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2016 Offensive Line thread
- Thread starter Texian
- Start date
Heard on the radio that the Pats were only rushing 3 most of the time... our 5 OL couldn't block them. Not surprising that Miller couldn't run
powda
The bridge between stupid and useless is short.
Was thinking about this thread and heard the 610 morning show where they talked about it as well...
and then it dawned on me.
Miller is fast...to fast like a squirrel on crack. He gets to the hole before it's there. He doesn't have the field vision to naturally find what's developing at full speed.
Essentially, Miller is faster then our run blocking. I don't blame Miller I blame the line.
How do you stop it? Drop Miller a step farther away from the line or...
Run out of a pistol.
Well, the running out of the pistol damn sure didn't work... at least in that game .
Uncle Rico
Ur apology should be as loud as Ur disrespect was
Godsey would be well served to abandon handing off the ball in the shotgun, and then to compound matters asking a shifty back to punch it between the tackles with a subpar personnel grouping. Coaches need to do a better job of accepting the fact that they need to compensate for the lack of talent up front and try something different.
The running game for the most part has been mashing a square peg into a round hole over and over through 3 weeks. I think Miller is doing well on God given talent, but isnt being helped by scheme or proactive coaches.
The running game for the most part has been mashing a square peg into a round hole over and over through 3 weeks. I think Miller is doing well on God given talent, but isnt being helped by scheme or proactive coaches.
Rd. 1 Ryan Ramczyk OT Wisconsin
Rd. 2 Forrest Lamp OG/OT Western Kentucky
Rd.3 Andrew Gennsey OT/OG Tx A&M
Put these guys with Martin and you have a talented OL for the next decade that will allow Os to progress with the young WR's and form an offense that would be machine like. Let them develop together
With Watt out I would spend FA $$$$ on the DL.
badboy
Hall of Fame
What OL plays blew up our QB? I can remember only one and that was on Newton. Not saying they got to second level but I thought they blocked fairly efficiently. It doesn't matter how many rushed, what were results of said rush? I agree blocking for backs was not sufficient but passing was good. Most posters here thought passing game would be our strength not running game. Miller would be better than Blue (he hasn't) but more importantly he was to be dump off to save Os and get more yards as a receiver.
For three games Fuller dropped a long pass that would have increased pass yardage as even more would have a more accurate QB. In summary, our offense should get much better and our defense will be good if not great without Watt. Our defense future is now in hands of Crennel not Watt.
I didn't say anything about our QB getting blown up. He was getting pressured all night tho, and that allowed them to drop 8 into coverage and take away what the Texans wanted to do, and the run blocking was crap
Number19
Hall of Fame
I'm listening to Doc and assuming DB does not have a few years left. In fact, just like Watt, I'm assuming he won't last the season.
Seegara
Guitar Picker, Dog Lover, Woodworker
But from the I formation the RB has a lead blocker. You can also give the ball to the FB who just has to run 4 yds to reach the line of scrimmage.
badboy
Hall of Fame
Protecting QB is also what line does and team ran for 109; not saying great but not crap and play calling as well as Millers sad attempts played huge role. Patriots ran better but Texans passed better 196 yards. Osweiler handing off from shotgun also negatively impacted the run; not releasing pass timely also led to much of the pressure. Eight in box screams 'pass the ball' to everyone but Osweiler.
If we don't see much better offense versus Titans then I will be more concerned.
Ok, if you want to think the OL did a great job go right ahead with it... I happen to disagree.
badboy
Hall of Fame
quick someone tell Miller it is 2016. Also many thought before Thursday, Texans would need to draft at least one OT if not two, another DE to train behind Watt and an ILB who could cover. IMO nothing has changed. I thought a Nose should also be drafted but if Wilfork continues to play as he did Thursday, I could see another year extension.
ok, but what I saw Thursday night was mostly crap with a sprinkle of ok in the run game. Their pass blocking wasn't atrocious for the most part, but again they were only blocking 3 most of the time. Osweiler should have had all day in a clean pocket, but he didn't
Texansballer74
The Marine
I'm thinking a lot more zone blocking could help this team tremendously. We are not getting much push up front to be a power running team. And we really don't have that type of back either.
What did you think of the offense against the Chiefs?
badboy
Hall of Fame
Not what I wanted but about what I expected in second game for a piece meal line. 351 yards, eight minutes of possession over KC. Let's not change what we were thinking that defense would need to lead the offense at least until the line melded. As I and I think you have said, we have back up right tackle starting for Brown, a sophomore left guard, an un-drafted free agent starting at center, an average right guard with three games in system and lastly Newton returning from hamstring. They should get better and that is what we hoped for. We should be 3-1 after Sunday.
I don't think I've ever said Clark was a back up right tackle.
May have thought it, but I don't believe I ever said it... out loud.
