The Houston Texans need all the help they can get to secure their second win of the season, and given the turmoil on their offense, it could come down to their special teams unit to put up points against the Cleveland Browns in Week 13. Special teams coordinator Frank Ross spoke to reporters on Thursday about punt returner Tremon Smith, and the role his speed could play in the Texans’ pursuit of success.
“I’ve been with Tremon [Smith] for multiple years,” Ross said. “The guy can run. The most impressive thing, specifically to the Miami game, he had a nice little return there, even when we were getting into a little bit of traffic, the ball was tight and [he] showed good ball security. If you do that, that’s goal number one, that’s rule number one. Impressed with that because sometimes in traffic there’s a tendency to let that thing flair away from your body. We’re always coaching that. Been good, has good speed, so hopefully we’ll get another chance with him this weekend.”
No team wants to rely on punt or kickoff returns for touchdowns to win games, but for Houston, the abilities of their talented returner could be a deciding factor that inches them closer to respectability before the season concludes. Smith showed blazing speed in college at the University of Central Arkansas and could put it to use against Cleveland if given the opportunity.
He will continue to compete against fellow defensive back Desmond King for reps in the return game and has a chance to cement himself in the role if he can prove that he is the better option on a week-to-week basis. In a year where the Texans will take any positive momentum they can find, Smith’s contributions may end up being one of the more pivotal developments in the franchise’s failed 2022 campaign.