Tag: Bobby Slowik

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans lays out the goals for rookie minicamp

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans presented what he wants the players and coaches to get out of the two-day rookie minicamp.

HOUSTON — Houston Texans first-year coach DeMeco Ryans was back in a familiar place on Friday morning, and it showed on his face as he displayed the signature smile that the media and fans have grown accustomed to.

The 2023 rookie class for the Texans began their three-day minicamp at Houston Methodist Training Center. It was a time for the young men to acclimate to the daily regiment of conducting themselves as NFL players once the season starts.

“The most important thing for me is for those guys to have a just a general understanding of the terminology, offense, defense, and terminology,” Ryans said after practice. “Learning the offense, it’s like learning a new language, so then you have to learn how to speak that language and speak it fluently, especially for [quarterback] C.J. (Stroud) stepping in the huddle and making the play calls. How much and how quickly can they grasp the terminology and be able to communicate that effectively on the field?”

Ryans, who also had a very productive tenure as an NFL player, also wants to teach the rookies the importance of maintaining themselves and continuing to learn away from the field.

“Getting in the training room, hydration, food, whatever they need, and then what we’ll do with our guys is we’ll have more meetings,” said Ryans when asked about the daily routine he is implementing for the rookies. “We’ll have special teams’ meetings and have individual meetings. Those guys will come in, be able to watch the film with their coaches, and the coaches will be able to coach them up individually on things they need to improve on, and then we’ll have a benchmark for tomorrow to see that actual improvement and show them again after tomorrow’s practice.”

The rookies aren’t the only ones having to learn to adapt for the Texans. Ryans is in his first year as head coach after spending the last two seasons as defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers. Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and defensive coordinator Matt Burke are also making their rookie debuts as coordinators this season.

Ryans knows it is just as crucial for the new staff members to understand his way of running a football team and how they must work together to succeed.

“It’s a matter of us coming together collectively and doing what’s best for the Texans,” Ryans said. “We have a lot of guys coming from a lot of different places. Like we’re not trying to replicate what was done somewhere else. We’re trying to implement the things we need and what’s best for our team here. It’s a lot of guys coming together and just communicating on schedules and timing of practice. How long do we need to be out there and all of those things?

“There are a lot of smart people around here to help me out with that. Got a lot of good people. Our training staff, the strength staff, a lot of great people here to work with that’s made the transition to head coach loss easier.”

Houston will resume day two of the rookie minicamp on Saturday at Methodist Training Center.

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Texans’ C.J. Stroud won’t be handed starting QB job

C.J. Stroud may have gone No. 2 overall in the 2023 NFL draft, but he will still have to earn the Houston Texans’ starting QB job.

HOUSTON — The NFL draft analyst and media speculated for months on what the Houston Texans would do when it was time to make their first selection on Thursday night in the 2023 NFL draft.

The names ranged from multiple quarterbacks to a defensive lineman many believed was a can’t-miss prospect.

At the end of the day, the Texans got both after they selected C.J. Stroud from Ohio State to fill their quarterback need at No. 2. Their very next selection was edge rusher Will Anderson after trading up with the Arizona Cardinals for the No. 3 pick.

Both players will be expected to help Houston regain some relevance after three depressing years of football in which the team could only compile a total of 11 wins.

Yet, Stroud has different expectations from a fan base that is looking for their franchise signal caller. Something they haven’t had since the whole fiasco involving their last franchise quarterback.

Stroud will be asked to bring that same passion and boldness he displayed at Ohio State. The two-time Heisman Trophy finalist threw for 8,123 yards, 85 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and completed 69.2% of his passes during his two years as the signal caller for the Buckeyes.

Even with those stats and Stroud passing the eye test, according to every analyst that watched him play, one question needs to be answered.

Is he a day one starter for the Texans?

“What a player can do, ultimately, it’s going to be up to their performance,” said general manager Nick Caserio after the Texans’ first round. “We’re not going to put any labels or timetables on anybody, any particular position, any particular player. We’ll do what we feel is in the best interests of the team. DeMeco will make the decision, and the coaching staff will make the decisions that we feel are best for the team.

“We’ll put the best players out there that are ready to play and prepared to take advantage of the opportunity. We’re really not about labels or terminology around here. We’re about consistent, purposeful work, trying to build a program that’s sustainable over the course of time. So, whenever we get to that point with whoever those players are, ultimately, that’s what our intention and our goal is going to be.”

