DeMeco Ryans, the head coach of the Houston Texans, is angry. He’s sick of the unending doubts considering his Philadelphia Eagles are about to open against the Los Angeles Rams in a Week 1 showdown. The Texans continue to prepare for the 2023 season. Ryans is adamant that the offensive line has to show it on the field, instead of just talking about it.
Last year, the Texans’ offensive line was abysmal, resulting in quarterbacks C.J. Stroud being sacked an unfathomable 52 times. In just two playoff games combined, Stroud’s pressure led to 11 sacks. This performance has led to a growing concern about the team’s ability to protect their quarterback and create opportunities for their offense.
“There’s been questions all offseason about our offensive line,” Ryans stated during a recent press conference. Because quite frankly, I’m sick of the discussions around it. Time to go play, and we’ll find out how our five stack up against a great D-line.
The Texans were aggressive to rework their offensive line this offseason. Their hope is to improve performance and timber safety, while still providing quality protection for Stroud. The new coaching staff has definitely been advocating for a somewhat different mentality from the linemen. That’s a lot of guys trying to cram into four competitive spots come training camp. This new approach is critical as they prepare to face a formidable opponent in the Rams, who ranked ninth in quarterback pressures last season with a rate of 35.6%.
Nick Caley, the Texans’ new offensive coordinator with a background in the New England Patriots organization, has been instrumental in implementing new strategies. With Caley’s direction and Ryans’ direction, though, the hope is that the team will build a stronger offensive line, front, block.
Laremy Tunsil, the former left tackle has departed the Texans. This departure leaves even more pressure on an inexperienced offensive line. Ryans is eager to see how the current group performs against a strong defensive unit featuring Pro Bowl pass rusher Jared Verse.
Stroud shares his optimism about the revamped offensive line, stating, “I think one thing about this group that I’m really proud of is that they’re dogs from left to right. I think everybody that we got up there loves to play and plays really hard. The effort is there. I think we’ve got a great challenge.” His comments are an impressive display of confidence in the ability of his future teammates.
As the Texans prepare to travel to SoFi Stadium to face the Rams this Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET, all eyes will be on how well their offensive line performs against a highly regarded defensive front. Ryans remains cautiously optimistic, replying “We’ll see” when asked about his confidence level in the line’s ability to protect Stroud and create opportunities for the offense.
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