Davenport was in the game briefly yesterday, very briefly, maybe for just a single play after Clark went out. But I remember seeing him laying prone on the ground as if he'd been shot with an elephant rifle, and I was concerned he was injured but I just think this young man does have a long ways to go before he's ready to contribute. The youngster just doesn't seem to know his azz from a hole in the ground out there at this point.
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State of the O-line
- Thread starter jradMIT
- Start date
I figure Davenport will need at least 1 full off season in the weight room just to get him ready to play one of the OT spots next year. Until then they'll keep using him as an extra "blocking TE" in some of their schemes to get him some experience. He may be used more in the next few weeks if Clark's calf injury is more serious. Can't afford to lose any O-linemen for any length of time or the Texans will be in trouble! They need DB back now! This game of "chicken" they are playing could get Watson hurt!
Funny, but accurate description of the OL on too many plays.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
I've met a great deal of resistance in the past when I referred to him as realistically being a developmental player, and this year not anywhere ready for the big stage.
Scooter
Funky
If not the only one left, I'm probably in a small minority that is expecting and looking forward to Brown showing up during the bye week. I remember last season's emphasis on running left because we had no other choice (I think Foreman in the second half against the Browns would appreciate a little support on the left side - his year average was destroyed with negative runs), and being able to leave Brown on an island in the pass. I've said it a million times, I'm here for the long haul - I never expected Watson to be this great (wanted him to sit the year), and now I want to protect that investment. Having a LT he can trust can do so much to further Watson's development, especially if it improves our run game as well.
I'm certainly one who was hopeful he'd be something more than a "development player" this year but now looks like it was just wishful thinking on my part which mean it's entirely possible we over-paid for Davenport with a fourth-round pick.
OptimisticTexan
2024 / Rebuilding Block 4 After Playoffs / Texans
On one play, he was literally rag-dolled -legally- and Miller was stuffed in the backfield.
An elephant rifle would not work on a man of that stature. Guy is freaking huge. The Texans ran him in motion one play and I thought my son turned the game off, put on Madden and had create a player mode on playing as the TE.
beerlover
Hall of Fame
Still not good.
Shishkabob
All Pro
we are kind of in a pretty big predicament with our oline not just the rest of this season, but going forward if we don't get DB back in the fold. We don't have our first 2 rounds of picks which negates us having a solid chance of shoring it up next season through the draft, and last I checked the 2018 OL pool of free agents looks pretty weak, but with how free agency goes they will still get over paid. so really our options are, A. try to mend the relationship with Brown, B. hope you get lucky drafting a mid round prospect that can contribute Asap, or C. overpay for some free agents who probably won't be to much better then what we currently have.
Davenport ..... man he's awful right now. Don't think I've seen a "competent" block out of him yet and he just plain whiffs far too many .... Wish I had made notes with time stamps but I just haven't been that into it this season.
Its obvious he has some physical tools but right now he's just not in the same league as NFL defenders.
I haven't looked at the coming offseason group but last off-season's wasn't very good either ... as for how much guys get paid , a lot of that will go hand in hand with how much or little the cap rises , if at all but I don't remember what the projections are and I'm too lazy to look it up.
If it goes up significantly teams will be throwing money around a lot more freely , if not - not so much.
Or
D. If there's an OL you really like trade up and get the guy.
There are guys like Arron Stinnie OT James Madison, Joseph Noteboom OT, TCU thant could be had in the 3rd rd and they would be big upgrades in talent over what is currently on the OL.
So yes, the OL can still be upgraded this offseason, Ricky just has to do the work to find the guys and the will to do whatever it takes to make the upgrades. I'm not gonna be holding my breath waiting.
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Really? I thought that was the consensus opinion on him.
Best small-school player
Julie'n Davenport, OT, Bucknell: There were a lot of good small-school players here in Mobile. Davenport had an up-and-down week but it's kind of what you'd expect from a guy stepping up in competition at this level. He's the longest player here this week, he has good feet, but he needs to work on his core strength and power, which are both developmental issues; those can be fixed at the next level. He should be the first player drafted from Bucknell since 1969.
