From 2008 to 2012, Houston Texans had one of the NFL’s best quarterback-center tandems in Matt Schaub and Chris Myers. Years later, the organization is trying to forge another tandem in quarterback Deshaun Watson and center Nick Martin.
“Nick is like a brother to me,” Watson told reporters on Wednesday. “We have a great relationship.”
While a less-heralded duo compared to one of a quarterback and wide receiver, the one between a quarterback and center needs to be pristine. If the two don’t have a good relationship, an offense can follow.
“If the quarterback and center don’t have that great relationship, there can be a lot of bad things happen for sure, because he controls everybody upfront and as he goes, I go. We’re the only two guys that touch the ball every single play,” said Watson.
We have to be on the same page with the run points, the pass protections, seeing it through the same set of eyes, and teams do different fronts, different disguises, where they can move and things like that. So, if he’s thinking one thing, I’m thinking one thing, I might be thinking I’m picked up, but really I’m hot, I could get hit in the back of the head or something like that.”
Watson and Martin have played together for three seasons. The two are 24 and 26, respectively. The Texans hope they grow together as they usher in a new era for the franchise. In Sept., they signed Martin to a three-year, $33 million extension.
The two have done just that.
“He knows what exactly I’m thinking, what he’s thinking,” said Watson. “On different looks, we meet throughout the week. We go out to eat and all types of stuff. We have a great chemistry and great relationship.”
Watson and Martin’s chemistry has resulted in standout individual seasons for each. Watson’s 105.9 passer rating is a career-high, as his numbers are up across the board. Martin’s 95% Pass Block Win Rate, per ESPN, sits at eighth in the NFL
Next time Martin props up Watson after scoring a touchdown, realize that’s a result of chemistry build over years of playing together.