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The starting 5 offensive linemen

Marcus

Marcus

Windmill cancer survivor
Contributor's Club
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong about this, but it's my understanding that all 5 linemen that were starters out of training camp, started all 16 games this season. no injuries to any of them. How rare is that?

Schaub, Slaton, and the receivers seem to be getting all the credit IMO regarding how good the offense has been this season. I know it's a sin around here to talk about "jelling together as a unit", but I think the fact the OL remained intact was a huge factor. Schaub had time to throw the ball, and Slaton had running room. For the entire unit to get through the entire season was a huge stroke of luck.

It would be unreasonable to expect that kind of luck next year.
 
Marcus said:
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong about this, but it's my understanding that all 5 linemen that were starters out of training camp, started all 16 games this season. no injuries to any of them. How rare is that?

Schaub, Slaton, and the receivers seem to be getting all the credit IMO regarding how good the offense has been this season. I know it's a sin around here to talk about "jelling together as a unit", but I think the fact the OL remained intact was a huge factor. Schaub had time to throw the ball, and Slaton had running room. For the entire unit to get through the entire season was a huge stroke of luck.

It would be unreasonable to expect that kind of luck next year.
Click to expand...

thats why this season was kind of a missed opportunity, id guess we were one of the healthiest teams this with injuries occurring to mainly second tier players like cc brown and zac dilles

the oline did a pretty good job this year- better in run blocking imo. we all know they could do with an upgrade here and there but from what kubiak has said it looks unlikely that will happen this offseason
 
It sure was. However last year (2007) we lost what, a C, a RG and a backup C/RG? They were healthy and had to go against a murderers row of d-lines and made it out ok. Hopefully we can up our rushing avg per game and take more pressure off of Schaub.
 
Maddict5 said:
thats why this season was kind of a missed opportunity
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Exactly. And for example just the opposite kind of luck for the Jags, who went fairly deep into last years playoffs as I recall, who's OL was devastated this year. Just goes to show how critical the OLine is to a team.
We've had a lot of injuries in recent years but the odds swung around for us in '08 but will that good fortune continue in '09 ? Obviously no way of knowing ?
 
Maddict5 said:
thats why this season was kind of a missed opportunity, id guess we were one of the healthiest teams this with injuries occurring to mainly second tier players like cc brown and zac dilles

the oline did a pretty good job this year- better in run blocking imo. we all know they could do with an upgrade here and there but from what kubiak has said it looks unlikely that will happen this offseason
Click to expand...

We were definitely fortunate on the OL, but it was not like this team was injury-free this year. DeMeco was hobbled for most of the season and played like it at times. Okoye was also battling injuries which (I hope) affected his performance. Because of injuries, we were down to basically one tailback--thank goodness it was Slaton--and a guy right off the street.
 
Marcus said:
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong about this, but it's my understanding that all 5 linemen that were starters out of training camp, started all 16 games this season. no injuries to any of them. How rare is that?

Schaub, Slaton, and the receivers seem to be getting all the credit IMO regarding how good the offense has been this season. I know it's a sin around here to talk about "jelling together as a unit", but I think the fact the OL remained intact was a huge factor. Schaub had time to throw the ball, and Slaton had running room. For the entire unit to get through the entire season was a huge stroke of luck.

It would be unreasonable to expect that kind of luck next year.
Click to expand...

"Jelling together as a unit" is something I've brought up several times in the past when talking about the O-line. I think it's been one of the key things missing, until this year, and what has caused a lot of our O-line problems. It's hard to get any continuity or rhythm as an offense when your O-line is always being shuffled due to injuries, poor play, etc... I think Jacksonville found that out pretty quick this year.

I'm not completely sold on the talent of some of the positions (Center, RG), and I wish they would take one of the top Centers in the Draft, but at this point, I don't see that happening. They may take someone in the later rounds (6th or 7th) just to add some depth, but I think this Draft is going to be about Defense and maybe a power RB to go with Slaton.

I do think the O-line, as is, will improve next year, especially Brown in pass protection. We gave up 32 sacks this year, which is up from 22 in 07, and Brown had 11 of those. If he can cut those in half next season the O-line will look a lot better and Schaub will remain a lot healthier. I think most of his sacks were probably given up in the 1st few weeks of the season when we had that brutal schedule. I don't recall him getting torched that much later in the season.

Anyway, that's my take on it. It should be an exciting season coming up. Can't wait to see it all unfold! :texflag:
 
Between the 20s, we made a lot of yards this year. Not so much in the red zone. In any case, it's an improvement. I doubt we could have done that without the O-line.

I hate to say it, but one step at a time here folks. We are getting better. And the O-line getting better is part of it. I would hope they'd draft or get a free agent or two to help the O-line even more this off season.

But they are better, much better.
 
i would like


T Brown
G Pittman i guess
C Myers
G New guy to replace brisles
T winston
 
yes the unsung heros go unnoticed except when they screw up, isn't that funny :sarcasm: Gibbs was able to take what was here, use one high pick & transform them into something unique in Texans franchise history- a fully functioning OL :specnatz:
 
beerlover said:
yes the unsung heros go unnoticed except when they screw up, isn't that funny :sarcasm: Gibbs was able to take what was here, use one high pick & transform them into something unique in Texans franchise history- a fully functioning OL :specnatz:
Click to expand...

