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Predict our starting OL

Discussion in 'Houston Texans' started by Hemingway, Mar 19, 2018.

  1. Nimo

    Nimo Member

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    One good thing that came out today waa that Bill was willing to consider moving Martin to guard and have someone like Fulton at center. My line would look like this:

    Henderson/rookie
    Fulton/Kelemente
    Mancz/Martin
    Martin/Fulton
    Davenport/rookie
     
  2. Bobbythegreat

    Bobbythegreat Member
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    When did he say that? From what I heard he suggested that there would be potentially 4 new starters with Martin being the only guy staying put at center. It wouldn't make sense to downgrade the center spot
     
  3. J.R.

    J.R. Member

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    https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sp...fseason-analysis-Taking-stock-of-12788003.php

    New Texans general manager Brian Gaine has made upgrading one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL a major priority this offseason.

    Time will tell if he's done enough to obtain reinforcements for a suspect line that was shoddy in pass protection and, to a lesser extent, run blocking last season.

    The Texans signed former Kansas City Chiefs offensive guard Zach Fulton ($28 million), former New Orleans Saints guard-tackle Senio Kelemete ($12 million) and former Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson ($4 million) during free agency. They also retained key interior backup Greg Mancz with a $1.9 million restricted free agent tender.

    While Fulton should be a capable replacement for disappointing former second-round draft pick Xavier Su'a-Filo (who signed with the Titans) at left guard and Kelemete should compete for a starting job with Jeff Allen and Henderson could be the new right tackle, none are Pro Bowl blockers. And the last-place AFC South club has lacked a viable left tackle on the roster since trading Pro Bowl left tackle Duane Brown to the Seattle Seahawks following a contract dispute and his critical comments of owner Bob McNair.

    This depth chart looks better on paper, but it's obviously not a finished product.

    The Texans were encouraged by how Julie'n Davenport performed when he stepped in at left tackle at the end of the season. Davenport has the requisite size and wingspan to play the position, but isn't a great athlete and is still somewhat raw after competing at a smaller school at Bucknell.

    The Texans bowed out of the bidding war the New York Giants won for former New England Patriots offensive tackle Nate Solder, who landed $62.5 million contract. If they had signed Solder, it would have likely prevented them from landing the three linemen they acquired.

    As it stands now, the line has improved, if at least slightly. The Texans need center Nick Martin, their top blocker, to make a speedy recovery from his season-ending ankle injury that required surgery. He's expected to be ready before the start of the regular season. However, the Texans' line is still in flux. They will need to build chemistry, draft a left tackle and gauge whether Allen, who has struggled with consistency and durability since joining the team as a free agent two years ago, is still the answer at right guard. Kyle Fuller is expected to be in the mix as a competitor for one of the guard spots, too.

    Henderson is a big, strong tackle, but has a history of suspensions for violating the NFL substance-abuse policy. He's overcome Crohn's disease, which forced him to have two abdominal surgeries.

    The grade for the offensive line at this point is definitely an incomplete. Gaine has begun the process of rebuilding a group that former general manager Rick Smith ignored for far too long.

    Gaine is aware that the heavy lifting isn't done and this line needs to keep getting better to protect quarterback Deshaun Watson as he returns from a knee injury and open up bigger holes for running backs Lamar Miller and D'Onta Foreman.

    Texans' offensive linemen under contract:
    OG Jeff Allen
    OT Julie'n Davenport
    OG Kyle Fuller
    OG Zach Fulton
    OT Seantrel Henderson
    OG-OT Senio Kelemete
    OT Kendall Lamm
    C Greg Mancz
    C Nick Martin
    OT Derek Newton
    OG-OT David Quessenberry
    OT Jake Rodgers
    OG Chad Slade
     
  4. J.R.

    J.R. Member

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    https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sp...GM-Brian-Gaine-plans-to-add-more-12805536.php

    "My decision-making process will often be, No. 1, what's the internal solution?" Gaine said. "No. 2, what's the external solution?

    "Our internal solution right now is Davenport. We're optimistic about his upside. He's gotten some starts (four), so it won't be new to him.

    "He's got the physical traits to develop at that position. He's got the height (6-7), length (87 ½-inch wing span) and feet. This is a very important offseason for him in terms of strength and power development. The OTAs and minicamp are going to be critical for him in terms of rapid ascending development."

    "As we evaluated our roster, there was an emphasis on getting bigger, longer and stronger, especially on the offensive line," Gaine said. "Physically, he met the parameters of what we're looking for (6-7, 330). He has the physical traits to be a starter. We're optimistic he's going to compete for a starting job."

    "I like the idea we're picking near the top of the third round," Gaine said. "We're wide open. We could go up to the bottom of the second round if somebody's selling, or we could move down a few picks and accumulate another selection."

    "If you look at history, it tells you the good tackles are usually taken high, but history also tells you they come at all levels," Gaine said. "We're going to keep an open mind as it relates to where we can get those players."

    O'Brien believes right tackles have become as important as left tackles even though it's not reflected in their paychecks.

    "Left and right, it's becoming no different," he said. "Even though the left side is protecting the right-handed quarterback's blind side, I think the right side is just as important as the left side.

