Eric Winston has been a cornerstone on the Texans' zone blocking offensive line since his rookie year in 2006.  Winston was taken in the third round as part of Gary Kubiak’s inaugural draft, a class that has been described as one of the best classes of any team in the last decade.  Yesterday Eric discussed with me a myriad of Texans issues, including his latest media endeavor, the current status of several Texans players and expectations for the 2009 season.  I think you’ll enjoy his candor and insight.

TT:  Today I’m lucky to be talking to the great right tackle of the Houston Texans, Eric Winston.  Eric, thanks for giving us a couple minutes of your time.
Eric:  No problem.  Thank you.

TT:  Since you’ve been with the Texans, you’ve had a reputation of being open and providing a great interview, but you recently took that to the next level by starting your own blog for the fans, Ericwinston73.com.  You obviously weren’t hurting for fame or fortune, so what was the inspiration for the site?
Eric:  It was just something that I was asked if I was interested in.  A couple of friends have blogs, and I thought “Why not?” It’s really picking up speed.  In the beginning I didn’t really think I’d be doing much but I’ve really been keeping track of it.  I’ve been adding links to any sites that are news related with the Texans.  It’s been a lot of fun, and it’s been nice to let people know what’s going on.

TT:  Well, it’s absolutely great for fans to get insight from players on what’s going with their team.  What direction do you see the site taking in the future, especially once the season starts?
Eric:  We’re actually still kind of debating that.  Videos are something that I think we’re really going to start taking advantage of, especially when the season starts and time is tight.  I’m not the best typer in the world (laughing), so sometimes it’s easier for me to speak into the camera.  So, in the middle of the season I’ll be doing some video blogs before and after games; also in the middle of the week, giving my opinion on who we’re up against and what we have to do to win.  It’s not something that I see a bunch of people doing so I wouldn’t mind being a trailblazer in that aspect.

TT:  The feedback that I have received from Texans fans is that they really appreciate what you’re doing.  One thing that definitely impresses me about the site is your honesty.  In your draft recap for instance, you admitted that the selection of Antoine Caldwell in the third round surprised you.  Is that because you didn’t feel that an offensive lineman was that great of a need for the Texans or because you thought there was greater need elsewhere?
Eric:  It was just a surprise but I definitely feel that there is a spot on the line for competition to be had.  We have some backup linemen that are unproven, like Kasey Studdard.  Chris White, who we call Catfish, is the same way, just unproven a little bit.  When they are unproven, I think you have to say that all five of us are doing something.  We started all 16 games last season, so we just didn’t give them the chance to prove themselves.
I just thought that we would go in a different direction there--either stay defense or go with a running back; that was just my opinion.  Obviously they felt pretty strong about Caldwell and that he’d be a good player at this level.  I like to think you can get some good players in the third round and I have no problem with Caldwell, I just thought at the time that we’d go in a different direction.

TT:  Speaking of drafting an offensive lineman, your story of Draft Day back in 2006 that you posted was both entertaining and insightful at the same time.  Given that the biggest concern that teams had about you at the time was durability issues and you’ve remained so consistent since you were given the opportunity to start, do you feel like you’ve vindicated yourself?
Eric:  In a way I have, but in another way I won’t have fully vindicated myself until the end of my career.  Every day I go out there and try to prove myself.  There’s always someone you have to prove yourself to, but at the end of the day the person I really have to prove myself to is me.  I have to prove to myself that I’m the best guy out there, that I can play my position better than anyone else on my team can.  I go out there every day to prove to anyone that’s watching that I can do that.  That’s my main motivation; that’s what keeps me going.  That’s how competitive I am, that I prove that the coaches have me in the right spot ahead of everyone else.  At the end of the day, there are 62 other pros on the team and there are other guys that want that spot.  You have to prove to everyone whether it’s the coaches or the G.M. that you belong there.  I think once you become a starter it brings a lot more pressure to prove that you belong, and that’s what I go out every day to do. 

Being drafted having durability issues, I haven’t gotten hurt, knock on wood, but a lot of that is luck and a lot of that is knowing where to be and not being in the wrong place.  Accidents happen though; that’s what happened with my knee.  It was a freak deal.  I got rolled up on and it could happen tomorrow.  I go out there knowing that every day could my last so I play as hard as I can and hope for the best.  That’s all I can do.

TT:  You also stated that you were lucky to have ended up in Houston because you and your family like it there but also because you fit well in the system.  Why do you think you’re well suited for a zone blocking scheme?
Eric:  I think it goes back to my tight end days and how I came up.  I always played in offenses where the linemen always pulled or trapped, which puts a premium on athleticism.  It really gives me the opportunity to do what I’m good at.  Some guys are good at mauling other guys, some guys are good at pulling and trapping and some guys are just really strong and are good at standing guys up.  I feel that one of my best advantages is getting out and running with linebackers, chasing people down, cut off the backside, and being able to really stretch the defense and open up holes and cutbacks for Steve [Slaton]. 

If I would have gone somewhere else to a power team, I feel like I could have adapted to any situation that I was in.  In the end, I feel that this is a place that can get the best out of me and let me play as best I can.

TT:  As you alluded to, you were recruited to play tight end out of high school in Midland, Texas but made the switch to offensive tackle early in your career at the University of Miami.  This seems to be a conversion that happens frequently today in college football.  Why do you think prospective tight ends are so adept at playing tackle?
Eric:  I think it’s because of what tackles are asked to do these days.  You’ve also got a lot of kids that just outgrow themselves.  That was my situation.  I just outgrew the position.  When I got to college, I was lifting five times a week and just got too big for tight end.  That happens with the bigger tight ends.

