2011 Cincy Jungle Mock Draft - Round 3 - The Houston Texans Select..

For the seventy-third pick in the second-annual Cincy Jungle Mock Draft, Joe27 selected for the Houston Texans, who have the standard three picks available. Here is the pick...

With the seventy-third pick in the 2011 Cincy Jungle Mock Draft, the Houston Texans select...

Jerrell Powe, DT, Ole Miss

I don't think anyone would argue the fact that Nose Tackle is a need for any team switching to a 3-4 defense. 4-3 DTs are typically too small to demand double teams, leading to them getting pushed out of running lanes too easily. Jerrell Powe is a guy who fits the 3-4 NT mold perfectly at 6'-2", 335. While his 5.25 40 time is a hair slower than Phil Taylor (5.18) and Kendrick Ellis (5.19), it still shows incredible athletic ability for a prospect of that size. While everyone is aware of his past troubles in the classroom, his dedication on the field and in the weight room have never been doubted. Powe slimmed down to 320 for his senior season in 2010 and proved more flexible than a typical zero technique NT when he slid down to the 3 tech. While this move diminished his 2nd team All-SEC numbers from his junior year, his 8.5 TFL still showed an ability to get in the backfield.

Wade Phillips has made smaller NTs work in the past, evidenced by the successes by Jay Ratliff (305) in Dallas, who has been selected to three straight pro bowls, leading many people to think that Wade prefers a smaller, more agile NT. These people seem to forget that it was Jamal Williams (348), in San Diego, who has probably had the most success for Coach Phillips. He also went to three straight pro bowls, and was also selected as a first team all-pro in '05 and '06, as well as being generally regarded as one of the elite NTs of all time.

With this pick the foundation of Wade Phillips's new 3-4 defense will be in place for years to come. The ability of Powe to take on double teams in the middle will free up the DEs, including Mario Williams, and the LBs to make plays and hurry the opposing QBs into more mistakes than in 2010.

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