Ben McDaniels – Syndication Server

Report: Receivers coach Ben McDaniels stays with Texans

The Houston Texans are keeping Ben McDaniels in his role as receivers coach and passing game coordinator.

Make that four holdovers from the Lovie Smith era that will be on the sidelines with Houston Texans rookie coach DeMeco Ryans in 2023.

According to Aaron Wilson from KPRC-TV, the Texans are keeping receivers coach and pass game coordinator Ben McDaniels.

McDaniels has been on the staff since 2021 when Houston hired David Culley as coach. The younger brother of Las Vegas Raiders coach Josh McDaniels was the assistant receivers coach as Robert Prince was the receivers coach. The Texans promoted McDaniels upon the departure of Prince, and gave McDaniels the coordinator role after Pep Hamilton went from quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator to offensive coordinator.

McDaniels dealt with the challenges of having the offense’s top two wideouts in Brandin Cooks and Nico Collins unavailable together in three games in Houston’s 3-13-1 campaign.

“It’s critical in a receiver room for these kinds of scenarios where one goes down, two goes down, whatever that might be, your ability to step into whatever role we need you to be in, including putting you in the best roles that you’re capable of impacting the game for us,” McDaniels told reporters on Dec. 29, 2022. “The room is built that way. We’ve done a great job of bringing some people into that room that have intelligence and have the ability to play in different spots. I try to make it an emphasis as a coach in that room and make it very important, so they all believe it’s important too. I think it’s helped them have success.”

McDaniels’ work in weathering the availability issues may have been an endorsement for why he gets a third season on the Texans’ coaching staff.

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Texans WR coach Ben McDaniels offers explanation for the rise of Chris Moore

Chris Moore has been there when the Houston Texans have needed him, and WR coach Ben McDaniels knows why.

Chris Moore was there when the Houston Texans needed him.

The former Baltimore Ravens 2016 fourth-round receiver had big games when the Texans were down two of their top wideouts in Weeks 9, 14, and 15 when Brandin Cooks and Nico Collins missed with injuries. Moore delivered with four catches for 43 yards and a touchdown, 10 catches for 124 yards, and four grabs for 42 yards respectively.

Moore may have burst onto the scene for even the most observant Clutch City sports fan, but receivers coach and pass game coordinator Ben McDaniels knows the real reason why the seven-year pro has had such success.

“I’d probably say consistency,” McDaniels said. “It’s not a sexy answer but, consistency. I think he’s smart. He’s versatile. He’s been able to play in different spots for us whenever that is we needed him. We’ve needed him more recently than previous. He’s stepped into those roles and done a great job and made the most of his opportunities, which is what I expect from him.”

By far Moore is having the best year of his career with 43 catches for 505 yards and two touchdowns. The only season where Moore had more touchdown catches was in 2017 when he hauled in three scoring grabs for the Ravens. Moore’s five starts through 14 games are also a new career high.

“He’s smart and he’s tough,” said McDaniels. “He’s got a lot of football player to him, and in his opportunities recently, he’s shown that.”

Cooks returned to the lineup in Week 16 against the Tennessee Titans, and the Texans prevailed 19-14 at Nissan Stadium to improve their record to 2-12-1. Collins remains on injured reserve with a foot injury, which means Moore will have another opportunity to make a start against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 17 at NRG Stadium.

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Receivers coach Ben McDaniels makes vague statement on Brandin Cooks

Receivers coach Ben McDaniels made a vague comment on Brandin Cooks’ usage in his Thursday press conference

The Houston Texans are expected to be players in the NFL trade market before the November 1st deadline, and wide receiver Brandin Cooks has been the object of rampant speculation since reports surfaced this week that he might have suitors around the league. While none of these rumors have been substantiated yet, Cooks’ role in the Texans’ offense seemed to have diminished slightly last week against the Las Vegas Raiders, and the team brought in receiver Tyron Johnson on Wednesday in a move that some have hypothesized might signal the end for the veteran’s tenure in Houston.

For now, though, Cooks is still one of the more established players in the Texans’ offense. Receivers coach Ben McDaniels pointed out that Cooks is still an “explosive” presence in Pep Hamilton’s system, and made sure to reassure reporters that he is working tirelessly to get him more involved.

“Really, that’s an every week basis with your playmakers to try to put them in a position to be successful with us on Sundays,” McDaniels said. “He’s an explosive player. We’ve got to continue to try and stress that and find ways for that to be the case. He knows that. I know that. So does Tennessee. So does Philly. So does the next team after that, and so do you guys. That’s an every week thing that we’re always going to put a focus on and try and help our best players be their best on Sunday.”

