The Sports Xchange
NFL Team Report – Houston Texans – INSIDE SLANT
Three days before the first round of the draft, Texans general manager Rick Smith told the media he would never reach in the first round but if need meets value, the team hits a home run.
After selecting Clemson receiver DeAndre Hopkins with the 27th pick in the first round, the Texans felt as if they’d hit a grand slam. They filled a need and got the receiver they had targeted in recent weeks.
Hopkins (6-1, 214), who ran 4.51 at the combine but was timed in the 4.4s at his pro day, had 82 catches for 1,405 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior last season.
“I was holding my breath until we were able to get him,” offensive coordinator Rick Dennison said. “He got better every year in college. He’s physical and strong with good ball skills and long arms. He’ll fight for the ball and take it away. When it’s in the air, he’ll come down with it.”
Before the draft, the Texans thoroughly investigated the incident in which Hopkins’ hotel room at the combine in Indianapolis was trashed on the last day. Hopkins denied involvement, saying he left early. The Texans had no problem taking him.
“We had (receivers) Larry (Kirksey) check it out, and, of course, the security people,” Dennison said. “We feel real comfortable about the kid and his background and everything that he’s done at Clemson. It has all been very, very positive.”
Hopkins said the Texans never asked him about the incident.
“No, they didn’t because they knew I didn’t have anything to do with it,” he said. “I didn’t hear a call from too many teams about it because it was cleared two months ago.”
The Texans entered the draft needing a receiver to play opposite Andre Johnson.
As soon as the Texans learned DeVier Posey would have a long and difficult recovery from surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon, they began their search for a receiver.
Posey, a third-round pick last year, was just getting the hang of playing in the NFL when he suffered an injury so serious he might not be ready before midway through next season.
Hopkins will compete for the starting job with Keshawn Martin and Lestar Jean.
“He got better every year,” Dennison said about Hopkins’ Clemson career. “Last year was his best with 18 touchdowns. “The more you watched him, he’s very competitive. He’ll catch the ball in a crowd. He can go up and get the ball. He competes and wears the defensive backs out. He’s physical.
“He really fits that mold for us. He’ll compete with the other receivers and get a chance to take his snaps and get the ball. He beat man coverage just by being physical. He has great length and great ball skills. He plays fast, has explosion in his routes. I think he’ll do a great job for us.”
Hopkins (6-1, 214), whose nickname is “Nuke,” is the first offensive player the Texans have drafted since left tackle Duane Brown in 2008. He’s the first receiver drafted in the first round since Johnson in 2003.
With the exception of quarterback Matt Schaub, who gained another target, Johnson should be the most excited player on the team. He said last week he wanted the Texans to take a receiver in the first round and admitted he had campaigned for one in the past — without success, obviously.
“I’ve been hearing the buzz, that Andre Johnson needed another wide receiver on the other side of him,” Hopkins said. “When he said that, I was like, ‘I’m that guy. I can help this team win a championship.’
“I’ve got big shoes to fill, and I’m going to go out there and give them my all for us to win a championship.”
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NFL Team Report – Houston Texans – NOTES, QUOTES
–The Texans selected four players in the first three rounds, all with ties to the Carolinas.
Clemson receiver DeAndre Hopkins (first round), South Carolina free safety D.J. Swearinger (second), North Carolina offensive tackle Brennan Williams (third) and LSU outside linebacker Sam Montgomery (third) – a native of Greenwood, S.C. – were the first four picks.
Swearinger and Montgomery were high school teammates.
–Free safety D.J. Swearinger will get an opportunity to learn from his idol – new Texans free safety Ed Reed. He grew up idolizing Reed and another former University of Miami safety, the late Sean Taylor.
The Texans entered the draft wanting a young safety who Reed could mentor.
“I’m blessed, truly blessed, right now,” Swearinger said. “I watched Ed Reed – him and (the late Washington safety) Sean Taylor. He’s (Reed) definitely a guy that I’m looking forward to learning from and feeding off of.
