It's to early to panic over the OL.

[Texaninlild]

Originally Posted by badboy

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

Without the o'line the the offense goes nowhere and no matter the skill players on the offense their talent will be wasted

[mussop]

Originally Posted by badboy

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.

Love all these guys


Peter Konz C Wisconsin Jr 6-5 314 1-2
Philip Blake C Baylor Sr 6-2 311 4
David Molk C Michigan Sr 6-1 298 5
Garth Gerhart C Arizona State Sr 6-1 305 6-7
William Vlachos C Alabama Sr 6-0 306 7-FA

David DeCastro OG Stanford Jr 6-5 316 1
Kevin Zeitler OG Wisconsin Sr 6-4 314 2
Ryan Miller OG Colorado Sr 6-7 321 5-6

Zebrie Sanders OT Florida State Sr 6-6 320 2
Mitchell Schwartz OT California Sr 6-5 318 2-3
Nate Potter OT Boise State Sr 6-6 303 4

But do you want two rookie's starting in the middle of our OL? Maybe one and Caldwell will look better with more playing time? I just really don't like Caldwell. I was against draft him big time.

[welsh texan]

Originally Posted by mussop

Love all these guys


Peter Konz C Wisconsin Jr 6-5 314 1-2
Philip Blake C Baylor Sr 6-2 311 4
David Molk C Michigan Sr 6-1 298 5
Garth Gerhart C Arizona State Sr 6-1 305 6-7
William Vlachos C Alabama Sr 6-0 306 7-FA

David DeCastro OG Stanford Jr 6-5 316 1
Kevin Zeitler OG Wisconsin Sr 6-4 314 2
Ryan Miller OG Colorado Sr 6-7 321 5-6

Zebrie Sanders OT Florida State Sr 6-6 320 2
Mitchell Schwartz OT California Sr 6-5 318 2-3
Nate Potter OT Boise State Sr 6-6 303 4

But do you want two rookie's starting in the middle of our OL? Maybe one and Caldwell will look better with more playing time? I just really don't like Caldwell. I was against draft him big time.

I don't doubt there are some great prospects in this years draft, but, I do doubt the ability of our coaches to wrestle production out of guys in this system early.

Winston came before Alex Gibbs went to town on ZBS, Duane Brown was a slow starter as a rook, Myers, whether its injury or whatever was dog**** for years to begin with, Brisiel was battling with Studdard for a while, Wade Smith came in and performed well but then didn't keep it up this year so much.

I suppose Butler and Caldwell at least give us some protection although I'm not that convinced on either, then you still have the issue of the center.

Its not an issue with either the coaching or the quality of the players imo, I think the system simply takes a long time for some guys to pick up.

[dream_team]

I'll only panic if we lose both Briesel and Myers.

If we lose Myers, Briesel becomes the Center and Caldwell steps in at RG. Butler at RT.

If we lose Briesel, Caldwell steps in at RG.

If we lost both, Caldwell may play Center, and Studdard will be RG (that's if we don't' pick someone up in the draft or FA).

So yes, panic button if we don't sign at least one.

[welsh texan]

Originally Posted by dream_team

I'll only panic if we lose both Briesel and Myers.

If we lose Myers, Briesel becomes the Center and Caldwell steps in at RG. Butler at RT.

If we lose Briesel, Caldwell steps in at RG.

If we lost both, Caldwell may play Center, and Studdard will be RG (that's if we don't' pick someone up in the draft or FA).

So yes, panic button if we don't sign at least one.

At least all these guys have starting experience in our system and have been here a long time. They may not have been great but at least the coaches know what to work on with increased snaps all through the pre-season. Lets just hope they bring in some competition if the worst happens via other FA's and the draft. Its hard to see another team making Briesel unnaffordable to us though.

[Bulluck53]

Myers and former Packer C Scott Wells visited Tenn over the weekend. I hear they are more interested in Wells, so that may be a good thing for the Texans. John McClain was on the radio today saying he would expect Green Bay to push hard for Myers if Wells were to sign elsewhere. The Texans are in no position for a bidding war though, are they?

[leebigeztx]

When caldwell was drafted, many thought he was for guard, I thought he was for center. I'm not sure now, but I think his best position is center. Butler is the swing tackle they resigned last yr and coming off injury, maybe its his time. They've been stashing guys on the practice squad for awhile nw and now maybe some of those guys are gonna play. Briesel battled studdard for awhile and people laughed when they drafted shelley smith.

