Spencer..LG....C....RG....Winston

[pittbull]

Obviously this team is struggling on the offensive line. With Spencer down, this hurts us potentially for another year at the LT, as Spencer will have to learn the position on the fly again next season, BUT HE'S GOING TO BE DOMINANT!!!! But what about the RT? There is no reason why Winston should not be getting playing time. There is simply a revolving door on that right side. Anyone and everyone is blowing Wiegert up, and the entire line is unable to get comfortable. Put Winston in there, let him get his bumps and bruises and start building our bookend tackles, Spencer and Winston our the future Their young, physical, nasty and will only get better. These journeymen o-linemen peaked 3-4 years ago, and why Wiegert is still on the roster is beyond me You can keep the guy on the roster for deptha dn injury, but besides that, he shouldn't touch the field!

[Runner]

There is certainly no guarantee that Spencer and Winston are our future book-end tackles.

Winston isn't playing right now because he isn't ready. Maybe he'll live up to expectations, maybe not.

Spencer looked pretty good the game and a half that he played. He wasn't as perfect as some seem to think, but he did look like he would be the real deal in the future. One of his weaknesses is that he is sometimes slow to very slow off the snap. On the play he got hurt, he was pushed back into the backfield because he was late getting off the snap. Basically one of his weaknesses contributed to the injury.

As I understand the injury, the tibia was broken near the top of the bone. When that happens it can cause soft tissue damage. So after his bone is healed he'll probably have to go in for more surgery on ligaments or whatever. That is why this injury might be career threatening. I'm certainly no doctor and am just passing along what I've heard.

[texflex513]

Originally Posted by pittbull

Obviously this team is struggling on the offensive line. With Spencer down, this hurts us potentially for another year at the LT, as Spencer will have to learn the position on the fly again next season, BUT HE'S GOING TO BE DOMINANT!!!! But what about the RT? There is no reason why Winston should not be getting playing time. There is simply a revolving door on that right side. Anyone and everyone is blowing Wiegert up, and the entire line is unable to get comfortable. Put Winston in there, let him get his bumps and bruises and start building our bookend tackles, Spencer and Winston our the future Their young, physical, nasty and will only get better. These journeymen o-linemen peaked 3-4 years ago, and why Wiegert is still on the roster is beyond me You can keep the guy on the roster for deptha dn injury, but besides that, he shouldn't touch the field!

I agree... if the season is not salvageable after about 8-10 games i think winston should get in at RT he is our future so we might as well get him going early.

[pittbull]

The season really is over now. The Texans are not goin to pull a major turn around, especially with what they are fielding. As for the response of Winston not being ready, you never know until the guy is thrown in the fire. Obviously they thought Wiegert is ready and a 11 yr vet is getting his lunch handed to him. This season is a wash! By getting this offensive unit to play together for a year, it will only make them better for the futue. I don't believe in that, play him when he is "absolutely ready" theory. Winston can certainly do no worst than Wiegert who has played like he wants to be released and get an early vacation. As for bookend tackles, that's how you get them. Any team that has them, has allowed them to gel over time together to make them the force they are in the league.

[Runner]

Originally Posted by pittbull

The season really is over now. The Texans are not goin to pull a major turn around, especially with what they are fielding. As for the response of Winston not being ready, you never know until the guy is thrown in the fire. Obviously they thought Wiegert is ready and a 11 yr vet is getting his lunch handed to him. This season is a wash! By getting this offensive unit to play together for a year, it will only make them better for the futue. I don't believe in that, play him when he is "absolutely ready" theory. Winston can certainly do no worst than Wiegert who has played like he wants to be released and get an early vacation. As for bookend tackles, that's how you get them. Any team that has them, has allowed them to gel over time together to make them the force they are in the league.

Unless you destroy Winston's confidence too because you play him before he's good enough to compete with NFL starters in live games.

[texasguy346]

I'm alot more comfortable with Wiegart at RT than I am with Salaam at LT. There were a few plays today where he seemed confused on who to block & came up blocking air.

[Texans Horror]

I only watched the first half, but from what I saw, Salaam was having a hard time at LT. I understand it's his first start (after coming in during the Indy fiasco), but I did not see anything to make me think we won't see more of the same from him for another 13 games...

Is there any chance we can trade for something better?

[Runner]

Originally Posted by oso

I only watched the first half, but from what I saw, Salaam was having a hard time at LT. I understand it's his first start (after coming in during the Indy fiasco), but I did not see anything to make me think we won't see more of the same from him for another 13 games...

Salaam got pushed back to Carr quite a few times. Thiis was the first game that I can remember Carr consistently bailing out his o-line. He stood in and got rid of the ball under pressure a few times instead of ducking and running. That was definite improvement in Carr's play, and the lineman certainly like to see that. Had he panicked as he has at times in the past they certainly would have given up a couple more sacks.

I only watched the game as it was being played so I'm not sure, but possibly Hodgdon at center was reducing some of the pressure up the middle, thus making Carr a little more comfortable.

