bdiddy
Waterboy
Has anyone seen this article in the chronicle regarding, Spencer competing w/ Wand at LT and Winston competing w/ Weigart and Wade at RT. I was under the impression that Winston was the more agile and capable pass defender, i.e., more suited for the left side, and that Spencer was a mauler, someone best suited to play guard or RT.
Any thoughts?
After talking for months about improving the protection schemes and personnel around quarterback David Carr, the Texans finally took action.
With the first two picks in the third round of the NFL draft on Saturday, the Texans selected tackles Charles Spencer of Pittsburgh and Eric Winston of Miami. The selections mean more shuffling of the offensive line from a year ago, when the Texans gave up a league-leading 68 sacks.
Spencer, 6-4 and 352 pounds, is slated to compete with Seth Wand for the starting job at left tackle. Winston, 6-6 and 310 pounds, should compete with Zach Wiegert and Todd Wade at right tackle.
"Good things come to those who wait," coach Gary Kubiak said after the Texans' third-round selections were announced. "This is awesome. I can't believe it panned out this way."
Pitts back to guard
In anticipation of being able to improve their personnel at tackle through the draft, the Texans already had Chester Pitts working at left guard, where he started throughout the 2004 season.
Steve McKinney is moving to right guard, where he has never played. He spent the first four years of his career at left guard with the Indianapolis Colts before spending four years at center for the Texans. Free-agent signee Mike Flanagan is the Texans' new center.
"Every coach has their opinion of where they think your best position is and where you can contribute most," Pitts said. "That's what the new staff feels will be best. It's known that I prefer to play tackle, but I will play guard.
"I expect us to get better this year, especially because I believe Kubiak's (zone-blocking) system is solid and effective. I believe everybody will be better, and things will go better for all of us."
After focusing on the defensive side of the ball in the first two rounds by selecting North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams No. 1 overall and Alabama outside linebacker DeMeco Ryans with the 33rd pick, the Texans gave their offense a boost in round three.
As soon as Spencer and Winston heard their names called, they realized they were going to a team that could instantly use their help. It was the ideal scenario for both.
"As an offensive lineman, if you're focused on anything else other than making sure the dirt stays off your quarterback, then you're probably playing the wrong position," Winston said. "I've never met David Carr, but I can tell you that my main objective is going to be to make sure that the running backs have great holes to run through, that the quarterback has unbelievable time to throw, and that the receivers can have time to catch the ball."
Winston, who played left tackle since 2003, was projected by many to be a late first-round or early second-round selection. Major knee surgery in 2004 likely caused his drop to round three.
Spencer was a defensive tackle at Pittsburgh until 2004, when he was shifted to guard. He then played left tackle his senior year.
"At the end of Spencer's senior year, he played as well as any tackle we studied in the draft," Kubiak said.
Any thoughts?
After talking for months about improving the protection schemes and personnel around quarterback David Carr, the Texans finally took action.
With the first two picks in the third round of the NFL draft on Saturday, the Texans selected tackles Charles Spencer of Pittsburgh and Eric Winston of Miami. The selections mean more shuffling of the offensive line from a year ago, when the Texans gave up a league-leading 68 sacks.
Spencer, 6-4 and 352 pounds, is slated to compete with Seth Wand for the starting job at left tackle. Winston, 6-6 and 310 pounds, should compete with Zach Wiegert and Todd Wade at right tackle.
"Good things come to those who wait," coach Gary Kubiak said after the Texans' third-round selections were announced. "This is awesome. I can't believe it panned out this way."
Pitts back to guard
In anticipation of being able to improve their personnel at tackle through the draft, the Texans already had Chester Pitts working at left guard, where he started throughout the 2004 season.
Steve McKinney is moving to right guard, where he has never played. He spent the first four years of his career at left guard with the Indianapolis Colts before spending four years at center for the Texans. Free-agent signee Mike Flanagan is the Texans' new center.
"Every coach has their opinion of where they think your best position is and where you can contribute most," Pitts said. "That's what the new staff feels will be best. It's known that I prefer to play tackle, but I will play guard.
"I expect us to get better this year, especially because I believe Kubiak's (zone-blocking) system is solid and effective. I believe everybody will be better, and things will go better for all of us."
After focusing on the defensive side of the ball in the first two rounds by selecting North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams No. 1 overall and Alabama outside linebacker DeMeco Ryans with the 33rd pick, the Texans gave their offense a boost in round three.
As soon as Spencer and Winston heard their names called, they realized they were going to a team that could instantly use their help. It was the ideal scenario for both.
"As an offensive lineman, if you're focused on anything else other than making sure the dirt stays off your quarterback, then you're probably playing the wrong position," Winston said. "I've never met David Carr, but I can tell you that my main objective is going to be to make sure that the running backs have great holes to run through, that the quarterback has unbelievable time to throw, and that the receivers can have time to catch the ball."
Winston, who played left tackle since 2003, was projected by many to be a late first-round or early second-round selection. Major knee surgery in 2004 likely caused his drop to round three.
Spencer was a defensive tackle at Pittsburgh until 2004, when he was shifted to guard. He then played left tackle his senior year.
"At the end of Spencer's senior year, he played as well as any tackle we studied in the draft," Kubiak said.
...Spencer will likely have to lose 15-20 pounds, and that will just make him quicker and more agile...
