Tag: Texans linebacker

LB Blake Cashman appreciates playing in Texans’ ‘punch first’ defense

Houston Texans linebacker Blake Cashman says he likes the way DeMeco Ryans’ defense will “punch first” with its aggressive style.

The term “defense” has conservative connotations of holding a position. In the modern NFL where the game is tilted towards the offense, sometimes defenders would prefer to attack.

The intention of Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans’ scheme is it provides for opportunities to attack, which is why fifth-year linebacker Blake Cashman appreciates the philosophy of the former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator.

“It allows the defense, and the offense as well, but the scheme [allows us] to punch first,” Cashman told reporters Aug. 13 after training camp practice. “It’s all about attacking and getting off the ball, and then based off that, it’s just run and hit. So, being able to fly around and play fast with having quick keys, it’s fun for a defensive player — especially a linebacker.”

Although Cashman is in his first year with Ryans and second with the Texans, this is not the 27-year-old’s first time in such a defense. The former New York Jets 2019 fifth-rounder spent 16 games over three seasons with the AFC East club. In his final year, Cashman played three games in new coach Robert Saleh’s system, also a former 49ers defensive coordinator from 2017-20 and Ryans’ immediate predecessor.

Said Cashman: “It’s a very similar defense, very, very similar. It’s a scheme where, like I said before, we attack first, and it allows you to run and hit.”

Cashman admits picking up the Texans’ version has been easier.

“Just the techniques and the fundamentals that is required of the defense, that transition from when I was with New York to here has been a lot easier than learning new schemes in the past,” said Cashman. “So, it’s been great for me.”

Cashman started for the Texans in their 20-9 win over the New England Patriots on Aug. 10, registering nine defensive snaps and two special teams snaps.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=1703]

Texans LB Henry To’oTo’o says Christian Harris was his ‘best friend’ at Alabama

Houston Texans rookie linebacker Henry To’oTo’o says he and Christian Harris were very close at Alabama.

The Houston Texans have been collecting Alabama linebackers. In 2022, Houston drafted Christian Harris in Round 3. In April, the Texans took Henry To’oTo’o in the fifth round.

With Harris and To’oTo’o going in successive years, it’s safe to say they knew each other well playing for the Crimson Tide under coach Nick Saban. However, Harris and To’oTo’o were more than enforcers in the linebacking corps.

“Chris is my dog,” To’oTo’o told reporters Aug. 4 after training camp practice. “If you all didn’t know, Christian was my best friend in college, so we went together, ate food together, went out and do stuff after the games together, play games together — so being able to play with him side-by-side, get some reps out there with him again feels great.”

The last season To’oTo’o and Harris were together was 2021 when Alabama made it as far as the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Georgia got the better of the Crimson Tide, 33-18 inside Lucas Oil Stadium. That season saw Harris generate 80 combined tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. To’oTo’o produced 111 combined tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble.

With To’oTo’o and Harris together again in Houston — playing for a former Alabama linebacker no less in coach DeMeco Ryans — the game is their livelihood; it’s a business, and it behooves the team to have the same brotherly love, not just between two former Tide, but with the entire corps.

Said To’oTo’o: “Just kind of building that chemistry, but not with only him, but with our whole entire linebacker group. We’ve got a great group of guys in there, and we all work our tails off every single day to become ultimately the best linebacker group in the NFL.”

Harris had 74 combined tackles, six tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, 1.0 sack, an interception, forced fumble, and five pass breakups through 12 games as a rookie, 11 of which he started. The Texans are hopeful To’oTo’o can match or exceed such expectations.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=1365]

Texans LB Denzel Perryman mentoring Henry To’oTo’o

Houston Texans linebacker Denzel Perryman says that he has taken rookie Henry To’oTo’o under his wing the same way the Chargers did for him in 2015.

Denzel Perryman is the cunning veteran entering his ninth season. Henry To’oTo’o is the fifth-round rookie. Learning should be a one-way street.

However, the linebacker duo actually has been helping one another adapt to new coach DeMeco Ryans’ scheme throughout Houston Texans training camp.