Everyone, including Stroud, knows that he is going to have to prove it on the field and impress first-year coach DeMeco Ryans and new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik if he wants to hear his name called as the starting quarterback for the Houston Texans once the regular season starts.

“I view this opportunity like it’s one of a kind because it is,” said Stroud during his first press conference with the Houston media via Zoom. “It’s something that God put on my life. I know the city of Houston hasn’t seen a franchise quarterback in a long time, and that’s something I hope I become.”

“I know I’ve got to put in the work. I know I’m still young. I know I have a lot to learn, but I know I have coaches on that awesome staff that can teach me to do that. I know that I can definitely become a franchise quarterback, but today right now, I have to put in the work. I am a rookie. I have to build trust in the locker room and be a great teammate.”

His competition as of right now includes current starter Davis Mills who is also looking to impress Ryans and Slowik, hoping to convince them that he is the right guy for the job after a lackluster performance on the field last season. Mills has not been impressive over his previous two years under center. In his 26 starts, he has thrown for 5,782 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 25 interceptions. He tied with Dallas Cowboys starting quarterback Dak Prescott for the most interceptions thrown in the 2022 season with 15.

It is unknown at this point who will be calling plays this season for the Texans. Still, if taking a quarterback with the second overall pick in the draft indicates the team’s direction, it is safe to say that a ton of Stroud jerseys will be worn at NRG Stadium on Sundays.

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Should the Texans be interested in 49ers QB Trey Lance?

The San Francisco 49ers are fielding calls about QB Trey Lance. Should the Houston Texans be one of the interested teams?

The Houston Texans have most of their positions squared away ahead of the 2023 NFL draft.

The three positions of need are quarterback, receiver, and defensive end. Houston is expected to use the No. 2 overall pick for a quarterback and let the rest of the draft dictate how they address the other two key areas.

What if the Texans could shore up quarterback in a meaningful way ahead of the draft?

According to Ian Rapoport from the NFL Network, the San Francisco 49ers are fielding calls from teams about quarterback Trey Lance. Teams perceive that Brock Purdy is the starter for the near future, and want to know about the possibility of acquiring Lance, a former 2021 No. 3 overall pick.

Should the Texans be interested in Lance?

Much of the coaching staff is familiar with Lance having come over from the 49ers. New coach DeMeco Ryans was the defensive coordinator for San Francisco each of the past two seasons that Lance has been on the team. Having been a part of pre-draft meetings with the 49ers that included all position groups, Ryans would have a comprehensive understanding of what the former North Dakota State product could bring to the Texans.

New offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik would also be another figure that would have an understanding of what Lance could provide. Slowik was the 49ers’ offensive passing game specialist in 2021 and later the passing game coordinator in 2022. Last offseason and training camp was designed to have Lance take over for Jimmy Garoppolo as starting quarterback. If anyone knows what Lance can do for the Texans’ new scheme, it would be Slowik.

If the Texans wanted to bring Lance to Houston, the final hurdle would be compensation. While the 49ers traded their 2021 first-round, 2022 first-round, 2022 third-round, and 2023 first-round selections to the Miami Dolphins for the No. 3 overall pick (incidentally Houston’s that was surrendered as part of the Laremy Tunsil trade), San Francisco reasonably cannot expect a similar haul for a player who has played four games over two seasons.

Adding Lance would free Houston up to use their No. 2 overall pick to take Alabama defensive end Will Anderson. If Houston still wanted to go with a quarterback there, then the Lance signing would mean third-year Davis Mills would be battling for a spot on the roster.

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Texans’ asst. director of player personnel James Liipfert enjoys working with new coaching staff

Houston Texans assistant director of player personnel and director of college scouting James Liipfert has enjoyed getting to know the new staff.

James Liipfert is in his third season as assistant director of player personnel, and is working with a new coaching staff in as many seasons.

The challenge of acclimating to a new coach and the various assistants is not a burden for Liipfert as he puts the final touches on the Houston Texans’ preparations for the 2023 NFL draft.

“To me, it’s a challenge, but it’s also very fun,” Liipfert said. “Certain coaches are no longer here. It’s a new group. To me, it’s almost an invigorating element of it. Where have you been? Who have you been around? Who have you learned under? What type of players do you like?”