***
.http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...-tops-mike-mayocks-senior-bowl-practice-stars
***
That's what Draft guru Mike Mayoc said about JD for his Senior Bowl week in Mobile.
I was hopeful and actually still am but over an even longer term than what I initially thought. Pretty sure he's not gonna help us this year, but if he's ambitious and willing to work he still may have a future with the Texans and in the league.
Texansballer74
The Marine
Let's not the would be tag on some unproven players like that Steel. Or calling them upgrades when they haven't played on the NFL level.
And I am pretty sure we will address our offensive line woes.
Shishkabob
All Pro
Yea because slick Rick has had so much success trading up in the 3rd round for players lol
OptimisticTexan
2024 / Rebuilding Block 4 After Playoffs / Texans
I only hope that RS is keeping every line of communication open with DB so he has a better feel for the direction this situation is going to take. At this point, I'd be slightly disappointed if R didn't know if DB was going to report or force the issue by sitting out through the deadline to further handcuff the team.
The 2018 FA class of OT's is looking very weak as far as instant starters go, but there is young OT depth available provided the asking price doesn't become too stupid. I would prefer to see DB return but unless RS is willing to break one of his cardinal rules, DB may just sit out. Does anyone think the Texans will attempt to re-sign Clark and/or Su'a-Filo?
As far as making trade(s), OT's are extremely valuable and those teams that have them would be hard pressed to trade one away, even if they're already grooming an eventual replacement...unless the offer is as ridulous as the FA money that will be demanded by the agents of those available OT's. If DB is going to sit until RS guarantees the return of his hold-out money and balance of his contract...then RS has his trade bait, to address the OL.
This OL problem could wind up being a problem until the 2019 NFL Draft. I hate to see O'Brien executing designed running plays for Watson but in several instances Watson is staying alive with his legs which is due to the poor OL in front of him. There are some very physical defenses on the docket over the next few weeks and this is where it could get a little hairy if Watson is continually exposed as a runner.
Hopefully the team will get some answers from within, mainly Davenport and Fuller by seasons end and "Q" when the 2018 off-season gets started. Going to be hard to judge the potential RD3 OT talent at the moment b/c with no RD1 or RD2 picks, it will be after the Combine before there's a feeling as to which players are falling. If only there was a situation where another L. Collins (Dallas) fell into later rounds...but would McNair and RS pull the trigger based on the same information?
The 2018 FA class of OT's is looking very weak as far as instant starters go, but there is young OT depth available provided the asking price doesn't become too stupid. I would prefer to see DB return but unless RS is willing to break one of his cardinal rules, DB may just sit out. Does anyone think the Texans will attempt to re-sign Clark and/or Su'a-Filo?
As far as making trade(s), OT's are extremely valuable and those teams that have them would be hard pressed to trade one away, even if they're already grooming an eventual replacement...unless the offer is as ridulous as the FA money that will be demanded by the agents of those available OT's. If DB is going to sit until RS guarantees the return of his hold-out money and balance of his contract...then RS has his trade bait, to address the OL.
This OL problem could wind up being a problem until the 2019 NFL Draft. I hate to see O'Brien executing designed running plays for Watson but in several instances Watson is staying alive with his legs which is due to the poor OL in front of him. There are some very physical defenses on the docket over the next few weeks and this is where it could get a little hairy if Watson is continually exposed as a runner.
Hopefully the team will get some answers from within, mainly Davenport and Fuller by seasons end and "Q" when the 2018 off-season gets started. Going to be hard to judge the potential RD3 OT talent at the moment b/c with no RD1 or RD2 picks, it will be after the Combine before there's a feeling as to which players are falling. If only there was a situation where another L. Collins (Dallas) fell into later rounds...but would McNair and RS pull the trigger based on the same information?
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At this point the team will have no choice but to sign Clark and XSF! Clark is the only one they have that can play LT at an Ok level for the NFL unless, by some miracle, DB returns. And, I'm not holding my breath for that to happen any time soon! As for XSF, they could use Mancz to start there but then they have no experienced depth him.
