Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
The Houston Texans cannot keep these three assistant coaches if they seek to rebound in 2021.
The Houston Texans went from 10-6, AFC South champions, and a divisional playoff appearance, to a 4-12 train wreck that fired its coach and general manager and is a soft rebuild.
In the NFL, the easiest place to make a change is at the top and Houston is planning to do just that as new general manager Nick Caserio pursues a new coach to lead the club in 2021. Here are three assistant coaches from the Bill O’Brien era that need not be retained as the Texans seek to turn over a new leaf.
Houston Texans offensive coordinator Tim Kelly likes the job OL coach Mike Devlin has done with OT Charlie Heck.
Charlie Heck hasn’t had much playing time in 2020, but the fourth-rounder from North Carolina has been ready to play when he has been thrust into the action.
The son of Kansas City Chiefs offensive line coach, Andy Heck, has been active for two games. After seeing a snap at right tackle during the 27-20 win over the New England Patriots in Week 11, Heck played 39 snaps at right tackle in the 37-31 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16 as Houston had to shuffle its offensive line due to injuries.
Houston may have to rely on the combination that they finished the game with Sunday as left tackle Laremy Tunsil left the game with an ankle injury and left guard Brent Qvale left with a concussion. Heck may be a part of those plans.
“I think we’ve got a couple different combinations that we may be able to throw out there with certain people playing different positions,” offensive coordinator Tim Kelly said. “So, if Charlie has to go out there and play, we’re going to be fine. He went out there, he prepares really well. He’s made tremendous strides this year during his rookie season.”
Kelly says that offensive line coach Mike Devlin has “done a great job” with developing Heck and getting the 6-8, 311-pound tackle accustomed to the NFL level.
“He’s put in the work and he’s earned the opportunity, so if we have to use him or if he has to come off the bench or whatever it may be, he’s going to be ready for whatever role he has to play for us on Sunday.”
The Texans take on the Tennessee Titans Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT at NRG Stadium. If swing tackle Roderick Johnson has to fill in at left tackle, with starting right tackle Tytus Howard already on injured reserve, Heck could see his third activation of the season and possibly his first start of his career.
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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The Houston Texans have continuity among their five starting offensive linemen, but they also have it down into their depth.
The Houston Texans can count the continuity along their offensive line. After all, they will have all five starters returning for the first time since 2011. That is a winning formula in pro football.
In addition to the cohesion that has formed with their starters, the Texans also have dependable depth along the offensive line.
Offensive line coach Mike Devlin is “appreciative” of the veteran talent they have on the bench in Greg Mancz, Senio Kelemete, and Roderick Johnson.
“In this day and age with what we’re all going through, you have to be prepared for any scenario,” Devlin said. “I really feel like having those veteran backups like we got is critical for the season, and they’ve all played for us.”
Kelemete was the Texans’ starting left guard in 14 of his 15 games in 2018 before rookie Max Scharping took his spot. Mancz has played 54 games for the Texans, starting in 28 of them in just about every position along the interior offensive line. Johnson was activated for all 16 games last year and started in three of them as rookie right tackle Tytus Howard was lost for the year on Nov. 30 to an MCL injury.
Even though the Texans have “dependable, tough, and smart” players along the offensive line, Devlin doesn’t believe he knows what he has until full contact is allowed in practice.
“Every year is a different year and you have to go out and grind it and improve yourself,” said Devlin. “Last year was a starting point of all those guys together and it makes it tougher because you want to hit. O-linemen, you want to hit, you want to get your fix.
“So, that’s still a little bit of a ways away. As I tell you guys all the time, I’ll know more about a lot of guys once the contact comes.”
If availability issues hit the offensive line, the Texans know they can count on quality depth to fill key positions.
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Houston Texans right tackle Laremy Tunsil believes the offensive line has a chance to be productive and remarkable in 2020.
The Houston Texans are returning the same five starters along the offensive line for the first time since 2011, and right tackle Tytus Howard believes it is an optimistic moment.
Howard was a part of the group for only eight games last year as a rookie before an MCL injury landed him on injured reserve on Nov. 30. Nonetheless, having a productive starting five return inspires confidence around NRG Stadium.
“I’m just looking forward to seeing what we can do once we keep on building up these games together,” Howard said. “I think we’re going to build something pretty special.”
The offensive line hasn’t had a chance to work together until training camp commenced. COVID-19 eliminated the entire offseason program before it could even begin, which meant there was none of the communal bonding that goes into forging offensive line cohesion.
“It feels pretty good for all of us to be back,” said Howard. “We have a pretty close group. With all of us being back in the building it felt good, especially having five starters back, something that I don’t think has happened in here in a long time or ever. With us, just keep building that chemistry is going to be the key for us.”
Last year, quarterback Deshaun Watson saw his league-leading 62 sacks from 2018 shrink to 44. Running back Carlos Hyde, who joined the team after final cuts at the end of preseason, collected his first 1,000-yard rushing season of his career behind the Texans’ offensive line. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil earned his first career Pro Bowl selection.
2019 was special, too.
If the Texans can find a way to keep the same five starters together for a full 16-game slate, Houston should be contenders to win the AFC South for the third year in a row and also make noise in the playoffs.
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The Houston Texans will be starting the same five offensive linemen from a year ago for the first time in the Deshaun Watson era.
For the first time in the Deshaun Watson era, the Houston Texans will have all five starters return along the offensive line.
Having Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard at left and right tackle, Max Scharping and Zach Fulton as guards, and Nick Martin in the center gives the Texans a continuity among their blocking unit they have rarely had even in the Bill O’Brien era.
“That position especially, there’s a lot of chemistry that goes into that position of playing next to one another, how certain people are going to handle certain blocks and how it’s going to feel and the different responses and reactions that you’ll get,” offensive coordinator Tim Kelly told reporters on May 20.
Part of offensive line coach Mike Devlin’s philosophy has been to find the best five-man rotation that works as a unit along the offensive line, which involves linemen having to display versatility. This is why Howard, who was a left tackle for Alabama State, played guard in his rookie preseason, and also why Scharping, who was a tackle for Northern Illinois, played guard in his rookie year.
In 2019, the Texans found their best five-man unit, and now they can work on the continuity.
“Having all five of those guys back is vital,” Kelly said. “It’s a good thing and it’s something that we’re definitely excited for.”
In 2018, Watson’s first full season at quarterback, he sustained 62 sacks, leading the NFL. In 2019, Watson’s sack totals dropped to 44, which were still in the top 10 at sixth-most in the NFL, but a marked improvement over 2018.
The Texans offensive line also produced a 1,000-yard runner in running back Carlos Hyde, who collected 1,070, marking the first time in the 29-year-old’s career that he went over the 1,000-yard mark. Houston is expected to match or surpass that total with the addition of All-Pro running back David Johnson.