Liipfert has been with the Texans since 2018 after spending time with the New England Patriots as a scout. Liipfert became the Texans’ director of college scouting in 2019, and has maintained that role.

As Liipfert has had meetings with new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, defensive coordinator Matt Burke, and special teams coordinator Frank Ross, who returns for his third season, the focus has been “constantly learning.”

Said Liipfert: “Whether you’re working for the Houston Chronicle, working for the Texans PR, when new people come into your building, I’m a chatter box. I’m going to wear them out. I’m going to ask questions. I want to learn. It’s been great having a new staff. A couple of these guys coming from five, six, seven organizations. New coaches have come from the Vikings to the Colts, to the 49ers, to the Browns. It’s pretty awesome. That’s almost a fifth of the league.”

Liipfert believes that getting to know the assistant coaches so well will aide him when it comes to getting an idea for what type of players they want in the draft.

“Getting some knowledge from those guys about what they like, how they see certain players fitting, it’s honestly invigorating, and it helps me learn,” said Liipfert. “It helps me grow. It’s been great.”

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Texans hope to replicate 49ers’ successful depth in new offensive scheme

The Houston Texans seek to replicate the San Francisco 49ers’ depth on offense with new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

One of the most notable traits of the San Francisco 49ers under coach Kyle Shanahan has been the team’s ability to absorb availability issues.

Since 2017, the 49ers have found ways to overcome injuries throughout their offensive personnel and compete. San Francisco’s appearance in three of the past four NFC Championship Games has hardly been due to happenchance.

Bobby Slowik was with the 49ers since 2017 and was the club’s passing game coordinator in 2022. The three quarterbacks San Francisco deployed amid injuries directly affected his input into the game.

“It really helped us learn at every position how important depth is, how important it is that you have more than one guy,” Slowik said. “You have people you believe that can have come in, fill a role, develop in what we believe and what we want to do going forward and step in and not miss a beat, keep moving.”

The Houston Texans seek to have the same philosophy and application with Slowik as offensive coordinator under rookie coach DeMeco Ryans, who was also with the 49ers in a variety of defensive roles since 2017.

The most notable example was the five-game game stretch to end the season with seventh-round rookie Brock Purdy. The 49ers were undefeated and posted a 2-1 record in the playoffs. If not for Purdy’s UCL tear in his throwing arm in the NFC Championship Game, perhaps the 49ers could have put up a better fight than the 31-7 drubbing at the talons of the Philadelphia Eagles.

“Again, this is the top-down view, but we view that everywhere,” said Slowik. “Not only at quarterback, we had some situations at running back, we had some situations at tackle, we had some situations at wide receiver through our six years in San Francisco, and that really helped us solidify what we’re looking for, specific things we think can step in and fill a void if we have one and really not miss a beat.”

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Texans OC Bobby Slowik wants rookie QBs to thrive in new offense

@bigsargesportsz write that the Houston Texans’ Bobby Slowik seeks to build an offensive scheme where rookie quarterbacks can thrive.

HOUSTON — The honeymoon is over and the Houston Texans are ready to get to work.

Newly hired offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik is part of rookie coach DeMeco Ryans’ staff that seeks to implement a system that brings the Texans more success than the past three seasons.

Slowik met with the media inside NRG Stadium and made it known in his introductory presser that his system would not hesitate to play rookie quarterbacks. The club is expected to use its No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft on quarterback as Houston transitions away from third-year Davis Mills as a starter.

The 36-year-old touched on his final season with the San Francisco 49ers and its reliance on rookie Brock Purdy as an example of how the Texans won’t be hesitant with youth at quarterback.

“Unfortunately, we had to go through three quarterbacks last year,” Slowik said. “We had ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ (Purdy) who did one heck of a job playing for us in San Francisco by taking us all the way to the NFC Championship Game.

“I think how you structure the entire thing, offense, that includes defense, that includes special teams, everything plays a hand in how it all goes together.”

San Francisco’s plan going into the season was to hand the play-calling duties over to quarterback Trey Lance. That strategy ended when he suffered a season-ending injury to his right ankle in Week 2.

The 49ers had no choice but to move on to their backup option, Jimmy Garoppolo, to replace Lance, but he also had to be shut down for the season after suffering a broken left foot against the Miami Dolphins in Week 13.

