Don't Kill the Messenger: Rob Housler Hugely Disappointing

[kerouac9]

I'm just the messenger. Don't put this on me.

One thing that Bob Kemp said in passing last week was that if there was one player who hadn't shown himself to be a legitimate NFL player and whose job should be in jeopardy through camp and the preseason, it would be Rob Housler.

He added that the coaching staff and organization are enamoured of Housler, and there's no way that he's going to be avoided, but that Housler has not come along as some have hoped and needs to get much better to earn PT.

I've been surprised at how little impact Housler has had in the preseason games; one would think he'd be much more integrated into the offense at this point.

Hopefully it's just a late case of Andre Roberts Disease. I don't think he's going to be my fantasy sleeper anymore, though.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I'm just the messenger. Don't put this on me.

One thing that Bob Kemp said in passing last week was that if there was one player who hadn't shown himself to be a legitimate NFL player and whose job should be in jeopardy through camp and the preseason, it would be Rob Housler.

He added that the coaching staff and organization are enamoured of Housler, and there's no way that he's going to be avoided, but that Housler has not come along as some have hoped and needs to get much better to earn PT.

I've been surprised at how little impact Housler has had in the preseason games; one would think he'd be much more integrated into the offense at this point.

Hopefully it's just a late case of Andre Roberts Disease. I don't think he's going to be my fantasy sleeper anymore, though.

Really hard to come down on the guy when we literally have no o-line and no QB who can reliably create conditions where Housler can be targeted... I mean, have we had anyone connected with the passing game be of consequence or "impact" in preseason games?? Byrd perhaps... but of course, he's mainly be playing against guys who won't be on a roster come opening day...

 

[Russ Smith]

Fitz has been a non factor until the 2nd half of the last game, and that was basically one drive. With the Ol and QB issues nobody in our regular guys is making an impact as a pass catcher.

I think what the staff loves about Housler is he's always open, we just need an OL that can block, so Housler doesn't have to, and a QB who can get him the ball. he's had some drops etc he's not perfect but I bet if the Cards quietly started calling around other teams looking to move Housler there'd be a ton of interest. He may be a better prospect than player right now, in fact he almost certainly is, but I think he'd be further along if we had a more stable situation around him.

 

[kerouac9]

Fitz has been a non factor until the 2nd half of the last game, and that was basically one drive. With the Ol and QB issues nobody in our regular guys is making an impact as a pass catcher.

I think what the staff loves about Housler is he's always open, we just need an OL that can block, so Housler doesn't have to, and a QB who can get him the ball. he's had some drops etc he's not perfect but I bet if the Cards quietly started calling around other teams looking to move Housler there'd be a ton of interest. He may be a better prospect than player right now, in fact he almost certainly is, but I think he'd be further along if we had a more stable situation around him.

I think they're deliberately keeping the ball out of Fitz's area. It doesn't make any sense for him to even be on the field, but we've had a limited number of players available for his position, especially if we're trying to get Floyd acclimated to the other side of the field.

I'm more concerned about his hands and his ability to make impact. If he's looking bad in practices and on the field, he's not going to demand attention from the defenses to free up Fitz, etc.

I'm more enthused about the progress that I've seen from Roberts and Doucet than I've been with anything I've seen from Housler.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I think they're deliberately keeping the ball out of Fitz's area. It doesn't make any sense for him to even be on the field, but we've had a limited number of players available for his position, especially if we're trying to get Floyd acclimated to the other side of the field.

I'm more concerned about his hands and his ability to make impact. If he's looking bad in practices and on the field, he's not going to demand attention from the defenses to free up Fitz, etc.

I'm more enthused about the progress that I've seen from Roberts and Doucet than I've been with anything I've seen from Housler.

Yea... because those two have been ligthing it up in preseason games...

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

Housler has all the athletic ability in the world, but he has no hands -- which basically renders him useless for the most part.

 

[joeshmo]

Honest question, does Kemp even go to or watch the practices at all?

Never have I seen him at a training camp.

 

[Pariah]

He sure does seem to have a knack for dropping big-play passes.

If he doesn't become starter material by mid season it's time to start looking for another solution at the position.

JMHO

 

[kerouac9]

Honest question, does Kemp even go to or watch the practices at all?

Never have I seen him at a training camp.

Yeah. I think he went to every practice this year in Flag. I know he was there every day last year. I haven't listened much this offseason because I'm usually working when he's on. With so much travel this preseason, I don't really know if there have been a lot of practices open to the public, but I know at least he was at the red-white scrimmage and the night practice.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

He sure does seem to have a knack for dropping big-play passes.

If he doesn't become starter material by mid season it's time to start looking for another solution at the position.

JMHO

I for one, have no problem with Jeff King starting for as long as he wants.

Personally, I would get rid of Housler, or Heap, and keep King, Skelton, and Dray.

Steve Skelton has been blocking really well in the preseason games.

Rob Housler is so over-hyped it is not even funny. I am not surprised if people are starting to get off that bandwagon. He is a poor blocker, drops big passes, and seems to have no football IQ or instincts.

Who cares how fast a person can run if they just don't get the game.

 

[Shane]

Way to early for this IMO. The kid is about as gifted athletically as any TE in the league IMO. He came from a super small school. Other than the injury concerns IMO he is far from being a disappointment at this point.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Way to early for this IMO. The kid is about as gifted athletically as any TE in the league IMO. He came from a super small school. Other than the injury concerns IMO he is far from being a disappointment at this point.

Fair enough.

