The War Room | HoustonProFootball.com 
April 24-25, 2004
Defensive Stand
by Ric Sweeney and Keith Weiland
HoustonProFootball.com
After two years of focusing on their offense, the Texans turned downright defensive on the first day of the 2004 NFL Draft.
For the first time in their brief history, the Texans used their top pick on a defensive player, selecting South Carolina cornerback Dunta Robinson with the 10th overall selection.
Robinson, a converted safety, lacks man-to-man refinement (he’s only been playing the position for two years) and is considered small (5’10", 186) by today’s NFL standards. But what he lacks in experience and size, Robinson more than makes up for with heart and determination, not to mention a nose for the football.
Last year, he was the Gamecocks’ Defensive Player of the Year after recording 50 tackles and 1 interception. Robinson’s a physical corner with playmaker skills, the kind of player who always seems to be around the football.
And he’ll be put to the test quickly. Robinson will be joining a division full of top quarterbacks (co-MVPs Steve McNair and Peyton Manning and up-and-comer Byron Leftwich) and will be expected to eventually displace Marcus Coleman, who led the Texans with 7 interceptions last year.
Not content with one blue chip defensive prospect, the Texans also apparently really, really, really, really wanted Western Michigan DE Jason Babin (6’4", 276).
Houston dealt their second, third, fourth and fifth round picks in the 2004 draft to move back into the first round, selecting Babin with the 27th overall pick, In doing so, the Texans dealt with Houston’s former team, and division rival, Tennessee, who originally owned the pick. Houston will receive the Titans’ fifth round pick.
Babin was a standout in college, earning Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors two years in a row. Last year, Babin recorded 15 sacks and 33 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. A destructive pass rushing force, he ran a 4.55/40 and was named a second team All-American. He is the first player from Western Michigan to be drafted in the first round of the NFL draft.
The Texans continued to focus on defense on the second day of the draft, selecting Notre Dame safety Glenn Earl with their first pick in round four, the 122nd overall selection.
Earl, a standout his junior year, suffered a torn ACL six games into his senior season. Prior to the injury, the former wide receiver was viewed by many as one of the nation’s hardest hitters. Earl also proved versatile, moving from flanker to free safety to strong safety, which is where he projects in the NFL.
In February, just four months removed from surgery, Earl told the Naperville Sun that his knee was "at about 85 percent." He has been working hard in his rehabilitation and hopes to be ready by the time mini-camp rolls around. Before the surgery, Earl was considered a first day prospect.
Later on Sunday, the Texans traded out of the fifth round with Jacksonville to add sixth and seventh round picks. With the first of three sixth round picks, the Texans went to another Domer, cornerback Vontez Duff. Duff should challenge to be the team’s kick and punt returner and may contribute as a dimeback.
Five picks later, the Texans selected Nebraska quarterback Jammal Lord, with fingers crossed that he might provide depth at running back. Next came a couple of ‘tweeners, Charlie Anderson of Ole Miss and Raheem Orr of Rutgers, both hoping to make the switch from college end to 3-4 outside linebacker.
The Texans didn’t go far for their second pick of the seventh round, selecting wide receiver Sloan Thomas. The team finished Day Two by taking a flyer on another local, Texas Tech quarterback B.J. Symons.
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