Tag: Bobby Slowik

Texans WR Robert Woods describes OC Bobby Slowik as an ‘aggressive’ play-caller

Houston Texans receiver Robert Woods says that new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik is “aggressive” as a play-caller.

One of the mysteries surrounding the Houston Texans’ new offense is what type of tempo offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik will deploy.

The scheme is familiar as the San Francisco 49ers have been running it since Kyle Shanahan took over as coach in 2017. Shanahan’s version of the West Coast offense is a permutation of what former Texans coach Gary Kubiak was running in Houston from 2006-13.

New Texans receiver Robert Woods pulled back the curtain as to what type of play-caller Slowik will be.

“Aggressive,” Woods told reporters July 27 at Houston Methodist Training Center. “I will say he wants to get his playmakers the ball. He’s aggressive in his coaching.”

Slowik is also holding the players accountable on the field and also in the meeting rooms.

“Getting the guys to be urgent and decisive,” Woods said. “You have a job to do, get to it.”

The pace at which Slowik conducts his interactions with the players generates an overall sense of urgency that must be met.

Said Woods: “He is bringing to our offense and to our team. It’s a short offseason. I think our first preseason game is in two weeks and I think that kind of shows we have a small window to be great, and we’ve got to get there as fast as we can.”

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Texans’ biggest offensive X-factor may be coaching

The Houston Texans have added intriguing pieces on offense, but the biggest X-factor may actually be new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

The Houston Texans have to get better on offense.

While there were a myriad of reasons Houston went 3-13-1 last season, the offense is the chief reason. The Texans finished tied with the Indianapolis Colts for the second-fewest points and also second-fewest yards. Houston additionally had the second-most turnovers in 2022.

Aside from rookie running back Dameon Pierce barreling his way towards 939 yards and four touchdowns through 13 games, the Texans had hardly anything to show on offense.

The Texans took quarterback C.J. Stroud No. 2 overall in the 2023 NFL draft. Houston signed running back Devin Singletary in the offseason along with tight end Dalton Schultz. In addition to adding Robert Woods, the Texans also drafted third-rounder Tank Dell to partner with third-year Nico Collins.

According to Jared Dubin from CBS Sports, the biggest X-factor for the Texans offense this season isn’t even a player; it’s a coach, and that is offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

The Texans hired DeMeco Ryans as their head coach this offseason, and Ryans brought Slowik with him from San Francisco to Houston. As the passing-game coordinator for the 49ers, he was in charge of helping Kyle Shanahan marry his diverse run game to the pass, and he’ll have to bring that bag of tricks to the Texans. With Houston not having nearly the same pass-catching (or offensive line) talent that the Niners have, it will be a challenge for Slowik to replicate that success. But other Shanahan-system coordinators have been able to get pretty good results outside of San Francisco, so it’s certainly not an impossible task. We’re about to see if he and the Texans are up for it. 

The Texans’ win total may not demonstrably improve over last year with a young roster and rookie coach, but the expectation is the offense should at least appear more explosive than Pep Hamilton’s unit from a year ago.

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WR Noah Brown says Texans have ‘real creative coordinator’ in Bobby Slowik

Receiver Noah Brown says the Houston Texans have a “real creative coordinator” in new OC Bobby Slowik, who came over from the San Francisco 49ers.

Noah Brown proved what he could do in his last season with the Dallas Cowboys.

The former 2017 seventh-round receiver spent his first five seasons as a staple on special teams.

“I think I came in this league a little bit raw,” Brown told reporters June 13 during mandatory minicamp. “I had to find my way on the field however I could. That started off being mostly blocking and special teams. But as that’s gone on, you find a way on to the field for maybe a blocking package, then all of a sudden you find yourself getting in packages for pass plays.”

When Dallas traded Amari Cooper and allowed Cedrick Wilson to depart in free agency last season, it afforded an opportunity for Brown to make more of an impact. The former Ohio State product saw his offensive snaps go from 302 in 2021 to 822 in 2022.

“I think I’ve taken advantage of every one of those steps, last year being another one,” Brown said. “I think I have a chance to expand on that again this year.”

Brown caught 43 passes for 555 yards and three touchdowns through 16 games last season, 13 of which he started. The production was enough to warrant interest from the Texans, who signed the 6-2, 225-pounder in free agency.

One of the aspects of the offense that attracted Brown to Houston was offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

Said Slowik: “I’m really excited about the offense. I think we have a real creative coordinator. I think we have a lot of talented pieces, some of which are a little bit unknown in this league. Which I think is going to work to our advantage. I’m excited to be a part of this offense.”