But yes, I agree with the main point of your post. Work in progress. New England's offensive effort was a total shock. Should see better at home against Tennessee.
Honoring Earl 34
Something Witty !
Ted Johnson said the Texans guard play is poor . Add a 1st year starting center and this what you get .
Clark has been adequate, Newton is what he is, Same for XSF (Starting to think he's a bust) Allen is a guy who has really disappointed me, he was really good with KC last yr. They must've known something. Mancz actually hasn't been terrible, but not above avg.
With the talent here I dont see this team being able to compete with the Broncos/Vikings defenses and guess what the Titans defense has given up 17 or less points a game this yr. The Vikings scored more than that due to turnovers.
I could see another tough Sunday afternoon for this offense. Good news is the defense should be up to the task even without Watt. If the Texans can quit turning the ball over they should win in a low scoring affair.
Number19
Hall of Fame
I'm curious, the zone blocking schemes we used in the past utilized a lot of cut blocking, which is now illegal I believe. How has this rule change effected zone blocking?
Cut blocking is not illegal. Chop blocking is. However,
This may allow defenders to hold onto OLmen keeping them from getting to the 2nd level.
powda
The bridge between stupid and useless is short.
I agree in general though i haven't focused exclusively on jeff allen. I don't think we're miserable in pass protection, but every run play it seems defenders are penetrating across the line of scrimmage.
Duane Brown will be back - should be better.
Xsf might miss less assignments or be the best LG on this team but he's a jag. How many other teams would he start for?
Center is a wash. We don't know anything about Martin. Mancz is what we have now and going into next year he'll be better with this years experience. No offseason moves here.
As i said i wanna see more of jeff allen. It's still a new system for him and the jury's out. Time will tell.
Newton. One good year for a contract. I don't know the details of that contract or what kinda cloud that puts over us. Contracts aside i see average with flashes of bad. I can't help but wonder about stacking him vs xsf at lg next year to salvage 1 of those 2. Best man wins.
Seems like a solution to fixing this line over the offseason. Minimal additions (1starting Rt) - Newton versatile enough to start at rt or guard in a pinch - and mid to late round depth added. That way we aren't forced to to spend all offseason assets recreating a line.
badboy
Hall of Fame
I think they should spend most if not all of their assets to build an OL that can keep the investment in Os safe and give him his best chance to achieve success. This includes adding a true weapon at TE.
PapaL
Loose Screw
This. This right here. Why spend millions on a QB and a RB if we have the Three Stooges blocking for them? We need to upgrade and solidify our big uglies.
Brown at most has a handful of years left. Our next best OL is our injured rookie center. Who knows what he'll turn out to be. After that, we have no one of note.
I'm going to wait until December before I decide how much I should invest in the OL.
powda
The bridge between stupid and useless is short.
I think you either missed my intent or I did not communicate it clearly enough. Of course we should do what we can to fix the line. The problem is we as fans know it and so does everyone else. Teams in the draft will be looking to grab linemen before us. I don't want to be forced to take more "average talent" simply because we have to get it.
The OL that I listed are far from avg. and are listed to be available in the rds I listed or later. You can trade up if necessary to get your LT of the future and luckily you can find OG's and RT's that can play in rds 3-4. It's all about the amount of capital they want to spend and how committed they are to fixing the OL. (We used to have this discussion for yrs before Alex Gibbs was hired.)
My point is they need to do whatever it takes to protect Os so that they dont have to endure another Carr situation. It seems that so far they haven't leaned much from the past.
powda
The bridge between stupid and useless is short.
Agreed.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-ranking-all-32-nfl-offensive-lines-entering-week-5-2
RANKING ALL 32 NFL OFFENSIVE LINES ENTERING WEEK 5
29. Houston Texans (11)
Starters: LT Chris Clark, LG Xavier Su’a-Filo, C Greg Mancz, RG Jeff Allen, RT Derek Newton
Another team that can still remember when they were the best line in the league, the Texans are far from that now. Chris Clark has struggled to fill in for LT Duane Brown, and has surrendered two sacks, two hits, and six hurries in 160 pass-blocking snaps, while Derek Newton on the other side has been even worse, matching him in sacks and hits, but adding four more hurries. Newton has been the one member of the line to grade well as a run blocker, with all of the rest struggling badly in that area.
10. Philadelphia Eagles (7)
Starters: LT Jason Peters, LG Allen Barbre, C Jason Kelce, RG Brandon Brooks, RT Lane Johnson
The threat of suspension continues to hang over Lane Johnson, but he’s been on the field thus far and has impressed at RT, allowing only three total pressures and no sacks or hits on QB Carson Wentz. Ironically, it is the old stalwarts of this line—Jason Peters at LT and Jason Kelce at C—that have been the poorest performers through four weeks, with Kelce in particular struggling in the middle. Allen Barbre and Brandon Brooks at guard have been very good, allowing the team a far greater platform to run the ball than a year ago.
