Houston Texans linebacker Christian Kirksey says that rookie Christian Harris is like a “sponge” with the way he soaks up information.
Christian Kirksey is one of the stable veteran linebackers for the Houston Texans, and his previous eight seasons in the NFL gives him a basis to evaluate younger talent.
The Texans used their No. 75 overall selection in Round 3 of the 2022 NFL draft to take former Alabama linebacker Christian Harris. Although the 6-2, 232-pounder doesn’t speak very much, his actions are saying a lot to Kirksey.
“Man, he’s quiet,” Kirksey told reporters on June 1 after organized team activities at Houston Methodist Training Center. “He doesn’t say too much which is good because he’s a sponge. He’s soaking up all the knowledge he can and the kid is fast. He’s athletic.”
Even though Harris comes from Alabama where Kirksey admits that coach Nick Saban “polished him well and got him ready to go,” rookies still have their moments and growing pains. According to Kirksey, Harris should be able to contribute immediately.
Said Kirksey: “Now, you don’t see that all the time in a rookie, but he’s picking it up fast, and I’m happy that he’s here.”
During rookie minicamp on May 13, Harris admitted that he was trying to learn the entire defense, not just his assignments at linebacker.
“I’m just trying to really learn as much as the defense as I can, not just my spot but everybody’s,” said Harris. “Just make myself a little more comfortable so I can play faster and do whatever I can to hopefully bring some more wins to this team.”
Kirksey also appreciates having another linebacker in the corps who shares the same first name as him.
“Also, that’s the third Christian; it’s myself, him, and then my son, Christian Jr.,” Kirksey remarked. “So, there’s a bunch of Christians all over the place, which is cool.”
The Texans are hopeful that with the infusion of younger talent at linebacker, coach Lovie Smith’s Tampa 2 scheme will have athletic, willing tacklers to patrol the line of scrimmage and also cover in space.
Linebackers have a variety of roles in the Tampa 2. Find out how the Houston Texans LB corps works and also where the team may go in the draft.
The Texans Wire started a series on the hallmark of Lovie Smith defenses: The Tampa 2 scheme. The goal of this series is to provide clarity for the Houston Texans fan base as to what the team is trying to do on defense at their base schematically. Hopefully this creates a good foundation to understand why general manager Nick Caserio may make the decisions he does on draft night.
Once again, the Texans Wire’s John Crumpler was joined by Jordan Pun from Sports’ Illustrated for the discussion. Below is the full interview on YouTube.
The Tampa 2 defense stems from the 4-3 base scheme. This means that after the down four defensive linemen, there are three linebackers stacked behind them. These roles are classically divided into the middle linebacker, the weak side linebacker and the strong side linebacker. Colloquially, you may also hear the terms ‘Mike’ (middle), ‘Will’ (weak side), and ‘Sam’ (strong side) used.
To begin, the Tampa 2 is very unique because, debatably more than any other set, it asks the world from the middle linebacker. The Mike is expected to essentially captain the defense. The position requires a strong run stopper but also someone who can play a wide zone that is nearly backed up towards the safeties but also responsible for the tight ends and running backs that can creep up later in plays. The dual expectation means that your middle linebacker must be fast enough to account for arguably the largest zone on the field, but also make plays on running backs that advance to the second level.
It’s a tall task.
For the Texans, Christian Kirksey plays this role, and it should come as no surprise the team was quick to resign him in free agency. Although far from elite at this point in his career, Kirksey gives Smith a veteran player he can trust to execute as the linchpin of his scheme. The former Cleveland Brown and Green Bay Packer performed sufficiently with 93 tackles in his 12 starts last year.
If any spot linebacker spot may be worth an investment on a first-round rookie, it’s the middle linebacker for Lovie Smith. Within the 2022 class, the No. 1 linebacker by many is University of Georgia’s Nakobe Dean. Dean has the range to play well against the run and the pass and was a huge component of the Georgia defense performing as well as it did in 2021.
Next, the weak side linebacker — the Will — Houston fans should immediately think of Kamu Grugier-Hill when envisioning this role. Once again, this linebacker is asked to clean up against the run but is not responsible for the same zone responsibilities as the middle linebacker. Instead, the weak side linebacker will generally be the most fluent in defending the pass. He may be tasked with covering the tight end, a running back directly out of the backfield, or even an occasional slot receiver
This is one of the stronger spots on Houston’s defense. After Grugier-Hill, the team has strong depth in newly signed Jaylen Reeves-Maybin and Neville Hewitt. Although they may look to add linebackers in the draft, the weak side may be the one spot they are content to let rest in the 2022 campaign. If they were to pursue a rookie, the 2022 draft’s best linebacker in Devin Lloyd from Utah projects well to this spot. Lloyd is one of the quickest linebackers in the draft and possesses the agility on the field that’s ideal for the weak side role.
