HOUSTON – It was a textbook play, a run-stopping tackle by Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o.
To’o’To’o immediately diagnosed the play and alertly reacted. He saw the offensive guard pulling and he trusted his keys, scraping backside to defeat the block in the center-guard gap and shed to get a piece of the tackle.
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It was a teaching tape for how to play linebacker. And it was part of a strong overall performance from To’oTo’o as he recorded a team-high dozen tackles in a victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
“Man, it meant a lot,” To’o’To’o told KPRC 2. “I feel like that last game was just a good confidence-builder for me, tackling-wise. I think that was an area that I needed to improve on. And I feel like I’ve been on the upward line as the season went on.
“Man, that play the guard pulled around and I just shot the gap. And those are the kind of plays a linebacker needs to make is being able to hit a lineman and then also fall off and make the play. So, that’s what we get paid to do and I’ve been working on that my whole life. So, it felt good to get one of those.”
For To’oTo’o, the game represented personal improvement.
Especially after a tough game against Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty, who had 188 all-purpose yards, including a 60-yard touchdown in single coverage against To’oTo’o and 128 rushing yards.
This entire season To’oTo’o, a former fifth-round draft pick from Alabama, has been striving for consistency. He missed a key tackle on scrambling Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield that extended a late game-winning drive on fourth down.
“What Henry did against the Chargers was he came out and he tackled really well,” said Texans coach DeMeco Ryans, a former Pro Bowl linebacker and Alabama football alum. “That goes to his technique improved. He really leaned into putting his body-on-body contact and wrapping guys up. So, he had a lot of secure tackles, which he needed to improve upon, and he did that. Thought he played really well in the passing game as well, playing sticky in coverage, playing very disciplined in coverage.
“I know Henry didn’t have the game he would like to have had versus the Raiders. So, I think that was a little more added motivation for him to come out and prove the type of player that he is, and he did that. I’m happy for him getting a lot of big plays. Really some of the things go unnoticed, but him on third down specifically, being exactly where he needed to be in coverage, taking away some of their underneath throws. He did a really outstanding job, had a really great game.”
Between To’oTo’o and Pro Bowl linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, the Texans have a strong linebacker tandem.
“Having those guys partner up and grow together for their second year is growing in the system and the communication level and the nuances and the subtleties of what we’re trying to get done, I think a high level of mutual respect for how they play the game and everyone knows what Azeez means to us and to the team,” Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said. “But I think Henry, having a veteran guy that can help grow him, and now Henry’s pushing Azeez a little bit in how they go back and forth, and they’ve both played multiple positions in the front. So, a really cool partnership, and I think that whole room in the linebacker room benefits from all those guys.”
Against the Chargers, he had five solos and one tackle for a loss.
To’oTo’o has started 13 games and has 93 tackles, nine for losses, and a career-high 2 1/2 sacks and four quarterback hits. For his career, To’oTo’o has recorded 259 tackles, four sacks and 18 tackles for losses.
The last game stuck out. So did his big sack on Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen earlier this season.
“I feel like people look at it, because I had so many tackles, so many good tackles, that is the best game,” To’oTo’o said of the Los Angeles game. “But I had had some good games before that, just not statistically. But I was really proud of my performance that game.”
The Texans are cheering on the Tennessee Titans this weekend. A Titans victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, combined with a Texans win over the Indianapolis Colts would give Houston its third consecutive AFC South division title.
“Yeah, first, we got to handle business first,” To’oTo’o said. “I think that’s the most important thing is us getting that win. We can hope and pray for the Titans to win. Obviously, we’re fans of them this weekend. But we have to get our job done this weekend and win for that to happen.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com