Tag: Robert Prince

Texans WR coach Robert Prince tells story of when he knew Matt Schaub would succeed in the NFL

Houston Texans WR coach Robert Prince coached Matt Schaub with the Atlanta Falcons and saw signs he would be a good player even back then.

Houston Texans receivers coach Robert Prince used to be on the Atlanta Falcons coaching staff under Jim L. Mora from 2004-06. In that span, Prince got to see the origin story for future Texans Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Schaub.

Prince, who says he still loves Matt Schaub, shared a story about the former 2004 third-round pick from Virginia when he visited with Texans Radio play-by-play Marc Vandermeer and sideline reporter John Harris.

“What a great learner,” Prince said. “I date myself. I used to have to fax the game plan to the guys Tuesday night. And then, so, Wednesday morning when they come in during the quarterback meeting, you could say, ‘Hey, Schauby, how we running Z-drive this week?’

“And he would go, ‘Here we’re going to go double Z-short or we’re also going to run it out of trips.’ He could tell you either way. You could ask him, ‘Hey, what plays are we running out of trips right, Z-short’ or whatever, and he could just rolodex it in his head. Just a smart guy.”

In Schaub’s rookie year, the Falcons played the Minnesota Vikings in the second preseason game, and it offered the young signal caller a chance to display his ability to process the game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TyxP4jQP6c

“There was also a clip where he said, ‘Hey, listen, this play, we run this play, you get two-man, understand, you got to be your own checkdown and you have to take off running,'” said Prince.

When Schaub saw the two-man, according to Prince, the quarterback took off.

“I said, ‘That guy is going to be a good player one day,'” Prince said.

Schaub did have a productive career for the Texans from 2007-13, earning two Pro Bowl selections in 2009 and 2012. In 2009, Schaub won the NFL passing title as the Texans earned their first winning season in franchise history.

Texans’ Brandin Cooks is impressed with WR coach Robert Prince

Houston Texans receiver Brandin Cooks says that he likes the instruction that Robert Prince offers as the WR coach.

The Houston Texans had an overhaul to their coaching staff.

After four seasons with John Perry as the receivers coach, the firing of coach Bill O’Brien offered a new direction. After the Texans hired David Culley as their fourth full-time coach, the Texans also brought in Robert Prince as their receivers coach.

Through the Texans’ offseason workouts, Prince has made an impression on wideout Brandin Cooks.

“R.P., you can tell right off the bat when we first had our meeting, he’s a coach that really knows what he’s talking about,” Cooks said on May 27 on a Zoom call with the Houston media. “He’s very smart, coached a lot of great players. It’s been so fun being able to sit in meeting rooms with him, hearing him out on the field and talk about his techniques and the way that he sees things. It’s great to have someone that’s been so experienced to come and put his stamp on things.”

Prince was with the Detroit Lions previously from 2014-20 and was instrumental in the development of receiver Kenny Golladay, who recorded two 1,000-yard seasons in his four years with the Lions.

“Like, he’s going to bring it, too,” Cooks said of Prince. “He’s going to work out with you, he’s going to run with you. When you have that in a coach, you tend to respect him a lot more just because they’re trying to do everything you do but also understand we’ve got to get to the paper.”

The Texans’ receiving corps may be the secret to Houston having an effective offense in 2021, and Prince’s direction will have an impact.

Report: Detroit Lions expected to hire Antwaan Randle El as WR coach

The Detroit Lions have hired former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive assistant and former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antwaan Randle El as their next wide receivers coach.

Per NFL Network’s Tom Peliserro, the Detroit Lions are expected to hire Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive assistant and former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antwaan Randle El as their next wide receivers coach.

Randle El will replace Robert Prince who joined the Houston Texans staff after seven years with the Lions.

A duel-threat quarterback at Indiana, Randle El’s elite athleticism led to him being drafted in the second round (62nd overall) of the 2002 draft by the Steelers, despite needing to transition to wide receiver.

