The Houston Texans' offensive line sank their 2024 season, with C.J. Stroud constantly under siege and few open holes in the running game. That led to a massive offseason overhaul in Houston.
One of the new key additions, 11-year veteran guard Laken Tomlinson, who inked a one-year, $4.25 million deal this offseason, believes that when right, an offensive line can propel a club to success.
"I believe offensive line could be the strength of a team," Tomlinson told Texans Radio in an interview posted last week. "Those guys come out, they're grinders, man. They want to be the backbone, the foundation of the team. So when you can have that for a team, you can go very far, man. I've seen in the past, I've been a part of it, and I'm excited to be able to exercise that here."
It's important to note that Tomlinson isn't making any predictions about this current iteration of the Texans' O-line, but rather simply that a good blocking unit makes a significant difference in the success or failure of an NFL club. Success for teams like the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles would underscore his point.
Last season, the Texans' line was the opposite of a backbone. It was the offensive weakness that ultimately prompted a change in offensive coordinators.
Houston shipped out Laremy Tunsil and former first-round pick Kenyon Green in trades and cut veteran Shaq Mason. The club then tossed bodies at the problem, adding Tomlinson, Cam Robinson, Ed Ingram, Trent Brown and drafting Aireontae Ersery in the second round. The hope in Houston is that they can find the best five and allow them to gel into a respectable unit.
None of the veteran additions are sure-fire difference-makers -- Tomlinson has been average but doesn't miss time, Robinson was solid last season but has penalty issues, Ingram was a disappointment in Minnesota, and Brown has been a rollercoaster throughout his career.
For Houston to get the most out of the reshuffle, building chemistry -- one of the proven indicators of success among blocking groups -- will be vital.
"When you have those five guys out there, they've got to be able to operate as a unit, so the more exposure you have around the guys, it's just better for the offensive line and the team," Tomlinson noted.
That chemistry building is why the Texans need to identify their starting line early in training camp and allow them to build momentum into the season.
