The Houston Texans will move in a different direction regarding the coaching of their offensive line.
According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans are moving on from Mike Devlin, who has coached the blocking unit since 2015.
Devlin was a part of former coach Bill O’Brien’s trio of coaches he relied upon. In a Jan. 6, 2019, presser with the Houston media, O’Brien mentioned Romeo Crennel, Brad Seely, Tim Kelly, and Devlin as coaches he would have liked to have retained for the 2019 season, and he did.
O’Brien was fired as coach and general manager on Oct. 5, 2020, which cast a shadow of doubt on every assistant coach’s future with the Texans.
Devlin coached at least one Pro Bowler in his tenure in left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who picked up two Pro Bowl selections while with the Texans.
“I personally have never coached anybody like Laremy,” Devlin told reporters on Oct. 27, 2020. “He’s almost an artist to what he does as far as pass protection and the way he works at it and studies himself and the opponent. I’ve learned a ton relative to the tackle play. I always ask this question: How do we get that type of skill set or that technique and all that to younger guys that maybe don’t have his ability? He’s like a power forward out there.
“That’s what I’m always trying to figure out, how to take the technique that he does and the mastery of the set and equate that to someone that may not have quite the same skill set. I’ve been really pleased with how he’s worked with the younger tackles post practice and watching the opponents. He’s everything I thought he was and more.”
Given there was no direct connection between Culley and Devlin, it only makes sense for the Texans to move in a new direction.