Slowik previously was the passing game coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers in 2022, and their pass game specialist the year prior. The 49ers knocked the Cowboys out of the playoffs the past two seasons.

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Texans coach DeMeco Ryans will use downtime to power up for training camp

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans says he will use the remainder of June and the bulk of July to power up for his first training camp.

DeMeco Ryans has a long path ahead of him in shepherding the Houston Texans through the 2023 season, and with a month-long break ahead of the team before training camp, he and his coaching staff the extra time will be spent on rest and preparation.

For the first-year coach, the remainder of June after minicamp and beginning of July represent the only free time he will have had since signing with Houston after the 2022 season ended.

Ryans told reporters on Wednesday about how the time off will benefit himself and the rest of the Texans’ staff, who will embark on their rebuild season in earnest in September.

“For our coaches over the next few weeks, I think it’s time for a little rest and relaxation,” Ryans explained. “Especially for me. I’ve been going pretty non-stop since our last playoff game. So definitely a little rest and relaxation to make sure I’m powered up and ready to go for the season. The same with our coaches.”

Of course, it won’t just be Ryans and his coaches who benefit, but their families, as the father of three pointed out.

“It’s a time for us to have the opportunity to spend more time with your family, go and visit family that you haven’t seen a while… So just a time to reconnect personally with your family.”

In a game as brutal as football, time away is necessary. Each Texans player is sure to spend the early part of the summer in a different way, but the team will be sure to show up to training camp and the preseason with the same motivation to excel.

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Noah Brown says Texans receivers are prepared to ‘do the dirty work blocking’

Houston Texans receiver Noah Brown says his position group is fully prepared to engage in the “dirty work” on offense.

Arguably the most finesse skill position in the NFL is receiver. The position is one that has flourished in the era focused on player safety.

The perception is all receivers do is go into the pattern and catch passes. The reality is a little dirtier.

Noah Brown peeled back the curtain at Houston Texans mandatory minicamp Tuesday and revealed new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik has a predilection for getting his receivers involved in blocking and setting the edge.

“I think coach Slowik places an emphasis on everybody blocking, everybody being physical,” Brown said. “Sometimes that is slept on in the wide receiver position, but I think it’s been a great emphasis here. I think not just me, but everybody in our room is prepared to go in there and do the dirty work blocking.”

Brown’s entry into the league was as the Dallas Cowboys’ 2017 seventh-round pick. Running back Ezekiel Elliott lobbied Dallas to take his former Ohio State teammate for Brown’s ability to run-block.

“I wouldn’t say I’ve been in an offense where blocking is not valued by the wide receivers,” said Brown.

The 6-2, 225-pounder provided the Cowboys with 43 catches for 555 yards and three touchdowns through 16 games last year, 13 of which he started. Even when Brown’s role shifted more from special teams and run-blocking to catching passes, he never shied away from blocking.

Said Brown: “I think sometimes you see wide receivers put more of an emphasis on it personally or take pride in it a little bit more. But I think everywhere I’ve been, it’s been coached. I think that’s part of — if you’re a wide receiver, you want the guy across from you to feel you on every rep. That’s a run play, pass play, whatever it is.”

If Slowik has his way, opponents will feel Texans receivers up close on run plays, not just in the secondary on passing downs.

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How WR Nico Collins could be Julio Jones in Texans’ new offense

Houston Texans WR Nico Collins has been studying former Atlanta Falcons WR Julio Jones and his similar role in 2016 | from @JohnHCrumpler

The 2016 Atlanta Falcons may have been the perfect embodiment of a Kyle Shanahan offense. The group may be remembered for their 28-3 Super Bowl collapse, but they only got there through scoring an NFL record 540 points that season on their way to an 11-5 record and NFC Championship.

The team saw pinpoint accuracy from 2016 NFL MVP Matt Ryan. They featured running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman in the passing game to a tune of over 100 targets. Shanahan’s unit led the league on use of play action with 27.6% of their plays and the Falcons were top-5 in both passing and rushing yards in what was a preview of the dominant offenses he’d go on to form as the San Francisco 49ers coach.

Atlanta also featured, and was largely built around, the presence of All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones. Jones had 83 receptions for 1,409 yards during the Super Bowl season and had 136 receptions for 1,871 yards during Shanahan’s first year in 2015.

The Houston Texans are running a variation of the Shanahan scheme with new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, who was the 49ers’ passing game coordinator last year. Collins provided a similar receiver comparison in the scheme.

“Yeah, Julio. Julio Jones,” Collins told reporters June 6 after organized team activities. “Coach [Slowik], he pulled clips from Atlanta and watched Julio run it. San Fran’s concepts, same offense, you know. Just watching guys run that route. It’s slot-work. So, for me, it’s get better in the slot. Add that to your bag, you know? Nothing to it. Just a route.”

