Wand/Pitts

[PHAROAH]

Originally Posted by J-Man

Ok...I have to admit that I am having a tough time with this thread. Michael Irving said it best, "You there...take your big butt and hit that other guy with the big butt as hard as you can!" .
Doesn't matter who it is as long as the the QB isn't picking himself up off the turf and the RB isn't fighting a DL for the hand off.

...and yes, I never played line...I just caught the ball from the pretty boy that the big uglies worked so hard to keep in clean uniform!

I agree big time on this one.

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by Michael Irving

You there...take your big butt and hit that other guy with the big butt as hard as you can!

Originally Posted by PHAROAH

I agree big time on this one.

Yes, Michael Irvin is one of the great football analysts of our generation.

I going to cut Mike some slack on that one. He very well could have been on crack when he was quoted.

[Mistril48]

Originally Posted by J-Man

Michael Irving said it best, "You there...take your big butt and hit that other guy with the big butt as hard as you can!"

Terrific. The crack head calls out to the guy who inevitably has twice the wunderlic score (although I confess I didn't bother to try and find out MI's), implying his work is easy ...

The only position that has wunderlic scores like OL is the QB.

Maybe it's not as easy as it looks.

[rittenhouserobz]

I hope Wand gets the spot at LT. Even if he isn't completely ready, I still think he may get the starting position. Experience is generally the fastest way to learn. Besides, I would love to see Pitts at LG.

[keyfro]

i have expected everyone of caper's players to have the right attitude about a position change no matter who or where they play...so pitts is being the player he should...good for him good for us...no winy babies on this team...and for wand...i agree with done88 all of our o-lineman could use a little more aggression in them...wade will hopefully spark a few of them up...we all knew walker knew how to get things done...personally i would like to see the overall team get a little more ********py...not to the point where they are throwing punches after plays...but being overall more aggressive...having payne's attitude toward playing...but this is good knews about wand if he can start at LT that will fill one hole we've been trying to fill for the past two years

[TexanExile]

The only way to really see if Wand's ready is to stick him in there and see how he does in camp and scrimmages. Wow, that would be cool to have such a huge young guy holding down that end of the line...but, it IS an experiment. I'll temper my excitement and plan on seeing Chester back there!

[Groundzero]

I read in the Chronicle that Capers said Wand earned it by grading high in the offseason and so far through mini camp. I think he will be ready by the end of preseason, remember he will be going against Smith amd Walker this Spring, not to mention Wong. My excitement is getting the better of me. I cant wait fir Spring Training.

[Dilbert R.]

This looks like Capers and crew are confident in Wand, and no doubt I'd like to see him be "that man" that puts it all together for us on the line - BUT I don't want him to be STARTING LT just for the experience - so he can get good enough to - well, uh, START. Pitts playing there was necessary because of T. Boseli - and the experience he has had on the line is going to pay off - whether he is at LT or LG. But Wand coming in there now, IF he isn't ready - just for experience - isn't necessary. SURELY, he must be ready, or we wouldn't have him in there at such an important position. He didn't look bad last year, and if he is READY - we are off and running. IF he isn't ready, and he's going in to "get ready" for the future - he will be the weak link on the line now. We can't afford to have the LT as the weak link. I guess I am impatient - the 5 year plan to me, looks like it could be a couple of years ahead of schedule - and I don't want to make moves now, for what we might have next year. HERE'S TO WAND BEING THE WALL ON THE LEFT SIDE AND GOING ON TO A HALL OF FAME CAREER BEGINNING THIS YEAR.

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by __V__

Pitts just sounded very upbeat about the change on the radio. He has a great attitude. He said that Capers asked him to make the switch today, and Pitts said he was willing to do what the coaches want.

Here's the quote by Pitts from The Chronic that has also been playing on local radio:

"(Coach Capers) approached me about the move and said he wanted to get a look at it and see how it panned out," Pitts said. "He said nothing was in cement yet. I play where they tell me to play. I'll take a job anywhere."

"Playing inside is a little quicker," Pitts said. "There's a little less margin for error. But you don't see guys that are as good of athletes. It has its pluses and minuses."

Well, one minus is that LG's aren't paid as well as LT's. That Pitts didn't whine when moved indicates that he's a team player and in it for the long haul. Let's hope the Texans reward that loyalty with a contract extension after the season. I think they will.

[V Man]

As for Pitts, I visited with him in San Antonio, and was very impressed. He had a good wit, and was very upbeat and ready to make the team better.

I think you will most likely see Pitts play LT and LG this year. He will probably start at LT and in several series a game move to LG and Wand will get some experience at LT. If Wand continues to improve, by the end of the year he could have the starting role.

[TheOgre]

Originally Posted by J-Man

Ok...I have to admit that I am having a tough time with this thread. Michael Irving said it best, "You there...take your big butt and hit that other guy with the big butt as hard as you can!" .
Doesn't matter who it is as long as the the QB isn't picking himself up off the turf and the RB isn't fighting a DL for the hand off.

...and yes, I never played line...I just caught the ball from the pretty boy that the big uglies worked so hard to keep in clean uniform!

And yes, you never played on the line. You should have started and stopped with that statement.

After QB, the 5 OL positions are the most complicated. You have to know where everyone else is supposed to be and where they actually are on a given play.

LT has it extremely hard. You see a combination of extremely fast DE's that can run around you combined with guys that maul their way through you. If you are slow the fast guys burn you. If you lack the size, the bigger ones bull rush you. The DE's with multiple effective rushing techniques just own an average LT.

