5 lessons Texans can learn from Super Bowl champion Rams

3. Don’t overlook the defensive line

The defensive front of the Houston Texans wasn’t a lot to celebrate this season, and two years ago they let D.J. Reader walk and join the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency. The Texans have yet to replace the near-350-pound interior tackle, and for this team to ever be respectable again, the defensive line needs to be fixed.

Not only did the Rams defensive line and pass rush show up when needed in the fourth quarter on Super Bowl Sunday, but they showed the entire NFL how to clinch a championship, and that’s to cause havoc in the backfield of their opponent.

While watching the Super Bowl, everyone knew eventually Aaron Donald was going to become close friends with Joe Burrow, as it was evident that the Bengals’ offensive line wasn’t going to silence him the entire game. Once he got going, there was no stopping Donald, and the rest of the defense followed late in the fourth quarter.

What the lesson for the Houston Texans should be is to add not only an edge pass rusher in the ’22 NFL Draft – which they can, with the third overall pick – but later in the draft find the best available defensive tackle and not let them leave this time around.

Donald and the Rams’ pass rush in the fourth quarter was a difference maker in who was crowned the champions, and one has to wonder if the Texans can build up their offense with Lovie Smith leading the way as the head coach – and calling the shots on defense – could he build a defense like he had with the Chicago Bears, a team he led to the Super Bowl? That is the ultimate goal for the Texans.