Tag: Texans minicamp

Texans LB Christian Harris believes new scheme will stop the run

Houston Texans linebacker Christian Harris believes the new scheme deployed by DeMeco Ryans should help the defense stop the run.

The Houston Texans finishing as the worst team in the NFL at stopping the run wasn’t an outlier.

In 2021, the Texans were the second-worst at stopping the run. Houston was tied for fifth-worst yards per carry surrendered that season, and then finished fourth-worst in the same category a year later.

Teams knew they could have a balanced offense when playing Houston. In order to make teams two dimensional, the Texans defense must stop the run.

From what second-year linebacker Christian Harris has seen through throughout the Texans’ offseason workouts, new coach DeMeco Ryans’ defense should be able to provide a more formidable boundary.

“I think it’s just all based off the scheme, buying into what we have going on, whatever coach is coaching us up to do,” Harris said. “We in the process of building that right now. I’m sure when the season come, we are going to be ready for it.”

Defensive end Jerry Hughes is confident in the new scheme due to its emphasis on the defensive line playing more aggressively. As such, the defense has taken on a revitalized personality, and one that resembles their rookie coach.

Said Harris: “I think we have a very energetic team overall. I think it starts with the staff. DeMeco coming in and the type of intensity and energy he’s bringing. More detail-oriented. I think everybody is just buying into that.”

When Ryans was defensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers the past two seasons, the defense finished tied for fifth-best and first in terms of yards per carry surrendered.

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Texans DE Jerry Hughes sees ‘lot of upside’ in rookie Dylan Horton

Houston Texans defensive end Jerry Hughes believes that fourth-rounder Dylan Horton has potential in the new defense.

Jerry Hughes has known Dylan Horton for a while.

The Houston Texans’ fourth-round pick was wearing Hughes’ No. 98 while with TCU, their alma mater. At the Horned Frogs’ spring game last year, Hughes introduced himself to his future Texans teammate.

“He was wearing No. 98, so, I figured go see who the guy is at TCU who is rocking my old number,” Hughes told reporters June 13 at mandatory minicamp.

Most spectators are aware the Texans shored up their edge defense with Alabama defensive end Will Anderson at No. 3 overall. However, the Texans continued to add to their trenches with Horton at No. 109 overall in Round 4.

Hughes summed up Horton as, “another tall, tremendous athlete with a lot of upside,” who has the ability to, “kind of get off the ball, use some of his size to his advantage.

Horton is listening to the instruction defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire and assistant defensive line coach Rod Wright have been dispensing throughout the Texans’ offseason workouts.

Along with undrafted defensive end Ali Gaye from LSU, Hughes believes the Texans’ defensive line has a trio of rookies who can help Houston achieve their objectives defensively in 2023.

Said Hughes: “It’s going to make us that better of a team when we have young guys that can fly around, play fast, and also be smart as well.”

The Texans gave up the most rushing yards last season at 170.2, and gave up the fourth-most yards per carry at 5.1. Having an attacking defensive line with younger players hitting their potential is a recipe to fortify the trenches.

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Texans WR Noah Brown says TE Dalton Schultz is like ‘a coach on the field’

WR Noah Brown has been teammates with Dalton Schultz before, and knows what leadership the TE brings to the Houston Texans.

HOUSTON — Starting a new job is tough, especially when you must relocate. Only one thing can help an individual get familiarized with the new surroundings and environment when you have a friend starting the job the same time you do.

Wide receiver Noah Brown signed with the Houston Texans as an unrestricted free agent on March 17, 2023. Four days later, tight end Dalton Schultz followed in Brown’s footsteps.

What makes the signings so unique by general manager Nick Caserio is that Brown and Schultz were an intricate piece of the Dallas Cowboys offense last season that stalled in last year’s divisional playoffs.

Brown, a seventh-round selection by the Cowboys in the 2017 NFL draft out of Ohio State, and Schultz, who was drafted by the same team one season later in the fourth round out of Stanford, combined for 100 receptions, 1,132 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns in 28 starts last season.

“It’s incredible,” Brown said about having Schultz as a teammate again. “Dalton is one of my favorite players to play with. He’s like a coach on the field. He’s going to know the offense in and out; he’s going to know his responsibility and know yours too. It’s great to have somebody like that on the field.”

Brown is also eager to show new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and coach DeMeco Ryans that heading into his seventh season in the NFL, he is willing to do whatever it takes to help the team be successful on Sundays during the regular season.

“I think I came in this league a little bit raw,” Brown responded when asked about finding ways to get playing time. “I had to find my way on the field however I could. That started off being mostly blocking and special teams. But as that’s gone on, you find a way onto the field for maybe a blocking package, then all of a sudden, you find yourself getting in packages for pass plays. I think I’ve taken advantage of every one of those steps, last year being another one. I think I have a chance to expand on that again this year.”

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Texans coach DeMeco Ryans says rookie C.J. Stroud ‘doesn’t make the same mistake twice’

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans has been impressed with rookie QB C.J. Stroud and his ability to learn quickly from mistakes.