Jones is a lofty comparison for any young receiver. However, his answer to this is certainly an interesting one as fans speculate where Collins fits into the west coast style offense. They’re two of the most hyper athletic wideouts that will have been asked to function in a Shanahan-type scheme to date. Their height alone places them away from comparisons such as Jaylen Waddle, Tyreek Hill, Brandon Aiyuk, and Deebo Samuel who have thrived in the offense all at 6-0 and under.

Jones yard/reception and yards/target totals during the 2016 campaign were some of his best ever and it could signal a potential role for Collins as the perimeter receiver in the offense. He’s one of the fastest receivers currently on the roster and has a size/strength combination that should allow him to win physically against boundary corners. Collins may be one of the team’s best bets to win in the intermediate to deep range amongst a cast of smaller wideouts.

Another interesting component would be that Collins’ specified Jones ability to shift towards the slot. Jones was top-5 in DYAR during 2016 from both the slot and the perimeter per Football Outsiders and, despite his size, took over 50% of his snaps from that position.

Houston is currently loaded at the stock position with rookie Tank Dell and second-year wideout John Metchie largely considered “slot only” players in conjunction with Robert Woods’ dominance at the position. Collins could create matchup nightmares should he develop the route running to shift inside on occasion, but it would require creativity from Slowik to create with others on the perimeter.

It will be very difficult for Collins to replicate Jones’ dominance, regardless of where he lines up on the field. It is encouraging that he’s studying a similar athletic comparison entering the new scheme. To date, the former 2021 third-rounder has only 70 receptions for 927 yards and three touchdowns through his first two seasons. It’s more than a stone’s throw from Jones early career path that led him to be the fastest player in NFL history to reach 10,000 receiving yards.

Fans will have to wait and see how Slowik optimizes both Collins and the rest of the receiving staff this season. Their individual growth could play huge dividends for the success of rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud.

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Texans RB Dameon Piere won’t ‘spill the beans’ on role in new offense

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce likes what he has seen from the new offense, but does not want to “spill the beans” with details.

It is only natural for a running back to be excited when his team hires a Kyle Shanahan protege as their new offensive coordinator.

With new coach DeMeco Ryans came former San Francisco 49ers passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik as the new Houston Texans offensive coordinator. The 49ers were known for their rushing offense with 4.7 yards per carry, tied for eighth-most in the NFL, and the eighth-most rushing yards per game at 138.8.

Second-year running back Dameon Pierce could not hold back his enthusiasm when meeting with reporters June 6 after organized team activities.

“Oh, the more ways I can get the ball, the better, baby,” Pierce said. “I love that. I love that. But, I’ve got a lot of great guys to look at. Most recently, probably Christian McCaffrey. He thrived last year in the league, in his offense he’s just getting out of the backfield, getting in the flat, catching hitches or whatever the case may be. There’s multiple ways to get a running back the ball.”

McCaffrey generated 159 carries for 746 yards and six touchdowns along with 52 catches for 464 yards and four touchdowns in his 11 games for San Francisco following a trade with the Carolina Panthers.

However, Pierce believes his teammates in Devin Singletary and Dare Ogunbowale can provide effective models on how to thrive in the new offense.

Said Pierce: “We’ve got a lot of great third down backs. A lot of guys that I can model my game after and a lot of guys that I can learn from.”

Nevertheless McCaffrey was the first to come to Pierce’s mind because of his production and working with Slowik with the 49ers.

“It just really exemplifies Slo’s offense, more specially, his cut ups with the option routes, the angles, the whip routes. ” Pierce said. “I’m not going to say too much because I don’t want to spill the beans too much, but, yeah.”

Pierce tallied 939 rushing yards and four touchdowns for the Texans through 13 games last season, finishing third in the NFL among rookies in rushing yards.

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Texans RT Tytus Howard leads by example in OL room

Houston Texans right tackle Tytus Howard continues to lead by example in the offensive line room as he enters his fifth season.

Most individuals treat their birthday like it is a national holiday. They want the day and themselves to be recognized for its greatness in their minds, and one thing you will rarely find them doing is working on their actual birthday, especially voluntarily, which is almost absurd to think about.

That logic may apply to some, but it doesn’t when you are trying to build on being one of the best right tackles in the NFL.

Houston Texans offensive lineman Tytus Howard spent most of his birthday going through different drills and learning the new offensive system of coordinator, Bobby Slowik.

Yet, his presence was his most significant contribution to the Texans during voluntary OTAs.