“We’re both learning from each other, man,” Perryman told reporters Aug. 4. “That’s what I can say, and I’m just doing what the older guys did when I first got into the league.”

When Perryman entered the league with the San Diego Chargers as a 2015 second-round pick, inside linebackers Manti Te’o and Kavell Conner along with outside linebacker Melvin Ingram helped the rookie adapt to defensive coordinator John Pagano’s 3-4 scheme. Perryman finished with 73 combined tackles — third-most on the team — through 14 games, nine of which he started.

Perryman is showing To’oTo’o the pro game, but the former Alabama product is demonstrating a proficiency in adaptation.

Said Perryman: “I’d say they’re not rookies, man. This new wave of kids — I call them kids now because I’m a little older now — but just the new wave, man, just the generation, man. It just felt different. It felt different in general.”

Given great defense is a team effort, the Texans are hopeful such shared learning will help Houston turn around their fortunes in 2023.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=1365]

Texans DC Matt Burke relays how ‘coachable’ LB Henry To’oTo’o actually is

Houston Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke appreciates the “coachable” nature of rookie linebacker Henry To’oTo’o.

Henry To’oTo’o has drawn interest from Houston Texans fans.

Could it be To’oTo’o comes from a top defensive school in Alabama? Could it be his new coach is a former Alabama linebacker? Could it be To’oTo’o has a former Alabama linebacker teammate on the roster in Christian Harris?

Whether or not the attention is warranted for a fifth-round linebacker is subject for discussion; the reality is To’oTo’o has a slice of the spotlight.

Matt Burke fielded an inquiry regarding To’oTo’o on Aug. 1 after training camp practice, and the defensive coordinator encapsulated how To’oTo’o is acclimating to the pro game.

“He’s a kid that practices with a purpose, he’s really coachable,” Burke said. “I don’t think he makes a lot of carry-over mistakes. If he sees something, he corrects it. He kind of gets it done the next day.””

Burke relayed a story of how To’oTo’o was short on a play during July 31’s practice session, and the coaches chided the linebacker for his error.

“We kind of got on him a little bit and got back and forth, and he literally got the same play like the second half of practice and nailed it,” said Burke. “So, to see that from him where he’s really taking the coaching and sort of applying it to the field. Every time he makes a mistake, he’s kind of correcting it and moving on. So, it’s been cool to see that progress from him.”

One of Ryans’ positions of strength is linebacker having developed Fred Warner into an All-Pro during his tenure with the San Francisco 49ers.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=1365]

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans says LB Christian Kirksey has been ‘excellent leader’

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans says 10-year linebacker Christian Kirksey has been an “excellent leader” for the defense.

Despite the Houston Texans being in a state of flux the past three seasons, Christian Kirksey has provided the linebacking corps with stability.

The former Cleveland Brown and Green Bay Packer has collected 217 combined tackles for the Texans through 30 games over the past two seasons. Whether it was David Culley on the sidelines or Lovie Smith, Kirksey was on the field as the unit’s standard bearer.

New coach DeMeco Ryans has spent the offseason workouts and three days of training camp with Kirksey, but it is long enough to know the significance the former Iowa product brings to the defense.

“Kirko [Kirksey] has been an excellent leader,” Ryans told reporters July 28 at Houston Methodist Training Center. “Just watching his leadership, seeing the man that he is, it’s been fun to work with him.”

Where Ryans especially appreciates Kirksey’s presence is among younger linebackers such as third-year Garret Wallow, second-year Christian Harris, and rookie Henry To’oTo’o. Kirksey isn’t afraid to share with his possible replacements tips and tricks to blossom.

Said Ryans: “He’s been great working with our younger guys, as well. Kirko is a guy who can play all three spots. So, he’s played Mike [middle], he’s played Will [weak side] and Sam [strong side], so, he’s a guy that’s smart enough to move around to multiple spots, so, he adds some versatility to what we’re doing.”

