I am not a fan of Devlin
And OB hasn't shown any ability either
The whole offensive staff is suspect
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State of the O-line
- Thread starter jradMIT
- Start date
I am not a fan of Devlin
And OB hasn't shown any ability either
The whole offensive staff is suspect
Or they just aren't talented enough. Afterall the OL stunk last season, so what has changed this season? (Other than Martin)
I do agree with you the coaching could be better, I would like to see Hudson Houck be lured out of retirement. He could do for BOB and BOB's scheme what Gibbs did for Kubiak. IMHO
With that said, unless talent is added the OL isn't going to be very good. This really is a talent issue. IMHO
Wow two Olinemen get favorably evaluations from you, that's high praise SteelB. But I commend you that's a start towards a more balanced commentary on your part.
Now if we can only get Duane Brown in camp we can make some real progress on reducing the problems for our Oline to a manageable size.
I call them like I see them.
I'd flip Mancz and Martin but the rest looks good. I have high hopes for XSF every year and every year he lets me down.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Many think that Brown if/when he returns will be an instant positive plug and play. I'd be hesitant to expect that.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Filo still looks like the Plilsburry dough boy to me. I question how much emphasist he actually places in trying to get and stay in optimum playing condition.
badboy
Hall of Fame
I guess question is will he heal enough to play or is he at "best possible".
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
I've posted at length on his history. The numbers and types of major and injuries and major surgeries he has gone through is not conducive to continued repeated trauma.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Why?
Love your takes but frankly this is a mistake and it isn't even in question. He came back better than you predicted. A poor Brown is better than the depth chart. Actually it is obscenely better. Glass half full is one thing. Eeyore is another.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
I was referring to his preparedness, not his injury. As far as Brown's injury, he made a good return. I still see his knee degenerating over this season.
FWIW Ted Johnson, former Patriots LB and sports talk guy locally on 610, says after rewatching the Texans-Carolina game he's convinced the Texans have now become more of a zone-blocking team than one that operates primarily out of a power blocking scheme.
Uncle Rico
Ur apology should be as loud as Ur disrespect was
Is state of disarray an option? As a unit they suck quite frankly through 1 game. A few guys are battling, but not much cohesion. Won't matter who throws or who runs if they don't get better.
Honoring Earl 34
Something Witty !
He also said Lamm was like a pig on ice .
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
So we have confirmed he is a dumbass.
bah007
Hall of Fame
I trust Martin more in one on one situations. Mancz would be better protected being sandwiched between him and Allen.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Sure. Just about every team runs some zone. Pardon if I don't know the nomenclature, but it's small zone not full on ZBS. It's local rather than full O selling like Gibbs preaches. They're different critters. The RB still has a designed route rather than just flowing.
I just want the best out there, and both should be out there. In whatever positions work as the best combo. I really think the line will be
Brown, X, Martin, Allen, Lamm
as per game 2
X may suffer a mysterious injury, allowing Allen to slide to LG and Mancz to move to starter at RG
bah007
Hall of Fame
Of course it is. I just found it odd as I was watching that only one back got those looks. Don't remember seeing zone at any other point in the game. And it really suits Foreman so I hope they keep it and add to it.
I find it increasingly odd each year that OB takes us further and further from that based on his coaching experience. One, it suits our talent. Two, NE's multiple system incorporates both styles of blocking. Three, Belichick's worst offensive teams were purely power blocking offenses. The more they ran zone the more effective they've been.
So OB's preference for OL play has been a head scratcher to me.
OB's preference for everything to do on the offensive side of the ball has been a head scratcher to me
I think a lot of that may be that OB doesn't really have a "tree" to call upon as far as assistants. He got lucky that RAC and Vrabel were available, everyone else not named Godsey was just give a scrub a chance choice. Choices at OL coach have been slimmer than none. Dunn and now Devlin?
