Texans ‘Deserve Credit’ For Offensive and Defensive Line Overhauls

If you want to turn a struggling franchise around like the Houston Texans, starting in the trenches is a good idea.

There’s a saying we first heard from Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks of the Move The Sticks Podcast that applies as a blueprint for the Houston Texans in their current state. 

When discussing franchises - not just the Texans, but any NFL team - the duo likes to say ‘It’s hard to be bad when you’re good in the trenches’. 

If that’s accurate, which it likely is, Houston is on the right track after building a trench group with three players in it worth building around according to Pro Football Focus. 

“While Houston is still a ways away from competing at a high level, they deserve credit for prioritizing premium positions during their rebuild and working to overhaul both trench unites,” says PFF. “their tackle duo of Laremy Tunsil and 2019 first-round pick Tytus Howard is among the league’s best.”

But it’s not just Tunsil and Howard PFF identifies as building blocks for the Texans. 

Even though he’s yet to take an official NFL snap, this year’s second first-round pick Will Anderson Jr. is already making the list as a player for Houston to build around. 

“After trading up to the No. 3 pick…the Texans need to continue to add around Will Anderson Jr.,” PFF continued. “The veteran presence of Jerry Hughes pairs perfectly as Anderson develops, and an interior duo of Sheldon Rankins and Malie Collins is nothing to scoff at, but Houston will need another true difference-maker alongside Anderson.”

For now, Texans fans may have to use the warmth of smart team building evident in this trench overhaul to keep them warm through yet another cold NFL season. 

Many project Houston to select at or near the top of the NFL Draft again next season, but that may not be a bad thing long term. 

If the Texans add more young talent to the offensive and defensive lines in years to come not only will they continue on the right path, but they’ll build a vehicle around quarterback C.J. Stroud that any young gunslinger would be proud to drive.

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