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Duane Brown Will Be Starting LT

False Start

False Start

On # 69
I just heard on 790 that Kubiak said Duane Brown will definitely be the starter . They also said hes playing with the first team in mini-camp .
 
If he provides the ability RIGHT NOW to beat out Salaam for our starting LT spot, this is very very good news. Then throw in the fact of how young he is and how much upside he has, how much experience will help him get better- it makes it even better.
 
He will probably be raw to begin with but I think this is the right decision. LT's need experience. Kubiak and Schaub are smart enough to add an early season "how is the LT doing" read to the progression.
 
Smart decision. Brown has all the physical tools to be a great LT in Gibbs system. The only thing he lacks is the knowledge that comes from expert coaching and experience. There are 4 months until week one of the NFL season. I think Brown is smart and talented enough to soak up the knowledge quickly so that he can be effective as a starter on the first game of the season.
 
False Start On # 69 said:
I just heard on 790 that Kubiak said Duane Brown will definitely be the starter . They also said hes playing with the first team in mini-camp .
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That is stunning, really almost too difficult to believe ?
While I've heard many positive comments about Browns upside, and actually
some very good reports about his ability right now to function as a blocker on rushing plays, nowhere have I heard that he's ready to be an NFL passblocker, especially at LT ? Actually just the opposite.
 
I'm a little concerned about Brown starting from day 1 because of all of the talk about him being so raw and a project. If he can get up to speed and not be too much of a drop off from Salaam to start the year then that's great, more experience. I just don't want him to be a detriment to the team during our very difficult opening season stretch.
 
nunusguy said:
That is stunning, really almost too difficult to believe ?
While I've heard many positive comments about Browns upside, and actually
some very good reports about his ability right now to function as a blocker on rushing plays, nowhere have I heard that he's ready to be an NFL passblocker, especially at LT ? Actually just the opposite.
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I imagine he'll get a lot of help from scheme to playcalling. They're probably pretty high on his run blocking and feel that they can cook up some stuff to minimize his pass blocking deficiencies while getting him the necessary experience.
 
nunusguy said:
That is stunning, really almost too difficult to believe ?
While I've heard many positive comments about Browns upside, and actually
some very good reports about his ability right now to function as a blocker on rushing plays, nowhere have I heard that he's ready to be an NFL passblocker, especially at LT ? Actually just the opposite.
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I best most of those reports were from talking heads and not actual NFL coaches, correct?

This is encouraging news, especially this early into off-season workouts.

I'm just glad Ron Dayne isn't here to break another promising LT's leg. ;)
 
TexMexVato said:
Baptism by fire...I can dig it.
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unless it is a Qb says David Carr. Actually based on size and physical skills (quick feet and long arms) Brown should do well. If not Old Faithful is right there which is why Salaam was signed. I can't believe that Spencer will not get at least some plays at some point as he did beat out pretty good starter two years ago. Kubes has identified CS as RG. Frye may yet have something to say & then there is my fave of all faves (drum roll please) Jordan SParks! No, that was last year's Idol, I meant Black.
 
Double Barrel said:
I best most of those reports were from talking heads and not actual NFL coaches, correct?

This is encouraging news, especially this early into off-season workouts.

I'm just glad Ron Dayne isn't here to break another promising LT's leg. ;)
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A-freakin-men! As I've said many times before, I'm giddy of the fact he won't be in our backfield anymore. :cool:
 
I think you misheard. On 790 they said Kubiak said he'll be starting with the first team in minicamp and training camp. That doesn't mean he'll be starting on opening day. I think they want to see how well he does and if they don't think he can start immediately then Salaam will be put back as the starting LT. Kubiak didn't say Duane Brown would be the starter at the beginning of the season.

790 (David Dalati to be specific) also said that Salaam wasn't happy about it and that Kubes had to talk to him about it.
 
I don't care if he's out there at LT in practice as long as there's no contact involving the QBs. But frankly I'd be real anxious if he was on the field even in a preseason game with Schaub or Sage out there, unless this guy has got an Einstinean ability to comprehend, learn, and apply pass-blocking skills.
 
Start the kid?? What's the worst case scenario (besides a broken leg - knock on wood)? If he struggles to get things figured out, Salaam is a decent (not great) back-up.. Or at least until the ROok feels comfortable.
 
TexanSam said:
I think you misheard. On 790 they said Kubiak said he'll be starting with the first team in minicamp and training camp. That doesn't mean he'll be starting on opening day. I think they want to see how well he does and if they don't think he can start immediately then Salaam will be put back as the starting LT. Kubiak didn't say Duane Brown would be the starter at the beginning of the season.