I want to puke
BB cut OB off of his coaching tree when OB went to Penn St. And OB needs to make friends fast
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But most NFL teams are predominantly power whereas 610 host/Pats backer Johnson said the opposite was the case for the Texans Wednesday night as the backs were also going one cut and go as most runners do in
zone schemes. Jez just think how much more effective Kubiaks offense would have been with the likes of Watson running all of those boots instead of Schaub.
Anyway it will be interesting to see if they operate their offense with the same zone emphasis next week vs the Pats.
OptimisticTexan
2024 / Rebuilding Block 4 After Playoffs / Texans
Another week of watching the Texans OL searching for answers....it will probably require a move outside the current personnel available. Branden Albert was just cut by the Jaguars. He's a former Pro Bowl LT and was dumped into the Jags hands by Miami. He was dissatisfied with his current contract situation, much like Brown and appeared to let it affect his play in camp before walking out on the Jags. Timing of this cut is actually pretty good since it would give a veteran like BA time to adapt somewhat to a new system before Week 1.
For me...he and his agent tried their approach to getting a new contract and it backfired big time and now BA finds himself as an unemployed NFL football player. Like many other unemployed players he can only hope that a team will look past his debacle in Jacksonville and give him another chance. A team with a big hole at RT and LT might be interested in trying to find an answer sooner rather than later or waiting for the bigger roster cuts coming later.
It might not hurt the Texans to bring him in for a look-see since they have no production coming from the RT position and at the moment, he might be willing to sign a very reasonable short term contract with plenty of incentives if he really wants to salvage his career.
For me...he and his agent tried their approach to getting a new contract and it backfired big time and now BA finds himself as an unemployed NFL football player. Like many other unemployed players he can only hope that a team will look past his debacle in Jacksonville and give him another chance. A team with a big hole at RT and LT might be interested in trying to find an answer sooner rather than later or waiting for the bigger roster cuts coming later.
It might not hurt the Texans to bring him in for a look-see since they have no production coming from the RT position and at the moment, he might be willing to sign a very reasonable short term contract with plenty of incentives if he really wants to salvage his career.
Uncle Rico
Ur apology should be as loud as Ur disrespect was
Not doing anything would be insanity by definition. I don't need to see much more or give playing time benefit of the doubt that this unit will improve. Game 1 reminded me of the Carr era.
Sign Duane and find somebody out there to stop the bleeding, Rick Smith as usual is dropping the ball.
Sign Duane and find somebody out there to stop the bleeding, Rick Smith as usual is dropping the ball.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
This should give a good background on Albert.
Posted June 13, 2017 11:51 am | Updated June 13, 2017 09:05 pm
By
Ryan O’Halloran
After first practice, Jaguars LT Branden Albert looks back, ahead
Eight weeks after his new teammates began the Jaguars’ voluntary off-season program, left tackle Branden Albert debuted during Tuesday’s opening practice of mandatory minicamp.
Having passed a conditioning test and received his playbook on Monday, Albert was thrown in the figurative fire – individual drills, team work and post-practice sprints – just like every offensive lineman.
And it showed.
Albert appeared winded at times and committed two false-start penalties, but at least he was on the field, ending his futile quest for a new contract.
“After taking six months off … just battling with the guys and being in this heat, you’re never going to be perfect on the first day,” Albert said in his first comments since March 10. “I’m not worried about it. It’s the [middle] of June. It’s not game-time yet. I feel blessed to be here and be back playing football.”
Albert made a smart move in reporting to minicamp. His $8.9 million salary becomes fully guaranteed if he is on the Week 1 roster and the only way that happens is if he starts at left tackle. And he can’t win that job by not showing up.
Coach Doug Marrone said Albert looked, “probably like a guy who hasn’t been here for a long period of time. In my experience, it’s been the same way. It’s not an indictment on the player personally, but every player who hasn’t been around their teammates, when they come back for their first practice, it’s never going to be where you want them to be.”
Josh Wells and Cam Robinson remained the top two left tackles during team drills. Albert said he had “never” worked as a third-stringer before in the NFL.
