Texans DE Jonathan Greenard working on a range of pass rushing moves
The Houston Texans drafted Jonathan Greenard to rush the passer.
It is why the previous regime selected him in the third round from Florida in the 2020 NFL draft. Greenard provided the Texans, who were running a 3-4 defense, with 1.0 sack, two quarterback hits, and three tackles through 13 games, one of which he started.
The 6-3, 263-pound outside linebacker will be moving from a standup position before the snap to putting his hand in the dirt in a three-point stance as a defensive end in new defensive coordinator Lovie Smith’s 4-3 defense.
New regime, new scheme, but the expectations are the same for Greenard: get to the quarterback.
The 24-year-old has been working with offensive and defensive line specialist Brandon Jordan to get better at his pass rushing moves.
“Me and BT, we get it in a lot,” Greenard told reporters on a Zoom call on June 9. “I’m really just fine-tuning everything. I kind of don’t really stick to one move. I try to polish all of mine. I definitely want to master one move, obviously. I’ve just been opening up my range of moves for everything. Getting more flexible. Getting more stronger, powerful, hands, eyes, just all working everything together.”
The COVID-19 lockdowns and the absence of an offseason program affected all 32 teams and its players, and it was a challenge that Greenard, a rookie, couldn’t overcome.
“It took a toll on you,” said Greenard. “Not having those on one-on-one drills and the weight room and the workouts to do those things, it weighed on you.”
Working with Jordan and also in the Texans’ eight-week offseason program, Greenard feels much more comfortable going into his second season.
“Now, I’ve got a year under my belt,” Greenard said. “I feel faster, I feel stronger, I feel more comfortable doing everything and everything just feels more smooth. I’m working on everything just so that way I can — and most of all, just getting in shape with this Houston heat.”
