Tag: left guard

Bears OL Teven Jenkins says he’s playing left guard in 2023

Teven Jenkins told Twitter he’s moving to left guard for the 2023 season.

It sounds like Teven Jenkins will be playing at a new spot on the offensive line when the Chicago Bears begin the 2023 season. Just ask him yourself.

On Sunday, the third-year offensive lineman was asked on Twitter where he was going to play this upcoming season. Jenkins responded with a link to a tweet by Bryson Stricker saying he would be moving to the left side of the line.

Stricker tweeted the move following the Bears’ signing of former Tennessee Titans guard Nate Davis last month during free agency.

Plans can always change and the Bears haven’t been shy about tinkering with their offensive line throughout the offseason since general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus were hired. But if the move takes place, it will be Jenkins’ third position change since coming into the league in 2021.

Jenkins was drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft with the expectation of playing left tackle under former general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy. Injuries limited him to just a few games late in the year with up-and-down results. When the new regime took over last year, they tried him at right tackle before settling at right guard in training camp to begin the season.

Right guard appeared to be the best landing spot for Jenkins as he excelled at the position. He allowed just two sacks according to Pro Football Focus and was consistently effective as a run blocker. Injuries ended his season prematurely and now he will begin a new year at yet another new position. Davis, meanwhile, will start at right guard, where he’s played every year since coming into the league back in 2019.

Jenkins has shown the versatility to play wherever he’s needed and has the attitude to back it up. “I’ll play wherever they need me,” Jenkins told reporters last spring. “Get in where you fit in.” He’ll have his shot to fit in at left guard, which has been occupied by Cody Whitehair for the past few seasons.

This means Whitehair could move to center, which Poles suggested a few weeks ago in a press conference, or perhaps the two will battle it out to see who comes out on top at the position. Regardless, it will be another position for Jenkins to learn this offseason.

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Texans not giving up on Tytus Howard playing at left guard

The Houston Texans are going to stay the course and keep Tytus Howard at left guard despite his experience at right tackle.

HOUSTON — Two years after playing right tackle, the Houston Texans moved offensive lineman Tytus Howard to left guard at the start of the 2021 season.

The position change showed signs of promise for Howard at the beginning. The Texans paired Howard between Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil and stable veteran Justin Britt, as the left side of the offensive line had the potential to be Houston’s strong suit.

Nine games into the 2021 campaign, Howard’s transition to left guard has not been as prosperous. But according to offensive coordinator Tim Kelly, Howard playing left guard is still what is best for the Texans. 

“That’s one of the good things about Tytus — he’s got the ability to play multiple positions,” Kelly said. “From what we’re seeing, he’s become more comfortable in there, because it’s different. It gets on him faster, the type of player you’re playing is different.”

Kelly told reporters on Thursday that he believes Howard has “adjusted well” in his transition to left guard, but acknowledged that the analytics tells a different story.
According to Pro Football Focus, Howard has posted an overall grade of 40.6 through the first half of the season. In comparison to the 62.1 grade he posted through 14 games played in 2020.

The 25-year-old offensive lineman has seen a decline in his on-field production after the change, while the injuries to Tunsil and Britt have also impacted Howard’s play. 

“I get more comfortable every week — every play,” Howard said in late September. “There’s still a learning process, but I think I’m doing a pretty good job. There’s always room to improve and I am taking it day by day to get better and be the best version of myself for the team.”

Prior to the 2021 season, Howard played 1,232 career snaps at right tackle after the Texans selected the Alabama State prodigy during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

The only time Howard play left guard came during his NFL debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he played 64 snaps in the 13-12 victory at NRG Stadium.

Tytus Howard willing to play anywhere to make the Texans’ offensive line successful

Houston Texans offensive lineman Tytus Howard is willing to stay at right tackle or kick inside to left guard to help the OL be successful.

Tytus Howard has mostly been an outside guy.

Through his first eight games of his NFL career, the former 2019 first-round pick from Alabama State played right tackle for the Houston Texans — save for Week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars when he started at left guard.

The Howard experiment at left guard didn’t end when then-offensive line coach Mike Devlin left. Even after 14 games at right tackle in 2020, current offensive line coach James Campen is also tinkering with Howard’s ability to play inside.

For the 6-5, 322-pounder, going from right tackle to left guard isn’t difficult.

