Saw this over ate Texans official web site and didn't see it posted anywhere else: http://www.houstontexans.com/news/a...5-pounds/37279c7d-e18f-43a7-9ecc-a7f25d6071d2 It's definitely a good sign. There should be some good competition at camp this year, especially if they draft another OG. Wade Smith better be ready to fight for his roster spot this season.
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Brandon Brooks Shaping Up!
- Thread starter Insideop
- Start date
Down to 325 lbs, that's great news, sounds like he's coming into the upcoming season with the right attitude.
So I wonder where does this leave Ben Jones, the teams starting RG beginning 'bout mid year and lasting thru the playoffs last season ? Does Brooks & Jones become the starters at guard and they release Wade Smith, or are the starters Brooks and Smith and Jones is the backup at center & guard ?
So I wonder where does this leave Ben Jones, the teams starting RG beginning 'bout mid year and lasting thru the playoffs last season ? Does Brooks & Jones become the starters at guard and they release Wade Smith, or are the starters Brooks and Smith and Jones is the backup at center & guard ?
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aussie_texan
Veteran
his got great potential this kid. hopefully he blows everyone away in TC and forces Kubiak no choice but to start him at RG.
Brisco_County
Apples and roadmaps
This is the best news of the offseason. I was about to post a thread pointing out how he was the link in the chain that needed to be fixed the most. Some of the problems with Schaub's confidence and with our running game started with lack of consistency and experience at right guard. If he can make the sophomore leap, the offense will be clicking again. And it would be nice to have Brooks in there to power block for Arian in the red zone.
srrono
All Pro
Brooks stepping up
Addition of true FB in Jones
Now if the RT can improve to just middle of the league. 2013 should be closer to 2011 OLine then 2012 OLine.
This could be a big problem. With Newton having surgery on his knee (I think it was the knee.) that only leaves Harris, Gardner, and Mondek on the roster to possibly be the starting RT while Newton heals. I think Harris was OK last season filling in for Newton, but I don't think he is the long term answer as either the starter or the "swing tackle." Gardner, to me, is probably better as a backup OG, and Mondek will probably end up on the PS again. My guess is, and this depends on the prognosis of Newton, they will draft another OT somewhere between the 3rd and 5th rounds. Maybe sooner if they don't think Newton is the long term answer at RT.
HOU-TEX
Ah, Football!
I fully expect Brooks to take over the RG position this year. I thought it started to click for him towards the end of last season. He still had some MA's, but he looked very good when he knew what he was doing.
I like Ben's potential, but imo, he was not ready last year. Maybe it'll be different this season, but I still think Brooks will win the spot. The platooning crap they had going probably didn't help either one of them. I would hope they get away from that BS.
I like Ben's potential, but imo, he was not ready last year. Maybe it'll be different this season, but I still think Brooks will win the spot. The platooning crap they had going probably didn't help either one of them. I would hope they get away from that BS.
Brisco_County
Apples and roadmaps
Granted the learning curve and his injury, Kubiak was pleased with Newton. They feel that he has enough raw ability to be a reliable starter. The only question is his durability. A major surgery after two seasons is not a good sign.
Agreed with the bold, and his potential is exciting. When he was drafted, the only unknown was his level of commitment to get in shape and to learn. That's looking positive now.
I think Ben will eventually replace Wade Smith, and much later Chris Myers.
This is good news. I fully expect Brooks to be the starter at RG next season, Jones will be the primary backup at all interior O-line positions, and I expect the Texans to draft an OG in the 3rd - 5th rounds to be a backup and rotate at LG with Wade Smith and then replace him in 2014. With the signing of Ryan Harris, I don't expect an OT to be drafted this year.
I thought they played very well for rookies. There were things that Jones was better at. He's faster, he's more athletic. He gets to the outside (pulling) faster, he gets to the second level fast, he gets on his man faster. On the second level & out in space he was much better than Brooks.
Brooks is stronger, he's a horse, a mauler. He held his ground much better, & he moved people off the line much better.
We've got three week spots on the OL. LG, RG, & RT.
I think we're better off with moving Brooks to LG, starting Jones at RG, & starting Newton at RT. I think Newton is solid. I don't know if he is special, or has the ability to be special. If it were me, I'd draft a guy to groom for that RT spot & hope Newton plays well enough to keep him off the field. I'd hold onto either Wade Smith, or Caldwell to back up at the guard position. If Caldwell looks good through OTAs & camp, I'm cutting Wade Smith & saving some money.
HOU-TEX
Ah, Football!
I don't think you could have it any more backwards, imo. Brooks is very quick for his size and played much quicker than Jones towards the end of the season. Hence, more playing time. The problem with Brooks early on was MA's. Once he knew what he was doing he played much better than Jones.
