Week 1 of the NFL season kicks-off on Thursday, but Who Dats will have to wait a little longer as the Saints' season opener comes on Monday Night Football against the Houston Texans. The Black & Gold’s offensive line faces a tough task right off the bat trying to slow down the likes of JJ Watt, Whitney Mercilus and the rest of Houston’s defense.
"Definitely a challenge for sure,” said Saints left tackle Terron Armstead. “Very impressive defense. (They) have been for some years now. So, yeah, it will be a challenge for us, but I think we will be ready.”
The Texans finished with the fifth best overall defense in 2018, but recently traded away defensive end Jadeveon Clowney which weakens their D-line a bit. Armstead knows they still have to prepare for a tough, physical group.
“They like to stop the run first,” Armstead said about Houston’s D. “I think that’s their goal getting off the bus. Take the run away from teams and make them one dimensional, let their pass rushers get after the quarterback. So, just being on top of our game. Not falling behind the sticks; being in 3rd and long situations. Be really efficient first and second down.”
While the Texans have one of the more intimating fronts in football, the Saints offensive line is stocked will top tier talent as well. Along with Armstead, there's All-Pro Ryan Ramczyk, Larry Waford, Andrus Peat and second-round draft pick Erik McCoy.
“I think we’ve got a great unit. Talented,” Armstead confidently stated. “We’ve got experience together, outside of Erik. We’ve got a chance to do something. To be a force. Every week, we’ve just got to go out and do it.”
McCoy is the new kid on the block and is replacing Max Unger in the center of the Saints O-line. Does Armstead have any advice for the rookie who is seeing a JJ Watt lead defensive front in week one?
“Erik just has to prepare for his 1st NFL game,” replied Armstead. “He’s got a lot of things going with his commutations between him and Drew. That will be his biggest focal point. I don’t think any one player is going to be predominantly on him. So he’s going to have a lot of different names on him, so he doesn’t have one person that he is just specially focusing on. His communication and tempo are going to be his biggest focal points.”
