Tag: Right Tackle

Roderick Johnson or Chris Clark: Who is the Texans’ answer at right tackle?

The Houston Texans have a choice between Roderick Johnson and Chris Clark at right tackle. One stands out far above the other.

The age-old quandary: Chris Clark or Roderick Johnson?

With their starting right tackle on injured reserve, Tytus Howard (meniscus), the Houston Texans have taken an unorthodox approach to the position.

Recently, those tuning in can get accustomed to seeing Chris Clark, No. 77, and Roderick Johnson, No. 63,  rotate through the position.

Since the Texans placed Howard on injured reserve before Week 13, Clark has played in 60% in both games, while seeing starts in each. Johnson has taken the remaining 40%. That’s odd.

One of Houston’s right tackles stands as a massive upgrade over the other. It’s the 24-year-old Johnson, who has out-paced the 34-year-old Clark as the candidate that should secure the job heading into a vital three-week stretch.

According to Pro Football Focus, Johnson is playing the part of one of the best tackles in the NFL. While Clark receives the majority of the snaps, Johnson is 12th in the NFL in overall blocking grade and 11th in pass-blocking in those last two weeks.

Though Johnson’s analytical prowess has come while playing minimal stats, it remains a promising number. It’s also one that many expected.

In the preseason, Johnson warranted legitimate consideration to be the Texans’ starting left tackle of the future. Ultimately, that didn’t happen. Houston traded for Laremy Tunsil, who is playing the part of a top-5 player at his position. Howard, a first-round rookie, settled in at right tackle.

Johnson’s performance in exhibition games and training camp earned him a fan in quarterback Deshaun Watson.

“He’s a guy that works his tail off; he plays hard; he has a lot of effort; he’s very disciplined and he doesn’t make too many mistakes,” said Watson on Aug. 17. “He’s been doing a heck of a job and I’m comfortable sitting in the pocket with him at left tackle.”

Johnson, according to PFF, hasn’t allowed a sack since Week 2, a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. In 252 snaps, he grades in at a 67.3, 17.1 points higher than Clark.

Clark is 10 years older than Johnson. He will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. Johnson will be a restricted free agent.

In his limited playing time, Johnson has proven to be a productive and promising member of the offensive line. Clark, not so much. If the Texans want to do what’s best for their blocking unit, it’s clear who will get the start in Week 15 against the Tennessee Titans.

Texans OT Tytus Howard lands on NFL.com’s 2019 all rookie team

Houston Texans rookie offensive tackle Tytus Howard earned a spot on NFL.com’s 2019 all rookie team.

Houston Texans rookie offensive tackle Tytus Howard’s season may be over after just eight games, but the first-round pick from Alabama State was impressive enough to earn a spot on an all rookie team

According to NFL.com’s Chris Wesseling, Howard and Jacksonville Jaguars tackle Jawaan Taylor were exemplary enough to claim spots on their 2019 all rookie team.

Veteran pass rushers began the season taking advantage of Taylor as a Day 1 starter, but he hasn’t been charged with a sack since Week 6. The second-round pick joins guard Andrew Norwell as the only Jaguars to play every snap this season. Billed as a high-upside project out of Alabama State, Howard ended up solving Houston’s long-standing problem at right tackle before an MCL tear ended his season last week. Fellow first-round picks Andre Dillard and Kaleb McGary have disappointed in Philadelphia and Atlanta, respectively.

What helped Howard was being able to man the right tackle spot after the club traded for Laremy Tunsil on Aug. 31. With a proven veteran protecting quarterback Deshaun Watson’s blindside as opposed to Howard, it allowed the rookie to grow into his role as an edge protector and ease into the pro game.

A knee injury knocked Howard out of the Texans’ 31-24 Week 6 win at the Kansas City Chiefs. The 6-5, 322-pound tackle returned in Week 9 in London as the Texans beat the Jaguars 26-3. Ahead of the Texans’ 28-22 win over the New England Patriots in Week 13 on Sunday Night Football, Houston placed Howard on injured reserve because of that knee injury. Howard has since had knee surgery, and he is expected to be good to go once the Texans commence their nine-week offseason program in April.

Report: Texans OT Tytus Howard undergoes successful right knee surgery

Houston Texans rookie right tackle Tytus Howard had successful knee surgery and should be ready for the club’s offseason program.

The road to recovery is off to a good start for Houston Texans rookie offensive tackle Tytus Howard.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the first-round pick from Alabama State had successful surgery to repair the meniscus in his right knee. As such, the 6-5, 322-pound offensive lineman will be on track to participate in the team’s offseason program.

Howard started eight games for the Texans, but dealt with injuries throughout the season. In preseason, Howard broke his hand and it kept him out of the club’s season opener at the New Orleans Saints.

In Week 6 at the Kansas City Chiefs, Howard sustained an MCL sprain that knocked him out for the next two games until he returned in Week 9 against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.

