Big man has a really big job to fill
Davenport must use his 6-7, 320-pound frame to protect QB
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — The son of a retired Marine and police sergeant, Julién Davenport had plenty of discipline instilled in him growing up in New Jersey.
His father’s lessons made the towering future Texans offensive tackle adopt a blue-collar work ethic and a thick skin.
“I’ve never really quit at anything in my life, just having that dignity and integrity and respect,” Davenport said. “Me and my dad, we really mirror-image each other a lot. We are just pretty much the same person, real laid back but hard-nosed, tothe-book and get-everythingdone type of people.”
Now, Davenport is applying those principles toward a difficult assignment.
The 23-year-old former Bucknell standout has arguably the most important job on the roster.
As the Texans’ starting left tackle, Davenport is tasked with protecting the blind side of quarterback Deshaun Watson.
That Watson is returning from a torn anterior cruciate ligament last season only magnifies the significance of the pass protection provided by Davenport.
“It’s a big role for every team and every single aspect of football, high school, college, NFL,” Davenport said. “You just have to work hard and do your best to protect your quarterback because you know everything re-
volves around the quarterback.
“Protecting that No. 1 guy, working with the guys next to you on the O-line and just being able to be technically sound and good every single play. You can’t take a play off.”
At 6-7 and 320 pounds, Davenport has the requisite tools for the job. He has a massive wingspan with 36½-inch arms and huge 10½-inch hands.
A 44-game starter in college and a four-time all-conference selection, Davenport emerged as a starter at the end of his rookie season last year against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts.
Davenport fared well enough that the Texans installed him as their starting left tackle heading into his second NFL season.
“There’s always some adjustments coming in there, different type of players I was playing against,” Davenport said. “I feel like I adjusted very well. Once I get into the groove of things, it was just natural for me.”
Merry-go-round at tackle
The Texans used five left tackles start last season. They traded Pro Bowl left tackle Duane Brown to the Seattle Seahawks during the season following a contract dispute.
The Texans are hoping they’ve solved the problem with Davenport. They like his size, smarts, quickness and character.
He played well against good competition as a rookie. That includes Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt, the younger brother of Texans defensive end J.J. Watt.
“It seems like he has a new sense of urgency,” Texans offensive line coach Mike Devlin said of Davenport this offseason. “He’s got the size and length to work with. Last season, he showed steady improvement with his pass sets and run blocking.
“He graded out pretty well against Watt’s brother. He’s a really good pass rusher. Against the Colts, he improved in the run game and kind of put it all together.”
Davenport has made strides in the weight room, upgrading his strength after bench-pressing 225 pounds 18 times a year ago at the NFL scouting combine.
Davenport has upgraded his technique. It’s difficult for such a tall lineman to stay low, but Davenport is playing with better leverage this year.
“I thought he really progressed well during OTAs,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “I think out here for the first three practices he really has improved a lot in some of the techniques we’ve asked him to improve on. I think as long as he has the attitude of getting better every single day, which I know he does, he’ll be fine.”
Toughening up in practice
Entering the second year of a four-year, $2.98 million contract, the former fourth-round draft pick is showing a lot of upside. It helps that Davenport gets to compete every day against pass rushers that include J.J. Watt, Whtiney Mercilus and Jadeveon Clowney.
“I think once he gets it down pat just competing, just trying to get the technique down every day,” running back Lamar Miller said. “I mean, he’s going against J.J., Whit and Clowney every day.
“So, I think in the game, it will make his game easier to block other guys.”
Davenport has high expectations for himself. He proved a year ago at the Senior Bowl AllStar game that he could handle a leap in competition.
As a rookie, he overcame a painful shoulder injury and remained patient until he was a starter. Nothing Davenport has done so far has seemed too big to him.
“I wouldn’t say I surprised myself,” Davenport said. “I had high expectations for myself as I always do. I just come and execute.”