Tag: Houston Texans offense

RB Devin Singletary leaves Texans, agrees to deal with Giants

The Houston Texans didn’t retain their No. 1 running back from the 2023 season after Devin Singletary agreed to a deal with the Giants.

The Houston Texans will need to find another running back after Devin Singletary agreed to sign with the New York Giants. Singletary will sign a three-year, $16.5 million deal to join New York, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler.

This deal comes a season after Singletary posted career-highs in attempts (216) and rushing yards with an 898-yard, four-touchdown campaign for Houston. He joined the Texans in 2023 on a one-year contract in the 2023 offseason from the Buffalo Bills and appeared to be the backup to Dameon Pierce. Instead, Singletary turned into Houston’s featured back by the midseason.

The Texans spoke highly of Singletary all offseason, but appear to have no liked him enough to make what the Giants offered. Singletary could step into a feature role in New York after Saquon Barkley left for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Houston, meanwhile, will look elsewhere to another running back to join Dameon Pierce.

Texans WR Nico Collins interested in extension this offseason

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins is ready to cash in after a career year in 2023.

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins just came off a breakout season.

The third-year receiver, under new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and rookie phenom C.J. Stroud, caught 80 receptions on 109 targets for 1,297 yards, and eight touchdowns this past season. It was a huge performance that put Collins on the map nationally for fantasy football fans and helped Stroud have one of the most successful rookie quarterback seasons in NFL history.

Now, the Michigan product is ready to be paid and secure his future with the team.

KPRC’s Aaron Wilson reported on Friday that Collins is ready to pursue extension conversations now that he is finally eligible after his third season.

“That would be great,” Collins said on the prospect of signing a long-term deal. “I feel like that’s what everybody works for. I’m just going to let it come to me, whatever they decide, whatever they want to do. I’m going to let it ride. Me, I’m going to continue to get better and work on my game. If they want to negotiate, we can.”

It could potentially be an advantageous proposition for both parties.

Collins could secure an extension after a career season that came after two years where he struggled to stay healthy. His value might never be higher, either, if suffers another injury or has a less productive season.

For Houston, they could lock down Collins –who showed the potential to be a No. 1 wide receiver – at a far cheaper price than what top receivers are currently finding on the market and lock in their top duo alongside 2023 rookie Tank Dell. Justin Jefferson, Mike Evans, CeeDee Lamb, Brandon Aiyuk and Tee Higgins could all command monster salaries this offseason, and Ja’Marr Chase will be eligible in 2025.

It’s unclear what price Collins would currently fetch. The NFL’s best receivers are seeing upwards of $20 million per year and it’s quite possible that Collins would cost $25 million or more from another team if he was to hit unrestricted free agency after next season.

Fans will have to wait and see if the team can work out a deal with one of the first players that general manager Nick Caserio drafted. It’s very encouraging that the team appears well poised, both financially and relationally, to retain their best home-grown talent.

15 Most Impactful Texans of 2023: No. 7 Laremy Tunsil

Up next in our “15 Most Impactful Texans of 2023” series is Laremy Tunsil, who did a great job protecting rookie C.J. Stroud.

The Houston Texans had an extremely successful 2023 campaign.

They cruised to a 10-7 record under new head coach DeMeco Ryans and captured several accolades along the way. They won the AFC South and won a playoff game for the first time since the 2019 season. Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud won PFWA’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, rookie edge rusher Will Anderson won PFWA’s Defensive Rookie of the Year, and even Ryans took home hardware with PFWA’s Coach of the Year.

With a revamped team effort that led to dramatic improvements compared to both the 2021 and 2022 Texans, it’s worth examining who created that impact this past season and what their future projects moving forward.

This series has taken a look at defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, running back Devin Singletary, rookie receiver Tank Dell, and veteran tackle George Fant, and upstart linebacker Blake Cashman.

Entering the top 10, we took a closer look at cornerback Steven Nelson and linebacker Christian Harris, and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. Now, Pro Bowl left tackle and franchise cornerstone Laremy Tunsil comes under consideration.

DeMeco Ryans describes last couple months with the Texans

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans says his last couple months leading the team have been fun and also arduous — but in a good way.

Not even one meaningful down has been played by the Houston Texans since Jan. 8, but the team appears to be heading in an entirely new direction.

The DeMeco Ryans effect has taken hold on Kirby Drive. The kickoff of the team’s offseason program April 11 signaled the beginning of Houston’s long climb out of the AFC South basement back to respectability.

“This entire process has been great,” Ryans said. “First coming in, being named head coach, it was awesome, but I know right after that was over it was time to get to work. We had a lot of the work to do.”

The Texans named Ryans coach on Jan. 31. Within a month later, the 38-year-old rookie coach was in Indianapolis at the NFL combine helping evaluate the available prospects who could be targets for the Texans in the 2023 NFL draft. Two weeks later, the Texans were in the midst of free agency.

