Casserly Interview on 610

[Vinny]

With the lame duck coaching staff, we need to start evaluating who stays and who goes. I know no one wants to face the fact that rebuilding needs to begin again, but that is the reality.

If I was McNair I would have some independent scouts and talent evaluators on the side studying game film to grade the talent on the roster as the year wears on...I don't trust this current FEMA-like group of football experts to make a seriously honest, credible analysis.

 

[JfromthaTray]

We saw in year 1 what happens when you start too many rookies on the OL. Can Carr survive another year like that, better yet, will he survive this year. Bush still gets my vote for the #1 pick and there is no way we can duplicate the results that we've had on the free agent market. I hope.

 

[Runner]

If I was McNair I would have some independent scouts and talent evaluators on the side studying game film to grade the talent on the roster as the year wears on...I don't trust this current FEMA-like group of football experts to make a seriously honest, credible analysis.

Darn straight.

 

[Vinny]

We saw in year 1 what happens when you start too many rookies on the OL. Can Carr survive another year like that, better yet, will he survive this year. Bush still gets my vote for the #1 pick and there is no way we can duplicate the results that we've had on the free agent market. I hope.

We were only an expansion team once. We won't have to play multiple rookies....we should sign one FA starting Guard (and or Center) and draft a franchise quality LT. The rest of the guys should be alright to fill in around them....oh yeah, and cut Steve McKinney and his $4,706,160 cap number next year. He is seriously over paid.

 

[Honoring Earl 34]

I think all great teams have great line play . The old Redskins with the Hogs won 3 super bowls with 3 different QBs . Their Dline Had Charles Grant , ? , Dave Butts and Manley .

I guess CC tried to go that route with Boselli and Young it just did'nt pan out .

 

[beerlover]

If I was McNair I would have some independent scouts and talent evaluators on the side studying game film to grade the talent on the roster as the year wears on...I don't trust this current FEMA-like group of football experts to make a seriously honest, credible analysis.

how about a select few of us right here on this board? it would be nice to have their access to the athletes/agents, but even without all that we should be able to do a better job and pigs do

 

[Exascor]

cut Steve McKinney and his $4,706,160 cap number next year. He is seriously over paid.

R U Carr A Z? What about the Inside Skinny? No way could the Houston airwaves survive without it!

 

[Vinny]

The Carr - McKinney QB/Center tandem has a $12 million dollar cap hit next year assuming the team picks up Carr's deal. That's mindboggling for the level of player they turned out to be.

 

[MojoX]

Good point, where does that leave us rebuilding the entire line through the draft? If we draft Brick, that only teams him up with the same players we have now less one LT. I haven't paid much attention to Weigert in all of this. Is his play consistant(not poor) or is he just as bad as the rest of the OL?

With Brick/Winston/McNeill at LT, Pitts can hold down the LG spot. That has the potential to be an All-Pro left side. The team seems to be fine as far as RG and RT prospects go. Weigert/Brown combo should suffice for now. As for RT, Wade/Riley/Wand should be passable until the next draft. That just leaves them looking for a real C to hold down the middle and coordinate the line. And with 2 thirds and a second plus anything they get from a potential trade down from 1, the team can bring in another C to develop and compete with Hodgdon. This is the year to fix the oline problems.

I believe the talent is there at the skill positions. With a top-notch oline, DD, AJ and the other receivers Carr (or whoever replaces him) should have a field day.

 

[JfromthaTray]

If we cut Mckinney, the people at 610am radio will have a fit, not to mention B. Allen, although lately he has been asking a bit tougher questions. Cut the poster child for the local media, 1 year too late. I'd have cut him this year.

 

[beerlover]

Vin you are right on target buddy. I think Cass will be smart and take a top LT hopefully Winston who is playing much better than Ferguson right now. And then maybe steal a guy like Withworth or damn forgot the centers name. But look for us to take three lineman in the draft and then a qb, rb, wr, and lb.

Winston is playing with better lateral movemnet, while Ferguson is not playing at all because he is hurt.

