Need a first down? Goal to go to Hopkins
LONDON — When Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson needs a first down catch, he’s looking for wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
In his seventh season, Hopkins has first-down catches down to an art form.
Accumulating first downs is something Hopkins treasures because he knows how much his artistry means to his team.
“I take a lot of pride in it,” he said this week when the Texans were preparing for Sunday’s game against Jacksonville at Wembley Stadium. “That’s one of the most underrated stats in the NFL, moving the chains. That’s what keeps the ball rolling — keeps us going — and gives the offense momentum.”
Hopkins has become quite prolific at generating first downs. For instance, in the last two games against Indianapolis and Oakland, Hopkins has 20 catches for 215 yards — 13 for first downs. This season, Watson has 40 firstdown catches, third in the NFL.
In Sunday’s 27-24 victory over Oakland, seven of Hopkins’ 11 receptions produced first downs, including six of seven in the second half.
Hopkins credits Watson, of course, for throwing him the ball but also points out how important coach Bill O’Brien is to his success because he calls the plays. Like Watson, O’Brien knows where the ball needs to go when the Texans need a first down.
That’s what happened in the second half of the come-frombehind victory over the Raiders.
“You’ve got to thank OB for trusting me in that situation to help us come back and give the offense a spark,” Hopkins said. “I’ve done that for years in this offense, so just thank OB for giving me the ball to help us win.”
Catching first-down passes isn’t just a matter of Watson throwing to Hopkins. There’s a lot that goes into it, and they’ve got it down to a science.
Knowing the down and distance, when Hopkins leaves the huddle and goes to lineup, he’s looking over the defense.
“The key is knowing where the sticks are, who you’re going against and being on the same page with Deshaun,” he said.
Watson has to trust Hopkins to read the coverage the way the quarterback does and put the ball where the receiver can catch it for a first down.
“That comes from experience, us knowing where each other’s going to be,” Hopkins said. “He knows where I’m going to be, and I know where he’s going to put the ball. That comes with coaching and a lot of practice time.
Hopkins knows his opponents from studying during the week or from the experience of playing against certain defenses. He wants to know defenders’ and coaches’ tendencies.
“Some guys have different tendencies, and that’s where preparation during the week comes in,” he said. “Knowing how a defensive back or linebacker wants to play you and which leverage they want to use.”
As he’s lining up and Watson is calling the signals, Hopkins is checking out he coverage.
“When I’m running my route, I want to see before the play if the defense is in man or zone,” he said. “Some teams try to jam me at the line of scrimmage, but some don’t.
“Like against the Colts. Sometimes they put a linebacker on me at the line with a defensive back behind him. Or they’d try to double me.”
Watson can’t always look for Hopkins, but they’ve got a special connection that’s provided the offense with a lot of clutch plays.
Against the Colts and Raiders, Hopkins had first-down catches as long as 21 yards and as short as 3. He also had a 4-yard touchdown catch against Indianapolis.
When the Texans don’t need a lot of yards for a first down and Hopkins is surrounded, Watson likes to throw the ball low. If Hopkins doesn’t catch it, nobody will.
“He protects me from a big hit with passes like that,” Hopkins said.
When Hopkins catches a firstdown pass on the run, he has to be careful while trying to get extra yards.
“Guys come from behind me trying to knock the ball out,” he said. “Sometimes I don’t want to fight too much for extra yards and get ganged up on when they’re reaching in and trying to knock the ball out.”