San Francisco’s playoff hopes were immune to the injury bug thanks to offensive-minded coach Kyle Shanahan’s “plug and play” system.

Insert Purdy, or as some would like to call him, “Mr. Irrelevant,” a title given to the last player selected in the NFL draft. Purdy played better than the expectations of a seventh-rounder as he kept San Francisco’s playoff hopes relevant. The 49ers’ season ended in the NFC Championship Game at the Philadelphia Eagles as Purdy suffered a torn UCL.

Slowik reiterated that he wants the Texans’ offense to resemble the success that the 49ers.

“When you get in a room by yourself, and you turn on what we call ‘the silent tape,’ you’re going to feel a team that’s very aggressive, that’s fast, that’s decisive, there’s no hesitation, everyone knows what we’re doing, and we enjoy playing the game,” Slowik said. “That, overall, is what we want to do on offense. Putting our guys in the best positions to do what they do best.”

At No. 2 overall, Houston is in prime position to take Alabama’s Bryce Young or Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, two of the draft’s highly touted quarterbacks. Should the Texans trade back, another possible franchise quarterback would be available in Florida’s Anthony Richardson, whose draft status rose after dazzling workouts at the NFL combine in early March.

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4 takeaways from the Houston Texans’ introductory presser with OC Bobby Slowik

Here are the four takeaways from the Houston Texans’ introductory press conference with new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

The Houston Texans are going with a new offensive coordinator for the third time in as many seasons. It kind of seems to be a theme, much like their propensity for coaching changes in the same span.

However, Bobby Slowik isn’t just another name. The former San Francisco 49ers passing game coordinator matured as a coach during the same time DeMeco Ryans was growing as a coach with the 49ers from 2017-22. In fact, Slowik and Ryans’ first job together in San Francisco under rookie coach Kyle Shanahan was as defensive quality control coaches.

Here are four takeaways from Slowik’s introductory presser at NRG Stadium.

DeMeco Ryans says Texans will be ‘fired up’ for Bobby Slowik

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans believes that the offensive players will enjoy playing for new coordinator Bobby Slowik.

INDIANAPOLIS ⁠— DeMeco Ryans didn’t bring Bobby Slowik to the Houston Texans simply because he was a San Francisco 49ers connection.

Ryans and Slowik began their 49ers tenure together as defensive quality control coaches in 2017 under rookie coach Kyle Shanahan. Slowik left the defensive side after the 2018 season and went over the offense as an assistant. In 2021, he was the offensive pass game specialist before becoming the offensive passing game coordinator in 2022.

“Bobby is a tremendous coach,” Ryans said at the NFL combine Wednesday. “He’s one of the smartest coaches I’ve been around. He’s always looking to grow and looking to learn more. Bobby has helped me as a coach grow.”

Following his one year as defensive quality control coach in 2017, Ryans became the 49ers’ inside linebackers coach for the next three seasons. For the past two seasons until accepting the job as the Texans’ coach, Ryans was San Francisco’s defensive coordinator.

The time Ryans spent with Slowik also allowed him to see what type of interactions he can have with players, which has Ryans enthused about the offseason program that begins April 3.

“I’m very excited to see Bobby get with our players,” Ryans said. “Guys are going to be fired up. He brings great energy. He’s a great teacher. The guys he’s been around, they love him.”

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Houston Texans 2023 coaching staff: Meet DeMeco Ryans’ crew

The Houston Texans announced their 2023 coaching staff, the first for DeMeco Ryans.

The Houston Texans announced their new coaching staff.

DeMeco Ryans stated in his introductory presser that he wanted a staff that reflected diversity because players process information differently. Having a multitude of experiences and approaches on the staff can allow players an opportunity to understand the objectives without a monolithic approach.

There were some holdovers from the Lovie Smith era, which reflected a commitment to merit-based performance as well. However, most of the hires were from the San Francisco 49ers or had such Kyle Shanahan connections.

Houston hopes to rise from the bottom of the AFC South in 2023. If they are to do so, it will be with this coaching staff.

Texans get hot scheme with Bobby Slowik and his intriguing background

The Houston Texans are getting a fascinating scheme with new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik thanks to his background.

The Houston Texans got their guy in Bobby Slowik.