HOUSTON — There is a lot of excitement heading into the season for the Houston Texans team and its fanbase, which has to do with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. He is a level-headed young man with the desire and work ethic to want to be successful every time he takes a snap.

Yet, he also knows that the days leading up to the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens will be challenging, and he experienced that on Tuesday during the first day of the Texans’ mandatory minicamp.

It was Stroud’s turn in the quarterback rotation to take first-team snaps, and he struggled against the first-team defensive unit led by second-year safety Jalen Pitre. Although he was able to make his reads quickly, it was his accuracy he had issues with at times during the team red-zone drills and two-minute offense.

Many of the miscues for Stroud on Monday had a lot to do with him still getting acclimated with his wide receivers, which should be an easy fix during Texans training camp later this summer.

One individual who had no issues with some of the mistakes Stroud made is his coach DeMeco Ryans.

He watched as Stroud overthrew a wide-open wide receiver during the team 11-on-11 drills, only to come back and drop a perfect 25-yard pass to third-year wide receiver Nico Collins on the next play.

“The best thing I’ve seen about C.J. with his improvement and his growth is he doesn’t make the same mistake twice,” Ryans said during his press conference. “He learns from his mistakes; he puts those behind him, and he finds a way to continue to improve and get better.”

As of now, Stroud is locked in a battle for the starting quarterback position with Davis Mills, who looked impressive on Monday heading into training camp, as the Texans have not named who will be their starter to open the season.

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Texans coach DeMeco Ryans says Will Anderson ‘takes coaching really well’

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans says that No. 3 overall defensive end Will Anderson has responded favorably to coaching.

The Houston Texans have made a serious commitment to Will Anderson since Day 1.

General manager Nick Caserio and coach DeMeco Ryans pulled the trigger on a draft day trade that saw Houston forfeit multiple draft picks, including a future 2024 first round pick, to move up for the defensive end. It was a compensation that was lauded nationally as an overpay for a non-quarterback. For the Texans, it was simply a sign of belief in a player that checked all the boxes for what they wanted to build moving forward.

Almost two months since the conclusion of the draft, Anderson has done nothing but reward the coaching staff for their faith thus far into the offseason.

“Will has been great throughout camp,” Ryans told reporters Tuesday after mandatory minicamp. “One thing about Will, he’s been the same guy who we thought we were getting when we drafted him, right? He’s been on it every single day. When it comes to just the effort, the tenacity that he plays with, the energy, everything about him, he’s been that and more.”

The rookie coach pointed out that Anderson has fine-tuned his technique with defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire.

“He takes coaching really well,” said Ryans. “Doc has done a really good job of working with him, honing in on just those small fine details of his game. Will has done a great job of absorbing coaching and being able to take it to the field and apply it. It’s been cool to watch.”

Anderson comes from Alabama as one of the most statistically dominant edge rushers in recent college football history. He joins a Houston pass rush that desperately needed a boost after often failing to attack the quarterback in 2022 and a new scheme from Ryans that requires strong defensive line play.

Anderson’s coachability and potential success this upcoming season could help others on the defensive line such as Jerry Hughes and Jonathan Greenard face easier matchups from down to down. If Anderson can make quarterback uncomfortable there’s a good chance that talented members of the defensive secondary such as Derek Stingley and Jalen Pitre take a major step forward.

Nobody will know just how good Anderson is until the team starts playing full contact later this summer. However, the early returns and the early approval from Ryans and even franchise legend J.J. Watt have to sound phenomenal to Houston fans.

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DE Jerry Hughes says Texans rookies are vocal, asking questions

Houston Texans defensive end Jerry Hughes says that the rookies are very vocal and asking questions during meetings.

Being the new person at a job can be as awkward as a new character being written into season five of a TV series, and it is no different for NFL rookies.

Typically youngsters avoid asking questions during meetings, hoping to figure out the problems they couldn’t grasp in a more familiar environment.

According to defensive end Jerry Hughes, the Houston Texans have rookies on defense who aren’t afraid to be vocal in the classroom.

Defensive ends Will Anderson, Dylan Horton, and linebacker Henry To’oTo’o are leading the charge and ask questions on concepts they don’t quite understand or need further clarification.

“Henry, Will, Dylan, those guys are vocal, they’re asking questions,” Hughes told reporters Tuesday after mandatory minicamp. “We’re talking about technique throughout practice. It’s not where we’re just wasting time. The minute we walk in this building, it’s football on.”

At 34 years old, Hughes keeps being the older veteran wherever he goes. As the former TCU product enters his second season with Houston, Hughes appreciates the spark from the rookies.

“I think that’s what I love to see,” said Hughes. “You love that you got a young group of guys that are passionate about this game, who want to take their game to the next level. They’re constantly on it day in, day out.”

Hughes accepts that the rookies are atypical when it comes to their desire to learn.

Said Hughes: “Normally when you get around a bunch of people and you’re kind of new into that environment, you kind of tend to be more standoffish, kind of want to shrink down in the chair versus being a little bit more boastful, willing to ask questions, willing to get it repeated so you can make sure you understand it. Because you’d be surprised, there’s a lot more other people who need that understanding as well. When you have young guys doing that, that’s just a great mentality that you love to have.”

