Offensive Line Still Up for Grabs

[Texans Horror]

From the Chronicle:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...t/4132264.html

With two games to go before the regular season, the Texans are still shuffling their offensive line.

Despite the uncertainty up front, the line has functioned impressively in the team's 2-0 preseason start. The Texans have allowed one sack and are averaging 158 yards rushing.

Going into Sunday night's game at Denver, the only offensive linemen guaranteed of starting the regular-season opener against Philadelphia are right tackle Zach Wiegert and center Mike Flanagan.

Veteran Seth Wand and rookie Charles Spencer have been alternating at left tackle, the most important position on the line because it protects quarterback David Carr's blind side.

Because guard Fred Weary has been terrific in the first two preseason games, he's competing with Steve McKinney and Chester Pitts for a starting job.

The coaches would like for one of the left tackles to solidify the position. Veteran Ephraim Salaam can play either side. At some point in practice, the coaches want to see if rookie Eric Winston, who has been competing behind Wiegert, can play the left side, too.

"To tell you today who our starter is, I can't do that," coach Gary Kubiak said about left tackle. "We're still searching.

"We saw (Saturday against St. Louis) what we felt like was going to happen to Spencer. He did some good things, but he struggled and was late getting off the ball. He had a few busts, but when you're asking a rookie tackle to do that, I think you're going to have some growing pains, and we understand that.

"We love his effort. We love his upside. He's headed in the right direction."

Pitts is still competing for LG?? Salaam or Winston being tried at LT????

My thoery is that Salaam and Winston will see action at LT against Tampa, when the STARTERS are rested. I am glad to see the competition, though.

[gtexan02]

I find it funny how a lot of people quickly jumped onto the Pitts at LT bandwagon after his switch last season. Meanwhile, the new coaching regime brought him back to G. I guess its his lack of quick footwork holding him back from playing the tackle position.

[thunderkyss]

"All I can do is to put my heart in it and work hard every day," Weary said. "There's going to be a (guard) coming off the bench, and he's going to have to prepare like he's the starter. If you're that guy, you're going to be one play from being in there (starting)."

That's what I like to hear...... that's the attitude of a winner.

[Hervoyel]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

That's what I like to hear...... that's the attitude of a winner.

It's particularly nice to see Fred Weary get some traction and do well after all the abuse I've seen hurled at him on this board over the years. He clearly needed better coaching to improve and wasn't getting it. The same thing goes for Seth Wand.

In Seth's case the guy was a project coming out of college with what appeared to be a ton of upside but that's exactly where the problem was. Our former coaching staff should have been barred from selecting players who were projects in need of development. They couldn't develop anyone. In fact they took some veterans and regressed their level of play.

I'm also certain that the extended competition for some of these positions is as much about building confidence in guys like Seth Wand and Fred Weary as it is about finding out what the rookie tackles can do. When Wand starts the season at LT the coaches will be telling him that he beat out every other tackle on our team for that spot. In the past we handed positions to guys and took them away just as arbitrarily. Wand got the position in 2004 by default. Pitts moved and Tony retired. They took it away from him and gave it to Victor Riley the exact same way. In Kubiak's regime it appears you will win your starting spot. What a novel idea. I like it!

[Texans Horror]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

That's what I like to hear...... that's the attitude of a winner.

Weary is a beast of a player. (Sorry. Just had to say that.)

If Pitts falters, what are the chances Weary would overtake him?

[Divebomb]

I hope they leave things the way they are and let the guys get a feel for one another. A offense is built around 11 guys and their backups. Everyone needs to have a feel for eachother and moving guys around is not going to make things better. Leave Spencer as LT and let him play. He wil adjust, he has a hunger for the starting spot like not rookie OT I have ever seen. I love this guy, he is going to develope into a show stopper at LT. Everyone on the O-Line has to be linked as a unit and work to help each other. They are doing it and the preseason has shown it. The season starts at Phily and they are going to blitz every play, why not they did it last year and it rattled Carr. The difference this year is that Kubiak will set up screen passes all day and tear their butts up. Bring the blitz I say, I love watching Putz make 20 yard scampers. The O-line is going to be fine

