Tag: Texans special teams

Texans special teams coach Frank Ross says DeMeco Ryans excels at connection

Houston Texans special teams coach Frank Ross says that one of DeMeco Ryans’ best attributes is his ability to connect.

Everyone has been older than Frank Ross.

Whether the Houston Texans special team coordinator was getting his break in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts and Frank Reich or serving under David Culley and Lovie Smith the past two seasons in Houston, the coaches ranged from big brother to father figures.

DeMeco Ryans is in a new category. The Texans’ sixth coach in team history is three years older than the 36-year-old Ross. For once, someone who is a peer is Ross’ boss.

However, Ross does not mind the age gap — or lack thereof.

“Doesn’t matter about necessarily age, but the one part about the NFL is that it keeps everybody young,” Ross told reporters Aug. 24. “We’re all out here faking like we have jobs, but we get to just play a game for fun so I guess age doesn’t really necessarily matter in that regard.”

What Ross has noticed as he has worked with Ryans is the former Pro Bowl linebacker’s ability to relate.

Said Ross: “The guy has the ability to connect with any human there is, so whether that’s talking about the nitty gritty all the way down to the x’s and o’s, the operation, or whether it’s just having a conversation.”

Even though Ross and Ryans are close in age, the special teams coach still sees an opportunity to grow and learn.

“So far, it’s been nothing but fantastic learning from him, a guy who has done it at the highest level, a guy that’s done it,” said Ross. “I mean I’m going to be all ears and anytime he is speaking I’m going to have my antennas up listening. Just trying to absorb as much as I can from his knowledge.”

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Texans WR Xavier Hutchinson embracing special teams for first time

Houston Texans rookie receiver Xavier Hutchinson is embracing special teams despite having never played in the transition phase of the game.

Xavier Hutchinson knew as much about special teams as the numeral on cornerback Desmond King’s new jersey.

“Absolutely zero in college, I won’t even lie to you,” Hutchinson said.

However, the Houston Texans’ sixth-round receiver was a quick study and understood the sure way to make the team would be on special teams. As prolific as Hutchinson was at Iowa State last season with 107 catches for 1,171 yards and six touchdowns, it wasn’t enough to unseat Robert Woods and Nico Collins for playing time.

Although Hutchinson has been enthusiastic about playing special teams, the beginning hasn’t been easy.

“Obviously, I’ve taken my lumps with it. I’m learning something very new to myself, but to have [special teams] coach Frank [Ross] and everybody — some of the veterans who have played it at the highest level just always giving back into me and just teaching me the little, small things, it’s made it a lot easier,” said Hutchinson. “But I’m very excited about it though. I’m excited to see what I can do on [special teams], and excited to see if that can be a part of me helping the team out.”

Part of what has made the transition challenging for Hutchinson are some of the techniques. For instance, lining up to run a pattern involves a different set of footwork and explosion than bursting downfield as a gunner on special teams or staying in to block.

“I think it’s just the technique, honestly,” Hutchinson explained. “Like, the get-offs, being in a new stance that I’m not normally in ever. Just those little, small things.”

While Hutchinson had doubts about his ability to contribute in the transition phase of the game, the 6-3, 210-pounder has nevertheless discovered commitment pays off.

Said Hutchinson: “It’s really not as hard as it seems, you just really have to be committed to it and you have to care. So, you know, that’s really about it, to be honest with you. You just have to have some type of dog in you to want to compete and want to be out there on special teams.”

Hutchinson figures to be a part of the Texans’ special teams units as Houston kicks off their preseason slate Aug. 10 against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.

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Texans’ Frank Ross is ‘excited’ to see what K Jake Bates offers

Houston Texans special teams coordinator Frank Ross says he is looking forward to what rookie K Jake Bates can offer in training camp.

The Houston Texans aren’t scared of competition — and they can’t afford to be if they want to improve from their 3-13-1 finish last season.

One area where the Texans are infusing competition that may be puzzling is kicker. Despite Ka’imi Fairbairn coming off a year where he drilled a career-high 93.5% on field goals (29-31) and went perfect for the first time on extra points (24-24), Houston signed a kicker.

The Texans announced Aug. 1 they signed undrafted Jake Bates from Arkansas.

Special teams coordinator Frank Ross emphasized the signing is part of the evaluation process that takes place in training camp.

