HOUSTON -- Although all eyes over the next few weeks will be on the Houston Texans' quarterback competition, the team enters training camp with plenty of questions on who will be protecting either Tom Savage or Deshaun Watson.
Last season, Houston’s offensive line showed improvement as the year progressed, coinciding with the return of Duane Brown from injury. The Texans finished the regular season tied for 11th in the NFL with 32 sacks allowed, and they averaged 116.2 rushing yards per game, which was ranked eighth in the league.
But, although running back Lamar Miller rushed for a career-best 76.6 yards per game (10th in the NFL) due to a career-high 268 carries, he tied a career-worst with 4.0 yards per rush. Miller’s 1.3 yards after contact was the worst in the NFL among qualified players, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
The Texans’ best player on the offensive line, Brown, may not even be at training camp. The left tackle skipped the Texans’ offseason program, including the mandatory veteran’s minicamp. His absence is thought to be contract-related, as he does not have any guaranteed money left on the last two years of his contract. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, it's unclear whether Brown will report.
Entering training camp, it looks like the Texans could keep eight or nine offensive lineman in the regular season. The biggest question is at right tackle, because Derek Newton will not play this season as he continues to rehab from tearing the patellar tendons in both knees last year. Although Chris Clark started for Newton and Brown while they were injured last season, his play did not show he is capable of being the Texans’ starter at right tackle in 2017.
The Texans signed free agent Breno Giacomini this offseason to compete for the position, but it could be Kendall Lamm who wins the starting job out of training camp, with Chad Slade as the swing guy to back him up.
Jeff Allen and Xavier Su’a-Filo are expected to retain their starting roles at guard in 2017. Earlier in the offseason, Allen told reporters he wasn’t satisfied with his performance last season, which was his first with the Texans.
The Texans will also have a change at center with a healthy Nick Martin returning. Martin, a second-round pick in 2016, missed last season after injuring his ankle during training camp. During OTAs, Martin said his ankle is “good to go.” Last season, Greg Mancz played well in place of Martin and could back up both guard positions in addition to center.
“We’re creating this depth, competition, and that’s what you always want with the offensive line every year -- depth, competition,” Texans offensive line coach Mike Devlin said. “That’s what we're creating right now. I’m getting excited to see them with the pads on.”