[Brandon420tx]

Originally Posted by Divebomb

I hope they leave things the way they are and let the guys get a feel for one another. A offense is built around 11 guys and their backups. Everyone needs to have a feel for eachother and moving guys around is not going to make things better. Leave Spencer as LT and let him play. He wil adjust, he has a hunger for the starting spot like not rookie OT I have ever seen. I love this guy, he is going to develope into a show stopper at LT. Everyone on the O-Line has to be linked as a unit and work to help each other. They are doing it and the preseason has shown it. The season starts at Phily and they are going to blitz every play, why not they did it last year and it rattled Carr. The difference this year is that Kubiak will set up screen passes all day and tear their butts up. Bring the blitz I say, I love watching Putz make 20 yard scampers. The O-line is going to be fine

For the most part they are leaving players in the same place, They're just deciding who will start and who will swing (Play both sides of the same position) Weary is good on both the left and right side at gaurd. They want to see who can play both sides at tackle, thats who gets the back-up tackle gig.

[Divebomb]

OH!! got it!

[nunusguy]

""Chester's going to stay at guard," Kubiak said. "He needs to play guard well for us if we're going to win. He's in a battle right now to start with McKinney and Weary."
**********************************
I dunno, seems odd for Chester being in a fight for a starting spot. With the
past regime, it was just trying to figure out "where" to start him, not whether or not he starts.
But on the other hand, some players like Weary who had no pull with the past regime are becoming a crowd favorite with Kubiak & Co. Maybe it just stands to reason that others like Chester would in turn be "less" favored with the new regime.

[Vinny]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

""Chester's going to stay at guard," Kubiak said. "He needs to play guard well for us if we're going to win. He's in a battle right now to start with McKinney and Weary."
**********************************
I dunno, seems odd for Chester being in a fight for a starting spot. With the
past regime, it was just trying to figure out "where" to start him, not whether or not he starts.
But on the other hand, some players like Weary who had no pull with the past regime are becoming a crowd favorite with Kubiak & Co. Maybe it just stands to reason that others like Chester would in turn be "less" favored with the new regime.

I think it is much less to do with favoritism and more to do with healthy competition. Kubiak apparently doesn't discount competition as a motivator. Little things like pushing your best players shows the others that they will get a fair shake no matter what. I'm sure it was frustrating to work hard and know that the Coaches were just going to start Johnny Moneybags.

[Texans Horror]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

""Chester's going to stay at guard," Kubiak said. "He needs to play guard well for us if we're going to win. He's in a battle right now to start with McKinney and Weary."
**********************************
I dunno, seems odd for Chester being in a fight for a starting spot. With the
past regime, it was just trying to figure out "where" to start him, not whether or not he starts.
But on the other hand, some players like Weary who had no pull with the past regime are becoming a crowd favorite with Kubiak & Co. Maybe it just stands to reason that others like Chester would in turn be "less" favored with the new regime.

This is completely unsubstantiated, but IMO, Chester is not the team player that the other linemen are. He is great at LT where he is anchoring and the be-all, end-all, but when he works in a supporting role, (though still good), he is not near as good. JMO. I don't know as much about Pitts as I do some of the other linemen, so I don't want to oversay something. No foundation. JMO from watching the games.

I did, however, read on NFL.com (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2002/profil...ts_chester.htm) that his negatives include inside blocking and struggling to react. Maybe that has something to do with the new coaching regime's closer look at Weary.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by Vinny

I think it is much less to do with favoritism and more to do with healthy competition. Kubiak apparently doesn't discount competition as a motivator. Little things like pushing your best players shows the others that they will get a fair shake no matter what. I'm sure it was frustrating to work hard and know that the Coaches were just going to start Johnny Moneybags.

or ***** ****......

Edit I'm sorry guys....... I'm trying to quit....... honest.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Vinny

I think it is much less to do with favoritism and more to do with healthy competition. Kubiak apparently doesn't discount competition as a motivator. Little things like pushing your best players shows the others that they will get a fair shake no matter what. I'm sure it was frustrating to work hard and know that the Coaches were just going to start Johnny Moneybags.

