Tag: James Liipfert

Texans’ James Liipfert identifies WR Tank Dell’s biggest trait

Houston Texans asst. director of player personnel James Liipfert identified the trait that jumped out to them regarding WR Tank Dell.

The University of Houston’s TDECU Stadium and NRG Stadium are almost 10 miles away from each other. It may be the shortest scouting trip for the Houston Texans.

The offensive explosion orchestrated by quarterback Clayton Tune and wideout Tank Dell wasn’t going unnoticed as far as the Texans were unconcerned. The Cougars generated 455.8 yards total offense with Dell catching 113 for 1,407 yards and 17 touchdowns.

However, it wasn’t until the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., in the beginning of February that Texans assistant director of player personnel James Liipfert start to recognize Dell’s best trait.

“One thing that Tank did which really showed itself I would say at the Senior Bowl was just how well he separated as a route runner,” Liipfert told reporters Nov. 9. “Tank is very, very quick and very sudden. Everyone likes to watch the one-on-ones and that kind of thing, but just the amount of separation he was getting out of his cuts and creating windows.”

The Texans selected Dell in the third round with the confidence what he had shown with the Cougars would translate to the NFL.

Said Liipfert: “I would just say his speed out of cuts, his ability to separate with his quickness in addition to a lot of other things, but I would those couple of things are at the top of the list as far as positive traits that he had that we really liked and kind of made him attractive to us to draft.”

Dell has given rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud a weapon through the first eight games. The 5-10, 165-pound receiver has caught 28 passes for 454 yards and four touchdowns on the season.

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Texans are riding fine balance between fit and need in 2023 NFL draft

The Houston Texans are in a position in the 2023 NFL draft where they must find the right balance between addressing needs but finding good fits.

The Houston Texans did a a fair job of addressing roster holes throughout free agency. It can be argued the last remaining voids are quarterback, receiver, defensive end, and center.

With 12 draft picks and the most capital in the upcoming 2023 NFL draft, it would be easy for the Texans to simply use all of their picks throughout the four positions. Eventually they would find a rookie who could fit new coach DeMeco Ryans’ defensive scheme or meld with new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s philosophy.

Striking the balance between fit and need is akin to one of the other great football paradoxes of which needs to be built on defense: the pass rush or the coverage.

Texans assistant director of player personnel and college scouting director James Liipfert believes there is a starting point.

“I would say you’ve got to have the fit first,” Liipfert said March 17. “I think it’s on me, and it has to trickle down to our scouts who do a Hell of a job.”

The most important aspect if having the personnel department and the coaching staff synchronized as to what they are targeting in a player.

“We have to be on the same page with our coaches with how a player fits a particular scheme, and I think if you start going crazy on need, need is more of a game day situation. ‘Okay, we’re picking here, and we’re a few spots out,” said Liipfert. “It’s this position or that position, what do we what do we want to do? We maybe feel good about this current position on our team, that’s one thing.”

Whether it is quarterback Bryce Young or defensive end Will Anderson, both from Alabama and expected to go in the top-5, the Texans would have to ensure they would be useful to the coaching staff and not simply taking the player to fill a need.

Said Liipfert: “The worst thing you want to do is take athlete X and, ‘Hey man we’ll get him here, and he’ll be this.’ Then, you’re DBs coach is like, ‘I really don’t like the way this guy fits.’ Well, we screwed up somewhere. I would say let’s get the fit right and then the need sort of organically happens as names fall off the board. I think you go into it saying we need X, Y and Z. Well, if the board doesn’t fall to you like that, now you’re stuck. Get the fit right, identify the players that you like for each position, and hopefully one is there when it’s your turn to pick and go get them.”

The Texans will have ample opportunity to get the fit right and at premium value with six picks in the top-104 of the draft.

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Texans looking for ‘smart, dependable’ players in the draft

Houston Texans asst. director of player personnel James Liipfert says DeMeco Ryans’ directive is to find ‘smart, dependable’ players in the draft.

James Liipfert is working with his third different coach in as many seasons as assistant director of player personnel and college scouting director.

What Liipfert has noticed about new Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans is that there isn’t much nuance when it comes to the type of player that he wants to add in the 2023 NFL draft.

“I think it’s a pretty straight forward approach,” said Liipfert. “He wants his type of people that play a certain brand of ball, whether offense, defense, or special teams. From what I can gather from him through these first couple of months, he’s particular about the type of person. He’s particular about the way they play.”

According to Liipfert, the process that Ryans has laid out for the personnel staff is not that labyrinthine.

