Tag: Texans linebacker

Texans’ linebackers and secondary key part of Houston’s 5-4 start

The Houston Texans have more than a talented young quarterback driving their success.

The Houston Texans are relevant. The only question now is how long Houston will be able to keep up the momentum.

Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is a large reason why the Texans no longer carry the countenance of a rebuild. The No. 2 overall pick is making his case to be, not only Offensive Rookie of the Year, but possibly NFL MVP.

According to Doug Farrar from the Touchdown Wire, who put together a comprehensive look at the Texans beyond the meteoric rise of Stroud, there are a myriad of reasons Houston is 5-4. One particular reason involves the play of the linebacking corps and secondary.

The biggest beneficiary of Ryans’ tutelage at that position has been Blake Cashman, a 2019 fifth-round pick for the New York Jets who is enjoying his best season by far. Cashman can mix it up as a pass-rusher and as a run defender, but in today’s NFL, you want linebackers who can cover, and Cashman has found the key to that. On this interception of Trevor Lawrence in Week 3, he read Lawrence through the progression, and had the answers to the test when Lawrence tried to hit Jamal Agnew on this intermediate crosser.

Veteran Steven Nelson has been Houston’s best cornerback this season, allowing 23 catches on 33 targets for 371 yards, 67 yards after the catch, three interceptions, two pass breakups, one touchdown, and an opponent passer rating of 79.2. Nobody in this cornerback group is a pure shutdown guy just yet, but Nelson is a sticky match defender, as he showed on this crosser interception against the Baltimore Ravens and receiver Zay Flowers in Week 1.

Ryans brought do-it-all safety Jimmie Ward from San Francisco as an experienced leader, and Ward has played well, but the guy to watch is Jalen Pitre, the 2022 second-round pick out of Baylor who can win all over the defense. Pitre can line up in the deep third, the box, and the slot with equal aplomb. And as a blitzer? Well, ask Bryce Young what Pitre can do off the edge.

The Texans get back in action in Week 11 against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time from NRG Stadium.

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Texans LB Blake Cashman wins AFC Defensive Player of the Week

Houston Texans linebacker Blake Cashman earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his work against the New Orleans Saints.

The NFL announced Wednesday Houston Texans linebacker Blake Cashman has been named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after the team’s 20-13 win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 6.

The award is the first for the 27-year-old and the 52nd instance a Texans player has been named player of the week. The last Texans player to earn such honors was cornerback Tavierre Thomas after Week 16 in 2021.

Cashman delivered a career-high 15 tackles along with two pass breakups, two tackles for loss, and a quarterback hit against the Saints. Cashman joined Vincent Rey (Nov. 10, 2013 at Baltimore), Brian Urlacher (Oct. 16, 2006 at Arizona), and Angelo Crowell (Nov. 13, 2005 at Kansas City) as the only players to generate that exact stat line. Cashman is also the fifth linebacker to post at least 15 tackles and two tackles for loss in a game this season.

The former New York Jets 2019 fifth-round pick is having a noteworthy start to the season as Cashman has produced 31 combined tackles, four tackles for loss, four pass breakups, and an interception through five games, four of which he has started.

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Texans ready for Saints thanks to Week 5 versus Falcons

The Houston Texans got a little bit of a Saints preview when they faced the Falcons in Week 5.

HOUSTON — With their upcoming game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at NRG Stadium, the Houston Texans defense will feel like they are in some time warp and stuck in Atlanta playing the Falcons all over again.

The Saints and Falcons, who compete against each other in the NFC South, are similar regarding personnel, especially the linebacker position that Falcons head coach Arthur Smith and offensive coordinator Dave Ragone constantly picked on.

“A lot of play-action pass game, which is what they’ve shown, what we’ve practiced,” said Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans about Atlanta’s offense. “Like I said, when you are in that position, you just have to make a play. Credit to Atlanta, they made the plays in those situations, and we didn’t. If you want to win games in this league, you’ve got to step up and make plays happen. I’m proud of the defense for taking the ball two times and giving us the opportunity, but there were too many plays where we didn’t come down with it.”

Houston’s linebacker group was responsible for not allowing Falcons superstar rookie running back Bijan Robinson to take over the game, and they did an excellent job of containing him by allowing only 58 yards total yards from scrimmage and one touchdown.

They must deploy some of the same game-planning for Saints two-way running back Alvin Kamara, who can do as much damage in passing routes as he does out of the backfield.

“It’s a demanding position,” said Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke about learning the new defensive scheme. “We’ve talked in here a lot about the communication. So, even just starting with that part and putting a lot on those guys’ plates of making calls, making checks, and then within the coverage and the schemes, just in general, those guys, linebackers in the league these days, because they are run players and pass players and you’re communicators and you’re blitzers and you’re tacklers – all those things.”

“And now, again with the way the league has evolved with tight ends and running backs that you have to match up with. It’s a multi-dimensional position now. There’s just a lot on those guys’ plates. I wouldn’t say that’s specific to this scheme or this front, or this whatever. I think just in general that world has expanded – the world of linebacker play has expanded over the last five to ten years – and so it’s just a demanding position, for sure.”