790 (David Dalati to be specific) also said that Salaam wasn't happy about it and that Kubes had to talk to him about it.
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I think you are correct. Kubiak's quote, per houstontexans.com blog:

Big mini camp news right off the bat: as of today, Duane Brown is the Texans' starting left tackle. After the team's first mini camp practice of 2008, Texans head coach Gary Kubiak named the first-round draft pick out of Virginia Tech as the current starter over veteran Ephraim Salaam.

"We’ve got to see how far we can bring this kid in the next month, so we put him right in there with the first group today," Kubiak said. "And I know it was very tough on Ephraim, and y’all know I have a great deal of respect for Ephraim and I can understand why it was tough, but as I explained to him, I’ve got to see how far I can bring this young man. But I know Ephraim’s going to do his job and I’m expecting good things from him, but we felt like we had to put this kid to work right away."

Brown worked with the first team for much of practice, facing off against defensive end Mario Williams (who looked even quicker and more aggressive than he did last year).

"He’ll be working with the first group, and that’s the only way we’re going to find out if this kid’s going to get to where we want him to go and how quick he can get there," Kubiak said of Brown. "You draft these kids in the first round to come in, and play and that’s nothing against Ephraim, as I said, and we’ve had this conversation. I understand the difficulty in that (for Salaam), but we as coaches feel like we have to put this kid to work right away."

While it's common knowledge that Brown was selected to eventually take the reigns from Salaam, it's quite a surprise to hear an announcement like this so soon.
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houstontexans.com
 
Charles Spencer was drafted in the third round and was transitioning to LT from guard and he still beat out the competition (that included Ephraim Salaam) to start opening day in 2006. This was under the instruction of Mike Sherman who I believe probably comes in somewhere behind Alex Gibbs.

I think Brown will be the starter on opening day unless there's just a real disconnect and he's very much not getting it.
 
(on how T Duane Brown looked) “Well, I’ll have to go back and see but, you know, we’ve got to see how far we can bring this kid in the next month and so we put him right in there with the first group today. And I know it was very tough on Ephraim (Salaam), and y’all know I have a great deal of respect for Ephraim and I can understand why it was tough, but as I explained to him, I’ve got to see how far I can bring this young man. But I know Ephraim’s going to do his job and I’m expecting good things from him, but we felt like we had to put this kid to work right away.

(on if T Duane Brown is first on the depth chart) “Yes, he’ll be working with the first group, and that’s the only way we’re going to find out if this kid’s going to get to where we want him to go and how quick he can get there. You draft these kids in the first round to come in and play and that’s nothing against Ephraim (Salaam), as I said, and we’ve had this conversation. But I understand the difficulty in that, but we as coaches feel like we have to put this kid to work right away.”
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LINK

Basically it seems like they're just working him with the first team to see how he looks and to help him progress faster.
 
infantrycak said:
He will probably be raw to begin with but I think this is the right decision. LT's need experience. Kubiak and Schaub are smart enough to add an early season "how is the LT doing" read to the progression.
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I dont like that thought process ....


You want your QB to have his eyes down field confident that his blockers are doing their jobs . Adding a checkdown to "see the LT's assignment" considering he's on his blind side .... This is taking the QB's eye's off of what he should be seeing and putting them exactly where they shouldnt be .... I think it would ruin any timing and continuity in the passing game .... I dont want to see a repeat of HWWNBM .

A QB has to "Feel" the pressure rather than see it and know when to step up or out of the pocket .
 
corrosion said:
A QB has to "Feel" the pressure rather than see it and know when to step up or out of the pocket .
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QB's "feel" the pressure by either hearing or seeing it coming. There is no mythical 6th sense.

The extra read was a poorly framed joke that I am sure Kubiak and Schaub are smart enough to realize they have a rookie at LT.
 
We'll find out a lot about Brown in the first 5 games. Road visits to the Steelers, Tacks, and Jags are going to be big tests for the OL. Plus Brown is gonna have to face Terrell Suggs and Dwight Freeney at Reliant Stadium.

If he gets through those first 5 games and holds his own he's our guy for the next decade imo. But realistically, the most important thing is that those first 5 games dont break his will, that's a tough stretch for any LT much less a rookie.

