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Right Guard: It's On

thunderkyss

thunderkyss

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Looks like we've still got a competition going at RG.

I thoght Antoine was doing a fine job through pre-season & again week 1 against the Dolphins.

For whatever reason, we got a look at Ben Jones today & he didn't look half bad. This may be an interesting battle to watch as the season goes on.
 
Makes you wonder what's going on with Brooks. It'll be interesting if they try him out at tackle.
 
Well the running game worked much better today, although that might be as much about the defense we were facing as about the line play.

What was the split between their snaps?
 
Brooks was inactive last week too.

You can only carry so many and he's not one of the top guys.
 
As a true right guard in college I expected Brooks to beat Caldwell easily. His size not just bulk but his ability to fit the ZBS may be more a problem than I thought. There has been no mention if he has kept his weight off & reducing since Kubes scolded him in camp. Perhaps it is an issue?
 
I see this more as preparation for Caldwell not being re-signed for next year. The only issue might be that we'll need to draft another OC since after Jones we have nobody capable of playing there.
 
dsorc said:
I see this more as preparation for Caldwell not being re-signed for next year. The only issue might be that we'll need to draft another OC since after Jones we have nobody capable of playing there.
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Jones can play both positions.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
Insideop, this should answer your question.
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Thanks!

Sounds like they are not completely satisfied with Caldwell and may be targeting Ben Jones as his replacement. He must be too good to just sit behind Myers at Center and they want to get him on the field anyway they can. I wonder if this means Brooks may ultimately be moved to LG and replace Wade Smith, who is getting a little "long in the tooth."
 
Jones's forte is in the run game. We ran the run game a lot today. Even a ton of our passes were dumpoffs to the RBs. Might be why we stuck with him so much today?
 
dsorc said:
I see this more as preparation for Caldwell not being re-signed for next year. The only issue might be that we'll need to draft another OC since after Jones we have nobody capable of playing there.
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In that scenario if Myers went down B.Jones would slide over to center and the backup guard would take that spot
 
Brandon420tx said:
In that scenario if Myers went down B.Jones would slide over to center and the backup guard would take that spot
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I never liked those scenarios. If Ben Jones is our strongest RG & Myers is our strongest Center, then when you lose Myers, you're putting your 2nd best Center on the field with your 2nd best RG.

This may be a way to get Jones some snaps, just so he isn't overwhelmed taking over at Center one day. Who knows?
 
Brandon420tx said:
In that scenario if Myers went down B.Jones would slide over to center and the backup guard would take that spot
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Brandon that is my point. 2013 Caldwell is let go, Myers gets hurt and Jones replaces him. Who plays RG? It would have to be Brooks and some are saying he has not done well. See what I mean?
 
Brandon420tx said:
In that scenario if Myers went down B.Jones would slide over to center and the backup guard would take that spot
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Yes, the same way Brisiel was the backup OC last year. But even then, I think most teams prefer having a backup that can play OG/C rather than sliding a starter for continuity purposes. All I'm saying is that if Caldwell leaves, we're likely drafting his replacement. And if Jones takes over at RG then it makes sense to draft a OC/G rather than somebody who is only OG.
 
I always assumed Antoine Caldwell would assume the starting position in a year or two after he was drafted. There were high hopes for him, but he's never lived up to expectations.

Competition is good, and may the best player win.
 
CretorFrigg said:
I always assumed Antoine Caldwell would assume the starting position in a year or two after he was drafted. There were high hopes for him, but he's never lived up to expectations.
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My sentiments exactly. I'm very disappointed in Caldwell, he's been here long enough he should be dominating at RG by now instead of barley hanging on and possibly being replaced by a rookie. Caldwell hopefully can read the writing on the wall and should know that he's auditioning for the rest of the league this year. When the team drafts 2 rookies that can play your position, that's called a clue. Like a hit over the head with a 2x4 kind of clue.
 
I haven't re-watched to game yet, but I will just to focus on the RG. Honestly, I didn't even notice until late 1st, early 2nd quarter. After I noticed him, my initial reaction was having a better running game with him in the game. But, I'll review the game again soon
 
I saw a couple plays where they put in an extra lineman .... which was Jones , Also saw at least 1 series that Jones was at RG. He looks solid , much better than Caldwell IMO.

I'd say he would take that spot from Caldwell sooner than later .... but then who's the backup at C ??
 
Corrosion said:
I saw a couple plays where they put in an extra lineman .... which was Jones , Also saw at least 1 series that Jones was at RG. He looks solid , much better than Caldwell IMO.