Coaches can instill so much, and veterans can carry the torch so long. Ultimately a team can only cross the chasm into prosperity with younger players buying in.

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Texans chairman Cal McNair says team is ‘coming along really well’ with DeMeco Ryans

Houston Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair is pleased with the progress thus far under new coach DeMeco Ryans.

The Houston Texans went in a new direction for the third time in as many seasons as they sought a new coach.

Rather than going with an older coach who had experience, the Texans went with a younger coach who was taking his first shot as the man in charge on the sidelines.

Nothing energized the Texans organization and fan base more than the hiring of former two-time Pro Bowl linebacker DeMeco Ryans. Not only was “Cap” a fan favorite, but he was a formidable defensive coordinator in his own right with the San Francisco 49ers, who had appeared in the NFC Championship Game from 2021-22.

Four and a half months into the Ryans era, chairman and CEO Cal McNair can see the changes on the field — albeit artificial turf at Houston Methodist Training Center at that.

“The team is getting better,” McNair said at mandatory minicamp Tuesday. “That’s really what we want to see through this time period. What he says is iron sharpens iron, so, he has the guys working against each other, trying to get better. We’re looking forward to getting to training camp which is where it really gets started for the season. It’s coming along really well.”

Although Ryans is the reigning AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year and his wheelhouse is defense, McNair is fascinated by the potential on the other side with new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud.

“I love the offense,” said McNair. “I’m a big fan of this offense. Excited to see the defense come together, under DeMeco. Watching the team really come together is really exciting for me because it’s all about the team coming together and playing great ball.”

The last time the Texans avoided a double-digit losing season was 2019. While the prospects are more difficult in the 17th game era, stacking more than four wins a season would be a welcomed product for Clutch City sports fans.

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Texans WR Noah Brown sees comparisons between C.J. Stroud and Dak Prescott

Houston Texans receiver Noah Brown sees similarities between his new quarterback, C.J. Stroud, and his former, Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys.

Noah Brown isn’t afraid to run-block as a receiver, and he also isn’t afraid to make a comparison.

Brown addressed reporters after mandatory minicamp Tuesday and the new Houston Texans wideout did not shy away from a question seeking comparisons between rookie C.J. Stroud and Dak Prescott, Brown’s quarterback when he was with the Dallas Cowboys from 2017-22.

“They’re both great quarterbacks,” Brown said. “I mean, great arm talent.”

Although Brown was simply speaking about physical traits and not career accomplishments, the former 2017 seventh-round pick threw in the caveat nonetheless.

“I think it’s a little bit early to compare a rookie to somebody like Dak Prescott,” said Brown. “That’s a great class to be in.”

The Texans used their No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 draft to cure what ailed them at quarterback for the past two seasons. If nothing else, Stroud provides the Texans with a sense of optimism and growth at the position — at least for a couple seasons.

Brown believes Stroud could go further, and lent his support for the rookie.

“I think he has all the potential to live up to that, maybe even surpass it,” Brown said. “So, you know, I’m rooting for C.J. and I’m willing to have his back on anything.”

Prescott went 8-4 last season and led the Cowboys to their first road playoff win since 1992 with a wild-card victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tom Brady’s last game in the NFL. Since taking Prescott in Round 4 of the 2016 draft, the Cowboys have never had a losing season wherein the former Mississippi State product has started at least 12 games.

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Texans’ Jerry Hughes details how DL differs from Tampa 2

Defensive end Jerry Hughes laid out how the Houston Texans’ defensive line will play differently from the Tampa 2 in 2023.

The Houston Texans went with the Tampa 2 for the past two seasons with Lovie Smith as defensive coordinator under David Culley in 2021 and then coach in 2022. Although the scheme was predicated on having rotations of defensive linemen, the results were underwhelming.

Defensive end Jerry Hughes had success in Smith’s scheme last season as he led the Texans with 9.0 sacks, the most since 2014 when Hughes had 10.0.

What Hughes sees from the Texans’ new defensive scheme with coach DeMeco Ryans is more of an attacking front.

“Just like the way DeMeco has us attacking off the ball, on the ball, just playing on the other team’s line of scrimmage, just really taking that attack to them,” Hughes told reporters Tuesday after mandatory minicamp. “We get to set edges, be more violent with our hands. Doing a lot of technique work in this offseason which has been really great that we get to get back to the fundamental elements of playing football.”

The Texans could stand to refine their fundamentals either individually or collectively as they gave up the most rushing yards per game at 170.2 and the fourth-most rushing yards per attempt at 5.1.

Although Hughes seemed to have success in the Tampa 2, the 34-year-old values the engagement in the new scheme.

Said Hughes: “I get to attack the tackles a lot more. I get to be more hands on, using my hands. Just things like that where it’s not so much avoiding setting the edge. Here we encourage it. I think it takes out a lot of the guessing game of what the up front is going to do. It allows the guys on the back end to play a lot faster.”

If the Texans are able to form a defense that is known for its defensive line, then it shouldn’t take much longer for the team to be known for its wins.

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