I don't see any "answers" coming "from within" this season unless DQ gets promoted from the PS and starts playing, but I don't really see that happening unless one of the OG's is lost for the season. Even then I don't know how much playing time he would get with Mancz the likely starter and Fuller as a backup. I've stated before in other threads that I think Davenport and Fuller need at least an off season of conditioning to be able to play at an NFL level. Both have been used sparingly as extra blocking TE's from time to time to give them some experience and I expect that to continue this season.
This O-line situation really has only 3 answers:
1.) Get Brown back in here now and hope you can go through the rest of the season with no O-line injuries. Move Clark to RT and continue to develop Davenport, Fuller, DQ, etc...
2.) Trade Brown for draft pick(s) and really hope you can go through the rest of the season with no O-line injuries. Keep Clark at LT and continue to develop Davenport, Fuller, DQ, etc... Then package draft picks to move up to 1st or 2nd round and get the best LT/RT available in the Draft and go from there.
3.) Do nothing with Brown and maybe try to negotiate with him in the off season or trade him for whatever you can get. Draft an O-lineman in the 3rd round or lower and hope that an off season of development for Davenport,
Fuller, DQ, etc... pays off!
At the beginning of the regular season I was stunned that Brown didn't show up and start drawing game checks, but now at midseason I'd be stunned all over again if he came
in to play for the Texans. I think Brown will take a trade if Rick can find a team & terms that Brown is amenable to or Brown will just hang up the cleats and call it a career.
in to play for the Texans. I think Brown will take a trade if Rick can find a team & terms that Brown is amenable to or Brown will just hang up the cleats and call it a career.
macho grande
Waterboy
Just to get that pic of peas or whatever that is off of my thread header
adama51
Walk-on
The woman in the middle is my wife she just doesn't know it yet.Just to get that pic of peas or whatever that is off of my thread header
DQ is not on the roster. #1 is the best option, by far, of the ones you listed. I would not be a fan of trading away even more draft picks for what is being called another weak draft for OL in 2018.
cuppacoffee
Resident Grouch
"Official" site shows DQ on the PS.
OOPS!!! I just checked the depth chart. My mistake."Official" site shows DQ on the PS.
Who knows, maybe "Trader Rick" could get a 1st or 2nd round pick for Brown and then the Texans wouldn't have to trade away any picks to move up!
Honoring Earl 34
Something Witty !
Will Hernandez UTEP is a guard who looks like Idaho Vandals named Mike Iupati . Not as tall but mobile and strong . Good luck on an OT .
Honoring Earl 34
Something Witty !
Hernandez looks like he would be a good pick for the Texans but they need OT's more than OG's at this point. Now, if DB comes back and plays out the rest of this season and all of next season it gives them a little more time to develop Davenport and find another OT in the Draft for the RT spot. But, they need to hurry. This "patchwork" of Clark and Giacomini at the tackle spots can't last forever and I would hate to see them do to Watson what the "Dolts" have done to Luck! They need to make the O-line the top priority in this next off season!
Honoring Earl 34
Something Witty !
You can get a RT in the 3rd but you have to get real lucky to get a LT in the 3rd and if you do , keep Ron Dayne way from him .
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
See the Texans vs Seahawks Injury Report thread.
With the trade of DB and cut of Lamm that only leaves Clark, Giacomini, and Davenport as our only OT's! An oft injured mediocre LT, a 10+ year vet off the "scrap heap" at RT, and a 5th round rookie that needs an off season of training and conditioning to play OT. That "ice" is very thin! Hope Watson can stay upright and continue to do his magic!
OptimisticTexan
2024 / Rebuilding Block 4 After Playoffs / Texans
Wasn't this RS's master plan the whole time? I seen him ringing his hands together and offering a creepy little laugh while slightly humped over. Oh...I can't wait to see the fruition of this diabolical plan!!!
I think Davenport played the first half. Clark played the second half.
They are still awful.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Clark basically came in the 2nd half and played to the end.
So he was the one that gave up the strip, sack, fumble at the end of the game?
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Yes!
Honoring Earl 34
Something Witty !
Saw this in the chron.com. Guess Davenport needs a little more seasoning. http://www.chron.com/sports/texans/article/Texans-expected-to-start-Chris-Clark-at-left-12345830.php
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
More like standard crap decision making.