The Houston Texans look to bounce again after shedding to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the AFC Divisional Spherical. Now, they give the impression of being to run it again whereas searching for extra manufacturing from everybody. The Texans’ offensive line will likely be below shut surveillance after the staff ranked simply nineteenth in dashing yards per try. Particularly, a specific Texans’ offensive sort out will likely be on the recent seat, particularly after they traded Larry Tunsil to the Washington Commanders. Even with that, there’s nonetheless an opportunity Tytus Howard can get away and present his full potential.
It was one other good season for Houston, as they gained the AFC South. Nonetheless, there have been nonetheless some points to repair. CJ Stroud took 52 sacks over 17 video games. Then, he took 9 extra sacks within the playoffs. Whereas Howard was not solely accountable, there have been some issues he might have finished to stop that from taking place.
The Texans’ offensive line was not environment friendly in any respect, and possibly a significant purpose why they fell to the Chiefs. Nonetheless, it was not simply the sacks. The Texans’ offensive line didn’t set itself up for good second, third-, or fourth-down conditions. Considerably, the staff had essentially the most conditions the place they wanted seven or extra yards to transform on third down. An enormous a part of that was their lack of ability to run the soccer.
Joe Mixon was not horrible. Actually, he truly ran 245 occasions for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns. Moreover, he had three runs of 20 or extra yards, with 59 yards being his longest run. Regardless of this, there have been typically occasions when Mixon couldn’t get by way of the trenches, and it held the staff again. That was typically due to the Texans’ offensive line and their lack of ability to scheme working lanes for him. It was additionally a significant purpose why Houston drafted Aireontae Ersery to guard Stroud’s blindside.
It in the end leads again to Howard, who has had blended outcomes throughout his tenure with the staff. General, Howard is stable at defending the quarterback, however he ranks poorly at run blocking, in response to Professional Soccer Focus. PFF additionally ranked him 118th out of pressures allowed. Regardless of all this, there’s a probability at redemption. Howard might nonetheless be the Texans’ breakout participant and assist revitalize the offensive line. Notably, he’s within the last yr of his contract, so he has quite a bit to show.
Tytus Howard might get away
Howard might get away just because he’s shifting into a brand new place. The Texans are shifting Howard to offensive guard, which might open up a world of potentialities. General, there isn’t any scarcity of confidence in Howard that he could make the profitable transfer to protect. The brand new position for the Texans’ offensive sort out will focus extra on defending the inside. Furthermore, the staff needs to cut back the stress on Stroud that comes from the within.
Howard can enhance his run-blocking at his new place. Nonetheless, he should get down the approach. As a result of the Texans have revamped their offensive line, it places extra stress on Howard to regulate. The excellent news is that he has proved versatile and sturdy, having performed in all 17 regular-season video games and each playoff video games. Subsequently, it offers the brass confidence that he could make the transition whereas staying wholesome.
Howard may be very athletic for his dimension and strikes effectively laterally, permitting area whereas the staff tries to search out an open receiver or a working lane. Moreover, his background as a Texans’ offensive sort out offers him sturdy toes, which he wants for pulling on defenders and defending Stroud. His energy on the level of assault is robust when he’s balanced, and he can be taught to create higher motion within the run sport, particularly when factoring in down or combo blocks.
It additionally does not damage that Howard has performed all these positions earlier than, which is what makes him a possible Texans breakout participant. The one place he has not performed is heart, and even that’s one thing he would possibly ultimately be taught. Additionally, Howard is comfy in a zone-blocking scheme, but additionally has the vary to change it up for hole schemes. If there was one factor Howard had an issue defending, it was edge velocity. Now, that will not be a difficulty as he’ll deal with energy units whereas working readily available placement.
Howard allowed 4 sacks in 2024 and dedicated simply two penalties. With the transfer to protect, the staff will count on these numbers to whittle down much more. Because the Texans try and make Ersery the guts of their offensive line, additionally they look to play to Howard’s strengths. Howard can turn into the Texans’ breakout participant who leads the offensive line again to respectability. If that occurs, they could just do sufficient to get previous the AFC Divisional Spherical for the primary time.