The Houston Texans are going to need rookie Ross Blacklock to learn on the go in 2020.
There is a lot to look forward to when it comes to new Houston Texans rookie defensive tackle Ross Blacklock, and that’s a good thing when considering what he’s walking into for his first NFL season in 2020.
This offseason has been strange for the rookie as the Texans have been unable to have rookie mini camps, meetings have been held via Zoom, and compared to past seasons, things are just different for the franchise as they and every other team have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As we are now in the summer months, training camps are scheduled for late July, so between now and then there is a lot to think about when it comes to the Texans’ second-round pick. Blacklock was the first pick taken by the Texans this past April, and the expectations will eventually grow into Blacklock being a top player on the defense, as he was selected to replace D.J. Reader, who is now with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Houston Texans: Deal for Timmy Jernigan fell apart
The Houston Texans were also on pace to sign Timmy Jernigan, so since that deal fell through a few days ago, as of right now, the pressure to be a solid player and to learn on the go seemingly has increased for Blacklock, the 54th overall selection out of TCU.
What will help Blacklock is all the veterans surrounding him, whether it be J.J. Watt at defensive end, or Whitney Mercilus at outside linebacker, and there is also Zach Cunningham at inside linebacker. Again, with Blacklock, he doesn’t have to be the star of the defense entering the 2020 season, but he still will have some higher expectations without the signing of Jernigan.
Now exactly what should be the goals of Blacklock as he enters his first NFL season? Next are three goals that would be great to see Blacklock go after and achieve in his first season with the Houston Texans.
3. Houston Texans: Earn a spot in the starting lineup
This goal isn’t easy to achieve for any Houston Texans rookie, as head coach Bill O’Brien spoke about the importance of veterans for the 2020 season. There is the fact that as a rookie Ross Blacklock will be battling for not only playing time, but the goal to be the top defensive tackle on the team.
Blacklock at 6’3″ and 290 pounds was no stranger to the starting lineup while at TCU. His final season with the Horned Frogs saw him play in 12 games, and in those games he totaled 25 solo tackles, nine tackles for loss and even 3.5 sacks as a defensive tackle. Against Kansas this past season at TCU, Blacklock had 2.5 TFL, and in a game against Baylor, that number was 1.5 TFL.
Before the Texans selected Blacklock, the following was said by Blacklock in an NFL.com interview by Brooke Cersosimo about his passion for game day:
"“I’ve always had the passion and that part has never changed over the years. My favorite part of game day is the smell. Game day has a specific smell. I can’t describe it; it just smells like game day.”"
To gain a spot in the starting lineup as a rookie, the competition for the rookie Blacklock includes Eddie Vanderdoes and fellow rookie Auzoyah Alufohai. Though Blacklock might have the edge at the moment being in the starting lineup, don’t forget there are some good veteran defensive tackles who could join the team via free agency.
2. Houston Texans: Keep learning at the highest level
For Ross Blacklock to be the player the Houston Texans believe he can become, the main thing for him in his first season in the NFL is he’ll have to continue to learn at the very highest level of the game. From all indications from reading comments by and about Blacklock, the feeling is he’s going to be a solid, hard-working player who will bring excitement to this franchise.
When the Houston Texans selected Blacklock in April, the Toro Times graded the selection as an “A” overall, and for good reason. It will be great to see Blacklock play nose tackle for the Texans, and even more than that, imagine how good he can become as he grows more comfortable with the game at the professional level.
Learning the game more while a professional will be key for the Texans, and that’s why this franchise does need to bring in a veteran defensive tackle to the roster because they need to make sure Blacklock learns all he can learn from the very first day of practice.
Blacklock is a big investment for the Houston Texans because of the fact he’ll be the highest selection for the Texans this past draft and in next year’s draft, because Houston has already traded their first-and second round picks in 2021.
If Blacklock keeps learning as his NFL career progresses early on, he’ll not only achieve this goal, and the first goal mentioned, but the next goal can be achieved as well.
1. Houston Texans: Stats that include three sacks and numerous TFL
As a fifth-round rookie back in 2016, D.J. Reader collected one sack, seven solo tackles, two TFL and two QB hits in 16 games (seven starts). In his final season with the Texans in 2019, Reader as a defensive tackle totaled 2.5 sacks, 28 solo tackles, six tackles for loss and 13 QB hits.
Those are the shoes which Ross Blacklock is stepping into, and he’s going to have the expectations higher than those of Reader during his rookie season. Taking a look at the two sets of numbers earned by Reader, the numbers that Blacklock will have in 2020 could be more toward the 2019 season, but maybe not as high, at least early on.
If Blacklock can play in all 16 games, and start at least 10 of those, that is a good start, but my belief is Blacklock will have more than 10 starts as a rookie. In his rookie season, maybe the goal for Blacklock should be three sacks, 20 solo tackles, eight tackles for loss and at least 10 QB hits, with that being fewer than one per game.
The most important part of Blacklock’s job doesn’t show up on a stat sheet, but rather he needs to stuff rushing gaps and not let the opponents’ rushing game take over the Texans defense and wear down the front seven for the Texans.
All of the goals mentioned are very achievable, and with the potential stats, maybe those are too low because the feeling with the Texans signing Blacklock and having him alongside J.J. Watt is the Texans defensive line will impress many. More so, maybe Blacklock can surprise the opponent each week and make a name for himself in the NFL.