Texans' Myers adjusts to Texans with help

Texans starting center Chris Myers took the path less chosen when he began his journey into professional football. Unlike most players, who didn't start playing at the Pop Warner level, Myers began in the 10th grade.

But it wasn’t his idea.

“It wasn’t my choice — it was my parent’s choice,” Myers said. “My parents wouldn’t let me play (because) I was a little bigger when I was growing up. They thought I’d be playing with guys three-years older than me and getting hurt. They didn’t want to risk it.”

So Myers patiently waited until he started high school to play the sport he loved.

“I was a football fan all my life,” Myers said. “My grandfather refereed in the NFL for over 30 years, and my uncle played for the University of Miami.”

After earning all-state honors in high school in Florida, he took his talents to his uncle’s alma mater.

“It was like a dream come true,” Myers said. “I had a great time there for five year (and) won a national championship.”

Miami connection
Myers was a three-year starter at Miami, playing in 45 games and starting 38. But he began to notice something as he played more and was drafted into the NFL by the Denver Broncos in 2005.

“Once I got to playing football, I was under the realization that I was always the smallest guy on the offensive line,” Myers said. “My first year starting in college, I weighed 265 pounds, (and) I was definitely the lightest guy on the line.”

That hasn’t changed. Now 293 pounds, the 6-foot Myers, who was traded to the Texans in the offseason, hasn’t let his relative light weight in a position populated by 300-pounders deter him from getting on the field.

“It just goes to show you that it’s as much up here as (anything),” offensive line coach John Benton said as he pointed to his head. “Chris isn’t the biggest guy, but he’s definitely not small, either.”

As the communicator of the offensive line, Myers is expected to help his teammates with the zone running schemes, and it starts with trust. Benton says the system calls for his teammates to have confidence in what blocking schemes he calls during the game.

“It all starts with what the center tells (the line) to do,” Benton said. “They have to trust him and what he sees initially.”

Help from his friends
Trust takes time to build, but fortunately for Myers, he has had a little help in the adjustment phase.

“It’s funny how things work out,” said tackle Eric Winston, who played with Myers at Miami. “I’m happy to have him here — an extra buddy. We’ve got such a great nucleus of guys on the team. He’s a great addition.”

He may be the “new guy” on the line, but Myers is ready to help it reach its full potential.

“I’m looking to help them out with the zone running scheme,” Myers said. “So far, we’re having fun with it. …We’re going to do some big things this season. I can’t wait to get to regular-season games.”

(chron.com)