Mark Bruener

[texan279]

from www.kffl.com

Texans | Team to expand Bruener's role
Fri, 9 Jun 2006 15:34:30 -0700

Carmine Pirone, of HoustonTexans.com, reports the Houston Texans will ask their tight ends to be more than just blockers this coming season, particularly TE Mark Bruener. "We're asking him to do more running down the field than he's done in the past," Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said. "But he's doing a good job. He's a leader on this team. Guys respect him."

 

[infantrycak]

Bruener mentioned in a radio interview the other day how much he was enjoying being called upon to go out and catch the ball. Folks underrate him. He is not just a good blocking TE--he is an exceptional one. Hopefully Kubiak can get him back into his college mold of catching the ball also.

 

[hollywood_texan]

Sounds great and glad to hear it, but how many TEs do we really need?

We drafted one and we also have Joppru, it just seems like we are overstocked in the position.

 

[TexanFan881]

Sounds like he's staying...honestly I'm suprised but I'm excited to see that he's a leader on this offense and that he's been good so far.

 

[TexanFan881]

Sounds great and glad to hear it, but how many TEs do we really need?

We drafted one and we also have Joppru, it just seems like we are overstocked in the position.

I'm guessing we'll be moving a couple of them back and forth between FB and TE. That's bad news for Hill but I see him in the McKenzie situation (practice squad for a year, then a player who has a good shot to make the team and could be put on the roster sometime throughout the year with injuries). All that matters is that we have the best 53 players out there to put our team in the best position possible to win, and if keeping Bruener is part of that plan than so be it.

 

[nunusguy]

Bruener mentioned in a radio interview the other day how much he was enjoying being called upon to go out and catch the ball.

Under Capers, that would have been a novel experience for Bruener.
TEs in general catching balls was an unusual esperience for Texans' fans to witness back in those days.

 

[hollywood_texan]

I'm guessing we'll be moving a couple of them back and forth between FB and TE. That's bad news for Hill but I see him in the McKenzie situation (practice squad for a year, then a player who has a good shot to make the team and could be put on the roster sometime throughout the year with injuries). All that matters is that we have the best 53 players out there to put our team in the best position possible to win, and if keeping Bruener is part of that plan than so be it.

Yeah, it just seems a little excessive to have Putzier, Bruener, and Joppru on the roster. There are high expectations of all of them and really only one will be on the field most of the time as I understand the offense. Then one guy will play mainly due to having consistency with the offense.

It just seems like one of these three is going to the be the odd man out and probably isn't going to like it, I am thinking Joppru. Good news is that it appears we are stacked if there is an injury.

 

[BigTimeTexanFan]

Under Capers, that would have been a novel experience for Bruener.
TEs in general catching balls was an unusual esperience for Texans' fans to witness back in those days.

Yeah, except for their inagural year!

 

[Señor Stan]

Yeah, it just seems a little excessive to have Putzier, Bruener, and Joppru on the roster. There are high expectations of all of them and really only one will be on the field most of the time as I understand the offense. Then one guy will play mainly due to having consistency with the offense.

It just seems like one of these three is going to the be the odd man out and probably isn't going to like it, I am thinking Joppru. Good news is that it appears we are stacked if there is an injury.

Don't forget Owen Daniels.

 

[NoBullTexan]

Why Joppru? Because he has been the hardluck kid, or one of Caper's picks, or because his weight is down to 234? Remember in college he was a darned good TE before the unjury bug started biting him. If anyone goes I think it will be Breuner because of his age and his salary. They didn't draft Owens just to discard him right away either. They have already cut Matt Murphy.

 

[texan279]

Yeah, it just seems a little excessive to have Putzier, Bruener, and Joppru on the roster. There are high expectations of all of them and really only one will be on the field most of the time as I understand the offense. Then one guy will play mainly due to having consistency with the offense.

It just seems like one of these three is going to the be the odd man out and probably isn't going to like it, I am thinking Joppru. Good news is that it appears we are stacked if there is an injury.

There's really nothing wrong with having all of these guys on the roster right now. Provides depth and competition which is never a bad thing. And if one man would be the odd man out I would think it would be Bruener being 33 years old but it all depends on Joppru's health and performance.

 

[Texans_Chick]

Why Joppru? Because he has been the hardluck kid, or one of Caper's picks, or because his weight is down to 234? Remember in college he was a darned good TE before the unjury bug started biting him. If anyone goes I think it will be Breuner because of his age and his salary. They didn't draft Owens just to discard him right away either. They have already cut Matt Murphy.

Matt Murphy couldn't go on the practice squad this year. Owen Daniels could if they dint need him right away.

I am rooting for Bruener because: 1. From the folks I talk to, he is a super good locker room guy; 2. I've met him and he was a super nice guy to talk to.

He spoke at the Football 101 deal this last year, and because he couldn't get a sitter last moment, brought his wife and kids up on stage with him. He did a nice job talking about the reality of being in the NFL. With kids crawling on him.

Brian Pariani, the TEs coach, says that you can't just judge a TE by the way he catches balls. His favorite TEs are often the ones that aren't fantasy stat flashy but get the job done.

 

[cj5776]

Once again nice piece, Texan Chick.

The Texans have always had 3 TE on the roster with the west coast offense using the TE more, 4 TE makes sense. It seems like Bennie has already put on some wieght since the beginning of OTA, plus zone blocking needs light blockers

 

[dtran04]

There's an extra roster spot if Kubiak decides to only carry 2 QB's. Then again, that extra spot could be for KR or PR. Who knows.

