Pro Football Focus is at it again, and this time, instead of berating the Houston Texans offensive line as they have classically done in the past two years, they are actually praising them.
After eight weeks of regular season play, the analytics firm is moving Houston’s blocking unit up the rankings.
The Texans’ offensive line finished at No. 19 in PFF’s newest edition of their offensive line rankings, with Austin Gayle acknowledging the impact Laremy Tunsil has made on the line:
“The addition of Laremy Tunsil has had a huge impact on the Texans’ offensive line. The 25-year-old left tackle enters Week 9 ranks inside the top-20 in overall grade (75.7) and, more importantly, second in pass-blocking grade (89.9) among all qualifying offensive linemen. Rookie Tytus Howard was also a bright spot for the team before going down with injury, earning 75.0-plus pass-blocking grades in three consecutive games (Weeks 4-6). Fellow rookie Max Scharping has been much more of a liability, earning just a 56.0 overall grade across 427 offensive snaps.”
PFF is high on Tunsil, who the Texans traded for a week before the season opener. Though he is a flag magnet for his false starts, he has allowed just two sacks on the season, with none coming since Week 1. A 25-year-old still on his rookie contract, Tunsil is playing the part of a franchise blindside protector.
Howard has missed the last two weeks with a partially torn MCL. Luckily for Houston, the Alabama State product has returned to practice as of recent. As Gayle notes, he was on a tear before the injury. The Texans allowed a total of two sacks with the first-round rookie starting at right tackle.
PFF is low on Scharping, another rookie (second-round). However, they have not credited him with a sack allowed on Deshaun Watson. As for the rest of the interior line, right guard Zach Fulton has allowed one sack and boasts a 56.2 grade. Center Nick Martin sits at a 62.3 grade while allowing just one sack.
