Tag: Max Scharping

Bengals claim OL Max Scharping and DT Jay Tufele off waivers

The Bengals added two more players on the waiver wire.

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The Cincinnati Bengals got quite active on the waiver wire and free agency on Wednesday.

On the same day news broke that the team wanted to sign former first-round pick O.J. Howard, the Bengals also claimed tight end Devin Asiasi on waivers.

The Bengals claimed two other players on the waiver wire, too: Guard Max Scharping and defensive tackle Jay Tufele.

Scharping was a former second-round pick by Houston in 2019 who has had up-and-down play over the last few years. But his arrival might signal some interesting things for former second-round pick Jackson Carman.

A former fourth-rounder in 2021, Tufele only played four games in Jacksonville last year and is part of the big turnover there. The Bengals wanted more depth after letting guys like Tyler Shelvin go.

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Texans release G Max Scharping

The Houston Texans have released former 2019 second-round guard Max Scharping.

The Houston Texans have all but one of their 2019 NFL draft class remaining.

According to Aaron Wilson from the Pro Football Network, the Texans have released former second-round pick Max Scharping. The guard was in a battle for playing time as the Texans signed former Jacksonville Jaguars guard A.J. Cann in the offseason. Houston also bolstered their interior offensive line by drafting Texas A&M product Kenyon Green in the first round.

With the Texans going with a youth movement in Green and familiarity as Cann previously played under current offensive line coach George Warhop, who was with the Jaguars from 2019-21.

Texans OL Max Scharping gets work at tackle

Houston Texans offensive lineman Max Scharping has been getting work at tackle during the early parts of training camp.

When the Houston Texans signed A.J. Cann and drafted first-rounder Kenyon Green, it meant Tytus Howard could finally kick out to right tackle. The former 2019 first-round pick no long had to experiment playing inside.

The acquisition of those players also meant that the Texans needed to explore the versatility of another member of the 2019 draft class in Max Scharping. The former second-round pick from Northern Illinois has started 33 of his 48 activations at guard, but the Texans have been experimenting with something different.

Through the first two days of training camp, the Texans have had Scharping play at tackle.

“Max has been around awhile, and he just started at tackle position,” coach Lovie Smith told reporters on July 30 at Houston Methodist Training Center. “We feel like we have two of the best tackles in football.”

Two-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil has left tackle sealed, and Howard mans the right side. However, the Texans are evaluating what position flex they have across the offensive line.

“We just talked about [center] Justin Britt, A.J., we know eventually Kenyon Green will get into the mix,” said Smith. “But you need more backups too, and Max has done that well. When we have asked him to step into the play, he’s done that. So, we feel like with Charlie Heck, we have some depth at that offensive line position.”

Scharping played both tackle spots while at Northern Illinois as part of his overall versatility across the offensive line. When the Texans selected Scharping with the 55th overall pick in Round 2, the 6-6, 327-pound offensive lineman was listed as a tackle.

The 25-year-old from Green Bay, Wisconsin, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Scharping playing at tackle would give him the opportunity to display his versatility and provide evidence he can still be a valuable part of the Texans’ blocking unit.

Texans’ 2019 draft class may have led to downfall of the Bill O’Brien era

The downfall of the Bill O’Brien era with the Houston Texans may actually have started with the 2019 NFL draft.

The Bill O’Brien era may have gone downhill when the Houston Texans traded two first-round picks and a second-round selection as part of a compensation package to acquire Miami Dolphins left tackle Laremy Tunsil.

The Texans’ top-100 selections were effectively gutted for the 2020 and 2021 drafts — all because O’Brien had influence over the five-man general managing council following the firing of Brian Gaine on June 7, 2019. Senior vice president of football administration Chris Olson may have been the interim general manager, but O’Brien was calling the shots.

However, the downfall of O’Brien’s era as coach may not have been the Tunsil trade. Rather, it may have been the 2019 NFL draft when Gaine was still in control.

According to Pete Prisco from CBS Sports, the Texans had a C-minus grade after that draft, but in a reassessment, Prisco gives them a D.

The Skinny: They had seven picks, but just one — first-round offensive tackle Tytus Howard — is a lock to start this year. Second-round corner Lonnie Johnson was traded to the Chiefs this year after playing both corner and safety for the Texans. Second-round round guard Max Scharping has started and will compete this year for a job.

Initially analysts declared the Texans reached for Howard after the Philadelphia Eagles grabbed tackle Andre Dillard the pick prior. Howard made the Pro Football Writers of America’s all-rookie team and has had a solid career since while Dillard has sailed into bust territory.

The Texans had four picks in the top-100 with back-to-back second-rounders in cornerback Lonnie Johnson and guard-tackle Max Scharping. Neither player manifest as a starter for the Texans.

However, that wasn’t the worst selection of the top-100 that year.

How I did: I thought third-round tight end Kahale Warring had a chance to be special, but he didn’t work out. I questioned taking Howard, and he’s been just OK. I liked the pick of Johnson, but he’s now gone.

Warring didn’t see the field until 2020, and he only caught three passes for 35 yards in his seven games with the Texans. Consider running backs Damien Harris, Alexander Mattison, and receiver Miles Boykin were all in the neighborhood of where Houston picked Warring.

The Texans’ other selections were fifth-round defensive end Charles Omenihu, who was traded last year, sixth-round cornerback Xavier Crawford, who was waived after over a month into his rookie season, and seventh-round fullback Cullen Gillaspia, who only played two seasons with the team.

With just one starter developing out of the 2019 class, the Texans didn’t have the homegrown talent to replace departing veterans. Adding general manager duties to O’Brien only doomed his tenure with the Texans.

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Texans add G Justin McCray to COVID-19 reserve

The Houston Texans have placed guard Justin McCray on the COVID-19 reserve.