“I’m pretty smart,” Howard said after Monday’s practice at NRG Stadium. “I played guard as a rookie and I played it throughout training camp. Started my first game plan against the Jags my rookie year, so, I still remember mostly everything.”

The 25-year-old says that playing inside does mean he has to be “more tight” with his technique.

“For me, just technique-wise, just picking up stuff a little bit faster, being more tight when I’m inside versus I have a lot more room to do stuff when I’m at tackle,” said Howard.

If the Texans decide that the best five-man combination of offensive linemen involves putting Howard back at right tackle, he is ready to go.

Said Howard: “I think I can just go back out and do it again. I practice it every day, so they prepare me for something like that. I think that’s why the coaches took it the way they did, moving me from tackle to guard, tackle to guard, stuff like that.”

The Texans have experimented with former 2020 fourth-round pick Charlie Heck at right tackle while Howard has been inside. When Howard has played right tackle, Justin McCray has taken the snaps at left guard with the first-team offense.

Texans C Justin Britt predicts Tytus Howard will ‘do just fine’ at left guard

Houston Texans center Justin Britt believes that Tytus Howard will be fine if he has to play left guard.

The Houston Texans have been experimenting with position flexibility throughout the offseason.

One of the favored moves is to take right tackle Tytus Howard and plug him in at left guard. In doing so, it would allow the Texans to slide over Max Scharping to right guard and also free up former New England Patriots tackle Marcus Cannon to take right tackle.

If the Texans go that route, center Justin Britt believes Howard can get the job done.

“I’ve tried to give him my two cents, but Tytus is a smart dude,” said Britt. “He’s played a lot of ball. He’s going to do just fine.”

Britt started at right tackle for all 16 games of his rookie season in 2014 for the Seattle Seahawks. The former second-round pick from Missouri then kicked inside to left guard for his second season before taking over at center for Seattle from 2016-19.

Britt’s advice for Howard is to keep an open mind.

Said Britt: “Accept that you’re not going to be perfect from the get go, but like I said, failure is all right as long as you grow from it, and now is the time to experiment and find out how you do your job best.”

The 30-year-old is pleased with the development of the offensive line throughout training camp.

“The guys I’ve been working with in the whole room, they’re on it mentally, physically, and I’m just excited to get out there and do good myself and come out healthy, but I’m excited to watch the young guys go out there and see what we’ve been working for and see what they do,” Britt said.

The Texans kickoff the preseason with a Saturday night game at 7:00 p.m. Central Time against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. It will be the first true test for the offensive line to play as a unit in live action.

Texans’ Tytus Howard says he can use his athleticism at guard

Houston Texans former first-round 2019 draft Tytus Howard says he is willing to slide from right tackle to left guard if his team needs him.

HOUSTON — Tytus Howard is entering his third season with the Houston Texans and has established himself as arguably the team’s second-best offensive lineman. According to Pro Football Focus, Howard has allowed five quarterback hits and four sacks through the first 22 games of his career.

He has played nearly his entire career at right tackle, but the 2021 season could see Howard make a shift on the offensive front. Since the start of training camp, Howard has received a bulk of his snaps at left guard inside the Houston Methodist Training Center.

New position coach James Campen is experimenting with different lineups and likes the versatility and the quickness Howard brings to the offensive line.

“I think by me being at tackle and coming in to play some guard, I feel like my feet are a little bit faster,” Howard said following practice on Tuesday. “When I’m playing guard, I’m able to use my athleticism a little more inside against guys who usually don’t go against guys with as good a feet as I do. Whichever one my team sees me as, I’m going to go in day in and day out and play the best I can be.”

Howard has only played left guard once since joining the Texans in 2019. His experience came during a Week 2 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars, where Howard started at left guard amid his NFL debut. He played 64 snaps in the win.

With the possibility of moving Howard to the interior, the adjustment will pair the 25-year-old lineman alongside Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil. The duo has the potential to create substantial protection on the left side to help enhance the Texans’ offense.

“I’m a lot more comfortable now than when I was a rookie because it was all new to me,” he said. “I was just put inside, and I never played inside before, versus now I’ve played guard before. I got a lot of reps on the left side, so I’m very comfortable being on both sides.”

It appears that Howard will be the one offensive lineman Campen will maneuver around the most throughout the season.