Call it punishment or not, Albert should not have been surprised. Just because he has the experience edge over Wells and Robinson does not mean Albert was allowed to rocket to the top of the depth chart. Albert was wise not to take it personally.
Throughout the practice, Albert interacted with the other linemen, suggesting there are no hard feelings. But what about Marrone? He was disappointed earlier this off-season when Albert would not communicate with him – he failed to show on April 17 and a source said there was no contact between coach and player until a month later. Marrone balked when asked if he and Albert have to rebuild a relationship.
“I’m not looking to build any bridges with anyone,” Marrone said. “I’m looking to build a good football team and a winning football team. Whoever the best players are, they’re going to play. I have enough friends. I don’t need any [more]. I’m looking for good football players. I’m looking to win games.”
The Jaguars moved on from Kelvin Beachum in March and traded a 2018 seventh-round pick to Miami for Albert, feeling he would be an upgrade at left tackle. Albert visited the Jaguars on Feb. 20 (for a physical and a meet-and-greet) and March 10 (a day after the trade was completed). But then silence.
During his post-practice press conference, Albert touched on several topics:
*Albert decided only recently to attend the mandatory minicamp, thus avoiding $79,000 in fines.
“I’m just glad it’s over with,” Albert said. “I’m just here to play football, put everything behind me and get to work and help this team win.”
Albert said he will report for the start of training camp July 26 and avoid daily fines of $30,000.
“I’ll be ready to work and ready to go,” he said.
*Albert said sitting out the voluntary portion of the off-season program “wasn’t personal.”
“We were trying to get the situation straight,” he said. “Now, it’s over with.”
Albert admitted he stayed away from the Jaguars because of the guaranteed money handed out to free agent tackles after his trade was completed. Russell Okung (Chargers, $25 million), Riley Reiff (Minnesota, $26.3 million), Matt Kalil (Carolina, $24 million) and Andrew Whitworth (Rams, $15 million) all signed new deals.
“Yeah [I was disappointed], but I’m blessed,” Albert said. “There’s not a lot of people even near my situation. I’m one of the best experts at playing left tackle in the universe right now. I take that as a privilege and a blessing.”
Asked if he is underpaid, Albert said: “No. At the time, when you see the situation and [how] the market came out, you try and do what’s best business-wise. It didn’t work that way and it’s time to move on.”
*Albert said he wasn’t deceived by the Jaguars during the trade talks – they didn’t promise him a new contract and then change course.
“No, not at all,” Albert said. “What I make this year isn’t a bad deal.”
*Since Miami’s season ended in the first round of the playoffs, Albert said his preparation was to get “my body right.”
“My body [was] pretty beat up after the last three years in Miami,” he said. “The last three years took a toll on me. I’ll be ready to go when it’s time.”
Albert will lean on his experience in Kansas City and Miami has a guide for quickly learning the Jaguars’ offense and getting into game-ready condition.
“It’s going to take me some [time],” Albert said. “Once I get it, once I get my legs under me, get my conditioning under me, it’s going to be a whole different ballgame. The next three days will just be catching up.”
*Albert said the Jaguars’ decision to draft Robinson No. 34 overall and open up the left tackle spot for competition, “makes sure I don’t stay complacent.”
“That makes sure I work out,” Albert said. “I’m going to help Cam the best I can to make him a better player. … Nothing shakes me. I don’t fear anything.”
The Albert Absence Saga complete, the next storyline is Robinson’s status.
If Albert wins the left tackle spot, does Robinson slide inside to guard (right or left) for the first time in his football life or does he serve as the back-up swing tackle?
Those answers will come in training camp.
****************************************************************************************************************
Albert announced his retirement after struggling at the beginning of camp. He returned only a week later when he realized that he would have to pay back some of his signing bonus ($3.4 million). Not a great endorsement for his commitment to play football.
****************************************************************************************************************
- Albert was absent as he is holding out for a new deal.
