National Football League

Brian Billick's thoughts for March 21

Published Mar. 21, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Billick shares his thoughts on the Houston Texans draft needs and the top cornerback prospects.

Texans must improve secondary

When you look at the roster of the Houston Texans, it is hard to figure why they finished 6-10 and are still looking for their first playoff experience since their inception.

They ranked third in the NFL in total offense and quarterback Matt Schaub finally stayed healthy. They have playmakers at wide receiver and tight end and have the 2010 league’s leading rusher in undrafted free agent Arian Foster.

Defensively is where things start to get puzzling. They have a pass-rush presence on both sides with Mario Williams and Antonio Smith. Their first pick in 2007, Amobi Okoye, is solid and only 23 years old with four years of NFL experience. He should be just what new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips needs to build his 3-4 defense.

DeMeco Ryans and Brian Cushing are one of the better linebacker tandems in the NFL. In Phillips’ new defense, Cushing may be put into a roll like Clay Mathews of Green Bay.

The problem is in the secondary. Houston was last in the NFL in pass defense and with the 11th overall pick of the 2011 draft may have the option at selecting one of the top defensive backs. The Texans would love to see Prince Amukamara fall to them, but I'm not sure that will happen with Dallas, San Francisco and other defensive back needy teams drafting ahead of them.

They will need to decide if Aaron Williams, Brandon Harris or Jimmy Smith will be worthy of that 11th overall selection.

If not, I think they would look to an outside linebacker that will give them another edge rush threat. The next best way to improve your pass defense is to get to the quarterback before he has time to throw it.

The schedule will not give them any breaks either with out of division foes coming from the AFC North and NFC South. That means they will face Drew Brees, Matt Ryan, Josh Freeman, Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco — and as usual Peyton Manning twice.

Peterson could go No. 1 overall

Going into the NFL Scouting Combine, everyone had Patrick Peterson as the best defensive back available in the draft. The only thing the 6-foot, 219-pound Peterson did that week, was remind everyone how special he may be. In my very first mock, I listed Patrick Peterson as my No. 1 overall pick to Carolina — not because I believed Carolina was absolutely going to pick him, but because Peterson is the most complete player in the draft.

Peterson is going to be an elite player in the NFL, I am just not sure that it will be at corner. While I think he could be an impact cornerback who has the potential to shut down a team's No. 1 receiver each game, he may even be more impactful as a playmaking safety. With his size and 4.34 speed, he has the range to make plays from sideline to sideline and playing safety wouldn't limit that ability to just one half of the field.

Peterson shows great awareness and anticipation in pass coverage, both man and zone. He easily flips his hips and shows an elite explosive burst to make a play on the ball. He has the athletic ability to control his body at full speed which allows him to track the ball flight and make plays at its highest point in the air. Additionally, Peterson is going to make an immediate impact in the return game as well. Last year, only returning kicks and punts (not any offensive plays), Peterson had the fourth most total yards in the SEC.

The only question now is, will Peterson be the first defensive back ever taken with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft? If not, look for him to land in San Francisco or Dallas.

Amukamara needs to make more plays

Prince Amukamara is also garnering top-10 consideration in April's draft. His combine numbers were fairly similar to that of Patrick Peterson — 6-foot, 206 pounds, 38-inch vertical and 15 reps in the bench.

One thing that scares some scouts about Amukamara is that he did not record an interception in 2010 — his five career interceptions all came in his junior year. He did have 13 pass break-ups as a senior, but in the NFL you are going to want to create more of those into turnovers.

Prince plays more physical than Peterson, but may not be as good of a slot cover corner. He has smooth, quick hips that allow him to burst out of his T-step and break on the ball. He plays with a good overall awareness and jumps routes with pretty good timing. He can read and react to the flat quickly and disrupt the screen game and quick bubbles. He is also a sure tackler who rarely ever gives up extra yards after the catch.

When Prince gets in trouble, it is typically because he is high and leaning back in the his backpedal. If he can play with the same consistent technique throughout an entire game, he will have a very successful career.

Prince stepped up against fellow draft prospect Jake Locker, when Nebraska held him to only 71 yards and forced two interceptions. He didn't play so well against next year’s top wide receiver prospect, Justin Blackmon from Oklahoma State. Blackmon posted five catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns.

Smith a physical corner

Jimmy Smith is another top-tier corner that has first round potential but may not be selected that high. On the field, he has flashes of brilliance but lacks overall consistency is his technique. Off the field, he has never been in trouble personally, but those close to him may be a detriment to his professional maturity.

Smith measured in at the combine at 6-foot-2 1/4 and 211 pounds. He ran a 4.46, jumped a 36-inch vertical, and completed 24 reps in the bench. You see this size and strength when you evaluate him as a football player. He is a physical "in-your-face" corner who looks most comfortable in press coverage.

He uses his long arm to get a solid jam at the line of scrimmage and stays physical with the wide receiver for the entire five yards allowed. He reads the body language of wide receivers well enough to jump routes and make plays on the ball, but he could improve on his pedal to break transition. Smith also shows up frequently in run support as he is a reliable tackler that reads pass/run and attacks. At times, Smith gets in trouble by playing too high.

Jimmy Smith matched up well against A.J. Green, which was a testament to how he will fare against NFL caliber receivers. Smith will be evaluated against Aaron Williams and Brandon Harris to be the third corner drafted.