Tag: Texans linebackers

Frankie Luvu could be DeMeco Ryans’ dream linebacker

Could the Texans take a run at signing soon-to-be free agent linebacker Frankie Luvu?

Any discussion about the Houston Texans’ upcoming free agency discussion starts with the words that DeMeco Ryans left the media with to conclude his final press conference of the 2023 season.

“You have to invest the resources there up front, so that’s what we’ll do. That’s where our focus is heading into the offseason is to make sure our front gives us an opportunity to win some games.”

It should be no surprise the former linebacker has a personal focus on improving the Texans’ front seven. It was a huge part of their downfall against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Divisional Round and nearly cost them their playoff berth against the Indianapolis Colts during Week 18 when Jonathan Taylor exploded.

The defensive front includes the down defensive linemen but it also includes the linebackers. Much has been made of Houston’s potential investments in the front four, especially with the status of free agent Jonathan Greenard in limbo, but that discussion often misses the importance of the linebackers to this equation.

Houston isn’t exactly set there either.

Christian Harris had a breakout season in his second year with 104 tackles and two sacks, not to mention an incredible pick-six in the playoffs against the Cleveland Browns. He is considered a budding star at the position but who his running mates will be is uncertain. Veteran Blake Cashman had 104 tackles and Denzel Perryman had 76, with both players playing over 50% of Houston’s regular season snaps. However, both are free agents entering the off-season and it leaves a huge gap for Houston’s defense. It’s a logical question of who they’ll pair alongside Christian Harris to elevate the defense.

If general manager Nick Caserio and DeMeco Ryans want to put their money where their mouth is, there are some excellent options on the free agent market. Furthermore, the best fit may be found if they examine their loss in Charlotte, North Carolina this past season.

Linebacker Frankie Luvu was a nightmare for the Texans. He’s also about to hit the market.

After transitioning from an edge rusher role to a true inside linebacker after signing with the Carolina Panthers in 2021, Luvu’s career has exploded the past two years. Starring in a 4-3 scheme akin to Houston in 2022, Luvu had 111 total tackles, 7 sacks and 19 tackles for loss. This past year, even transitioning to a 3-4 scheme under Ejiro Evero and with the team struggling, Luvu still found his way to 125 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He even wore the green dot while piloting the Panthers defense.

It’s ludicrous production for an inside linebacker and represents just the kind of versatility that Houston may be searching for

His coverage grade of 64.9 per PFF in 2023 was a career high and represents a huge upgrade from Perryman who ranked in at 46.0 and was frequently abused by defenses last season. However, he still represents the same level of run defense with a grade of 74.0 against the run and 90.1 when blitzing.

In a way, Luvu is a summation of the best parts of Perryman and Cashman. A run thumper that isn’t a liability in coverage – with the added dimension of attacking the quarterback.

His ability to blitz is something that neither player brought to the table in 2023, with that responsibility usually left to Christian Harris, and it could add a new dimension to the defense. Not only would Luvu need to be accounted for in protection schemes but it would also create a degree of difficulty as to when and from where Ryans and defensive coordinator Matt Burke would bring heavier blitzes.

The fit would be natural next to Harris. He started 13 games last season at middle linebacker for the Carolina Panthers and would slide into that same role for Houston. It allows Ryans to keep Harris at the weakside linebacker spot and to continue to utilize Harris’s special athleticism at that position. Meanwhile, Luvu could even assume green dot responsibilities and would have the ability to spy, blitz, cover or crush the run while Harris is freed to be a star.

There’s one big question for Houston with this acquisition: What’s the cost?

Luvu is expected to command somewhere between $10-11M APY and it would represent a huge investment of the linebacker position. If the reason they move on from Cashman is due to cost, it would be hard to imagine they decide this is where they want to spend big dollars.

However, if Houston is as serious about improving their front seven as they’ve preached, this investment would easily be worth it. Luvu’s contributions to the running game, versatility with blitzes, and overall reliability in coverage would represent a next level investment alongside Harris.

It could give Houston one of the best linebacker duos in football.

Ryans was once himself a former all-pro at the linebacker position and it would be amazing to watch him deploy and create havoc with two players of this caliber. He’ll have to work alongside Caserio to decide what type of investment the team is willing to make if they want to put another star alongside No. 48.