“Back in high school, I started watching him. (Reed and Taylor) are some of my idols I looked up to when I was in high school.”
–The Texans drafted LSU defensive end Ben Montgomery in the third round and will move him to outside linebacker in their 3-4. He’ll begin on the strong side with Brooks Reed. If he can’t learn to drop into coverage, he’ll switch to the weak side with Whitney Mercilus, last year’s first-round pick.
–Offensive tackle Brennan Williams’ father, Brent Williams, had an 11-year career with New England, Seattle and the New York Jets.
Williams was asked the significance of following in his father’s footsteps.
“It was extremely important,” he said. “It was an expectation that we always had to make it to this level. I’m truly blessed to be where I am today, but now it’s time for me to carve out my own footsteps.”
The Texans drafted Williams to compete on the right side with Derek Newton, last year’s starter who’s coming off surgery to repair a patellar tendon in his knee.
“If he comes out and wins the position outright, great,” offensive line coach John Benton said. “If not, he’s got to learn to play left (tackle), too. That’s how it works.”
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I’ve got a mean streak and an aggressiveness that I don’t think a lot of people have. I don’t know where it comes from. It probably comes from having a pretty good chip on my shoulder from the get go. I’m from Massachusetts, and we don’t exactly put out a lot of Division I talent, so I’ve kind of been looked down upon for most of my career. Even now, I’ve got something to prove, and I look forward to getting in and cracking some heads.” – Offensive tackle Brennan Williams (North Carolina), after being selected in the third round and asked about his style of play.
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NFL Team Report – Houston Texans – STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (9)
–T Rashad Butler was ticketed to start on the right side, but he suffered a season-ending triceps injury for the second consecutive year. He’s not expected to be brought back.
–C Antoine Caldwell was supposed to start at right guard in a contract year, but injuries cost him his starting job. He’s not expected to be brought back.
–DT Shaun Cody started 13 games but played hurt most of the season. He played well against the run. He had surgery on his spine and isn’t expected to be re-signed.
–S Quintin Demps didn’t play as well as he did in 2011. He allowed too many big plays, and he’s not expected to be re-signed.
–LB Keyaron Fox was a backup who was injured in camp. He’s not expected to return.
–LB Bradie James signed a one-year deal and earned a starting spot opposite Brian Cushing. When Cushing was lost for the season in the sixth game, James had to elevate his game. He’s not expected to return.
–LB Jesse Nading was a backup linebacker and special teams player who could be re-signed for the minimum.
–CB Stanford Routt was signed off the street and won’t be brought back.
–LB Barrett Ruud was signed off the street, played well off the bench, but won’t be brought back.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)
–LB Mister Alexander (not tendered as ERFA) has a chance to make the team as a reserve who primarily plays on special teams if he’s signed later.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
–LB Tim Dobbins: UFA; terms unknown.
–T Andrew Gardner: Not tendered as RFA; $650,000/1 yr.
–T Ryan Harris: UFA; terms unknown.
–CB Brice McCain: UFA; $5.25M/3 yrs, $2.25M guaranteed.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
–FB Greg Jones: UFA Jaguars; $1M/1 yr, $160,000 SB/$240,000 guaranteed.
–P Shane Lechler: UFA Raiders; $5.5M/3 yrs, $1M SB.
–QB Stephen McGee: FA; terms unknown.
–S Ed Reed: UFA Ravens; $15M/3 yrs, $5M guaranteed.
PLAYERS LOST
–CB Alan Ball: UFA Jaguars; terms unknown.
–LB Connor Barwin: UFA Eagles; $36M/6 yrs, $8M guaranteed.
–FB/TE James Casey: UFA Eagles; $12M/3 yrs, $6M guaranteed.
–RB Justin Forsett: UFA Jaguars; terms unknown.
–K Shayne Graham: UFA Browns; $940,000/1 yr.
–P Donnie Jones: UFA Eagles; 1 yr, terms unknown.
–S Glover Quin: UFA Lions; $23.5M/5 yrs, $5.25M SB.
–WR Kevin Walter (released).
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