Tag: receiver

DeAndre Hopkins says Bill O’Brien ‘does a great job’ handling Texans’ coaching and GM duties

Houston Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins says that coach Bill O’Brien has done well pulling double duty leading the team and being general manager.

Count Houston Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins as someone who believes that Bill O’Brien is doing well pulling double duty as coach and general manager.

The three-time All-Pro joined SB Nation Radio’s “The Main Event” on Friday from Radio Row in Miami, and spent some time talking about the latest moves the Texans have made in the front office.

“You know, it’s not easy, man,” Hopkins said. “I’m pretty sure he has a lot on his plate, but he handles it pretty well. Being able to go out there and still coach a team at a competitive level the way we did and compete for almost a title, man, it’s not easy. He’s human, but he does a great job handling it very well.”

As the main influencer for the Texans’ five-man general managing council they had in place with vice president of football administration Chris Olsen as the interim GM, O’Brien orchestrated trades for left tackle Laremy Tunsil, receiver Kenny Stills, and running back Carlos Hyde that kept the Texans competitive and repeated as AFC South champions. Houston also managed to win a wild-card playoff game in a 22-19 overtime thriller against the Buffalo Bills that helped produce results in chairman Cal McNair’s evaluation.

Hopkins believes that O’Brien’s experience as a coach gives him an advantage as a general manager.

Said Hopkins: “I think it’s definitely probably an advantage that he’s coached before and actually been out there on the football field and knows exactly what’s going on X’s and O’s wise. So, I’m pretty sure that helps.”

With O’Brien having all of the power, the buck stops with the former Penn State coach who is entering his seventh season with the Texans. If Houston still has trouble cracking into the NFL’s final four, then the evaluation of O’Brien’s performance falls from “great” to “stagnant.”

Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins played with broken rib, dislocated finger in divisional loss to the Chiefs

Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins says he played with a broken rib and dislocated finger in the 51-31 AFC divisional loss at the Kansas City Chiefs.

For the second straight season, All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins fought through injury as the Houston Texans were being ushered out of the playoffs.

According to an interview with Hopkins via Mark Berman of Fox 26, the former 2013 first-round pick from Clemson played with a broken rib and a dislocated finger in the Texans’ 51-31 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC divisional playoffs on Jan. 12 at Arrowhead Stadium.

“My teammates I saw out there was fighting with me,” Hopkins said Wednesday as he and his mother donated $45,000 to The Women’s Group in Houston. “They were giving everything they had out there. It was no question that I was going to stay in the locker room in the second half. It was out of the question, especially when my team needed me, even if my presence was out there. I was going to play for the guys out there with me.”

Hopkins caught nine passes for 118 yards and had a fumble.

“It’s tough,” Hopkins said. “It’s hard to breathe. It’s football. It’s an injury. So, it was nothing.”

With regards to Hopkins’ dislocated finger on his right hand, the Pro Bowler said he would play with seven fingers if necessary.

Said Hopkins: “I’d play with seven fingers if I had to, man. Any injury is tough. It’s a little bit more tougher when it’s the hand that you have to catch with. But it’s football. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

In 2018’s AFC wild-card, the Texans lost 21-7 at home to the Indianapolis Colts. Hopkins battled the entire four quarters with a shoulder injury that kept him out of the Pro Bowl.

The injuries Hopkins sustained, while keeping him out of the Pro Bowl, should not prevent him from taking part in the Texans’ nine-week offseason workouts, which start in April.

Texans 2020 NFL draft target: Ohio State WR K.J. Hill

The Houston Texans could get younger and more reliable at receiver by taking Ohio State WR K.J. Hill, who was impressive at the Senior Bowl.

The Houston Texans could have a need at receiver in the 2020 offseason. Former 2018 fourth-round pick Keke Coutee is in coach Bill O’Brien’s doghouse, and speedster Will Fuller is due $10.1 million as part of his fifth-year option.

Houston may either cut bait with Coutee or Fuller. If so, that will leave them with a void at receiver with DeAndre Hopkins and Kenny Stills taking the top two spots.

