Because the coaches were strongly in favor of Myers being the starting center, I don’t think that Caldwell would have gotten an opportunity to play much with the first string O-line outside of an injury like this. Hopefully Caldwell can use this time to earn the starting position.

To me, the best case scenario is that Myers gets a chance to rest, and recovers in three weeks or so, at which point the coaches have to determine who is the best fit at C. The coaches already know what they have in Myers, and my guess is that after 4 days, they have an idea how his 14 pound weight gain has affected his game (whether for the good, or for the bad), so if Caldwell wins the starting C position, it will be because he is the better C. I just hope that if Caldwell does become our starting C, it is because he has earned it, and not because we are being forced to play a rookie who isn’t ready because of an injury.

but all the recent buzz (for whatever that is worth) was that he would not be thrown into the fray too early, and assume a backup role. On paper he looks to me to be able to start ahead of either Myers or Brisiel, but not all rookies adjust to the speed of the pro game at the same rate. Long term, I am sure he was being counted on to play one of the interior 3 positions. Injuries can change things quickly though. We were extremely lucky to start the same 5 O linemen for all 16 games last year. Think I read that Alex Gibbs said he could never recall that happening. I see this injury as a potential blessing, because it will give Caldwell more early reps with the 1st team, and a great chance to start the season as the starting center. He is more physically gifted than Myers, and potentially we will be stronger up front with him as the starting center.

I was a huge fan of the Caldwell pick, and expect big things from in…from the two practices that I saw he’s not as impressive as I thought he would be. Granted a lot of times it looked he was more lost than just getting plain beat. That’s to be expected from a rookie in his first few days of practice. Getting reps should be good for him, but I was glad to hear Myers put on some weight. Honestly, I thought Studdard looked better than Caldwell at this point. I don’t think that will last long, but Studdard looks much better this year than he has in the past….of course Studdard looked like ass in the past so that’s not saying all that much.