On Nov. 30, a day before the Texans hosted the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football at NRG Stadium in an eventual 28-22 win, the club placed Howard on injured reserve, ending his rookie campaign.

In the absence of Howard, the Texans plan to rotate Chris Clark and Roderick Johnson at right tackle.

Texans believe rotating right tackles is in the team’s best interest

The Houston Texans aren’t approaching right tackle normally, as they rotate between Roderick Johnson and Chris Clark. They say it’s for the better.

The Houston Texans have taken an unorthodox approach to replace rookie starting right tackle Tytus Howard, who is on injured reserve for a partially torn MCL.

Rather than stick with one player, the Texans have rotated Chris Clark and Roderick Johnson at the right tackle position. In Week 13’s win over the New England Patriots, Clark started and playing 61% of snaps (34) while Johnson played 39% (22).

The Texans allowed three sacks in the 28-22 win over the Patriots.

Coach Bill O’Brien says rotating between the two offensive tackles is in the best interest of the team.

“I think that was just something we felt, again, was in the best interest of the team. We felt like both of those guys had earned the right to play and we felt that that was a good way to do it,” Bill O’Brien told reporters Monday.

Johnson, 24, has two starts at right tackle. Clark, 34, can say the same, while also picking up a start at left tackle in a Week 9 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Similar to the Texans’ current plan at the right-side, Clark and Johnson each played 50% of snaps in that Week 9 win.

According to Pro Football Focus, Johnson has one sack allowed in 222 snaps, grading in at 64.6. Meanwhile, Clark has one in 146 snaps while measuring in at a 50.6 grade.

Why did the Texans place OT Tytus Howard on injured reserve?

The Houston Texans placed offensive tackle Tytus Howard on the injured reserve on Saturday. Why did they do so, and how much will they miss him?

On Saturday, Tytus Howard’s injury designation for the Houston Texans’ eventual 28-22 win over the New England Patriots went from “doubtful” to “out” as the Texans placed the rookie offensive tackle on injured reserve.

Howard, a first-round selection out of Alabama State, suffered a partially torn MCL in Week 6’s win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Three weeks later, he returned for a Week 9 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.

Howard started two games at right tackle before he landed back on the injury report as doubtful with a knee injury, presumably the same (left) one from earlier in the season.

“I would just say that we thought it was in the best interest — relative to what he was able to do, where he was at with his knee, it was in the best interest of him to move in that direction,” said coach Bill O’Brien on Monday.

Howard played eight games before his placement on the injured reserve, starting all but one at right tackle. He allowed two sacks in 488 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. The Texans were 6-2 with him in the lineup.

“I thought he had some good moments this year. He’s a great guy. We’re certainly glad to have him,” said O’Brien. “He’s tough, he’s got great energy, he’s got a really good personality, good teammate. So, I think there are a lot of things he did well and there’s a lot of things that he’d be the first to tell you that he can improve upon, but there’s a lot to build on.”

Ultimately, the Texans chose to rest him up for the betterment of his future. Instead of starting first-round picks at both tackle positions, the team will play one of Chirs Clark and Roderick Johnson, who split snaps in Sunday night’s win over the Patriots.

Texans RT Tytus Howard placed on season-ending injured reserve

The Houston Texans suffered a blow to their offensive line on Saturday, as they announced right tackle Tytus Howard will be placed on injured reserve.

Houston Texans right tackle Tytus Howard has gone from doubtful to officially out for Sunday’s bout with the New England Patriots.

On Saturday, the Texans placed the 2019 first-round pick on injured reserve.

The No. 23 pick from Alabama State, Howard suffered a partially torn MCL against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6. He returned in a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9, only to see his season ended before Week 13.

Howard practiced in a limited fashion throughout the week before Houston dubbed him “doubtful” for Sunday Night Football.

Before his placement on the injured reserve, Howard had performed admirably as the starting right tackle. In eight games (all starts), he has allowed two sacks, according to Pro Football Focus.

Backups Roderick Johnson and Chris Clark are candidates to start in his place. Johnson, 24, has started two games at the position. Clark, 34, was signed after Howard’s injury in Week 6. He has started two games on the season.

Johnson and Clark split snaps at left during in the wake of Laremy Tunsil’s Week 9 out designation for a shoulder injury. Each played 34 (50%) snaps in the win, with Clark earning the start.

The Texans have been clamoring for continuity at offensive line. The hope was that Howard would join (left to right) Laremy Tunsil, Max Scharping, Nick Martin and Zach Fulton to give Deshaun Watson a complete grouping heading into December football.

“Any time you can have (Laremy) Tunsil and (Tytus) Howard at tackle, and (Max) Scharping and (Zach) Fulton at guard, Nick Martin at center, that’s a pretty good group and that’s good continuity. So, hopefully we can have that this week,” said Bill O’Brien on Nov. 11.

That continuity will be no more. Instead, the Texans will hope to field a line with a backup at right tackle while attempting to lure themselves back into contender status.