Free Agency, or the Draft??

[thunderkyss]

If you're wanting to fix your Offensiveline so you can protect your quarterback in the upcoming year, where do you get your players??

I may be wrong, but I've never heard of an offensive stud who was a contribution to their team their rookie season. Most... play like Rob Petiti in Dallas. he needs help, and gets beat more times than not. One Week it's the strength of your opponent that gets you, the next week, it's his speed, the next week still, they double team you. Some teams are able to abuse you this way from one down to the next. Teams like Dallas Rotate so much you won't even get a break.

Offensive Gaurd, Offensive Tackle, Center...... Truly skilled positions.

 

[infantrycak]

I may be wrong, but I've never heard of an offensive stud who was a contribution to their team their rookie season.

Off the top of my head I would say Jordan Gross while a semi-bust as a LT played very well as a RT his rookie year--the same could be said for Robert Gallery. Nick Kaczur is holding down the LT spot for a play-off NE team this year. Nick Hardwick and Shane Olivea certainly contributed as rookies in San Diego. Brown was a solid contributer at RT this past season. I'd bet a little research would show even more.

 

[BeerFan]

Pace and Ogden.

 

[Hervoyel]

I say you do both free agency AND the draft but you don't go hog-wild picking lineman all day like some of the more exciteable in here have suggested. One will do. The Texans make one big FA signing this year and that is Bentley from New Orleans. Then with the first pick of the 2nd round you take the best offensive lineman available regardless of position (excepting centers of course) and you're done with the offensive line for the 2006 offseason.

 

[wags]

Is Dr. Scholl's available in this draft? He could fix the O-Line.

 

[eriadoc]

I've seen four or five lists of free agents now and some lists have some guys that others don't, so I am a little unclear on who is a free agent and who isn't. I think the only left tackle of note I've seen on any list was ... Jansen? Maybe Thomas? LJ Shelton will be out there again, but let's not go there for sure.

To me, there's a distinction between left tackle (RT for lefty QBs) and the rest of the O-line positions. Left tackle is the spot you build around, while the other positions can be picked up in later rounds. I don't think there are any free agent left tackles that we can land this year, and we're going to have to draft and develop one at some point. Some people on this board think we can get one in the second round or later, and I hope they're right. But recent history (past 15 years or more) shows that left tackles that work out well in the NFL come in the top 20 picks overall. And teams don't let their left tackles leave via free agency unless they think a player's done for (Willie Roaf). Take it FWIW.

 

[LCOOL]

Is Dr. Scholl's available in this draft? He could fix the O-Line.

Parcells is going to fix the olDallas, maybe we can get pointers from him

 

[El Tejano]

I also think you also gotta get a stud TE after you get the lineman. Kind of still helps with pass blocking and gets you the other offensive playmaker we need up the seams.

 

[LCOOL]

I also think you also gotta get a stud TE after you get the lineman. Kind of still helps with pass blocking and gets you the other offensive playmaker we need up the seams.

This is little off subject how do you insert a photo on the threads?
Thanks

 

[Bobo]

If you're wanting to fix your Offensiveline so you can protect your quarterback in the upcoming year, where do you get your players??

I may be wrong, but I've never heard of an offensive stud who was a contribution to their team their rookie season. Most... play like Rob Petiti in Dallas. he needs help, and gets beat more times than not. One Week it's the strength of your opponent that gets you, the next week, it's his speed, the next week still, they double team you. Some teams are able to abuse you this way from one down to the next. Teams like Dallas Rotate so much you won't even get a break.

Offensive Gaurd, Offensive Tackle, Center...... Truly skilled positions.

A.) No one said they have to contribute right away. Like any rookie, linemen must learn their craft through experience.
B.) Forget free agency. The only FAs who will come here are folks who are just trying to stay in the NFL. The really good FAs will end up going elsewhere because they want a chance to be in the Super Bowl and Houston certainly doesn't offer that possibility at this point. Good players will get the money no matter where they go, so they will decide based on what teams have the best chance at the SB.

 

[Bobo]

If you're wanting to fix your Offensiveline so you can protect your quarterback in the upcoming year, where do you get your players??

I may be wrong, but I've never heard of an offensive stud who was a contribution to their team their rookie season. Most... play like Rob Petiti in Dallas. he needs help, and gets beat more times than not. One Week it's the strength of your opponent that gets you, the next week, it's his speed, the next week still, they double team you. Some teams are able to abuse you this way from one down to the next. Teams like Dallas Rotate so much you won't even get a break.

Offensive Gaurd, Offensive Tackle, Center...... Truly skilled positions.

