What happens if the O-Line is no better?

Since there weren't any major moves in the off season with the o-line, and they are still playing musical chairs with the positions, what happens if they perform like last year or worse?

Does Capers get lose his job? Palmer? The line coach? Some front office scape goat?

If the line is no better, does Capers or somebody high up in the organization deserve to lose their jobs? Or are they victims of lack of available talent, salary caps and management?

I think Palmer would be the first to go if this were to be the case, maybe the Oline coach too. i doubt they'd dump capers so early, but who knows i may be wrong.

What happens if the O-line IS better? Does Capers get Coach of the Year? Does Palmer get consideration for a head coaching job? Will posters on this MB still call for their jobs after every loss?

Exascor said:

What happens if the O-line IS better? Does Capers get Coach of the Year? Does Palmer get consideration for a head coaching job? Will posters on this MB still call for their jobs after every loss?

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If the o-line is somewhat better, it will become average. Being average doesn't get you a cookie.

If Carr gets sacked only a dozen times all season, then the coaches should get rewarded by the organization.

If the O-Line is no better .... the headline should read

"David Carr hold out for better pass protection"

It would have to be on Casserly and Capers. Casserly for not solving the line issue and Capers for hiring Palmer.

Exascor said:

What happens if the O-line IS better? Does Capers get Coach of the Year? Does Palmer get consideration for a head coaching job? Will posters on this MB still call for their jobs after every loss?

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Well, I think Mr. Mcnair will demand changes if this occurs. He has been an incredibly patient owner, but seeing his QB/investment get rocked like Rocky Balboa one more year, and even he will be pushed over the edge imo. I heard Casserly say on Bob Allens show this Sunday that protecting Carr was their #1 offseason priority, so if they fail at thier #1 priority, something has to give. Note he said "protecting Carr" not making changes to the oline. He didn't say how they addressed it only that they feel they addressed it. If Carr gets pummeled again, I would expect Palmer to be the scapegoat, CC will draft a stud LT, and they will go from there. If it persisted an additional year, I expect Mcnair to clean house.

If the O-line fails this year, I think Palmer is fired, and they acquire a top LT by any means possible (via trade, draft, or FA). That buys Capers a year or two.

Rightnow said:

If the o-line is somewhat better, it will become average. Being average doesn't get you a cookie.

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If the pass protection becomes average, call me Mrs. Fields. I'll bake the cookies myself. This team can win with an average offensive line.

BTW, nice avatar.

If the o-line is no better?
Here's my 3-cents(inflation, you know)

First, look at our schedule compared to last year. I think it's a little easier, not just because of who we play, but where and when.

2nd, quicker pass plays. This should translate into fewer sacks, and maybe a few more 3rd down conversions. More time of possession?

3rd, faster defense. Scanning some of the opinions our opponents sites, it seems they fear a "speed" defense more than a "brawn" defense. I think we'll prevent a few more 3rd down conversions on the average.

So, if we keep the ball a few more downs(compared to last year), and stop our opponent from getting a few more downs, the Texans should have an advantage in the close games.

If I remember correctly, didn't our o-line on 2003 play much better than we did last year? And we didn't have Zach Weigert or Todd Wade then. I know we struggled a lot protecting David Carr but I think we had most of our problems in the second half of the season. I don't know what the Texans would do if our o-line played as badly as they did last year, but I think someone is going to get fired but I don't know how much that will help. Say for example if we fire Palmer we will obviously need a new o-coordinator and that may mean implementing a whole new style of offense and scheme. That may cause a minor setback in terms of being able to win. My feeling is that I think we'll see this o-line play better not spectacular. I don't think we have the players on this o-line that will make that huge leap this year. But even average will be good because that will translate into David Carr having a better year and winning more games this year.

Nawzer said:

If I remember correctly, didn't our o-line on 2003 play much better than we did last year? And we didn't have Zach Weigert or Todd Wade then. I know we struggled a lot protecting David Carr but I think we had most of our problems in the second half of the season. I don't know what the Texans would do if our o-line played as badly as they did last year, but I think someone is going to get fired but I don't know how much that will help. Say for example if we fire Palmer we will obviously need a new o-coordinator and that may mean implementing a whole new style of offense and scheme. That may cause a minor setback in terms of being able to win. My feeling is that I think we'll see this o-line play better not spectacular. I don't think we have the players on this o-line that will make that huge leap this year. But even average will be good because that will translate into David Carr having a better year and winning more games this year.

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well we had weigert, but not wade our second year. we also had pitts playing LT that year.

well i taped the texans preseason game against the broncos and i've watched it a few times to get a good look at our o-line...this is what i saw

victor riley: very strong run blocker, solid pass protection given the people he was blocking...really think a guy like freeny is gonna light him up with his speed...any speed rusher in my opinion will simply run around him

pitts: looked solid for the most part...don't like the idea of pulling him at goalline situations like we did one time...just doesn't look like he was able to get there because another lineman was getting pushed back(i'll get to that one)

mckinney: man oh man...he was about half and half...half good half bad...goaline he got pushed back and fell over just about as often as weary...good thing we have hodgdon getting groomed already

weigert: man was a stud out there until he got rolled over by riley pushing his guy like a rag doll

wade: another solid performance for the most part...couple of times he looked out of position on run blocking)only blocked the over pursueing linebacker twice on plays away from him

wand: actually did pretty good...didn't see a point where he got beat that bad...just needs to work on keeping his pad level a little lower

beasley: man you can tell this kid might develop into something if given time...when this guy locked onto is guy the defender was usually 3 yds back...unforunetly that was a when he locked on...looks like he is still learning the zone blocking scheme

