The endgame for the offensive line of the Houston Texans isn’t about how good they can be. It’s about getting as far away from the bottom of the league as possible.
Last season, the blocking was putrid.
The stats told that story. Only four teams allowed a higher pressure rate. Only two teams allowed more sacks. Only one team allowed a worse stuffed run percentage.
As bad as the stats look, it looked worse on Sundays. C.J. Stroud ran for his life from unblocked rushers. Household names and nobodies alike dispatched offensive linemen. Joe Mixon regularly had to create something from nothing.
The offseason brought the most voluntary change on offense. No position group was transformed as much as the offensive line. It was the only position that fired its coach in the offseason. There are five new faces on the line.
Now the goal is to avoid wrecking a new offense. The offensive line has to give C.J. Stroud and the rest of the offense a chance to execute offensive coordinator Nick Caley’s vision. A small improvement from this offense should
The Texans will have at least four new starters when they take the field against the Los Angeles Rams. Tytus Howard, playing either right guard or right tackle, will be the only repeat starter from a year ago.
Two inexperienced linemen will be key factors. Rookie tackle Aireontae Ersery will be featured heavily. New center Jake Andrews has played 71 snaps in the NFL, with zero of them coming at center. Veterans Laken Tomlinson and Cam Robinson, sometimes shaky and sometimes solid in their play, will factor into the construction of the line. Ed Ingram, a reclamation project from the Minnesota Vikings, has a chance to play when healthy.
The Texans have bet on cohesion instead of talent. The Chicago Bears spent nearly $100 million on their new offensive line pieces. Houston spent less than $25 million when all the pennies are counted. New offensive line coach Cole Popovich needed the group to buy in. He’s said they don’t want to beat themselves. Popovich emphasized that they will constantly strive to be technically and fundamentally sound.
Physicality is an equalizer. The offensive line moved bodies well against the Carolina Panthers. They had less overall success, but some nice moments against a better defense in the Detroit Lions. Against the stout defense of their own team, the line even had some standout moments.
All were worthy preseason tests, but the first challenge in the regular season is daunting.
The Rams boast five nasty linemen, including the defending Defensive Rookie of the Year, Jared Verse. Verse is joined by Kobie Turner, Byron Young, Braden Fiske, and Poona Ford. Howard called them one of the best lines the Texans will face all year long.
One game won’t write the story of this line, good or bad. The issues don’t have to, and likely won’t, be immediately solved. If the line showed steps in the right direction, it might ease a few concerns, but these blockers will be under a microscope every week.
The ceiling isn’t the important part of this line. Before there is any determination of how good they are, they need to show they’re on their way out of the hole where last year’s line lived.