Year of the Kenyon Green

I am manifesting this as my favorite hashtag for 2024...(hashtags are still cool right?)

Third-year offensive guard Kenyon Green has a huge task in front of him for 2024 on multiple fronts. First, Green needs to stay healthy. Second, Green needs to perform like the 15th overall draft pick he was slated to be. Green’s first game back from injury was on full display Thursday night against the Chicago Bears. Let’s dive in!

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Let’s rewind and go back to the 2022 draft. Houston was scheduled to have two picks in the first round and had already selected DB Derek Stingley with the third overall draft selection. Houston fans were patiently watching the board as DB Kyle Hamilton and DT Jordan Davis were still on the board as Houston’s next draft pick was coming on the clock. Classic win-win situation.

Curveball…Caserio trades back with the Philadelphia Eagles! The Eagles select Jordan Davis and Baltimore followed by scooping up Kyle Hamilton. Caserio further shocks the fanbase with the selection of OG Kenyon Green out of Texas A&M. A guard in the top half of the first round? Have faith, process over results.

Kenyon Green fought through an injury-riddled 2022 rookie season leaving fans questioning the draft choice. The performance was not there. Only to see Green injured again in the 2023 training camp, attempting to play through injury with Houston ultimately deciding to shut him down for the season. Kenyon needed a full year and an offseason to reset both physically and mentally.

Fast forward to the 2024 training camp and Kenyon Green is healthy and clear-minded between the ears. The starting offensive guard job is his…if he can show just a sliver of what fans and the team expected two years ago.

Thursday night was the first taste for the fanbase to see the new Kenyon Green. Slimmed down from his college build and itching to maul someone in the run game.

Green had some good reps, some questionable reps, and a few bad reps. The flashes of what should have been showed up on the tape. Let’s take a look!

The second play of the game was the first run play. Houston in 21 personnel working a duo scheme with Ogunbowale reading the Mike linebacker to determine if a cut back to the A gap is needed.

#76 at left guard is our man. Green works the Duo technique next to Juice Scruggs quickly working to the second level to attack the linebacker. Love it. Speed, power, attacking the second level. Getting to the second level is an area Green excels at.

The second pass set for Green and he’s a bit excited with his jump set. Fairly clean rep. Nice quick decision from Davis Mills with Quitoriano on the flat route to the sideline.

Another quick 3 step drop and release by Davis Mills. With Green here, I like that he allows no depth from his pass protection assignment. The defensive lineman attempted an over-the-top swim move, but Green’s hand placement and strength quickly put an end to that. Green remained engaged with is assignment through the end of the play.

Here Houston moves back to 12 personnel with Quintoriano and Stover lined up next to each other on the play side. Simple outside zone concept. Watch Kenyon Green.

Green takes his assignment for a ride 4 yards deep with horizontal movement, the feet keep churning. Again just watching Green here…the rest wasn’t pretty.

This is probably the cleanest pass-protect rep for Green all night. Clean one-on-one work, quick base set, hands in tight. Perhaps the competition is not what Green will see in the regular season but this is what fans and the staff need to see from Green consistently.

Not every rep was a good one, this is one Green would like to have back. Here Green completely whiffs on an over-the-top swim move, ending on the ground looking up. Appears Green overstepped his attack point leaving the inside move open. Return growing pains are bound to happen. Luckily Scruggs cleaned up the situation.

This was one of my favorite reps for Green. Houston in 11 personnel with a 5-man protection with both the tight end (Stover) and runningback (Taylor) exiting for routes. The reason I like this rep is Green passes off the 3 tech DL to Scruggs at the Center, and Green quickly looks for work. Green has the feeler hand on the pass off the Scruggs and turns his attention to his left tackle to close the pass rush lane.

And to finish off the night. A nice clean rep by Green against the edge defender getting underneath his pads and pushing him back with strength and technique. Again…watch Green…not the other stuff LOL.

Final Thoughts

Overall this was a nice return for Kenyon Green. I am excited to see how he fairs against tougher competition. The second preseason game could present a huge challenge for Green against the New York Giants. A front line that includes Dexter Lawrence and Jordan Phillips on the inside. This will be a true test for Green.

I am cautiously hopeful for Green’s return. I need to see continued health and clean reps before I can move up to some form of confidence.

Is Kenyon Green really back? Only time will tell…but Thursday night he showed glimpses of what could be.

Until next time (IYKYK),

-TC

Cover Image Credit to Trask Smith/CSM/Shutterstock