But personally, I don't see it. I don't see this guy ever getting it. He doesn't seem any better this year then in the past.

 

[Goldfield]

I was down on him last year. But I think he has improved this year. King is our starting TE Housler was and still is a project. But I think his blocking was much improved. I also think he didn't look overwhelemed like he did last year.

 

[Pariah]

Way to early for this IMO. The kid is about as gifted athletically as any TE in the league IMO. He came from a super small school. Other than the injury concerns IMO he is far from being a disappointment at this point.

I'm not writing him off, yet. But it looks to me like his biggest problem is with his hands--and that's not a small-school vs big-school problem.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I was down on him last year. But I think he has improved this year.

How so ?

 

[Shane]

I'm not writing him off, yet. But it looks to me like his biggest problem is with his hands--and that's not a small-school vs big-school problem.

It can be. He could just have so much going on in his head at this point with the more complex schemes, better players, QB's who put more mustard on the ball etc... He could be swimming right now mentally which most certainly could effect your catching ability if your not focused. Roberts is a prime example his rookie year. Yet it seems he has pretty nice hands now.

 

[Mitch]

Too many flash bulbs in his eyes from Dems. You cannot stop Dems---you can only hope to contain her!

 

[Shane]

Too many flash bulbs in his eyes from Dems. You cannot stop Dems---you can only hope to contain her!

Mitch with the drive-by on Dems! :number1:

That was awesome!

 

[Russ Smith]

I think they're deliberately keeping the ball out of Fitz's area. It doesn't make any sense for him to even be on the field, but we've had a limited number of players available for his position, especially if we're trying to get Floyd acclimated to the other side of the field.

I'm more concerned about his hands and his ability to make impact. If he's looking bad in practices and on the field, he's not going to demand attention from the defenses to free up Fitz, etc.

I'm more enthused about the progress that I've seen from Roberts and Doucet than I've been with anything I've seen from Housler.

So now I'm going to say I think we're hiding Housler. Then we can claim we're protecting Fitz, and hiding Housler and Floyd and then I won't feel so bad about how sucky the offense is.



People at camp were all raving about Housler, I don't know about practice but I know I've seen the guy open repeatedly in every game he's been in. He has had some drops, but I'd rather have a guy who can get open with occasional drops then a guy who never drops it but can't get open.

 

[Goldfield]

How so ?

Houslers blocking is better. He is making blocks rather than getting pushed around like a rag doll.

His hands are still a question mark. But I have seen him run good routes and he clearly isn't as lost as he was last year.

Besides you cant judge anyone right now as bad as this line and qb play has been.

 

[kerouac9]

So now I'm going to say I think we're hiding Housler. Then we can claim we're protecting Fitz, and hiding Housler and Floyd and then I won't feel so bad about how sucky the offense is.



People at camp were all raving about Housler, I don't know about practice but I know I've seen the guy open repeatedly in every game he's been in. He has had some drops, but I'd rather have a guy who can get open with occasional drops then a guy who never drops it but can't get open.

I don't know. I think we scheme guys open--that was the problem that we were hearing last year--guys were running open, but the QBs couldn't find them. If a guy can get open consistently but can't catch the ball when it's delivered to him, then defenses aren't going to adjust to account for him.

 

[Goldfield]

I don't know. I think we scheme guys open--that was the problem that we were hearing last year--guys were running open, but the QBs couldn't find them. If a guy can get open consistently but can't catch the ball when it's delivered to him, then defenses aren't going to adjust to account for him.

thats not true even a player with questionable hand isnt going to he left open. i can handle some dropped balls if he can also make big plays.

 

[Goldfield]

So now I'm going to say I think we're hiding Housler. Then we can claim we're protecting Fitz, and hiding Housler and Floyd and then I won't feel so bad about how sucky the offense is.



People at camp were all raving about Housler, I don't know about practice but I know I've seen the guy open repeatedly in every game he's been in. He has had some drops, but I'd rather have a guy who can get open with occasional drops then a guy who never drops it but can't get open.

This is all starting to make sense now... Were also hiding our online!

 

[kerouac9]

thats not true even a player with questionable hand isnt going to he left open. i can handle some dropped balls if he can also make big plays.

Maybe, but they'll man up on him and roll the dice that he'll drop the ball, or that the QB won't be willing to give him the chance.

There's no personnel available that are going to take added attention away from Fitz. The structural idea of the defense from a personnel perspective ought to be (and likely is) to prevent the opposition from dedicating two defenders to either bracketing Fitz or going high-low on him. They'd like to see teams to go zone coverages primarily where the safety is shading to Fitz's side of the field, but isn't positioned directly over him.

We won the Philly game because the Eagles went to a Tampa-2 coverage and allowed Fitz to take over the game because he was single-covered much of the time.

Housler doesn't have any respect from defensive coordinators right now any more than our running game likely does. Until the other 10 players on the offense can show that they need to be accounted for, defenses are going to allow Fitz to get his 100 yards on 8 receptions and walk away perfectly happy.

And with a win.

 

[red desert]

I for one, have no problem with Jeff King starting for as long as he wants.

Personally, I would get rid of Housler, or Heap, and keep King, Skelton, and Dray.

Steve Skelton has been blocking really well in the preseason games.

Rob Housler is so over-hyped it is not even funny. I am not surprised if people are starting to get off that bandwagon. He is a poor blocker, drops big passes, and seems to have no football IQ or instincts.

Who cares how fast a person can run if they just don't get the game.

Agree on Skelton. On Houser too.