Houston Texans' Christian Harris, Henry To'oTo'o Have 'True Connection'
The Houston Texans had their best defensive performance of the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4. Winning 30-6, they held a beleaguered Steelers offense to just 111 passing yards and 12 first downs.
Part of that success can be attributed to winning over the middle of the field. Houston’s linebackers are gelling together, communicating better, and dutifully playing the run. Their play has helped keep the defense steady while the secondary and pass rush create content for the highlight reel.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans, a former linebacker himself, has undoubtedly played a role in the development of linebackers Christian Harris and Henry To’oTo’o. Early this week, he expressed a second reason for their progress—the time they spent together at Alabama.
“I think for those two guys you can see a true connection,” Ryans said on “Coffee with Coach.” “They’re like best friends when it comes to being off the field.”
The pair play alongside the third-overall selection from April’s draft, edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., another Crimson Tide alumni. Receiver John Metchie III, on the other side of the ball, also studied under the tutelage of head coach Nick Saban.
Harris lays a hit on Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
© Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
“I’ve actually seen a lot of growth from Christian since Henry has been out there,” Ryans continued. “They work well with one another. And seeing both of the young guys grow at the linebacker position, it’s fun to watch. Making plays all over the field, starting to get more consistent.”
Pro Football Focus ranked Harris as Houston’s best defensive player on Sunday, with a grade of 85. They were hesitant to give To’oTo’o the same praise, largely in part due to tackling woes, but the latter has graded out higher on the season.
“It’s gonna be a rocky road to climb,” Ryans concluded. “But they’re headed in the right direction.”
In today’s game “eye candy” motions are frequently used to distract young defenders, and coordinators make it their goal to make linebackers’ days hell. The snaps they’ve spent together in 2021 have fostered a chemistry that’s difficult to replicate, even with veterans that entered the season higher on the depth chart, like linebacker Blake Cashman.
The expertise of Ryans and the familiarity of Crimson Tide teammates have likely made the development more accessible in what can frequently be a hostile environment.
In the middle of the Texans’ defense, Alabama’s finest have continued to make an impact. They’ll look to continue doing so against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 5.