The San Francisco 49ers passing game coordinator joins DeMeco Ryans as the former defensive coordinator takes over his original draft team from 2006. Interestingly Slowik and Ryans both started their 49ers tenures at the same time — 2017 — and as defensive quality control coaches under rookie coach Kyle Shanahan. However, Slowik diverted towards offense after that season and Ryans stayed on his defensive path.

Slowik, 35, is tasked with turning around a Houston offense that was one of the league’s worst the last two years under coordinators Tim Kelly and Pep Hamilton. The projected offensive system, from the Shanahan and Gary Kubiak tree, is one that’s been widely celebrated around the league. Former Shanahan protege and current Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel implemented the system with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa this year and made the playoffs in their initial campaign.

The hire comes after a brief courting of former Texas Tech and Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury. For all the experience that Kingsbury was projected to bring with quarterbacks along with the well documented “Air Raid” offense, Slowik represents more of a wild card than the other options available.

It could be just what Houston needs to play a new brand of football next season.

Slowik got his start in the NFL in 2011 as a defensive assistant for Washington, working alongside his father, Bob Slowik, who had been a defensive coordinator in the league for two decades and coached against some notable names at practice every day. The Washington offensive staff at that time included Shanahan, McDaniel, Sean McVay and Mike LaFleur.

Not a bad group to be around for someone who was destined to be an offensive coordinator.

He joined the San Francisco staff originally on the defensive side of the ball as well before pivoting over to offense. Slowik joins Houston as the next young offensive-mind in the Shanahan tree. He’s prepared for this moment having spent the last four seasons learning from who many consider the premier offensive mind in the game.

For the Texans, the implementation of the Shanahan West Coast system will retain the emphasis on the run game that Lovie Smith once preached a year ago but go about that in very different ways. The run game will be entirely predicated on zone blocking concepts and is one that has seen somewhat unheralded players like Elijah Mitchell find early success the last few seasons.

General Manager Nick Caserio will need to find strong interior offensive line play, both to support 2022 first-round pick Kenyon Green and his development but also to ensure that Houston is able to win games the way that Slowik’s offense is designed. Attacking right guard and center either during free agency or the draft will be non-negotiable.

No team featured two backs on the field more than San Francisco in 2021, so it may be safe to assume fullback Troy Hairston’s role will grow and the Texans will look to prioritize finding a complimentary back to Dameon Pierce. The offensive scheme under Shanahan prioritized running the ball through a variety of formations and was unafraid to do so in a throwback fashion.

The under-center nature of the west coast and its ties to a quick passing scheme should work to make life easier for whoever lines up under center in Houston. The team is currently projected to draft a quarterback at second overall by most analysts, so this speaks well for either Alabama quarterback Bryce Young or Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. Both showed a propensity to play well in rhythm this past season and both would be able to do so at a high level in Slowik’s projected scheme.

Even if the team decided to roll with former quarterback Davis Mills, this is a friendly system for any signal caller in football.

The team will need more receivers who can separate, currently Amari Rodgers, Nico Collins, and 2022 second-round pick John Metchie are the only wide receivers on the roster after Brandin Cooks. If Cooks is indeed traded as anticipated, Caserio will have to replace both his production and speed on the perimeter. A rookie wide receiver like Jalen Hyatt from Tennessee could be impactful for his ability to punish safeties and get defenses out of stacked boxes. A wideout like Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba could do so through his known playmaking ability after the catch.

This isn’t to say Houston is entirely unprepared to transition. The team is set up well with offensive tackles Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard to protect the quarterback at a high level on passing downs. The previously mentioned Pierce should absolutely excel in what will be predicted to be a career-best season. It’s not unreasonable to think young wideouts like Nico Collins will also have their best years in a new scheme and with improved quarterback play.

Slowik has never called offensive plays before. It will be an interesting transition to see how a coach who is very well respected for his ability on the chalk board and assisting with game plans will perform within the game. However, there’s no reason to imagine Slowik will struggle.

What makes the Slowik acquisition more interesting is the team is working on hiring Klint Kubiak, former offensive coordinator and the son of former Texans coach Gary Kubiak, as their run game coordinator. Minnesota assistant quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson has been brought in as quarterbacks coach. Slowik will have plenty of help getting his offense ready for Sundays.

The transition to Slowik’s offense away from Hamilton ran in 2022 will be markedly different for the Texans. However, after the failure of the last two seasons, their attempted embrace of a well-renowned system will likely be a welcome sight for fans.

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