A.) No one said they have to contribute right away. Like any rookie, linemen must learn their craft through experience.
B.) Forget free agency. The only FAs who will come here are folks who are just trying to stay in the NFL. The really good FAs will end up going elsewhere because they want a chance to be in the Super Bowl and Houston certainly doesn't offer that possibility at this point. Good players will get the money no matter where they go, so they will decide based on what teams have the best chance at the SB.

 

[Meloy]

I also think you also gotta get a stud TE after you get the lineman. Kind of still helps with pass blocking and gets you the other offensive playmaker we need up the seams.

If you are going to use a tight end mostly for blocking, why not use a big ol' tackle who has good blocking skills? I think Wand had a few snaps @ TE for the Texans.

 

[Meloy]

I also think you also gotta get a stud TE after you get the lineman. Kind of still helps with pass blocking and gets you the other offensive playmaker we need up the seams.

If you are going to use a tight end mostly for blocking, why not use a big ol' tackle who has good blocking skills? I think Wand had a few snaps @ TE for the Texans.

 

[Meloy]

I also think you also gotta get a stud TE after you get the lineman. Kind of still helps with pass blocking and gets you the other offensive playmaker we need up the seams.

If you are going to use a tight end mostly for blocking, why not use a big ol' tackle who has good blocking skills? I think Wand had a few snaps @ TE for the Texans.

 

[SESupergenius]

Petiti was a pleasant surprise by Dallas in the draft as he was selected in the 6th round, wasn' really expected to start. We have the same thing in Hodgdon. I think that Hodgdon should be given the chance to be the starter since he had a good showing before his injury. So that being said. People around here feel that Pitts had a good showing at LT, I personally think he is inconsistant and doesn't play smart, but that is what people saw. McKinney is a better LG than center, he play LG for the Colts. So we already have 3 of the 5 positions set for 2006. So that leaves RT and RG as our biggest spots to address. I know that Wiegert played RT at the end of the year However, I am not high on him, but we do know that Wade is not the answer.
Steve Hutchinson will probably be the biggest FA offensive lineman this offseason, depends on what the Seahawks offer him. He plays LG, so that might not play into our plans. We need a good RG and RT. FA there really isn't much there as far as quality tackles.

 

[Scooter]

Off the top of my head I would say Jordan Gross while a semi-bust as a LT played very well as a RT his rookie year--the same could be said for Robert Gallery. Nick Kaczur is holding down the LT spot for a play-off NE team this year. Nick Hardwick and Shane Olivea certainly contributed as rookies in San Diego. Brown was a solid contributer at RT this past season. I'd bet a little research would show even more.

khalif barnes (LT jaguars) and logan mankins (LG patriots) are a couple other rookies that made it to the playoffs this year as starters.

i say both. it's very rare when pro-bowl calibre O-Linemen get away, because every other team has figured out that the offense starts with the front 5. bentley might be available and would deffinately be someone we should target, but that only fills one gap. because stud linemen are rarely available in FA though, you have to focus on building through the draft. that's why an OT early in the draft should be how we try fill another hole (d'brick, winston, mcneil).

 

[Double Barrel]

The Texans make one big FA signing this year and that is Bentley from New Orleans.

I really hope so. This dude would be an anchor at center. We can only hope Casserly & Co. can pull that one off.

 

[thunderkyss]

A.) No one said they have to contribute right away. Like any rookie, linemen must learn their craft through experience.

If we seriously want to protect Carr next year, so that we can have a winning season, They are going to have to play.......... especially if we are going to trade a #1 overall.

 

[Bobo]

If we seriously want to protect Carr next year, so that we can have a winning season, They are going to have to play.......... especially if we are going to trade a #1 overall.

Oh, I know they will play. That's how they will get experience. But you shouldn't expect an immediate turnaround right away. As for saying, "They are going to have to play, especially if we are going to trade a #1 overall," well, Steve McNair says, "Hi!"

 

[Xman]

Quick help would come through free agency - but we already have one of those that is failing (Wade). Also, not much quality out there in free agency - so the good ones will really cost a lot. I would spend most of our cap space on clearing out bad contracts (acceleration the cap hit) and maybe sign a veteran WR (moulds). Of course, if Kubiak comes here, then he can turn marginal OL into good OL so he can sign whoever.

Also, this is considered the strongest OL draft in decades (ever?) So, hopefully we get excellent value for our picks.

I agree on the TE also - a good TE is half OT and half WR. C'mon Pope.

#33 TE Pope
#65 OL (good OTs and studly OGs here)
#66 BAP
#97 OL (lots of good centers and decent guards here)
5th round on - filling holes on D.