It’s also the way that offenses have evolved now.  In the old days, you had bigger tight ends that blocked most of the time and occasionally caught passes.  Now you have tight ends that are split out and you have to be more athletic.  I think tight ends are naturally better at being athletic and being nimble on their feet if they’re not carrying the extra weight. 

TT:  You were given the opportunity to take the starting role on the right side of the offensive line your rookie year, which is what happened last year on the left side with 2008 first round draft pick Duane Brown.  How would you rate his play from last year and what do you expect from him this coming season?
Eric:  The thing that I like about Duane from last year is that he got better every game.  I saw a guy that kept improving.  He started out slow, just like every rookie does.  I started out really slow.  I think the key to this league is to keep improving and not rest on your laurels.  Don’t think that you’ve made it, because as soon as you do that, you stop getting better and someone is going to pass you by.  That’s what I liked about Duane last year.

I think that the big question with him is can he start where he left off.  He left off as a pretty good player.  He’s going to have to come back to that and not wait until midway through the season to be that guy, he’s got to be that guy from game one.  I think that’s what everyone is expecting of him.  He’s got a ton of ability, and a knack for playing this game.  He’s going to have to show up and really have the thirst to keep getting better, and I think if he does that he’s going to be a great player.

TT:  Two of your teammates from the same draft class, DeMeco Ryans and Owen Daniels, have stated desires for new contracts, as well as cornerback Dunta Robinson.  Can you give us any insight into their respective situations?
Eric:  I know I would be doing the same thing if I was in their situation.  Luckily enough I was extended at the beginning of last year, but if I hadn’t I would be in the same situation as Owen Daniels.  We had the same kind of contract.  I don’t blame them.  This is a game, like Dunta knows, where your career can change in a second.  We’re not going to play until we’re 45 or 40, so our earning power is such a finite amount of years.  You have to be able to make the money that most people make at their peaks when they’re 45 or 50 years old.  This is our job, this is what we’re going to be best at for the rest of our lives, and we’re never going to be able to earn this amount of money going on and doing other things.  We have to make our money now and strike while the fire is hot.

I don’t blame these guys for wanting their contracts, especially a guy like DeMeco Ryans, who has really outplayed his.  Here’s a Pro Bowl middle linebacker who makes the minimum...he’s obviously outplayed his contract.  I know that we have plenty of money to sign these guys, so I’m expecting them to get signed.

TT:  You were an anchor in a powerful offense that finished 3rd in yardage gained last year, but only 17th in scoring.  In your opinion, what needs to be done this year to capitalize better in scoring opportunities?
Eric:  First of all it lies on the offensive line.  Any time that fingers start pointing I look at myself and my fellow linemates and say, “What can we do better?”  I think running the ball in the red zone is number one.  We have to be able to pick up first downs in tough yardage situations inside the 20.  We have to protect better on third downs and when the other team knows we’re going to throw.  We have to give Matt Schaub some time to get rid of the ball and get it where it needs to be either for a touchdown or a first down.  I’m not going to say anyone else could do this or this; up front is number one.  If we can play better up front in those red zone areas we’ll be fine, and everything will fall in line.

TT:  On the subject of Texans quarterback Matt Schaub, he has taken some criticism from the likes of Peter King and Michael Lombardi recently, as they have criticized his durability and his leadership.  What is it that you think that national writers underestimate or don’t understand about Schaub?
Eric:  Guys lead in all different ways, and no way is right or wrong.  You’ve got guys like Brett Favre that jump around and are really excited.  That’s great; hat works for Brett Favre.  Then you have other guys like Peyton Manning that are calm and real collected that just go out there and take care of business, and that’s good because it works for him.

Matt has his own way about going about things.  Any guy in one of our players meetings would tell you the same thing I’m about to tell you:  He’s really well liked and respected because we know he’s going out there and giving 110 percent of what he can do.  Schaub last year tore his MCL.  The year before he separated his shoulder.  It’s not like he’s just not playing through bumps and bruises.  I have problems when people say durability issues.  You know, I was labeled with that coming out of the draft because two guys fell on my knee and tore a bunch of ligaments.  I had never been hurt before that, but all of a sudden I had durability issues. 

Everyone forgets that he’s only had two seasons as a starter.  He’s coming up on year three, and now he fully understands the offense, he fully understands everything that Coach Kubiak wants him to do in any given situation.  Let’s see what he goes out and does this year and in year four, and then I think it will be really fair to say “Okay, this guy is our leader.  This is the guy that’s going to lead us to the Super Bowl.”

TT:  Speaking of Peter King, now that the draft is over, most NFL writers are switching their focus and their predictions to the upcoming NFL season.  In a recent column written by King in which he lists all 32 teams in a series of power rankings, the Texans are listed behind twelve other teams, including the Colts and the Titans.  Do you think that 13th overall and 3rd in the AFC South is where the team should be considered right now?
Eric:  Yes and no.  I feel like we can beat anybody we play.  At the same time, I think those power rankings are based off what you’ve done.  The old adage is, “To be the best, you have to beat the best.”  We haven’t quite done that yet.  We beat Tennessee but we have to do things like go into Indianapolis and get a win.  We have a tough road game going into Arizona and we have to find a way to win that game.  It’s those little things that are going to get us over the hump and into the playoffs.

We have the makings of something special, but we have to do those little things.  We’ve been 6-2 at home the last two years but we easily could have been 7-1.  We have to go out there and figure it out on the road.  I think you saw that last year with winning in Green Bay and going into Jacksonville and giving them our best shot.  We know we can go out there and win.  Even the loss against Indianapolis, as heartbreaking as it was, gave us the confidence to know that we can go in there and play with anybody in any place.  That’s what has really built our momentum for this year.

