The Houston Texans committed to upgrading their offensive line with drafting offensive tackles Tytus Howard and Max Scharping in the first two rounds. However, the evaluation of their progress won’t be readily seen until training camp.
According to Texans coach Bill O’Brien, while the reps for the youngsters is significant in organized team activities, the lack of contact, which can’t take place until training camp, creates an absence of true evaluation.
There’s really — it’s a non-contact camp, so really, the true test for any lineman — offensive and defensive linemen — is when the pads go on in training camp,” O’Brien said during the second week of OTAs. “But this time of the year, it’s a good chance for them to really improve their technique, to understand what the communication system is and how it takes place up front.”
The OTAs allow for Howard and Scharping to work with quarterback Deshaun Watson and veteran center Nick Martin, which is crucial to their integration into the offense and understanding the communication of protections.
Still, for O’Brien, until there is hitting, there can’t be any true evaluation.
Said O’Brien: “There’s no pads. It’s not real football. It’s no pads, no contact. That’s not football. But it is a good time for them to get a better understanding of what we’re doing and to improve their technique.”
The Texans continue their third and final week of OTAs at Methodist Training Center before starting mandatory veteran minicamp on June 11.