hodgdon: played with good leverage...could tell he learned a lot with the amount of playing time he was given...had a few penalities and a was out of position a couple of times but no big deal for a rookie center...very impressed overall with his overall ability for being a 5th round pick

weary: ok this lineman kills me...how many times can a guy fall down...that's about all i have to say on his part...those four attempts on the goalline for DD were ruined by him fall down and being pushed back

m. brown: not as bad as weary but pretty close...guy looks way out of position as a RT...actually looked more comfortable in pass protection than run blocking for most of the time

as for the 3rd and 4th string guys...didn't really pay that much attention to them because i don't see any of them making the squad but i will be going over the film again for the 4th quarter guys seeing how it's summer and baseball is boring...overall i think our starters did a great job...a couple of back-ups will probably not be on the team this year if a decent player is released by another team...crossing my fingers for a guard and a tackle

right now i'd say our best back ups are wand, beasley, hodgdon, and washington...beasley's ability to play both tackle and guard should give him the edge on one of the back-up positions

If the offensive line is no better this season then I expect someone will get the axe. It will probably be the position coach but it could be Chris Palmer. I think that's unlikely though. It will not be Dom Capers. I say no chance whatsoever of that happening.

Then we'll see the Texans take the most impressive LT prospect in the first round of next seasons draft. If they have to trade up to get him then I will not be surprised to see that happen. That will be the "spared no expense" move to get the LT spot covered for the rest of David Carr's career and that's exactly how the Texans will spin it to the media.

Now, if the line play continues to be a problem BUT if the pressure isn't coming from the LT spot (i.e., Wand plays well but the middle keeps getting blown up like it did much of last season) then I think you see McKinney moving to G or going away and the Texans then pursue the best shot at a quality center in free agency or via trade.

In summary I think if it's still bad after next season then the team will take drastic measures to make it right. Having said that I don't think that the line will be as bad as last season. I think it will be much improved despite the lack of major changes.

Wand was running first team right guard at practice tonight.

keyfro said:

hodgdon: played with good leverage...could tell he learned a lot with the amount of playing time he was given...had a few penalities and a was out of position a couple of times but no big deal for a rookie center...very impressed overall with his overall ability for being a 5th round pick

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Appreciate your analysis Keyfro and I was particularly interested in what you thought of Hodgdon's performance because along with LT, the center position is the biggest concern in our OL. I heard some negative things about
how he did, but I'm with you because I thought he looked good considering he's a rook and its his first game ever in the NFL. I saw a couple plays where
he was very explosive, very quick coming off his snap - I think he might really help us.
And on Weary, didn't realize he was in for the 4 plays from the one - with the
effort you described guess we know why Beasly and not him is with the starters right now.

exactly man...weary being a 3rd round pick as an interior lineman shows that at the time casserly and company had big hopes for him...unfortunetly weary has fallen off the path he was originally set on...he has the size and ability to be good but never seems to put it together...and milford brown is basically doing the samething...there was a play in the second quarter where let his guy basically come through and get to hollings about 3 yds in the backfield...he really just seemed completely out of position at RT

as for as hodgdon people got to look at what he is and what he did...he's a rookie and a 5th round draft pick...now look at how many 5th rounders make the team and how many every become starters...it's a very low percentage...hodgdon's didn't play like a guy who is gonna flop out...he played like a guy who after he learns the system will be just as effective if not more than mckinney...and will no doubt be our center of the future

Then everyone will finally get the pinche left tackle we been wanting in the draft.

Has anyone else noticed that so far we seem to be better at judging, picking and coaching edge & "skilled" position players (QB, RB, WR, DB etc...) than we are at the big ugly guy positions on either side of the ball?

I love your icon Rightnow. If the line isn't any better than last year than David will probably be finishing on IR.

Just like I expect the O-line to step up this season, I expect nothing less from Davey. Hook 'Em!

I'm not sure we could fire anyone for the lack of O-line production. The person whose fault it would be would be Casserly in my opinion and he's done to well in other positions to even mention that.

Capers is just working with what he has. If Palmer gets fired it would hard to say what he would have been able to do with a decent o-line (though i dont think it would be much). I think we need a new O-Coordinator good o-line or not.

I mean its the fault up top that the o-line didn't get better. The coaches can only make these guys so much better and we keep taking these LATE round projects to turn into lineman while Carr keeps getting merced.

Texas_Thrill said:

I mean its the fault up top that the o-line didn't get better. The coaches can only make these guys so much better and we keep taking these LATE round projects to turn into lineman while Carr keeps getting merced.

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Great point. I can't see anything but positive things for the offensive line. There is no "what if the o-line isn't better?", it has to be better. I honestly feel the whole season is riding on the protection that Carr is/isn't getting.

Great analysis Keyfro:
The draft is a dice game no doubt. But there should be little doubt there are a couple of guys
currently on the rooster collecting checks who should be selling washers at Sears. I believe that as much as it hurts you got to go to the top. Someone has to be accountable. It will be interesting to see if Mr. McNair will go the full five with this group. If this team catches the right teams with the right guys dinged up they can make a playoff push. It's not all Palmer's fault, or CC's or Capers. But collectively, this has been a very unlucky staff. From Bosselli to Joppru, and Fred Weary... but as an expansion team you expect some bumps. Does he go Tom Landry, or get out the broom ? We'll see. My great hope now, is that we will be in a postion, whoever is in charge, to make a credible push at the AFC championshipin in '06. The parts are all there. This club is a couple of pieces short of being a very very good football team. Never know this group could still get on a run. Happened befor. My expectations however has us picking fairly high in the draft come April. If that happens, I believe Mr. McNair will pull the trigger on this staff. I really like Capers & CC . I really do, But it's a busines. How about .... hmmm what's that guys name that's the D coordinator for Buffallo ?