Finally, the strong side linebacker. Compared to the Will, the Sam is ideally a stronger tackler and truly your “run-thumping” linebacker of the group. This can be the biggest player of the position group and the, relatively, biggest liability in the passing game. On those passing downs, the strong side linebacker may come off the field in favor of an additional corner.
This role is occupied likely by second-year player Garrett Wallow from TCU if the season were to start today in Houston. Wallow showed some upward trajectory towards the end of the season, but it may be prudent for Houston to look to upgrade. Wyoming’s Chad Muma and Georgia’s Quay Walker come to mind here. Walker made a living cleaning up against the run for the Bulldogs and has the versatility to play the Mike as well in Smith’s scheme.
Ultimately, the linebackers have similar tasks in every defense. They need to stop the run at the second level, blitz when required, and make plays against the pass in their respective zones. The Tampa 2 specifically differentiates in terms of the expanded responsibility of the middle linebacker and less responsibilities with blitzing across the three spots. Houston has a ton of guys at this position on the roster, but nobody that could truly be called elite.
The draft will reveal if Caserio wants to change that.
On Jan. 10, the day after Houston’s season ended, Kirksey, 29, told reporters the type of team he wanted to sign with in free agency, and wouldn’t rule out the Texans.
“Me, personally, I look for a group of men that have a will to win,” Kirksey said. “I look for good people. It’s hard to come across good people, good genuine people that are fully invested in their craft. That’s what I look for when I’m looking for a team. I think Texas embodies that. It’s a bunch of great faces in this organization and I enjoyed my time here. Hopefully, I have more time here, but like I said, that’s out of my control. I think that they have the right people that’s put in place here, and I definitely enjoy that.”
Kirksey played in 13 games for Houston, starting in 12 of them, and generated 93 combined tackles, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, an interception, eight pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries.
Houston Texans linebacker Christian Kirksey believes the defense can improve on the fact they finished in the top-10 in takeaways in 2021.
The Houston Texans didn’t do very many good things, which was reflected in their 4-13 finish at the end of the 2021 season.
However, the Texans were able to finish in the top-10 in a key area that is a hallmark of a successful football team.
After the 17-game season, Houston tallied 25 takeaways, tied with the Los Angeles Rams and the Miami Dolphins for the 10th-most in the NFL.
What makes the Texans’ placement in the top-10 in takeaways is they are the only team with a losing record to be in the mix. The Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, and the Miami Dolphins are the only other teams like the Texans who will be watching the playoffs from the couch this January.
While takeaways aren’t everything, they are a good starting point for a rebuild team.
“That was definitely something good to see,” linebacker Christian Kirksey said on Jan. 10. “You see a lot of challenging things happen in the season of football, but when you do pull out good things, that means you’re always improving somewhere. Our record wasn’t where we wanted it, but we still got better at something, and that’s all you can ask for.”
While the Texans can’t dwell on their record, they can look to what worked, and according to Kirksey, it was the takeaways.
Said Kirksey: “You’ve got to look at the good things and say, ‘All right, what can I build at, and where can I make a statement going into next year?’ I think that’s something to end in the top-10 in takeaways knowing the previous year wasn’t that good. It shows improvement, that’s all you can ask for.”
Kirksey believes the Texans were able to finish in the top-10 in takeaways due to the constant emphasis from defensive coordinator Lovie Smith.
“When you look at Lovie’s track record, he always has defenses that have a bunch of takeaways, and that’s something that he preached,” said Kirksey. “He put special emphasis on takeaways and we focused on it. Obviously, it was a good outcome for us to see all those takeaways.”
An area where the Texans could improve is in the run defense. Houston finished tied with the Los Angeles Chargers and Arizona Cardinals for the fifth-most yards per carry surrendered at 4.6.
The Houston Texans have placed three players on the COVID-19 reserve along with other roster moves for Week 15.
The Houston Texans have placed three players on the COVID-19 reserve in safety A.J. Moore, linebacker Christian Kirksey, and defensive end DeMarcus Walker.