- 2016 was the worst season of Albert’s career based on PFF grades, as his mark of 42.2 ranked 65th of 78 eligible tackles. This could be attributed to playing through injuries that caused Albert to miss four games.
- Albert’s grade of 47.7 in pass protection checked in at 57th among the 78 eligible tackles, while his run-blocking grade of 37.9 checked in at 74th.
- Regardless of if it’s Blake Bortles or a quarterback selected in the draft under center, the Jaguars will need a bounceback season from Albert to help protect the quarterback.
*******************************************************************************************************************************
His downward road began with what was reported to be an ACL rupture he sustained in November 2014. The injury actually was both an ACL and MCL rupture.
As soon as he got back on the field in September 2015, he sustained a hamstring injury which he tried to play through, later resulting in a significant hamstring tear for which he missed a couple of games. (which would have been 3 weeks had the Bye not followed)..........continued to be affected by the injury throughout the remainder of the season. He missed time in September 2016 for an ankle ligament tear. He missed more games when he sustained a wrist dislocation last November (not a luck month) which required surgery.
That's a very interesting story about Albert. I'm still a bit confused, what's his status at this point in time ? Is he or is he not done with pro football, and if it's the latter is he available ?
Re the the current status of the Texans' Oline, I guess at the beginning of the 2016 season we thought we were set at tackle with Duane Brown at LT and Newton at RT, though there was some uncertainty with Brown physically because he was coming off of an injury in the 2015 season. But then last season Newton suffered the devastating injury involving Von Miller.
In retrospect the Texans should have drafted atleast one OT in the 2016 Draft, a strong tackle draft unlike this year, but their inability to predict the future has left them up the proverbial creek at OT right now. Instead they drafted a boat load of receivers.
Re the the current status of the Texans' Oline, I guess at the beginning of the 2016 season we thought we were set at tackle with Duane Brown at LT and Newton at RT, though there was some uncertainty with Brown physically because he was coming off of an injury in the 2015 season. But then last season Newton suffered the devastating injury involving Von Miller.
In retrospect the Texans should have drafted atleast one OT in the 2016 Draft, a strong tackle draft unlike this year, but their inability to predict the future has left them up the proverbial creek at OT right now. Instead they drafted a boat load of receivers.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Actually it is the tendency to only look at the best case scenario............often leaving with no good options when things go south.
As far as Albert, I doubt that he now looking for a new team. Do you really want a player playing for you whose only reason to return to football was not the love the game, but for a few more weeks to keep him from giving back his bonus check...............then retiring?...........................an Amobi Okoye (never had his heart in the game) type of player..........but much older and with a very worrisome injury history and a terrible recent performance history at both pass protection and run blocking?
I agree because in '16 we knew Brown was getting towards the end of probably his last contract (and older) and Newton was only an average at best pass-blocker so they should have taken advanage of what was an impressive OT class and not been over indulgent in receivers as they were. Along with corners and edge rushers (and QBs of course), there's probablay nothing more valuable in the NFL than OTs.
It's not just those naked boots. One tenant of the WCO is that your QB has the ability to run the ball to keep the chains moving. He doesn't need to be Michael Vick, bit Schaub was the total other end of the spectrum of "WCO" QBs.
I like to say ZB is the primary component Kubiak's WCO is built on where most WCO are built on the short passing game.
TheRealJoker
Hall of Fame
I think the absence of Will Fuller will change the playcalling. Less deep passes means OL doesn't have to hold their blocks as long because we will be favoring a quick rhythm passing game to pair with our run game. OL had success run blocking and their success in the run game will limit defense's blitz opportunities.
Once Fuller comes back the offense can take more deep shots. Hopefully by then Brown will be back and happy and the OL will have had 8 games or so to build cohesion... assuming they stay healthy of course.
Once Fuller comes back the offense can take more deep shots. Hopefully by then Brown will be back and happy and the OL will have had 8 games or so to build cohesion... assuming they stay healthy of course.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
That misses the point which is deception. It all looks the same until it doesn't.
