Training camp 2011 news

[barrett]

Casey might be able to play an h-back role, but he is definitely no FB. Our offense will either throw out the power running game and any FB plays we relied on from last year, or someone else will play FB. Casey is a great pass catcher who they are trying to find an NFL position for.

[today]

I'd be interested to see all of our short yardage and goaline plays from last year to get a feel for just how important a role Vonta played in the power game. I sure hope that we get a reasonable deal worked out with Vickers, seems like a good fit for both parties.

[Nconroe]

I don't know if true, I heard that like 80% of NFL teams don't use a FB anymore due to overwhelming passing attack.

And separately heard that Leach was only in on about 34 % of scrimmage plays last year, so even not full time use of FB for Texans.

But we certainly saw hi-lites where FB was used successfully, some big blocks by Leach last year.

[Arky]

Lance Z has these soundbites from the 1st day of camp.

If you click on any, make sure to check out AJ in the first one.... turn your volume up a notch....

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by Arky

Lance Z has these soundbites from the 1st day of camp.

If you click on any, make sure to check out AJ in the first one.... turn your volume up a notch....

I'm with Eric, we need to go to more sets that make the defense react with no good options. They go nickle you run, they go big base or big you split out Owen and Casey, then you have fun.

[today]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

And separately heard that Leach was only in on about 34 % of scrimmage plays last year, so even not full time use of FB for Texans.

Not sure who's correct, but 38% (i think) was the number that I heard spouted on the radio by Dylan Gwinn on Friday when he was on in Charlie's slot. He was using that to show that the expectations for Foster shouldn't be adjusted based upon losing Vonta.

The reason I was interested in the short yardage and goaline plays in my earlier post is because that's where I see us really missing a true blocking fullback, thus I wanted to review exactly how integral a role he played in those situations.

[Nconroe]

Originally Posted by today

Not sure who's correct, but 38% (i think) was the number that I heard spouted on the radio by Dylan Gwinn on Friday when he was on in Charlie's slot. He was using that to show that the expectations for Foster shouldn't be adjusted based upon losing Vonta.

The reason I was interested in the short yardage and goaline plays in my earlier post is because that's where I see us really missing a true blocking fullback, thus I wanted to review exactly how integral a role he played in those situations.

Probably I remembered the 38% wrong.

I guess another similar question might be how did we do so much better last year from years before in the short yardage and goal line situations? or first half of game vs second half of game for offense?

[barrett]

Originally Posted by today

Not sure who's correct, but 38% (i think) was the number that I heard spouted on the radio by Dylan Gwinn on Friday when he was on in Charlie's slot. He was using that to show that the expectations for Foster shouldn't be adjusted based upon losing Vonta.

The reason I was interested in the short yardage and goaline plays in my earlier post is because that's where I see us really missing a true blocking fullback, thus I wanted to review exactly how integral a role he played in those situations.

That number could be misleading. Before I take that number to mean Leach's loss isn't that big (what the Texans are spinning), I would ask what % of Foster's yards came on those %38 of the plays. If Foster got 75% of his rushing yards on the 38% of the plays then we have a problem. If he got %38 then not so much. But the number of plays is not suprising or particularly revealing.

[Nconroe]

just listening to 610 am who are at practice

sounds like 86 guys in camp today, any new or FA players can't practice till Thurs. when new NFL year is set to begin, all CBA negotiations done.

Cushing apparently still rehabbing for up to 6 more weeks.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

Cushing apparently still rehabbing for up to 6 more weeks.

Huh? Where'd this come from? 610?

[Nconroe]

I must have heard wrong, Chron says he is cleared to practice after knee surgery. maybe just coaches working guys in slowly. sorry on confusion, my likely misinterpretation.

[Arky]

I think Leach will mainly be missed in those off-tackle plays - Example: Foster's long run against Oakland. When Leach blocked a guy, that guy was out of the play. Casey (or Vickers or whomever) will just have to get sufficiently in the way so Foster can use his skills, which are considerable. I think AF is going to be a marked man this year so the Texans will need to spread the runs around (Ward, Tate) and get creative....

[today]

LanceZierlein Lance Zierlein
.@jharrisfootball says JJ Watt is KILLIING IT at practice today

Good to hear that JJ is starting things off with a bang. I hope this continues...

[NBT]

I look at it like this, Vontae was an excellent lead blocker, a so-so receiver, and a non-existant run threat. Casey (hopefully) will do acceptably as a run blocker, will be an excellent receiver, and quite possibly a threat to run in certain sets. So we give up something in the run game, and get better in the pass game. An acceptable trade-off.

[NBT]

Other than Casey, we have R UDFA Justin Bartlett, 6-0, 237, Carrol-Montana, and R UDFA Zack Pauga, 6-1, 246, from the obligatory Colorado State. Maybe we will bring in another vet FB for competition.

[Arky]

Pics

Quotes

The RFA's (Joesph, Manning, even Foster, etc.) can't practice until Aug 4 because of a weird league rule.... but they're out there.....

[chuck]

Originally Posted by barrett

Casey might be able to play an h-back role, but he is definitely no FB.

This is precisely my thought. I love having him on the field and putting him in different places where he might receive the ball or give the defense another dimension to worry about, but asking him to charge through a hole and clear it out like a real FB, well, think again.