ESPN Tip Sheet: Houston OL

[Texan in Japan]

Not much new but Lenny P had this in his recent tip sheet. Also small mention of Chris McKenzie looking good as FA find.

"http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2093776&num=6"

• Look for the Houston offensive line, which has surrendered 161 sacks during the franchise's first three seasons, to have a new look in 2005. And that doesn't mean just in terms of personnel; the unit is undergoing another reshuffling, as Houston tries to remedy the key left tackle spot. Line coach Joe Pendry is said to have taken on a bit more of an expanded role in designing protection schemes and, perhaps, in game planning input. As porous as the Texans have been on the flanks at times, there have been stretches in which the Houston protection design permitted too much inside pressure as well.

In the latest reincarnation of the line, the Texans have experimented with moving center Steve McKinney to left guard. That would bump left guard Chester Pitts out to left tackle, the position he started at as a rookie in 2002, and likely reduce Seth Wand to a backup role. Wand really struggled at left tackle in 2004, his first season as a starter, and some in the organization feel he might be better served moving to guard for the long run.

 

[THEFUTURE]

you know i was really interested in the Rashard Anderson part, i think the guy should get another chance, a 6-2 cornerback with speed is not something you see every day, he could be practice squad material somewhere

 

[Vinny]

I knew about Pendry being upset at our line calls and inside protections last year (this post is just a few weeks ago however) and told many of my Texans friends (some of you who have been nice to me in the past) via email and PM how we would be changing our protections way before the draft via some exchanges I had with someone closer to the team than myself after the Browns game. I've mentioned it a few times here early in the year but most of you guys would rather not hear it for some reason.

 

[TEXANS84]

Wand struggled? Heck it was kinney and Pitts who struggled.

Sacks allowed:
S.McKinney - 4.00
C.Pitts - 6.00
S.Wand - 12.50

Stats Website

 

[canadiantexan]

Sacks allowed:
S.McKinney - 4.00
C.Pitts - 6.00
S.Wand - 12.50

Stats Website

that says it all.

 

[D-ReK]

that says it all.

Actually, it only tells half the story...Usually when the OT gets beat, he is able to use his long arms to push the rusher wide with little risk of the rusher getting to the QB...When Wand would do this, the rusher would inevitabally end up either sacking Carr or hitting him just after he released the ball...If the rusher ended up getting a sack, it would usually be credited to Wand, but let's dig a little deeper into this...OTs are positioned with their back to the QB and are taught to push a rusher wide if they are beaten because the QB should be safe in the pocket and the rusher's own momentum will take him out of the play...Wand would do this, but Carr would usually not have a pocket to step into due to the incompetence of McKinney, Wiegert, and Brown, who would routinely get dominated on passing downs by everyone from Stroud and Henderson to Gerard Warren and Michael Myers...Therefore, Carr would be forced to roll out, so when Wand would push the rusher wide, he would have an unblocked course directly to Carr's backside...If we fix our problems at OC and RG, Wand will look immensely better...Is he Walter Jones? No, but I could see him developing into a Chad Clifton type LT...Is Wand completely free of blame? No, because I do recall him just getting flat out beat off the line a couple of times, namely by Freeney, but then again, he does that to everybody...I'm not sure why, but as fans, we seem to only focus on the LT spot since it's the "most important part of the line", but it is more important to start in the middle and work your way out...

 

[vtech9]

that says it all.

No, that doesn't say it all. That doesn't even come close to saying it all. That stat doesn't tell you a damn thing about McKinney being blown back off the ball and forcing Carr out of the pocket right into the path of the DE's that would have been pushed past Carr if he had a pocket to step up in. Wand got charged with the sack on most of those, but it was essentially McKinney that was at fault.

 

[Texan in Japan]

I'm curious if we truly believe Wand's future is at G. I know he was moved there for a few practices, but I thought that was to help him work on his hands and arm extension. Thoughts from anyone?

 

[nunusguy]

I'm curious if we truly believe Wand's future is at G. I know he was moved there for a few practices, but I thought that was to help him work on his hands and arm extension. Thoughts from anyone?

I dunno.....but from the info I've gleaned from the OL experts on our board,
I'm under the impression that they think Wand has the athleticism, footwork, and long, lithe physique needed to potentially be a LT but just doesn't have the strength to play inside and handle the big DTs he'd be matched up with as a guard. Therefor I gotta think it was for him to brush up on the hands and arm extension thing rather than maybe being grommed for a shot at playing guard.