TT:  Eric, I really appreciate your time today but moreover, I appreciate the insight that you’re giving fans over at you blog.  Good luck in both the OTAs and the upcoming season.
Eric:  Yeah, please don’t hesitate if you need anything down the road or want to do anything else.

Overall, the entire interview process with Eric impressed me, but the one answer that pleased me more than any other was his claiming responsibility for scoring in the red zone.  The truth is probably that a multitude of factors led to the problems inside the 20 yard line for the Texans last year, but the fact that Eric is only worried about what he and the offensive line can do speaks volumes.  It’s also good to know that our enthusiasm and expectations for the coming season are shared by the players themselves. 

(battlerblog.com)

SS: Noon start. How does your typical game day go? Any teammates with strange game day rituals?
EW: I get up pretty early (for a Sunday at least). About 7 or so. I go downstairs and eat breakfast. I usually eat pretty good before a game no matter what time it starts. I have yogurt, a blueberry muffin, some spaghetti, and a steak filet. From the hotel, I go home for 45 minutes or so. I like to see my family before I go up to the stadium and change into whatever I am going to wear. I like to get to the stadium around 8:45. I read the program and play a game of suduko. I get dressed soon after and go out on the field to do a short warm up on my own. Come back in to the locker room, get my shoulder pads on and finish my taping. Team warm ups start after and then we win the game.
I haven't noticed any really strange game day rituals from my teammates. [Guard] Mike Brisiel gets to the game extremely early but that is not strange because he gets to everything extremely early. Some guys sing, some guys disappear until right before its time to go out on the field. Everyone does their own thing and that's okay. Whatever gets you ready to play is fine with me.

SS: What was the most difficult transition from the college to the pro game?
EW: Figuring out that the defensive guys are a lot smarter. In college, DE's will give you the same move every time. They don't have counters, and if you can mix it up a little bit, DE's never adjust. In the Pros, DE's understand how your weight shifted on on foot or the other determines how you are going to set; if you are in an up or a down stance effects how he is going to come off the ball and what he thinks the play might be. The list goes on. The athletic difference isn't as big as it is from high school to college but the intelligence level is drastic.

SS: You mentioned in your blog the competitiveness of this offseason's workouts and how they compare to what you did at Miami. Could you explain this a little more?
EW: Ray [Wright] has kept the core stuff in place. I was a big fan of [former Head Strength and Conditioning coach] Dan Riley and will always be. When I got here, I wasn't strong enough to play RT, and through working with him he got me to that point in a short time.

At Miami we were always competitive with everything we did. Always racing, always trying to lift more than the other person. This offseason Ray has spiced up the runs. We are doing a lot of group races where the group that finishes last has to an extra rep. It has created guys that are always trying to beat each other, but it has also taken away the boredom that I associate with the running, especially the same runs over and over again.

SS: Last year, you mentioned how much you liked learning from Alex Gibbs. What are the biggest differences between what you did before and after Gibbs joined the team?
EW: I don't know if there is a big difference. I think it is more in how we do it. He has taken the zone running scheme and instead of teaching the theory, he teaches it in a practical way, i.e. if you are trying to reach the guy, and he is running outside then turn him out and let the runner come underneath. Now that is an ultra simplistic view of what I am talking about, and the coaches that were here before taught that as well, but my point is that there is a difference between theory and actually making it work.

Coach Gibbs made it work and that stats show it. (Having Steve Slaton doesn't hurt either...lol) Above the theory part, the biggest difference he has made is in our attitude and mine as well. You can't pinpoint exactly what he does to get us there, but it was steadily building throughout the year and by the end, we felt like we could physically out play anyone.... yes, there was even talk about wishing to play the Steelers again.

SS: How much improvement do you see the offense having by working together another year in the system?
EW: It's hard to tell. In our first year, we were third in total yards. Obviously, we weren't that high in other critical categories such as points and turnovers. If we are 5th this year in yards but only turn the ball over half as much and are in the top 5 in red zone efficiency then I feel like we have improved. I would like to see those two areas greatly improved. As much as any stat, those determine outcomes of games.

SS: What is the biggest misconception that fans have about the NFL?
EW: Where do I start? There are the common ones like we are a bunch of meatheads. We love smashing our faces into things even when we are off the field. We enjoy fist fights. The list goes on and on.

The one I guess that bothers me the most is that this is an easy way to make a living. I completely understand the argument that we play a game and get paid better than 99% of Americans do. The thing that I don't like about it is the feeling that in someway this isn't tough. That sacrifices we make are not that great. Imagine going to work everyday knowing that you could sustain a major injury. Or that someone that you have hardly seen can tap you on the shoulder, and tell you that your boss wants to see you because he just found someone that is younger, cheaper, and doesn't possess your ability level to take your job.

It is a nerve racking job that you never feel comfortable in because your bosses sole job is to find your replacement everyday. Of course, my job is to show him that nobody can do it as good as me.

SS: Is there anything that you hear about the Texans, the coaches or players that you don't get why people say that?
EW: All the time, and frankly sometimes it comes from your blog. Don't feel bad though, because you are among a few people that are wrong the least. lol...

I can't think of anything specifically but sometimes I feel there is an overall sentiment that we aren't doing everything we possibly can to win. I can honestly say that if there is one thing that Rick Smith and Coach Kubiak have done is to fill the building with people that are doing everything they can do to win. I'm not saying I agree with everything we do from training, to off season additions, to coaching decisions, but the one thing I know is that they are busting their butt to what they think is right. You can't say that about every organization.

