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Houston Texans: Team should demote Nick Martin, start Greg Mancz

By Brian K. Patterson

NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 01: Greg Mancz #65 of the Houston Texans lines up to snap the ball against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at Nissan Stadium on January 1, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 01: Greg Mancz #65 of the Houston Texans lines up to snap the ball against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at Nissan Stadium on January 1, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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The Houston Texans need to make some tweaks and the first should be demoting Nick Martin and starting Greg Mancz at center. Why? Let’s take a look.

The Houston Texans were able to win three straight for the first time since the 2016 season and with every team in the AFC South losing their games yesterday outside of this team, it’s now a dead-heat for three teams in the division.

With the way things have started for the season and with the peculiar way this team has been able to win games, it’s quite amazing to make that admonition.  But it’s true.  I’m not sure how long things will last as the Houston Texans will start to face some tougher competition over the next few weeks but the division crown is for the taking if this team should so choose to go get it.

Yesterday’s win wasn’t finesse in any sorts but the Houston Texans were able to outlast the Buffalo Bills 20-13 after two key interceptions thrown by Nathan Peterman were caught by Johnathan Joseph — which was a game-winning Pick 6 — and Kareem Jackson respectively.

The offense looked as horrid as they could possibly be as a unit and I’m extremely thankful that they didn’t have to come back out on the field for those final minutes of the game.

Why did such an important unit look so lackluster?  It was Deshaun Watson not necessarily having the best of days on the field with poor blocking from the offensive line as a result of mostly-stout Bills’ defense.

Yesterday afternoon, I saw hit-after-hit that Watson took along with multiple fumbles and turnovers that were created as a result — the team had three total — and it was extremely hard to watch.

What was more surprising was the poor play of center Nick Martin.  Oftentimes, I’d see him committing bad snaps off to Watson, making the start to any given play look rickety.  There was even an instance toward the mid-point of the game where Martin had stepped on Watson’s shoe causing him to stumble over and the designed-play looking like a hot mess.

Since being drafted in the 2nd round back in 2016 out of Notre Dame, Martin hasn’t been able to stay healthy for a full season because of a myriad of injuries.  He missed the entire 2016 season, missed the final two games in 2017 but has appeared in every game in 2018 thus far.

He’s essentially getting his feet wet but I wonder if this is the best that we’re going to see out of him.

Until that happens — I’d like see Greg Mancz get the start at center because he filled in

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wonderfully for Martin back in 2016.  He’s experienced and the inadequacies that have occurred this season will be shored up if Greg is at center.

According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Mancz had a 75.8 overall offensive grade, an 83.7 in pass blocking and 70.2 run blocking while taking 1,262 snaps at center in 2016.

I’d also have Martin play a bit of left guard in Senio Kelemete‘s spot — he had a 58.5 overall grade yesterday — to see if there’s some improvements that occur in that regard.  Kelemete had a matador-like game against the Bills this past Sunday and his counterpart, Julién Davenport wasn’t much better.  But I think it’s worth a shot because what this unit has right now is not working.

There is some good with Martin as his pass blocking has been the best it has ever been with a 78.1 PFF grade, up from 68.5 in 2016.  But that’s not enough and I think these tweaks are warranted to see if can squeeze better production out of this critical unit for Watson’s success.

Yes, I know Martin is a 2nd-round pick but if this team is still in the hunt like they are, then changes need to made to ensure that this team has the utmost in competitiveness in them.

It’s worth a shot — it’s time for the Houston Texans to do it!

But we’ll see.

Martin’s PFF grade line through six games is 60.1/78.1/51.5 for 2018.

Next. Three starting players that are trending downward. dark

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