HOUSTON – Laken Tomlinson arrived in Houston as an agent of change, a vital part of a dramatic overhaul of the Texans’ offensive line.
When the defending AFC South champions signed the former Pro Bowl offensive lineman to a one-year, $5 million maximum value contract, they did so with advanced knowledge of his blocking skills and leadership qualities.
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Tomlinson, a 33-year-old former Detroit Lions first-round draft pick, a former All-American and highly decorated student-athlete at Duke who earned academic honors in addition to excelling on the football field, is a central part of the watershed changes across the offensive line.
The reset that coach DeMeco Ryans outlined in February at the NFL scouting combine included trading five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders, releasing guard Shaq Mason, trading guard Kenyon Green to the Philadelphia Eagles, shifting Tytus Howard to right guard, signing Tomlinson and tackle Cam Robinson to form a new tandem on the left side, trading for Ed Ingram and drafting rookie starting tackle candidate Aireontae Ersery in the second round.
That’s a ton of change in addition to firing offensive line coach Chris Strausser and promoting assistant line coach Cole Popovich to head offensive line coach and run game coordinator. The hope within the team is that Popovich will provide one voice as a teacher of blocking fundamentals and instill a hard-nosed, blue-collar mentality.
Tomlinson is an ironman blocker who hasn’t missed a single offensive snap in the past six seasons while playing for the Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets. He hasn’t missed a game since the 2017 season with the 49ers where he overlapped with Ryans. And he missed only three percent of the snaps in 2018 with the 49ers.
Reliability is the hallmark of Tomlinson’s lengthy career, and that’s what he hopes to provide for the Texans. They allowed star quarterback C.J. Stroud to be sacked 52 times last season in the regular season and eight sacks with 14 quarterback hits surrendered in an AFC divisional round playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Tomlinson, a 2021 Pro Bowl selection with the 49ers, discussed the Texans’ outlook and more in a telephone interview with KPRC 2 heading into training camp, which starts Wednesday morning at NRG Park.
What is the vibe and mentality like with the offensive line?
Tomlinson: ‘Man, the vibe has been great, man, and the vibe is changing. I felt it coming in. Coming in here, I came in seeing all of those guys working out. I’m usually the type of guy who comes in trying to set the tone in the weight room, in the locker room and stuff like that. When I came in, it’s at the point of like, you guys have been here all offseason, you know through January, February, they’re working. And I’m like, ‘Wow, you really care about getting better here.’ Guys sit around, guys stay together and they work out together. And so they really care about each other in the locker room. So, I’m like, ‘Oh, my God, this is amazing. Not so much for me to come in on that aspect, you know, they’ve been working.
“So, that was really cool to walk into, especially in the meeting room. Guys are there, they really put into their crafts and their development at the forefront of their minds. So, as a veteran, seeing that some of the younger guys on the team, it’s awesome, because you know that’s going to trickle down. So, guys are focused, man. They really, really care about what we’ve got going on right now. The mentality we’ve got going on, we want to be able to run the ball move people off the football ball and open up running lanes. And obviously, you know, protect C.J. So, guys are super excited, man, and obviously, you know, working with Coach Pop and all those guys has been really great so far.”
What’s it like playing for Popovich, a former Fresno State offensive lineman who learned from New England Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarneccia?
Tomlinson: Oh, yeah, a lot of credit goes to him. Obviously, we need to have, kind of a vibe with the team in the position room. But it’s so important for a position coach, I believe, to set the tempo. If you have a coach that comes in and sets a tempo from the get-go, it goes a long way, and I’ve been so appreciative. Obviously, I’m excited to come and learn more about coach Pop and how he coaches. I was so excited after the first couple of days. I’m like, ‘Man, here’s a guy who really gets it, fantastic’ I feel like offensive line coaching, you know, obviously with the Patriots, he learned from some of the best and he’s really passionate about offensive line and obviously done it himself already.