SS: Is there any question I haven't ask you that you think fans would want to know?
EW: I'm sure there are but lets let the fans ask them. You can rate the top five and I will answer them. Thanks and visit the website EricWinston73.com

(blogs.chron.com)

It's been too long since I visited with Eric Winston, and thanks to the Texans PR department I had a good conversation with the right tackle this afternoon.

We talked a bit about his matchup Sunday against the Titans, when Jevon Kearse will line up across from him.

In his first season back with Tennessee, Kearse hasn't been "The Freak" but he has been steady -- he has 42 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 15 quarterback pressures and six tackles for a loss. He's started all 13 games and has not dealt with any injury issues, when a lot of his critics expected he'd have durability issues.

"I've got a good test this week, Kearse is playing probably as good as he's played in his career," Winston said. "It's going to be a lot to handle, but I am excited about it. It's a good challenge for me and I need to prove [I'm worth] my paycheck."

Winston said Kearse looks much like he did when the Texans visited the Titans back in Week 3.

"Not really different, which is surprising," he said. "I wouldn't say he's an older guy, but a guy that's had some injuries and stuff, sometimes they start wearing down at the end of the season. But he doesn't seem like that, he seems like he's coming off the ball just as hard, he's playing just as fast, he's running around doing the things I think everyone expects Jevon Kearse to do.

"He's a really a really tough load to handle for a right tackle because they are not used to seeing a guy like that on their side. I mean he's usually a guy who's over the left tackle. I think that gives Tennessee a big edge having a guy like that over the right tackle and having [Kyle] Vanden Bosch over on the left. It's a two-sided monster with those guys like that."

Vanden Bosch didn't practice Wednesday with a recurring groin injury, and could be rested Sunday. If he is, Dave Ball and Jacob Ford would team up to replace him and Kearse would stay put.

Winston, who got a long-term deal earlier this season, said he feels like he's really gotten better under the tutelage of Alex Gibbs, who coordinates the run game, and offensive line coach John Benton.

"Coming into the season I would have definitely tell you I was a better pass blocker," Winston said. "Being a left tackle in college and coming over, I just think that is more of the mindset. I think coach Gibbs and coach Benton have really done an awesome job with me this year, getting me to be a better finisher and to open up more holes. I think it's really opened my game up and I think I am a lot better tackle for it."

Look for much more from Winston on the state of the Texans and how much of a measuring stick Sunday's game is in my column that will be posted Thursday on the AFC South Blog.

(espn.com)

Eric Winston plays right tackle for the Houston Texans.  That is not the stuff that sounds like it would make for very interesting radio.  I mean, how about a running back or a linebacker or Dunta Robinson.  I thought, can’t y’all spice it up a little bit for the radio listeners.  That was my attitude when I learned that Eric Winston would be the player manning the spot for SportsRadio 610’s player show.  To top it off the freakin’ guy went to Miami.  I mean bring Steve McKinney home from Seattle to take on the show. 

To my great surprise, Winston is very well spoken, interesting, and insightful.  Winston is also getting some play for a possible Pro Bowl spot.  Winston had a particularly good game against the Packers.  Winston is in his 3rd year with the Texans and stands about 6-5 and weighs nearly 300 pounds. 

If Pro Bowl voters like Winston as much as I like his radio show, he’ll be in Hawaii this year.  Winston’s show can be heard on SportsRadio 610 from 5-6 every Tuesday afternoon.

(torotimes.com)

Right tackle Eric Winston answered fan questions about how the offensive line will try to contain Browns defensive tackle Shaun Rogers.
Brooke Bentley (Texans TV): How much cut blocking do you do in games and how do you practice it since it can injure your teammates? (Jose Hasapes)

Eric Winston: First of all, cut blocking is not a dirty technique or it’s not a technique that’s used to hurt people. People see it coming, and it’s just either they’ve got to get out of the way or they have to try to play off of the cut. Either way, to us, it’s beneficial. So, that’s first. But I probably cut, I would say, 40 percent of the plays - anything away from me and anything that’s an outside zone, so anything that’s wide and outside and away from me that I’ve got free reign to cut on. So, anything that’s tight I don’t cut on and we practice it by basically holding up two dummies with a pad underneath and we just practice getting out of our stance from either a depth or from right on the line and cutting it and falling into the pad.

Brooke Bentley: Since your record does not reflect the team's improvement, how do you motivate yourself to continue to perform at a high level?  Is it harder than when you had a good record, like in college? (Jose Hasapes)

Eric Winston: Well, losing’s always tough I think. If you’re a competitor, whether you’re coming from a winning program or a losing program, it’s always tough to swallow. We put a lot of effort in during the week. So, it’s tough to come up short on Sundays. But, we go out there and we just keep fighting. That’s what it’s all about. We know what kind of talent this team has and even though our record doesn’t show it, we know where we’re going. No one’s lost sight of our goals through the long term, and I think that’s what’s important.

Brooke Bentley: How would you grade the how offensive line has performed so far this season? (Anonymous fan)

Eric Winston: Throughout the whole season? I’d give us a B. I’d say we’ve done pretty well. I think we struggled a little early on in some pass pro. Duane (Brown), starting off as a rookie, left tackle is the hardest position. I think it might be the hardest position for any rookie, other than quarterback, the left tackle is the hardest position to play as a rookie. First of all, you’re going against the best rusher every game and, as a rookie, you have nothing to base it off of. So, you’re learning on the go against the best of the best. So, that’s tough. I think we’ve steadily improved and that’s what we’re looking for. I think early in the season, the run blocking and the zone scheme, we were still in the learning phase. I think once we hit about Week 3 or 4, you really saw it start moving up and I think the pass blocking has come along with it.”

