Laloulu for these reasons... - At 6'2", 329 pounds, he's a tree trunk under center with his rare frame density, mass, and natural leverage, and he carries elite strength and hand power at contact. - He has an ideal power profile, and he can operate on zone looks as well with his core strength on the move. - He's a true commander of the front with elite awareness, stunt vision, and football IQ For me he captures everything I'm looking for in a center and being a 3-year starter gives him the experience to step in and compete as a rookie. As a two-time former commander in the military, that word has special meaning to me because I tried to encourage everyone to "command" their own position/role. Iapani has the kind of knuckle dragger size and exceptional traits to be an anchor for the next 10 years. I'm tired of dudes getting push in the middle of our pocket and want some big nasties in there.
Both of the prospects that you mentioned need to be studied closely. I believe our first two picks should be on the OL, which is by far our weakest position group.
One of my thoughts is a preference for solid, but shorter interior linemen who gain leverage and cut the legs of the front of the pocket. This could reduce blocked passes. Centers are also usually better at recognizing the defenses and communicating counter-moves.
It’s not all about individual stats when it comes to the OL and it’s not all about pressure on the QB. Our interior line gets pushed back consistently on both pass and run plays. They are just as responsible for our pass protection and even more responsible for our inability to score at the goaline. Our top priority in the draft should be center, unless we sign a no-miss veteran.
I can't get over the fact that this will probably be our downfall for this year and the reason we don't go anywhere meaningful in the playoffs and IMO its INEXCUSABLE, it is the same DAM problem we had last year, and Nick decided to shop in the bargain bin at TJ Maxx. You have a SB caliber D, one top 10 receiver, 2 pretty good rookie wideouts, a decent run game. Now, the O Line has gotten better over the past few weeks and they are OK, but dam that bar is set so dam low................it's just a wasted opportunity IMO, but that's what mid-level teams do and dam it, I want the Texans to be elite and someone has to be held accountable and I just don't think Nick is "the guy" to build a SB caliber team here in Texas With that said.........................Lets Go Texans, pull of an upset tonight
Yea, Caserio **** the bed this past off-season just like he **** the bed with his OL draft picks the previous THREE drafts. We'd be Super Bowl contenders if Caserio could pick decent OL.
I have never been a fan of Caserio's, and I'd be thrilled - and I think the team better off - if he were fired later this morning. Having said that... It's looking like he hit on Ingram and Ersery. They have Howard in place. He 100% should've thrown more - and better - resources at the OL. But they are likely a very good center away from being OK on the OL. If we step back and look at this as a two-year process - which, is absurd but stay with me... I'm starting to think they're going to be a *very* good team next year. Caley is showing some growth and getting better; the OL is getting better; it looks like Caserio - again, props when due - hit on three offensive playmakers in the draft. Add a top-line C, another top-line RB, maybe get a TE upgrade (though, again, fair is fair: Schultz has had a really good season)... You bring Dell back into the mix and, hopefully, another really good draft......... I said it about last year but it might be this year is the Astros' 2016 season; the one where it looks promising but it's not quite there so they take a small step back and then unleash a full-blown juggernaut.
After 2 years of their WR's being hurt in the playoffs they decided to fix the WR issue in the draft. I wish Caserio had packaged the Jaylin Smith pick with a 4th rd pick and moved up to pick Ratledge and said so at the time. But Meco wanted Smith and that's the way things go sometimes. Put Ratledge in at LG and this OL would've looked a lot different. Look how much better the OL looked with a competent Patterson at LG over the last 2 games. At least I understood what Caserio was trying to do when he/Ryans picked Higgins/Noel.
Yep, I would let Autry/Schultz/Rankins/Mixon is coming off of the books. walk if I could sign Linderbaum in FA. I hope I'm wrong, but I dont see Dell making it back and if he does I dont see him being the same player he was before injury. I hope I'm wrong about this.
Nope. You may recall that I was touting Ersery. Caserio's picks in 22' & 23' were horrific and the 24' Blake Fisher pick looked horrible but might work out.
FWIW, current PFF grades for the following OL: Fisher 66.5 Ersery 56.9 Howard 61.8 Brown 66.3 Scruggs 45.2 Tomlinson 56.1 Patterson 61.1 Ingram 77.4 Andrew's 54.6
At least the pass blocking is much better. Up until Seattle, they had no shot passing against good defenses
