Injury to Texans' Brisiel appears to be season-ending

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by mussop

Oher was there for the taking and could of played inside (huge upgrade) and in a pinch swung outside.

Therefore OL and DL will always come before any position unless of course a player at another position is a far superior talent.

Well, that is the thing about matching players with scheme. Oher is a Tackle and would not be drafted in the first round to play G, especially in our ZBS. We had Brown and Winston already on the roster so asking Winston to play G so a rookie could play RT wouldn't have been the prudent thing to do. If we didn't have Brown and we didn't run Gibbs' ZBS, Oher might be a very good pick. Watching him against Odom this past weekend showed he could hold his own as a LT in pass protection.

If I had your commitment to improving the OL instead of the DL in the last draft, then selecting Max Unger instead of Connor Barwin would have been an appropriate choice considering who we have on the roster, the scheme we run, and value of interior linemen.

In the upcoming draft, I'm pretty committed to improving our Secondary. The whole Dunta Robinson drama has left me feeling like we should move on. So, all things being equal I'm going to be focused on FS and CB in the first 2 rounds and then most likely look at RG and RB in the 3rd and 4th rounds. The funny thing is, I feel those are the best rounds to get the most value at those positions. That's based upon looking at the drafts of the last 7 years and when players were selected. Now, if a 1st round talented OL slides to the 2nd round and I believe I can get a decent CB in the 3rd, then I may flip flop my "plan" in that instance. For example, if Selvish Capers is on the board in the 2nd round, I might just have to take him. However, if I can get Jason Fox or Jon Asamoah in the 3rd round, I'll still be a happy Texan.

[mussop]

Originally Posted by Roy P

Well, that is the thing about matching players with scheme. Oher is a Tackle and would not be drafted in the first round to play G, especially in our ZBS. We had Brown and Winston already on the roster so asking Winston to play G so a rookie could play RT wouldn't have been the prudent thing to do. If we didn't have Brown and we didn't run Gibbs' ZBS, Oher might be a very good pick. Watching him against Odom this past weekend showed he could hold his own as a LT in pass protection.

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

Originally Posted by Roy P

If I had your commitment to improving the OL instead of the DL in the last draft, then selecting Max Unger instead of Connor Barwin would have been an appropriate choice considering who we have on the roster, the scheme we run, and value of interior linemen.

Thats exactly what I would of done. A project pass rush specialist isnt nearly as valuable as a starting OL IMO. I had Mack as a first round talent.

Originally Posted by Roy P

In the upcoming draft, I'm pretty committed to improving our Secondary. The whole Dunta Robinson drama has left me feeling like we should move on. So, all things being equal I'm going to be focused on FS and CB in the first 2 rounds and then most likely look at RG and RB in the 3rd and 4th rounds. The funny thing is, I feel those are the best rounds to get the most value at those positions. That's based upon looking at the drafts of the last 7 years and when players were selected. Now, if a 1st round talented OL slides to the 2nd round and I believe I can get a decent CB in the 3rd, then I may flip flop my "plan" in that instance. For example, if Selvish Capers is on the board in the 2nd round, I might just have to take him.

Like I said Im fine with taking a Berry over a good but not as talented OL but if things are equal Im going OL everytime.

Capers would be a great second round pick for us.

[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?

[Nconroe]

I hope Breisel heals well and can make a come back next year. Next draft comes up when, April? past is past at this time.

Wonder if they will activate Andrey Crummey off practice squad to replace Briesel if he does go IR?

Any other FA OG's out there to look at, someone mentioned maybe invite Fred Weary in for a tryout?

And, I'm hoping Caldwell proves he can do well right away as a rookie.

[painekiller]

According to aj's blog

worked out seven other players including veteran linebackers Monty Beisel, Rocky Boiman, Darnell Bing and Brandon Renkart, and free agent guards Terrence Metcalf, Adrian Jones and Tutan Reyes.

The guards are all veterans that should be able to play rather fast if needed. Jones was with the team during the off season.

We are down a LB currently thus the LBs brought in.

[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.

[mussop]

Originally Posted by painekiller

According to aj's blog


The guards are all veterans that should be able to play rather fast if needed. Jones was with the team during the off season.

We are down a LB currently thus the LBs brought in.

Man whats the deal with Buster Davis? He looked really good in the preseason.

Wasnt Darnell Bing a safety when he was in the draft?

[Arky]

Rocky Boiman, lb, might be a natural Texan - he's already got the battle red hair...

Re-signing Adrian Jones sounds good.... I believe he was a starter for KC so there's some experience there at least....

There's also the LSU center on the PS - one Brett Helms. Seems to be very small and light though @ 6'2"/270. Perhaps he figures into next year? If not, why keep him?

[NBT]

Why indeed. We need to get bigger and more physical on that offensive line.

[Big Texas]

If we sign anyone to our OL under 300 lb. I will have realized that Kubiak is extremely stubborn and is willing to nail that triangle into the square hole. His incompetence will be apparent.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by mussop

Wasnt Darnell Bing a safety when he was in the draft?

Yeah, but he's probably a better WLB than say, Xavier Adibi.

[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.

[NBT]

Originally Posted by Big Texas

If we sign anyone to our OL under 300 lb. I will have realized that Kubiak is extremely stubborn and is willing to nail that triangle into the square hole. His incompetence will be apparent.

Does that mean he's a stubborn squarehead?

[Nconroe]

I know the OL wasn't perfect today, but they likely had their best game of the year, didn't they? I thought White and Caldwell both filled in pretty well for Breisel. Slayton and Brown had several good runs that don't count in the stats since called back due to holding and motion penalties. The OL as many on the team seem to be getting more consistent as games go by.