Battle Red Blog
What are Houston’s best options to repair the interior offensive line?
Another season full of optimism has came and went without the Houston Texans hoisting the Lombardi trophy, but optimism for the future has rarely ever been higher. Despite the season ending in the Divisional Round once again for Houston, it has never been so clear to the spectators and decision-makers alike what this team needs to claim a championship.
Few previous teams in Texans history can claim to be better than the 2024 squad, but few more have had weaknesses so glaring; namely, a porous offensive line. You cannot tell the story of the 2024 Houston Texans without describing their offensive line as an Achilles heel, or at least as a major contributor to the season’s premature end. So, what starting lineup is Houston working with right now?
LT: Laremy Tunsil (1,174 snaps, 78.1 PFF), Zach Thomas, Austin Deculus, Jaylon Thomas
LG: Kenyon Green (582 snaps, 38.6 PFF), Tytus Howard, Juice Scruggs, Jerome Carvin
C: Jarrett Patterson (688 snaps, 64.1 PFF), Juice Scruggs (586 snaps, 63.0 PFF), Jaylon Thomas
RG: Shaq Mason (999 snaps, 60.5 PFF), Kendrick Green, Juice Scruggs, Nick Broeker, LaDarius Henderson, Tremayne Anchrum
RT: Tytus Howard (1,157 snaps, 70.2 PFF), Blake Fisher (478 snaps, 44.7 PFF)
Between two professional-grade bookends at the tackle position lies a hodgepodge of youth and inexperience, with the notable exception of right guard Shaq Mason. We’ll start with a quick review of the tackles, a spot of controversy among Houston fans this offseason: Left tackle Laremy Tunsil may have taken his false-start issues to another level this past season, but he is still a perennial pro-bowler at one of the most important positions on offense. Say what you will about his run blocking, he is a consummate pass blocker and, thus, worth every penny.
Right tackle Tytus Howard, while not as consistently great as Tunsil, has still been a bright spot on Houston’s line; even when he’s been asked to play at left guard. As hard as it is to give former head coach/general manager Bill O’Brien credit for past decisions, I have to admit that he chose wisely to invest in Tunsil and Howard in 2019.
Shaq Mason, a veteran lineman of Belichickian lore, is entering his third year of an adequate tenure in Houston, which is a better description than you’ll ever hear of the guard spot opposite of him. Left guard Kenyon Green has absorbed the lion’s share of ire from the Texans community after turning in a highly disappointing season curtailed by injury.
Entering his third year in the NFL and with few highlights to speak of, Green’s seat certainly feels the hottest entering the offseason. Following his injury, center Juice Scruggs and then right tackle Tytus Howard replaced him at LG for the remainder of the season. Both had their moments, but neither player will be moving from their original position to capture this spot.
Center,...