“So, here’s a guy who’s extremely passionate about what we’ve got going on. The tempo from the get-go, guys felt it, and he felt good because he’s the guy who really believes in us and really wants us to do well, and you’re gonna expect us to work hard and be cohesive and be a unit and have that amazing chemistry and everything that speaks of the line. He’s setting us up for that. So, that’s awesome. That’s so fantastic and goes a long way. A lot of people don’t get to really see that, but I don’t want to say too much, obviously, but it’s really good for a position group.”
What do you attribute your rare durability and playing streak to?
Tomlinson: “Honestly, It’s hard to remember, but sometimes I have to sit down with my wife and talk to her about it. She’s kind of the numbers lady. And she was just like you keep going on your little streak. She calls it my little streak and you forget about when you started the streak, I’m like, what do you mean? She’s like, ‘You haven’t missed a start since, like, Week two in 2017.’ I want to be there for my team. I want to be one of the guys out there that teams are relying on. I’ve always been a team guy since college, since I’ve been playing this game at a high level. And it’s just something that really matters to me. It’s something I think about daily, how I train in the offseason, especially, because that’s that’s what I’m thinking about. I’m thinking about week in week out I want to show my team that I want to be one of their guys they can count on at the end of the day. So, it means a lot to me. It really does.
“And a ton of preparation, a lot of work at my end, but also a good amount of luck as well, because, you know, as you know, you play football long enough, anything can happen. And you got to stay prayed up, man. And I thank God every day I get an opportunity to go out there and represent my team on Sunday or whenever we play because, you know, a lot of people don’t see the work that us as athletes that we put to get out there on Sunday and it is truly a blessing just to be able to go out there and represent your team.”
What’s it like playing for DeMeco Ryans, whom you know from San Francisco and was a Pro Bowl linebacker, and how much was that a part of your decision as a free agent to sign with the Texans?
Tomlinson: “I mean, 100%. it made a decision for me and my family so much easier because of the relationship that we’ve established with the Niners. Him knowing me personally as a player, seeing everything that I’ve been through as a player with the Niners and having that experience with me and that accountability I bring as a player, I try to be the same player every year. It kind of shows what I’ve been doing since I was with the Niners, I want to be someone that they can depend on. I want to continue to be there every week. This is kind something I want to show my team, even him, knowing me on a more personal level, more intimate level as a player. I think it made it a no-brainer for me and my family just having that relationship and from the get-go, knowing that I can just show up and start working, which is perfect.”
Pro Football Focus and other analytics sites ranked the Texans’ offensive line last in the NFL out of 32 teams. Does that motivate you guys as a group? What’s your perspective?
Tomlinson: “I mean, I get it, you know. You got to put something out there, you know. That’s based on the team performance last year, but it’s a new year. Everybody has to go through what they have to go through in training camp, have to go through the season to show what kind of team they have. And that’s why I’m saying, like, everything, that the work that we’ve been putting in, the work we’re going to be putting on this training camp, just wait and see the new season before you make a real judgment of our team. That’s all I can say to that. One thing I can promise you is that we’re going to work very, very hard and we’re going to kick some butt.”
What did you study at Duke?
Tomlinson: “I double majored in psychology and anthropology and I also did pre-med. I did quite a bit. It’s a fantastic school, and we love our experience. Me and my wife met my freshman year there in college.
“Man, it was hard academically. I’m not going to deny it. It was hard, but, that’s something I was truly passionate about, doing the medicine. I just told myself to do whatever I needed to do. I’m going to do it. And it wasn’t easy at times, but I got through it, got good grades and got both my degrees. I’ve done what I want to do in football.”
Tomlinson moved to the United States when he was 11 years old. He grew up in Chicago after being born in Savanna-la-Mar, Jamaica. He’s married with one son and one daughter.
What would you like to do in your next chapter after football?
Tomlinson: “Man, my ultimate goal has always been building a hospital or a healthcare center in Jamaica. That’s been driving me to do what I do for so long. Honestly, because it’s just the platform I have playing football it’s going to help me down the road. So, that’s kind of my ultimate goal, what I want to do in my next chapter in life. For now, I’m out here. I’m chasing greatness representing my team. I’m trying to win.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com
