What new starters do you want to see?

painekiller · #1 07-09-2009, 12:08 AM

OK a lot of us think Caldwell should start, but has anyone but me looked at the OL depth? We have no one at OT after the top 3 guys. And if Caldwell starts our game day depth is hammered in the middle.

I can already see next years want list including a depth level guard and tackle

Arky · #2 07-09-2009, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by painekiller

I can already see next years want list including a depth level guard and tackle

Have you seen the roster lately? There are some interesting UDFA's and FA's I didn't know they (the Texans) picked up - some from big name schools.... Tackles from Florida and Michigan, a center from LSU, guards from Kansas and Notre Dame..... I didn't know they had these guys...

papabear · #3 07-09-2009, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by painekiller

OK a lot of us think Caldwell should start, but has anyone but me looked at the OL depth? We have no one at OT after the top 3 guys. And if Caldwell starts our game day depth is hammered in the middle.

I can already see next years want list including a depth level guard and tackle

Most teams are only going to have three OT's active on game day. Now if one of ours gets hurt we will be pretty thin, but I feel really good about our top three tackles. We would be a little thin at gaurd or Center if Caldwell started, depending on who he beat out, but we don't know who might surprise us in camp. I'm not a real big fan of keeping a better player on the sidelines just to make our depth chart look better though. If he beats someone out then so be it.

Myers is just a center, but didn't Briesel work at center before?

cland · #4 07-09-2009, 10:52 AM

I agree, Caldwell starting doesn't prevent him from sliding over to guard to cover for an injury, with Myers coming up to play center.

idymoe · #5 07-09-2009, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papabear

Myers is just a center, but didn't Briesel work at center before?

Myers started the first 5 games at left guard for Denver in 2007. He moved to start at center for the last 11 games. If Caldwell starts at center, I think that makes our backup for guard/center in Myers better than what we had last year. Having to replace Ephraim at swing tackle is a bigger issue at this point. Butler may be better than Ephraim at backing up both tackles, then we need to replace Butler in the 2nd backup spot from last year.

papabear · #6 07-09-2009, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by idymoe

Myers started the first 5 games at left guard for Denver in 2007. He moved to start at center for the last 11 games. If Caldwell starts at center, I think that makes our backup for guard/center in Myers better than what we had last year. Having to replace Ephraim at swing tackle is a bigger issue at this point. Butler may be better than Ephraim at backing up both tackles, then we need to replace Butler in the 2nd backup spot from last year.

I don't see Myers as a gaurd even though I'm sure he could play there. He's slightly undersized as a center. It's even worse at Gaurd.

painekiller · #7 07-09-2009, 07:06 PM

I am not as worried about the game day roster guys as I am the depth behind them. We have no one. As pointed out Butler maybe a step up at this time to Salaam. But we have nobody behind Butler. An injury to Brown or Winston that last any length of time can hurt this team as much as the loss of Slaton.

On the inside, you have Pitts, Meyers, Briesel, Caldwell and then what. Most of us have been looking for Whites replacement for a couple of years.

At OC we did pick up a 270lb guy from LSU, can you say practice squad at best this season? he will need to really bulk up. As for OG we have a former 4th rounder with his 4th team in 6 years in Jones, I'm not saying, but I am saying.
Dan Stevenson from Notre Dame might surprise but so far has been on 3 teams practice squad.
Kasey Studdard, please, watch him in one on one, he should not be on a roster.

I hope we get lucky again and the main 7 stay healthy, because we are only 7 deep.

papabear · #8 07-10-2009, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by painekiller

I hope we get lucky again and the main 7 stay healthy, because we are only 7 deep.

How many teams feel really good about their 8th or 9th lineman on the depth chart? I'm not saying I wouldn't love to have more depth, but in general once you get that far down the depth chart for O-lineman your counting on some young player to develop. I haven't looked at who we have in those spots to closely, but it doesn't look like there is anyone there that I have high hopes for. Although I don't think anyone had huge aspirations for Deljuan Robinson, Tim Bullman, Zac Diles, or even Briesel initially either. Each one of those guys will likely either start or play a big role as part of the rotation other than maybe Diles...and many people thought he was playing the best of all our LB's before he got hurt.

painekiller · #9 07-10-2009, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papabear

but in general once you get that far down the depth chart for O-lineman your counting on some young player to develop.

Exactly my point. I think this is the last legacy of the empty roster Smith/Kubiak inherited. Instead of 3rd 4th or 5th round guys developing behind solid vets, we are having to rely on UDFA types to develop.

I believe with the next draft, we will be looking at depth after round 2 again.