Houston Texans: 3 Position battles to keep an eye on
By Mitch Hill
Center
The position of center in the NFL is an important yet unglamorous member of the roster. The player must know every read the quarterback sees, be on the same page as the quarterback, lead the offensive line, all while hiking the ball and blocking.
In Week 1 of the preseason vs. the Packers the offensive line for the Houston Texans was able to provide adequate blocking for the playmakers to gain 170 yards rushing, plus they only allowed one sack for a 5-yard loss.
The offensive line is a huge part of the roster that needs to be improved for a Texans team that is looking to help out their quarterback, whoever that may be. The improvement of the offensive line, especially through the middle, begins with the center position.
The Texans currently have four players at center but most likely will end the preseason with two, maybe three, on the final roster. The battle for the last possible spot comes down to two free agent rookie signings, the 6’2″ University of Kentucky alumni Drake Jackson and Texas A&M graduate Ryan McCollum.
Both of these young men showed enough in their college careers to earn contracts. The deciding factor between these two is going to be who manages the offensive line the best and who provides the biggest impact on the field.
Whichever of these free agent signings makes the team, look for them to develop and possibly be a staple in the Texans’ offensive line for seasons ahead.