“We want a Houston Texan to play a certain way moving forward,” Liipfert said. “I don’t think it’s a particularly complicated player or process that he’s trying to put us through. ‘Give me guys that play their behinds off, they’re good people, and let’s go from there.’ I think that’s a good place to start for any player, any team.”

As Liipfert and his staff work through the game tape and timing numbers from workouts, including the NFL combine, pro days, and all-star games, two traits have to resonate for all prospects.

Said Liipfert: “It’s on me and on my staff to find the best ones that fall under those two buckets, smart, dependable, all the other things that we value.”

As with the entire operation inside NRG Stadium, the presence of Ryans, who was a Pro Bowl linebacker for the Texans from 2006-11, has infused energy.

“With DeMeco, I can’t say enough good things,” Liipfert said. “I’m so fired up. He’s been great to work with. Combine, he was excellent. I think our players are really going to enjoy playing for him, so, I’m very excited.”

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James Liipfert says Texans trust game tape over workouts from NFL combine, pro days

Houston Texans assistant director of player personnel says that the team puts game film ahead of workouts at the NFL combine and pro days.

The NFL combine in early March was the unofficial kickoff to draft workout season.

All 32 teams got a chance to see draft prospects in Indianapolis go through workouts that draw comparisons to their skills on the football field. The same is true for the numerous pro days that will be held until a week before the 2023 NFL draft.

Houston Texans assistant director of player personnel and college scouting director James Liipfert and his staff have plenty to comb through as they evaluate the prospects. Regardless of how many workouts a player does or doesn’t have from early January to April, one thing remains the same for Liipfert.

“I will always go back to the tape,” Liipfert said. “I think every player has the right to work out when and where they want to. Just because player X didn’t work out at the combine, or they only did position drills at their pro day, a lot of the times those guys are trusting what their agents are telling them. The agents usually have a really good reason for, ‘This is why I ask you to not to do that, or only work out here, or only do that there.’ These guys are listening to their agents, and that’s okay.”

What Liipfert is able to control is “evaluating how a guy played,” which he deems as the most significant element of his job.

“I don’t think that’s a state secret,” said Liipfert. “You probably have every team in the league probably feels that way. Ultimately, when there’s a helmet on their head and there are shoulder pads on their shoulders, that to me will always be king. That’s not some secret. It’s football. You’re drafting them to play football, so you want to know how they play football.”

The combine and the pro days are still of significance in the scouting process, but are more about picking up aspects about a prospect’s athleticism.

Said Liipfert: “I would say Combine to Pro Day to private workouts, you’re really just trying to get a little more conviction or find out something about some certain granular parts about their athleticism. ‘How well does this guard really bend? How powerful is this center really on contact? Let me hold his bag and feel this guy strike the bag.’ I think there is (more) value to that than saying, ‘I’m going to go work this guy out and find out everything that I need to know.’ I would say watch the tape and make your judgments off that more so.”

The Texans still have plenty of time between now and April 26, the first day of the NFL draft, to determine who looks good on tape and would fit Houston’s identity under coach DeMeco Ryans.

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James Liipfert breaks down how Texans interview draft prospects

Houston Texans assistant director of player personnel provided some insight as to how the team interviews draft prospects.

The Houston Texans have been taking a look at draft prospects since the start of the year. They finally get a chance to talk to players they have highly regarded throughout last college football season.

Assistant director of player personnel and college scouting director James Liipfert took time to talk about how the Texans interview prospects.

“There are definitely some good laughs in these combine interviews,” said Liipfert. “When we talk to these guys, I would say it’s very conversational. We’re just trying to get to know them. I wouldn’t say we’re the team that’s going to slam the door and put the heat lamp on them. I wouldn’t say that’s our style.”

Here is more from Liipfert on how the Texans go about their draft interview prospect.

James Liipfert says Texans weigh season-ending injuries on case by case basis

Asst. director of player personnel James Liipfert says the Houston Texans treat season-ending injuries to prospects on a case by case basis.

The nature of the NFL draft is such that all 32 teams could be selecting players whose college careers were summarily ended with an injury.

The Houston Texans are no exception. In fact, their two first-round picks from last year — cornerback Derek Stingley and guard Kenyon Green — both missed time during offseason workouts. Stingley was recovering from a foot injury that kept him to just three games in 2021, and Green was recovering from offseason knee surgery.

Don’t be surprised if the Texans are taking a player in the 2023 NFL draft who also had his college career cut short with an injury.

According to assistant director of player personnel and college scouting director James Liipfert, the Texans don’t see all season-ending injuries to college players as equal.