I thought the Texans under O'Brien always been a mix of zone and gap scheme.
I believe the Texans under Kubiak also mixed in the gap scheme in the last few years.
What about Manning and the broncos in 2014?
Did Peyton suddenly find some wheels?
And Flacco had all of 70 yards on 39 rushing attempts in 2014
I don't know. I re watched the game, just looking at the blocking, and I thought the line did fairly well.
I tried to score them against the Panthers D and did the same for the D line against the Panthers O.
It surprised me a bit to find that our front 7 on D was not very good in contrast.
After all, the Texans did gain 410 yards and made 23 first downs.
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What's that got to do with what I said?
I didn't say every QB who's ever played in a WHO has wheels.
Didn't you say that one of the tenant of Kubiak's WCO is the ability of the QB to run the ball a little to move the chain?
Manning had negative yardage in 2014 in that department, and that offense was running like clockwork.
Or do I misunderstand what you were saying?
sandman
Brexit Advisor
This statement right here is a perfect example of why you like to argue just to argue.
Kubiak has 20+ years as an OC and HC, and you are attempting to invalidate the obvious point by focusing on the exception of one season. With a GOAT QB who while he was a statue, was able to beat you with his mind and arm. And had rushed for negative yardage the previous combined six seasons, during which he went to 2 Super Bowls.
That was why I also mentioned Flacco, duh.
Right there is why you'd do well look at the mirror once in awhile.
Not to mention Sage Rosenfeld and T J Yates.
One of the tenants of a WCO QB is the ability to run the ball, yes. Both Schaub & Manning were miscast in Kubiak's system, but they made it work.
Obviously it's not necessary.
Fla
I remember there was a fair number of fans that clamored for Rosenfels to be the starting QB instead of Schaub.
Definitely wasn't because he's a gazelle. Wait... There was the Rosencopter. (That last part was just a "fond" memory to recall. I wonder if Sage shows that play to his grand children. "Look how Grandpa flies". LOL.
IMO, the fact that Kubiak incorporates the ZBS scheme with the WCO helps the less mobile QB. The play action and the play fake buys a fraction more time. Schaub, in his best 3-4 years can get the ball out quickly and he was a little more accurate than some may think. That also reduces the need for him to be real mobile on the bootleg. Again, JMO.
Flacco and Rosenfels moved the chain well enough, didn't they?
I remember there was a fair number of fans that clamored for Rosenfels to be the starting QB instead of Schaub.
Definitely wasn't because he's a gazelle. Wait... There was the Rosencopter. (That last part was just a "fond" memory to recall. I wonder if Sage shows that play to his grand children. "Look how Grandpa flies". LOL.
IMO, the fact that Kubiak incorporates the ZBS scheme with the WCO helps the less mobile QB. The play action and the play fake buys a fraction more time. Schaub, in his best 3-4 years can get the ball out quickly and he was a little more accurate than some may think. That also reduces the need for him to be real mobile on the bootleg. Again, JMO.
Mr teX
Hall of Fame
There are so many variations of successfully run WCO offenses that I don't think you can say it's the ability to run the ball per se. Shanahan/Kubiak's version was dependent on its ability to run the ball, but as you know the 80's 49ers were famous for using the short pass with Craig to set up the run....so it's not necessarily running the ball, it's more just staying on schedule and the timing of course.
The qb's mobility really has very little to do with how effective that system is.
I also think it was the reason Kubiak was able to "help" older guys toward the end of their career, John Elway included.
Look at Elway's average gains on the ground when Kubiak came to Denver.
Elway definitely didn't gain any speed as he gets older.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Clearly not. He picked Schaub and had him lead the league in passing.
Instead of watching a preseason game 4 times maybe watch a real game.
No idea what you're talking about.
Please elaborate.
What the WCO or Schaub/Manning have to do with the joke that is the Texans OL?