By the time the Texans finish their offseason program, training camp and the preseason schedule to get ready for regular season, they could have as many as 10 new starters, including six on offense.
For a team as dreadful as the Texans were last season when they won only three games, very few starting jobs should be guaranteed. They’ve been one of the NFL’s worst teams for three consecutive years for a reason. There are going to be a lot of opportunities for new players to become starters.
The rookie minicamp next week (May 12-13) is the first chance coach DeMeco Ryans, offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and defensive coordinator Matt Burke will have to see their players working on football.
When analyzing possible new starters for Ryans, let’s start with his offense.
Slowik followed Ryans from the 49ers and is a first-time coordinator and play-caller. Barring injuries, three veterans should win starting jobs – right guard Shaq Mason, tight end Dalton Schultz and wide receiver Robert Woods. Mason was acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay. Schultz and Woods were signed as free agents.
Three rookies – quarterback C.J. Stroud, center Juice Scruggs and slot receiver Tank Dell -- should earn starting roles. General manager Nick Caserio traded into the second round to get Scruggs. Dell could start when the offense opens games with three receivers, which should be most of the time.
Stroud, the second overall pick in the draft, should be a starter from the get-go. He’ll be coached by Slowik and new quarterback coach Jerrod Johnson. Stroud got enough experience at Ohio State to put him in position to win the starting job over Davis Mills and Case Keenum.
The last time the Texans had a rookie franchise quarterback was Deshaun Watson in 2017. He came off the bench in the first game of the season and was promoted into the starting lineup for his second game. Expect Stroud to be ready for the opening game.
Mason, who earned two Super Bowl rings with New England, believes Stroud has the talent and potential to help change the direction of the team next season.
“I think we can do great things,” Mason said. “It’s new to everybody. We’ve just got to buy in and put our best foot forward. Everybody is building right now -- not just us -- but every other team. It’s a mountaintop (and) we’re just climbing.”
Mason knows what the offensive line, including returning starters Laremy Tunsil (left tackle), Tytus Howard (right tackle) and Kenyon Green (left guard) has to do to help bring out the best in Stroud.
"Protect him,” Mason said. “That’s the biggest thing I can do, protect him. Rookie quarterbacks, there’s always a learning curve. I think he’ll be fine. Us five up front, we’re going to do our job and try to make his job as easy as possible.
“It’s building continuity, taking it day-by-day. Everybody’s out there grinding. No matter who we’re playing (next to), whoever the five are, I know we’re all going to be on the same page.”
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When the Texans begin games with three receivers, Dell could occupy the slot between Woods and Nico Collins. Dell, a third-round pick from the University of Houston, got enough experience in college to be well-prepared for the NFL.
It might be too much to ask for John Metchie III, another slot receiver, to start the first game. After undergoing treatment for Leukemia and recovering from a torn ACL last year, common sense says he could start slowly before showing gradual improvement.
"The sky’s the limit,” Mason said about the offense. “I can’t put a cap on it, but I know with the guys we’ve got in our locker room and what we’re trying to build, it’s going to be a very successful team. I’ve been part of successful teams in the past, and I know we’ve got a recipe.”
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The coaches better hope Mason’s optimism is contagious after experiencing three years of negativity that produced a combined 11 victories.
Now, let’s switch over to the defense, which will be coached by Ryans and Burke, who came from Arizona, where he coached the Cardinals’ defensive line last season. Burke has experience as a defensive coordinator with the Jets.
End Will Anderson Jr. and two veterans – tackle Sheldon Rankins and safety Jimmie Ward – are expected to be starters. As it stands today, Denzel Perryman, who signed as a free agent, could compete with Christian Kirksey for a starting job next to Christian Harris.
Anderson, selected with the third overall pick after Caserio’s surprising trade with the Cardinals, should be a candidate to be voted NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He’ll become an instant starter, and Burke will expect him to pressure quarterbacks. The Texans haven’t had a defensive player reach double-digit sacks since J.J. Watt in 2018.
Don’t rule out the Texans having three defensive starters from Alabama – Anderson, Harris and rookie Henry To’oTo’o. Most of the time, the Texans will play three corners and two linebackers to counteract opponents playing three receivers. To’oTo’o, a fifth-round pick who’d been projected to go in the third round, was a tackling machine in four years as a starter, the first two at Tennessee and the last two at Alabama.
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Ward, who played nine years with the 49ers and watched Ryans and Slowik grow as coaches, followed them to Houston. Ward was asked about roles he can play on Ryans’ defense.
“To be honest, to be an extra coach,” he said about mentoring young players. “Obviously, I know this defense. Just try to bring the younger guys along because I’ve been through a lot going on my 10th year in this league. Really just try to explain to them my experiences.”
When asked what would constitute success for the Texans’ next season, Ward sounded like the kind of leader coaches welcome.
“Really just playing together,” he said. “First of all, you’ve got to protect the team. No off-the-field distractions. I feel like that’s for every professional league (and) organization. Secondly, believing in each other and trusting the coaching staff.”
Since Ryans was hired and Caserio signed and drafted players who should help return the team to respectability, fans are developing trust in the organization – trust that was lost during the last three years of losing.
John McClain can be heard Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday on SportsRadio 610 and Thursday on Texans Radio. He writes three times a week and does two Houtopia Podcasts for SportsRadio610.com. He also can be read four times a week on GallerySports.com.