Can we all agree Rick Smith is not a bad GM?

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by chuck

Buford is the only one pining for Paxton Lynch or Hackenberg. I would rather start Weeden than Hackenberg and it is not close.

I'm going (to try) to lay off my Smith bitching until I see what he does after the FA cuts with the Romo money he elected not to spend on Bouye. If he solidifies the OL with some quality and adds some secondary depth I'll be pleased. Or at least I'll be a little calmer about his letting the team's best corner walk.

I also think the team's problems are likely more organizational than personal.

i think the money they cleared up will be used on DHop and Clowney's extensions. If they can get one of the guys signed on a extension, I am all for it.

OT guys still unsigned:
Ryan Clady (30)
Sebastian Vollmer (32)
Austin Pasztor (26)
King Dunlap (31)
Will Beatty (32)
Breno Giacomini (31)
Bradley Sowell (27)
Mike Adams (27)
Tony Hills (32)
Jake Long (31)

Clady and Vollmer are coming off shoulder surgery, and had huge contract extension with Jets and Pats respectfully not picked up by either team.

I agree with you that I would get them in here and have my doctors look at them. And make one them an offer. What a Right tackle either would be for us, if they are able to stay healthy.

FYI, Mike Adams has some starting experience and might be worth a look. Could probably be had for less money then Clady or Vollmer.

Nick Mangold (33) is still unsigned, and our OL coach made his reputation on being his OL coach. Is he still viable?

[Nconroe]

Profootballfocus had this analysis of Texans OL in 2016.

18. Houston Texans (11)
Top overall grade: LT Duane Brown, 85.7 (No. 17)

Top pass-blocking grade: C Greg Mancz, 87.2 (tied for No. 3)

Top run-blocking grade: LT Duane Brown, 84.8 (No. 7)

We have reached the point in the list where every remaining O-line is, at best, severely flawed. The Houston Texans’ unit saw a mix of excellent performances and pretty terrible ones in the regular season. LT Duane Brown began to creep back towards his best play this season, allowing only one sack all year and run blocked well, with the league’s seventh-best grade in that area, at 84.6. Greg Mancz—a player that dominated PFF’s grades in college—looked like a solid find for the team at center in his second season after being an undrafted free agent in 2015. Mancz allowed one sack and 18 total QB pressures across 671 pass-blocking snaps in the regular season, and was perfect in his Wild Card outing against the Raiders last week. Chris Clark, however, was the league’s worst pass-protecting right tackle, surrendering a ridiculous 67 total QB pressures on the season; he was also flagged 13 times. The guard pairing either let themselves down run blocking (Jeff Allen) or pass blocking (Xavier Su’a-Filo) over the year.

[HPF Bob]

If all that's true, why did the Texans draft a center for the second year in a row? I think they may well be planning to move Martin to guard. This guy from Baylor they took is a tree - hard to move out of the way but can't get out to the next level.