Unless general manager Nick Caserio screwed up, at some point this season – perhaps by the first game at Baltimore – the Texans should be starting a rookie quarterback and a rookie center.
Caserio used the second overall pick in the draft on Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud. After including the Texans' second-round draft choice in the trade with Arizona to move up to the third overall pick to select Alabama defensive end Will Anderson Jr., Caserio traded back into the second round and took Penn State center Juice Scruggs 62nd overall.
A team doesn't trade for a second-round pick unless Caserio and coach DeMeco Ryans expect him to be a productive player who's capable of starting as a rookie. The Texans had Scruggs rated higher than others who projected him for the fourth round, but he could fit well into the offensive scheme under new coordinator Bobby Slowik, a Kyle Shanahan disciple.
For some preposterous reason, the Texans didn't make Stroud available before, during or after the rookie minicamp. Scruggs was available, and he was asked about the necessity of growing his relationship with Stroud and what he thought about the quarterback when the Big Ten opponents squared off.
"(We're) trying to build the relationship and get the chemistry going," Scruggs said. "It's been really cool. We had some crazy battles with Ohio State. Just being able to meet him (and seeing) how humble he is and how passionate he is about this game (I'm), excited to work with him and get to go know him."
As for his impressions of Stroud, Scruggs smiled and said, "I thought he was the best quarterback in the country for sure."
Scruggs, 23, is wise enough to take the political route, but it's not difficult to see why he said that about Stroud. In his two seasons as the Buckeyes' starter, Stroud defeated the Nittany Lions in both games. He averaged 329 yards to go with two touchdown passes and no interceptions.
"(We're) talking and getting to know each other," Scruggs said. "(We're) talking about backgrounds (and) life. We don't really talk about football, just getting to know each other like you see somebody on the street for real. Just trying to pick his brain a little. When we start talking football, you see why he was picked so high -- because his knowledge is crazy."
The mental part of the NFL, especially for a quarterback and center who rely on almost constant communication, is paramount. Scruggs, who also can play guard, was 6-3, 301 when he was measured and weighed at the combine. That's light for a center, but the Texans value quickness and agility under Slowik and new line coach Chris Strausser.
The Texans' new scheme was installed by Gary Kubiak in 2006, his first season as the Texans' head coach. Shanahan implemented the scheme with the 49ers. It requires offensive linemen to be able to move, primarily blocking horizontally for outside and inside zone runs and a passing game that relies heavily on the quarterback rolling out and utilizing bootlegs.
Scruggs understands expectations are higher for second-round picks, especially one the Texans thought highly enough to trade to get him. He was surprised when the Texans selected him in the second round.
"The draft process is nerve-wracking as it is," he said. "Once I got the call and they said they were trading up, my heart was jumping. All I heard was my heartbeat when they said (the) Houston Texans (are) coming to get you. My brothers were like, 'They just traded up to get you. That's a really big deal.' I was like, 'Let's do it, man!' I'm excited."
Scruggs will continue in the offseason program as a reserve. He'll play behind six-year veteran Scott Quessenberry, who started 16 games last season. To upgrade the position in Strausser's first season, Caserio drafted Scruggs and Notre Dame center Jarrett Patterson, who also can play guard.
Strausser coached the Colts' offensive line for the last four seasons. At one point, they had one of the top-three lines in the league. Their running game was outstanding until Jonathan Taylor spent most of last season sidelined because of an injury.
Scruggs is willing to play whatever role Strausser has for him – backup at center and guard or starting center. He knows building a relationship with a position coach is essential if a player is going to develop.
"(I'm) trying to learn the scheme, get in the playbook as much as possible and taking coach Strausser's coaching and trying to implement his technique and fundamentals and to really understand the basics and go from there," Scruggs said. "I'm ready to compete. If my number gets called, I'm going to be ready."
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.