All three players will miss the Jacksonville Jaguars game.
According to coach David Culley, the Texans’ protocols for COVID-19 are based on what the NFL requires.
“The changes we’ve made (are) the changes that the NFL requires us to make,” Culley told reporters Wednesday. “Usually all those changes come down from the league office, and once the league office gives us those changes, then we go by those changes. There’s really not anything else we can do. I think our people here, our staff do a great job of everything that we need to do to prevent this thing from happening.
“All of our guys are vaccinated and it’s still happening. It’s happening across the league. Obviously, this past week and these past couple of days, there’s been a little bit more outbreak.”
The Texans also designated defensive end Jordan Jenkins for return from injured reserve. Jenkins had been placed on injured reserve with a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Week 11.
Houston also placed receiver Davion Davis on injured reserve with a fractured leg.
The Texans also signed running back Darius Anderson to the practice squad. Anderson went to training camp with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2020, but was cut at the end of that August. Anderson spent the 2020 season with the Indianapolis Colts on their practice squad, but was waived at the end of 2021 preseason.
Houston Texans linebacker Christian Kirksey says that not being disciplined against the run cost them against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 14.
The Houston Texans lost 33-13 to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 14 at NRG Stadium. Although the score seemed to show that it was another Texans beating throughout the game, Houston was in the game early the fourth quarter.
The Texans, who had turned to rookie Davis Mills as their starter once more, were down 19-13 when the Seahawks took over after a Houston punt with 11:38 to go. The Seahawks mounted a 10-play, 67-yard drive with Russell Wilson throwing a 1-yard touchdown to tight end Gerald Everett to make it a two-score game after the two-point conversion, 27-13.
Throughout the game, Houston couldn’t stuff running back Rashaad Penny, and with a lead to protect, he went off and finished with 16 carries for 137 yards and a 47-yard touchdown to ice the game with 5:35 to play.
According to linebacker Christian Kirksey, what cost the Texans was not staying disciplined defending the run.
“Just us being undisciplined at times, knowing we have a responsibility to do and we just didn’t do it all game,” Kirksey said. “We wish we could get some of those plays back, but we have to play better football.”
Kirksey pointed to individual breakdowns as being the impetus for the defense struggling to contain the Seahawks’ ground game, which finished with 29 carries for 193 yards and two touchdowns.
Said Kirksey: “Our defense is built on everybody individually doing their job. A defense is supposed to move as a unit and when we don’t all do be on the same page, things can happen. Negative plays can happen for us. I would just say that we all need to be responsible for what we’re supposed to do, all 11 guys and make sure we play complementary defense. At times we did and at times we didn’t, and when we didn’t it cost us.”
Week 14 marked the fourth straight game and 11th of 13 games that the Texans defense gave up over 100 yards rushing.
LB Kamu Grugier-Hill is beloved by his Houston Texans teammates, and it showed in their outpouring after his injury in Week 14.
Kamu Grugier-Hill was having a great year.
The journeyman linebacker led the Houston Texans with 88 combined tackles and also set the team’s single-game record for tackles with 20 the week prior against the Indianapolis Colts.
Grugier-Hill’s season may have come to an abrupt end in the third quarter of the 33-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks Sunday at NRG Stadium. The former New England Patriots 2016 sixth-round pick left the game on a cart with what the team said was a knee injury.
Given the pain and that Houston has four games left, it is probable his season is over.
Linebacker Christian Kirksey hated seeing a close teammate of his leaving the gridiron on a cart.
“Anytime you have one of your teammates not being able to get up on their own, having to be assisted and carted off, you never want to see that,” said Kirksey. “Kamu is a close teammate and close friend to me. It’s definitely devastating to watch when a player goes down and a friend as well, but that’s a part of the game, sadly. All we can do is just continue to put our prayers out there and keep encouraging him.”
Kirksey wasn’t the only one offering warm thoughts and prayers for Grugier-Hill. Receiver Brandin Cooks was also crestfallen to see the linebacker leave the game on a cart.
“You’re just at a loss for words,” Cooks said. “I’m praying for him. You talk about a special player, but a special man that means a lot to this team and this locker room. It’s so unfortunate that this game comes with those type of things, but he knows we love him. We’ll be there with him right by his side through it all. It was just unfortunate.”
Kirksey did have a chance to talk to Grugier-Hill after the game and let him know that the team is still in his corner.
