Max Scharping didn’t play left guard in training camp. He didn’t play left guard at Northern Illinois. Yet, the Houston Texans rookie is a left guard.
A tackle playing in the MAC at Northern Illinois, Scharping became a second-round pick for the Houston Texans in April. He played around the offensive line in the preseason before, in stunning fashion, earning the starting gig at left guard in Week 3.
Scharping’s ability to switch positions is a testament to his work ethic and ability to take coaching.
“Max works very hard, works hard in the weight room, works hard to improve, very coachable,” coach Bill O’Brien said on Monday. “You’re really looking for coachable guys. He takes the coaching to heart, he tries to get better every week and I do think you’re right, I think he’s improved. I don’t think it’s easy to play left guard as a rookie when you’re blocking grown men.”
In recent years, the Texans have keyed-in on versatile players in the draft. They saw that in Scharping, who measures in at 6-6, 327 pounds. His length at 33-five-eight-inch arms dissuaded some from him playing at tackle. In Houston, they don’t see that.
In practice, Scharping flashes that versatility.
“I think he’s definitely one of those guys that’s a five-tool player,” O’Brien said. “I think he can play center, I think guard is his best spot, but I think in a pinch he can play tackle for us and he can play center. He trains at center in pre-practice and we used him at a lot of different places in training camp.”
Scharping has his struggles, as all rookies do. However, as Aaron Reiss of The Athletic notes via Pro Football Focus, his play does not resemble a rookie as of late. One of his 27 pressures has occurred in the last two weeks.
Though not a flashy pick in the second round in April, Scharping may be the right one. Alongside Laremy Tunsil, Tytus Howard and Nick Martin, the coachable Northern Illinois product should be a mainstay for the Texans’ offensive line for some time.