If the Texans are to win on Sunday at NRG Stadium, they will have to get a big game from rookie linebacker Henry To’o To’o. He led the team in tackles (12) last week but suffered in pass coverage, which he found himself in a lot in the second half.

“They came up with a great game plan,” To’o To’o said after the game. “They did a great job of finding us in a certain coverage and then picked their spots on where they wanted to throw the ball, and they did a really good job at that.”

Houston will be playing against a Saints offense with many dynamic weapons, but everything starts and stops with Kamara. He is playing in only his third game of the season after being suspended for the first three for conduct detrimental to the team.

“I think it is the same approach,” said To’o To’o about playing against Kamara, who has a similar skillset to Robinson. “Tracking and finishing physically and getting 11 hats [Players] to the ball. That is the biggest thing for our defense, no matter who we play.”

Texans LB Henry To’oTo’o earns high praise from NBC Sports’ Peter King

Houston Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o managed to get some high praise for his efforts in the 30-6 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4.

While it would seem the addition of an Alabama linebacker on the Houston Texans defense would be otherwise redundant, Henry To’oTo’o proved in Week 4 why the team needed to draft him in Round 5.

To’oTo’o generated seven combined tackles, a tackle for loss, and a pass breakup in the Texans’ 30-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers at NRG Stadium.

According to Peter King from NBC Sports, To’oTo’o was one of his three defensive players of the week.

Henry To’oTo’o, linebacker, Houston. A ferocious defensive effort that smothered the Steelers for much of the day Sunday was led by this rookie fifth-round pick from Alabama. Pronounced TOE-oh-TOE-oh, by the way. His stats (seven tackles, one for loss, and a pass defended) don’t jump off the page, but you had to see his impact on the game, particularly in the third quarter. With the Steelers down 16-0 and threatening at the Houston 15-yard line on third-and-two, To’oTo’o plastered running back Jaylen Warren behind the line, and he was stopped for a two-yard loss. Pittsburgh settled for a field goal. Next series: Pittsburgh at the Houston eight, first-and-goal, and Kenny Pickett threw for George Pickens in the back of the end zone. To’oTo’o broke it up. Pittsburgh settled for a field goal. Two huge plays in the Texans’ 30-6 win.

Along with Christian Harris, another former Alabama product, the Texans have a duo of young linebackers with dynamic cohesion. Houston limited the Steelers to 225 yards total offense and 12 first downs.

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Former Texans LB Christian Kirksey announces retirement

Former Houston Texans linebacker Christian Kirksey announced his retirement from the NFL via Instagram Sept. 21.

Former Houston Texans linebacker Christian Kirksey is calling it a career.

The two-time Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee took to Instagram Thursday evening to announce his retirement from the NFL.

Kirksey, 31, had presently been on the Buffalo Bills practice squad prior to his retirement announcement.

The Texans signed Kirksey in free agency 2021. The former Iowa product logged 214 combined tackles through 30 games with Houston, 29 of which he started.

Houston decided to go with younger linebackers in second-year Christian Harris and fifth-rounder Henry To’oTo’o at the end of preseason during the formation of the 53-man roster. Kirksey was the odd man out.

Prior to playing for the Texans, Kirksey was a former Cleveland Browns 2014 third-round pick. In 2020, Kirksey played for the Green Bay Packers.

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Texans’ linebacking corps still seeking to find stride

Through the first two weeks of the season, the Houston Texans linebacking corps is still working on forming cohesion.

HOUSTON — The Houston Texans defense prepared all week for Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson. The defense sought to stop the No. 4 overall pick from using his legs as a weapon, and force Richardson more in the pocket, challenging him to win through the air.

The formula looked good on paper, but on the gridiron, Richardson burned Houston on scoring runs of 18 and 15 to give the Colts a 14-0 first quarter lead.

While Richardson left the game with a concussion in the second quarter, the Texans hardly found an advantage. Backup Gardner Minshew’s veteran presence steadied the Colts to a 31-20 win in Week 2 at NRG Stadium.

One of the many factors that led to the Texans’ demise was the play of their linebacker corps, who found themselves continuously taking bad angles on run plays and being in the wrong spots while in pass coverage.

“For the linebacker corps, for me, we have to coach them better,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “It wasn’t good enough, and from start to finish, we have to do a much better job when it comes to just being where we’re supposed to be in coverage, when it comes to tackling in the hole — like, it has to be much better for us to play good defense.”

Veteran Denzel Perryman led the group with eight tackles, while rookie Henry To’o To’o (seven) and second-year player Christian Harris (one) finished with the same amount combined. The former Alabama duo also had difficulty in pass coverage as the trio was targeted nine times, and the Colts were successful on every pass attempt for 51 yards. To’o To’o played the most snaps (46) behind Perryman (56), while Harris finished with 21.

“Yeah, with the linebackers, we’ve moved a couple guys around,” said Ryans about the limited snaps for Harris on Sunday. “We’ve seen Henry get some snaps. We’ve got Christian in getting snaps. There’s been a little rotation of both of those guys, but we’re just looking for all those guys to be consistent with what they’re given. Own the reps that you have and do the best that you can do with those.”