Said Kirksey: “Just told him that we’re pulling for him and praying for him. We’re going to keep balling for him and do everything we can to keep going for him. I got a chance to talk to him. I’m sure I’ll talk to him later on today.”
Coach David Culley told reporters after the game the team would know more about Grugier-Hill’s status on Monday.
The Houston Texans have activated QB Tyrod Taylor for Week 9 while also making two other roster moves.
The Houston Texans announced they have activated quarterback Tyrod Taylor from injured reserve.
The former 2015 Pro Bowler had been placed on injured reserve after Week 2 when he strained his hamstring in the 31-21 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
The Texans knew that Taylor would be the starter and replace rookie quarterback Davis Mills whenever the 32-year-old was ready to come back.
Houston placed linebacker Christian Kirksey, who had been dealing with a thumb injury, on injured reserve. Kirksey will be eligible to return three weeks from now.
The Texans used one of their standard practice squad elevations on safety Jonathan Owens.
Houston Texans LB Christian Kirksey says that he is only focusing on what is within his scope of influence, and that isn’t he NFL trade deadline.
The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 2, and one would figure the Houston Texans would be one of the biggest sellers on the market.
The AFC South club has stumbled to a 1-7 start and are interminably starting a rookie quarterback as they await intended starter, Tyrod Taylor, to recover from a strained hamstring.
With players on the move, as was the case with running back Mark Ingram, who was traded back to the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 27, Texans players could have anxiety about where they will finish the 2021 campaign, or who will stick around in Houston for the final 10 games.
Linebacker Christian Kirksey is not allowing the trade deadline to influence his daily approach.
“You only can control what you can control,” Kirksey said. “We’ve got enough to worry about during the season, as far as what we’re doing, what we have in front of us. So, there’s no sense of adding extra stress or adding extra worry to something that may or may not happen.”
According to the 29-year-old from Iowa, the players don’t spend too much time discussing the trade deadline.
“A lot of guys really don’t talk about it,” said Kirksey. “We just can control what we can control, and that’s what we have in this room right now. Whatever happens, happens. You always cross that bridge once you get there, but not too many guys talk about that.”
The focus for Kirksey is to get the Texans off the schneid as they have lost their past seven games. Whether or not Kirksey gets to actually complete that ask by the end of the week remains to be seen as the Texans continue to work their way through the trade deadline.
HOUSTON – The Houston Texans’ losing streak extended to seven following a 38-22 defeat to the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday afternoon, at NRG Stadium in Houston. For the seventh consecutive game, it was the same story for the now 1-7 Texans. Houston’s …
HOUSTON — The Houston Texans’ losing streak extended to seven following a 38-22 defeat to the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday afternoon, at NRG Stadium in Houston. For the seventh consecutive game, it was the same story for the now 1-7 Texans.
Houston’s backfield did not provide any productivity to a dreadful offense that could not sustain drives. The secondary’s inabilities to cover the middle of the field was exploited by the opposing team’s quarterback, this time by MVP candidate Matthew Stafford who threw for 305 yards and three touchdowns in three quarters. And the continuous struggles of an undisciplined team that ensued in the Texans recording several penalties in a loss.
With nine games remaining in the 2021 campaign, the Texans are not throwing in the towel on an appalling season. But the same tedious issues that have plagued Houston through the first eight weeks are starting to become tiresome for a few.
“They [the Rams] had good execution, and we didn’t,” linebacker Christian Kirksey said during his media availability on Monday. “There is nothing more I can say that can make things change for us. It was just poor execution on our part.”
While searching for words to express how the Texans can improve on the defensive side of the ball, Kirksey says the team could start by paying attention to their fundamentals in hopes of better on-field execution.
One of the elements where Kirksey would like to see the defense improve is the number of big plays the Texans have given up throughout the eight game skid. Against the Rams, there were a dozen plays where the Texans gave up 15 or more yards to Los Angeles’ offense.
With a Week 9 meeting against the 1-7 Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, the Texans have one last chance to right the ship before entering their bye week — set for Week 10 of the NFL season. And according to Kirksey, players are “still in it despite the mounting frustration.
“We see where they are, and they have had some struggles of their own — but every team is dealing with something,” Kirksey said. “I look at each Sunday as an opportunity to get better. Anything can happen on a Sunday.”
“It’s the National Football League, you don’t have time to feel sorry for yourself. We are all competitors. Not only are we playing for the team, but we are also playing for our pride and resume. At the end of the day, we are just playing football, and this is our job.”