The Alabama State prodigy has also seen close to an equal amount of reps at right tackle through the first week of training camp — which Howard deemed his natural position. Should Campen commit to the change, expect to see Marcus Cannon and Lane Taylor fill Howard’s vacancy on the right side of the offensive line.

“I feel like when I put the work in, I can play anywhere on the offensive line,” Howard said. “I am only here to be the best me I can be to help this team win — and that is my ultimate goal.”

Joe Thuney can fix Chiefs’ revolving door at LG during Andy Reid era

Why did the Chiefs go out and spend a bunch of money to get Joe Thuney? Just look at their recent history at the left guard position.

If you’re wondering why the Kansas City Chiefs went out and spent money to go sign free agent OL Joe Thuney, look no further than their recent history at left guard. They’ve long sought consistency at the position and they’ve failed to find it, now spanning two franchise starting quarterbacks. They’re clearly hoping that will change with Thuney, a player who has shown durability and consistency throughout his career at the left guard position.

During Andy Reid’s eight seasons as head coach in Kansas City, there hasn’t been a single player to put together a full 16-game stretch as the starter at left guard. In total, 13 players have started games at left guard for the Chiefs over the course of those eight seasons. It’s not for lack of trying either, as the Chiefs invested draft capital, free-agent dollars, attempted to develop players and made trades during that span. For whatever reason, it never worked.

Here’s a quick reminder of each of the 13 players to start at left guard since Andy Reid’s arrival:

Texans’ Romeo Crennel blames G Max Scharping’s regression on the lack of an offseason

Houston Texans LG Max Scharping lost his grip on the starting job, and interim coach Romeo Crennel cites a lack of an offseason as the problem.

The Houston Texans appeared to have rebuilt their failed state of an offensive line, and it only took the 2019 NFL Draft.

Houston selected right tackle Tytus Howard in Round 1, and then used one of their twin Round 2 picks to take Max Scharping. Howard started eight games, and Scharping, who had tackle and guard experience, anchored left guard with 14 starts in his 16 games played.

In 2020, Scharping has played in 13 games, but has started in just seven as he has been sharing the left guard spot with Senio Kelemete and Brent Qvale. In Week 15’s 27-20 loss at the Indianapolis Colts, Scharping played just four snaps, all on special teams.

Interim coach Romeo Crennel believes Scharping’s regression can be traced to the lack of an offseason caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think that not having an offseason, not having a preseason hurts young players when they are ready to make a move and to improve themselves and they’re not able to have that to continue that progress,” Crennel said. “I think also during the year, like you said, he missed some time during the year and so all of those things set him back a little bit.”

Though Scharping has taken a step back, Crennel is still positive that the former Northern Illinois product can provide some talent along the interior offensive line.

“I still feel like he’s a big body in there,” said Crennel. “He will be able to get some things done, particularly if he’s able to have an offseason this year and a preseason and all of those things that go into educating a football player.”

Scharping may not see significant snaps as the Texans face the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT at NRG Stadium. However, the 6-6, 327-pound offensive lineman will have the entire offseason to improve and reclaim a starting spot.

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Texans OL coach explains why Senio Kelemete is starting over Max Scharping

Houston Texans offensive line coach Mike Devlin provided a reason for why Senio Kelemete is starting at left guard and not Max Scharping.

The Houston Texans were returning the same five starters across the offensive line for the first time since 2011, but they ultimately have a different starting five.

The result isn’t due to injury that the Texans are starting Senio Kelemete at left guard in place of Max Scharping. Instead, the offensive coaches believe that Scharping didn’t take a step forward 2020 and have decided to go with the proven veteran at left guard.

“I think as we look at this crazy year, one of the things that occurred I think with a lot of second-year players, and first-year players, because you know how important it is from your first to your second year and that development, I think that time missed in the spring and training camp and everything else that we did, basically when he came back, I did not see the jump or the leap that you would expect from a guy that played 14 games,” offensive line coach Mike Devlin said.

According to Devlin, Kelemete was “more productive in all facets to date,” which is why the club stopped splitting time between the two, a work around that had been in place from Weeks 2-3, and decided to give Kelemete the starting job in Week 4.