Brooke Bentley: Eric, I admired your work at Miami. At least one of the draft gurus had you rated as the second left tackle in the draft. Only D’Brickshaw Ferguson was ranked ahead of you. I was excited when the Texans drafted you; however, I was surprised when you ended up at right tackle. Your footwork has always looked good. Do you think that you would be a good fit at left tackle? (Wally, West Columbia)

Eric Winston: Well, I’d do whatever the team needed me to do. It looks like I’m probably going to be destined to be a right tackle. It was tough for me early on. I had only played left after moving from tight end and I felt really discoordinated playing right tackle from left. You have to use the totally different side of your body. You’re posting with your opposite foot, you’re kicking with your opposite foot and you’re punching with your opposite hand from left to right. So, it’s tough and the guys that do it a lot, guys like Ephraim (Salaam) and guys around the league that are swing tackles and have to do that, are very talented. It is a tough skill to be as good on each side and you don’t find too many guys that are like that. I’m probably destined to stay as a right tackle for the rest of my career. But who knows, if some injuries came up and their needed to be some reshuffling, I’m sure they would probably look at me for a second.

Brooke Bentley: The Brown’s tackle Shaun Rogers looks nasty. How are you guys going to neutralize him? (Anonymous fan)

Eric Winston: Yeah, Chris (Myers) has got his hands full. Everyone just has to help a little bit. Everyone has got to be aware of where he is. I think everyone needs to know where 92 is going to be on the field and just give that little extra help. Chris is a good player. He’ll be able to hold his own, but we’re just going to mix it up. Try to give him a bunch of different looks; try to get after him - just play hard and play the way we play. I think our scheme lends to a lot of success for us and gives us a lot of leeway to make plays. So, we’re going to go out there and just give them everything we have. But he’s a good player and we have to control him.

Eric Winston doesn’t know the Cedric Benson who has made too many of the wrong kind of headlines — on and off the field — in what has been to date an unhappy, unproductive pro career.

The only Benson Winston knows, going all the way back to their fifth-grade football team in Midland, is a good guy, an upstanding teammate and an immensely gifted running back.

“We always sat next to each other on the bus going to high school games,” Winston recalls. “For five hours sometimes we’d have great conversations, not about football but just about life.”

The two former Midland Lee stars, who went their separate ways to big-time college programs after winning a pair of state championships together, will cross paths for the first time in an NFL regular-season game Sunday when the winless Cincinnati Bengals visit the resurgent Texans at Reliant Stadium.

Winston, of course, is entrenched at right tackle for Houston while Benson, out of work when the season began, is trying to orchestrate an NFL do-over for himself with the 0-7 Bengals after failing miserably as a No. 1 draft choice of the Chicago Bears.

“Cedric’s different,” Winston said. “He’s largely misunderstood, I think. He’s soft-spoken. He doesn’t let a lot of people in. He had a lot of mistrust in him, for a lot of valid reasons. All I can say is I liked the guy a lot and he was great teammate, aside from being a great back. We’ll have our hands full with him.

Fall from grace
“I played with a lot of great backs at (the University of) Miami and I’d put him up there with any of them. He was lot like Willis (McGahee). Both were just naturally strong people. Cedric was so impressive. He followed his blockers well. And he always ran upfield. He’s a guy that’s not afraid of contact.

“His senior year (at Lee), we’d lost everybody on offense except me and him. But, man, there were so many games I can remember ... 350 (yards) against Permian his senior year ... Duncanville at Texas Stadium — he dumped about 260 on them. It was amazing. His junior year, he averaged 10 yards a carry. He was unstoppable. He really was.”

Benson had his share of moments at the University of Texas, too, winning the Doak Walker Award as the country’s top back in 2004, enough to convince the Bears he was worth the fourth pick overall in the 2005 draft.

Instead of becoming another Walter Payton for Chicago, however, Benson scuffled from the get-go after a 36-day holdout caused him to miss his first preseason. He never did establish himself as the Bear’s go-to back and, in 35 games, he had as many 100-yard afternoons as he did alcohol-related arrests — two — over a five-week period at the end of his troubled tenure there.

“He’s just a good guy who’s made some bad decisions,” Winston said. “But you could say that about a lot of people. I think he’s learned from it .”

The Bengals, desperate to generate a running game with Chris Perry struggling and turning the ball over, signed Benson three games ago. Although they remain 31st in the NFL in rushing, averaging just 73.9 yards, he had 52 on 14 carries against Pittsburgh’s stingy defense last week.

Embattled Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis is cautiously optimistic about Benson’s hoped-for revival, saying, “He’s doing a good job and becoming more comfortable with the intricacies” of Cincy’s offense, which is considerably different from what the Bears ran.

Still a talent
New teammate Chad Ocho Cinco calls Benson “a super powerful runner. He’s really nice. He had a couple of nice runs against the Steelers, who are really hard to run against. He’s taking advantage of his situation.”

When the Texans started the season with Ahman Green again at less than 100 percent, there was much local fan sentiment for them to give Benson a look, but he was never brought in for a tryout.

Head coach Gary Kubiak admitted considering it but said, “We liked our young guys. We decided to go with Steve (Slaton) and, fortunately, Ahman’s (Green) back now.”

