A helping hand

Astros' Carlos Correa steps up to the plate in drive to get beds for kids after Harvey

Astros' Carlos Correa steps up to the plate in drive to get beds for kids after Harvey
Carlos Correa, center, poses for a photo with volunteers at a bed distribution at Texas Mattress Makers for the Houston Children’s Charity. Courtesy of Texas Mattress Makers

Carlos Correa has spent most of the season batting cleanup for the Astros. On Monday, he took a swing at helping the city itself clean up after Hurricane Harvey. Correa was part of a bed distribution at Texas Mattress Makers for the Houston Children’s Charity. The goal is to raise $500,000 to help get beds and linens for 5,000 children and families who lost theirs in the storm.

“I wanted to help," Correa said. “I pray for these families.”

Correa was joined by veteran newsman Dave Ward and several local sports radio personalities for the event.

“It went really well,” said Rachel Gordon, who works at Texas Mattress Makers with her father, Youval Meicler. Both have been active in charity in Houston for years.

Gordon is in charge of the Young Houstonians for Houston Children’s Charity and helped spearhead the distribution. “Carlos has been great. All of the volunteers were great. Our goal is 5,000 beds and we hope to raise $500,000,” she said. “We are close — we have raised almost $300,000 so far.”

Gordon had flood damage of her own during the storm, but is happy to be able to help others.

“I think it’s great the way Houston has come together,” she said. “We are all just trying to make a difference, especially for these children. Children sleeping on the floor ... you don’t want that. I’m really fortunate to be a part of this initiative and to be able to help out.”

Applications for those in need are available here and in Spanish here.

Donations can be made through the Houston Children's Charity Harvey Relief web page or through Correa’s YouCaring crowdfunding site. Also, the Young Houstonians for Houston Children’s Charity will be hosting their fall mixer at Hotel ZaZa ​on October 19 at 6 pm.

“All the proceeds are going to benefit this program,” Gordon said.

Meanwhile, Correa has donated 500 beds already. “I know how important this is,” he said.

On Sunday, Correa’s Astros clinched the AL West. A day later, he was helping another team of winners distribute mattresses to people in need.

And this group of volunteers and charity workers did what Correa always does in uniform — stepped up to the plate big time.

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The Texans will look to get back on track this Sunday against the Colts. Composite Getty Image.

C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans are looking for answers after their passing game couldn’t get going in a loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Houston’s passing attack had been a strength all season, and the Texans ranked fifth in yards passing per game through their first six games. But on Sunday at Lambeau Field, Stroud was limited to a career-low 86 yards in the 24-22 loss, which snapped a three-game winning streak.

Stroud was 10 of 21 and didn’t have a touchdown pass for the first time this season. The second-year player was under duress for much of the day and was sacked four times and hit seven other times.

“We have to go back to the drawing board and see what those issues were,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “As we watch the film, we’ll see what happened, starting for me the communication and just guys being on the details of the job.”

The Texans scored a season-high 41 points in a win over New England a week earlier in which Stroud threw a season-best three touchdown passes despite being without star receiver Nico Collins.

They were unable to replicate that success Sunday with Collins out for the second of at least four games after a hamstring injury landed him on injured reserve.

Stefon Diggs led the team with five receptions against the Packers, but they only amounted to 23 yards. Tank Dell, who the Texans expected to step up with Collins out, was targeted four times but didn’t have a catch.

Stroud discussed the importance of getting Dell more involved in the offense.

“We have to find a way to try and get him the rock early and often and then go from there,” he said. “It has to be a focus for us, not only just him, but the whole offense clicking early. That is really my job to get the ball out on time and to where it is supposed to go. So yeah, that definitely has to be fixed.”

Ryans spoke about his confidence is getting Dell going.

What's working

The Texans have forced seven turnovers combined in their last two games after they hadn’t caused any in their previous three games.

Houston scored 16 points off three turnovers Sunday. The Texans had two interceptions and recovered a fumble on a punt. In their win over the Patriots, they scored 17 points off a season-high four turnovers.

What needs help

The Texans won’t get to where they want to be this season if Stroud doesn’t get back on track. Before Sunday, last year’s AP Offensive Rookie of the Year was averaging more than 262 yards passing a game, giving the team confidence that the problems in the passing game are fixable.

Ryans knows the line must give Stroud more time to throw and said the coaching staff will focus on improving in that area this week.

Stock up

RB Joe Mixon continued to shine Sunday in his second game back after missing three games with an ankle injury. Mixon, who is in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati, had 25 carries for 115 yards and two touchdowns against Green Bay.

Mixon is confident the Texans will rebound this week if they quit making mistakes.

“Does it look I’m worried? I’m not worried at all,” he said. “Like I said, we got a ... good football team. At the end of the day, we are our own worst enemy.”

Stock down

Dell was unable to help Stroud get the passing game going. The second-year player had a solid rookie season with 709 yards receiving and seven touchdowns in 11 games before breaking his leg. But he hasn’t been able to build on that success this year and has just 194 yards receiving with one score in six games.

Injuries

LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), LB Henry To’oTo’o (concussion), CB Kamari Lassiter (shoulder) and S Jimmie Ward (groin) all missed Sunday’s game and it’s unclear if any of these starters can return this week.

Key number

3 — Safety Calen Bullock had his third interception Sunday to tie Dunta Robinson and Jumal Rolle for most interceptions by a rookie in franchise history through the first seven games. He leads NFL rookies in interceptions this season and is tied for third-most among all players.

Next steps

The AFC South-leading Texans (5-2) return to division play Sunday when they host the second-place Colts (4-3), who have won two in a row and four of five.

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