1. Tennessee Titans (25)
Starters: LT Taylor Lewan, LG Quinton Spain, C Ben Jones, RG Josh Kline, RT Jack Conklin
You wouldn’t know it from their record, but the Titans all of a sudden have the game’s best O-line through the first four weeks of the season. Taylor Lewan and Jack Conklin both rank among the top five OTs league-wide, with Lewan sitting atop the PFF offensive tackle rankings with a grade of 90.8. The other positions haven’t played quite as well, but there has been no single weak link along the line, with every player performing at least at an average level once Chance Warmack went down.
RANKING ALL 32 NFL OFFENSIVE LINES ENTERING WEEK 5
29. Houston Texans (11)
Starters: LT Chris Clark, LG Xavier Su’a-Filo, C Greg Mancz, RG Jeff Allen, RT Derek Newton
Another team that can still remember when they were the best line in the league, the Texans are far from that now. Chris Clark has struggled to fill in for LT Duane Brown, and has surrendered two sacks, two hits, and six hurries in 160 pass-blocking snaps, while Derek Newton on the other side has been even worse, matching him in sacks and hits, but adding four more hurries. Newton has been the one member of the line to grade well as a run blocker, with all of the rest struggling badly in that area.
10. Philadelphia Eagles (7)
Starters: LT Jason Peters, LG Allen Barbre, C Jason Kelce, RG Brandon Brooks, RT Lane Johnson
The threat of suspension continues to hang over Lane Johnson, but he’s been on the field thus far and has impressed at RT, allowing only three total pressures and no sacks or hits on QB Carson Wentz. Ironically, it is the old stalwarts of this line—Jason Peters at LT and Jason Kelce at C—that have been the poorest performers through four weeks, with Kelce in particular struggling in the middle. Allen Barbre and Brandon Brooks at guard have been very good, allowing the team a far greater platform to run the ball than a year ago.
1. Tennessee Titans (25)
Starters: LT Taylor Lewan, LG Quinton Spain, C Ben Jones, RG Josh Kline, RT Jack Conklin
You wouldn’t know it from their record, but the Titans all of a sudden have the game’s best O-line through the first four weeks of the season. Taylor Lewan and Jack Conklin both rank among the top five OTs league-wide, with Lewan sitting atop the PFF offensive tackle rankings with a grade of 90.8. The other positions haven’t played quite as well, but there has been no single weak link along the line, with every player performing at least at an average level once Chance Warmack went down.
TejasTom
All Pro
Is this the only thing keeping us from being dead last?
banned1976
sleeper mode
They are certainly in the running now. The o-line has been unable to overcome injuries and the offseason losses of Brooks and Jones. This is where I thought Rick Smith could be graded out, how well this patchwork offensive line functioned. And so far it doesn't look good. Add to that, I don't think Duane Brown will ever get close to his former pro-bowl self when he does return. So I don't really see this line being significantly upgraded with Brown.
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I could certainly understand letting Jones walk and they did replace him... damn injuries anyway. I didn't quite get letting Brooks go, but hopefully Allen will do an adequate job there so they did replace him also. Brown is a huge question mark and even if he does return to form it will take a while to show it.
Texian
Hall of Fame
![maxwell_smart[1].jpg](http://www.texanstalk.com/data/attachments/0/643-d3c73cf350c1920da1fb5ca110c8d59e.jpg "maxwell_smart[1].jpg")
A Maxwell Smart reference?
Man, you're old.
banned1976
sleeper mode
A Maxwell Smart reference?
Man, you're old.
Maybe we should start calling JJ Watt "Agent 99".
Texian
Hall of Fame
Yep, I know a lot because I've seen a lot.A Maxwell Smart reference?
Man, you're old.
I hope Smith sees this article and learns that the OL can be fixed in one yr if he spends the resources to fix it. (Doubtful)
Newton has been the one member of the line to grade well as a run blocker, with all of the rest struggling badly in that area.
****
That right there is another reason the Texans should have been drafting OTs (and not guards & centers) the last couple years when they've already got an Olineman who would
probably be solid if not superior playing in the interior of the OLine while he's a liability playing on the edge now, i.e., Newt can run block but struggles in pass-blocking.
****
That right there is another reason the Texans should have been drafting OTs (and not guards & centers) the last couple years when they've already got an Olineman who would
probably be solid if not superior playing in the interior of the OLine while he's a liability playing on the edge now, i.e., Newt can run block but struggles in pass-blocking.
Texian
Hall of Fame
I'm not sure that group learns anything from things that happen in this league, I truly think they all believe they are smartest folks in the room.
You need to hope McNair sees this and tells Smith to go get the folks to protect his high-dollar QB
wasn't it just yesterday?