Texans defensive assistant Ben Bolling to coach National Team linebackers at Senior Bowl

The Houston Texans are sending defensive assistant Ben Bolling to Mobile, Ala., to coach National Team linebackers at the Senior Bowl.

A young member of the Houston Texans coaching staff is getting another opportunity to showcase his talents as an instructor.

The Senior Bowl announced Jan. 19 that Texans defensive assistant Ben Bolling will be a part of the National Team coaching staff. Bolling will work with Pittsburgh Steelers assistant outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin.

Bolling completed his second season with the Texans in 2022. The former Campbell University product started off as a member of coach David Culley’s staff in 2021.

Prior to joining the Texans, Bolling worked at his alma mater for five seasons in a variety of roles. After playing receiver at Campbell for all four seasons, Bolling spent 2016 as a defensive quality control coach. From 2017-18, he coached the safeties. From 2019-20, Bolling was a receivers and offensive recruiting coordinator.

The Senior Bowl will be held Feb. 4 at Hancock Stadium in Mobile, Ala. Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy will coach the American Team while Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham coaches the National Team.

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LB Kamu Grugier-Hill considers setting Texans’ single-game tackle record bittersweet

Kamu Grugier-Hill set the Houston Texans’ single-game tackle record, but is upset about the 31-0 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

The Indianapolis Colts walloped the Houston Texans 31-0 Sunday afternoon at NRG Stadium.

In the midst of the shutout, linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill etched his name into the franchise record books with a career-high 19 combined tackles. The previous record was 17 set by three different players on four different occasions, the last being linebacker Tyrell Adams on Nov. 26, 2020, in a 41-25 win over the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving.

Grugier-Hill was fixated on the loss to the Colts that sent Houston to 2-10, marking their second straight year of double-digit losses, a feat not seen since 2005-06.

“It’s an honor; I can’t lie,” Grugier-Hill said. “My whole career I’ve been pigeonholed as a good special teamer, come in on core downs. And to have this accomplishment, like in this franchise, a place I want to be, just prove to everyone that I can be a real starter, real player in this league, a legit player. It’s definitely an honor.”

Grugier-Hill’s previous career high was 12 combined tackles, which he set against the Tennessee Titans in Week 11, a 22-13 win at Nissan Stadium. That career-high came in a victory. Grugier-Hill’s new personal best came in a loss, which overshadows the accomplishment for the linebacker.

Said Grugier-Hill: “We didn’t win so it doesn’t mean much, but you can’t celebrate too many individual victories when we have a record like this, which sucks. But it’s an honor.”

The Colts also scored 31 points on Houston’s defense in Week 6 when Indianapolis rolled over the Texans 31-3 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

WATCH: Texans LB Kamu Grugier-Hill picks off Titans QB Ryan Tannehill

The Houston Texans managed to get an interception with linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill picking off the Tennessee Titans’ Ryan Tannehill.

Houston Texans linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill got a key interception to end the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans in Week 11.

As the Titans were driving with a third-and-6 from the Texans’ 18-yard line, Grugier-Hill picked off quarterback Ryan Tannehill and was tackled at the Titans’ 6-yard line.

Texans linebacker Neville Hewitt told reporters on Nov. 17 that he and fellow linebacker Christian Kirksey are always watching film.

“Me and Kamu pull up plays all the time even with Kirko (Kirksey) on stuff,” said Hewitt. “We’ll see a play. We want to get things solved in the meeting before we get to the field. I’ve always been like that since college, just watch as much film to see the stuff they might do that we haven’t talked about.”

Grugier-Hill got his first interception since 2018 when he was with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Texans have a chance to prove the Titans are AFC pretenders

The Houston Texans have an opportunity to lay out a blueprint to beat the Tennessee Titans in Week 11.

The Tennessee Titans are running away with the AFC South. In fact, the defending division champions are a game away from their sixth consecutive winning season and seem to be more in play for the No. 1 overall seed.

Could the Titans be in store for a surprise winter of discontent?

According to Mike Jones of USA TODAY, the Titans are a premier team at 8-2. However, they have taken some attrition that could affect them the more the regular season winds down.

Once viewed as an area of weakness, the defense is coming on. Meanwhile, Ryan Tannehill and the rest of the offense are proving they can remain a formidable unit despite the indefinite loss of Derrick Henry. However, durability and depth are a concern, as are struggles in the secondary and along the offensive line. The Titans have 15 players on the injured reserve list and have dressed 80 different players because of rampant injuries. Can Mike Vrabel’s squad continue to absorb these blows as the year drags on?

