Injury to Texans' Brisiel appears to be season-ending

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by mussop

If by prudent you mean it wouldnt make us better I dissagree.

By prudent, I mean people's feelings wouldn't be hurt. Eric Winston was a 3rd round pick who thought he should have been a 1st rounder. Instead of putting him at LT, he gets put at RT, and has done a very good job there. Then a rookie is selected in the 1st round to keep Eric on the RT in the name of Duane Brown. Now Oher comes in and either moves D. Brown to LG so Pitts could go to RG or Oher becomes the RT and moves Winston to RG. Anyway you slice that, the OL would be jumbled (remember when people were talking about how nice it was to have continuity on the OL and no injuries allowed them to play 16 games together?).

I'm not saying any of the above scenarios wouldn't have been better on paper, I'm saying it would have pissed PEOPLE off who actually put on the uniform and play on Sunday. Basically it would just look bad and hurt too many egos including people like Rick Smith, Alex Gibbs, and Gary Kubiak.

Anway, that is water under the bridge. The OL is now 40% injured and we are needing to scramble. The new guy (Caldwell) may get in the lineup so we can see what he's got. Chis White or Rashad Butler are also on the roster for these "just in case" scenarios, so we can see what that looks like. Who knows, maybe the run game will improve?

[mussop]

Originally Posted by Roy P

By prudent, I mean people's feelings wouldn't be hurt. Eric Winston was a 3rd round pick who thought he should have been a 1st rounder. Instead of putting him at LT, he gets put at RT, and has done a very good job there. Then a rookie is selected in the 1st round to keep Eric on the RT in the name of Duane Brown. Now Oher comes in and either moves D. Brown to LG so Pitts could go to RG or Oher becomes the RT and moves Winston to RG. Anyway you slice that, the OL would be jumbled (remember when people were talking about how nice it was to have continuity on the OL and no injuries allowed them to play 16 games together?).

Continuity is nice but cant overcome lack of talent. I think they were blinded (like most here) by a over inflated stat. I have said a thousand times if I have said it once. Being 3rd in the leauge in total yards dont mean squat if you are in the bottom half in scoring. But that is all you hear last year before the draft. " We have to go heavy defense because our offense is set. We were 3rd best offense in the NFL". We'll youre offense can only go as far as youre OL takes it. Have you ever seen a team with a weak OL or one without decent depth win consistantly?

Originally Posted by Roy P

I'm not saying any of the above scenarios wouldn't have been better on paper, I'm saying it would have pissed PEOPLE off who actually put on the uniform and play on Sunday. Basically it would just look bad and hurt too many egos including people like Rick Smith, Alex Gibbs, and Gary Kubiak.

I dont understand this line of reasoning. These players are professionals and get paid an incredible amount of money. If their egos get in the way of improving the team then they need to be shipped out. And I dont see how it would hurt the egos of Rick Smith, Alex Gibbs, and Gary Kubiak. Hell maybe thats whats wrong with this team. Everyone is worried about hurting each others egos instead of whats really important, putting the team first.

Originally Posted by Roy P

Anway, that is water under the bridge. The OL is now 40% injured and we are needing to scramble. The new guy (Caldwell) may get in the lineup so we can see what he's got. Chis White or Rashad Butler are also on the roster for these "just in case" scenarios, so we can see what that looks like. Who knows, maybe the run game will improve?

Exactly they should of foreseen this. How often does a team go a whole year without injury to one of its linemen? We were extremely lucky last year. We have no quality depth and now we are in deep dodo becuase they didnt prepair for this. They had the opportunity to draft a starting caliber OL in the first and second round of the draft and chose to take lesser, riskier talent. But you are right its water under the bridge now. Hopefully Im wrong about Caldwell and he will turn out to be starting material. I guess we'll see.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by mussop

Being 3rd in the leauge in total yards dont mean squat if you are in the bottom half in scoring.

If their egos get in the way of improving the team then they need to be shipped out. And I dont see how it would hurt the egos of Rick Smith, Alex Gibbs, and Gary Kubiak.

Yeah, we have an above average offense. At least it's respectable now that we don't have David Carr.

Egos are part of the NFL. It's a great job and only a very select few get to participate as players, coaches, GMs. So, they do have some reason to be arrogant. When things aren't going well, most people will try to "save face" so I'm not surprised when folks exhibit human nature.

Anyway, I'm done discussing psychology.

[WMH]

Per the chronic - White will start, and they will rotate Caldwell in every other serious.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...t/6671673.html

“They both worked extremely hard, and they're going to split time right down the middle unless one of them is just playing his tail off,” coach Gary Kubiak said after Friday's practice. “It's a great opportunity for both of them."


I gotta tell you, I don't like this one bit. How are they going to get any continuity if they are swapping every series. If Caldwell isn't ready...don't play him. Subbing guys every other series makes about as much sense as subbing them every third series...what a minute.....we did that too
Hopefully, one of them will stand out, and we can set up the Oline for the balance of the year. I am hoping for Caldwell. White is a nice backup, but Caldwell has got to produce for us in the future.

[Big Texas]

I am no longer in favor of anyone on this OLine less than 300. White is listed at 6'2 290. WOW. Are we taking a step backward here?

In fantasy land:

Maybe White is the better pass protector and will be crucial to this aerial assault we are about to lay on Cincy.

All I know is we better not be running any dives behind that guy.

Just a side note: He will be lined up opposite D. Peko. Many people may not be familiar with this "brick wall". But I am sure White will find out first hand.

White: 6'2 290
Peko: 6'3 320

He has thirty pounds on White, and he doesn't move. Sometimes this game comes down to who is the biggest and toughest. I guess we have already found that out this year.

If you have not realized it thus far, I am in favor of Caldwell. 6'3 305. I think he'll have a better shot...at least a better shot.