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Texans training camp: Juice Scruggs focused on mastering center position

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For the first time since he arrived in Houston, Juice Scruggs feels like everything is normal.

Tytus Howard, who started seven games at left guard before suffering a season-ending knee injury, is back at his natural right tackle position.

Kenyon Green, the Texans’ 2022 first-round pick who missed the entirety of last season with a shoulder injury suffered in the preseason, is back at left guard.

Shaq Mason, whom Scruggs thinks is one of the NFL’s most underrated players, remains a constant at right guard.

And Scruggs, Houston’s second-round pick of the 2023 draft, is finally back playing his natural center role. Right now, that’s the only spot where he intends to master each rep, even if it’s back to square one.

“I definitely had to go back to the basics,” Scruggs said Friday following practice. “Just start all over. And, now, just picking up on little things that I wasn’t seeing last year and just getting better each day.”

Houston knew it needed to invest in a long-term center after drafting C.J. Stroud No. 2 overall in April. Scruggs, a two-year starter at Penn State, already had an exceptional understanding of Bobby Slowik’s offensive approach since the Nittany Lions ran a similar concept at Beaver Stadium.

But a hamstring injury suffered in the preseason sidelined Scruggs to the start of the year and opened the door for Michael Deiter. By the time the 6-foot-3 lineman was cleared for physical reps, Deiter had established himself as a consistent starter who was rarely penalized.

So, the Texans pivoted, shifting Scruggs over to left guard after Howard was carted off with a knee injury against Jacksonville. Scruggs considers himself a natural center. So do the Texans, but both wanted to remain competitive in the hunt for a postseason berth, thus leading a shifted role.

“I’ll play any position, anywhere the team needs me, but definitely center is what I prefer, for sure,” he said.

Scruggs started eight games, including both playoff outings, lined up next to All-Pro Laremy Tunsil. He excelled, allowing three sacks and three pressures while only being penalized once.

Deiter signed a one-year deal with Washington earlier this offseason, thus opening the door for Scruggs to start.

“I’m happy and excited about Juice in his second year around,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Juice is doing a much better job of commanding the huddle. He’s doing a much better job of being a leader and we’re continuing to lean on him. Continuing to encourage him to continue to grow in that manner.”

Throughout the offseason, Scruggs has been working on his snaps and his relationship with Stroud. The center position is the engine of the offensive line and must be on the same wavelength as the quarterback.

“There is a lot on Juice’s plate, but he’s done a great job of handling everything we’ve thrown at him and it’s just a matter of him continuing to improve and continuing to do his best job of communicating,” Ryans said.

Scruggs, who models his game after Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro Jason Kelce, is up for the challenge of setting the tone. He wants to be the leader in the huddle and a mouthpiece for Stroud. The two have spent time between drills working on calls and audibles to prepare for whatever’s thrown their way.

Last season, Scruggs was learning a new system and a new position while playing injured. A year older, his attention now can be on mastering one position.

“I’ve been able to just focus on football. Like you said, even now, I can just focus on center,” Scruggs said.” So, it’s been very good just coming in, honing on that and just knowing that it wasn’t like last year, for sure.”