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We Need LT Logan Mankins

fresno8

Waterboy
If your not familiar with this guy he is a stud LT out of Fresno State. He came to Fresno as a walk on tight end and now is 6-4 320. He could go anywhere from late 1 to 3 rnd(hard to project lineman from non-bcs conference, but from what i've heard this is where he could go). He would be an awesome 2nd round pick for us. He is hands down better than Wand and played against better comp in college and doesn't need polishing. He's a great pass blcoker and exceptional run blocker. He was on many espn highlights after we beat K-State. You should see how this guy finished plays and blocks. He can get out on sweeps and screens and pancakes anyone around. He has a real Texas attitude as well. He rodeo's in his spare time. would love to have this guy and you all would love him too.
 

AcresHomesTexan

No Longer Arlington: Escaped From Jerry's World
Staff member
fresno8 said:
If your not familiar with this guy he is a stud LT out of Fresno State. He came to Fresno as a walk on tight end and now is 6-4 320. He could go anywhere from late 1 to 3 rnd(hard to project lineman from non-bcs conference, but from what i've heard this is where he could go). He would be an awesome 2nd round pick for us. He is hands down better than Wand and played against better comp in college and doesn't need polishing. He's a great pass blcoker and exceptional run blocker. He was on many espn highlights after we beat K-State. You should see how this guy finished plays and blocks. He can get out on sweeps and screens and pancakes anyone around. He has a real Texas attitude as well. He rodeo's in his spare time. would love to have this guy and you all would love him too.
sounds a lot like our LG.
 

beerlover

Hall of Fame
I'm pretty sure David Carr would approve :heh:

the biggest surprise so far of the bowl game players & Virginia has a stout defense and he kept them off his QB all day. great mobility, size & strength he could see time his first year but would still be considered a project, more like Wand
 

Hervoyel

BUENO!
I wouldn't mind seeing the Texans draft this guy but honestly, Seth Wand is going to have one more year of off-season work going into next year and he's going to improve. I think what the Texans really need on their offensive line is another center. You could take most of the pressure Carr has gotten this year away if you could just keep the middle of the o-line from being blown up all the time.

Now if we could get that replacement center (possibly a free agent if one's out there) and then draft Mankins to try and take the job away from Wand then I'd be good with that. Either way the Texans would win. If he can beat out Wand then it's an upgrade, if Wand puts his nose to the grindstone and holds him off then it's an upgrade.
 
I can name about 10 guys I want over Mankins, he's good but not an NFL starter which we need

It's very possible that the Texans take Adam Terry out of Syracuse with their 1st round pick as a franchise left tackle
 

Vinny

shiny happy fan
Mankins is not a prototype LT, and a likely second day pick (if that). He doesn't have the long arms and classic build of a LT and would would just have another Pitts clone in size (Pitts is much more athletic).

I think the only two tackles we would consider with our first pick would be Jamaal Brown or Alex Barron since Ferguson isn't coming out.
 

infantrycak

Hall of Fame
Hervoyel said:
I wouldn't mind seeing the Texans draft this guy but honestly, Seth Wand is going to have one more year of off-season work going into next year and he's going to improve. I think what the Texans really need on their offensive line is another center. You could take most of the pressure Carr has gotten this year away if you could just keep the middle of the o-line from being blown up all the time.
Seems to me that a lot of folks don't recognize that bad play by the center can make the OT's look worse. Pressure up the gut means no pocket and no place for Carr to step up, letting the tackles use their egregiously long arms to run DE's out of the play. Instead Carr is backing up to avoid getting stepped on by McKinney and backs into the awaiting arms of the DE's. The OT gets credit for giving up the sack but the real problem was the middle of the OL.
 

Vinny

shiny happy fan
texansfan88 said:
you wouldn't consider 6'9 340 lb marcus mcneil? Terry is a seth wand like player but seems to put people on their butts
Hey 88, McNeil has great size and is a solid prospect but I consider McNeil a classic boom or bust type. I want a safer "floor" with my mid-first selection and think there are several guys who will be available at the teen pick that has just as high a ceiling and a safer floor.
 
