102. Aaron Hernandez – TE – Florida (selected by Patriots)
Actual pick: Darryl Sharpton – LB – Miami FL
PFF Grades: Sharpton 0.3, Hernandez 3.9
Oops. The Texans really botched his one. Hernandez emerged as a playmaker in New England. They sure could have used Hernandez when Owen Daniels got hurt.
118. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah – CB/FS – Indiana (PA) (selected by Cowboys)
Actual pick: Garrett Graham – TE – Wisconsin
PFF Grades: Graham: -0.1, Owusu-Ansah: -1.1
Graham played just 11 snaps and doesn’t appear to factor into the Texans plans (they really should have taken Hernandez with the previous pick). Owusu-Ansah was used strictly on kickoff returns where he was solid but unspectacular, averaging just over 21 yards per return.
144. Austen Lane – DE – Murray State (selected by Jaguars)
Actual pick: Sherrick McManis – CB – Northwestern
PFF Grades: McManis 1.3, Lane -3.6
As bad as the Texans secondary was, McManis only saw the field for 30 plays. He did, however, manager to pull off a positive grade in that short span due to an interception against the Giants. Lane worked his way in the starting lineup in Jacksonville and showed some promise, but failed to record a single sack.
187. Jonathan Dwyer – RB – Georgia Tech (selected by Steelers)
Actual pick: Shelley Smith – OG – Colorado State
PFF Grades: Smith N/A, Dwyer -1.3
This was a whiff on both parts. Smith was cut by the Texans and never played a down. Dwyer was inactive until the very end of the regular season.
197. Dorin Dickerson – TE/FB – Pittsburgh (selected by Texans)
Actual pick: Trindon Holliday – RS – LSU
PFF Grades: Holliday N/A, Dickerson 0.1
The Texans converted Dickerson to WR and he barely saw the field but is still a nice developmental prospect. Holliday suffered a season-ending injury in August.
227. Kurt Coleman – S – Ohio State (selected by Eagles)
Actual pick: Dorin Dickerson – TE/FB – Pittsburgh
PFF Grades: Dickerson 0.1, Coleman 2.0
I can’t argue with the selection of Dickerson because I would have taken him even earlier. He’s still a potential 7th-round steal even though he barely saw the field. But Coleman may prove to be the best 7th-rounder from this draft class. He saw significant playing time and even started a handful of games for the Eagles.
