Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak says Derek Newton to start at RT in season opener – NFL News
The Houston Texans have formally confirmed landing the leading role at right tackle to Derek Newton after a competition with Rashad Butler during training camp and this sets the course for Derek to be a starter at the position in the season opener next month.
Coach Gary Kubiak while confirming the decision said Derek has performed remarkably well during the competition, and in spite of the tough challenge posed by Rashad, he finished on top of the depth chart.
Gary said:
“Looking at the body of work, I think it was very, very close, as I told y’all all along. I think the thing that has moved this toward Newton is watching his progress, watching where he was the end of last year going to the offseason, going through camp,
watching him get better and better and better. Did a good job the other night.”
He added:
“We think he’s definitely committed to doing that, just like the way he’s progressed. So we’ll give him an opportunity to do it. Big responsibility but we think he’s ready for it.”
The coach has hoped Derek performs as impressively as he has shown at training camp irrespective of the fact that the conditions in the season games are going to be more competitive. He has so far progressed well and if he is able to stick to the same level
of confidence there is no reason why he should not be able to play game at the same level.
On the quarterback position, incumbent Matt Schaub is going to remain a starter. The second-year QB T. J. Yates unfortunately was not given a competition opportunity in spite of his winning performance last season.
Meanwhile, Gary is overall satisfied with the balance of the squad and has a firm belief that the Texans can improve from the past season's position. By any standard, reaching the playoffs should be a great achievement for the team given they had only a
year of postseason experience.
Last season, the Texans made history by winning the American Football Conference (AFC) North division and reaching playoffs, for the first time.
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