Houston the run game can’t be a problem

Heading into last season, the Houston Texans had a very questionable offensive line, a rookie tailback by the name of Woody Marks and a big time playmaker in tailback Joe Mixon.

How times have changed.

The questions around the offensive line piled on like the 1978 Oilers D on Terry Bradshaw, Mixon moved to the Bermuda Triangle and Woody Marks found himself all alone in the will-to-run category.

Having a rookie offensive coordinator didn’t help either, but that dead horse has been beaten into oblivion already.

Now, for 2026, as always in the off-season, hope springs eternal.

In the early days of free agency, Texans general manager Nick Caserio has:

Re-signed OT Trent Brown and OG Ed Ingram – two of the few highlights on the 2025 line.
Signed former Indianapolis Colts OT Braden Smith.
And the flashiest of the moves:

The Texans are running their variation of The Erhardt-Perkins offensive system, which is oft described as a run-heavy, simple scheme that relies on multiple looks and disguises to hit the defense with otherwise basic plays. A productive run game is vital for this system (unless your quarterback is one of the most effective ones in NFL history…)

Current projected offensive line:

Aireontae Ersery – LT

Jarret Patterson (?) – LG

Jake Andrews (?) – C

Ed Ingram – LG

Braden Smith – LT

This means Caserio needs to spend at least some draft capital on the offensive line, and may still bring in another guard or center via free agency.

What does the prototype 2026 Texans offensive lineman look like? In systems where teams run a lot of post-snap trickery and complex blocking schemes, smaller, more agile linemen are more effective.

In a downhill run game, usually employed in the EP offensive system, big men who bulldoze a trail for running backs usually provide the best results. Hence players like Trent Brown – a 6’8” 308 lbs, a prototype for “large human being”.

At 6’6”, 312 lbs, Braden Smith also checks that box. As does 6’6” 330 lbs Ersery.

At 6’4” and 320 lbs, Penn State’s Vega Ioane might be on the smaller side for Houston, but is currently considered the top guard prospect in the draft.

MSN.com

An absolute tank of a blocker, Ioane is powerfully built, and he knows how to use that strength to pulverize opposing defenders at the point of attack. He can instantly absorb power rushes from the inside, ceding little ground and keeping his quarterback clean. Ioane is devastating in the run game, driving his opponent off the ball consistently with his power-packed frame and constant leg drive. Ioane is a smart, instinctive player who reads stunts and twists effectively, passing off and picking up rushers without getting lost in the chaos. His snap-to-whistle effort is a trait every NFL offensive line coach will love, and he brings valuable leadership and intangible qualities to the table.

He may not have the top-end athleticism to excel in a scheme that requires a ton of lateral quickness, but in a power scheme, Ioane has an extremely high floor thanks to his size, strength and effort. If he can clean up his technique a bit, Ioane has the potential to quickly develop into a perennial All-Pro in the right system.

Should Caserio pull one of his patented draft day jaw dropping trades to grab Ioane? On the surface, it sure sounds like a smart move.

If not, Oregon’s Emmanuel Pregnon certainly might get the job done and likely won’t require such a big trade package to bring home.

NFLdraftbuzz.com

Lower body explosion is borderline freakish for a 314-pound man, confirmed by a combine vertical jump that topped every guard tested and ranked second among all offensive linemen.

Broad jump numbers backed up the vertical, finishing second at his position and validating the kind of raw power that translates directly into displacement at the point of attack.

Hand placement lands early and with force, stunning defenders before they can set up their rush plan and dictating the terms of every engagement from first contact forward.

Once those heavy mitts latch on, defenders are essentially done for the rep. His grip becomes a straightjacket that smothers any attempt to counter, disengage, or work back to the ball.

Anchor against power is legitimately elite. Bull rushers bouncing off this guy became a theme on tape, and his wide base swallows contact without giving ground, even against quality interior pushes.

An entire 2024 season without allowing a sack is not a fluke. His awareness, positioning, and technical consistency in pass protection kept his quarterback clean week after week against real competition.

The finishing temperament is what separates him from technically sound but bland blockers. Pregnon buries people through the whistle and brings a physicality that infects the rest of the offensive line. (emphasis added by BRB)

Combine position drills generated significant buzz for his fluidity and motor, with scouts noting movement quality that looked better in person than his 40 time would suggest.

A big reason for the failures of the 2025 Texans offense was not having a proper run game week in and week out. The EP system is designed to rely heavily on a chain-moving ground game where the quarterback simply needs to execute high-percentage passes via slants, play-action and the long-remembered “Bulls on Parade” bootlegs. In the disastrous game against the New England Patriots last post-season, C.J. Stroud seemed to need to take the whole offense on his shoulders and carry them to a win, which isn’t how the offense is designed, or built, to work.

Cue 5 big men bulldozing trails for the likes of Marks, Montgomery and possibly an electric rookie running back like Mike Washington Jr. and suddenly offensive coordinator Nick Caley looks like he took an exponential leap forward in his sophomore season.

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