Last season was just putrid from the Houston Texans offensive line. The guy they needed to protect the most in C.J. Stroud, was not protected at all. He was pressured more than anyone except for Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams and was sacked the second most behind him as well.
That, along with injuries, and OC Bobby Slowik just not calling the game well, combined with some bad football being played on the offensive side of the ball. They had no pass protection, and Joe Mixon didn't have very many great gaps he could hit that he didn't create on his own. Everything was a mess, and outside of the OC issue, the root of the problems pretty much started on the offensive line.
Now they have made some huge changes to their offensive line, changes that could make them either much better or much worse -- something we really won't know until we see them throughout the year. Even at OTAs, there isn't really a way to tell how good they will be because no one can hit anyone. At OTAs, it's all about refining your technique and getting your calls down.
“One thing our o-line can benefit and they’ve working all phase 2 on just working really good low pads like working great pad level, hand placement, and footwork. Those fundamental small details that allow you to be great as an offensive line, that’s what you can work here," head coach DeMeco Ryans said earlier this week.
Sometime before the season starts, which there is still plenty of time for, the Texans will need to find out who their starting unit will be upfront. And while they won't know just from what they see at OTAs, even if you see a tweet about which unit has played the most first-team reps, OTAs are helping.
“This is our first day of OTAs, so when it comes to finding our best group, it will be a lot of mixing and matching guys," Ryans said. "Putting guys in different spots and seeing which five guys work well together. One thing about the line is that there are a lot of smart guys in that room, and they can move around and play multiple spots, so that helps them. It’s just a matter of finding that five once we get to training camp and put pads on. Nobody is making the team right now in shorts and helmets.”
The Texans will be fine, even if this year's line isn't great; all they have to do is be better than last year, which will be very easy to do. Last year was that bad, and this year has the potential to be pretty good, especially with rookie Aireontae Ersery looking strong so far. With how much the AFC South could change, with the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars looking like they could contend in the division, they just have to protect Stroud.