One receiver from the college ranks the Texans could target is K.J. Hill from Ohio State. According to Austin Gayle from Pro Football Focus, the North Little Rock High School product was one of the more impressive prospects at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

Hill is always open. The 6-foot, 192-pound Ohio State product was easily the most impressive route-runner in Mobile. He created separation with ease and made his competition look foolish in the process. He also hauled in a one-handed catch that dropped jaws on Day 3 that really put an exclamation point on his big week.

If Hill is a disciplined enough route-runner that he can translate that immediately to his rookie season, quarterback Deshaun Watson would be able to connect with him and possibly have a better rapport than he did with Coutee in the latter’s rookie season. Part of what has compromised Coutee’s ability to get on track in the Texans’ passing game is his penchant for chronic injuries. The same can be said of Fuller, despite his impact in the passing game.

Hill caught 201 passes for 2,332 yards and 20 touchdowns for Ohio State. The only injury issue he seemed to have was an ankle injury from 2016.

Walter Football has Hill going in the second or third round. If his stock continues to rise, as it did from his Senior Bowl week, then he could get away from the Texans’ first pick at 57th overall in the second round. If not, the Texans could have a younger, more reliable solution to fill a void at receiver.

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Texans WR Will Fuller undergoes sports hernia surgery

Houston Texans receiver Will Fuller had sports hernia surgery to repair aggravation sustained to his groin in the AFC divisional playoff loss.

Houston Texans receiver Will Fuller is starting his offseason recovering from surgery.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the former 2016 first-round pick from Notre Dame underwent sports hernia surgery to repair injuries sustained to his groin during the regular season. Fuller aggravated these injuries during the 51-31 AFC divisional playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 12.

Though Fuller is expected to make a full recovery, the Texans could make a decision on the 25-year-old in the offseason. While Houston picked up his fifth-year option, a $10.1 million hit to the salary cap, the Texans wouldn’t suffer any dead money if they cut Fuller.

In the 2019 offseason, the organization cut former 2015 first-round cornerback Kevin Johnson, who they also picked up for a fifth-year option. Like Fuller, Johnson battled injuries throughout his time in Houston, and the organization chose to move on and save cap space rather than wait on a fifth season to produce different results.

Fuller has played in 42 of 64 games in his four-year career, catching 156 passes for 2,231 yards and 16 touchdowns. There is no denying that Fuller is a key part of the Texans’ passing game, but sometimes availability is a player’s best ability. The Texans and Fuller are hopeful this recent sports hernia surgery will be the start to a healthy and productive 2020.

2019 Texans position review: Receivers

The Houston Texans’ season is over, but DeAndre Hopkins led a receiving corps that had key contributions from Will Fuller, Kenny Stills, and more.

The Houston Texans’ season is over. After finishing 10-6, they found themselves in the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs, only to lose a 24-0 lead to the Kansas City Chiefs, who moved on by winning in 51-31 fashion.

With the season now over for the Texans, let’s take a gander at the wide receiver position group.

Per usual, DeAndre Hopkins led the Texans’ receiving corps. For the third straight season, he made the first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl for his efforts, despite not amassing his usual gaudy numbers. In 15 games, the 27-year-old tallied 104 receptions for 1,165 yards and seven touchdowns.

Again, Will Fuller acted as Hopkins’ sidekick. Again, he struggled with injuries for the entirety of the season, with hamstring and groin ailments taking away five contests for the speedster out of Notre Dame.

Despite missing significant time and finished nine of his 11 games, Fuller notched his career-high in yards with 670. He also added in 49 receptions and three touchdowns. In games that he started and finished, the Texans went 7-2, proving he is a catalyst to success.

Kenny Stills once looked to be a throw-in in the famed Laremy Tunsil trade. He quickly proved his worth. Though he missed three games (two due to a hamstring), Stills looks like a mainstay in the Texans’ offense, as he tallied 40 receptions for 561 yards and four touchdowns. His speed made him a perfect replacement to Fuller when injured.

Keke Coutee, DeAndre Carter and Steven Mitchell round out the Texans’ 2019 receiving corps.