Whitworth will be a starter, maybe not LT but a solid SB quality guard ala the Patriots, smart, good mechanics, excellent work ethic & character.

There are two really good Centers led by Minnesota Greg Eslinger. Nick Mangold of Ohio State should still be there for the taking in the 2nd rd.

 

[Vinny]

With Brick/Winston/McNeill at LT, Pitts can hold down the LG spot. That has the potential to be an All-Pro left side. The team seems to be fine as far as RG and RT prospects go. Weigert/Brown combo should suffice for now. As for RT, Wade/Riley/Wand should be passable until the next draft. That just leaves them looking for a real C to hold down the middle and coordinate the line. And with 2 thirds and a second plus anything they get from a potential trade down from 1, the team can bring in another C to develop and compete with Hodgdon. This is the year to fix the oline problems.

I believe the talent is there at the skill positions. With a top-notch oline, DD, AJ and the other receivers Carr (or whoever replaces him) should have a field day.

I'd like to see a new LT, move Pitts to RT (he still has the best feet for the edge on the line), move Wade to RG to battle Weigert, find a FA Center (how about LeCharles Bentley), and let the rest of the guys battle it out for LG.

 

[Honoring Earl 34]

I think you could draft D'brick and Winston ... and still have problems with our current staff .

 

[JfromthaTray]

Say we draft Brick or Mckinney(The U) to play LT. Pitts at RT, the coaches think Weigert is OK at RG. How about Wade at LG and say Bentley at C. Or is there some flaw in Wade's game that would prevent him from playing LG.

 

[Vinny]

Say we draft Brick or Mckinney(The U) to play LT. Pitts at RT, the coaches think Weigert is OK at RG. How about Wade at LG and say Bentley at C. Or is there some flaw in Wade's game that would prevent him from playing LG.

All I know about Wade is he can run block like crazy...but he is a pathetic pass blocker because he isn't athletic enough. Victor Riley is more athletic than him...he's just a big stiff Herman Munster like guy who cant move his feet well laterally and doesn't get good knee bend.

 

[Texans Horror]

If we cut Mckinney, the people at 610am radio will have a fit, not to mention B. Allen, although lately he has been asking a bit tougher questions. Cut the poster child for the local media, 1 year too late. I'd have cut him this year.

I have never understood the fascination with McKinney. Must be his rhino tattoo.

 

[JfromthaTray]

They released Glenn, so I don't think it has anything to do with him being a homer. May have somthin to do with the huntin -n- fishin.

 

[Ibar_Harry]

The Carr - McKinney QB/Center tandem has a $12 million dollar cap hit next year assuming the team picks up Carr's deal. That's mindboggling for the level of player they turned out to be.

Vinny I disagree with you on Carr until the O-line is fixed, but I will point out something I picked up on the other day and mentioned in another thread and that is they have no one but McKinney to call blocking assignments for the O-line. That appears to be the stumbling block on McKinney. I can't believe that's true, but that appears to be the case. Why aren't they grooming someone else to do that. Seems like a lot of job security to me......

 

[aj.]

I have a sneaky feeling that Armstrong will get plenty of reps next year, after they let Gaffney go UFA. Drew will get stupid during negotiations and I have heard nothing about them extending Gaff.

Gaff and Armstrong are basically the same receiver and one will be 1/4 the cost of the other

 

[Ibar_Harry]

I have a sneaky feeling that Armstrong will get plenty of reps next year, after they let Gaffney go UFA. Drew will get stupid during negotiations and I have heard nothing about them extending Gaff.

Gaff and Armstrong are basically the same receiver and one will be 1/4 the cost of the other

We let go of 3 WR's in TC who are better than Bradford. That was a coaching decision. I can bet that AJ will want to go somewhere else the way its shaping up here. He has talent, but he's not really being coached well here. Like Carr he is regressing. His hands have always been in question and its showing up once again this year.

 

[Honoring Earl 34]

We have let go alot of players . The good news is you can still watch them on the tube . They landed on their feet and are playing well .

