Maybe Houston Texans fans should have seen this coming.
In response to a Bleacher Report article on the explosiveness of Alabama’s Henry Ruggs, a certain Twitter account replied: “If you want a player at the receiver position that is really going to put the pressure on the defense, you want to find a receiver with elite speed and explosiveness. The value in an elite deep threat goes beyond their production.”
If you want a player at the receiver position that is really going to put the pressure on the defense, you want to find a receiver with elite speed and explosiveness. The value in an elite deep threat goes beyond their production.
— Will J (@4Jacko69) April 8, 2020
On Tuesday, the Texans doubled down on their desire for speed far beyond any speculative tweets. The team traded their 57th overall pick in the second round to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for Brandin Cooks and a 2022 fourth rounder.
When on the field, Cooks, who battled concussions in 2019, has been particularly impressive. He was the first receiver in NFL history to record three-consecutive 1,000-yard seasons despite playing on three different teams. After spending the first three seasons with the New Orleans Saints as a 2014 first-round pick, the New England Patriots traded a first for his services in 2017 before moving off of him in 2018 in exchange for a first-rounder from the Rams.
What’s peculiar about the Texans’ most recent acquisition is the timing. Cooks is coming off his worst season since his rookie year, only catching 42 balls for 583 yards the past year. Additionally, Cooks carries a hefty salary in 2020. Similar to running back David Johnson, the wide receiver does represent no long term investment beyond the upcoming season.
Brandin Cooks will bring cap & cash figures of $8M (GTD), $12M, $13M, & $14M to the #Texans (though it’s possible an additional $4M bonus comes with him in 2020). He holds no guarantees or dead cap after this season.
— Spotrac (@spotrac) April 9, 2020
Cooks is inferior to Deandre Hopkins. That is indisputable. Clearly, in addition, the team is also willing to pay a premier tag at the wide receiver position. The acquisition could even be considered redundant with the presence of Will Fuller, Kenny Stills, Randall Cobb and Keke Coutee. It appears the Texans have shoe-horned themselves into a clear vision, one that may even be misguided. However, that vision is clear. The team and offensive coordinator Tim Kelly covet speed above all else, even overall talent.
Brandin Cooks ran a 4.33 40-time at the combine, Fuller a 4.32 and Cobb a 4.46. All are under the age of 30 and represent speed and schematic (X, Y, Z) versatility when on the field. All three have shown their ability to change games with their ability to separate. With the wide receiver position, it appears the Texans intend to spread the field wide and dare teams to cover for as long as quarterback Deshaun Watson can extend plays.
Running backs David Johnson and Duke Johnson represent equal versatility. Both are capable of going between the tackles, bouncing out towards the sideline, and are capable receiving threats. Gone will be somewhat limited offensive play-calling of the Texans when running backs such as Alfred Blue or Carlos Hyde were on the field.
Cooks, Fuller, Cobb, Stills, Johnson, and Johnson, combined with tight ends Darren Fells and Kahale Warring, represent a cast of serious weapons for the Texans to employ. The team will be far less susceptible to crippling injuries schematically, such as the clear drop off in offensive production when Will Fuller was unable to take the field a year ago.
In a simulation like Madden, this strategy is generally brilliant. Fast players can separate from defenders and be used interchangeably to exploit both man and zone coverages. Regardless of what their true overall rating may be, even a C player can have an A-level impact if used properly.
This is a favorite strategy for many gamers, signing an undrafted, 68 overall receivers with 97-plus speed and sliding them into the slot position. Injury sliders shifted to “off” can make these smaller, faster receiving weapons devastating on offense. In fact, you could argue they are infinitely more valuable than the “go up and get it” Nuk-types of the world. Speed is king.
However, in the real NFL, receivers do need to make contested catches. There is value to employing someone taller than 6-3 when you need to throw a fade route. In the NFL, players do get hurt. Fuller’s wet paper hamstrings and Cook’s history of concussions are unlikely to disappear in 2020.
As the Texans have worked to upgrade their offense, they could have sat patiently. Giving Hopkins his desired pay raise and pursuing former Offensive Player of the Year Todd Gurley upon his release. That duo would represent, to almost any NFL observer, a more talented duo than what Houston has decided to employ in 2020. But Cooks and Johnson are fast, and that appears to be the priority.
Kelly and O’Brien seem fully ready to bet their careers in Houston on the play-extending abilities of Watson and their own capability to scheme receivers open. Speed will have to reign over talent for Houston on offense in 2020.
Texans fans hope that’s enough.
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