HOUSTON \u2013 Tytus Howard broke the huddle and took a different path to the line of scrimmage, stepping to his right and getting into his blocking stance.<\/p>\n
Instead of lining up where he has in the past, at left guard, right tackle or left tackle, the Texans\u2019 versatile offensive lineman shifted to his new position.<\/p>\n
Right guard is where the Texans\u2019 former first-round draft pick and veteran starter now plies his trade as a blocker protecting star quarterback C.J. Stroud and opening holes for running backs Joe Mixon and Nick Chubb.<\/p>\n
Having primarily played left guard and right tackle in the past with a stint at left tackle as well, Howard playing an entirely different position is just part of the major changes instituted for an overhauled offensive line.<\/p>\n
The real test for an offensive lineman is in live game reps, but, so far, Howard looks and feels comfortable as the Texans\u2019 new starting right guard. It was a position of instability last season as Shaq Mason\u2019s play regressed and he was released and former second-round pick Juice Scruggs didn\u2019t solidify the spot<\/p>\n
\u201cI love it, man,\u201d Howard told KPRC 2 as the Texans wrapped up their offseason schedule with a full-team minicamp. \u201cJust getting these reps in, Probably the first time I got a chance to get this many reps in at guard before the season started. So, I\u2019m doing the best I can do to get the technique down. And the coaches have been doing a tremendous job helping me with that.”<\/p>\n
With this latest move, Howard is displaying his positional flexibility again. He\u2019s played left guard, right tackle, left tackle and, now, right guard. He has played every spot but center. Could he do it?<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I had to, if I had to,\u201d he said. \u201cThe more you can do .. I\u2019m a guy who can play at every spot on the offensive line. I can play at a high level at every spot. I just gotta keep working and continue to get better. I feel like this year is gonna be my biggest year.\u201d. <\/p>\n
During the NFL scouting combine, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans emphasized that there would be a reset of the line after a disappointing season last year.<\/p>\n
Now, the dramatic changes of the offseason are on full display. The Texans\u2019 offensive line configuration might as well be written in pencil, considering their plan to have a lot of competition to find the ideal combination and discover the best five.<\/p>\n
The Texans\u2019 first-string offensive line at minicamp included left tackle Cam Robinson, signed to a one-year, $14.5 million contract in free agency, left guard Laken Tomlinson, a former Pro Bowl selection, former New England Patriots center Jake Andrews, Howard at right guard and second-year right tackle Blake Fisher. Massive rookie Aireontae Ersery worked in at left tackle and right tackle. <\/p>\n
Only Howard and Fisher were starters at the end of last season as the Texans allowed Stroud to be sacked 52 times during the regular season and 13 more times in the playoffs, including eight sacks and 14 quarterback hits in an AFC divisional round playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. <\/p>\n
The Texans traded five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders in a move largely based on financial reasons, but he was also prone to false starts.<\/p>\n
The offensive line has been characterized as the biggest question mark on the defending AFC South champions\u2019 roster. How all of the changes work out will have a large hand in determining whether this team can make a long playoff run. To say they\u2019re hungry to prove themselves is a vast understatement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe got a chip on our shoulders and people underestimate what we\u2019re going to be this year, but, you know that\u2019s their problem,\u201d Howard said. \u201cWhen that first game comes and we come off that ball and hit them in the mouth, like they\u2019re gonna be, \u2018These these guys are for real. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been putting that work in here right now and we\u2019re gonna continue to put that work and training together and every day gonna be perfect. But I\u2019m telling you when that game one come and they see what it takes to offer the line about, we\u2019re be ready. [00:02:24][21.5]<\/p>\n
The Texans fired offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and offensive line coach Chris Strausser, hiring former Los Angeles Rams tight ends coach and passing game coordinator Nick Caley as offensive coordinator and promoted assistant line coach Cole Popovich to offensive line coach and run game coordinator.<\/p>\n
Popovich is heading into his third season with the Texans. A former Fresno State starting offensive lineman, Popovich broke into the NFL as a coaching assistant in 2016 before being promoted to assistant running backs coach working with Sony Michel then being named co-offensive line coach when Scarneccia retired.<\/p>\n
Howard has one word for the stamp Popovich is placing on the offensive line: \u201cNasty.\u201d<\/p>\n
Popovich left the Patriots in the offseason for personal family reasons related to mandatory NFL Covid-19 vaccine regulations and coached high school football in Franklin, Massachusetts. He was then hired at Troy University as their head offensive line coach before joining the Texans and winning two consecutive AFC South division titles as part of Ryans\u2019 first two seasons in Houston.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou gotta play with a lot of grit,\u201d Howard said. \u201cWhen offensive lines are physical that don\u2019t take (expletive) from nobody and they just establish, the dominance up front, he exemplifies that every morning, every day on the field And you want that in the coach because you\u2019re only gonna rub off on the offensive line and he holds us to a high standard.”<\/p>\n
Both Popovich and Caley are big believers in legendary retired Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarneccia, who was known for his hard-nosed, fix-it, get-it-right approach protecting star quarterback Tom Brady.<\/p>\n
Inside the Patriots\u2019 meeting rooms and practice fields, offensive coordinator Nick Caley <\/a>and Popovich interacted for years while gaining knowledge from legendary coach Bill Belichick and one of the top offensive line coaches in Scarneccia.<\/p>\n At the time, Caley was the Patriots\u2019 tight ends coach working with All-Pro Rob Gronkowski. And Popovich was a rising coach who helped replace Scarneccia when he retired after more than three decades in New England.<\/p>\n Now, the two longtime friends are collaborating on an important task for the defending AFC South champion Texans<\/a>: fixing a reconfigured offensive line.<\/p>\n How Caley and Popovich implement a sounder plan to keep Stroud healthy and standing will go a long way toward upgrading an offense that dipped to 22nd in total offense and 19th in scoring last season for a Texans squad headlined by its aggressive defense led by Ryans.<\/p>\n \u201cCole as our offensive line coach to lead that room, just having one voice to lead it, I feel really strong about that,\u201d coach DeMeco Ryans said. \u201cCole helped a lot of our young players when it came to developing. He had a really great relationship with a lot of guys, and I think very highly of Cole and what he\u2019s able to do. <\/p>\n \u201cI think him having a prior relationship with Nick as well, and them being able to work together and them to hit the ground running instantly, I think that also lead to my decision, and I know we\u2019ll be better for it.\u201d<\/p>\n