It's to early to panic over the OL.

[mussop]

If Myers stays we resign Breisal and start Butler at RT. That's not a bad group.

If Myers stays and we loose Breisal then either move up in the draft and draft decastro or trade back and draft zeitler. I also would look to add another reasonably priced vet via FA like Jeramy Zuttah.

IF myers leaves and we resign Breisal and move him to C then either move up in the draft and draft decastro or trade back and draft zeitler. I also would look to add another reasonably priced vet via FA like Jeramy Zuttah.

At least who ever we bring in will have time to get aclamated with OTA's and a full camp and preseason.

If we loose both Myers and Breisal then its time to panic because we are F*#^ed!!

[silvrhand]

Originally Posted by mussop

If Myers stays we resign Breisal and start Butler at RT. That's not a bad group.

If Myers stays and we loose Breisal then either move up in the draft and draft decastro or trade back and draft zeitler. I also would look to add another reasonably priced vet via FA like Jeramy Zuttah.

IF myers leaves and we resign Breisal and move him to C then either move up in the draft and draft decastro or trade back and draft zeitler. I also would look to add another reasonably priced vet via FA like Jeramy Zuttah.

At least who ever we bring in will have time to get aclamated with OTA's and a full camp and preseason.

If we loose both Myers and Breisal then its time to panic because we are F*#^ed!!

Of course it's time to panic, we had one of the best OL in the game last year, and now we are going to mess with that? Really? When your starting and backup are the best 1-2 punch in the game, is it them or your OL. I'm going to go with OL.

[IDEXAN]

I'm not panicking but I bet Rick Smith is because the way this is going he's about ready to join Winston, Breisel, & Myers in free agency.

[Texan_Bill]

Originally Posted by mussop

If Myers stays we resign Breisal and start Butler at RT. That's not a bad group.

If Myers stays and we loose Breisal then either move up in the draft and draft decastro or trade back and draft zeitler. I also would look to add another reasonably priced vet via FA like Jeramy Zuttah.

IF myers leaves and we resign Breisal and move him to C then either move up in the draft and draft decastro or trade back and draft zeitler. I also would look to add another reasonably priced vet via FA like Jeramy Zuttah.

At least who ever we bring in will have time to get aclamated with OTA's and a full camp and preseason.

If we loose both Myers and Breisal then its time to panic because we are F*#^ed!!

If "IF" were a fifth, we's all be drunk!!!

In short, I'm not nearly as optimistic.

[TexCanada]

Can Brisiel make a successful switch to C? If he can then that might be a pretty good option for us. I really don't want to see us in a position where we feel like we have to take an O-line with our first round pick.

[Hervoyel]

It is too early to panick. We need Myers in a big way but changes on the OL aren't the kiss of death that we (as Texans fans) grew up believing them to be. Sure, for the first five years we had no line and then watched Carr make what we did have look pretty sad but teams change out pieces of their OL every year all over the league and you never hear much about it except for the ones that blow up.

Most teams that draft well and steadily develop talent have pieces ready to plug in when they lose a guy. It's time to find out if the Texans are in fact one of those teams.

Did you think we were done last year when we went to the playoffs? We're we "finished"? Building a good team is great but it's kind of like owning an exotic car. Sure, it's impressive that you got one but what's really a sign of success is being able to afford to maintain it.

[KA4Texan]

I'm a Texan, it's never to early to panic.

I just pray they know what they are doing.

[ObsiWan]

Thinking back on how this line was put together, only Brown was a "first day" draft pick. Winston, as I'm sure you recall, was a 3rd rd pick in 06.

We got Myers from Denver for a 3rd (I think) to replace old man McKinney. Many hated him at first as took him two years to gel. But now some are panicking if we don't get him back.

We picked up Brisiel as an UDFA in 2006 (or '07) and groomed him behind Pitts and Weary before age and injuries to those two pushed him into the starting line up.

My point is, these O-line coaches have done a pretty good job bringing youngsters along and developing other teams' castoffs. I think they can do it again. Caldwell, Antoine Smith, Derek Newton, Andrew Gardner and whoever we draft are waiting in the wings. And who knows, we may be able to grab a cheap F/A (don't laugh, remember Brisiel was an UDFA) and teach him our system. Remember the guys (i.e., coaches) who put the 2011 O-line together are still around. They know what they're looking for.

Naaah... I'll wait until I see what we have come preseason time before I "panic".

[Vinny]

Originally Posted by ObsiWan

Thinking back on how this line was put together, only Brown was a "first day" draft pick. Winston, as I'm sure you recall, was a 3rd rd pick in 06.

We got Myers from Denver for a 3rd (I think) to replace old man McKinney. Many hated him at first as took him two years to gel. But now some are panicking if we don't get him back.

We picked up Brisiel as an UDFA in 2006 (or '07) and groomed him behind Pitts and Weary before age and injuries to those two pushed him into the starting line up.