Caldwell isn't even currently on the team. I don't think Smith's going anywhere this year. He should remain the LG, Brooks at RG and I assume Newton will be the RT. Imo, RT is the only true ? on the OL. I'm not going to pretend I know what's going on with his knee because the organization's so tight lipped. Which is fine
badboy
Hall of Fame
This.
I expect Brooks and Jones to compete with Wade Smith for starting spots.
Don't forget that Brooks had played about a year at LG in college;
Somebody had mentioned that earlier.
I'm not ruling out Smith getting cut to save cap space (possibly the final cut - if Brooks and Jones both show enough improvement.)
Don't forget that Brooks had played about a year at LG in college;
Somebody had mentioned that earlier.
I'm not ruling out Smith getting cut to save cap space (possibly the final cut - if Brooks and Jones both show enough improvement.)
silvrhand
All Pro
Ben Jones needs to hit the NFL weight program as well. I don't get why these guys don't stay in town and understand what it takes to become a true NFL player, they all go home and try to do it solo.
If you see them in person, Chris Myers/Duane Brown are massive, cut, and huge, not fat. You seen Ben Jones and the others.. they looks a lot like a fat kids playing the NFL.
I understand what you're saying, but I don't think guys need to be in the city they play in order to get in elite physical condition. Plenty of players go home and workout, but it definitely takes a high level of discipline in order to do it. Plenty of players do it all the time, and they end up just fine.
Boy is Big Country; surely he wants to spend sometimes with his mom on their 500-acre ranch. Hunting and fishing are his game; he's not going miss quail season, I don't think.
There might be a girl friend too, you know.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Quail season is football season.
I think that would be a huge mistake. Harris is at best an OK "swing tackle" that can be used to fill in when the starter goes down. With Newton recovering from knee surgery that leaves only Mondek or Gardner to backup Harris. That would be awful risky if you ask me.
silvrhand
All Pro
Let's see you have a "short" chance to make millions of dollars and develop into a player for 8 years.. do I sit at home with my "gf" or do I take advantage of a opportunity that less than .05% of people have..
Hmm... I think that's an easy answer
In Texas, it doesn't end until Feb 24th; in Georgia, Feb 28th.
I dunno Silvr, players are human, too.
Some of them have wife and kids (even some rookies.)
For the rookies, it had been a long season.
They spent a lot of time the previous training to get ready for the combine and/or their work-out before the draft. Some have many private work-outs in different cities all across the country (lot of traveling.) In a normal year, the OTA follows shortly and their schedule never really stopped until the end of the play-offs (for those whose teams made it that far.)
This is the first real chance for them to have a little time off.
Besides, according to the new CBA:
Prior to the commencement of the Club's official offseason workout
program:
... (ii) play*ers are not permitted to participate in Club-supervised workouts, Club-supervised
practices, group or individual meetings with coaches, group or individual film study with
coaches, or group or individual playbook study with coaches;
... and (iv) play*ers' activities may not be directed or supervised by any coaches.
.....
There's not much difference staying or going home for a short while.
And I would say time-off for reflection is always beneficial, but that's just me.
Jones was benched late in the season ... and Brooks took over the starters spot. I dont recall if Jones started the Cincy game but I know for a fact that he didnt start the final playoff game against the Pats.
ChampionTexan
Hall of Fame
According to both NFL.com and HT.com, Jones started every game - including playoff games - from the Ravens game on.
badboy
Hall of Fame
I want to see Jones behind Myers learning that center position. We are slowing building our backup depth and improving some starting positions such as RT and hopefully in draft WR2 and ILB. In the thread I posted about Step up Texans, there are some players who could relieve my mind (and coaches also, lol) with quality improvement this season. It would be sweet to enter 2014 draft seeking only quality backups with ability to draft pure BPA every round.
I can't remember if Jones started or not but I do remember the Texans saying something about having Brooks play since he was bigger and might be able to handle Wolfolk a little more. Jones doesn't have the "sand" in his seat, so to speak, to handle the bigger NT's. Plus he may not have had the upper body strength then that he needed to play in the NFL. Hopefully that will be remedied by the beginning of this season.
Problem is after the Bengals game (in which Jones and Brooks split the number of snaps equally - Snap counts can be found at Football Outsiders), Jones took the majority of the snaps against the Patriots.
The Pats weren't particular about it though; they had Wilfork working Wade Smith over (and somewhat thoroughly) just the same. That guy is just difficult to game plan for now that both of their edge guys are pretty good at setting the edges (Ninkovich and Chandler Jones).
We need another blocking TE and Greg Jones so that we can run the outside zone plays better. That's the only way to wear Wilfork (and Kyle Love) down, IMO.
silvrhand
All Pro
what's that run outside zone against a big fat guy.. lol yah right I don't think we even attempted that more than a few times. Innovative game planning eh...
ASidd_1990
Waterboy
**** you!!!
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Stop it. If you want to report a post there is a function for that. Don't endeavor in profanity laced trolling.
ASidd_1990
Waterboy
My bad, it's all in good fun.