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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