 

[Brandon420tx]

There's an extra roster spot if Kubiak decides to only carry 2 QB's. Then again, that extra spot could be for KR or PR. Who knows.

No, he wants the KR and PR to contribute on other parts of the team as well.

 

[vtech9]

so which TE's do we keep? Right now, we have Joppru, Bruener, Putzier, Daniels, Hape, Halterman, Steele, and the long snapper Pittman. That's 7 TE's not counting Pittman. Pittman is pretty much a lock since he is the longsnapper, and he will probably never play TE. So we have 7 actual TE's fighting for 3 or 4 spots. Halterman was also a long snapper in college, but I don't really see him beating out Pittman. Putzier, Hape, Halterman, and maybe even Daniels, will be working out as a FB/TE, kind of like the HB role that Cooley played for the Redskins last year. Will Bruener, Joppru, and Steele also be able to fill that multi-purpose role? The Texans probably see Bruener and Joppru as solid traditional TE's that can both block and catch.

In saying all that, I can see the Texans carrying 4 TE's this year. I think Joppru and Bruener make it as the traditional TE's. I can see two H-Back types making it as well. I think Putzier will be one of them, and probably Hape being the other. One of the other guys could make it if we only carry one true FB, but your guess is as good as mine as to what will really happen. This is just my opinion of how it will go.

 

[TK_Gamer]

Yeah, it just seems a little excessive to have Putzier, Bruener, and Joppru on the roster. There are high expectations of all of them and really only one will be on the field most of the time as I understand the offense. Then one guy will play mainly due to having consistency with the offense.

It just seems like one of these three is going to the be the odd man out and probably isn't going to like it, I am thinking Joppru. Good news is that it appears we are stacked if there is an injury.

I think only 2 will land starting (TE) positions the others will be specialists or FB depth. Bruener is one of the top blocking TE's in the league, and a leader, you dont get rid of talent like that, and joppru, although he seems to be doing well is not proven yet, I see Joppru and Putzier fighting for the no. 2 spot wich will be good for all. competition and depth is a breath of fresh air to this team. I'm all for it!

 

[TexanFan881]

This is what I see playing out:

Jeb Putzier: A lock to make the team
Mark Bruener: A suspected cut but sounds like he's staying. We'll see if he can hang with the team.
Owen Daniels: Fresh, new, young rookie, there's no way he's cut. I would consider him a roster lock too. He can also be listed as a FB and play TE, a lot like Chris Cooley.
Bennie Joppru: I just think we will not give up on this guy after waiting a long time just to see him take the field.

I see us either having Putzier, Bruener, Daniels, and Joppru, or that minus Bruener. I don't think there's any way we cut any of the other three. Joppru will be on the team come opening day, he's a solid player, injuries and all.

 

[bayoudreamn]

There's an extra roster spot if Kubiak decides to only carry 2 QB's. Then again, that extra spot could be for KR or PR. Who knows.

There hasn't been any information to speculate on regarding how the new oline is doing. I think if Kubes carries only two qb's thats a fairly strong statement of confidence in where the line is now.

 

[AFD1717]

There hasn't been any information to speculate on regarding how the new oline is doing. I think if Kubes carries only two qb's thats a fairly strong statement of confidence in where the line is now.

Or maybe a statement about how bad our QBs are after Rosenfels!

 

[nunusguy]

This is what I see playing out:
Jeb Putzier: A lock to make the team
Mark Bruener: A suspected cut but sounds like he's staying. We'll see if he can hang with the team.
Owen Daniels: Fresh, new, young rookie, there's no way he's cut. I would consider him a roster lock too. He can also be listed as a FB and play TE, a lot like Chris Cooley.
Bennie Joppru: I just think we will not give up on this guy after waiting a long time just to see him take the field.

Way to break it down Texanfan !
I basically go with your analysis: Short of taking a swing at Kubiak, Putzier and Owens are guaranteed spots on the active roster this year. One thru
FA and the other a virtaul first day pick (Owens was the first pick of the 4th round), they are among the first of his hand-picked personal choices, they are first among equals when consideration is made for TEs on the roster.
So if they keep 4, I agree with you again about Joppru and Breuner. But if
they keep only 3, gonna be some fierce competition in TC and preseason
games to determine the survivor.

 

[Brandon420tx]

Or maybe a statement about how bad our QBs are after Rosenfels!

Or, a testament to how good he thinks Carr and Rosenfels are, besides, our other QB's are undrafted rookies, at least one should make the practice squad.

 

[mancunian]

Sounds great and glad to hear it, but how many TEs do we really need?

We drafted one and we also have Joppru, it just seems like we are overstocked in the position.

We'll carry four this season I guess.

 

[TexanFan881]

We'll carry four this season I guess.

That's what I see too and we will probably carry 1 FB since some of our TEs can go and play FB if for some reason Cook gets hurt.

 

[mancunian]

That's what I see too and we will probably carry 1 FB since some of our TEs can go and play FB if for some reason Cook gets hurt.

Which of our RB will be a short yardage guy? I thought they may have tried to re-sign Wells as he could potentially play FB

 

[TexanFan881]

Which of our RB will be a short yardage guy? I thought they may have tried to re-sign Wells as he could potentially play FB

I see Antowain Smith used to get the short, tough yardage around the goal line and in short yardage situations. I don't see Wells coming back with the fact that we don't need a RB to play FB when we have TEs who can do that.