“I would have vouched for Cedric, absolutely,” Winston said. “I remember talking to him after the first preseason game (in Houston) last year and he seemed happy to be starting. Everything looked like it was going OK. Hopefully, he’ll find his niche in Cincinnati. Just to see him on the field again will be really good. I’m always pulling for him.”

(chron.com)

Deal includes $10 million in guaranteed money

Before the Texans left Houston today for Sunday’s opener at Pittsburgh, right tackle Eric Winston signed a five-year, $30 million contract extension.

His deal includes a $6 million signing bonus and $10 million in guarantees.

Winston, the second pick in the third round of the 2006 draft — 66th overall — initially signed a three-year contract that was due to expire after this season.

A Midland native who played at Miami, the 6-7, 315-pound Winston started seven games as a rookie and all 16 last year. He’s on the verge of being recognized as one of the best in the NFL at his position.

General manager Rick Smith, who negotiated the deal with agent Drew Rosenhaus, wanted to extend Winston before his contract expired after the season, which would have made him a restricted free agent.

(chron.com)

The Houston Chronicle reports Texans ORT Eric Winston is getting more and more comfortable at right tackle, and people around the NFL are taking notice. The Texans are happy with the player he has developed into over the past three years. "He's a lot like WR Kevin Walter," HC Gary Kubiak said. "He's turned into a pro, busts his tail every day. Good kid, good technician, should play out there for a long, long time. He's got a lot of respect around this league, and I think the future is very bright for him." Winston, who is starting his third season, says the game has slowed down a lot for him since his rookie season. He took over at right tackle last season when an injury forced OT Zach Wiegert to the sidelines. Winston then started the final seven games and never relinquished the job. "I feel like my first year here, I was kind of all over the place. And then when I got my chance, I took the most of it," Winston said. "Last year, I think I took a big sophomore step in proving myself and solidifying my spot and what I can do there. Now I'm really able to come out here and do something special."

(ffmastermind.com)

13. Eric Winston, RT, Houston Texans: The right tackle spot isn't a strong one in the NFL. Winston has a chance to move toward the top of the rankings at that position. He emerged as the Texans' best lineman last season. He has always been a good pass protector, but he improved his run blocking last season. It's too bad right tackles get overlooked come Pro Bowl time because he's a good one.

(cbs.sportsline.com)

Eric Winston was born and raised on country music in his hometown of Midland. He grew up going to small-venue concerts and listening to Texas originals croon under a starry sky.

Now that the right tackle has become a starter for the Texans, he is getting to see and meet some of the biggest stars in country music. On Saturday, Winston was in Chicago hanging out with Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban and LeAnn Rimes, along with Luke Bryan and Gary Allan, before each took the stage in Chesney’s "Poets and Pirates Tour."

“This is my first Kenny Chesney concert, but it’s not my first country music concert,” Winston said. “I’ve been a big fan of country music and his music. This is great just being a part of a concert like this with five great country music artists that get together and have a lot of fun, obviously, and put on a great show in so many stadiums and so many places around the country.”

This summer, Chesney’s tour is hitting 12 NFL stadiums, including Houston’s Reliant Stadium on Saturday, August 16. The show, which features eight hours of live music, will be the biggest concert event in the history of Reliant.

“This is our fourth year doing the stadium shows and it’s kind of gotten bigger and bigger every year,” Chesney said. “We played a couple of nights in Houston last year and Houston has always been a great town for us to come play no matter what venue we are playing, but it’s exciting to come to the Houston Texans’ stadium. It’s hard to believe when you get up there in front of that many people – the energy just hits your right in the chest.”

Getting hit in the chest was something that resonated with Winston, who talked to Chesney at length before the show began at Soldier Field. In fact, the massive right tackle and the most popular tour act in country music found they easily could relate to each other’s lifestyle. 

“I think there is a lot in common as far as that goes - how much work we put in and how much work I’m sure he (Chesney) puts into this,” Winston said. “You can’t become this big or be this good just by going out there. You can have all the time in the world, but you have to put the work in and get it done. I think that is the big bond that a lot of athletes have with performers like Kenny. I think we both know how much we both put into our sports. I think that’s what links us all up a lot of times.”

Aside from living on the road and playing in packed stadiums, Chesney, like Winston, goes through rigorous physical training. The performer also loves the game of football.

“I remember as a kid, I always loved Bob Griese and the Dolphins and I’m friends with his son now, Brian,” Chesney said. “I’ve got a lot of friends of mine that have played pro football. There’s kind of a commonality with pro players and guys that do what I do because we both want to do what the other is doing.”

Winston was a testament to that. The offensive lineman couldn’t hide his excitement during the concert when he was standing offstage with high-profile fans like Nick Swisher of the White Sox and the Cubs' Jim Edmonds, all of whom danced along to Chesney hits like "Summertime," "No Shirt (No Shoes, No Problem)" and "When the Sun Goes Down.”

“Kenny was awesome,” Winston said. “It really was one of the best shows I’ve been to. There is day-long tailgating and then five awesome acts. Nothing beats that.”

(houstontexans.com)

If Eric Winston of the Texans can hit a curveball or splitter, he might have a future in baseball.

I've seen Barry Bonds, Mike Piazza, Sammy Sosa, Carlos Lee, Lance Berkman and several other players have amazing home run displays in batting practice.

Those guys could put on some displays, but nothing quite drew the awes from baseball players quite like all the fuss Winston caused this afternoon at Minute Maid Park.

Winston, Mario Williams and several other Texans were at Minute Maid Park to help raise money for the Boys and Girls Club. In their batting practice, they raised $31,800.

Winston also raised some eyebrows. "Diablo," said Astros closer Jose Valverde after watching Winston drill several shots into the second deck behind the right field wall with his powerful lefthanded swing. "Sign him. Sign him."