I wasn't using the term favoritism in the sense of preferential treatment for
an individual player based on anything but on the field performance.
But it looks like you're saying Chester really isn't on anybodys bubble in terms
of starting against Philly, but rather Kubiak is fabricating a phantom issue as a tool to get the best effort out of Chester.

[Vinny]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

I wasn't using the term favoritism in the sense of preferential treatment for
an individual player based on anything but on the field performance.
But it looks like you're saying Chester really isn't on anybodys bubble in terms
of starting against Philly, but rather Kubiak is fabricating a phantom issue as a tool to get the best effort out of Chester.

I'm not drawing any conclusions about any bubble, but I do think he starts...fwiw.

[dalemurphy]

Vinny really nailed this one the past couple years. Vinny is about the only one that has consistantly praised Fred Weary's potential. I must admit that I didn't see it. Obviously Vinny was on to something that I wasn't because Weary has been very impressive this preseason.

While I'm stroking Vinny's ego, I guess I should credit him with his take on Morency as well. I was skeptical of him as well until last weekend. Based on what I saw from Morency, I believe Morency would beat out a healthy DD for the starting job- just as a certain Moderator was saying last year.

That hurt!

I still disagree that Tony Banks was ever the better QB between he and David Carr- on that one, Vinny was off base, right?!

I have really been impressed with Drew Hodgdon, he's been playing very good technique in the type of running scheme for a few games now. I havn't really noticed his pass blocking, but going against 2nd teams he seems to be doing really well.

[Wild.Bill]

I've read Vinny's posts over the last couple of years and wouldn't come close to stroking his ego as your doing. He does the obvious and makes educated statements (for the most part) while a lot of not so intelligent posters show that they are fair weather fans.

I do disagree with his opinion of David Carr. However, we're all entitled to our opinions and until DC performs to the level that I think he can and will, I don't have too much of an argument based on facts to make.

But, back on topic, Chester does start.

[HOU-TEX]

[quote=Wild.Bill]I've read Vinny's posts over the last couple of years and wouldn't come close to stroking his ego as your doing. He does the obvious and makes educated statements (for the most part) while a lot of not so intelligent posters show that they are fair weather fans.

I do disagree with his opinion of David Carr. However, we're all entitled to our opinions and until DC performs to the level that I think he can and will, I don't have too much of an argument based on facts to make.

But, back on topic, Chester does start.[/QUOTE]

Truthfully, I think he will too. I haven't seen anything to prove otherwise. IMO, Mckinney has more to worry about than Pitts at this point.

[Runner]

I think McKinney has the most to worry about as far as starting on the o-line. Pitts is fine.

I am glad we are becoming a run oriented team in fact rather than just in philosophy. The board usually discusses pass blocking because of weaknesses there, but this year we look like we could be a very strong running team.

In previous seasons it seemed DD had to struggle through small seams for every yard he made. Now we have running backs that have lanes to run through. Not only that, but the linemen are making very effective downfield blocks.

The running game looks very strong right now with the line we have. That is a positive in itself that will also help keep the sacks down. In other words, we also have an offensive philosophy in more than name only.

[bdiddy]

Originally Posted by Runner

I think McKinney has the most to worry about as far as starting on the o-line. Pitts is fine.

I am glad we are becoming a run oriented team in fact rather than just in philosophy. The board usually discusses pass blocking because of weaknesses there, but this year we look like we could be a very strong running team.

In previous seasons it seemed DD had to struggle through small seams for every yard he made. Now we have running backs that have lanes to run through. Not only that, but the linemen are making very effective downfield blocks.

The running game looks very strong right now with the line we have. That is a positive in itself that will also help keep the sacks down. In other words, we also have an offensive philosophy in more than name only.

I second the notion that McKinney is the player in danger of losing his starting job to Weary. I think Kubiak and Co. are also considering the fact that if McKinney was to come off the bench he could play either guard position or center. This factor, McKinney's health status, and Weary's excellent play in the new system is what is causing the debate.