The toughest one imo will be against the Steelers opening day. I remember YTF posting about how much trouble he had against the Kansas zone blitz defense in their bowl game last season. The Steelers are undoubtedly going to throw some exotic coverages at Brown and see how handles it.
 
I'll just throw in how much I think the rest of the line will also have improved by opening day. We got a legit starting Center now and I think we'll have one hell of a battle for the RG position.

Much like last year it is monumental that whomever is lined up in the backfield is able at times to help on the blitz.
 
infantrycak said:
QB's "feel" the pressure by either hearing or seeing it coming. There is no mythical 6th sense.

The extra read was a poorly framed joke that I am sure Kubiak and Schaub are smart enough to realize they have a rookie at LT.
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The QB has to trust that the his blockers are doing their job's so that he can do his . If he See's the LT's man coming ..... Its probably too late .

As for that "mythical 6th sense" its being able to destinguish when to move up or out of the pocket based on peripheral vision or hearing ..... Not often do you see a right handed QB looking over his left shoulder at his protection . Its not conducive to him going thru downfield progressions .Thats why the LT spot is the most important on the line with a right handed QB .


Learn to :sarcasm:
 
Texan_Bill said:
Start the kid?? What's the worst case scenario (besides a broken leg - knock on wood)? If he struggles to get things figured out, Salaam is a decent (not great) back-up.. Or at least until the ROok feels comfortable.
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Worst case scenario? He exhibits a learning curve and becomes the most hated player on the team on this message board.


Raw means raw. Let's all remember that when he gets schooled by some veteran come game time.
 
Goldensilence said:
I'll just throw in how much I think the rest of the line will also have improved by opening day. We got a legit starting Center now and I think we'll have one hell of a battle for the RG position.

Much like last year it is monumental that whomever is lined up in the backfield is able at times to help on the blitz.
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Im not sold on the Center position being sewn up just yet ..... If Chris Myers is such a big deal why would Denver not have a higher value than a 6th rounder on him when its pretty apparent that Tom Nalen is coming to the end of his career after 14 seasons ?... We'll soon find out if the Texans stole something or got what they paid for .
 
I have no problem with this move. As someone who wasn't a big fan of the pick, this declaration really displays how highly they thought of Brown and gives me some hope that it may indeed ending up being a quality/high value selection. Now that he has been in rookie camp maybe they are now even more sold on the guy and are letting him know that they expect him to be the starting LT from Day One. If they had any doubts, you would doubt they would make such a statement this early in the guy's development/career. Sounds promising.

Go Brown in 2008!
 
Hervoyel said:
Charles Spencer was drafted in the third round and was transitioning to LT from guard and he still beat out the competition (that included Ephraim Salaam) to start opening day in 2006. This was under the instruction of Mike Sherman who I believe probably comes in somewhere behind Alex Gibbs.

I think Brown will be the starter on opening day unless there's just a real disconnect and he's very much not getting it.
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Good points, and I agree. I think it is safe to trust Gibbs' judgement on linemen, so the fact that he was high on Brown in the draft speaks volumes, IMO. It would surprise me if there is a disconnect because of this particular endorsement.
 
Runner said:
Worst case scenario? He exhibits a learning curve and becomes the most hated player on the team on this message board.


Raw means raw. Let's all remember that when he gets schooled by some veteran come game time.
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Hence, "if he struggles.......... Salaam"

Wasn't Chester Pitts called upon to play some LT in his rookie season (2002)?
 
Second Honeymoon said:
I have no problem with this move. As someone who wasn't a big fan of the pick, this declaration really displays how highly they thought of Brown and gives me some hope that it may indeed ending up being a quality/high value selection. Now that he has been in rookie camp maybe they are now even more sold on the guy and are letting him know that they expect him to be the starting LT from Day One. If they had any doubts, you would doubt they would make such a statement this early in the guy's development/career. Sounds promising.

Go Brown in 2008!
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SH is now giving the Texans an A+ for their draft . :smiliedance:
 
Texan_Bill said:
Hence, "if he struggles.......... Salaam"

Wasn't Chester Pitts called upon to play some LT in his rookie season (2002)?
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He played LT for the entirety of the 2002 and 2003 seasons, then was moved to LG to make way for Seth Wand.
 
Texan_Bill said:
Start the kid?? What's the worst case scenario (besides a broken leg - knock on wood)? If he struggles to get things figured out, Salaam is a decent (not great) back-up.. Or at least until the ROok feels comfortable.
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I would say the worst-case scenario is that Schaub gets hurt because of a missed block by the rookie.