In addition to Kirksey’s versatility, the veteran linebacker is showing the rest of the corps how to approach the game.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=1416]

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans worked with LB Christian Harris on eye progression

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans worked with second-year linebacker Christian Harris on his eye progression on the third day of training camp.

DeMeco Ryans knows something about linebackers in the NFL.

The Houston Texans coach earned two Pro Bowls at the position for the franchise during his tenure from 2006-11. Ryans also was an inside linebackers coach for three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers during that budding portion of his coaching career from 2017-22.

Ryans was working with second-year linebacker Christian Harris off to the side during the third day of training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center. The 38-year-old revealed to reporters Friday what he was discussing with the fellow Alabama alumnus off to the side.

“With Christian, for me and him, just continuing to talk to him about — it’s all about eye progression,” Ryans said. “When you’re playing a linebacker position, if your eyes are in the right place, you’re probably going to be right 99% of the time, so it’s just continuing to harp on those things, the fine details of what we have to do to be successful.”

Harris, 22, brings insightful inquiries when working with coaches either on the field or in the classroom.

“Christian has been tuned in, asks great questions when it comes to what he should be doing, so it’s fun to coach a guy who’s very inquisitive and wants to know everything about what’s going on around him,” said Ryans.

Harris had a promising rookie season with 74 combined tackles, six tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, 1.0 sack, a forced fumble, five pass breakups, and an interception through 12 games, 11 of which he started. If Harris was able to accomplish that much in his first season, the second season sets up expectations to produce even more.

However, Ryans knows that players develop at their own pace.

Said Ryans: “Each person is different. It takes some guys two, three years to do it. Some guys are faster, so it just takes time, each guy is different. Christian will be just fine.”

Harris has had first-team work on defense alongside linebackers Christian Kirksey and Denzel Perryman.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=601914802]

LB Christian Harris may be most underappreciated player on Texans

Second-year linebacker Christian Harris could be the most under appreciated player on the Houston Texans’ roster.

Thanks to the franchise being in rebuild mode — it has fired a coach in each of the past three years, and it endured a 3-13-1 debacle a year ago — the perception is the Houston Texans may be devoid of talent.

GM Nick Caserio and new coach DeMeco Ryans have done their part to upgrade the roster with sensational rookies such as quarterback C.J. Stroud and defensive end Will Anderson. However, the blue chips from the draft class will generate their own buzz, as will second-year running back Dameon Pierce, safety Jalen Pitre and cornerback Derek Stingley.

Nevertheless there is other talent on the Texans that doesn’t receive attention.

According to Cody Benjamin from CBS Sports, the most underappreciated player for Houston is second-year linebacker Christian Harris.

A third-round Alabama product in 2022, Harris was busy in 11 rookie starts, chipping in all over the field with six tackles for loss, five pass deflections and three QB hits. New coach DeMeco Ryans has since hailed his “God-given ability” as a future three-down starter, signaling an expanded role — perhaps as a sort of coverage chess piece a la Fred Warner with the 49ers.

Harris’ stats came in a Tampa-2 scheme. No doubt the emphasis for Houston’s defense will be different in 2023 compared to last year as the Texans’ defensive line will have an emphasis on attacking.

The Texans appear to have cornerstones up front with Anderson and on the back end with Pitre and Stingley. If Harris were able to build on his rookie performance, the former Alabama product would receive appreciation quickly.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=1362]

LB Denzel Perryman is excited about chemistry Texans are building

Linebacker Denzel Perryman is enthused concerning the chemistry that the Houston Texans have forged throughout the offseason.

A plurality of fans around the NFL recognize the Houston Texans as a young team of up-and-comers who are led by a first-year head coach with plenty of potential to improve on the failed campaigns of yore.

What most don’t know, though, is that Houston has quietly assembled a group of veterans to lead their inexperienced talent to new heights in 2023 and beyond. Linebacker Denzel Perryman, who signed with the Texans as a free agent after stints with the Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina Panthers, and Las Vegas Raiders told reporters about the building chemistry within the Texans organization after mandatory minicamp on June 14.