“When it comes to adding free agents to our team and the draft process, evaluating all the prospects within the draft, it’s a lot of work,” said Ryans. “It’s great having a lot of really good people to help you out with the work. Working with [general manager] Nick (Caserio) has been great. Working with or coaches, that’s been outstanding, everybody having their input. Everybody’s input has been valuable to me to make sure that we’re having a thorough process in everything that we’re doing.”

The Texans have 12 picks in the draft, tied for the most. Their draft capital leads the league.

Meanwhile the veterans under contract are working through Phase 1 of the offseason program. The second phase, which will include more on-field work, starts the week of the draft. Ryans will have to stay balanced.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s a lot of fun work when you’re doing it with really good people,” Ryans said.

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Texans coach DeMeco Ryans puts stamp on personal approach to knowing players

Coach DeMeco Ryans shares how he gets to know the players on the Houston Texans’ expansive offseason roster.

The Houston Texans roster is 69 players — and that is before the 2023 NFL draft.

New coach DeMeco Ryans is all about taking a personalized approach to each player, but getting to know an entire 90-man roster may be a little ambitious.

However, another element of Ryans’ coaching philosophy is to allow his assistants the latitude to carry out functions in their own manner.

“It’s a lot of delegation,” Ryans said. “It starts with our coordinators, with me communicating with our coordinators and the coordinators to the position coaches of setting individualized time for each player. First and foremost, get to know each coach and connect with them on a personal level, and then I will as well try to get a few meetings with some players for myself just to make sure I have that connection with the guys.”

The Texans are in Phase 1 of their offseason program, which will include meetings for the first two weeks. Houston is precluded from doing any type of on-field work with the players until Phase 2.

The first phase of the offseason program allows for Ryans to get to know his players in a classroom setting.

“I think that the connection is very important from a coaching staff and player, just understanding that we’re all on the same page and we’re all striving for the same goal,” said Ryans. “We’re all here to make the Houston Texans organization as a winner, and we only do that if we’re connected and we’re together. It’s a very important part of the process for me to make sure that the players understand that I’m genuinely here and I have their best interest at heart.”

Ryans typifies the term “players coach” as he once played linebacker for the Texans from 2006-11, earning two Pro Bowl selections during his tenure.

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Texans coach DeMeco Ryans shares insight into how he handles young assistants

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans provided insight as to how he allows the younger assistants on his staff to develop.

One of the tenants of DeMeco Ryans’ coaching style is to comprise his staff of assistants with a variety of backgrounds. The Houston Texans’ 2023 staff is a blend of young minds and grizzled experience.

The older assistants won’t need much direction from Ryans, and one would figure that the 2022 NFL Assistant Coach of the Year would have to be more hands on developing the younger coaches.

However, Ryans is giving his staff autonomy.

“With first-time coaches it’s a matter of just letting a guy grow, giving him space to grow,” Ryans said. “For me, with coaches, it’s helping them just as much as I want to help players be successful. It’s giving them pointers, tips of where I see they may need them. It’s also giving them the space to grow, giving them the space to make mistakes and figure it out.”

Although there is something to be said for enculturation, Ryans believes that going through a process firsthand is what scores in the mind of a developing coach just how to handle situations going forward.

“I feel like experience is the best teacher, so to become a better teacher, better coach, you have to get out there, you have to do it, you have to mess it up a few times, and then you start to figure it out,” Ryans said.

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More proof QB Deshaun Watson has bailed out the Texans offense

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has been the engine for the offense’s success, and yet another stat from Pro Football Focus proves it.

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The Houston Texans offense moves with Deshaun Watson or it doesn’t move at all.

The three-time Pro Bowler earned his first league passing title in 2020 with 4,823 yards, the first time since Matt Schaub in 2009 that a Texans quarterback led the NFL in passing. In addition, Watson was fifth in the NFL with first downs by pass with 221. Only Matt Ryan (242), Patrick Mahomes (238), Tom Brady (233), and Josh Allen (228) had more first downs through the air.

However, it isn’t just through the air that Watson keeps drives alive. According to new data from Pro Football Focus, the former 2017 first-round pick has picked up the most first downs scrambling since 2019 with 44. Not even the Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, who is second in that span, breaks into the forties.

Watson’s ability to pick up first downs with his feet as well as his arm is yet another reason why the Texans would be taking a colossal step backwards if they traded him, even for an emperor’s ransom.

“He’s had a great impact on this organization, a great impact on a lot of people, a great impact on this team, and we look forward to the opportunity to spend more time with him here this spring once we get started,” general manager Nick Caserio told reporters on Jan. 29. “And we have zero interest in trading the player. We have a great plan, a great vision for him and for this team and his role on our team and we look forward opportunity to spend more time with him here this spring.”

The Texans have to find a way to get Watson on-board with Caserio and new coach David Culley. Otherwise, they won’t be picking up very many first downs, let alone wins, in 2021, regardless of how many draft picks they can get from dealing the franchise quarterback.