[welsh texan]

Originally Posted by leebigeztx

When caldwell was drafted, many thought he was for guard, I thought he was for center. I'm not sure now, but I think his best position is center. Butler is the swing tackle they resigned last yr and coming off injury, maybe its his time. They've been stashing guys on the practice squad for awhile nw and now maybe some of those guys are gonna play. Briesel battled studdard for awhile and people laughed when they drafted shelley smith.

Who/why did they laugh when we drafted Shelley Smith? I thought Shelley Smith was drafted to battle Wade Smith for the starting LG spot? Wade Smith won that battle when Shelley was a rookie despite SS flashing some promise during pre-season.

I can believe that Kubiak is confident in these guys to step in to starting roles if need be and perform at an adequate level. Obviously they'd likely look to bring in competition though.

[Norg]

Whos in panic mode im happy right now we cut some of the fat off our oline Winston and im pretty sure since we are not keeping mario all dat money will go to myers and brisles...Plzzzzzz he can keep him 2 besides we have younger depth at guard 2 brisles better hope he can keep his job come Traning camp battles ...if other teams wanna Spend millions on Brisles ... Then IMO they are making a mastake

[Señor Stan]

Originally Posted by welsh texan

Who/why did they laugh when we drafted Shelley Smith? I thought Shelley Smith was drafted to battle Wade Smith for the starting LG spot? Wade Smith won that battle when Shelley was a rookie despite SS flashing some promise during pre-season.

I can believe that Kubiak is confident in these guys to step in to starting roles if need be and perform at an adequate level. Obviously they'd likely look to bring in competition though.

Colorado State connection. Hilarity ensued.

[welsh texan]

Originally Posted by Señor Stan

Colorado State connection. Hilarity ensued.

Suppose its better than drafted TE's isn't it.

[badboy]

Originally Posted by mussop

Love all these guys


Peter Konz C Wisconsin Jr 6-5 314 1-2
Philip Blake C Baylor Sr 6-2 311 4
David Molk C Michigan Sr 6-1 298 5
Garth Gerhart C Arizona State Sr 6-1 305 6-7
William Vlachos C Alabama Sr 6-0 306 7-FA

David DeCastro OG Stanford Jr 6-5 316 1
Kevin Zeitler OG Wisconsin Sr 6-4 314 2
Ryan Miller OG Colorado Sr 6-7 321 5-6

Zebrie Sanders OT Florida State Sr 6-6 320 2
Mitchell Schwartz OT California Sr 6-5 318 2-3
Nate Potter OT Boise State Sr 6-6 303 4

But do you want two rookie's starting in the middle of our OL? Maybe one and Caldwell will look better with more playing time? I just really don't like Caldwell. I was against draft him big time.

You & I are pretty much in agreement, especially on Caldwell. I feel he and Studdard were wasted picks. I'm leaning towards Konz and Blake because can play C&OG. If I knew I could get Zeitler (pure guard) in second and Blake for C in 4th, that would allow us another position in first. I want a WR #26 but my guys are prob gone & it is a long drop from there for me. Unlike most, I am not as adamant about a OLB in first or second as we are not looking starter but more of a Reed type pick only later.

[badboy]

Originally Posted by welsh texan

Who/why did they laugh when we drafted Shelley Smith? I thought Shelley Smith was drafted to battle Wade Smith for the starting LG spot? Wade Smith won that battle when Shelley was a rookie despite SS flashing some promise during pre-season.

I can believe that Kubiak is confident in these guys to step in to starting roles if need be and perform at an adequate level. Obviously they'd likely look to bring in competition though.

I was going to type this but decided to look one more post & saw yours. Shelley came with good potential althought he did not show much. He could be dark horse for RG.

What we are not focusing on is Wade Smith's weak 2011. He was solid 2010 but unless unkown injury existed, I am very concerned about LG. Hopefully Gary and Smith have the right guys "up next" but I'm hesitant to endorse any other than Butler. We have only minimum plays to judge him on and this is where we depend on coaching.

[welsh texan]

Originally Posted by badboy

I was going to type this but decided to look one more post & saw yours. Shelley came with good potential althought he did not show much. He could be dark horse for RG.

What we are not focusing on is Wade Smith's weak 2011. He was solid 2010 but unless unkown injury existed, I am very concerned about LG. Hopefully Gary and Smith have the right guys "up next" but I'm hesitant to endorse any other than Butler. We have only minimum plays to judge him on and this is where we depend on coaching.

I've said it before on the Wade Smith issue, I can't claim to be any great authority on Oline play but through the bad years I've heard it said over and over that you can't look good if the guy next to you sucks on Oline. Wade Smith's next door neighbors both went to the ProBowl so, whilst I can't give you any play-by-play analysis to support it, I can't believe for a second that Wade Smith was that bad last year.