Said Perryman: “Me and [OL] Shaq Mason were just talking about this the other day as we were eating. We were out, and I was just like, ‘Bro, I’ve been a part of some teams that had the roster.’ Just, the chemistry that we all have, and it’s not knocking any other team that I’ve been on, but just the chemistry — the young guys, the older guys — it is a great mixture, and I’ll just say, ‘Stay tuned’ man. Just stay tuned. Watch us put it together.”

The final part of Perryman’s comment will be the key for Houston, as offseason camaraderie rarely indicates regular-season success.

But, for a team with so much room to improve and a roster capable of much more than years past, fans and the media are starting to pick up on what the Texans might be capable of if they can solve the puzzle and surprise opponents in the coming season.

They will have 17 chances to put the league on notice, and to hear Perryman tell it, success seems likely if the team can continue on their current heading.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=1416]

Christian Harris’ ‘God-given ability’ excites Texans coach DeMeco Ryans

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans is enthused about the “God-given ability” LB Christian Harris brings to the defense.

In the midst of a full-on knock-down-the-walls rebuild the Houston Texans are looking for every single player they have under contract to justify roster spot ahead of the 2023 season. Especially for those who were acquired by the previous regime, the new prove-it culture in Houston under DeMeco Ryans is palpable, and with just a month left to prepare for training camp and the preseason, nothing is certain for any Texan.

One player facing a sink-or-swim season is Christian Harris, who came on strong for Houston after missing the first part of his rookie season in 2023 with a lingering hamstring injury. Ryans told reporters June 14 about the potential he saw in Harris after practice last week, but made it clear that the linebacker’s development ahead of the regular season will decide what kind of role he plays in the Texans’ defense.

“What excites me about Christian is just his God-given ability,” Ryans explained. “Not many linebackers that are [as] fast or explosive as Christian Harris is. What he’s capable of becoming in this league, he’s capable of becoming a really, really great linebacker.

“He just has to continue to improve. I saw it today at practice, it was fun to watch, right, seeing him take another step today. So, it was fun to watch. It’s a progress. It doesn’t happen overnight, but he’s definitely having the right mindset to put the work in to become really good at his craft. I’m excited to see where he is when we start training camp.”

There is no doubt that Harris’ status as a third-round pick will buy him more time to prove himself than others on the roster, and he seems to have made a favorable impression on Ryans during Houston’s offseason program.

Now it seems that the final piece to his long-term success with the Texans will be consistency, which Harris may be able to find in training camp and the preseason without the nagging injury holding him back.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=1365]

Texans’ linebacking unit ranks No. 26 on Pro Football Focus list

The Houston Texans came in at No. 26 in the latest ranking of linebacking units from Pro Football Focus.

The Houston Texans are attempting to complete the rebuild, but some of their units still need work.

According to Dalton Wasserman from Pro Football Focus, the Texans’ linebacking corps ranks No. 26 overall in their latest evaluation of all such units across the NFL.

Unsurprisingly, the Texans finished last season with the lowest-graded linebackers in the league. Their struggles were a primary reason why Houston finished with a league-low 34.1 run-defense grade as a team. They’ve at least added some respectable players in free agency in an attempt to fortify the unit.

Denzel Perryman is the best player of the bunch when he’s healthy. The 30-year-old has had several solid seasons but has only once played at least 600 snaps. Cory Littleton enters the fold after posting a 72.2 overall grade last season, his best mark since 2019. Littleton will get a chance to start following his year of part-time work in Carolina. At his best, he is an athletic player with a knack for making plays in coverage.

While the Texans have stable veterans with Perryman, Littleton, and Christian Kirksey, Houston also has some talented youngsters who have untapped potential.

Christian Harris enters his second season after collecting the fifth-most tackles on the team with 74. The Texans took Harris’ college teammate in fifth-rounder Henry To’oTo’o from Alabama. Garret Wallow prepares for his third year and could vie for considerable playing time.

Whether the Texans go with a veteran, younger, or mixed blend in their linebacking unit, the organization has committed resources to being better than No. 26 over the course of 2023.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 tag=601916339]