While this comment was far from an indicator of Cooks’ status as a potential trade candidate, the vague nature of McDaniels’ remarks seem to hint at an aloofness between the receiver and his coaching staff. Nothing specific seems to be in the works for Cooks in Sunday’s game plan for the Tennessee Titans, and after the team let linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill walk on Thursday at his request, the veteran receiver could be next in line.

If Houston’s coaches don’t make a point to get the ball in Cooks’ hands early and often against the Titans, he may decide to test the waters and outright ask for his walking papers, whether by trade or release.

Texans Talk Podcast: Why the LB corps will be better than 31st in 2022

Pro Football Focus says the Houston Texans have the second-worst linebacking corps in the NFL. The Texans Talk Podcast says otherwise.

The “Texans Talk Podcast” returns and cohosts John Crumpler and Mark Lane take a look at the Houston Texans’ linebacking corps, which was ranked No. 31 overall in a recent Pro Football Focus evaluation.

John and Mark also take a look at the assistant coaches on the staff and ask who could make a name for themselves in 2022, pending the Texans have a good season. Another four-win campaign won’t make anyone look appealing.

Be sure to subscribe to the Texans Talk Podcast on Apple, Google Podcast, Spotify, and iHeart to stay up to date on the latest news and commentary surrounding the Texans.

Report: Texans WR Nico Collins stayed 30 minutes after OTAs for individual work

Houston Texans receiver Nico Collins stayed for an extra 30 minutes after practice during June 1’s organized team activities.

Houston Texans receiver Nico Collins is putting in the necessary work to take the next step in his second season in the NFL.

According to Hall-of-Fame sportswriter John McClain, the former 2021 third-round pick from Michigan spent time with receivers coach and pass game coordinator Ben McDaniels after organized team activities on June 1 at Houston Methodist Training Center. McClain says Collins worked on getting off the line.

Collins battled availability and consistency issues in his first season. The 6-4, 215-pound wideout started in eight of 14 games and caught 33 passes for 446 yards and a touchdown. Nevertheless Collins flashed promise of what he could become for Houston throughout the course of his rookie contract.

With Collins staying late after practice to work with McDaniels, it demonstrates the 23-year-old wants to have a more productive role in the Texans’ passing game.

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Texans give WR Brandin Cooks a 2-year extension

The Houston Texans have agreed to a two-year extension with receiver Brandin Cooks.

The rumor mill had the Houston Texans in talks to trade receiver Brandin Cooks, but general manager Nick Caserio had other ideas.

According to Adam Schefter from ESPN, the Texans have agreed to a two-year extension with Cooks, keeping him under contract in Houston through the 2024 season.

Cooks has been the lone consistent element among the Texans’ skill position players. The former 2014 New Orleans Saints first-round pick has tallied two straight seasons of 1,000-plus yards through 31 games in Houston.

Receivers coach and passing game coordinator Ben McDaniels told reporters on Ffeb. 22 that Cooks “is a special guy” and what exactly the 28-year-old meant to the receivers room.

“He’s a great pro,” said McDaniels. “He’s a special person. He’s a leader in the receiver room. He’s a leader in our locker room. He’s a leader currently for the receiver room, a pretty young room, and really I would say, for all our young players, he really represents someone that they should watch and learn from.

“So, I’m grateful to be in the room with him. I enjoyed it a year ago getting to know him both as a person and as a player and have the utmost respect for what he has done and what he will continue to do.”

Cooks caught 90 passes for 1,037 yards and six touchdowns through 16 games with the Texans last season. After the season was over, Cooks was translucent about playing out the final year of his contract with the Texans.

“I’ll leave that to my agent, and I’ll leave that to my representation and [general manager] Nick (Caserio) and whoever else is involved in that decision making,” said Cooks. “I’m fine with whatever and we will just see what happens. I haven’t really thought about that to be honest with you.”

Cooks gave it enough thought over the offseason to decide Houston was where he wanted to continue his career.

Raiders coach Josh McDaniels’ familiarity with Texans WR Brandin Cooks could warrant a trade

Houston Texans receiver Brandin Cooks is subject to a trade scenario to the Las Vegas Raiders according to Pro Football Focus.

The Houston Texans are in the midst of completing their rebuild, which means they may jettison some veteran talent if it means adding capital for the 2022 NFL draft and beyond.

According to Brad Spielberger from Pro Football Focus, one Texans veteran who could be on the move in 2022 is receiver Brandin Cooks. In Spielberger’s scenario, the Las Vegas Raiders, who had two former New England Patriots in coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler, would send a 2022 fourth-rounder and a 2023 second-rounder for Cooks, who played for the Patriots for one season in 2017. The Texans would bury $7.5 million in dead money while the Raiders took on Cooks’ $13,735,294 contract for just one year.

New Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler know Cooks well from his time spent with the New England Patriots in 2017. Cooks put up a career-best 16.6 yards per reception, going over 1,000 total yards on the season en route to a Super Bowl appearance. The following season, Cooks played against the Patriots in the Super Bowl as a member of the Los Angeles Rams.

Of course, the scenario discounts the fact that McDaniels’ younger brother, Ben McDaniels, the Texans’ receivers coach and pass game coordinator, sees the value in having Cooks on the roster after having worked with him in 2021.

“Cookie is a special guy,” McDaniels told reporters on Feb. 22. “He’s a great pro. He’s a special person. He’s a leader in the receiver room. He’s a leader in our locker room. He’s a leader currently for the receiver room, a pretty young room, and really I would say, for all our young players, he really represents someone that they should watch and learn from. So, I’m grateful to be in the room with him.

“I enjoyed it a year ago getting to know him both as a person and as a player and have the utmost respect for what he has done and what he will continue to do.”

Even though the Texans are seeking to finish the rebuild, they are also hopeful to win games. As such, they may not be interested in parting with such a valuable veteran.

Texans WR coach Ben McDaniels says Brandin Cooks is a ‘leader’ in the receiver room

Houston Texans receivers coach Ben McDaniels says that Brandin Cooks is a leader in the room and a good example for younger players.

The Houston Texans may not have the superstars they did two years ago, but they still have players on the roster that serve as shining examples of consistent play and determined work ethic.

Ben McDaniels was the assistant receivers coach in 2021 as part of new coach David Culley’s staff. Over the course of the year, working with receivers coach Robert Prince, McDaniels was able to know Brandin Cooks and discover how exemplary the former 2014 first-round pick truly is.

“Cookie is a special guy,” McDaniels said. “He’s a great pro. He’s a special person. He’s a leader in the receiver room. He’s a leader in our locker room. He’s a leader currently for the receiver room, a pretty young room, and really I would say, for all our young players, he really represents someone that they should watch and learn from.”

Although the Texans have posted just four wins in each of their past two seasons with Cooks on the roster, the 5-10, 183-pound wideout has done his part to give Houston a chance to win games. Cooks has recorded 1,000-yard seasons in consecutive years and caught a career-high 90 passes in 2021.

McDaniels will be more than an assistant position coach under Lovie Smith, who takes over for Culley after one season. McDaniels is doubling up as receivers coach and also passing game coordinator, but is ready for the challenge so long as Cooks remains a part of the offense.

“I’m grateful to be in the room with him,” said McDaniels. “I enjoyed it a year ago getting to know him both as a person and as a player and have the utmost respect for what he has done and what he will continue to do.”

Cooks is set to carry a salary cap figure of $16,205,882 in 2022, according to data from Over The Cap.

Texans finalize 2022 coaching staff

The Houston Texans have finalized their 2022 coaching staff led by coach Lovie Smith.

The Houston Texans have finalized their 2022 coaching staff.

Lovie Smith will double up as the coach and defensive coordinator, albeit the defensive coordinator title was not added to his roles.

The role of assistant head coach or associate head coach is also missing from the Texans’ coaching staff for the first time since 2005, the last year with Dom Capers at the helm.

There are also some roles that have been shuffled around, such as Ben McDaniels taking on the passing game coordinator role with his promotion to receivers coach.

The staff will meet with the media on Feb. 22. Here is a look at the complete coaching staff for 2022.

Texans hiring Patriots OC Josh McDaniels’ brother as assistant receivers coach

The Houston Texans have hired Josh McDaniels’ brother, Ben McDaniels, as their assistant receivers coach on David Culley’s staff.

The Houston Texans continue to add to their coaching staff.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Texans are hiring former Michigan quarterbacks coach Ben McDaniels as their new assistant receivers coach and overall offensive assistant.

If the name sounds familiar, it should: Ben is New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ brother. However, Ben has never coached for the Patriots. The only connection he even has to the Patriots is when he worked under his brother from 2009-10 with the Denver Broncos. Ben was an offensive assistant in 2009 and then the quarterbacks coach in 2010.

McDaniels’ NFL experience includes working as an offensive assistant on Greg Schiano’s staff with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2012-13. McDaniels was also the offensive assistant for the Chicago Bears from 2016-17 under coach John Fox.

The former quarterback at Kent State joined Jim Harbaugh’s staff at Michigan in 2018 as an offensive assistant. For the past two seasons, McDaniels was the quarterbacks coach for the Wolverines.

The Texans’ current receivers coach is Robert Prince, who was the interim coach for the Detroit Lions last season after they fired Matt Patricia.

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