I'd say he would take that spot from Caldwell sooner than later .... but then who's the backup at C ??
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Jones.

We've had seasons where our backup at C was one of our Gs. We've had seasons were our backup at C was also our backup at G.

I think Jones is a better, scrappier, meaner player. I need to go back and watch the game and concentrate more on the guard play but from what I saw, he was our best guard. Better than Wade Smith.

At this point, I'm feeling OK about the right side of our line. Now the position that's worrying me is the LG.
 
HOU-TEX said:
I haven't re-watched to game yet, but I will just to focus on the RG. Honestly, I didn't even notice until late 1st, early 2nd quarter. After I noticed him, my initial reaction was having a better running game with him in the game. But, I'll review the game again soon
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A whole lot of that improved running game was not having Randy Starks and Paul Soliai on the other team.
 
Jones style is more Brisiel-esque destruction in phone booth, nasty mono el mono creating cut-back lanes for running game. Caldwell is more finesse which gives some pause he is better in pass pro.
 
A few years from now, don't be surprised to see Brooks starting at right guard and Jones starting at center. Of course Chris Meyers is not going anywhere anytime soon, but sooner or later, there will be a changing of the guard.
 
Corrosion said:
A whole lot of that improved running game was not having Randy Starks and Paul Soliai on the other team.
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True, but we still seemed to be getting stuffed at the LOS more often than last season. Heck, I reckon I'm just being picky. It was a great game by everyone
 
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Jones played every third series.

Both had a solid games with a few hick-ups each.

For a guy that played his first game, Ben did really well.

When we drafted him, I said that I saw him as a better prospect coming out of college than Caldwell.

BJ has quicker feet and better lateral agility than Caldwell.
Caldwell is probably the stronger guy, but BJ plays more consistently in his pad level.

Jones is a perfect fit with the ZBS, whether at C or at G.

When Myers was with the Broncos, he first started at LG with Tom Nalen at Center.
When Nalen went down, Myers moved to C, and another guy took his place (I think it was Kuper - who quickly became a good ZBS lineman as well).

I see Brooks as a bigger and stronger Caldwell, but he needs to keep his weigh in check and learn to improve his techniques in the ZBS.

I was never worried about the right side of the line.

The extra O-lineman we sometimes bring in was Harris (even in the Dolphins game.)
He's a pro that suits well in that extra OT slot in our jumbo package.

(We used Butler together with D.Brown and Winston before in this package).
 
Harris was in (as the extra RT) on that first goal-line drive where Foster scored his first TD.
He pan-caked the OLB 57, but BJ was stood up by Mosley (who made the tackle on Tate).

On the next play, Harris went out.
BJ went to the second level and made a nice cut block to allow Foster to cut back and scored.
 
Corrosion said:
I'd say he would take that spot from Caldwell sooner than later .... but then who's the backup at C ??
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Wasn't Caldwell a Center at Alabama? I think most thought the writing was on the wall for Myers when we drafted AC in the third.
 
Fiddler said:
Wasn't Caldwell a Center at Alabama? I think most thought the writing was on the wall for Myers when we drafted AC in the third.
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I know I did. I expected Caldwell to be our center by mid-year. But then in training camp, the Texans coaches were all saying that they never drafted him to be a Center but to be a Right Guard. So I figured that was it for Mike Brisiel and then iirc, Brisiel got injured and Chris White got that RG spot instead of Caldwell.
 
76Texan said:
Jones played every third series.

Both had a solid games with a few hick-ups each.

For a guy that played his first game, Ben did really well.

When we drafted him, I said that I saw him as a better prospect coming out of college than Caldwell.

BJ has quicker feet and better lateral agility than Caldwell.
Caldwell is probably the stronger guy, but BJ plays more consistently in his pad level.

Jones is a perfect fit with the ZBS, whether at C or at G.

When Myers was with the Broncos, he first started at LG with Tom Nalen at Center.
When Nalen went down, Myers moved to C, and another guy took his place (I think it was Kuper - who quickly became a good ZBS lineman as well).

I see Brooks as a bigger and stronger Caldwell, but he needs to keep his weigh in check and learn to improve his techniques in the ZBS.

I was never worried about the right side of the line.

The extra O-lineman we sometimes bring in was Harris (even in the Dolphins game.)
He's a pro that suits well in that extra OT slot in our jumbo package.

(We used Butler together with D.Brown and Winston before in this package).
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Even if Jones is athletic enough to play as an interior lineman in a ZBS, frankly his conditioning looks poor to me. Perhaps they can shape him up in the upcoming off season with a better diet (no more c.roaches for you big boy) and a weight program ?
 