The Houston Texans will be without a starting guard when they take on the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday 12:00 p.m. Central Time at TIAA Bank Field.

The Texans placed guard Justin McCray on the COVID-19 reserve Friday.

McCray returned to the lineup against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 14’s 33-13 loss at NRG Stadium. McCray played 81 snaps for the Texans.

On the season, McCray has started six of 11 games that he has been activated.

The disruption to the interior offensive line comes as the Texans have been working to have veterans along the line with McCray at left guard, Justin Britt returning at center, and Lane Taylor at right guard.

The Texans could go with Max Scharping in place of McCray against the Jaguars. Scharping has started in nine of his 13 games active in 2021.

C Justin Britt breaks down the Texans offensive line

Houston Texans center Justin Britt took time to break down his teammates along the offensive line.

The Houston Texans offensive line is another position group that has undergone an overhaul throughout the 2021 offseason.

The new offensive line was forged throughout the offseason workouts, training camp, and the preseason. Presumptive starting center Justin Britt believes the Texans will be able to have a successful five-man blocking unit because of the way they have been communicating.

“Sometimes there’s a lot of moving parts and you’ve just got to be able to do it,” said Britt. “That’s why in practice you’ll see this guy running in at left guard and next time he’ll go into right guard, just so he’s forced to communicate and forced to do it. You just teach your body to be able to adapt.”

Britt also provided a breakdown of his fellow offensive linemen.

4 Texans who need to perform at a high level in 2021

The Houston Texans need these four players to have exceptional seasons if they are to exceed expectations in 2021.

The Houston Texans take on the Jacksonville Jaguars to kickoff the regular season Sunday, Sept. 12 at NRG Stadium for the first of 17 games.

The expectation outside of Kirby Drive is the team will be competing more for the No. 1 overall pick than they will for a playoff spot. Maybe even general manager Nick Caserio senses as much as he indicated on Sept. 1 to the media that they are more “process oriented” than “results oriented” at this time.

Nevertheless, the players don’t want to be a part of a losing effort and put bad film of themselves out there for personnel departments to look at in 2022. Here are four Texans who need to excel this season.

Texans G Max Scharping excited to face hometown Packers again

Houston Texans guard Max Scharping is stoked to get back to his hometown of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and take on the hometown Packers.

Houston Texans guard Max Scharping is no stranger to Green Bay.

In fact, he grew up there. He graduated high school from Southwest High School just 2.7 miles away from Lambeau Field before going on to play at Northern Illinois.

Green Bay is a city of beginnings for the former 2019 second-round pick.

“I grew up my whole life there, so it’s everything,” Scharping said. “It’s who I am. That’s where I came from. So it built me into who I am today. I wouldn’t be here without Green Bay.”

Saturday night will be the second time Scharping has returned to Green Bay and the third time in his short career that he has faced the Packers, preseason or otherwise. Scharping’s first preseason game against the Packers was in 2019 to open up the preseason, coming off the tail end of joint practices with the NFC North club.

“I’ve been back once before obviously a couple years ago,” said Scharping. “It’s going to be super special again to get to go back to Green Bay. I’m excited.”

Scharping’s family is excited to see one of their own return to play at Lambeau Field — it means they won’t have to travel very fair.

“The fact that they can just host it and tailgate and stuff, they’re going to be happy,” said Scharping.

If Scharping can get a chance, depending on the schedule and logistics, he will try to see his family and friends after the game.

Ticket procurement is not up to Scharping.

Said Scharping: “That’s all on my parents. I have no idea. I’m not in charge of that one. That’s on them. That’s too much for me to handle.”

Scharping has enough to handle with three tackles, Tytus Howard, Laremy Tunsil, and Roderick Johnson, on the COVID-19 reserve. Nevertheless, in Green Bay, Scharping and the Texans have a chance to lay the foundation for a successful 2021 campaign.

Texans G Max Scharping says OT Charlie Heck is a hard worker

Houston Texans guard Max Schapring says that second-year tackle Charlie Heck is doing a great job of displaying his work ethic in training camp.

Charlie Heck knows what it takes to make it in the NFL.

After all, his dad is the offensive line coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. Andy Heck was also an offensive lineman in the league from 1989-2000.

The Houston Texans selected the former North Carolina product in Round 4 of the 2020 NFL draft. Heck played in three games, starting in the Week 17 season finale against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium.

Heck did the best he could with a virtual offseason, no offseason program, and just a month-long training camp ahead of the regular season last year.

With a full eight-week offseason program available, Heck put in the work this offseason and third-year guard Max Scharping has notice.

“Charlie’s great,” said Scharping. “I love playing next to him. He’s a smart kid. He works his ass off. He’s just a great guy to have by you. Like I said, he’s probably one of the hardest working guys in the room honestly.”

Not only does Heck’s lineage in the NFL provide him with the knowledge that hard work is what it takes to succeed, but his enculturation in the offensive line is also evident at training camp practices at Houston Methodist Training Center.

Said Scharping: “His background with his dad as a coach, he’s really smart in the game of football. So, he gets what’s going on out there, and he brings a level of that work ethic that every single offensive line needs to have.”

Heck will see extended playing time Saturday night against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field as tackles Roderick Johnson, Laremy Tunsil, and Tytus Howard have been placed on the COVID-19 reserve.

7 impressions from the Texans’ first unofficial depth chart

The Houston Texans released their unofficial depth chart ahead of their game with the Green Bay Packers. Here are seven takeaways.

The Houston Texans released their unofficial depth chart, and there were some intriguing personnel placements on the list.

The Texans are working through way through a roster that is mostly comprised of veterans on short-term deals. As a result, the Texans are looking to put together the best combinations possible.

A lot can change between now and the end of preseason, but here are some takeaways from the unofficial depth chart.