O-line turning heads already
Revamped unit impresses early with versatility
Throughout training camp, Texans coaches have emphasized the importance of having versatility in the offensive line, but they’ve been forced to take it to the extreme going into Saturday’s second preseason game at Dallas.
Injuries and COVID-19 have created issues up front, and that’s why the performance at Green Bay was so rewarding for the players and coaches.
The Texans ran for 170 yards, controlled the clock, allowed one sack, scored two touchdowns and got four field goals from Ka’imi Fairbairn in the 26-7 victory at Lambeau Field.
Now the coaches want the linemen to ignite a similar offensive performance against the Cowboys in a game that should feature more starters getting playing time.
“I thought up front we did a better job of being physical,” offensive coordinator Tim Kelly said. “I thought you saw more of the mindset we’re looking for there. It was good to see our ability to finish the game running the football, as opposed to giving it back to them because we couldn’t convert (first downs).”
The linemen who played
impressed the coaches, but five who the Texans were counting on didn’t suit up.
Tackles Laremy Tunsil and Roderick Johnson and guard Tytus Howard missed the victory over the Packers because of COVID-19. Tunsil, who tested positive, will miss Saturday’s game, too. Howard returned to practice this week, and Johnson was placed on waivers.
Offensive tackle Marcus Cannon and guard Lane Taylor remain on the active/physically unable to perform list and continue to undergo rehabilitation for knee injuries.
Left tackle Geron Christian Sr., who began training camp on the reserve/COVID-19 list, will replace Tunsil for the second consecutive game as the Texans look to the regularseason opener Sept. 12 against Jacksonville.
Christian, Cannon and Taylor are three of 10 new offensive linemen, including eight veterans, who were acquired by general manager Nick Caserio.
Christian, left guard Justin McCray, center Justin Britt, right guard Max Scharping and right tackle Charlie Heck started against the Packers.
Seven linemen came off the bench at Lambeau Field, including two rookie free agents from Texas A&M, center Ryan McCollum and guard Carson Green.
“I thought our whole group played pretty well,” Britt said this week. “TK (Kelly) had a good plan, and I think we executed the game plan.
“I thought we were finishing (blocks). The backs found their groove in the second half. It (running game) was married to the pass game, and they worked pretty well together.”
Like the offense in general, the line has to improve by the time the Texans kick off against the Jaguars at NRG Stadium. The players and coaches like what they’ve seen in practice, especially with problems created by injuries and COVID-19.
“I thought they played hard,” coach David Culley said about the Green Bay performance. “I thought they did a nice job in the run game of getting our backs to the line of scrimmage. I thought the protection was good.
“What I saw in those guys is what we’ve been seeing all training camp. They’ve been working hard. And the thing about it is those guys have been switching all over the place. I thought they did a great job of protecting the pocket and giving us a chance to run the ball.”
If the Cowboys play more of their starters, they’ll be a tougher challenge, obviously. The Texans rested a lot of starters against the Packers, too, but with only three preseason games and more cuts coming next week, jobs are on the line at AT&T Stadium.
Barring injuries, the Texans appear as if they’ll going into the Jacksonville game with a starting five of Tunsil at left tackle, Howard at left guard, Britt at center, Scharping at right guard and Heck at right tackle.
Heck, a fourth-round pick last year, has shown tremendous improvement, beginning with the offseason program. His performance allowed offensive line coach James Campen to move Howard to left guard. Scharping’s versatility made Campen comfortable moving him from the left to right side.
After practice Thursday, Heck was asked to give his assessment of the offensive line.
“This O-line can be great,” he said. “It feels like we’re getting better every day. It takes time on the O-line to build chemistry, and I think we’re doing that right now.”
Campen, who’s in his first season with the Texans, is getting a lot of welldeserved recognition for the job he’s doing coaching the linemen.
“He’s so fundamentally sound,” Culley said. “He played the game in this league. He’s got a great reputation for developing guys. He’s had good offensive lines where he’s been before. He’s taken young guys and developed them, and they’ve gone on to have good careers in this league. He’s been everything we thought he would be.”
Now it’s up to Campen and his players to make sure the Texans have an offensive line that’ll be everything the Texans hope it’ll be.