Tag: Texans offensive line

Texans’ Laremy Tunsil is everything you look for in a left tackle

Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil is everything you want in an offensive tackle, says offensive coordinator Tim Kelly.

In his fourth year in the NFL and his first with the Houston Texans, left tackle Laremy Tunsil made the Pro Bowl.

For offensive coordinator Tim Kelly, that should come as no surprise. Tunsil, who stands at 6-5, 315-pounds with 34-1/4-inch arms, is a prototype.

“He’s really athletic,” Kelly said on Wednesday. “He’s got great feet. He’s a physical player, and he’s got good length. He’s just really everything you’re looking for in a left tackle.”

To the rest of the NFL, Tunsil’s recognition as a Pro Bowler also doesn’t come as a surprise. Entering the NFL out of Ole Miss in 2016, he earned praise as the best overall prospect in his draft class.

A monumental blunder caused Tunsil to drop to the Miami Dolphins at No. 13, where he was considered a steal and instant franchise left tackle. For three years, he was just that, until the Texans came calling with a bundle that included two first-round picks.

The Dolphins struck a deal to send Tunsil to Houston and the rest is history. The 25-year-old is playing the part of one of the best in the NFL, carrying an outstanding 89.9 Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade while also paving lanes for the NFL’s seventh-ranked rush offense.

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.

Texans C Nick Martin stresses discipline against the Patriots

Houston Texans center Nick Martin stresses that his team must be disciplined when facing the New England Patriots on Sunday.

The Baltimore Ravens, New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs may have been tough tasks for the Houston Texans, but their toughest of the season is just days away. The 10-1 New England Patriots are coming to face the 7-4 Texans on Sunday night.

Not an offensive team such as in years past, the Patriots, in 2019, take pride in playing sound defensive football under coach Bill Belichick — arguably the greatest defensive mind in football history.

Rarely does the Patriots defense make mistakes, whether it be playing the pass or run.

“They’re disciplined, obviously,” said Texans center Nick Martin on Monday. “So, you got to prepare for that, just like every week. I mean, every week you got to prepare the same. You don’t prepare differently because it’s a certain team, but you just got to come to work and work every day.”

The Texans must match the Patriots’ discipline. New England has bottled up the run all year, allowing the ninth-best 98.4 yards per game. Houston, who rushes for the sixth-best 136.9 yards per game, will look to avoid mistakes to get the ground game going.

“They’re a great team, obviously,” continued Martin. “They’ve proven that year in and year out. So, again, they are disciplined, so they’ll take advantage of your mistakes. So you just got to be as disciplined.”

Martin stresses avoiding mistakes and staying disciplined — near synonyms. He, as the center of the offensive line, will have to be a catalyst to that notion. The 26-year-old will face nose tackle Danny Shelton for most of the game; a big, bludgeoning force that will take advantage of Martin’s mistakes.

“You’ve got to respect a guy like that,” said Martin on Shelton. “But, on Sunday, you’ve got to be prepared to block him.”

Like Martin, the rest of the offensive line will have to face well respected Patriots defenders. To pull off the upset win, they must keep them at the line of scrimmage, and not in No. 4’s face.

LT Laremy Tunsil continues to prove his worth to Texans

The Houston Texans traded a treasure trove of draft picks to acquire left tackle Laremy Tunsil in August. That is paying off tenfold.

When the Houston Texans shipped over two first-round picks, a second and change to South Beach for left tackle Laremy Tunsil and receiver Kenny Stills, skeptics were enraged. The package, to many, was far too much for a 25-year-old tackle without a Pro-Bowl bid to his name.

Those skeptics are waning. Tunsil has proved his worth. Those over at Pro Football Focus can prove it.

According to PFF, Tunsil has a 92.3 pass-blocking grade since Week 2 of the 2019 campaign, best among all offensive players. His 90.8 pass-blocking grade for the entire season is the best in Texans franchise history, since the debut of PFF (2006).

Though missing one game and earning his fair share of false start penalties, the trade to acquire Tunsil has paid off for the Texans. He, by all means, is a franchise blindside protector at just 25 years old. Houston would pull the trigger, to send a treasure of picks, again in a heartbeat.

