Part III: Offensive line
Many Texan fans are frustrated with the lack of media attention the Texans receive outside of our tiny subculture in south Texas. I live in Austin and I usually receive one of three reactions when I identify myself as a Houston Texan fan:
- “Is that a band? What kind of music do they play?” When I explain to these hippies that it is football and that they don’t play UT this year, it is usually followed by “Cool… oh, you want to hit this, dude?” (it is Austin, after all)
- “The Texans! Why? You know they didn’t draft Vince! What was that about? That was stupid!”
- “The Texans! They Suck! Why can’t they get a decent offensive line? Your QB, what’s his name… David Carr, gets killed every game!”
The Texans singular successful media blitz in their nine years of existence came from the David Carr grocery commercials where he calls out the offensive line. It’s an infamous group yet nobody (other than crazies like us) know anything about them. Barrett and I are a little obsessed with the big uglies. Since last Friday, I’ve learned a few more things about them. So, here ya go:
LT
Duane Brown looks excellent! He should continue to improve. He came into camp in very good shape and is now in his fifth year of football since converting from TE to offensive line. His strength and athleticism is very noticeable in the pass rushing drills at camp. We watched some very intense matchups between he and Antonio Smith last weekend. I have seen or heard nothing to dissuade me from my belief that he is going to have an excellent season. Rashod Butler is his primary backup. Butler has looked good. Butler is lean and very athletic. I did notice that he can get bull-rushed and isn’t a great drive blocker. However, his quick feet and long arms prevent him from being embarrassed in pass protection and he excels at the cut block.
RT
Eric Winston is one of those guys that is just built bigger than everyone else. He weighs around 315 lbs but he just towers over most of the guys, even the rest of the offensive line. He’s what my grandparents would refer to as “big-boned” (this is a PG-rated blog, do not go homo-erotic with your imaginations… I said don’t!) Anyway, the guy looks great in the drills. He very much seems like a leader on the line and I love his attitude. He and Pollard got into a fight on day four, but I love everything about his perspective on it. Rashod Butler is the backup here, too.
4th tackle
I still do not know how they are going to handle tackle depth after Rashod Butler. I know Kubiak would like to have 4 tackles on the roster. I just don’t see it happening. I tried to watch Adam Stenavich, Cole Pemberton, and Steve Maneri but I just don’t see any of those guys making the roster. My guess is that Maneri and either Pemberton or Stenavich are placed on the practice squad. Of the three, Stenavich is the only one with any NFL experience but he is also the least athletic of the three. Wade Smith has experience at both tackle spots. It is my guess that they will keep an additional interior lineman on the roster and consider Wade Smith their emergency tackle.
RG
As we predicted before camp, right guard is Antoine Caldwell’s. He’s been given the job despite the return of Brisiel and the addition of Wade Smith. Reading this article, it sounds like he is much stronger and more confident than he was last season. I am excited about having him line up next to Winston for 16 games. The right side could feature a legitimate short yardage running game with he and Winston playing together. It is very difficult for me to watch interior line play without my DVR. However, based on his performance in the one on one drills, he looks very good. Of course, that may simply be because he was lucky enough not to go up against Eric Mitchell!
C/LG
Chris Myers, Wade Smith, Kasey Studdard, and “Biscuit” Brisiel appear to be battling for these two positions. Chris White has been solidly entrenched behind this group and is on the fringe of the 53 man roster, it appears. Shelley Smith (rookie guard from Colorado State) will really have to come on strong in order to make the roster. I was thoroughly unimpressed with what I saw from him. He appeared tentative and not stout at the point of attack.
Myers or Smith will almost definitely start at center in week one. Biscuit has also gotten some reps at center but I can not imagine the team actually plans to strengthen the offensive line by starting a guy with a bad foot at a position where he has zero experience. Speaking of Brisiel, he has looked fine in drills and in the team activities but he is still not fully recovered from his foot injury. He even acknowledged that he is still dealing with quite a bit of pain. Of course, that became apparent watching him limp around during the first week of camp. By the way, his right leg is severely atrophied and he already had a bit of a “Big Bird” body. My guess is they are considering using Brisiel to backup center and guard when they only dress seven offensive linemen on gameday.
Chris Myers looks alright. I saw he and then Studdard get absolutely abused by Earl Mitchell in a two minute span of time. I feel strongly that those two guys will not line up together to start the season. If Smith wins the LG spot, then Myers is more likely to start. If Smith wins the center position, then Studdard may start over Brisiel at LG until Brisiel is 100%. The Texans were too committed to improving the interior offensive line this off-season to roll into 2010 with the identical three guys starting week one: Studdard, Myers, Caldwell.
I am very much looking forward to the competition for these spots as the preseason gets going.
Look for the review of the defense today and tomorrow.
From what I saw out in practice, I would be very shocked if Wade Smith starts. He is a backup at best on a good team. Not that our OLine is top notch, but Smith does not look as good as Studdard, as much as that pains me to say.
painekiller
Alan, That really is not the news I’m wanting to hear! Uggh. Perhaps he had a tough day or was lined up against Earl Mitchell. I guess we will learn a lot more once the preseason bullets start flying. I am of the opinion that interior line play can not be dissected individually but is very much about the best combination of players working together.
thanks for the information.
Alan,
I’d love to read what else you noticed at practice today.
You have on the BBs. I’m painekiller on the boards.