“I think it means a lot for him to be here,” said offensive line coach Chris Strausser about Howard’s presence. “To show up every day as he does and lead the group will have a big impact on the younger guys.”

Howard, who was selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, is coming off one of his best seasons, where he played 997 offensive snaps allowing just three sacks and five quarterback hits. He earned a career-high 67.9 grade from Pro Football Focus as he helped form a dynamic offensive tackle duo with 2022 Pro Bowl teammate and good friend Laremy Tunsil.

Houston had shown that they are willing to invest in the offensive line by making Tunsil the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL when they signed him to a three-year, $75 million contract extension this past offseason. They also acquired offensive guard Shaq Mason via trade and signed him to a three-year, $36 million contract extension.

Although the Texans exercised the fifth-year option on Howard’s contract, it only makes sense that they would negotiate to keep him with the team long-term, especially since they drafted rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud who they see as a potential franchise quarterback in Houston.

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Texans RB Dameon Pierce tells rookie QB C.J. Stroud to ‘command the huddle’

Houston Texans RB Dameon Pierce sees the promise in QB C.J. Stroud, and encourages the rookie to “command the huddle.”

HOUSTON — Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce is only impressed by two things regarding the NFL.

Hard work and leadership.

The harder you work, the more you lead by example. It is that simple to Pierce on the football field, and if you deviate from those two things, you set yourself up for failure. The fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft from Florida hit the ground running from the moment he set foot inside NRG Stadium.

The former Gator impressed the former coaching staff with his ability to put in the extra time to become a better running back in the NFL. He started in 13 games and amassed 939 yards and four touchdowns for the Texans before being shut down for the season with an ankle injury.

Pierce, 23, has noticed the same qualities he had in his rookie season in quarterback C.J. Stroud, who the Texans selected with the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft from Ohio State.

“C.J.’s a great kid,” Pierce told the media June 6. “I’ve loved the way he’s come in and worked. Obviously, he was a high draft pick, so there are a lot of expectations on him, and he’s handled it very well. Handling the media very well. Handling the playbook.”

Both players are getting accustomed to learning the new offensive system being installed by first-year offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik which is very detailed and requires a lot of work off the field to have a complete outlook on just how potent it could be for the Texans this year as it has been for the San Francisco 49ers in the past.

“He’s a quick learner,” said Pierce about Stroud. “I would say that he’s a quick learner, and the only thing I tell him every time I’m on the field with him is, ‘Command the huddle, bro.’ Don’t be scared. Don’t be shy. Don’t shy away from that leadership role. You’ve got guys on this team who are behind you and who will help you in that aspect. And we’re here to lift you up, so if you go out there and make a mistake, you know you’ve got solid ground to fall back on, and we’re going to help you through it.”

For Stroud, the sentiments are the same regarding Pierce, as they have developed a bond that will carry over into the season.

“D.P. [Pierce] is amazing man,” Stroud said after week two of voluntary OTAs. “Somebody who’s not only going to have your back running the ball, but he’s going to pass protect. More so than that, he’s just a great person.

“Just being around him a little, getting to know him every other day, he’s hilarious. He’s always very upbeat, very positive, and wants to work and wants to get better. I accept a lot of feedback from him. He likes feedback from me. We’ve just been enjoying working with each other, so it’s been a blessing to have someone like D.P.”

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Dalton Schultz sets tone in the Texans’ tight end room

Dalton Schultz may be new to the Houston Texans, but he is already setting the tone inside the tight end room.

The Houston Texans could use a consistent, veteran presence at tight end.

Houston signed former 2018 fourth-round pick Dalton Schultz to a one-year contract in March. After being Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott’s security blanket, Schultz picked the Texans to continue his NFL career.

Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik told reporters May 31 that Schultz has been “just a professional” inside the tight end room.

“All the vets we’ve brought in have really helped a lot in bringing their position group along and kind of bringing the young guys with them, showing them what it’s like to work, to be a professional as far as what you’ve got to do every day, mentally, physically, on the field, how you work, how you go about your business, and he’s been awesome in that regard,” Slowik said.

Schultz’s on-field work also suggests an on-field upgrade. The former Stanford product generated 135 catches for 1,385 yards and 13 touchdowns through 32 games over the past two years. The 6-5, 244-pounder solidified the position in a way that had been lacking since Jason Witten left in 2019.

Schultz may not be comparable to a possible Hall-of-Famer, but he is definitely TE1 material.

“Then you just see a guy who knows how to run routes,” said Slowik. “He’s got a big frame. He knows how to catch. He’s fully invested in the run game. He’s been doing a great job.”

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