Howard settles in for ‘comfortable’ debut
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Tytus Howard took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts and soaking up the magnitude of the moment.
For the Texans’ rookie offensive lineman, Thursday marked the official start of his journey from an obscure former high school quarterback who put on 100 pounds at Alabama State and became a first-round draft pick.
During his first NFL game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, Howard started at left guard and later lined up at his natural left tackle position.
It was an experience Howard won’t forget.
“I was pretty comfortable out there,” Howard said. “My first drive, I was a little nervous. After that drive, I settled in and felt pretty good from there on. It was pretty good to get out there and get my feet wet.”
Howard had his moments during his NFL debut. He helped block for a touchdown by rookie Damarea Crockett as the undrafted free agent bulled his way into the end zone.
Howard shifted from guard after one quarter to tackle. There were some unpolished sequences at tackle, including when he dropped his head and allowed talented Packers rookie Rashan Gary, a first-round draft pick from Michigan, to race up the field and pressure quarterback Joe Webb.
Projected as the starting left guard next to former Pro Bowl left tackle Matt Kalil, Howard has vastly different job requirements at each position. At guard, he’s wrestling inside with bigger players and using a lot of power. At tackle, he needs to rely on his finesse and technique to stonewall fast pass rushers.
“I played the first quarter at guard and most of the second quarter at left tackle,” Howard said. “I felt pretty good switching out from guard to tackle. So that’s something I got to continue to work on and just get better.
“Tackle is more like being on an island. You’ve got to be more diverse at tackle. It’s a process. I’m just trying to get better each and every day to be the best teammate I can be.”
Drafted 23rd overall and signed to a four-year, $12.3 million contract, Howard is determined to prove himself.
“Basically, just whatever my coaches are teaching me,” Howard said. “Going out there and playing the game I’ve been playing my whole life, having fun with it. If I do what I’m coached to do, we can succeed as an offensive line.
“Really just going out there and competing. Our guys, we all hold each other accountable. Every drive we’re looking at each other like, ‘I can depend on him, he can depend on me.’ So just being a dependable person.”
During the Texans’ joint practices with the Packers, Howard slammed a few pass rushers to the ground. The 6-5, 322-pounder with 5.07 speed in the 40-yard dash displayed a mean streak.
“Just going out and attacking each and every day and being the best player I can for the team,” Howard said. “If it’s pancaking a guy or not even pancaking a guy, just giving 110 percent to be the best player I can be for the Houston Texans.”