Houston allowed 236 yards rushing in the first two games, which is unsuitable for a team that was ranked last in the NFL in rushing defense in 2022. In back-to-back weeks, multiple missed tackles and blown assignments will cause many to wonder if the Texans’ defense is slipping back into some of the old habits that plagued them last season.

“Definitely recognize things a lot quicker by formation,” rookie linebacker Henty To’o To’o said about the mistakes he noticed in the game on Sunday during film study. “It will give me that extra step of knowing when I can take off or when I can shoot a gap. I think tackling as a whole defense. We have to do a better job of tackling and no extra yardage on the back end.”

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LB Denzel Perryman was Texans’ most impactful free agent in Week 1

Linebacker Denzel Perryman led the way among new Houston Texans free agents in the Pro Football Focus grades from Week 1.

Prior to the Houston Texans’ investments in the 2023 NFL draft, the club spent salary cap space to acquire key veterans to add credibility to their rebuild.

Khaled Elsayed from Pro Football Focus took a look at the Texans’ free agent acquisitions who played in the 25-9 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1. While receiver Robert Woods may have impressed with six catches for 57 yards, one of the new faces on defense actually had the highest PFF grade among the new free agents.

Dalton Schultz (46.7) ended up with just four yards on his four targets in a quiet start, but Robert Woods (64.1) was more productive with 57 yards (although his two drops were uncharacteristic of a receiver who has never dropped more than eight in a single season). At running back, Devin Singletary (44.3) is very much a secondary option after being outsnapped 36-16 by Dameon Pierce. Denzel Perryman (69.7) is still dangerous against the run, as evidenced by his five defensive stops, but it was a quiet start for Sheldon Rankins (38.5). His only mention on the stats sheet was a quarterback hurry.

The former Pro Bowler collected a game-high 11 combined tackles and a tackle for loss as the Texans held the Ravens to 263 yards total offense, the fifth-fewest for Baltimore in a season opener since 1999.

Houston hosts the Indianapolis Colts Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at NRG Stadium. If the Texans are able to get higher-graded performances out of their free agents in Week 2, it could give coach DeMeco Ryans his first career win.

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3 reasons the Texans had to cut LB Christian Kirksey

The Houston Texans cut linebacker Christian Kirksey, and here are three readily identifiable explanations.

The Houston Texans decided to go in a separate direction and cut linebacker Christian Kirksey Aug. 28 as part of their efforts to finalize their 53-man roster.

Kirksey, 30, played 30 games for the Texans over the past two seasons, starting in 29 of them. The former Cleveland Browns 2014 third-round pick collected 137 combined tackles, 13 tackles for loss, nine quarterback hits, 3.0 sacks, 13 pass breakups, three interceptions, and three fumble recoveries.

The 6-2, 235-pounder was a decent fit for the Texans when they deployed their Tampa 2 the past two seasons. New coach DeMeco Ryans wanted to work with Kirksey despite the scheme change, but here three reasons why Kirksey won’t be in Houston in 2023.

Texans LB Denzel Perryman says he laughs when he grabs an interception

Houston Texans linebacker Denzel Perryman says he starts laughing as soon as he grabs an interception.

When Denzel Perryman saw Tua Tagovailoa drop back on the Miami Dolphins’ first play from scrimmage, he froze.

The Houston Texans linebacker was going through his keys as he recognized it was play-action.

“I kind of froze for a second, to be honest with you,” Perryman told reporters after the 28-3 loss Aug. 19. “I was reading the quarterback and got in the window, and I just had a feel for it.”

The former Pro Bowler nabbed the Texans’ first takeaway of the preseason and gave Houston favorable field position at the 7-yard line.

While Perryman was jubilant with his teammates after the turnover, the nine-year veteran was enjoying the moment as soon as he made the pick.

Said Perryman: “Honestly, when I catch an interception, I’ll be laughing in my helmet. A lot of people don’t know that I’ll be laughing. Number one, I caught the ball. I’m bound to drop the ball, to be honest with you. So, when I catch an interception, I start laughing. At that point, I’m playing a game like a little kid.”

Perryman has five career interceptions with a career-high two last season with the Las Vegas Raiders. Houston is hopeful Perryman will have more opportunities to laugh in 2023.

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WATCH: Texans LB Denzel Perryman intercepts Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa

Houston Texans linebacker Denzel Perryman intercepted Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in the first quarter of their Week 2 preseason game.

Houston Texans linebacker Denzel Perryman procured the defense’s first takeaway of the preseason.

On first-and-10 from the Miami Dolphins’ 17-yard line, Perryman picked off quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and returned the takeaway to the Miami 7-yard line.

The interception was part of what Perryman spoke of earlier in the week about how the linebackers in the room, regardless of age and experience, learn from one another.

“We all learn from each other and just build each other up, man,” Perryman said Aug. 14.

Perryman also had a sack the week prior in the 20-9 win over the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.

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