Tag: Dylan Cole

10 Texans free agents whose reps met with Houston at the NFL Scouting Combine

The Houston Texans didn’t just use the NFL combine to evaluate future talent. They used the week to meet with reps of their in-house free agents.

INDIANAPOLIS — The Houston Texans had a busy week at the NFL Scouting Combine. They weren’t just evaluating the 2020 NFL Draft class; they were meeting with the representatives of their own free agents to see where things stand before free agency opens on March 18.

Here is a list of the players whose representatives met with the Texans per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

1. LT Laremy Tunsil

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(AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

If the Texans gave up two first-round picks and a second-rounder in 2021 just to get two seasons out of the Pro Bowl left tackle, it would be a waste. Tunsil will make around $10.4 million in the final year of his rookie contract. The Texans will want to extend him. The goal for Houston is to work towards his extension and then move on to quarterback Deshaun Watson, who is now eligible for a new deal.

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Do the Texans need to upgrade at inside linebacker?

The Houston Texans have sundry voids to fill on their roster in the 2020 offseason. One of them needs to be inside linebacker.

Heading into the 2019 season, it appeared the Houston Texans were set at the inside linebacker position.

They had Benardrick McKinney, a former second-round pick and Pro Bowler and Zach Cunningham, a 2017 second-round pick. They had an undrafted free agent in Dylan Cole who has produced well on the field. This seemed more than enough for the Texans to not have to worry about this position moving forward.

Fast forward to the end of the 2019 season and things have definitely changed, especially from a pass coverage standpoint. Dylan Cole, possibly the Texans best coverage linebacker, played in 11 games, but ended up suffering another season-ending injury (torn ACL) in Week 12. This was his third major injury in three years in the NFL.

The duo of McKinney and Cunningham played pretty well overall. They held up well against the run and finished with the following lines

Linebacker Tackles TFL Sacks PD QB hits FF
Zach Cunningham 137 7 2.0 2 3
Benardrick McKinney 101 4 1.0 3 4 1

On the surface the numbers look great, and for the most part they were. But there was one area they both really struggled, and that was in pass coverage. Linebackers playing in coverage has become increasingly more valuable and with the Chiefs as the team to beat right now, the Texans are going to have to build a team to keep up with them. According to Pro Football Reference, Cunningham and McKinney had the following numbers while in pass coverage:

Linebacker Completions/attempts Comp. % Yards TD-INT Passer rating
Zach Cunningham 38-49 77.6 319 2-0 107.4
Benardrick McKinney 35-39 89.7 350 5-0 143.6

While coverage is not their primary responsibility, it has become more prevalent for linebackers to be versatile and pickup running backs out of the backfield and the tight ends.

While Pro Football Focus’ Ben Linsey believes Houston needs to make cornerback their top offseason need, coverage linebacker also needs to be addressed:

“The Texans should also look to improve in coverage at the linebacker position. No team’s linebackers allowed a higher passer rating into their coverage than Houston’s did (124.7).”

This doesn’t mean starting over at the position — far from it. Cunningham is only 25 years old and should continue to get better and has the athleticism to play coverage. McKinney is signed long-term, which makes trading him away that much more unlikely. However, it would free up some salary cap space for the Texans, who have to figure out how to pay Cunningham, quarterback Deshaun Watson, and left tackle Laremy Tunsil, all of whom are in line for new deals.

The best way to go about this is to find an athletic linebacker in the draft that has the ability to cover. They don’t have to get a starter, but get someone who can play on obvious passing downs to help with the coverage.

3 Texans on expiring contracts who need extensions now

The Houston Texans have three players who are worthy of contract extensions after OLB Whitney Mercilus and P Bryan Anger.

The Houston Texans were busy on Saturday inking punter Bryan Anger and outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus to contract extensions. While Anger and Mercilus were worthy of extensions, there are three of their teammates who need them just as expeditiously.

1. lb dylan cole

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Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Even though the former 2017 undrafted free agent from Missouri State is out for the season with an ACL injury, if Deshaun Watson isn’t evidence enough, players can recover from those injuries and still play at a high level. Cole was voted a special teams captain at the beginning of the season, which indicates a level of trust and respect among his peers in the locker room. It also means that he is a cornerstone player that can enforce coach Bill O’Brien’s mandates. For a player who fell through the draft, getting that second contract would be the elation he missed on draft day.

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Texans take pride in being dominant on special teams

The Houston Texans, under special teams coach Brad Seely, rank as one of the NFL’s best special teams units for the second year in a row.

