Friday, 7 February 2014

Former Houston coach Wade Phillips told Texans brass they should draft Johnny Manziel

Everyone has a draft opinion, and some are that Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel should go first overall to the Houston Texans.
Wade Phillips shares that opinion, and he told Texans owner Bob McNair that's what he should do.
Phillips has a unique perspective. He was with the Texans for three seasons, and finished Houston's season as its head coach after Gary Kubiak was fired. He knows the Texans and their needs as well as anyone. And at the end of the season when he met with McNair and his brother Cal, the team's chief operating officer, he let them know that Manziel was their best option.
That's what Phillips told "In the Loop with Nick and Lopez" on SportsRadio 610 (via CBS Houston).
“When I did the interview with the McNairs, I told them they ought to take Johnny Football," Phillips said on the show.


Phillips joked about being fired after offering that opinion, and it's a reminder that a fired coach's opinion isn't going to carry much weight with the Texans' front office. And Phillips admitted he hadn't studied Manziel in depth, but had seen enough to know what he can do in the NFL.
“Those kinds of guys who can make first downs when you’re not supposed to, I think they give you something.” Phillips said. “I just think he makes plays that nobody else can make.”
As a longtime respected defensive coach, it is interesting to hear that Phillips is so high on Manziel. ESPN's Mel Kiper also still had Manziel first in his second mock draft that was published on Thursday. Manziel's draft stock will rise because of his incredible playmaking ability and production for two years in the SEC, or slip because of his size and perceived ability to be a pocket NFL quarterback.
Whether Manziel goes first in the draft will be seen in May, but it's going to be one of the most fascinating draft debates in recent memory on the way there.

No comments:

Post a Comment