I guess thats just an opinion question of who would you rather have

I think that McNeil has the POTENTIAL to be the next Jonathon Ogden and it would be ashame to pass him up. But then again, he could become the next Seth Wand
 

Vinny

shiny happy fan
I don't consider this a deep draft so finding a solid starter with our first pick will be critical. I wouldn't mind taking a guy like McNeil later in the draft if he is around.
 

fresno8

Waterboy
What center would we take or would you want to see taken? I have seen how bad McKinney is. Alot of the sacks, Carr has taken about one step back and is getting hit from up the middle. Mankins is more of an RT I think. He was great at pass blocking in the WAC, but not sure in the NFL. He's definately a hell of a run blcoker. As much as I like the guy I wouldn't pick him for us in round 1. Possibly late in round 2 or whenever we pick in round 3(for us, not other teams). He could A. Beat out Wand if he really does well or be groomed to play RT when Wade is done. I know our most pressing need is C. What did you guys thing of the Virginia Center Yarborough. He was supposed to be pretty good. Another Virginia player I was impressed with was eldon Brown. What do you think of our gaurds I think this guy could step right in, but if we're comfortable with Pitts/Weigert then we go D first round and pick our lineman 2-5. Personally I want to see us pick Spears round 1.
 

wags

Veteran
I think the inside of our line is more of a concern. I would like a G/C type somewhere in the first two rounds.
 
Odds are they take a center in the 3rd

Odds are that center would be:

Vince Carter, OU
Jason Brown, UNC
Jelani Clement, Hampton (received interest from Texans)
Ben Wilkerson, LSU (hurt)
 

wags

Veteran
fresno8 said:
What center would we take or would you want to see taken?
David Baas. Only problem is he will probably fall somewhere in between our first and second pick.
 

Errant Hothy

Hypermediocrity
Don't forget about Greg Eslinger, Minnesota. If he comes out would be a good Round 3 type pick.

The kid from Hampton could probally be had on Day 2, unless he had a really good combine.
 

fresno8

Waterboy
Who would you guys want to draft at center?
Vince Carter, OU
Jason Brown,UNC
Jelani Clement, Hampton
Ben WIlkerson, LSU (hurt) believe he was rated #1 center by TSN
Greg Eslinger if he comes out
David Baas
 

Grid

All Pro
we dont need an LT. we have Wand.. is he gonna be Jonathen Ogden by next season? no.. but he isnt bad and he can only get better.. we have more pressing needs.

As for a center.. we can pick up a good center prospect in the later rounds and start grooming him. you dont need to use a first or second rounder to get a good center.


Our oline troubles do not revolve around our players.. we have good olinemen.. the problem is a lack of playing time together.. and a new blocking system that hardly any of them have any kind of experience with.

The question is.. will we go back to the old way of blocking? or will we stick with zone blocking. if we stick with zone.. will we be able to improve it by next season? if not.. do we need to pick up some FA with zone blocking experience?

Personally... i think we need to stick with zone blocking. it had flashes of brilliance.. and if we stick with it and let our oline mesh together and learn the system.. we will be good to go.
 

beerlover

Hall of Fame
fresno- stick to your guns man, Logan is a solid tackle prospect & just because he plays LT in College does'nt mean he has to play LT in the NFL. Look at Gallery RT with Oakland, heck look at Babin DE in College OLB in the NFL. I think you need to trust your own judgement you have a good eye for talent, he would be a plus to the Texans line in the future, maybe right guard or even center :hmmm:
 

fresno8

Waterboy
Thanks Beerlover. I think he's a RT or RG(good point never thought of him there) in the NFL. It was a privelage watchin him play at Fresno State. The boy can flat out run block and he's no slouch at pass blocking. Almost every play he'd be 15-20 down field blowing somebody up at the next level. He's probably not an NFL LT, but he'll be a good lineman. Interesting note on him he came to Fresno at 6'3" 240 walk on at TE and has worked his way to what he is now. The guy is tough as nails and he's a cowboy guy he'd love Houston, TX.
 

nunusguy

Hall of Fame
Why don't we ever see any smallish (say 'bout 275 lb), but quick and mobile
LTs in the NFL ? I realize they have to deal with the large stunting DTs from
time to time, but most of their energy is spent to keep the speed-rushing,
weakside DEs (or OLB in 3-4), out of the QBs face. And whether were talking
a compact Freeney, or long & lithe Jason Taylor, most of the time these guys
are 260-265 lbs. and they just run circles (literally), around the 325 lb hulk
LTs.
 

beerlover

Hall of Fame
thats a good question, it would seem with the right blend of attitude & atheliticism a 270-290 LT could be effective in the right scheme. That being said the 6-7 330 lb NFL LT are desired because:

  • have large strong hands & long arms to control attacker
  • durability is crucial because of the physical nature of the position
  • massive size walls off defenders clearing passing lanes
  • massive size combined with sound fundamentals creates wide base allowing QB mobility within the pocket

back to Logan Mankins, here is a little note from his bio some may find ironic-

(2001) Started all 14 games ... a first-team Freshman All-America selection by The Sporting News ... as a freshman, was given the responsibility to protect David Carr's blind side brilliantly all year, allowing only two sacks ... helped give Carr the time to break numerous Fresno State single-season and career passing records ... opened the holes for running back Paris Gaines to rush for 1,018 yards ... honorable mention All-WAC.
 

