Veterans’ departure: Houston Texans seek to consolidate offence strength through reshuffling-NFL News
Houston Texans’ coach, Gary Kubiak, faces the tough task of rebuilding the team’s offence line from the scratch again after losing a number of players to free agency and waivers.
The fact was realised by the coach rather late, on Tuesday, May 22, when he had a look at the entire bunch of Texans on the field to take part in organised team activities (OTAs).
Having seen Mario Williams, DeMeco Ryans, Eric Winston and Mike Brisiel all gone, for the first time Kubiak was not much pleased with the quality of talent left behind.
He, however, was straight up to the task, planning placement of each one of the players at the position of need, seeking to consolidate the strength at those positions immediately and then build on it in the future.
Kubiak said:
"Those guys have been a part of the chemistry. It's not like they haven't been here. But I mean, you miss Eric (Winston) and you miss Mike (Brisiel), two great guys and d**n good players.”
He added:
“The only way you're going to replace them is with the whole group getting good again and continue to improve and the three guys that are still here playing better, so it'll work itself out. We've just got to keep going."
By the looks of the things, the coach plans to move offensive tackle, Rashad Butler, up at the depth chart into Winston’s spot.
He aims to promote offensive guard, Antoine Caldwell, at the starting position. Meanwhile, offensive tackle, Derek Newton, is set to play behind Butler or left tackle, Duane Brown.
In spite of his placement, Butler seems not to be confident as he is coming off an injury, which forced him out of the team most part of the last season. He has said that he needs to take a few reps before getting into shape.
Altogether, it is not a welcome start for a team that is coming into 2012 NFL season as a Super Bowl contender, and the coach can only hope his new offence scheme works out for them.
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