I guess we have never defined what a Houston Texan player is . The good teams will draft a guy and plug him in and voila its agood fit . We get a player and it seems he regresses .

Robaire was a DT who was switched to a 3-4 end and I think he's coming around . We have let a couple of LBs go who could clearly start for us ... one could 'nt get on the field but I think he went to the Pro-Bowl for San Diego .

 

[Ibar_Harry]

We have let go alot of players . The good news is you can still watch them on the tube . They landed on their feet and are playing well .

I guess we have never defined what a Houston Texan player is . The good teams will draft a guy and plug him in and voila its agood fit . We get a player and it seems he regresses .

Robaire was a DT who was switched to a 3-4 end and I think he's coming around . We have let a couple of LBs go who could clearly start for us ... one could 'nt get on the field but I think he went to the Pro-Bowl for San Diego .

That's not the GM's fault...........................

 

[powda]

If I was McNair I would have some independent scouts and talent evaluators on the side studying game film to grade the talent on the roster as the year wears on...I don't trust this current FEMA-like group of football experts to make a seriously honest, credible analysis.

i made a post about that a couple of days ago actually...

"outside consultants" to get a diffrent perspective on our players-coaches-and to reevaluate our gm...plus then we at least have a place to start when evaluating college talent if casserly gets fired.

i think carr being benched in the next couple of games may be an indicator mcnair has decided to keep casserly.

i think mcnair would also be wise to have a "spy" or 2 on the next coaching staff. a deepthroat sort with no worries on speaking the truth to mcnair behind closed doors.

its been my employement experience that sometimes people at the "grunt level" have the best insight on whats wrong...they just dont have the authority to change it.

 

[Hervoyel]

I'll take Armstrong's catches for a few extra first downs if the other choice is Bradford's rare long catch.

That's completely right. Bradford, for all the grief he takes out on these boards is not a bad receiver BUT you have to know how to use him. To begin with Bradford is never going to be a consistent starter for you. He wants to be and he tries to be but it's not going to happen. If it was going to happen it would have by now.

What you do is keep Bradford coming off the bench and trying to earn that starting spot. He's at his best when the defense hasn't seen him for most of the day and he's trying to prove that he can be your #2. Then he comes in while your #2 is taking a breather and rips off that one long TD.

Starting him is just not a good idea. Armstrong, Gaffney, maybe even Mathis (we just don't know enough about him yet) are your potential #2's.

 

[Vinny]

i think carr being benched in the next couple of games may be an indicator mcnair has decided to keep casserly.

I don't understand why this would be favorable to Casserly. He is the guy who picked him.

 

[nunusguy]

Out of frustration about any specifics about Wand in Chronical coverage
lately during the OL shakeup, I E-mailed Chron writer M.Manfull to ask her what Wand's current status is. She said, and of course I'm paraphrasing here,
that Wand is still with the team, at practice, etc. but the Texans feel that Wand, while a good run blocker, lacked the athleticism and mobility to handle the speed rushers in pass protection. She did add that he is still young with time to learn.
Anyway, shows how little I know, because I've always been under the impression that Wand's strong suite was pass blocking and not run blocking and also that he was relatively athletic with quick feet.

 

[Ibar_Harry]

Out of frustration about any specifics about Wand in Chronical coverage
lately during the OL shakeup, I E-mailed Chron writer M.Manfull to ask her what Wand's current status is. She said, and of course I'm paraphrasing here,
that Wand is still with the team, at practice, etc. but the Texans feel that Wand, while a good run blocker, lacked the athleticism and mobility to handle the speed rushers in pass protection. She did add that he is still young with time to learn.
Anyway, shows how little I know, because I've always been under the impression that Wand's strong suite was pass blocking and not run blocking and also that he was relatively athletic with quick feet.

Mr B. thought so and was tuitoring him before he left. Still think Mr. B didn't become an assistant because he didn't like what was going on.