It wasn’t long ago that the Houston Texans shot themselves on the foot consistently due to poor special teams play. However, that changed in 2018, when Houston brought-in special teams coach Brad Seely.

Since the arrival of Seely, the Texans have risen from Football Outsiders‘ 26th-ranked special teams unit (in terms of DVOA [-4.5%]) to fifth in 2018 (3.5%) to fourth in 2019 (2.9%). They’ve allowed the fewest punt return yards in 2019 (73) and led the NFL in field goals made in 2018 (37).

“I think it’s an important part of who we are as a team,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said on Thursday.

The Texans take a special teams approach similar to the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens, teams that historically, under their respective head coaches, are among the NFL’s best on special teams. They bring in players specifically for their abilities on the ever-so-valuable but overlooked third-team.

Cornerback Keion Crossen, fullback Cullen Gillaspia, running backs Buddy Howell and Taiwan Jones, safety A.J. Moore and linebackers Dylan Cole (out for the season – ACL), Barkevious Mingo and Tyrell Adams see most of their snaps on special teams. They take pride in that.

“These guys take a lot of pride in it. They love being on special teams,” said O’Brien. “So, we’ve done a good job, especially of covering kicks, and I think our return game has been able to get a couple of first downs, basically, during the year and I think that’s important. So, I think our special teams is a big part of who we are.”

The Texans have 99 problems, but the special teams ain’t one.

What will the Texans miss with LB Dylan Cole out for the season?

Linebacker Dylan Cole tore his ACL in Week 12 and is done for the year. What will the Houston Texans miss with Cole out of commission?

Dylan Cole did not play more than 39% of defensive snaps in any single game in 2019. However, when the Houston Texans lost him for the season on Thursday to a torn ACL, they felt it.

Cole, the team’s special team captain, wasn’t a superstar on the Texans’ 53-man roster. However, his loss to the team was as profound as when J.J. Watt suffered a torn pectoral in Week 8. The third-year linebacker is a leader.

“I think any time you lose a guy like Dylan, like when we lost J.J., you lose guys that — forget about the team for a second, just the personal part of that,” coach Bill O’Brien told reporters Monday. “It means so much to those guys to play. Dylan was a captain, special teams captain, was a leader in the locker room. Was really, really good at his role, like one of the better players in the league at his role.”

Cole played a unique role for the Texans. Since going undrafted out of Missouri State, the undersized linebacker (6-0, 237) had earned praise for his electric athleticism, intensity and speed in special teams.

Cole also excelled as a coverage linebacker for the Texans. Often, Houston brought him out to play third downs. He recorded a below-average 91.9 passer rating in coverage before the injury, per Pro Football Reference.

“So, now the next guy has to step up, whoever that guy may be,” said O’Brien. “There’ll be a couple of guys that may have to step into those roles that he played.”

The lead candidates to fill-in for Cole include inside linebackers Peter Kalambayi and Tyrell Adams. Veteran outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo could also see an uptick in snaps.

However, there is no replacing Cole’s on-field presence as a leader. He is much more than a special teams body — like anyone who suits up.

“It’s more personal when that happens, for me, because I have a lot of respect for Dylan and I know how hard he works and how well he plays,” O’Brien said. “So, it’s just a tough thing.”

Report: Texans LB Dyan Cole tears ACL, season is over

Houston Texans LB Dylan Cole tore his ACL against the Indianapolis Colts in the 20-17 win, according to a report.

The Houston Texans will have to find a way to get through the final five games without a team captain.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, linebacker Dylan Cole tore his ACL in the 20-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts Thursday night at NRG Stadium.

Cole finishes the season with nine tackles, a pass breakup, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. The former 2017 undrafted free agent from Missouri State will spend the remainder of his season and the 2020 offseason rehabilitating from the injury and getting ready for a big contract year to prove his worth, not only to the team, but to prospective NFL teams.

Texans ILB Dylan Cole questionable to return versus Colts

Houston Texans inside linebacker Dylan Cole is questionable to return against the Indianapolis Colts with a calf injury.

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The Houston Texans special teams may have to finish out their Week 12 bout with the Indianapolis Colts without their special teams captain.

With 1:49 to go until halftime, after the Texans took the lead with quarterback Deshaun Watson throwing a 35-yard touchdown to receiver DeAndre Hopkins to take a 10-7 lead, inside linebacker Dylan Cole was injured on the ensuing kickoff.

The 2017 undrafted free agent from Missouri State is questionable to return with a calf injury.

Cole had played all 10 games to this point, and was a contributor on defense with nine tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a pass breakup.