I think it had more to do with them not missing a game the entire season from injury than anything that Alex Gibbs did.
 
Norg said:
i would like


T Brown
G Pittman i guess
C Myers
G New guy to replace brisles
T winston
Click to expand...

That would be interesting to see the long snapper at LG. :cool:
It seems like you are less sure of Pitts than Myers and I don't know why. Pitts may have his troubles getting to the second level but at least he isn't getting picked up and tossed in the backfield like a beanbag at our QB/RB.
 
I would say Myers is weak(literally) link in the O-line. He just doesn't have the strength to go up against big NFL tackles. He's not going to the kill you as a starter, but he's not helping alot either. Myers is a competent player, and a good player to have to start in a tough spot, but I'd rather get somebody like Luigs who can push back, or hold his position on the stretch play.
 
Marcus said:
I think it had more to do with them not missing a game the entire season from injury than anything that Alex Gibbs did.
Click to expand...

How would you come to that opinion? Down the last 6 game, for example, they picked up a bunch of yards and key 1st downs by Winston particularly but the OL as a whole shoving Slaton down peoples' throats--that was pure Alex Gibbs.

Kind of a funny part of a Kubiak interview because when asked about it his response was chuckle, uh guys how about we move on and not bring attention to that.
 
Marcus said:
I think it had more to do with them not missing a game the entire season from injury than anything that Alex Gibbs did.
Click to expand...

soooo.... are you saying we didn't need Alex Gibbs? Are you saying we should dump him?
:D
 
infantrycak said:
How would you come to that opinion? Down the last 6 game, for example, they picked up a bunch of yards and key 1st downs by Winston particularly but the OL as a whole shoving Slaton down peoples' throats--that was pure Alex Gibbs.

Kind of a funny part of a Kubiak interview because when asked about it his response was chuckle, uh guys how about we move on and not bring attention to that.
Click to expand...

ObsiWan said:
soooo.... are you saying we didn't need Alex Gibbs? Are you saying we should dump him?
:D
Click to expand...

What I'm saying is that it's not all Alex Gibbs. Not by a long shot. For the very reasons stated above. The significance of the entire unit staying heathly and playing together as whole cannot be be overstated.

I can just see it now. Next year, when we're not so lucky on the injury front, and for some strange reason, the line doesn't perform as well, you'll think Alex Gibbs doesn't have it anymore. :rolleyes:
 
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Marcus said:
What I'm saying is that it's not all Alex Gibbs. Not by a long shot. For the very reasons stated above. The significance of the entire unit stsying heathly and playing together as whole cannot be be overstated.
Click to expand...

Of course it isn't.

I can just see it now. Next year, when we're not so lucky on the injury front, and for some strange reason, the line doesn't perform as well, you'll think Alex Gibbs doesn't have it anymore. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Not at all. Of course it is a combination of things including an upgraded RB, QB playing well, OD developing as a blocker and the other things mentioned. Just didn't see where you got your quantitative judgment.
 
Marcus

Do you think it's a coincedence that Gibbs comes in & installs the true ZBS & we have no injuries on the OL. Sure there is luck involved but if you look @ his lines in Den-Atl you will see they had very few injuries. This is because of 2 things

1. ZBS has DL more worried about their knees & cut back responsibilities thereby taking away some of the agrssiveness of the DL (This cuts down on injuries)
2. Slaton was hand picked by Gibbs because of his one cut & go ability to get to get to the 2nd level quickly ( This cuts down on OL injuries). Unlike the RB's of the past (Dayne, Lundy etc.) Think Spencer. This wouldn't have happened with Slaton because Slaton would have already been through the hole instead of breaking Spencers leg.
 
nunusguy said:
LT #15 pick, 2009 Draft
G Pitts
C Myers
G winston
RT Brown
Could it happen ?
Click to expand...
I like the attention to the line with the pick, but Winston is our RT. Brown would be the easier move to G between the two I think.

T Oher (it could happen, his draft stock is hard to gauge)
G Pitts
C Somebody Else. Couldn't be worse if they made it into the draft.
G Brown
T Winston
 
TimeKiller said:
I like the attention to the line with the pick, but Winston is our RT. Brown would be the easier move to G between the two I think.

T Oher (it could happen, his draft stock is hard to gauge)
G Pitts
C Somebody Else. Couldn't be worse if they made it into the draft.
G Brown
T Winston
Click to expand...

The Texans certainly want to draft D in April but lets just say hypothetically: the top defensive player on their Board is ranked, or I dunno say 23, when they are up at #15 but surprisingly Oher, who say the Texans have ranked at #9, is available which way do they go ? Long-term perspective says you take BPA over need with your first round pick.
BTW watched the Cotton Bowl and Oher, the Ole Miss LT, reminds of Denvers Ryan Clady. He's a very impressive OT who has the look of a "franchise LT" because of his pass-blocking skills.
 
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