2016 Offensive Line thread

[Texansphan]

JMO, but I think XSF is one of those guys starting because of where he was drafted and/or the money he's being paid. If he sits on the bench it would be a black eye to the team/GM/coach for using a #33 draft pick on him, especially when decent-good QB's went #32 and #34. They're going to give XSF every chance possible to redeem himself in hopes that he can at least be serviceable. I don't look for him to be re-signed in the next couple years unless he gets much better soon.

Remember how bad he was his first two seasons? We are seeing a much improved xsf and he is getting better all the time.
He is a slow developer and you get that with a lot of players.
Btw, our line is ranked 18th overall which surprised me - as time goes by, they will get better but for now, they are what they are.

 

[austins23]

A little excerpt from Peter King's MMQB, giving Duane Brown some love.

http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/10/31/oakland-raiders-overtime-nfl-week-8-peter-king

Dr. Z Unsung Guys of the Week
Each week, in conjunction with Pro Football Focus, I’ll point out three players who played well but were under the radar. Paul Zimmerman would have loved this section. This week’s trio:

2. Tackle Duane Brown, Houston. Brown was the best player on the Texans offense Sunday. He allowed no sacks and one hurry of Brock Osweiler on 35 pass-blocking snaps, and his run-blocking grade ranked No. 1 among all tackles in Week 8.

 

[Texansphan]

A little excerpt from Peter King's MMQB, giving Duane Brown some love.

http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/10/31/oakland-raiders-overtime-nfl-week-8-peter-king

Dr. Z Unsung Guys of the Week
Each week, in conjunction with Pro Football Focus, I’ll point out three players who played well but were under the radar. Paul Zimmerman would have loved this section. This week’s trio:

2. Tackle Duane Brown, Houston. Brown was the best player on the Texans offense Sunday. He allowed no sacks and one hurry of Brock Osweiler on 35 pass-blocking snaps, and his run-blocking grade ranked No. 1 among all tackles in Week 8.

Wow, didn't take him long to get back up to speed.
Hopefully its catching.

 

[Texian]

A little excerpt from Peter King's MMQB, giving Duane Brown some love.

http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/10/31/oakland-raiders-overtime-nfl-week-8-peter-king

Dr. Z Unsung Guys of the Week
Each week, in conjunction with Pro Football Focus, I’ll point out three players who played well but were under the radar. Paul Zimmerman would have loved this section. This week’s trio:

2. Tackle Duane Brown, Houston. Brown was the best player on the Texans offense Sunday. He allowed no sacks and one hurry of Brock Osweiler on 35 pass-blocking snaps, and his run-blocking grade ranked No. 1 among all tackles in Week 8.

I have to admit I was wrong and missed on Brown returning to his normal level of play. The odds were against him in a BIG way and he beat those odds. Congrats and Kudos to Duane.

 

[Insideop]

A little excerpt from Peter King's MMQB, giving Duane Brown some love.

2. Tackle Duane Brown, Houston. Brown was the best player on the Texans offense Sunday. He allowed no sacks and one hurry of Brock Osweiler on 35 pass-blocking snaps, and his run-blocking grade ranked No. 1 among all tackles in Week 8.

Brown's play has been a pleasant, and much needed, surprise since his return. I can't even imagine where the Texan's would be (record wise) if he hadn't been playing at a high level. The running game has improved and so has XSF's play since DB came back. But, the simple fact is this O-line, with Newton's loss, is running on the ragged edge and a loss of another starter would probably spell disaster for the team in the 2nd half. BOB/Smith have neglected the O-line in the last 3 Draft's (only Martin and XSF) and it's starting to take a toll on that unit as a whole. I really believe they need to take an OT with the 1st pick and another OG with a later pick if they want this Offense, and Brock's development, to move forward and not regress. Brock is not a mobile QB that can buy time moving around. He needs solid protection that will give him time in this "complicated" BOB Offense so he can pick defenses apart. Without that protection, and it's very noticeable against the top defenses (Pats, Vikes, Broncs), he's rushed, makes bad decisions, has bad footwork, etc..... he looks terrible, as most QB's would, especially non-mobile QB's. So far this O-line has held up against the bad and mediocre teams and they have done enough, with the Defenses help, to win those games, but if they want to take that next step and get past the 1st round of the playoffs they need to start fixing this O-line in the Draft. Just my !

 

[ung14]

Is there any chance Nick Martin can play guard? Mancz is playing well at center and should get better with time. Martin could compete with XSF and Jeff Allen for one of the OG spots. Yes, bench Allen if needed. Draft a tackle to play RT in the first round and line could be really good next year.

 

[PapaL]

Is there any chance Nick Martin can play guard? Mancz is playing well at center and should get better with time. Martin could compete with XSF and Jeff Allen for one of the OG spots. Yes, bench Allen if needed. Draft a tackle to play RT in the first round and line could be really good next year.

He started at OG as well as C in college.

 

[Redtexans]

I am really impressed with the OL play over the last 3 or 4 games. If not for their improved play, we could have easily lost the games against Detriot and Jax.

 

[IDEXAN]

Is there any chance Nick Martin can play guard? Mancz is playing well at center and should get better with time. Martin could compete with XSF and Jeff Allen for one of the OG spots. Yes, bench Allen if needed. Draft a tackle to play RT in the first round and line could be really good next year.

Yea I've heard that Mancz has come a long way. He was of course an UFA from last year out of a small school (Toledo) who missed most of his rookie year and was IR'ed so to do as much as he has in this his first real NFL season is very impressive.
I am not any kind of Oline authority but from what I've read and heard he's now playing at a competent level ?

 

[JB]

If the right side of the line could play at a competent level, wouldn't be much reason to complain about the OL

 

[Insideop]

I am really impressed with the OL play over the last 3 or 4 games. If not for their improved play, we could have easily lost the games against Detriot and Jax.

I posted a link on another thread about how the O-line has improved in the rushing game over the last 4 games, which coincides with the return of Brown to LT. Link: http://www.houstontexans.com/news/a...-4-games/66c153eb-6998-4430-8b68-593afe6528c1 It says the Texans rushing attack has averaged 146 yds/gm over the last 4 games. If they can keep this up it would bode well for the remainder of the season and into the Playoffs. But, I still believe they need to draft an OT in the 1st rd of the 2017 Draft and start him from day one next season.

 

[thunderkyss]

If the right side of the line could play at a competent level, wouldn't be much reason to complain about the OL

I think Clark has played competently... not elite. However, after so many games I think we'll see him struggle like he did earlier this season on the left side. I know he was called twice for holding last game, but I think one of them was straight bull.

The left side has gotten better with Brown, I love watching him & Sua-Filo between plays. Duane's dropping that knowledge & you can tell XSF is soaking it up. I think he's also been getting better "consistency" wise.

 

[Insideop]

I think Clark has played competently... not elite. However, after so many games I think we'll see him struggle like he did earlier this season on the left side. I know he was called twice for holding last game, but I think one of them was straight bull.

The left side has gotten better with Brown, I love watching him & Sua-Filo between plays. Duane's dropping that knowledge & you can tell XSF is soaking it up. I think he's also been getting better "consistency" wise.

Yeah, XSF and DB are making a pretty good left side for both the run and passing games. It's a lot better than it was when Clark was on the left side that's for sure! Saw this on houstontexans.com about XSF; http://www.houstontexans.com/news/a...d-player/6ce3e1a8-9770-4217-b674-6dc4717e09dc