Texans Training Camp: Tytus Howard Finding a Home at Left Guard

Whether you agree with the Texans first round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft or not, Tytus Howard is the future of the Texans offensive line. He's a behemoth of a man with quick feet and a ton of talent. The only question is where do the Texans want to place him on the offensive line

Howard is the blank canvas to a Bob Ross painting. He can be anything he wants to be, just as long as he can protect Deshaun Watson. A position-less lineman among a litany of position-less lineman floating down the San Marcos river while Deshaun Watson fends off a hoard of savage defensive lineman. Now that’s a painting...

Over the weekend, Bill O’Brien mentioned in a press conference after a day of training camp that “(they’ve) played him a lot at guard here” which means that he will be competing against Senio Kelemente and Martinas Rankin than Julie’n Davenport and Matt Kalil.

Howard himself believes in the picture Bill O’Brien and the offensive coaching staff are painting for him. He said in a conversation with the media he believes practicing inside will “help me out, get me adjusted to the game speed.... so I just want to go out there each and every day at left guard, and just play the best ball I can play”.

For the Texans, it is not whether Howard would be the best left tackle on the team, but rather does he elevate the position more than the next player. He may be destined to play tackle, but if he is of a greater incremental benefit to the Texans than either Kelemente or Rankin, then that’s where the Texans should play him.

Though its not uncommon for a training tackle to start out at guard to get comfortable with the speed before kicking back out to tackle, this offense is so in need of a talent boost that no one would be surprised to see him stay at guard.

As of now, the Texans offensive line looks something like this:

LT: Julie’n Davenport OR Matt Kalil

LG: Tytus Howard

C: Nick Martin

RG: Zach Fulton

RT: Seantrel Henderson.

One may call it disarray, and one may call it finding the best combination of lineman, but no one can say for certain what the Texans front five will look like come September 9th. O’Brien even said that rookie second rounder Max Scharping got some reps at center, a position not inherently of need with Nick Martin filling that role. Wherever these rookies end up, they’ll be asked to immediately contribute to the offensive line.