 

[Bobo]

Of course, if Kubiak comes here, then he can turn marginal OL into good OL so he can sign whoever.

Also, this is considered the strongest OL draft in decades (ever?) So, hopefully we get excellent value for our picks.

I agree on the TE also - a good TE is half OT and half WR. C'mon Pope.

#33 TE Pope
#65 OL (good OTs and studly OGs here)
#66 BAP
#97 OL (lots of good centers and decent guards here)
5th round on - filling holes on D.

A.) Kubiak is far from a miracle worker. If you are relying on him to turn your offensive line around, you are sadly mistaken. If you have manure, a douse of perfume won't make any difference -- you still have manure.
B.) Defense is a huge, huge problem. You need a better pass rush, a better rushing defense, and the secondary is still questionable as well. That's why you need a boatload of picks.

 

[Xman]

A.) Kubiak is far from a miracle worker. If you are relying on him to turn your offensive line around, you are sadly mistaken. If you have manure, a douse of perfume won't make any difference -- you still have manure.
B.) Defense is a huge, huge problem. You need a better pass rush, a better rushing defense, and the secondary is still questionable as well. That's why you need a boatload of picks.

I agree that the D needs a lot of help. But, so does the offense.
It won't all be fixed this year - so fix what we know needs to be fixed. We have defensive players that the jury is still out on (Buchy/Peek/Orr/Brown/Greenwood/Wong/Babin/TJ/almost all of them) - give them another shot, a couple will prove themelves. At TE and OL, we KNOW they need to be replaced. We have already given them the extra year (this last year) and they failed.

 

[ccdude730]

did we forget about joppru being on the roster? im not saying that pope isnt great, but if there is a good chance of bennie returning i doubt we take another TE with 33 overall.

i suspect alot of fans have already made up their decision on him being a wasted pick.

 

[thunderkyss]

Oh, I know they will play. That's how they will get experience. But you shouldn't expect an immediate turnaround right away. As for saying, "They are going to have to play, especially if we are going to trade a #1 overall," well, Steve McNair says, "Hi!"

Will you get over yourself??

I said:

If you're wanting to fix your Offensiveline so you can protect your quarterback in the upcoming year, where do you get your players??

If you don't think it can be done:

Oh, I know they will play. That's how they will get experience. But you shouldn't expect an immediate turnaround right away. As for saying, "They are going to have to play, especially if we are going to trade a #1 overall," well, Steve McNair says, "Hi!"

Then that's how you should answer the question. " I don't think you should expect Rookies to make a difference on the offensive line"

 

[Bobo]

I agree that the D needs a lot of help. But, so does the offense.
It won't all be fixed this year - so fix what we know needs to be fixed. We have defensive players that the jury is still out on (Buchy/Peek/Orr/Brown/Greenwood/Wong/Babin/TJ/almost all of them) - give them another shot, a couple will prove themelves. At TE and OL, we KNOW they need to be replaced. We have already given them the extra year (this last year) and they failed.

But starting to draft defensive folks in the fifth round won't help. As far as letting these guys prove themselves next year, you could say the same thing for the OL and everybody else. We don't really need a TE -- I think that would be a wasted pick. Since when do we "KNOW" that we need a TE? Many folks use the TE mostly for blocking purposes. Why should we waste a draft pick on that position?

 

[Bobo]

Will you get over yourself??

You'd best not look for quick fixes next year. It's a long way from 2-14, you know. Even the Texas brass is only talking about hopefully achieving "respectability" next year.

 

[Bobo]

did we forget about joppru being on the roster? im not saying that pope isnt great, but if there is a good chance of bennie returning i doubt we take another TE with 33 overall.

i suspect alot of fans have already made up their decision on him being a wasted pick.

If Joppru is healthy, he should be given a shot. No need to waste a pick on TE if you have him and others who can adequately do the job when you have so many other needs.

 

[Xman]

But starting to draft defensive folks in the fifth round won't help. As far as letting these guys prove themselves next year, you could say the same thing for the OL and everybody else. We don't really need a TE -- I think that would be a wasted pick. Since when do we "KNOW" that we need a TE? Many folks use the TE mostly for blocking purposes. Why should we waste a draft pick on that position?

I agree that most second day picks are flyers - but a lot of safeties and some linebackers are found there. I think most of the guys on our OL have had enough time.
IF we decide to not use a TE in our offense I would be a little surprised (if so, then we don't spend the pick on TE). Denver uses them in the passing game a LOT. I think we need one. Right now our only receiving threat, outside of RB, is AJ. That's not good.