 

[ATX]

IMO, Wand will never play guard. He'll either start at LT or be a backup.

 

[Hervoyel]

I tend to agree. Wand will likely not play guard. He's a tackle in body and physical ability, we just don't yet know if he can handle it mentally at this level yet.

Also nobody who's opinion I consider "informed" thinks that the sack totals from last season "say it all" about the problems on the Texans line or on Seth Wand/Steve McKinney. There's much more to the story than 12.5 sacks vs 4

 

[Texan in Japan]

Good, I'm hoping Wand has a great year and the line works well with the new protections. If we sign Verba, I'm all for sticking him at RG!

 

[Zac]

This is going to be the first year that the OL has the same faces returning. The Offensive Line is the one unit that must perfom more like a unit. There is really no room for ego's. The longer they play together the better they get. But, with last years emarassing performance, I don't think it would necessarily be a good thing. Let's keep our fingers crossed that the continuity eases some of the deficiancies.

Wiggert and Wade are playing superb. But the Center, Left guard, and Left Tackle haven't gotten their act toghether (the obvious). Will another year together really be in the best interest of the organization. This of course is a retorical question. There is very little the Texans can do because unless really good OL get released after training camp, this is the unit that Carr will have for the upcoming season.

Let's just hope this OL doesn't result in Carr being and the fans and Ragone

 

[TEXANRED]

i would like to ask a question. How is it we hate Mckinney when in my opinion he has had a pretty solid 3 years. He gave up 2 sacks first year 3.75 his second year and 4 his 3rd year. Those seem to be pretty solid numbers especialy since this is a stat driven message board. That give him 9.75 sacks in three years. Wand gives up 12.5 in one year.

I know I know, I read the above post on how Mckinney couldnt give carr a pocket(dispite the fact that Mckinney had pitts on one side and brown/weiggert on the other) and so on. So really its all Mckinney's fault for Wand looking bad. Why do I have a feeling that wand is posting on this website I dont feel that it is Mckinney's fault, on one side you had wieggert getting hurt and having to play brown, while at the same time having yet another new right tackle in wade. On the other side you had Pitts trying to learn how to play guard and helping Wand out who was trying to learn which team he played for. All of this compounded by the line learning a new system.

I am thinking only cause i am a that the line will be a pleasent suprise this year. Again this will be the first year of no personell changes and the second year of the zone blocking scheme. CC and Capers know somthing or else they would have made changes and not have forced Pendry to stay.

But this is just my opinion.

 

[Vinny]

I think it is pure folly to break down a lineman's game by statistics since you cannot tell the nuances in a given play off of a stat. Our interior is weak and if you don't believe it, pop in the Browns game and check it out. Keep your eyes in the tackle box and watch how inside push destroys our passing game.

 

[TEXANRED]

What I mean is that the o-line is the absolute definition of football and teamwork. We sit and blame Mckinney for O-line troubles but lets look at what transpired last year.

Wand in his first year at left tackle, pitts in his first year at guard, wieggert keeps getting hurt so we play with Brown, Wade in his first year to play with these guys. For the cherry on top, a brand new blocking system which to my knowledge no one had any experience in.

To be honest we are lucky that Carr didnt break his own sack record.

Yes i know that some say that all the pressure came up the middle and it was all Mckinney's fault but that is why we have 2 OG flanking the center. I am not saying that Mckinney is the best, but i feel it was a break down of the whole interior line.

It will get better. Second year system, same coach same players. This year will be like night and day.

 

[cred]

Agreed

 

[jr0ck]

Yes i know that some say that all the pressure came up the middle and it was all Mckinney's fault but that is why we have 2 OG flanking the center. I am not saying that Mckinney is the best, but i feel it was a break down of the whole interior line.

a good center makes the entire line look better, just as a bad center (stevie boy) can make a line look alot worse. our guards are servicable starters, and great complentary players. the same could be said about mckinney, but he has failed the most consistently in palmer's OL protection's and he lacks the intial drive/explosion (power cleans anyone?) to be a dominant run blocking center. quickness and agility are his strong points, as a 300+ lb body moving relatively quick can make a great pulling guard, but since he lacks the driving power to hold his ground (defending the pass rush or attempting to create a running lane, take your pick...) against the upper echeolon DT's in the league (stroud, henderson two times a year) he has started to take the brunt of our lines critisism (and in my mind rightfully so ) off of wand.