Vinny

shiny happy fan
nunusguy said:
Why don't we ever see any smallish (say 'bout 275 lb), but quick and mobile
LTs in the NFL ? I realize they have to deal with the large stunting DTs from
time to time, but most of their energy is spent to keep the speed-rushing,
weakside DEs (or OLB in 3-4), out of the QBs face. And whether were talking
a compact Freeney, or long & lithe Jason Taylor, most of the time these guys
are 260-265 lbs. and they just run circles (literally), around the 325 lb hulk
LTs.
Freeney may be a hall of fame player. He is just an exception and plays at an elite level. A shorter faster guy would not help against Freeney. You really need long arms and long legs to be a good LT. When you backpeddle you do not want to take a ton of big steps without erroding your center of gravity because once you do that the DE just turns his edge rush into a bullrush and you get pushed into the QB. You want to use your long arms to keep the defender as far from your body as you can push them when they are engaged in an edge rush. Shorter guys have a harder time eating up space with the same amount of steps and they have shorter arms which really play into the defenders bag of tricks.
 

nunusguy

Hall of Fame
Vinny said:
A shorter faster guy would not help against Freeney. You really need long arms and long legs to be a good LT.
I said 275 lbs, but I did not say shorter. Just because I say 275 shouldn't automatically mean 6'1"-6'2". Gotta think outside the box. I do appreciate the need of the tackles to have long limbs. What I have in mind is the body type of a basketball power forward, say a Antonio Gates. According to our website
Matt Murphy is 6'5" & 260. Put 15-20 lbs on him and you have what I'm talking about in terms of size, height, weight, physical dimentions. Maybe
these college kids wouldn't get that excited about being a full time blocker
vs. a TE who is receiver/blocker, but they might when they find out that
many LTs in the NFL make > $ than TEs. A guy like this would have a lot better chance keeping a Freeny, J.Taylor, or T. Suggs off a QBs butt than some 325-350 stumbling hulk.
 

texasguy346

Mod Squad
Hoth-Boy said:
Don't forget about Greg Eslinger, Minnesota. If he comes out would be a good Round 3 type pick.
Everyone intrested in seeing Eslinger in action can tune into the Music City Bowl on ESPN. Minnesota is dominating Alabama's defense early on, and pounding the ball down their throats. Eslinger has looked like a beast against the Crimson Tide, but then again most of the Golden Gophers OLine has looked like beasts against them thus far.
 

fresno8

Waterboy
I watched Eslinger closely for a good part of the game. He looked pretty good to me. He got to the 2nd level and usually dominated his man and did pretty well in pass blocking. Good 3rd or 4th rnd pick if he comes out. Doubt he'd last till 4
 
Isn't it true that a shorter person has a lower center of gravity? Longer arms are easier to push away and take longer to reposition. It is easy to follow the prototype. It takes guts to change the game. If Freeny is out there blowing by these bulky guys, then how would it hurt to try a smaller faster guy with better footwork who understands leverage and balance. Arms ar just one aspect. Footwork is very important as well. I know it would be tougher for Freeney to bullrush a shorter player who has the same strength and weight as the taller player. I know you are losing space, but you gain recovery time and speed.
 

Errant Hothy

Hypermediocrity
Eslinger will not make it til the 4th, unless he has a bad combine. If the Texans target him they may need to spend the 2nd to get him or trade back into the second round. Minnesota owned teh Dawgs D yesterday and was able to run on the 8 man front they typically use; and Minnesota was the first team this year to have a 100 yrd rusher agaist Georgia.
 

wags

Veteran
Hoth-Boy said:
Eslinger will not make it til the 4th, unless he has a bad combine. If the Texans target him they may need to spend the 2nd to get him or trade back into the second round. Minnesota owned teh Dawgs D yesterday and was able to run on the 8 man front they typically use; and Minnesota was the first team this year to have a 100 yrd rusher agaist Georgia.
Minnesota played Alabama, not Georgia. :dontknowa
 

Errant Hothy

Hypermediocrity
My mistake. I thought there was something wrong with what I was typing but couldn't put my finger on it. Too much booze last night?
 
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