[Texans Horror]

Seemed like it was always coming from the sides. Don't tell anyone I said this -- I don't want to get hate mail -- but Carr looked good evading defensive ends for thirty minutes. He is showing signs of definite improvement. I didn't watch the garbage time, though, so maybe things changed.

[rmartin65]

We still have a year to wait for that. I want to see some improvement soon.

[Texans Horror]

Five years and still no line. I swear I wouldn't be beating this drum so much if it just didn't feel like this was the difference between a losing and winning season.

[texaslifter]

Originally Posted by BattleRedToro

Similar to what Capers did to Carr? Only now is he recovering from the 4 seasons being pounded.

Oh, you mean after a whopping 3 games? Man, what a terrible decision to throw him in early.

[Runner]

Beyond pass blocking, our running backs had 15 rushes for 58 yards. The o-line didn't play well today.

[Texans Horror]

Originally Posted by Runner

Spencer looked pretty good the game and a half that he played.

Why do we jump on the bandwagon of players that have been in a couple of games and qualify them as the next great thing? I saw the same thing happen with Hogdon, and he looked pretty ugly out there during the Skins game.

This line is moving backwards in ability. What gives?

[Runner]

I posted this yesterday but many people were in "type don't read" mode and it may have been missed by interested people. Maybe there just weren't any interested people; regardless I'm quoting myself to bring it back up.

Originally Posted by Runner

As I understand the injury, the tibia was broken near the top of the bone. When that happens it can cause soft tissue damage. So after his bone is healed he'll probably have to go in for more surgery on ligaments or whatever. That is why this injury might be career threatening. I'm certainly no doctor and am just passing along what I've heard.

[HOU-TEX]

I agree the line still needs to be addressed, But when the Defense gives up an average of 32 points a game it tells me the offense isn't a major part of the problem. DC and the O did enough to possibly get a win if the D could stop anything. I know we only scored 15 pts, but if the D were to get off the field quicker, who's to say they wouldn't have scored more? They moved the ball good enough to win the game. Stupid mistakes and a horrible defense cost us the game. Again!

[texasguy346]

Originally Posted by Runner

Beyond pass blocking, our running backs had 15 rushes for 58 yards. The o-line didn't play well today.

I think the lack of production out of the run game is due to a few factors. One being the defense was horrid and Washington held on to the ball for a great deal of time. Another is that at halftime we were down 21 to 7 and playing from behind, but most importantly we don't have a legitimate running back.

Dayne is fine and good for a short yardage or goal line back, and Gado is fine for a 3rd string type back. Neither is a starting caliber back IMO. Lundy would be practice squad material for most teams, but for us he was our projected starter. It was a mistake, IMO, to deal away Morrency for Gado. Morrency was a legitimate homerun threat, but I really don't think he would have been starting caliber either although he would've been better than what we currently have. I just feel that Morrency has better quickness than any of our current backs, and he'd be able to get to a hole quicker and burst through. His vision wasn't very good, but he was tough to catch. I don't think there is any guy in our backfield who can get to the secondary & out run them.

*Side Note* This is just a first impression, but did anyone else think we ran more to the right side of the line than the left? I'll have to look at the game again and check it out, but it seemed that way to me at first glance.

[Runner]

Originally Posted by texasguy346

*Side Note* This is just a first impression, but did anyone else think we ran more to the right side of the line than the left? I'll have to look at the game again and check it out, but it seemed that way to me at first glance.

It wouldn't surprise me. Salaam is the softest LT we've had yet. His strentgth is mobility. He has very little power. He was being pushed back a great deal int he last game, and Washington doesn't have stud DEs as far as I know.

[texasguy346]

Originally Posted by Runner

It wouldn't surprise me. Salaam is the softest LT we've had yet. His strentgth is mobility. He has very little power. He was being pushed back a great deal int he last game, and Washington doesn't have stud DEs as far as I know.

I know that they didn't have one of their starting DTs and had to start a 6th round rookie. No surprise he had a good game against us. As far as their DEs they aren't all that impressive. We'll be faced with much stiffer competition against Dallas, and I'm worried about seeing Salaam against Ware.

The concerning thing about us running too much to one side is that if we can only run for positive yardage to the right opposing defense will catch on to that and our running game could possibly be even worse. It seems unfathomable that it could be worse than it is, but it's a very real possibility IMO. You can point to alot of Seth Wands weaknesses, and he had more than his share. However, you must admit he was a good runblocker, and when he was paired up with Pitts on the left side you could at least rely on those two to clear a hole for the running back. I'm not seeing much of an upside at all with Salaam. He looks poor against the run and the pass. He looks weak and he looks confused out there at times. Perhaps its taking him time to put it all together, but I don't know how long I can tolerate seeing that type of play at the LT position with what we, as Texans fans, have had to endure at that spot for our entire history.

[HOU-TEX]

Originally Posted by texasguy346

I know that they didn't have one of their starting DTs and had to start a 6th round rookie. No surprise he had a good game against us. As far as their DEs they aren't all that impressive. We'll be faced with much stiffer competition against Dallas, and I'm worried about seeing Salaam against Ware.
.

Oh my! That does sound scary! Hopefully they utilize the TE for help.