Coutee entered the season as a name on the breakout list. Then, the slot receiver got himself in trouble. Throughout the first half of the season, the Texas Tech product saw himself making key mistakes, including wrongly ran routes and drops. He was in the doghouse for much of the season and didn’t see an offensive snap in the playoffs.

Carter, a return man, took advantage of Coutee’s mishaps. Bill O’Brien opted to use the speedster as their slot receiver in the latter half of the season. He finished the year with 11 receptions for 162 yards.

Mitchell saw most of his playing time in a meaningless season finale game. He wound-up catching two balls for 37 yards in 2019. Like Coutee, he made a few mistakes when an opening on the roster popped up for him.

For 2020, Hopkins, Fuller and Stills should be locks to make the roster. When healthy, the trio makes for one of the best receiver combinations in the NFL. As for the rest, they will likely be playing for their respective spots in the offseason.

WATCH: Top 5 plays from Alabama WR Henry Ruggs III

One of Alabama’s many star receivers, Henry Ruggs, announced he will be foregoing his Senior season and enter the 2020 NFL Draft. Ruggs had an amazing career with the Crimson Tide and capped his collegiate career off with a very impressive 2019 …

One of Alabama’s many star receivers, Henry Ruggs, announced he will be foregoing his Senior season and enter the 2020 NFL Draft.

Ruggs had an amazing career with the Crimson Tide and capped his collegiate career off with a very impressive 2019 season.

Let’s take a look at what made him and this season a special one:

5. 74-yard TD catch vs. Southern Miss.

Despite it being the middle of the first quarter, this was actually Ruggs’ second touchdown catch of the game. In this play, he flashes his speed two separate times. It’s clear he blew past the defensive back to be open for the pass, and then as he nears the goal line, he turns the burners on and gains even more separation.

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Who will be Alabama’s breakout receiver in 2020?

The University of Alabama has produced numerous star receivers, some that have gone on to play big roles in the NFL. Names like Julio Jones and Amari Cooper are standouts. Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs are the more recent stars who have shined in 2019 …

The University of Alabama has produced numerous star receivers, some that have gone on to play big roles in the NFL.

Names like Julio Jones and Amari Cooper are standouts.

Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs are the more recent stars who have shined in 2019 and will be making their way into the NFL next season.

With Jeudy and Ruggs leaving the program, that leaves only a few recognizable names on the Crimson Tide receiving corps, DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle.

However, it takes more than two to tango in this case. So who will be the receiver that has a breakout season in 2020 and becomes a household name like the aforementioned players?

There are lots of young, untapped talent on the team like Tyrell Shavers and, the ever versatile, Slate Bolden, among others.

There seems to be one name that was called only four times in 2019 that catches my eye, John Metchie III.

The Canadian native was a four-star recruit in the 2019 class, his commitment to Alabama garnered plenty of attention as he was also recruited by Texas, Georgia and South Carolina.

Metchie didn’t get to see the field too much in 2019, which would make 2020 his R-Freshman season after playing in under four games last year.

While he did get some playing time, it was limited to only four receptions for 23 yards, probably not as productive as he would have hoped, but when you’re playing on the same team as four potential first-round picks over the next two seasons, he had to have been thankful to have seen some action.

He is listed at exactly six feet tall and weighs in at 195 lbs. according to the 2019 Alabama Football roster.. Not great measurable, but nothing to complain about if he can get the job done.

In his Senior year of high school, Metchie posted 738 yards of of 35 catches for seven touchdowns. These stats earned him an impressive ranking of being the No. 3 receiver in the state of New Jersey.

In the 2019 A-Day game, Metchie reeled in five passes for 133 yards, which was enough for him to be named the MVP of the game.

After the game, coach Saban had high praise for the true-Freshman receiver.

“He plays fast, has got some strength,” Saban said, “I think this guy is going to help us next year and I think he’ll be a good player for us.”

Well, he wasn’t utilized all too much in the 2019 season, as Saban had prematurely suggested, but it does show that the Alabama head coach has a strong faith in Metchie’s talents and skillset.

We are still far away from any depth chart or starter talk, but John Metchie III might be a name you want to get familiar with before the 2020 season begins, because it seems as if he may be the new face to take over the infamous Alabama receiving corps.

