There's an optimistic buzz around the Texans' offensive line in 2020.
After massive question marks this time of year over the last three seasons, a few key changes have produced that positivity.
The main change, though, is no change.
For the first time since the start of the 2011, the team returns all five starters up front. Left to right, they'll have Pro Bowl tackle Laremy Tunsil, guard Max Scharping, center Nick Martin, guard Zach Fulton and tackle Tytus Howard back in the fold.
When that quintet started together last season, the Texans won five games and lost once. The main player they've been tasked with protecting is of course, quarterback Deshaun Watson. He's excited about what he's witnessed from the first week or so of training camp.
"You can just see it through the locker room, throughout the building how they just move as a unit and how they move as a group," Watson said. "Everywhere one person goes, everyone goes. You love to see that."
Offensive line coach Mike Devlin underscored the how important it is to have all five starters back for 2020.
"Continuity on the offensive line is a huge, huge, huge thing," Devlin said. "Last year at some point we lost Tytus, so really the continuity begins again in this time now. I think every year is kind of a new year but the fact that they played together and that we got L.T. so late, now he's relearning the nuts and the bolts of the system from the very beginning. I think all that helps when you're trying to form an offensive line."
The potential up front is something especially turned the eye of a new Texan, in running back David Johnson.
"This is the thing I am probably most excited about is how good and dominant our offensive line looks," Johnson said. "How strong they look and just from watching film from last year of each player, it's going to be very fun to say the least. I can't wait for the season to start."
The season begins on Thursday night, September 10 in Kansas City.
