Starting Riley was a Key to Doomed Season

[nunusguy]

Remember in TC when some film footage captured Wand being knocked on
his butt by a Peek bull rush ? About that time Riley was handed the starting
job and he went into the regular season as the teams starter at LT. Many of
us here wondered why the Texans would go with a journeyman RT as their
LT when we had Chester Pitts, our regular LT in '02 & '03, playing guard. The
main explanation Capers & Casserly gave was that Chester could be a better
guard that tackle, an explanation that was both puzzling and illogical given
that the LT position is far and away the most important position on the OL
for protecting the QB and providing stabilty in general to the OL. And Chester is of course now back at LT playing well after the failed experiment with
Riley early in the season.

[barzilla]

I can trace this back to the hiring of Pendry in the first place. This club had a horrible line in the first year. Fine. They made some changes and were considerably better the second year. So, after that season they suddenly decide that it's best to switch to a zone blocking scheme like the Broncos have (since they have a better running game). Also, they chose to move out Chester Pitts (who was decent and making progress) for Wand. Of course, Wand was pathetic (as he has been this season in limited action), so then the club goes to max-protect. If you trace the logic of incremental progress, this line should have been at least adequate on its own if they had left the original coach to his own devices.

[HJam72]

Originally Posted by barzilla

I can trace this back to the hiring of Pendry in the first place. This club had a horrible line in the first year. Fine. They made some changes and were considerably better the second year. So, after that season they suddenly decide that it's best to switch to a zone blocking scheme like the Broncos have (since they have a better running game). Also, they chose to move out Chester Pitts (who was decent and making progress) for Wand. Of course, Wand was pathetic (as he has been this season in limited action), so then the club goes to max-protect. If you trace the logic of incremental progress, this line should have been at least adequate on its own if they had left the original coach to his own devices.

People say that zone blocking has no effect on pass plays, that it only changes the running game. I don't know how, but I think it does effect the pass protection and our guys can't handle it. Another reason to completely scrap this coaching staff. I want to see a normal blocking scheme, so we can know that it's not the problem, not just think it isn't. I know, it works really well for Denver, but I think we've seen enough of it.

Another thing about that is that it was supposed to greatly improve DD's performance (make him a real superstar), but I don't see that happening. He was good before and he still is, but where's the great improvement?

[barzilla]

That's the whole point. There is no honest look at personnel. It's all follow the leader stuff. Denver does it so we must do it. MAYBE THEY HAVE THE PEOPLE TO DO IT. I'm so pissed because we were making progress in year two and then regressed two years in a row in regards to the offensive line.

[aj.]

The acquisition and subsequent starting of Riley at left tackle was nothing more than a symptom of the broken system - a system that is ultimately the responsibility of Charley Casserly. Capers bringing in Pendry - under Casserly's watch - helped undermine Palmer and create the chaos that will ultimately lead to Capers' final act as NFL head coach.