Wilson on Kalil: What we're getting from Matt is inconsistent. It's not just his health, it's his play. It's rust. He didn't play last year. He wears a sleeve, got his foot stepped on, he gets dinged easily. They have to give him days off. He's 30 years old, got a lot of wear & tear on his body.
Yesterday we saw him get bull rushed into Deshaun Watson, have a false start and I saw some good moments. My opinion on him is this lowest common denominator. Is he better than Julie'n Davenport? Yes, resounding yes. Do they have a better option on this roster other than shelving the Tytus Howard guard experiment and getting him ready to play? I advocate that move. I would shut it down with Kalil, maybe have him not even make the team and make Tytus Howard the starting LT. You have little time to do this which lends me to think they'll go with the path of least resistance. Kalil at least against the Saints - if healthy - but at some point they'll have to pull the trigger and get Howard ready. I would put him out there & let him learn on the job. It's not ideal but you can't have Kalil out there being inconsistent & getting dinged all the time. I hear the right things from him but I don't know. What we actually see & what he says are two different things. I'm in favor of moving on.
McClain: If they move Howard to tackle, that means they royally screwed up putting him at guard. It's way too late. They should have had him at left tackle all the time. That's why I think they will trade Clowney for a left tackle. I have no idea who that will be. You won't get what he's worth at this time. The other team can't sign him so the other team may be in the same position as the Texans. [...] It's just a bad time to trade him unless you can get a left tackle.
In practice Thursday, Tytus Howard was 2nd team to Kelemete & Roderick Johnson replaced Kalil. What are we to read into that?
Wilson: We asked that question. He said this was just looking at him with the ones. Senio was their starter last year. He came into this year as the guy. Then we heard talk that they were going to replace him with Rankin. He's obviously still way better than Martinas Rankin. I think they're hedging their bets & seeing if Kelemete, if we move on from Kalil & Howard is the LT, could we go that way? That's an option. We were starting to write Kelemete off, I know I had at least. Would you rather have Kelemete than Rankin?
McClain: I think Rankin ought to be on the side of a milk carton. I haven't heard anyone talking about him. (Wilson: Not having that good of a camp, yeah) I don't know if it's mental, physical, lost his confidence but he hasn't stood out at all. I was told when Zach Fulton left KC for Houston, Chiefs thought he was a better center. Thoughts about Fulton?
Wilson: I'm interested in the Fulton option at center and Nick Martin at guard. Would they make that move? Would they consider it? If you want your best five, can you make an argument for: Howard-Martin-Fulton-Scharping-Henderson. It's a big lineup. I think it'd be interesting to see that group & would love to see it in a preseason game. I don't know even know if Nick will be ready for the 3rd preseason game at this rate. I'd like to see that idea floated.
What I saw today, they were seeing if Kelemete, giving him those reps in case they have to move on. I'd take everything with a grain of salt. They said it was a day off for Kalil but we've seen enough injuries from him in the past. He's made of glass & could go down at any moment. It's not like his play is that great. I'm being generous but he's been like a C+. More of a C? You might give him a D. Consistency & health are big factors. Davenport was a F. Maybe he's a D or C. They're marginally better with him at LT.
McClain: Very interesting Thursday Davenport was 2nd team & Roderick Johnson moved up to first team. What do you read into that?
Wilson: He said RJ has had a good camp. I agree with him. He has had a good camp. A young lineman worth developing. He was thought of pretty highly coming out of Florida State & then washed out with the Browns. Davenport, obviously not good. They don't think highly of his play. He didn't even get the chance to compete for the job he held last year. He can't be your LT. I thought he'd at least be the swing tackle.
McClain: Who is the swing tackle?
Wilson: Could he do it? Yeah I guess.
McClain: Julie'n could but do they want him on the team?
Wilson: Feels like they don't have any confidence in him. This line shuffle, some of it's because of health but some of it is because of talent. They seem willing to put anyone in there at any time. The fact Rankin hasn't been moved up is interesting. He's a 3rd round pick. One thing too that comes to mind: you fired your GM. He had a vision for what he thought these guys would do. Obviously the coach makes the decision who plays but in the acquisition of players, a lot of that was his vision. O'Brien signed off but he had the idea & brings it to him 'Hey I want to do this' & then it happens. For Rankin to fall this far out of favor when I thought he had a good offseason, I thought he had gotten in better shape, ... I would give him a chance but they know better. They don't think he should. I would almost be? surprised if he makes the team at this point because he's shown nothing & haven't given him the opportunities.