“Senio has done a good job coming in and really working well with [left tackle Laremy Tunsil] in terms of the pass protection in some of the games, things along those lines,” offensive coordinator Tim Kelly said. “We’re going to look for those guys to get healed up, get rejuvenated over this week, come back and improve on the areas that we’re going to ask them to improve upon. They come in every week, they bust their tails, they play hard, try to play physical. In that area we’re pleased with that.”

Even though there doesn’t appear to be a place for Scharping along the starting five, Devlin wouldn’t rule out going back to the former 2019 second-round pick.

Said Devlin: “I think we’re going to need all of our linemen in this type of year. He’s working towards it. We talked about the goals to get back. He’s steadily been working towards that. I do anticipate him getting in. I do anticipate guys having to play this year. I’m hoping that he takes those goals and runs with it and shows that improvement from last year.”

Currently, Scharping is on COVID reserve as he tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Oct. 28. In any event, the Texans would have to rely on Kelemete.

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Senio Kelemete forced Texans’ hand to play him more at left guard

Senio Kelemete has taken over the starting left guard spot for the Houston Texans. Tim Kelly says the veteran force their hand to play him more.

The Houston Texans had the same five offensive linemen returning as starters for the first time since 2011. That lasted for three games as the club went with Senio Kelemete at left guard in place of the second-year Max Scharping.

After playing just three special teams snaps in Week 1, Kelemete played 22 offensive snaps in Week 2 followed by 20 in Week 3. By the Week 4 game with the Minnesota Vikings at NRG Stadium, Kelemete had effectively replaced Scharping as the starter.

“He’s done a great job,” offensive coordinator Tim Kelly said. “Him and [left tackle] Laremy (Tunsil) have done a really good job solidifying that side of the line of scrimmage.”

Kelemete signed a one-year contract extension with the Texans that put him under contract through the 2021 season. Even though he had been relegated from a 14-game starter in 2018 to more of a reserve player in a year’s time, Kelemete kept his work ethic high.

“He came in and was physical every day,” Kelly said. “He came in with the right mindset, the right attitude. Put in the work. Didn’t say really anything, just came in and when he got his opportunity, he went out there and was productive. So, we continued to give him a little bit more and as that happened, he continued to be productive.”

The Texans offense went from 260 yards in Week 3 at the Pittsburgh Steelers to 386 against the Vikings. In last week’s 30-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, the offense churned 486 yards with 129 rushing yards, the best of the season.

“He finally made it to the point where he kind of forced our hand and made us make a decision,” Kelly said. “Him and Laremy have been out there playing pretty well together.”

The Texans will need Kelemete and Tunsil to keep the left side of the line held together as Houston seeks to upset the 4-0 Tennessee Titans Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT at Nissan Stadium.

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Connor Williams feeling great, set to start at left guard for Dallas Cowboys

Connor Williams had a tough offseason, dealing with a torn ACL. Now, he is back in practice and is in a position to become the starting LG.

Connor Williams had a tough offseason, dealing with a torn ACL he suffered on Thanksgiving Day against the Buffalo Bills. The former Longhorn spent the spring rehabbing and trying to prepare for the 2020 season.

Williams spoke with the media to discuss his journey back to the field.

“Obviously, it was a very long road,” Williams said on Monday. “First ACL and it’s a huge injury, so I didn’t really know what to expect at first. But slowly day by day, head down, grinded.”

“I honestly feel really great right now and I feel better where I left off last year.”

Now, not only is he is back in practice for the Dallas Cowboys but he is in position to become the team’s starting left guard again. According to Bryan Broaddus of 105.3 The Fan, the Cowboys are going to be giving veteran players the chance to start on the offensive line.

Williams was a second-round draft pick of Dallas in the 2018 NFL Draft. Playing tackle for Texas, the Cowboys have moved him inside to the guard position. In his 24 career games, Williams has 21 starts, including all 11 games he played in last season.

After veteran center Travis Fredrick retired this offseason, the Cowboys interior offensive linemen have been trying to earn spots.

Williams has been battling Connor McGovern, the second-year lineman out of Penn State. Whoever wins the job will get to play alongside future Hall of Famer Tyron Smith.

“I love the progress that we’re making. I think we’re looking great as an offensive line,” Williams said. “I think we’re all coming together. I think we’re making each other better. I think we’re pushing each other, and I’m very excited where we’re headed.”

Dallas will open their 2020 season against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 13. If Williams can stay healthy and continue to compete in practice, he will have the starting left guard sport locked down for the entire season.

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