Watson can keep his passing options open
DeAndre Hopkins was inside NRG Stadium working out Tuesday while his teammates caught passes across the street from quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Not having the All-Pro wide receiver on the Texans’ outdoor practice field didn’t leave Watson bereft of downfield targets during an organized team activity.
As dependent as the Texans’ offense has been on Hopkins — the recipient of 115 catches for 1,572 yards and 11 touchdowns on 163 targets last season — Watson envisions an offense in which he has plenty of intriguing options.
Watson emphasized how he has lots of receivers to throw to beyond Hopkins and speedy Will Fuller, who’s not practicing this spring as he continues to rehab a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Although slot receiver Keke Coutee only played in six regularseason games as a rookie, the former fourth-round draft pick from Texas Tech caught 28 passes for 287 yards and one touchdown. That would have put him on pace for 74 catches and 765 yards if he had played a full season.
Plus, Coutee caught 11 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown during a playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Warring worth watching
Watson can’t wait to see what Coutee will do in his second NFL season.
“You can tell that he has a lot more confidence in himself and what he’s doing whenever he steps on the field,” Watson said. “He’s playing a lot faster, and he’s out there helping all the young receivers get lined up and telling them what to do. You can tell that anytime he’s on the field, you just try to get him the ball in space and let him go work. You never know what he’s going to do with the ball in his hands.
“He can do all types of stuff. He’s a guy that the defense has to worry about. So, you have three — including the tight ends you have four — guys that can go out there and run routes. You have to account for all those guys so you can’t just account for Hop and Will. You have to account for all four of them. A lot of people are very impressed with him and so am I.”
Coutee has made major strides after dealing with chronic hamstring problems as a rookie. Coutee spent this offseason devoting himself to upgrading the flexibility and strength of his legs to correct any imbalances that led to pulls last season.
“Keke has had a good spring,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “He’s really improved. A lot of guys, from their first year to their second year, they take a big jump during this time of the year.
“They’re used to the schedule, they’re used to how we do things, and now they can go out on the field and really show us what they’ve got and go out there and perform. He’s a hard-working guy and, I believe, a very valuable member of our football team.”
Meanwhile, the arrival of new players has Watson excited.
At 6-5 and 252 pounds, rookie tight end Kahale Warring definitely looks the part and has put on a lot of muscle since his high school days as a water polo, swimming and basketball standout. The third-round draft pick is also fast, with a 4.67 time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.
A former walk-on who earned a scholarship, Warring has added 50 pounds since high school and bench-pressed 225 pounds 19 times at the combine and had a 36½-inch vertical leap.
“He’s a guy that is very strong, has great route-running skills,” Watson said. “When the ball is in his area, he’s going to go up and get it. We’re just bringing him a long, especially playing that tight end position, it’s a lot of information.
“You’re basically playing O-line and receiver, so you have to learn a lot about the running game and about the passing game. He’s doing a good job of taking all the info and going out there and executing.”
Don’t overlook this pair
Warring led San Diego State as an honorable-mention All-Mountain West Conference selection with 31 catches for 372 yards and three touchdowns.
“Good learner, comes in early, learns very well,” O’Brien said. “He’s very athletic, works hard. Everything’s new to him. He hasn’t played a lot of football relative to some of the other guys out there. Didn’t start playing football until later on in his life relative to his career, so I think he learns every day. He’s attacking it the right way.”
Watson singled out for praise undrafted rookie wide receivers Johnnie Dixon and Tyron Johnson.
Dixon has 4.40 speed and proved at Ohio State that he was capable of making big plays. He received $50,000 guaranteed from the Texans after the draft. Johnson is a former blue-chip recruit at Oklahoma State who received $35,000 guaranteed from the Texans.
“Johnson is doing a great job,” Watson said. “Dixon is coming along well. Really, just everyone is really, you can tell, that they’re really encouraged to be able to try to improve on their game and their craft.”