There are a myriad of adjustments Houston Texans first-round offensive tackle Tytus Howard must make to excel in the NFL, but one of them he is picking up well is the speed of pro football.
According to coach Bill O’Brien Tuesday during the first week of organized team activities, the former Alabama State tackle is showing a proficiency at adapting to the speed of the NFL.
“I know he’s a very good kid, he works very hard, he’s got good strength, good athleticism,” O’Brien told reporters. “He learns well. He’s just getting acclimated to the speed of how we practice over the last two days. For every rookie, that’s a big jump. But I think he’s a guy that, if he continues to work the way he works, he’ll get better every day.”
For Howard, he has one goal in mind: To protect quarterback Deshaun Watson, who sustained 62 sacks, the most in the NFL in 2018, and somehow found a way to lead Houston to an 11-5 record and earn a Pro Bowl selection.
“Deshaun’s a great guy, a great leader for this team,”Howard said. “I’m just happy to be on this team to help block for him.”
Since arriving with the Texans, Howard has put his head down and gone to work, exuding a confidence that Watson has noticed.
“Ever since he got here, he’s been quiet and just going to work,” Watson said. “We all love seeing that.”
Another element Howard is going to bring to the Texans offensive line is competition. Howard goes up against third-year veteran Julién Davenport for the starting left tackle job, as well as having to learn an assortment of positions along the offensive line.
“He’s a guy that loves to compete,” said Watson. “He’s a guy that loves to go out there and have fun. You can see it in the huddle. You can see it in the work he’s doing in the locker room.”
The quicker Howard can get up to speed, the better for Houston in their quest to keep Watson, not only healthy, but effective in their campaign to repeat as AFC South champions.