My point is, these O-line coaches have done a pretty good job bringing youngsters along and developing other teams' castoffs. I think they can do it again. Caldwell, Antoine Smith, Derek Newton, Andrew Gardner and whoever we draft are waiting in the wings. And who knows, we may be able to grab a cheap F/A (don't laugh, remember Brisiel was an UDFA) and teach him our system. Remember the guys (i.e., coaches) who put the 2011 O-line together are still around. They know what they're looking for.

Naaah... I'll wait until I see what we have come preseason time before I "panic".

free agency doesn't start until all the high priced FAs are over-paid and then the smart teams can get some cheap overlooked players with comparable talents and skill sets. We don't need hard to find body-types with this system...its not like we need 340 pound Guards and 6'6 340 lb Tackles to run our system. Those guys with 'ideal' bodytypes are not needed here.

[Marcus]

Originally Posted by Vinny

free agency doesn't start until all the high priced FAs are over-paid and then the smart teams can get some cheap overlooked players with comparable talents and skill sets. We don't need hard to find body-types with this system...its not like we need 340 pound Guards and 6'6 340 lb Tackles to run our system. Those guys with 'ideal' bodytypes are not needed here.

What I'm wondering is if they even got enough cap space to get those guys.

[ainsworth]

Holy crap Texans fans are starting to infuriate me. Let the FA period settle a bit before y'all start claiming the sky is falling. Wait till the end to judge, there is no sense in judging our free agency period on ONE ****ING DAY.

[Texaninlild]

I do not like dismantling something that worked well. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. An o'line functions as a unit and continue to improve as a unit. When you shake up the pieces it usually does not translate into success.

[Premier]

Originally Posted by silvrhand

Of course it's time to panic, we had one of the best OL in the game last year, and now we are going to mess with that? Really? When your starting and backup are the best 1-2 punch in the game, is it them or your OL. I'm going to go with OL.

meh, its the scheme, one of the best run blocking o-lines mostly due to the ZBS. but in pass protection both brisiel and winston left very much to be desired.. im almost certain that majority of the sacks this year came from the right side.. i wouldnt mind puttng rashad butler in at RT for pass protection...

[badboy]

Originally Posted by Texaninlild

I do not like dismantling something that worked well. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. An o'line functions as a unit and continue to improve as a unit. When you shake up the pieces it usually does not translate into success.

You seem to be focusing on only Oline, maybe SMith is trying to make entire roster better?

[badboy]

Originally Posted by mussop

If Myers stays we resign Breisal and start Butler at RT. That's not a bad group.

If Myers stays and we loose Breisal then either move up in the draft and draft decastro or trade back and draft zeitler. I also would look to add another reasonably priced vet via FA like Jeramy Zuttah.

IF myers leaves and we resign Breisal and move him to C then either move up in the draft and draft decastro or trade back and draft zeitler. I also would look to add another reasonably priced vet via FA like Jeramy Zuttah.

At least who ever we bring in will have time to get aclamated with OTA's and a full camp and preseason.

If we loose both Myers and Breisal then its time to panic because we are F*#^ed!!

I'm thinking Konz in first and or Blake in 3/4 could play both C and OG. I really enjoyed watching Phillip Blake in the Baylor offense.

[Double Barrel]

I'm not worried about it until September, and then only if we see them failing to protect our QB and failing to open holes for Foster.

Until then, in Kubiak we trust...

[keyser]

Originally Posted by Texaninlild

I do not like dismantling something that worked well. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. An o'line functions as a unit and continue to improve as a unit. When you shake up the pieces it usually does not translate into success.

This. I think the reason people commented about how good our O-line is was not due to the individual players (any of which I think could be upgraded, on their own), or the scheme (though it works well for our offense), but the fact that we had a group that all knew each other well, started together for a long period of time, and stayed mostly healthy for a long period. So, even if we were to replace Myers, Brisiel, and Winston with players that were individually "better" than those they replaced (I don't think we'd be doing that), I think the OL as a whole might perform a lot worse.

I've never been a fan of Studdard, for instance, but his familiarity with the system might make me more open to keeping him (assuming he's cheap) than bringing in someone new and not that much better.

It's worried me how the Texans have kept what seems like a small number of OL players on the roster the last couple of years. I think they've had more on the PS, and if those players have used the last year or two to learn the offense, maybe the dropoff won't be so bad. I guess we'll find out...

[ObsiWan]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

I'm not worried about it until September, and then only if we see them failing to protect our QB and failing to open holes for Foster.

Until then, in WADEiak we trust...

Corrected for accuracy

[ChampionTexan]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

I'm not worried about it until September, and then only if we see them failing to protect our QB and failing to open holes for Foster.

Until then, in Kubiak we trust...

Originally Posted by ObsiWan

Hey - WTF?
Signed,
Rick Smith

[Thorn]

It doesn't matter what free agent we sign, who we draft, or who's the starter. The second someone goes down with an injury the picture changes anyway.