The OLines performance at Jax

Our line was actually playing well until Hodgdon left with an injury. As soon as we shifted back to the old set up with Wand at LT, and McKinney at center it all started going downhill. Pitts was left on an island with his man and he was dominating at LT, WITHOUT HOLDING. I'm not sure if the Jags just suck at rushing the passer, or if our coaches have finally found a recipe for success when it comes to pass protection. Being an optimist, I have to be atleast somewhat hopeful that we can continue to see that type of improvement in pass protection as long as our guys get healthy, and stay healthy.

One thing's for sure, the line fails miserably when we have anyone besides Pitts at LT. We need to leave him there permanently, if a man goes down, put the scrub in at whatever position has a vacancy, but don't shift Pitts from LT, please. I'm sure David Carr would second those sentiments with his body on the line.

I agree. Pitts should be left at LT. He's quick off the ball and does very well protecting Carr's back. And I don't have the game film to prove it, but I think he's better suited to play LT than LG.

But beware! The Texans staff just might agree with that, and decide they don't need to draft an LT in the draft, and cause some MB posters to run out and commit suicide.

If the Texans decide to go Bush with the 1st overall pick they should be able to find a nice RT in the 2nd round because of the depth at that position this year. I would be comfortable with Pitts as our LT.

I was just about to post this same thing. Pitts is looking pretty damn good at left tackle (he was driving his guy run blocking also). Heck, we are paying him like a left tackle, if he keeps up this kind of play I say we leave open the idea of going another direction in the draft.

Let's see how he manages Freeney next week. If he does the job then the LT is his

Though Hodgdon has been playing unusually well at center the last couple weeks for a rookie, I think the fall off in effectiveness of the OL yesterday
had more to do with Pitts absense at LT than Hodgdon's leaving the game.

One person is not responsible for the problems on the o line yesterday. They've had the same problems in the past. Chester is good, but he has been playing since game one, has been coached in the off season, and has beec practising with this line all along and he's still not GREAT.

He's not great but he is doing the job real well and you can see the upside in him getting better if he could just concentrate on that rather than 3 other positions.

I know the thread talks about our OL against Jville but take a look a game earlier against Cleveland, Hodgdon first game of having a game game of experience already under his belt. You will see that the bull rushing blitzes were just plain getting picked up and in this past game, with Hodgdon in, Jville's blitzes were coming and they weren't getting through until Carr already dumped it off.

Honestly guys, I really don't think the O-line is that bad. I love David Carr but he needs to make his reads and decide. If nothing is there, throw it away. I have watched every single game for the Texans this year (even been to two) and I don't see what he's gaining by holding on to the ball and suffering a beating. Yeah our O-line gets beat but some of it goes on Carr too. I saw three times yesterday where he lost yardage holding on to the ball too long.

kbourda said:

Honestly guys, I really don't think the O-line is that bad. I love David Carr but he needs to make his reads and decide. If nothing is there, throw it away. I have watched every single game for the Texans this year (even been to two) and I don't see what he's gaining by holding on to the ball and suffering a beating. Yeah our O-line gets beat but some of it goes on Carr too. I saw three times yesterday where he lost yardage holding on to the ball too long.

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your line gave up 6 sacks yesterday, not bashing, but how can you say that that's not that bad? it all starts up front. Give Carr more time, and he WILL hit the open man. yesterday, he just did not have enough of that, and not when he really needed it.

kevinjagsfan said:

your line gave up 6 sacks yesterday, not bashing, but how can you say that that's not that bad? it all starts up front. Give Carr more time, and he WILL hit the open man. yesterday, he just did not have enough of that, and not when he really needed it.

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It played well until our starting center went down and we had to go back to the line formation that was doing crappy.

kevinjagsfan said:

your line gave up 6 sacks yesterday, not bashing, but how can you say that that's not that bad? it all starts up front. Give Carr more time, and he WILL hit the open man. yesterday, he just did not have enough of that, and not when he really needed it.

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As Texan fans we have gotten a little more sophisticated than we were last year, when we would have screamed at the o-line for giving up 6 sacks.

This year though, without seriously reviewing the game yet, I think the line gave up 3 sacks (still too many), a running back gave up one, and Carr took two. There was one sack (I think) at the end of the half where Carr slid down and took a half yard loss rather than throw the ball away. Interpretations differ, but it may be seen as a smart move by him to keep the clock running so the Jags would have less time on the clock when they got the ball back. So with the benefit of the doubt Carr took one unnecessary sack.

Still, agreed, a total of 5 or 6 is way too many sacks.

kbourda said:

Honestly guys, I really don't think the O-line is that bad. I love David Carr but he needs to make his reads and decide. If nothing is there, throw it away. I have watched every single game for the Texans this year (even been to two) and I don't see what he's gaining by holding on to the ball and suffering a beating. Yeah our O-line gets beat but some of it goes on Carr too. I saw three times yesterday where he lost yardage holding on to the ball too long.

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Um he did that at the end of the game, made his reads and went to the 2nd option when the 1st option was covered without letting the o-line breakdown. He laid it right into a WR's hand for a potential tie breaking effort.