Blocked field goals a sudden concern for Texans

Bengals DL Antwan Odom suffered a season ending foot injury shortly after blocking a FG against the Texans   (AP Photo/David Kohl)

Field goals and extra points are those things you take for granted until something goes wrong.

And for the Texans, something has gone wrong for two consecutive weeks as Kris Brown had field goals blocked at Arizona and Cincinnati.

Gary Kubiak blames it on the personnel changes on the offensive line.

"Our problem with (field goals) is protection right now and that stems from this offensive line issue we have with some of these new young guys coming in," said Kubiak in his Monday presser following the win over the Bengals.  "We've got to get some extensive work on that this week because that can obviously cost you a game."

I've seen a couple of different theories for the blocked field goals - from fans blaming Duane Brown to Kubiak's explanation - so I thought I'd go back to the DVR and take a look myself.  (coincidentally as I'm writing this, Alabama just saved their season by blocking a Tennessee FG as time expired -- Terrence Cody is one big dude)

Back to business, both of the Texans blocked FGs came from the left side of the line.

The blocked FG at Arizona was in the early second quarter, a 4th and 5 from the Cardinals 16 yard line.  The ball was on the right hash, the snap and hold were good.  Joel Dreessen was the long snapper.  Chris White was at left guard, Brown at tackle and Jeff Zgonina was lined up to Brown's left.

Cardinals defensive tackle Gabe Watson was lined up over Dreessen and at the snap, he crashed hard into the gap between Dreessen and White.  Cardinals DE Calais Campbell was lined up outside White's left shoulder and also crashed hard inside, pushing White backward behind Dreessen.  Campbell (who is 6'8") plowed through White, got his wing up and cleanly blocked the kick.  Duane Brown tried to pick up Campbell and push him clear (after Campbell had already broken through White) but it was too late as the line had already been breached.

The block at Cincinnati came on the Texans first drive on a 4th and 4 at the Cincinnati 11 yard line.  The snap and hold were good.  Dreessen was the long snapper but this time, Kasey Studdard was at left guard.  Brown and Zgonina were to Studdard's left.  The Bengals brought seven against the Texans left side five and at the snap, Bengals DL Pat Sims crashed the gap between Dreessen and Studdard.  Jonathan Fanene hit the B gap and Brown blocked down on him successfully.  So this time both A and B gaps were controlled but the breakdown occurred when the Bengals sent Antwan Odom and Michael Johnson through the C gap between Brown and Zgonina.  Zgonina could only pick up Johnson, allowing Odom to shoot though uncontested for the block..

So from my unofficial look, it appears that Kubiak's explanation holds true for the block at Arizona since it appeared that Chris White was the focal point of the breakdown in the line.  But at Cincinnati, I didn't that see Antwan Odom's block was due to "new young guys" as the breakdown was between Zgonina and Duane Brown.

Of course the general disclaimer is enforced since I don't have insight into the blocking assignments and whether Brown should have picked up Odom.  In a perfect world maybe he wasn't supposed to block down on Fanene - essentially helping Studdard.  And then there's always the fact that I'm pulling these interpretations off split second network replays (but with the benefit of stop action DVR).  

At any rate, expect teams including the 49ers on Sunday to continue to exploit this weakness until the Texans can get it fixed.  You can be that Joe Marciano worked on this all week.   Let's just hope it doesn't cost them a game.