Latest news with #Aireontae Ersery
Yahoo
12-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL analyst Brian Baldinger wowed by Texans rookie OT Aireontae Ersery's debut vs. Vikings
How impressive was Houston Texans rookie offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery's debut? One NFL analyst can't stop gushing over his performance against the Minnesota Vikings. NFL Network's Brian Baldinger recently broke down Ersery's drive against the Vikings in pass protection during his famous "Baldy Breakdown" videos on Tuesday morning. It didn't take long for the longtime offensive line analyst to point out how mature, steady and set Ersery was in his breaks, pad level and latch-on capability to win nearly every one-on-one battle during pass protection sets. "He's got tremendous length. He knows how to use his arms, too. Like, just keep running right around the arc," Baldinger said while watching a rep against former first-round pick Dallas Turner. "Let Davis Mills make the throw." On another snap, Ersery made a veteran move by allowing the pass-rusher to work inside, thus giving him the edge to win his one-on-one and create an even larger running lane for the tailback to pick up a first down. Pro Football Focus also came away impressed with Ersery's pass-blocking skills. His 77.7 pass-blocking rating was the highest among all players on either line. The Minnesota product also didn't allow a single pressure to Mills. "He only played 10 snaps, but I thought he played well in those 10 snaps," Baldinger said. "He looked comfortable playing left tackle." The plan right now is for Ersery to start at right tackle this season while veteran Cam Robinson handles the left side as Laremy Tunsil's immediate replacement. That's only for one season. Long-term Ersery should shift over to the left side and become a staple blindside protector for C.J. Stroud. Perhaps the future has arrived early? Like say, Week 1 in Los Angeles? This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Brian Baldinger 'wowed' by Texans OT Aireontae Ersery's rookie debut
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Texans rookie OT Aireontae Ersery 'has what it takes' to make it as a starting tackle
What's the status of the Houston Texans' offensive line? Even the staff might not know who will end up being the starting five by the time Week 1 rolls around since Saturday marked the fourth new line change since the start of training camp. One thing is certain based on his role with the first-team offense: Rookie Aireontae Ersery is going to start. Will it be at left tackle? Perhaps. Right tackle? More likely. Even if that's up for debate, his impact on the offensive line will be critical to the team's success this upcoming season. "He's done a really good job of being able to have a seamless transition of going left to right," Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. "He does a really good job of playing with great balance, great footwork and that allows him to be in good position. He has really long arms. It's just a matter of him trying to get as many reps as possible so the game can slow down. But, from a physical standpoint, he has the tools and what it takes to be a tackle in this league.' Saturday was far from a stellar showcase on the offensive line as C.J. Stroud was consistently under pressure against Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. Once again, Ryans elected to make another switch to the starting five, sending Jaylon Thomas out to start at left guard in place of Laken Tomlinson. That's expected. Ryans said throughout the training camp that the offensive line would see constant change and mix-ups to figure out which look was the most promising. That includes Ersery, who has now spent two practices with the 1s at left tackle and one practice on the right side. There's a difference between roles. As veteran Tytus Howard puts it, everything is backwards depending on the side, so learning one assignment is like learning it in reverse. After playing four positions since 2019, Howard has been the one offering up the most advice. "If you know what you've got to do, the rest is going to take care of itself. He's more than athletic enough to play left tackle and right tackle. It's just getting up there and knowing what he's got to do right away, so he's not thinking so much. I think he's been doing a fantastic job on it. He's having a tremendous camp so far and he's only going to get better." Drafted out of Minnesota with the 48th overall pick, the Texans believe Ersery could be special. It was reported that Houston loved his tape so much that it tried to move up into the late-30s via a trade with New England to select him a dozen spots higher. New offensive coordinator Nick Caley has been pleased with Ersery's transition from the early stages of camp, but it's hard to gauge how much he's progressed without pads on. This week's worth of practice will serve as a moment where Ersery could separate himself as the top tackle on the roster. If he's not there, Howard expects the 6-foot-8 young gun to ask questions on how he must improve to turn that mission into a reality. "He's a guy that likes to learn from the older guys and the coaches and try to apply that to practice," Howard said. "I'm just excited to be his teammate.' This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans' DeMeco Ryans believes rookie OT 'has what it takes' to play
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rookie OT Aireontae Ersery compared to former Texans Pro Bowl star
Houston Texans rookie offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery could be the next breakout star in the AFC South. He'll need to be one of the better linemen in H-Town if the Texans plan on competing for a Super Bowl title this fall behind Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud. The second-round pick was drafted higher than any offensive tackle since 2019, when the Texans used a first-round pick on Tytus Howard. Houston liked him so much that there were rumors that the Texans were willing to move up into the top 40 to select him right after Jayden Higgins. FOX Sports NFL Draft analyst Rob Rang compared the Minnesota All-American to another great Texans offensive tackle who became a Pro Bowl talent, and it's not Laremy Tunsil. Instead, Ersey could be the next Duane Brown. "In the 23-year history of the Houston Texans, Brown is the only offensive tackle selected by the club to ever make a Pro Bowl," Rang wrote. "I'm dating myself with this evaluation, but I remember Brown as a highly athletic but very raw blocker and a surprising first-round selection out of Virginia Tech. Ersery slipped to the second round but offers a similar blend of size and agility. I think he's going to become a rock up front for Houston. " Brown, a first-round pick out of Virginia Tech, was considered the top offensive tackle for several seasons during his prime with the Texans. He carried on that success when traded to the Seattle Seahawks, earning an All-Pro nod in 2018. The hope for Houston is that the rookie can be the best of both worlds as a great pass protector and run blocker for the Texans. The team had a Pro Bowl talent on the blind side for six years with Tunsil, and Ersey could carry on his own path as the franchise's longtime homegrown talent at left tackle in H-Town. This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Aireontae Ersery compared to former Texans Pro Bowl OT Duane Brown