Fiddler said:
Wasn't Caldwell a Center at Alabama? I think most thought the writing was on the wall for Myers when we drafted AC in the third.
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Same here. He played multiple spots in Alabama as they needed, I believe there was a time he even started at tackle.

I thought for sure that Myers was going to get replaced because there was a time where he was getting blown into the backfield ona regular basis. I don't know if it has a bee na product of figuring out how to play at a heavier weight or getting better guard play, I suspect it's been a combo of both. Either way he's locked the C position down for some time here.

I know I liked the Jones pick from the get go and maybe with the frey going on at RG Benton and co decided to go ahead and try and see what he can do as being drafted as a combo C/G.

If he can solidify the spot as the season rolls forward it wouldn't surprise me that Caldwell is moved to backup center which is probably his more natural position anyway.

Brooks is raw and could really use this year to figure out his best playing weight in the NFL and get better technique.

My other bigger looming question is when does Wade's contract go up? This season or next?
 
The Texans should receive a number of supplemental draft picks this season, probably including a 3rd rounder from the departure of Mario Williams and maybe a couple of others. Add this to the Texans seven existing picks, and a pretty stocked roster.

The Texans will have the luxury of draft another guard pretty high up to eventually replace Wade Smith, if they want to. And they will also be able to draft another quality backup tackle as well.
 
MojoMan said:
The Texans should receive a number of supplemental draft picks this season, probably including a 3rd rounder from the departure of Mario Williams and maybe a couple of others. Add this to the Texans seven existing picks, and a pretty stocked roster.

The Texans will have the luxury of draft another guard pretty high up to eventually replace Wade Smith, if they want to. And they will also be able to draft another quality backup tackle as well.
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Forgot about that supplemental pick....would be very nice to have an extra 3rd or fourth or draft or use as ammo to move up.

However, my question to you is either Harris or Newton a long term solution at RT?
 
Goldensilence said:
Forgot about that supplemental pick....would be very nice to have an extra 3rd or fourth or draft or use as ammo to move up.

However, my question to you is either Harris or Newton a long term solution at RT?
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I was tld supplementals cannot be traded but we can trade ours and keep supp.
 
badboy said:
Did you see the RZ play when Newton moved to RG and Harris was RT? TD, BABY!
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No, BB, we were in our jumbo set both times.
Newton was at his normal RT spot and Harris was the extra OT on Newton's outside.
Jones was stil there at RG (one time he pulled to the outside behind both OTs.)
That's just how we roll quite often near the goal line.
 
76Texan said:
No, BB, we were in our jumbo set both times.
Newton was at his normal RT spot and Harris was the extra OT on Newton's outside.
Jones was stil there at RG (one time he pulled to the outside behind both OTs.)
That's just how we roll quite often near the goal line.
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That goal line series made me kind of sad. Ran a similar formation the first time and got nowhere, then put in another blocker on the right between the RT and TE, pulled the guard, had the fullback lead Foster again, and finally got in there. That seems like overkill to me, but it was completely necessary because we couldn't get the push needed without the extra guy.
 
Dutchrudder said:
That goal line series made me kind of sad. Ran a similar formation the first time and got nowhere, then put in another blocker on the right between the RT and TE, pulled the guard, had the fullback lead Foster again, and finally got in there. That seems like overkill to me, but it was completely necessary because we couldn't get the push needed without the extra guy.
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Not really, Dutch.

Lots of teams, including the Pats, use that extra OT near the goal-line from time to time.

Or like the Dolphins, when they started all that wild cat thing, use an extra OT quite often.

Also, we have used this formation forever, when Salaam was still with us.
Near the goal-line, sometimes we would see D. Brown, Salaam, and Winston as OTs.
 
76Texan said:
No, BB, we were in our jumbo set both times.
Newton was at his normal RT spot and Harris was the extra OT on Newton's outside.
Jones was stil there at RG (one time he pulled to the outside behind both OTs.)
That's just how we roll quite often near the goal line.
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I thought I saw Jones in there but when I looked for Myers and did not see him, I though he was out a play. So we went with 6 OL?
 
badboy said:
I thought I saw Jones in there but when I looked for Myers and did not see him, I though he was out a play. So we went with 6 OL?
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We ran the exact same play on both TD runs.
Myers went immediately for a cut block both times; that's probably why you didn't see him.

According to Football Outsiders, Myers & W. Smith played every offensive snaps.
D. Brown was not in on 3 of them.

BTW, does anybody knows what Kubiak means when he says that Caldwell is going through the protocol with the league regarding his concussion.

Does that mean that he's automatically out for one game?
 
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