“We have to evaluate as many players as we can,” said Ross. “This is training camp, so proving yourself every single day. As much competition as we can bring to the entire roster — doesn’t matter what you are, what position you are — the better is the way I see it.”

Bates, who graduated from Tomball High School, played his senior year at Arkansas. The 5-10, 202-pounder led FBS with an 85.3% touchback percentage (64-75).

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Could the Texans use more squib kicks on kickoffs?

With the new kickoff rule providing for fair-catching kickoffs, would the Houston Texans use more squib kicks to entice opponents to return kicks?

NFL rules on player safety are typically a pendulum that swing either for the offense or defense.

The league’s new kickoff rules stipulate that a returner can fair-catch a kick and have the offense’s drive start at the 25-yard line — the same result as if there were a touchback.

Houston Texans special teams coordinator Frank Ross is a competitor yet also believes in player safety. Nevertheless as a coach in the transition phase of the game, Ross understands special teams is a component of the game where players are able to make their case for inclusion on the 53-man roster.

“When we get a chance to cover a kick, let’s go out there with our hair on fire,” Ross told reporters May 31 after organized team activities. “We get a chance to return it, we want those guys to get shot out of a cannon and go. I got it. I’m 100% in favor of player safety, so, anything to elongate the existence of the NFL and our game, great, and player safety.”

While Ross was filibustering on playing within the rules of the game, he provided an interesting scenario.

Said Ross: “Those are the rules, so we’ll play within that scheme. If that’s going to save time, waving a fair catch, end-of-half situation or you’ve got to learn how to squib it and get it through, you’ve got to judge yard mark, what’s the average return.”

A squib kick, which is a kickoff that hits ground first as it bounds its way to the opposing end zone similar to a grounder in baseball, would fall outside the parameters of fair-kick eligibility. If a returner fielded a squibbed kick, the point where they were downed by contact would be the starting point of the offense’s drive, not the 25-yard line — even with the rule change.

After possession field position is a key part of special teams.

“That starting field position, you guys have known this, that chart doesn’t lie,” said Ross. “Every yard means percentage up on opportunity to score on the offensive end or defensive side to defend.”

If the Texans wanted to mitigate the opponent’s ability to start drives at the 25-yard line, using Ka’imi Fairbairn to squib more could be an option.

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Texans special teams coach Frank Ross says Tank Dell has a certain quickness

Houston Texans special teams coordinator Frank Ross says that rookie wideout Tank Dell brings a type of quickness to the return game.

Special teams has surprisingly been one of the Houston Texans’ better units over the past two seasons.

Special teams coordinator Frank Ross has had the Texans finish ninth in yards per kickoff return and 13th in yards per punt return last season. In 2021, the Texans dipped to fifth-worst in yards per kickoff return, but were tied for 10th-best in yards per punt return.

The Texans’ return units may have a new weapon on their hands in third-round receiver Tank Dell. As a punt returner last season for the Houston Cougars, Dell fielded nine punts for 153 yards and a touchdown.

No doubt the Texans are hoping to cultivate Dell’s receiving abilities, but having the 5-8, 165-pound wideout provide playmaking ability in the return game would give Houston a needed edge.

Ross told reporters May 31 during organized team activities that Dell has a natural instinct to be an effective returner.

“There’s a God-given athleticism element, of course, where guys know how to just not spend too much time decelerating or it’s just easier for guys to run as a smaller guy,” said Ross. “He’s got that quickness, that suddenness that hopefully he can translate to when he’s out there live with the ball in his hands.”

The most important aspect Dell, and the other Texans returners, will need to nail down is ball security.

Said Ross: “The ball can’t be on the ground, so whoever is back there handling it, security is number one. Get the ball back for our offense, start a drive. And then anything past the first down is bonus. When we get a chance to take it, we’ll try and do that as many times as possible.”

The Texans have had two lost fumbles on punt returns since 2021.

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Texans sign TE Jordan Murray, waive P Joe Doyle

The Houston Texans have signed undrafted free agent tight end Jordan Murray and waived punter Joe Doyle from their offseason roster.

The Houston Texans continue to fine-tune their offseason roster.

The Texans announced Wednesday they have signed undrafted free agent tight end Jordan Murray.

The former Hawaii product caught 10 passes for 70 yards through 13 games in his final year in college football. The 6-5, 240-pounder originally played four seasons at Missouri State where he had 99 catches for 1,196 yards and 11 touchdowns in his career.