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Will Fuller is the Texans’ secret superstar for the playoffs

Houston Texans receiver Will Fuller could be the team’s secret superstar as the AFC South champions mount a playoff run.

The Houston Texans have a dominant passing attack, and arguably the key to making it work is receiver Will Fuller.

Certainly quarterback Deshaun Watson with his second Pro Bowl selection and receiver DeAndre Hopkins with his third first-team All-Pro selection take the most headlines, but the X-factor to the effectiveness of the passing game resides with Fuller.

According to Doug Farrar from the Touchdown Wire, the former 2016 first-round pick from Notre Dame is the Texans’ secret superstar.

It’s easy to understand why. Not only does Fuller tied for the team lead with nine catches on passes of 20 air yards or more (Kenny Stills has him matched), Fuller is also a massive instigator in Houston’s deep passing game with his mere presence. Fuller’s downfield speed requires at least the attention of one deep safety, and makes things a lot easier for Watson. Per ESPN Stats & Info, the Texans have a QBR of 75.2 with Fuller, and 59.8 without him. The team’s overall yards per play drops from 6.08 to 5.29 without him, yards per attempt from 7.78 to 6.32, sacks per attempt go up from 7.8% to 10.7%, and third-down conversion rate flattens from 51.9% to 32.9%. When your ability to convert on third down drops a full 19% due to the absence of one guy, you definitely want that guy on the field — especially against Buffalo’s outstanding pass defense.

Fuller has been on the field for five of Watson’s seven games with a 100.0-plus passer rating. The Texans are 6-1 when Watson hits that mark, and they are 4-1 with Fuller in those games.

If the Texans hope to beat the Buffalo Bills in the AFC wild-card Saturday at 3:35 p.m., the first step in their playoff run, they will need Fuller, who is a game-time decision with a groin injury, to be available and effective. If Fuller gets knocked out of the game due to injury, Houston will be without their X-factor in the passing game.

Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins named 2019 first-team All-Pro

Houston Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins has been named to his third first-team All-Pro, the Associated Press announced Friday.

Houston Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins has done it again.

The former 2013 first-round pick from Clemson was named to his third first-team All-Pro on Friday, the Associated Press announced.

Hopkins caught 104 passes for 1,165 yards and seven touchdowns to help the Texans to a 10-6 record and win their second consecutive AFC South title and the sixth division title in franchise history.

For Hopkins, he breaks a tie with Andre Johnson for the most first-team All-Pro selections by a Texans receiver. As a Texans player, Hopkins’ three such selections are second-most in club history behind defensive end J.J. Watt’s five.

Hopkins and the Texans will face the Buffalo Bills in the AFC wild-card Saturday at 3:35 p.m. at NRG Stadium.

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Texans WR Will Fuller will be game-time decision versus the Bills in the playoffs

Houston Texans receiver Will Fuller will be a game-time decision when the club hosts the Buffalo Bills Saturday in the AFC wild-card playoffs.

The Houston Texans won’t rule out the possibility of having Will Fuller for their AFC wild-card showdown with the Buffalo Bills Saturday at 3:35 p.m. at NRG Stadium.

Coach Bill O’Brien was asked about the status of the No. 2 receiver, and the sixth-year coach would only provide that Fuller’s availability would be subject to how he looked and felt on game day.

“I would say that that’ll be a game-time decision,” O’Brien told reporters. “I think we’re going to practice today, we’ll see how it goes today. He’ll be out there today and then we’ll do some more tomorrow and then we’ll see how it goes.”

When Fuller is on the field, the Texans are 8-3 compared to 2-3 when he is not. What is probably more telling of Fuller’s impact on the team is that he has been on the field for five of quarterback Deshaun Watson’s seven 100.0-plus passer rating games in 2019. The Texans were 6-1 when Watson broke the 100.0 passer rating barrier.

Fuller opens up the offense and gives the Texans a shot.

If the former 2016 first-round pick is unable to go, the Texans will have to find solutions with reserve wideouts Kenny Stills, DeAndre Carter, Keke Coutee, and Steven Mitchell.