Texans GM On O’Brien, Draft, Su’a-Filo

Yesterday, Texans GM Rick Smith addressed kids at a youth football presentation and asked the group what his club’s record is. “Three and three,” one of the players shouted. Surely, Smith wishes his club would be 4-2, at the very least, after their tough Week 6 loss. Here are some of the highlights from Smith yesterday, courtesy of CSNHouston.com’s Dave Zangaro.

On head coach Bill O’Brien

Obviously, we have played well in spurts and not played so well in other spurts. I like our football team. I like the toughness that we’ve shown in these games to be able to stay in games and give ourselves a chance to win. We can’t make some of the mistakes we’ve made and dig some of the holes that we’ve dug ourselves and expect to win. I think our guys understand that.

On his rookie class so far

Without going through the entire class I think we’re getting some contributions from some guys. Obviously, with [Jadeveon Clowney] having the injury, that impacts the entire class and so we’re looking forward to him getting back out there at some point. But I think Xavier Su’a-Filo, I think he’s developed. And I think C.J. Fiedorowicz is making some good contributions, as is Jay Prosch and Alfred Blue. So I think we’re getting contributions. But it’s still too early. We’re six games in and so there’s a lot of football left to be played.

On evaluating draft picks based on where they’re selected (Su’a-Filo, a guard, was taken No. 33 in this year’s draft and started just once out of necessity)

From a value standpoint, you try to say if we’re going to take a guy in the first or the second round, generally, you’re trying to make sure that you identify a guy that can come in and be a starter for you eventually. Depending on how high in the first round, how quickly you think that may develop or how quickly that player may develop.

On his 2013 draft class, of which only five remain on the team

I think each individual case with those players are individualized so you have to look at that and we always are constantly assessing our process to make sure that we have a good process in place that gives us a chance to make good decisions. And sometimes that’s going to be a good outcome and sometimes that won’t but at long as you are identifying what the issues are with each individual case, and you make sure that the process is something that’s solid, I think you give yourself a chance to have success.

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