San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Talented trio may spring welcome surprises
It’s looking like Akins, Johnson and Omenihu could be in line for breakout seasons
HOUSTON — Of all the players who contributed to the Texans winning the
AFC South title for the fourth time in five years, the biggest surprises were running back Carlos Hyde, tight end Darren Fells and punter Bryan Anger.
Before we get to my predictions on who’ll be the biggest surprises of 2020, let’s review the breakout seasons produced by Hyde, Fells and Anger.
Going into his sixth season, Hyde was in danger of being released by Kansas City when the Texans lost starting running back Lamar Miller with a seasonending knee injury in the preseason game at Dallas.
Coach Bill O’Brien received a call from Chiefs coach Andy Reid. They agreed on a trade that would send guard Martinas Rankin — also in danger of not making the 53-man roster — to Kansas City for Hyde.
The trade barely registered on the radar screen. The Texans were Hyde’s fifth team in five years, following Kansas City, Jacksonville, Cleveland and San Francisco. He’d never rushed for 1,000 yards. His career best was 988 for the 49ers in 2016.
Hyde turned out to be a nice fit in O’Brien’s system. Rotating with Duke Johnson, also acquired in a trade, Hyde ran for 1,070 yards, averaged 4.4 a carry and scored six touchdowns. He helped the Texans rank ninth in rushing.
When the Texans couldn’t reach an agreement on a new contract with Hyde, they moved on. O’Brien acquired David Johnson, another back he believes will fit the system, in the DeAndre Hopkins trade with Arizona. Hyde signed to be a backup with Seattle.
Fells was a longer shot than Hyde, not just to make the team, but to start and set a team record for tight ends with seven touchdown catches. At 6-7, 270, Fells became Deshaun Watson’s go-to target in the red zone.
When the Texans signed Fells, they were his fourth team in four years. He was 33, had never caught more than 21 passes, and that was in 2015.
A professional basketball player, Fells got a late start on football, and he finally capitalized with the Texans, catching 34 passes for 341 yards and the seven touchdowns. O’Brien rewarded Fells with a new contract.
When Anger was signed to compete with secondyear punter Trevor Daniel, nobody gave it much thought. Special teams coordinator Brad Seely, who kept Daniel over
Shane Lechler in 2018, wanted Daniel to have some competition.
When the 53-man roster was set, Anger was placed on waivers, and Daniel appeared to have the job secured. When Daniel didn’t get off to the kind of start Seely wanted, he was waived, and Anger was brought back.
Anger responded with an outstanding season. In 14 games, he had a 46.5yard gross average. His 44.5-yard net was second in the NFL. Punting from inside the Texans’ 20,
Anger’s average was 56.8 yards with a 55.8 net. Opponents averaged only 3.4 yards on punt returns, a league low.
Now, fast forward to this season and tight end Jordan Akins, defensive end Charles Omenihu and cornerback Lonnie Johnson Jr. A primary reason I predict breakout seasons for them is because of what I believe will be expanded opportunities.
Like Fells, Akins got a late start in football. He played minor league baseball until giving it up and returning to college to play football. As a rookie, Akins caught 17 passes. Last season, he caught 36 for 418 yards and two touchdowns.
He had four receptions for 20 or more yards and one of at least 40.
The Texans should go to camp with four tight ends — Fells, Akins, Jordan Thomas and Kahale Warring — with a legitimate chance to make the team. Fells is the starter. Akins has a role more like an H-back in which he lines up at different spots on the field.
With so many tight ends and receivers Will Fuller, Kenny Stills, Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb competing for catches, it might seem that Akins won’t get enough playing time or opportunities to collaborate with Watson.
Remember, though, Fuller, Stills, Cooks and Cobb have experienced injury issues. O’Brien and offensive coordinator Tim Kelly like to spread the field with receivers who provide
Watson with a lot of options. Expect Atkins to be one of those options on a consistent basis.
Let’s move to the other side of the ball, where Omenihu could make an impact in his second season. Coming off the bench as a rookie, he had three sacks.
This season, Omenihu can rush from the inside as well as the outside. The coaches expect him to improve against the run. They have a lot of faith in his consistency and expect him to become a vital producer in a pass rush that showed substantial improvement.
Johnson, a second-round pick in 2019, needed his rookie year to develop. He played only two seasons of college football at Kentucky before entering the draft. He had a lot to learn in his first season.
Like Omenihu, Johnson has worked hard during the offseason program — on his own and in Zoom calls with his teammates and coaches. If he can handle the role, as the coaches hope he can, his versatility could put him in position to make big-time plays.
Johnson can play cornerback and safety. He can play on the line of scrimmage, and he can play off coverage. He’s big and physical and can excel against the run.
Because players usually make their biggest improvement between their first and second seasons, it’s not difficult to see why Omenihu and Johnson could join Akins as this season’s breakout players.