The Houston Texans visit the Titans Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at Nissan Stadium. The Texans know they are in store for a slugfest despite the fact Henry is on injured reserve. The Titans have taken on the personality of their coach, who is a tough yet crafty individual, and linebacker Neville Hewitt knows Houston has to get their assignment and alignment correct with Tennessee’s offense.

“They move around a lot, pretty much,” said Hewitt. “If you’re not lined up right, line up correctly, not doing your job correctly, that’s how they get the big plays in the run game. That’s one of the things we are going to have to do is get lined up correctly that way we can do our jobs.”

Albeit Houston had vastly different quarterback play a year ago, the Titans needed overtime in the first meeting and a last-second field goal in the rematch to sweep the Texans. If the Texans can keep it close like 2020, they may be able to steal one and provide a blueprint for the rest of the conference to depose the Titans.

Texans LB Neville Hewitt turned film study into a big game against the Dolphins

Houston Texans linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill says that he is proud of the way linebacker Neville Hewitt had a big game against the Miami Dolphins.

Neville Hewitt has seen it all as a seven-year veteran in the NFL.

However, the Houston Texans linebacker wants to make sure he knows the team and his opponent each week, which means he delves into hours of film study. The 28-year-old had an efficient game against the Miami Dolphins in Week 9 as he racked up 10 combined tackles in 28 defensive snaps.

Fellow linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill says that Hewitt is a guy he appreciates for his professionalism and his approach.

“He’s a true professional,” said Grugier-Hill. “I mean, the guy watches more film than I have ever seen ever, by any teammate I’ve ever played with. He’s always knows what position to be in.”

Although Grugier-Hill and Hewitt are separated by a year in age with Hewitt being the elder, Grugier-Hill says he seeks Hewitt out for advice on how to decipher certain plays or schemes.

Said Grugier-Hill: “Truthfully a lot of time, I go to him for, ‘Hey, what do you think about this play?’ He’s been there for me a lot.  Being out there and playing with him, I was excited for him. To see the stat sheet after and just to see him do his thing during the game, it was exciting.”

According to Grugier-Hill, Hewitt is “watching film all day” and will even call him at night to ask if he had noticed certain details from an upcoming opponent.

“He will call me at night and be like, ‘Hey did you see this play?’” Grugier-Hill said. “I’m like ‘No, I didn’t get there yet ‘like how are you already there with that?’ He’s different with that.”

The Texans will need that level of commitment as they work through their struggles that have wrought a 1-8 record. Houston has Week 10 off, but no doubt Hewitt is somewhere holed up with an iPad taking a look at film from the Tennessee Titans, the Texans’ Week 11 opponent they will face on Nov. 21 at Nissan Stadium.

Texans activate LB Zach Cunningham off COVID-19 reserve among other roster moves

The Houston Texans have activated linebacker Zach Cunningham from the COVID-19 reserve among other roster transactions.

The Houston Texans have moved linebacker Zach Cunningham off the COVID-19 reserve.

The former 2017 second-round pick from Vanderbilt was deemed a close contact Oct. 1 and placed on the reserve. Cunningham subsequently missed the Texans’ 40-0 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

The Texans also designated linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis for return from injured reserve.

Houston signed receiver Damion Davis from Sam Houston State to the practice squad and also signed rookie Damon Hazelton to the practice squad.

The Texans also made official the release of receiver Anthony Miller.

Houston gets back in action in Week 5 with a home tilt against the New England Patriots Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time from NRG Stadium.

Texans DC Lovie Smith says key to beating Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey is discipline

Houston Texans defensive coordinator Lovie Smith says staying disciplined will be key in containing Carolina Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey.

The engine for the Carolina Panthers’ offense is running back Christian McCaffrey. Everyone knows that.

Not everyone can stop him, and that is a reality Houston Texans defensive coordinator Lovie Smith has had to confront on a short week as his team gets ready to play the Panthers Thursday night for Week 3 at NRG Stadium.

“He’s tough duty,” said Smith. “As a receiver when he’s catching the football, whether out of the back field, splitting him out as a wide receiver, they do a great job of putting him in different spots getting the ball to him. But he’s a running back and of course he can make you miss in the open field, run in between the tackles.”

