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    The Three Day Show

    NFL Draft's biggest mistake: Picking for need is a fool's game & Texans GMrefuses to blunder

    Chris Baldwin
    Apr 24, 2012 | 4:12 pm
    • Texans general manager Rick Smith
    • Don't expect the Houston Texans to grab Stephen Hill just because they could usea wide receiver.

    Don't expect the Houston Texans to draft a wide receiver with the 26th pick in the NFL Draft because they need a wide receiver. Ditto for an offensive lineman, linebacker or any other position on the football field.

    If that sounds counterintuitive, so be it. That's how the Houston Texans roll and they're not about to change now that everyone in the organization feels that a Super Bowl run is within sight.

    General manager Rick Smith made it clear that the Texans will not draft based on "need" in his annual pre-draft press conference Tuesday afternoon.

     

      "We've never been a football team to draft for need," general manager Rick Smith said. 

    Smith will not focus on any position (he won't be obsessed with landing a wide receiver early to make the fans feel better about Jacoby Jones and the lack of a clear impact No. 2 wideout for example). Instead, he'll pick the highest-rated player on the Texans draft board when the defending AFC South champions' pick finally rolls around Thursday night.

    No matter that player's position.

    "We've never been a football team to draft for need," Smith said.

    It's clear that Smith feels that is exactly when many teams get into trouble. Drafting on need often leads to reaching and grabbing a player who may be a stretch at that draft slot in a determined attempt to fill a specific position on the depth chart. Smith comes across as borderline obsessed with sticking to the Texans' exhaustively-researched, "vetted" draft board — and avoiding any of those impulsive reaches.

    "As far as the way we value the board, or rank the board, or order the board, it's all based on the way we value players," Smith said. "It's not based on need or anything like that."

    OK, drop the borderline. Smith is completely obsessed with the Texans board and staying true to it. With Houston's recent success in the NFL Draft, it's hard to argue with his methods though.

    Smith attacks the draft like Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips attacks a defense. He and his team come up with a gameplan (the Texans' draft board) and then he goes out and executes it under the bright lights of the NFL's three-day TV show. Knowing that the only certainties in this year's draft are that Andrew Luck will go No. 1 to the Colts and Robert Griffin III No. 2 to the Redskins.

    "In the first round, you try to get a player who will impact your team," Smith said. ". . . If that's an offensive player, he can make plays with the ball in his hands . . . Somebody who impacts the team."

    Whether that player happens to be big Georgia Tech wideout Stephen Hill, for example, will rest on where Smith has Hill rated on his draft board. If there are players the Texans have rated higher than Hill still available, they'll go there instead.

    Sitting at microphone in the Texans' eighth-floor Reliant press box, talking about the draft, Smith comes across as the last guy who's going to make a rushed, gut decision. He believes in the process.

     

      Smith is completely obsessed with the Texans board and staying true to it. With Houston's recent success in the NFL Draft, it's hard to argue with his methods though. 

    In talking about Phillips' 3-4 defense, Smith did mention the necessity of having plenty of agile linebackers. He even dropped a "need" or three in there. Call it a momentary slip.

    "One thing about this defense, you need linebackers," Smith said. "You need depth at linebacker. You need as many guys as you can find that can rush the passer, guys that are athletic."

    Smith also mentioned wide receiver and adding youth and speed there. Of course, he also brought up the offensive line and cornerbacks. About the only position he didn't bring up is quarterback.

    And in the end, a team that's on quite a draft roll, picking up impact players Brooks Reed (42nd overall pick in 2011), Ben Tate (58th overall pick in 2010), Connor Barwin (46th overall pick in 2009), Antoine Caldwell (77th overall pick in 2009) and Glover Quin (112th overall pick in 2009) in the second round or later, all in the last three drafts, will stay true to its script.

    It wouldn't be a surprise to see the Texans end up moving down and perhaps completely out of the first round by trade. It'd be more of a surprise to see them move up, but hardly a shock. All based on The Board.

    "We’ll do what we always do," Smith said. "We’ll stay true to our board. We’ve assessed a value that we think these players have at their particular positions and the way that falls is the way that we’ll pick them.”

    It's more scientific than sexy. Smith is also sure it's how one gets Super.

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    in this corner

    Premier Japanese women's wrestling league performs in Houston this weekend

    Jef Rouner
    Jul 9, 2025 | 12:30 pm
    Two Japanese women wrestlers compete in a ring. One is stomping in the other with both feet.
    Photo courtesy of Tokyo Joshi
    Hard-hitting women's wrestling for two nights in Houston

    For the first time ever, one of Japan's premier women's wrestling promotions, Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling, will be touring Texas, with a two-night stay in Houston this week.

    "Bringing TJPW to Texas reflects Tokyo Story’s broader strategy," a Tokyo Story representative writes in an email. "As a Japan-inspired toy and event company, we see major Southwest cities — especially in Texas — as prime for the growth of Asian pop culture. Houston, Dallas, and others are becoming more diverse, culturally curious, and open to new entertainment formats. This isn’t a one-off stop — it’s part of a long-term push to bring Japan’s creativity to cities with eager audiences. And we are making TJPW Live an annual event!"

    The events happen on Thursday, July 10 and Friday, July 11 at POST Houston (401 Franklin). Tickets are available at TokyoStoryUSA.com.

    TJPW split off from DDT Wrestling in 2012 as a sister promotion (or "league") that ran alongside its male counterpart before becoming its own entity in 2015. In that time, they've launched the career of international superstars like Yuka Sakazaki and Mina Shirakawa (both currently signed to All Elite Wrestling in America), as well as hosting non-Japanese guest grapplers like Thunder Rosa.

    The fighting is excellent and often brutal, but TJPW is also known for its playfulness. Matches embrace anime-like absurdity, such as having a wrestler work in a giant panda mascot costume. The promoters are hoping to one day partner with Texas truck stop icon Buc-ee's for a more mascot shenanigans. Many of the women also perform in J-pop girl groups on of their wrestling duties.

    On Night 1, strike specialist Miyu Yamashita will take on Maki Itoh, known for her flamboyant style and high risk maneuvers. Night 2 will feature much of the local guest talent, such as Houston's own Kaylia Capri (Reality of Wrestling) vs Yuki Arai in a singles bout, and Austin's Vert Vixen teaming with reigning TJPW tag champ Hyper Misao. Other Texans slated to appear ar Maya World, Alejandra Quintanilla, and Billie Starkz.

    The last decade has seen a marked rise in the quality and prestige of women's wrestling in America, with WWE hosting all-women Royal Rumbles and stars like Rhea Ripley and "Timeless" Toni Storm becoming household names. Most major promotions now feature robust line-ups of Japanese women wrestlers, with some like Asuka and Iyo Sky becoming world champions.

    For Japan, women's wrestling has a more consistent history of legitimacy going back decades, and the talent pool there is vast. TJPW branching out into Texas tours gives them a chance to showcase their wrestlers in the land that spawned legends like The Undertaker, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, and the Von Erich Family.

    "The response has been overwhelmingly positive," said the TJPW spokesperson. "Many who had never experienced joshi (women’s) wrestling before are discovering how entertaining, emotional, and uniquely captivating it is. Since announcing the Texas shows, we’ve received a flood of enthusiastic messages — not just from wrestling fans, but from people drawn to the theatricality, comedy, and creativity of TJPW. We've also heard from fans in other states asking us to bring the tour to their cities."

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