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Texans WR Brandin Cooks says team must ‘get on the same page’

Houston Texans receiver Brandin Cooks believes the team needs to get on the same page as they head into the offseason.

Where there is smoke, there is fire, and the smoke emanating from Kirby Drive near Houston Texans’ headquarters is a tire fire inside a dumpster fire given the peculiar standoff with franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Texans receiver Brandin Cooks joined CBS Sports Network’s “Tiki & Tierny” on Feb. 1 to talk about the state of the team after just one month of the offseason.

Co-host Brandon Tierney asked Cooks if the Texans were indeed dysfunctional as they appear to the outside world.

“You come in guns blazing asking a question like that,” Cooks remarked. “But I respect the courage to do that. But honestly it’s a lot going on. Everyone is going through stuff. Obviously in the media it seems like our team is going through a lot more. But some of those nuances, I can’t speak on that. That’s not between me and the team. That’s between other guys.”

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The problem for Houston is one that had plagued them throughout their 4-12 season in 2020: players not forming the necessary cohesion to overcome the sundry challenges that crop up throughout the 16-game campaign. In a similar regard, Houston is facing offseason challenges, and the same inconsistency is curtailing the team’s progress.

“At the end of the day, I do got to say we got to get our stuff together, and everyone get on the same page however that looks,” said Cooks. “That’s for them to be able to make that decision. We shouldn’t be the focus in this way, and hopefully this ends sooner than later.”

Watson has requested a trade from the Texans, but new general manager Nick Caserio has gone on the record to state the Texans have “zero interest” in trading the 25-year-old signal caller. Additionally, new coach David Culley has insinuated he took the job with the expectation Watson would be the starting quarterback.

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Report: Texans move on from OL coach Mike Devlin

The Houston Texans have moved on from offensive line coach Mike Devlin as David Culley assembles his staff.

The Houston Texans will move in a different direction regarding the coaching of their offensive line.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans are moving on from Mike Devlin, who has coached the blocking unit since 2015.

Devlin was a part of former coach Bill O’Brien’s trio of coaches he relied upon. In a Jan. 6, 2019, presser with the Houston media, O’Brien mentioned Romeo Crennel, Brad Seely, Tim Kelly, and Devlin as coaches he would have liked to have retained for the 2019 season, and he did.

O’Brien was fired as coach and general manager on Oct. 5, 2020, which cast a shadow of doubt on every assistant coach’s future with the Texans.

Devlin coached at least one Pro Bowler in his tenure in left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who picked up two Pro Bowl selections while with the Texans.

“I personally have never coached anybody like Laremy,” Devlin told reporters on Oct. 27, 2020. “He’s almost an artist to what he does as far as pass protection and the way he works at it and studies himself and the opponent. I’ve learned a ton relative to the tackle play. I always ask this question: How do we get that type of skill set or that technique and all that to younger guys that maybe don’t have his ability? He’s like a power forward out there.

“That’s what I’m always trying to figure out, how to take the technique that he does and the mastery of the set and equate that to someone that may not have quite the same skill set. I’ve been really pleased with how he’s worked with the younger tackles post practice and watching the opponents. He’s everything I thought he was and more.”

Given there was no direct connection between Culley and Devlin, it only makes sense for the Texans to move in a new direction.

Why don’t the Texans go up-tempo all the time since it seems to work?

The Houston Texans offense hums along and scores points when they go into up-tempo. Why not run the offense that way all the time?

The Houston Texans struggled to move the football against the Cleveland Browns Sunday afternoon at FirstEnergy Stadium, which was the key factor in their 10-7 loss.

However, the one drive the Texans actually looked like themselves, even amid the windy conditions on the shores of Lake Erie, Houston moved the ball 90 yards in seven plays, resulting in their lone touchdown of the afternoon. Quarterback Deshaun Watson found tight end Pharaoh Brown for a 16-yard touchdown.

Given that the hurry-up offense on that drive helped Houston pick up chunk plays, why not run the offense at that pace more often?

“Sometimes it does [spark the offense], but if you go up-tempo all the time, the defense kind of gets used to it, gets into a rhythm and gets into an up-tempo rhythm,” interim coach Romeo Crennel explained. “Sometimes, I think we want to know what the defense is going to line up in and kind of have an idea about what they are going to do. Sometimes when you go up-tempo, you don’t have that idea of what they are going to do because they are mulling around and doing stuff that maybe you don’t expect them to do.”

The problem for Houston was they had no run game to balance out their passing attack, or provide another effective gear to their hurry-up offense. The lack of a credible rushing threat has been a problem for the entire season and has been an ingredient to their 2-7 record.

“We slow it down so that everybody can be on the same page about how we want to operate a particular play call,” Crennel said.

While the windy conditions in Cleveland may not have been friendly to playing the hurry-up more often, the climate controlled field inside NRG Stadium is. The Texans go home to host the New England Patriots in Week 11 and ought to consider the effectiveness of an up-tempo offense against a 4-5 club fighting for a wildcard spot or even ultimate first place in the AFC East.

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