My guess is that the coaches are already comfortable with Salaam's demonstrated ability to handle the position. Thus, they want to give Brown as much "starter's reps" as possible prior to the start of live action to make sure that he's ready to protect the investment the team made in Schaub. If they are not absolutely confident that Brown can hold his own, then Salaam will be the one guarding Matt's back on the first snap of preseason.
 
TheRealJoker said:
But realistically, the most important thing is that those first 5 games dont break his will, that's a tough stretch for any LT much less a rookie.
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I dunno 'bout breakin his will, but I for one am more concerned about Schaub breakin his neck if Brown is out there too soon.
 
D-ReK said:
He played LT for the entirety of the 2002 and 2003 seasons, then was moved to LG to make way for Seth Wand.
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YUP.. Thanks for that. I wasn't 100% sure that it was the entire season or not, so I erred towards the lesser..


BTW, how'd that Wand guy work out???

dripping in

:sarcasm:
 
(on facing Mario Williams now compared to four years ago) “It’s a way different Mario than I lined up against four years ago. He’s a beast out there. Like I said, it’s good going against him. It can really help you out on Sundays.”
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ha.. i love it
 
Second Honeymoon said:
I have no problem with this move. As someone who wasn't a big fan of the pick, this declaration really displays how highly they thought of Brown and gives me some hope that it may indeed ending up being a quality/high value selection. Now that he has been in rookie camp maybe they are now even more sold on the guy and are letting him know that they expect him to be the starting LT from Day One. If they had any doubts, you would doubt they would make such a statement this early in the guy's development/career. Sounds promising.

Go Brown in 2008!
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SH are you drunk already? WOW coming on board, glad to see it, shocked but glad to see it.
 
infantrycak said:
QB's "feel" the pressure by either hearing or seeing it coming. There is no mythical 6th sense.

The extra read was a poorly framed joke that I am sure Kubiak and Schaub are smart enough to realize they have a rookie at LT.
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I'm with you 'cak.. also knowing the guys around you. If the QB has a good feel for Brown, he'll know by the time the QB get's to his 6th step whether he should start moving up in the pocket, or slide to his right, or stay put. It's all about chemistry & communication.

If Matt understands that Duane is going to make Freeney go the long way around, then I think Matt can compensate for that. It happens all the time, it's one of those unspoken things, but it happens.
 
Brown got beat quite a few times by the edge guys, but it's of the variety of 2 secs or more. He will be helped by the quick release of MS and Sage's experience in getting rid of the ball quickly.

Almost always, he did get a hand on the rusher though.
I'm still a bit worry because the guys in the NFL are even faster.

He does have power and can also get off to the next level pretty nicely for his size.

As for Myers, he looked much better in the 2 games I watch him play at guard alongside with Nalen. Not as good in the 3 games he played at center.
The thing I'm most impressed with Myers is his ability to release to the next level to block in space. And he seems to do that better at Guard.

At center, he's not as efficient at run blocking, having problem with guys who throw a cut at his knees, moving him back from the LOS. And he will need help with big guys like Haynesworth (just as most Centers and Guards).

But I think I like both guys for the long term.
 
Hervoyel said:
Charles Spencer was drafted in the third round and was transitioning to LT from guard and he still beat out the competition (that included Ephraim Salaam) to start opening day in 2006.
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Excellent point. Need to spread rep and all of that blah-blah.

Salaam is a backup Tackle on most any team. He's the kind of player who's just good enough, but teams are always trying to replace. Stopgap is the term. And stopgap looks pretty good, when you've had worse the initial 4 years of the franchise. Winning teams have quality depth, and that's what Salaam is.

Double Barrel said:
I'm just glad Ron Dayne isn't here to break another promising LT's leg. ;)
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The Dayne Train is only a phone call away. :)
 
I take it all at face value with a little common sense thrown in. Kubes says he giving him time with first team to see what he can handle, I would leave it at that. I honestly think at best Brown will start the season as the swing tackle. You don't risk your QB and possibly your whole season to prove you made the right draft pick. I think if he EARNS the starting spot he will start, the rest is all just conjecture and koolaid. Eventually though he will be a long term answer for us at LT with the help of Gibbs.
 
This is good news, no matter how you slice it. We are going to find out quick, fast, and a hurry if this man can do what he was drafted to do. Gibbs and Kubiak are going to have this thing nailed down one way or another, and I suspect the kid just might be very good.


It's an exciting time to be a Texans fan. :texflag:
 
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