Report: Texans release T Seantrel Henderson off non-football injury list

On Monday, the Houston Texans released offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson off of the non-football injury list.

The Houston Texans are releasing offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson off of the NFI list (non-football injury), according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Henderson, 27, was dealing with a slight back injury. He is now healthy, according to Rapoport.

The Texans signed Henderson to a one-year deal in the 2018 free agency period. He started the season-opener at right tackle before suffering a season-ending broken ankle.

Houston resigned Henderson to a one-year contract extension on Jan. 19. Again, the team started him at right tackle in Week 1, before losing the job to Roderick Johnson the next week and rookie Tytus Howard from Week 3 onward.

Henderson should field some interest in the open-market due to the lack of quality offensive tackles available. He has 29 career starts to his name split between the Texans and the Buffalo Bills.

Without Henderson in-fold, the Texans have four tackles on the roster in Howard, Johnson, Laremy Tunsil and Chris Clark.

Report: Texans work out former first-round OL Joshua Garnett

On Friday, the Houston Texans worked out free agent offensive guard Joshua Garnett, who was a first-round selection in 2016.

The Houston Texans continue to try-out former first-round selections. On Friday, the team worked out former first-round offensive lineman Joshua Garnett, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

The Texans did not immediately sign Garnett to a contract.

Garnett, 25, was a San Francisco 49ers first-round pick out of Stanford in 2016. The team selected him at No. 28 overall before starting him for 11 games as a right guard in his rookie season.

Injuries have hampered Garnett’s young career. He missed the entirety of his second season with a knee injury, followed by surgery. In the 2018 season-opener, he suffered a toe dislocation, causing him to miss six games. Later in the same season, he broke his thumb — ending his season.

San Francisco declined Garnett’s fifth-year option in the offseason. The 49ers released him on the cut-down day (Aug. 31, 2019). Since he has received little interest.

Currently, the Texans have three guards on the roster in Max Scharping, Zach Fulton and Greg Mancz.

Texans coach Bill O’Brien excited to regain offensive line continuity

Houston Texans head coach Bill O’Brien is excited for the return of Laremy Tunsil, who will give the offensive line continuity moving forward.

The Houston Texans, after much trial and error, have their offensive line.

A five-man unit of (left to right) Laremy Tunsil, Max Scharping, Nick Martin, Zach Fulton and Tytus Howard has given Houston its best blocking unit in eons. The problem: The quintuplet has struggled to stay together.

With Tunsil, Howard and Fulton each missing at least one start in 2019, the entirety of the unit has just 176 snaps together. In those snaps — worth two games and a half — they have allowed two sacks to Deshaun Watson.

As benefactors of the Week 10 bye, Houston won’t just have 176 snaps logged onto their rebuilt offensive line. Tunsil, who missed Week 9 (shoulder), is expected to come back for Week 11’s tilt with the Baltimore Ravens. Howard (partially torn MCL) returned in Week 9.

“I think any time you can have continuity up front, I mean, obviously that’s a good thing,” said coach Bill O’Brien on Monday. You don’t want to have guys moving in and out based on injuries. You really don’t want that, but sometimes, obviously, that happens and you have to deal with it like any other teams does.”

Houston recently employed the help of Roderick Johnson and Chris Clark to negate the injuries to Tunsil and Howard. That will no longer be the case for the Texans. O’Brien is giddy to get the offensive line he and former General Manager Brian Gaine slaved over to create.

“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,” O’Brien continued. “So, hopefully we can have that this week.”

Despite the never-ending rotation of players, the Texans offensive line has produced in 2019. Houston is eighth in the NFL in ESPN‘s Pass Block Win Rate (61%), 11th in adjusted line yards (4.37) and ninth in run-stuffed rate, per Football Outsiders.

The Texans’ offensive line should be together for their fourth start as a cohesive unit on Sunday. From there, the only place to go for Tunsil, Scharping, Martin, Fulton and Howard is up.