The Texans may have had one of the best consecutive defensive drafts this side of the millennium. People obviously outside of Houston absolutely despise Charlie Casserly because many believe he was the ring leader behind the Mario Williams pick. But if you, the reader, take the time out, register and read some of the threads and posts in the Houston Texans official website you’ll find out how real Texan fans feel about Mario. The short story, we love him. As much as I would like to counter any argument and explain how great Mario will be, this years draft is just half about him. The 2007 NFL Draft for the Texan fans is more about our new team badass; Amobi Okoye.
At 6’2 305 lbs. the 19 year-old Amobi Okoye has quickly become one of the most intriguing prospects the league has seen. Before his senior season this past year Okoye was literally a speck on the NFL prospect radar. No one knew nor cared who he was. The only thing that even made him interesting was that he was a 19 year-old senior. Other than that Amobi was seen as a nobody. But then came his senior season and like any other true football player looking to turn scout heads and raise GM eyebrows he busted onto the seen with a new attitude and competitiveness. Amobi put extremely high numbers up for a 19 year-old kid, not a man yet, a kid. Okoye set a high standard during the 2006 season posting career bests in tackles (55), sacks (8), tackles for loss (15) and forced fumbles (3). With these outstanding stats coupled with his incredibly high ceiling for potential scouts surely took notice of this ####ian native.
After the 2006 NCAA season Amobi Okoye was being heralded as a top 25 pick, but still behind Alan Branch, #1 ranked DT. Then the pre-draft schedule and workouts where scouts, general managers, and coaches could get a chance to poke and prod the athletes started. This was the time where Amobi Okoye was going to distinguish himself from the rest of the defensive tackle competition…….And he did. He started his massive assault on the DT field at the Senior Bowl where he continuously dominated offensive lineman, not only in one on one drills, but during full pad scrimmages and then during the Senior Bowl game itself. Amobi Okoye was now moving himself up into the top 15 range and quickly making a case for himself as the top DT in the 2007 draft. The next scheduled event where he could show off his extreme athletic ability would the NFL Combine at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. This is where he would show off his strength, agility and most importantly his explosiveness. During his combine workouts he once again impressed scouts, general managers, and coach’s alike running a 5.07 40 yard dash. He also showed his explosiveness during his sprint with 1.81 10-yard and 2.96 20-yard increments along with his 30 inch vertical and 9-foot-3 broad jump. His agility was no joke either with a time of 7.46 in the 3 cone drill. Not to mention his 29x225lbs. bench press. He really showed his athletic ability along with his strength and he had wonderful interviews with teams that showed his maturity and great character. His Louisville Pro-Day also showed very good numbers with a sub 5.00 40, 4.97. Amobi also upped his bench press total with 33x225lbs. But more importantly during all of these workouts and pre-draft events Okoye showed his personality. Amobi showed his maturity beyond his years and I believe that is what impressed coaches the most. Think about it this way. Going into the off-season workouts most analysis had Alan Branch as the number 1 DT, but Amobi Okoye took advantage of all of these face to face times with NFL front office people while Alan Branch disappointed workout after workout and interview after interview. Once the dust had settled Amobi had positioned himself as the #1 ranked DT.
When the Houston Texans were on the clock on Saturday for their 1rst round pick I was praying that the they would take Amobi instead of taking Alan Branch. I was literally praying on my hands and knees. This draft pick was the single most important pick not for the Texans or the Houston fans, but for Mario Williams. This pick was going to signify how the Texans felt about the Mario Williams pick. The 10th overall pick was going to be either be a focal point of the defense or be a focal point of the offense and since Adrian Peterson didn’t fall to the #10 spot Amobi Okoye was the perfect fir for them. Amobi Okoye and Mario Williams are going to be one of the most dominating defensive sides of the line there is in the entire NFL. The kind of athletic ability these two defensive players own is unbelievable and almost inconceivable. The only other team that has 2 dominating players in a 4-3 scheme with that much ability is Carolina with Julius Peppers and Kris Jenkins. This combo is as important to the Texan defense the way Simeon Rice and Warren Sapp were for the Tampa Bay Bucs defense. Amobi Okoye has the ability to not only play in the one gap system but he also has the potential to occupy two blockers and let Mario Williams face a single offensive lineman. This combo may not produce as much in this upcoming year because of the youth factor that’s involved with Okoye, but the following seasons the two, Mario and Amobi, will be a combo to be reckoned with. Both have incredible speed and burst off the line, and both have incredible athletic prowess.
The offensive line needed help but neither Joe Thomas nor Levi Brown was within range for the Texans to take. The next best thing was to build around their all world talent Mario Williams and they did with a phenom 19 year-old Amobi Okoye. I, as a Texan fan am seriously happy with this pick. I wished we’d have had a 2nd round pick, but with our 1rst round pick being so good I’m confident the Texan front office has done the right thing for this organization. Great pick Texan front office, great decision, just watch people, Okoye and Mario are going to be Pro-Bowl mainstays for years to come.