Randle El was a swiss army knife for the Steelers, lining up at multiple spots on offense, was their starting kick and punt returner, and was the key catalyst on several trick plays, including throwing the game-winning touchdown pass to Hines Ward in Super Bowl XL (2005). Randle El was also a first-team All-Pro selection in 2005 as a punt returner.

In 2006, he joined the Washington Football Team but after four years returned to Pittsburgh for his final NFL season. After sitting out the 2011 season, Randle El officially retired in 2012.

After retirement, Randle El worked as an analyst for Big Ten Network as well as covering preseason games in Washington. Additionally, he spent time working with his foundation — including time at the Virginia private school he helped co-found — as well as spending time with his seven (!) children.

In 2019, Randle El began his NFL coaching career, joining Bruce Arians (his WR coach and offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh) and the Buccaneers as an offensive assistant, focusing closely on the wide receivers group. In 2019, the Bucs’ led the NFL in passing offense (302.8 receiving yards a game), and this past season they finished second (289.1 receiving ypg).

While Arians was a big draw in getting Randle El to Tampa Bay, he has larger aspirations.

“I do at one point want to be a head coach. It’s a lot that goes into that,” Randle El said via The Athletic’s Greg Auman (paid). “Do I feel like I’ll be great at it? Yep. It’s just a matter of time, of getting the years, the time under my belt, and really understanding. It’s a totally different ballgame, playing and coaching. You have a better view of it from a coach’s perspective. Being able to teach and put it all together … it’s not just football, it’s life: building relationships and networks you’re going to have when you’re done coaching.”

Currently, the Lions only have four wide receivers under contract: Quintez Cephus (who was a rookie last season), Geronimo Allison (who opted out in 2020), as well as Tom Kennedy and Victor Bolen — who were practice squad players for the Lions in 2020 and earned futures contracts this offseason.

Report: Texans hire former Lions interim coach Robert Prince as WR coach

The Houston Texans have hired former Detroit Lions interim coach Robert Prince to coach receivers.

The Houston Texans will have a new receivers coach in 2020.

As the Texans move on from John Perry, the team will give Robert Prince a shot at coaching receivers, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. The 2020 Detroit Lions interim coach coached the position for the NFC North club since 2014, spanning the coaching tenures of Jim Caldwell and Matt Patricia.

Prince, 55, got his first NFL coaching job with the Atlanta Falcons in 2004 as an offensive assistant, coaching running backs and tight ends. In 2006, Prince was an assistant quarterbacks coach, working with Michael Vick, before he left as part of the house-cleaning when the Falcons fired coach Jim Mora.

For the next two seasons, Prince worked with the Jacksonville Jaguars as their assistant receivers coach, and Jacksonville made the playoffs in 2007, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road in the AFC wild-card.

In 2009, Prince was with the Seattle Seahawks in the same capacity before going back to the college ranks with a coaching gig in 2010 with Colorado as their receivers coach and passing game coordinator.

In 2011, Prince was with Boise State as their receivers coach. From 2012-13, Prince was their offensive coordinator before going to Detroit, getting back in the NFL ranks.

Perry had been the Texans’ receivers coach since 2017 and was the tight ends coach for the club from 2014-16, part of former coach Bill O’Brien’s original staff.

Texans to hire ex-Lions Robert Prince as the WR coach

Prince was a coach many Lions fans hoped to keep

There will be another change to the Detroit Lions coaching staff in 2021. Wide receivers coach Robert Prince has left the team and will be the wide receivers coach for the Houston Texans, per numerous reports including one from Tom Pelissero of NFL.com.

Prince was still listed on the Lions’ official website as the WR coach as of Friday morning but was gone by early afternoon. He will move onto Houston, where he will work under new head coach David Cullen.

Prince spent the last seven seasons with the Lions and was a desirable coaching candidate. He helped develop Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, Golden Tate and others into better players. The Lions will no have to find a replacement, though there are numerous candidates to take the role on Dan Campbell’s staff.

Report: Robert Prince to replace Darrell Bevell as interim coach in Week 16

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that wide receivers coach Robert Prince will replace Darrell Bevell as interim coach in Week 16.