Based upon your statement you probably think you can take 5 starting linemen and plug them into any of the 5 starting slots. It amazes me that people are watching the same game as me, but only seeing a fraction of what is going on in a game.

[Porky]

LOL, I think a HOF career may be pushing it, but hey who knows

They said on the radio this morning that Wand had gained 30 lbs of muscle so far this offseason, and as reported earlier, Capers said that Wand had a great week last week, and that at this point he was one of the 5 best lineman, and their goal is to put the 5 best guys out there as the starters.

[edo783]

30lbs of muscle? FANTASTIC, that was his weak point. Yes, pun intended. He was concidered soft particularly in the uper body last hear and as we all anticipated our strength department did their thing with him. This increase in muscle should translate into a stronger man at the point of attack. He did a pretty good job of run blocking last year and hopefully this will allow him to do even better this year. It should also help him with the bull rushers. Hopefully the extra weight doesn't slow his feet down for the speed rushers.

[Groundzero]

I dont think its true weight that he has gained, I believe they were refering to muscle mass weight, His overall weight probably has stayed close to the same. The Texans use the BodPod to accurately read body fat and muscle mass. It should not affect his feet much. We will see soon enough in July.

[Vinny]

His body composition may be radically different from his last year of College but let me tell ya, there is no humanly way possible to gain 30 pounds of pure muscle mass in one “off-season”. I’m sure that Wand is likely reconfigured his weight distribution over the last year of training, but its just not possible to do something like this since December.

[done88]

Originally Posted by __V__

I'm not sure you have to be a loudmouth to play well on the line. Many offensive linemen are quiet guys actually. For instance, Mike Munchack was very quiet and as tough as they come. I don't share your view of Wand either. He hasn't struck me as meek or soft.

Vin I was not saying he should talk a lot. I just mean a mean streak in the form of actions on the field. Instad of blocking a guy for five yards. Block a guy for five yards drive him to the ground and lay on top. I watched Munchack and Matthews for years. While not disliked by everyone and not big talkers they were mean. They threw defensive lineman around. I can rember a few spats between childress and Matthews. They dominated from the point of attack until the play ended. They never stood around and anyone who lined up across from them found themselves on their back more often then not. O-lineman are usally some of the smartest and meanest players on the field. It takes a special kind of person to be successful in the trenchs. I was just a tight end but the few times I got down in the trenches I knew I'd much rather be catching passes or hooking the DE not ********ing with the DT.

[Vinny]

gotcha

If you look at linemen they are usually some of the more quiet guys on the field, but I understand what you are saying. It is just that when I saw Wand block last year I was surprised he was as good a drive blocker as he was. After reading much of they hysteria about how we reached for him and how supposedly weak he was he sure did not look like Mo Towns out there.

[J-Man]

Originally Posted by TheOgre

And yes, you never played on the line. You should have started and stopped with that statement...Based upon your statement you probably think you can take 5 starting linemen and plug them into any of the 5 starting slots. It amazes me that people are watching the same game as me, but only seeing a fraction of what is going on in a game.

See this is what happens when you try throw a little humor out there! Just so you know...I have a great deal of appreciation for the big'uns. I freely admit that nothing positive will happen on either side of the ball without solid line play.
IMO LT is the 2nd toughest position to play...again based on my expierence (much like how you are probably basing your observations on your background) I believe that CB is toughest spot. In reality I see a lot of similarity, particularly on the mental side of the equation, between the two positions.

[J-Man]

Originally Posted by Mistril48

Terrific. The crack head calls out to the guy who inevitably has twice the wunderlic score (although I confess I didn't bother to try and find out MI's), implying his work is easy ...

The only position that has wunderlic scores like OL is the QB.

Maybe it's not as easy as it looks.

I would reckon that's just Irving in his own particulary way saying whoever has the starting job just needs to take care of business. BTW...I am not particularly an Irving fan either.

You might also be surprised to know that Wonderlic scores are all over the board for most positions...point taken that QB's and OL do tend to have higher average scores...but so do safety's and kickers. Heck, I was a 3rd receiver and scored 37, not the best, but pretty respectable.

[done88]

Originally Posted by __V__

gotcha

If you look at linemen they are usually some of the more quiet guys on the field, but I understand what you are saying. It is just that when I saw Wand block last year I was surprised he was as good a drive blocker as he was. After reading much of they hysteria about how we reached for him and how supposedly weak he was he sure did not look like Mo Towns out there.

Vin,
I watched Wand through out his college carrer. My brother in law graduated the same year as he did from northwest. My inlaws are from Missouri and I went to college in that area. I was surprised he was drafted by the Texans. Anyway in College he dominated everyone he played against. Granted the level of competition was not as good as D1 but he has always had the talent. His drive blocking in college was outstanding. His technique was what was lacking. The problem was no one challenged him. His whole team was outstanding I believe they won the National championship 3 out of 4 years he was there. Other teams could not simply stack his side of the defense and wait for the ball. He played against lesser talent and developed bad Habits. That could be seen last year when they lined him up at tight end. Once locked on he could drive just about anyone off the ball. However when a defender took a quick step inside to fill the Gap he missed the block a couple of times. There were a couple of goal line situations last year when that happened. Hopefully a year of working with superior coaches and against superior talent has helped him to break bad habits and if so I believe he can be one heck of a lineman.