"He's getting through the ball pretty well," Oswalt said of Winston. "It's a long ways, especially a guy who hasn't played baseball in a couple years. It shows how much athleticism there is in football, too."

Valverde said he'd feed Winston a healthy supply of splitters if he ever had to really face him, but Winston modestly admitted he wouldn't want any part of Oswalt or Valverde.

"Those guys are so good," Winston said of Valverde and Oswalt. "I'm not even going to get close to come acting like I can hit off one of these guys. The general public has no idea how good these guys are. They're amazing. I'm not going to act like I can come in here and hit off the worst pitcher in Single-A, much less a major-league talent."

That may be true, but Winston really impressed the Astros.

"I think we should (sign Winston)," Cecil Cooper joked. "Tonight. If he can hit the curveball he might have a contract. That was a pretty awesome display. I haven't even seen Berkman hit them up there. So he put a good swing. He put a lot of good swings today. We might have to keep him for a while."

As for Mario Williams?

"Mario, I don't know about," Cooper said.

Either way, the Texans raised some good funds with their Reliant Energy Home Run Derby for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Houston.

(blogs.chron.com)

HOUSTON -- It's been almost seven years since Cedric Benson and Eric Winston were on the same football field. And that last time was when they were hoisting a state championship trophy at Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin.

Back in December of 2000 both had NFL dreams but their college careers were their immediate concern. Saturday night, though, these two stalwarts of Lee's state title run were back on the same field, playing for different teams, and living those NFL dreams as starters.

Benson, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft by Chicago, started Saturday night's game against the Texans as the Bears' featured back and looked much like the back many Bears fans wanted to see from the beginning.

Meanwhile, Winston returned to start for Houston's offensive line at right tackle and showed that his experience last year is paying off.

Eric Winston will become the new starter at the right tackle spot, starting his second season out of the University of Miami.

(seahawkshuddle.com)

Eric Winston, who impressed the coaches over the second half of his rookie season, is the starter on the right side.

(houston-chronicle.com)

Kubiak hinted that Spencer's uncertain future means the team could give ORT Eric Winston a shot on the left side. Winston started seven games at right tackle as a rookie in 2006, but he played left tackle at Miami (Fla.). However, some evaluators believe Winston might be best-suited at guard.

(blogs.chron.com)

Offensive tackle: Even though the Texans drafted two tackles in the third round last season, left tackle Charles Spencer is still in the midst of rehab from a serious knee injury and right tackle Eric Winston may be best suited to play guard.

(chron.com)

The way we hear it, the Texans are pleased with what they have seen of rookie ORT Eric Winston, but they believe his future is inside because of his relatively short arms.

(profootballweekly.com)

HOUSTON - The first time Houston Texans offensive tackle Eric Winston started in college it was at tight end. So his first NFL start will likely be quite a bit different.

Winston is set to start at right tackle in place of Zach Wiegert, who is out for the season with a knee injury. The rookie played tight end throughout high school and in his first year at Miami, but soon outgrew the position and was moved to tackle the next season.

The 6-foot-7, 310-pound player was chosen in the third round of the draft and has appeared in five games this season. Winston and coaches agree that he's improved a lot since arriving in Houston.

"I've grown by leaps and bounds," Winston said. "It's amazing. Looking back on four games ago and then the start of the season and the start of training camp, I think I've come a long way and I think I've really progressed well. I've really put myself in a good position to go out there and play well."

JACKSONVILLE, FLA. - It's a simple play with a simple goal and a simple name: 12 jab.

After the Texans ran the ball to pick up a crucial first down on fourth-and-less-than-a-foot from their 41 with 1:40 left in the game Sunday, offensive tackle Zach Weigert took to calling it the "Fred Weary Special." It was special indeed after a 13-10 victory.

"As an offensive lineman, you want the game on your shoulders in a situation like that," said Weary, the Texans' right guard, who led the way on Samkon Gado's plunge. "It hasn't been that way for the offensive line for the past four years, so we're starting to get a little walk about us.

WINSTON'S WORK: Kubiak said he's been impressed with rookie Eric Winston's work ethic this season.

He hasn't played much so far while adjusting to the NFL, but could be pushed into service because of injuries.

"It's game day every day for Eric out here," Kubiak said. "He takes every snap of offense and he takes scout team. He plays left, he plays right. He's going through about three seasons, so it's going to be very beneficial for him."

Rookie left tackle Charles Spencer was the starter before breaking his leg in Week 2 and Ephraim Salaam has filled in since. But Salaam is struggling with minor nagging injuries.

"Before this year is out he's going to play a lot of football at some point," Kubiak said of Winston. "Ephraim is basically, barely could walk during the week, and is playing for us. If he's playing well and can hold up he's going to play, but there's going to be a point where Eric is going to go out there and get a lot of snaps."

(fortwayne.com)

All the talk radio this week has been about David Carr's poor showing against the Titans. He's starting against the Giants despite Sage Rosenfels poised performance in relief.

Coaches either have revolving door quarterback philosophies or they don't, and Gary Kubiak seems to have a great deal of respect for how difficult it is to be consistent week to week at the that position. (Already talked about that, we'll see how that works out).

Though the quarterback position is the one that gets the most focus, I am particularly interested in what is happening on the offensive line. The 2006 Texans draft class has played a lot of minutes for the team, with the exception of Eric Winston, who has mostly come in during injury situations.

Coach Gary Kubiak said one of the criticisms of offensive tackle Eric Winston going into the draft was the length of his arms. Typically, left tackles in the NFL have longer arms than Winston. Because of that, Kubiak said the team has considered moving Winston inside to guard.