Through two games, McCaffrey has 45 carries for 170 yards and a touchdown while also catching 14 catches for 154 yards. It has been a nice bounce back after missing 13 games last season with a shoulder injury. The Panthers’ offense is back to being potent, no matter the quarterback, thanks to McCaffrey’s return.

Smith does have some ideas on how to contain McCaffrey, but it can’t just be one man, such as linebacker Zach Cunningham. It will take a collective effort from the entire front seven and also the seconday.

Said Smith: “It’s still going to go back to first off being sound and disciplined. You can’t make a mistake, you have to have somebody in every gap, gang tackle, pursue to the football, all of those things gives you the best chance to slow him down a little bit. Not many people are going to stop him completely.”

McCaffrey is averaging 5.5 yards per touch through two games. The Texans are giving up 6.0 yards per play, tied for the 11th-most in the NFL this season.

Do the Texans still have a tackling problem?

The Houston Texans were top 10 in missed tackles in 2020, and they are back in that dubious group two games into the 2021 season.

The Houston Texans finished the 2020 season with 125 missed tackles, tied with the Buffalo Bills for the sixth-most in the NFL.

Unlike the Bills, the Texans didn’t get to go to the AFC Championship Game; they got to finish 4-12, find a new coach, new general manager, and tick off their franchise quarterback in the process.

However, with that came defensive coordinator Lovie Smith, who has a proven track record of success as the 2001 St. Louis Rams’ defensive coordinator and the 2006 Chicago Bears’ coach. Both teams represented the NFC in the Super Bowl.

Some things never change.

After two games into the 2021 season, the Texans are tied with the Baltimore Ravens for the fourth-most missed tackles in the NFL with 19.

According to Smith, the Texans have been working on their tackling, even with the in-season restrictions on practice.

“What you can’t practice is taking guys to the ground,” said Smith. “You say it’s bad tackling, it’s more of the approach, as much as anything, it’s about leverage with most things.”

Smith believes that was the problem against the Cleveland Browns in the 31-21 loss at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns’ duo of Kareem Hunt and Nick Chub churned 146 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries.

Leverage doesn’t solve everything as defenders must also wrap up, according to Smith.

Said Smith: “You don’t have to put a guy down all the way on the ground. It’s been so long since anyone has been tackling all the way to the ground. We play good games without missing tackles where we have been using the same approach, just got to concentrate on it a little bit more, get more guys to the ball and wrap up better.”

The Texans take on the Carolina Panthers Thursday night at NRG Stadium, and the 2-0 NFC South squad features a dynamic, shifty running back in Christian McCaffrey.

Texans LB Kamu Grugier-Hill points to tackling as issue against the Browns

Houston Texans linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill says the defense has to get better at tackling after their 31-21 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

The Houston Texans were at a crossroads coming out of halftime against the Cleveland Browns in Week 2 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Houston was tied 14-14 against Cleveland, but coming out of the tunnel at halftime to lead the offense was rookie quarterback Davis Mills. Starter Tyrod Taylor sustained a hamstring injury and was done for the day.

For linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill, there was no added pressure on the defense to win the game. In fact, the defense feels the same amount of pressure to win the game regardless of who is under center for Houston.

“In our mind, the defense has to win the game every time,” Grugier-Hill said. “That’s our approach. It doesn’t really matter who is in at quarterback. Honestly I was proud of Davis, the way he came in and did his thing.”

Where Grugier-Hill sees the Texans as being ineffective against the Browns was in their run defense.

“I think some guys, including me obviously, started jumping out of the gap and just do too much,” said Grugier-Hill, who finished with a game-high nine combined tackles.

However, tackling is exactly the issue where Grugier-Hill would like to see himself and his teammates improve going forward. Although running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt were tough to take down, both combining for 24 carries for 146 yards and a touchdown, Grugier-Hill believes they need to tighten up their fundamentals regardless of who is carrying the football.

Said Grugier-Hill: “They run hard. I mean they are not going to go down on the first contact. They are not going to go down easy. We got to do better tackling.”

Houston doesn’t have much time to correct the problems from the Browns game as they turn around quickly to host the 2-0 Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football at NRG Stadium. The Panthers have another effective running back the Texans need to corral in Christian McCaffrey.