 

[powda]

I don't understand why this would be favorable to Casserly. He is the guy who picked him.

better to eat crow for 3/4 of a season then loose any chance of salvaging your "franchise qb". my feeling on it is the longer carr is in there with this line the more you jeopardize his chance of ever reaching his potential.

if mcnair decides to keep casserly i think casserly lays down the law. casserly would still consider carr a longterm part of the team...why let a shortterm coaching staff ruin him anymore then they already have?

 

[Vinny]

Anyway, shows how little I know, because I've always been under the impression that Wand's strong suite was pass blocking and not run blocking and also that he was relatively athletic with quick feet.

You have had that backwards then. Wand's strength has been his run blocking, not his pass protection.

 

[ComstockLode]

Why didnt anyone ask him if our oline is so good, then why would none of them start at any other team in the league?

What a joke, clean house including casserly after this season.

Give me a coach and or GM who has the attitude of van gundy. Never satisfied, and not pumping out excuses for failure.

Tell it how it is, we are the worst team in the NFL and the team needs to get their asses into gear.

 

[powda]

Give me a coach and or GM who has the attitude of van gundy. Never satisfied, and not pumping out excuses for failure.

Tell it how it is, we are the worst team in the NFL and the team needs to get their asses into gear.

van gundy is a refreshing sports personality. he dosent always say pc things and sometimes he comes across as a
cry baby...but he tells you what he genuienly feels minus the cliches.

 

[nunusguy]

I'd like to see a new LT, move Pitts to RT (he still has the best feet for the edge on the line)

Yea, we put our best tackle on the left side and 2nd best on the right side, not one of them at LG. But I guess its taken them a season plus to realize that Chester is the best tackle on the team right now and next year if they draft that stud tackle, I hope they don't forget again that Pitts is still one of the 2 best tackles on the team and move him back to guard.

 

[Runner]

Out of frustration about any specifics about Wand in Chronical coverage
lately during the OL shakeup, I E-mailed Chron writer M.Manfull to ask her what Wand's current status is. She said, and of course I'm paraphrasing here,
that Wand is still with the team, at practice, etc. but the Texans feel that Wand, while a good run blocker, lacked the athleticism and mobility to handle the speed rushers in pass protection. She did add that he is still young with time to learn.
Anyway, shows how little I know, because I've always been under the impression that Wand's strong suite was pass blocking and not run blocking and also that he was relatively athletic with quick feet.

Well, Pitts has Freeney in 2 weeks to show how it's done against the premier speed rusher in the game. I'm sure glad it's not going to be Riley (and he has superior athleticism???) vs Freeney. I don't know if there is a tackle in the league who can stop him one on one.


Now, to get this thread back to Casserly's interview, he did stress several times that there would be a learning curve for o-line for a while as everybody adjusts to the new positions. That is a pretty clear warning that we fans better be ready for things to get a little worse before they get better.

 

[infantrycak]

This means when they break down film there are guys open but Carr hasn't gotten them the ball.

Well true, could be, but as we have talked about, at least I have to wonder if the coaches haven't changed Carr's definition of open. The same 14 game streak you have rightly mentioned shows a marked change in what Carr throws to. I would love to know if the change was Carr or the staff because that really affects decisions for the future.

 

[WWJD]

The time to change and improve your team is during the off-season.

I'll see what happens Sunday.

 

[Runner]

change and improve

We did one but not the other.

 

[infantrycak]

Mr B. thought so and was tuitoring him before he left. Still think Mr. B didn't become an assistant because he didn't like what was going on.

"Mr. B" didn't become an assistant for a couple hundred grand because he has $20 mil in the bank and thinks that is plenty. Same reason he didn't sue the obviously negligent Jax doc who butchered his shoulder and ended his otherwise hall of fame career. But you keep on with the Oliver Stone surmises.

 

[touttail]

That is one of the most pathetic things I have ever heard from that man's mouth. He's not on the field becuse no one has played bad enough? How about how GOOD Armstrong is when he's on the field? Jeez...

Agreed-----Agreed----------Agreed
Casserly is just as bad as any politician. always jumping around the issues!

bobby 119C :brickwall