"If you're looking for the prototypical tackle, his arms don't have that type of length," Kubiak said. "But he has played well out there. We've talked about moving him inside, but we've got to give him a chance to be a tackle first."

Winston said he never heard any complaints about his arms until he joined the Texans. The 6-7, 310 pound rookie said he's trying not to dwell on it. As his playing time increases, he wants to show he can play tackle.

Offensive tackle Eric Winston was in street clothes when five of the rookies he was drafted with in April started in the Texans' season opener.

In the first two months of the season, rookies Mario Williams, DeMeco Ryans, Owen Daniels, Wali Lundy and Charles Spencer emerged as future faces of the franchise. Winston was a side note, placed on the inactive list in three of the first four weeks.

Winston's importance to the Texans likely will change this month as he starts to figure into a regular rotation with ailing veteran tackles Ephraim Salaam (ankle, knee, ribs) and Zach Wiegert (knee). Spencer, the opening-day starter at left tackle, suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2.

(on T Eric Winston’s progress) “He’s making a lot of progress, and one of the things that’s helping is we’ve kind of changed our routine with Zach (Wiegert) a little bit. Zach doesn’t really practice on Wednesday. We make (T) Eric (Winston) and (G Brad) Bedell take all the reps. The only way those guys get better is if they get the reps, and we feel confident in Zach being ready to play on game day. So we chose to go that way, and it looks like it’s helped Eric get better.”

(noticias.info.com)

The ugly brawl during the Miami-Florida International game on Saturday bothered Texans rookie offensive tackle Eric Winston more than most. Winston, a native of Midland, played for the Hurricanes the past four years.

"I'm sure FIU was trying to make some kind of statement," said Winston, who made his pro debut last Sunday against the Cowboys, playing right tackle in the fourth quarter. "Emotions are going to run high. The big thing is when something like that happens, you have to do everything you can to not let it spread.

"There is a fine line. You have to protect your guys out there. That doesn't mean swinging helmets."

Winston defended embattled Hurricanes coach Larry Coker.

"I think he's a great guy," Winston said. "You don't run across many coaches who genuinely care about you, care about your grades, care about your family. He doesn't get a lot of recognition for how hard he is on guys, suspending players for the Florida State game for not getting all their hours in at study hall. They've been off the police blotter.

"People forget they were yelling for Butch Davis' job in '98. Now everybody's mad he left. They've got a lot of short term memory down there."

(statesman.com)

The Houston Texans may have lost defensive tackle Seth Payne for the season after he tore a ligament in his right knee early in the fourth quarter of a 34-6 loss at Dallas. Two other Houston starters, safety Glenn Earl and offensive tackle Zach Wiegert, also left after being hurt.
Earl left with a strained neck, while Wiegert sprained his left knee. Neither injury was considered serious, coach Gary Kubiak said. Wiegert's replacement, Eric Winston, dislocated his finger but played through the injury.
(chron.com)

For the first time this season, rookie offensive tackle Eric Winston will be activated for a game.

When rookie left tackle Charles Spencer was lost for the season because of a broken leg, backup Ephraim Salaam was elevated to replace him. Now Winston, who was picked second in the third round behind Spencer, will back up both tackle positions.

"He's the swing tackle," coach Gary Kubiak said. "We made that decision during the bye. It's a lot for him to handle, but for the future of the team, we've got to find out where he is and how far he can come."

At some point, possibly next season, the coaches expect Spencer and Winston to be the starting tackles.

(chron.com)

(on who will fill the spot on the line with T Spencer out):

“You know, we have to talk through that, but right now the best thing for the team is to get (T Eric) Winston going.  It’s a tough role to ask a young player like that to be a swing guy on game day and know two spots.  But for the future of the football tea, we need to do that with that young man.  So we’ll put him in a tough situation, but I’m sure he’ll respond to it.  Hell, he’s a good kid.  He’s been working hard.  But for the future of the team, and to get better, we need to bring him a long, so I think he’s the guy to do that.  We also have to look around and decide, do we bring in a young tackle here or do we go find another veteran guy.  We have to go make that decision, but we definitely have to go get another player here pretty quick.”
(scout.com)

The Texans will also figure out how best to use rookie Eric Winston, who was chosen one pick behind Spencer in the draft. He'll likely be the backup to both tackle positions.

"The best thing for the team right now is to get Winston going," Kubiak said. "It's a tough role to ask a young player like that to be a swing guy on game day and know two spots. But for the future of this football team we need to do that. We'll put him in a tough situation, but I'm sure he'll respond to it."

Kubiak said he will add another tackle to the team in the next couple of days to fill Spencer's roster spot when he is placed on the injured reserve.

(dallasnews.com)

Rookie Eric Winston, who was the second pick in the third round behind Spencer, will replace Salaam as the swing tackle who backs up both positions.
(chron.com)

Rookie Eric Winston, chosen one spot behind Spencer in the third round, was never in danger of being cut because he has too much potential. Kubiak also said he thinks Winston can play either tackle or even move inside to guard.
(blogs.chron.com/nfl)

To say the last couple months have been a whirlwind would be an understatement.
From the day I was drafted by the Houston Texans to now has been nothing but a fast paced ride that doesn't appear to be stopping anytime soon.

During May and June, over about a six week period, I participated in Organized Team Activities or what all the players call OTA's. It's essentially 19 practices in helmets that lead into camp. Our OTA's were combined with our mini camps, which are the exact same things, it's just some teams structure their schedule different than others.