Houston also waived punter Joe Doyle. The Texans signed Doyle as an undrafted free agent. The 6-0, 200-pounder was a redshirt senior who spent 2021-22 with Memphis, and had an NIL deal with Opendorse. From 2017-20, Doyle was a punter at Tennessee in the SEC East.

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Texans sign former Steelers receiver Steven Sims

The Houston Texans have signed former Washington and Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Steven Sims to a one-year contract.

The Houston Texans have added more receiver depth and a kick returner to their veteran laden roster.

Houston signed former Washington and Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Steven Sims to a one-year contract Friday.

According to Aaron Wilson from KPRC-TV, the deal has a maximum value of $1.7 million with a $1.5 million base value. $500,000 of that base value is guaranteed.

Sims played in only one game for the Steelers in 2021. The bulk of his work was in 2022 when he recorded 14 catches for 104 yards and carried 13 times for 70 yards. He also averaged 25.5 yards per kickoff return with 5.5 yards per punt return.

While with Washington from 2019-20, Sims averaged 24.6 yards per kickoff return and even scored a touchdown during his 28 games. Sims averaged 6.2 yards per punt return, and caught 61 passes for 575 yards and five touchdowns through 28 games, four of which he started.

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Report: Former Texans CB Tremon Smith agrees to 2-year deal with Broncos

Former Houston Texans cornerback Tremon Smith is signing with the Denver Broncos as free agency continues.

The Houston Texans won’t have the services of cornerback Tremon Smith anymore.

According to Aaron Wilson from KPRC-TV, the Denver Broncos are signing Smith to a two-year contract worth $5.5 million.

Smith had one of his better two-year stretches with the Texans, despite their abysmal on-field performance. The 5-11, 190-pound returner averaged 10.8 yards per punt return through 34 games along with 23.9 kickoff returns yards and a touchdown.

The former Kansas City Chiefs 2018 sixth-round pick demonstrated value as a cornerback in 2022 with 22 combined tackles, one tackle for loss, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions through 17 games, two of which he started.

Special teams coordinator Frank Ross said on Dec. 29, 2022, that Smith was the best all-around athlete on the team.

““I’ll get some flack for this, but Tremon Smith is the best all-around athlete on our football team,” said Ross. “I’ll go ahead and start some debates with those guys in there if they hear me say that. Baseball player, hooper, can catch, can throw, can run, all that good stuff. The athleticism part is where he’s been able to take advantage.”

The Broncos hope to take advantage of that athleticism as the Texans retool their transition phase of the game.

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Report: Texans to sign former Cowboys WR Noah Brown

The Houston Texans are signing former Dallas Cowboys receiver Noah Brown.

The Houston Texans are adding another veteran receiver who can also be a key contributor on special teams.

According to Aaron Wilson from KPRC-TV, the Texans are signing former Dallas Cowboys receiver Noah Brown.

The former 2017 seventh-round pick from Ohio State had a career year in 2022 with 43 catches for 555 yards and three touchdowns.

Where Brown earned his reputation was as a run-blocking along the edge and also on special teams. The 6-2, 225-pound wideout played 708 special teams snaps throughout his career compared to 1,615 on offense.

Brown became a player the Cowboys could count on to excel at “dirty plays,” in the run game such as setting the edge with blocks.

“Noah is super competitive, super tough,” coach Mike McCarthy said on Oct. 24, 2022. “Every time you talk about him I bring it up.”

The Texans can expect to get a part of that gritty nature in their receiving corps with Brown’s arrival.

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Breaking down the Texans’ contract with RB Mike Boone

Here are the details of the contract with the Houston Texans and RB Mike Boone.

The Houston Texans added a running back early in free agency who can at least backup Dameon Pierce and also provide as a contributor on special teams.

Aaron Wilson from KPRC-TV was able to obtain the details of the Texans’ two-year contract with running back Mike Boone. The total value of the contract is $3.1 million, and that includes base salaries of $1.15 million, $1.25 million, and a $300,000 signing bonus.

Boone can also earn $200,000 per game in active roster bonuses each season along with $300,000 in annual playtime incentives.

The former Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos running back has had 631 special teams snaps throughout his career compared to 300 offensive snaps through 57 games, two of which he started.

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