“I think that’s an extremely case-by-case thing,” Liipfert said. “Not all season-ending injuries are the same. A guy could have torn his ACL in Week 2 or a guy could have broken his pinky finger in Week 12. They were both season-ending injuries.”

Liipfert provided that what helps their case determination is the Texans’ medical staff, who he referred to as “a bunch of rockstars,” and are consistent with their information on prospects.

“We have really good meetings with them,” said Liipfert. “It’s a constant flow of information, sending them information, getting their thoughts. They have their grading process on how we look at guys. I would say you’re not scared of it, but ultimately you need to have conviction to when is the guy going to be ready and what are you going to get out of this guy when he is ready to go. As long as you have the information, that’s all that matters.”

One name that the Texans have been linked to in mock drafts at No. 12 overall is USC wideout Jordan Addison, who completed his final season after 11 games due to an ankle injury.

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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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How much has DeMeco Ryans’ arrival impacted the Texans’ draft board?

With the Houston Texans hiring DeMeco Ryans in early February, how much has the draft board changed with the new coach’s arrival?

James Liipfert takes his orders from Nick Caserio.

The Houston Texans assistant director of player personnel and college scouting director works closely with the general manager to ensure they are targeting just the right type of players needed in the NFL draft that can meet the coaching staff’s expectations.

For Liipfert, it is the third straight season where he will be working with a different coaching staff, but so far his job has been to let Caserio be the emissary.

“I’d say Nick does a phenomenal job really being a liaison between the scouting department as a whole and the coaching staff as a whole,” Liipfert said. “Nick, it’s just very natural for him to talk to both those languages. Nick’s ability to say, ‘I’ve been having good conversations with all the coaches. Here’s how we’re adjusting looking at different positions. Here’s how we’re maybe going to look at the receiver position, the running back position. Here are some differences to how we’ve looked at it in the past.’ He’s done a really great job. There are some similarities defensively, but there’s also some differences.”

New coach DeMeco Ryans was hired as coach Jan. 31. Although it seems late in the draft process, there was still time to coordinate with the new staff.

“They got here in end of January, early February,” said Liipfert. “We have plenty of time. It’s not some massive overall where you’re scrapping the whole draft board and you’re starting over. I would say maybe you’re adjusting 15-20% of it. I’d say, 80-85% of it, good football players are good football players regardless of the scheme. Whether you’re playing for DeMeco or whoever, not a lot is going to change.”

According to Liipfert, the only area where Ryans’ new staff may do things differently compared to other staffs is how they assess “mid-round type of guys.”

Said Liipfert: “You got to get on the same page. We give them a list of guys and they go through it. You give them 10 guys and they might say ‘I’m not really feeling these two.’ Maybe we have this guy as a mid-round guy and that guy probably gets bumped down because quite honestly he’s not going to be a good fit. Let’s maybe bump him down to later in the draft. Someone else will take him and we’ll keep it moving.”

The draft is April 27-29 in Kansas City, Missouri.

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Texans scouting boss James Liipfert mum on draft evaluations of quarterback

Houston Texans assist director of scouting and college scouting director James Liipfert gave just generalities when asked about QB evaluations.

The Houston Texans need a quarterback. Their first move of the 2023 NFL draft at No. 2 overall is virtually certain to be a quarterback.

However, James Liipfert was as coy and ambiguous when asked about quarterback evaluations as if the Texans had 22nd overall pick.

The Texans’ assistant director of player personnel and college scouting director spoke with the media on a Zoom call Friday and would not lend any insight as to how Houston is looking at the position.

“Whether it’s looking at quarterback, offensive tackle, linebacker, pick a position, honestly, we look at all of them,” Liipfert said. “We are looking at everything. Our scouts are boots on the ground every day this week.”

The completion of the NFL combine on March 6 just kicked off the pro day tour for the Texans. According to Liipfert, their midwest area scout, George Panagiotopoulos, was already in Bloomington, Indiana, at Indiana’s pro day.

“We are evaluating everyone, from guys that we anticipate going in the first round to free agents,” Liipfert said. “You’re looking at everyone at all positions.”

Liipfert believes he can best help the Texans make a valuable selection by spreading himself throughout the entirety of the draft board, not looking at one specific position.

Said Liipfert: “Speaking for myself, I would not say our approach drastically changes just because it’s some position. Specifically, my role is to know about every position, every player on the board as possible. If I were to get too granular on a group of players or a position, I would bog myself down. I truly just need to spread myself to all positions, and our guys are doing the same thing.”

Houston has six picks in the top-103. There is value to be had throughout the draft, but the one position Texans fans and commenters alike will be focused on is quarterback.

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