Houston Texans Positional Breakdown: Defensive Line

September 14, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Texans defensive end Jared Crick (93) before the game against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum. The Texans defeated the Raiders 30-14. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Jared Crick Defensive End, 6’4″ 285 Pounds

The guy who started on the opposite end of the line from Watt for 15 games last season is defensive end Jared Crick.

Some Background Info;

The Nebraska product was picked by the Texans in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft and has developed into a solid starter along this three-man front for Houston.

Primarily a backup, with only one start in 2013, until this past season Crick had stats which are more of the norm for an end in this style of defense as he totaled 56 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 2014.

His draft profile speaks of how a college injury led him to fall in the draft, while still highlighting the fact that the Cornhusker could fit perfectly as an end in a 3-4 unit.

"Crick missed the majority of his senior season because of a torn pectoral muscle, and many assumed he was the lucky beneficiary of playing next to Ndamukong Suh early in his career. However, he still could emerge as one of the premier defensive lineman in the draft. A defensive tackle at Nebraska, Crick shows value not only in his ability to play inside effectively but also as a potential defensive end, particularly in a 3-4 scheme. The two-time all-conference selection has displayed enough football acumen, especially in his junior year, to still hear his name called early in the draft."

What To Expect This Year;

There isn’t much competition on the team to take his spot away, so expect to see Crick continue to be the seldom mentioned member of this line who simply does his job and stuffs the runner. His low sack total will most likely be the norm, as that is not his calling card.

Still, just because he won’t spend a lot of time in the face of quarterbacks, don’t underestimate the value of a quiet, selfless player like Crick who has only missed one game in his three NFL seasons (back kin 2012).

Next: A True Nose Tackle