    "That's my opinion (but) that's not the way they're paid. To me, with the rushers you see from Jacksonville, Tennessee and Indianapolis coming off the edge, both tackles better be pretty good, and that's been one of the most difficult things to evaluate.

    "Can this guy who plays on the right, could he swing over and play on the left?" O'Brien said. "Is he left-handed? Is he right-handed? Does he feel comfortable in this type of stance, that type of (stance)? There's a lot that goes into that evaluation, and I think the level of talent goes in cycles, and that's just the way it is year-to-year."

    "There's a unique element to scouting right now – the style of offense that's being played as it relates to offensive line play," Gaine said. "One of the first things you look at with tackles is are they in a three-point stance?

    "When we're scouting offensive linemen, especially tackles, a lot of them are working out of a two-point stance. Now, there are still a number of offenses playing a traditional (scheme)."

    "You're still looking for the physical qualities that are transferrable to the NFL," Gaine said. "You're still looking for height/weight/speed, athleticism, instincts and production. You need to find out about football character. Is he coachable? How does he learn? Work habits? Are these things transferrable, as well?

    "You have the physical profile and the intangible profile. Most of the time, when they have the physical and intangible profiles, regardless of the system they played in, it'll pay great benefits and help you decide if you think the guy can make the transition."

    Gaine cautions that just because the Texans signed eight free agents doesn't mean they won't draft players for some of the same positions.

    "How we did business in free agency does impact perhaps what we can do in the draft but never at the expense of taking the best available," he said. "Even though we may have (signed) offensive linemen and defensive backs doesn't mean we wouldn't add those positions.

    "We're going to try to find a way to take the best available players when we pick. We have three picks in the top 100. We think we can get players (ranked) from 80 to 100, and they should be good players."
     
    joeson332 likes this.
  5. Hemingway

    Hemingway Member

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    I love his attitude on all this. It seems he is much more open minded that Rick Smith. I hope it translates into success.
     
  6. Mark

    Mark Contributing Member

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    I think we draft a tackle or 2 but doubt they start week 1.

    LT - Davenport
    LG - Fulton
    C - Martin
    RG - Kelemete
    RT - Newton
     
  7. joeson332

    joeson332 Member

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    Love his mindset so far. Depth has always been the issue here and Gaine isn't satisfied just yet with the recent free agent signings. Hope it translates to success here. Lets get it.
     
  8. raining threes

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    Apparently you haven't heard that no player has ever made it back to be a functional starter after sustaining the type of injury that Newton suffered. Not to mention that Newton wasn't very good after his contract year once he got paid.
     
    Dankstronaut likes this.
  9. Dankstronaut

    Dankstronaut Way, way out here.
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    I haven't done much (any) draft reading this year. There are other ways to bolster a blocking front too....TE?

    Someone with a little more knowledge impart some wisdom on me....what are the chances they come away with a TE in first 3 rounds? With Fiedowicz retiring TE is a HUGE need, particularly in building an offense around a possible franchise caliber QB. Griffin, honestly I can't believe he's still on a pro roster and Anderson as a matchup-problem guy isn't really a #1 option either. Nothing (unless I missed it) in free agency...so?

    Who's out there?
     
  10. Mr. Clutch

    Mr. Clutch Contributing Member

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    One less tackle
     
  11. Bobbythegreat

    Bobbythegreat Member
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    No one should have considered Newton a legitimate option to begin with.
     
    raining threes and houstonstime like this.
  12. Mr. Clutch

    Mr. Clutch Contributing Member

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    raining threes likes this.
  13. raining threes

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    Yet Kelemete is huge upgrade over the crap that played OG last yr.
     
  14. Mr. Clutch

    Mr. Clutch Contributing Member

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    XSF? Allen is still here
     
  15. showa13

    showa13 Member

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    Most Saints fans were bummed to lose Kelemete, and a wet paper towel is an upgrade over XSF. The line will be better, Davenport and Martin now have a year of playing experience and usually players get better from year 1 to year 2, Fulton and Kelemete are upgrades over what we had last year, and despite a slew of false starts Allen showed that he could at minimum be a viable stop gap for a year at OT. And the offense last year was throwing up 30 despite poor OLine play. The line is looking better this year than it was last year as a collective, just need more OT depth.
     
    raining threes likes this.
  16. Htownballer38

    Htownballer38 Member

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    LT Davenport or Draft pick round 3
    LG Fulton
    C Martin
    RG Kelemete
    RT Henderson

    Allen will be traded
     
  17. Mr. Clutch

    Mr. Clutch Contributing Member

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    Agreed the guards will be better.

    I think we'll see Allen or Kelemente at RT unless they find another addition
     
  18. showa13

    showa13 Member

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    We’re prob gonna be active on the waiver wire once guys start getting released, at least I hope
     
  19. raining threes

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    Same thing was said last year and we saw how that turned out.
     
  20. Bobbythegreat

    Bobbythegreat Member
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    This time last year we weren't expecting Duane Brown to be a total and complete piece of ****. That changed things a lot.
     
    csj and raining threes like this.

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