Due to a COVID-19 exposure, the Detroit Lions will need an interim coach to replace their interim coach.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that wide receivers coach Robert Prince will replace Darrell Bevell as interim coach in Week 16.

Bevell is “deemed a high-risk close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19”, Rapoport said, and “won’t coach this Saturday vs the Bucs, sources say. The first head coach to miss a game due to COVID protocols this season.”

Prince, a senior member of the Lions staff that has been with the team since 2014, is highly respected by the players due to his intelligence, energy level, and personality. Prince is familiar with the Lions offensive scheme, but with 30-years of coaching experience, he has experiences that extend beyond just offense.

Prince’s leadership style is highly energetic and infectious, and he is someone the players can rally behind.

Rapoport also reported that quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan, who is considered an offensive coordinator in waiting, will take over offensive play calling in Bevell’s stay. Ryan and Matthew Stafford have built a trusting relationship over the last two seasons and there should be little lag in their ability to produce on offense this week.

Watch: Several Lions position coaches mic’d up during 2020 training camp

With no fans allowed to attend the Detroit Lions 2020 training camp, the organization mic’d up several coaches during practices and put them into videos.

With no fans allowed to attend the Detroit Lions 2020 training camp, the organization has kept fans entertained throughout the last three weeks by creating unique videos — including micing up several coaches during practices and put together video segments.

Below are four videos of different Lions position coaches and a behind-the-scenes look at how they do their job during training camp.

Robert Prince, wide receivers coach

Prince joined the Lions organization in 2014 under then-coach Jim Caldwell, but coach Matt Patricia thought so highly of him that he kept him on staff when he took over in 2018.

Hank Fraley, offensive line coach

After 11 seasons in the NFL, Fraley joined the coaching ranks in 2012, joined the Lions as an assistant offensive line coach in 2018 under Patricia, and was promoted to offensive line coach this past offseason.

Bo Davis, defensive line coach

Davis began coaching high school football in 1998 and within three years was snatched up by Nick Saban at LSU. He would follow Saban to the Miami Dolphins, then on to Alabama, and after several more stints between the NFL and college ranks, Davis landed with the Lions in 2018. He is entering his third year as Patricia’s defensive line coach.

Steve Gregory, defensive backs coach

After an eight-year career playing safety in the NFL, Gregory began his NFL coaching career in Detroit, joining Patricia’s staff in 2018 as an assistant defensive backs coach. He was promoted to defensive backs coach this past offseason.

Watch: Lions WR coach Robert Prince mic’d up at training camp

Detroit Lions wide receiver coach Robert Prince was mic’d up at this week’s training camp and the results were highly entertaining.

Detroit Lions wide receiver coach Robert Prince was mic’d up during this week’s training camp and the results were highly entertaining.

If you have ever been to a Lions training camp, you’ve probably noticed the high energy individual running around with the wide receivers who excitedly cheers whenever an offensive player makes a great play. He’s a very hands-on coach who will spend time not just passing along tips on technique, but also chest-bumping his players after a score.

If there is a person in Allen Park who doesn’t love Prince, I haven’t met them, Players and coaches alike routinely praise Prince for the coach he is on the field and the person he is in every moment.

“One of the best coaches I’ve ever had,” Danny Amendola said of Prince. “Brings the juice every day. Gets guys in the right mentality. Day in and day out, meetings, practices, games — an amazing coach to play for.”

Prince was hired by former coach Jim Caldwell, but coach Matt Patricia thought highly of him that he made sure to keep Prince in the Lions organization during his coaching tenure.

“‘R.P.’ (Robert Prince) – he’s awesome,” Patricia said. “I mean I love him; I love the way he coaches; I love his energy. He’s super smart, very intelligent, understands the offense. He’s been in a lot of different schemes. He’s great with the players. I think he really develops players, he makes his players better, which as a coach, is what you want. Just couldn’t be a better person.”

To check out Prince’s energy, you can watch the full five and half minute video, click on the YouTube clip below: