Here's the inside scoop Houston Texans fans have been waiting for on Stefon Diggs
NEED FOR SPEED
30 May 2024
NEED FOR SPEED
When the Houston Texans traded for All Pro receiver Stefon Diggs this offseason, the fanbase was elated to have a player of his caliber join their up-and-coming team.
There were really only two concerns about the addition of Diggs.
1) Would he be a problem in the locker room?
2) Was his drop in production in the second half of last season due to losing a step?
It's way too early to have an answer to the first question, considering they haven't played any games. We don't know how Diggs will respond when the team faces adversity. But it seems like we have an answer to the second question.
ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime reported his observations of Diggs from Texans OTAs on Thursday.
Doesn’t look like #Texans newly acquired WR Stefon Diggs has lost much.
Still looks very quick in and out of his breaks. Still has the suddenness at the top of routes to create noticeable separation.
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) May 30, 2024
This should be a huge relief for the Texans and their fans. Many believed that the drop in Diggs' production was a by-product of the Bills changing offensive coordinators mid-season. Based on what Bien-Aime is seeing at OTAs, that appears to be the case.
If Bien-Aime is indeed correct, look out for this Houston offense. Good luck finding a team with three better receivers than Diggs, Nico Collins, and Tank Dell.
Here are some clips of Diggs working with his new team.
The beginning of the CJ Stroud ➡️ Stefon Diggs connection. pic.twitter.com/88iGnl2YAl
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) May 30, 2024
Diggs working the sideline courtesy of KPRC 2'S Aaron Wilson.
#Texans Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs @stefondiggs @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/jTWZGdGE7n
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) May 30, 2024
We should see Dell and Diggs celebrating a lot this season.
#Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs @stefondiggs catch and congrats from Tank Dell afterward @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/qQwvsEAfKi
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) May 30, 2024
After practice, OC Bobby Slowik spoke about how the team may deploy their top 3 receivers this year.
Great to see @Djbienaime ask Houston Texans OC Bobby Slowik about how their use of 11-personnel (60.3%, 23rd in 2023) will change with the arrival of Stefon Diggs.
Nuanced response from Slowik here, sounds like they know they can beat defenses in more ways this year #HTownMade pic.twitter.com/62cFgZCZV2
— John Crumpler (@JohnHCrumpler) May 30, 2024
One thing is for sure, the Texans' balanced attack should give opposing defenses fits in 2024.
The New York Jets interviewed Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik for their head coach position Thursday.
The meetings with Smith and Slowik gave the Jets 12 known candidates with whom they've spoken about their vacancy.
New York has also interviewed Aaron Glenn, Vance Joseph, Mike Locksley, Matt Nagy, Ron Rivera, Darren Rizzi, Rex Ryan, Steve Spagnuolo, Jeff Ulbrich and Mike Vrabel for the job. Vrabel has since been hired by New England as its coach.
Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley are also expected to meet soon with the Jets.
The 42-year-old Smith, who was the Atlanta Falcons' head coach from 2021-23, was considered one of the Jets' top candidates in 2021 when he interviewed with the team before New York hired Robert Saleh. Smith was hired by the Falcons the next day and went 21-30, with three straight 7-10 finishes, before being fired after the 2023 season.
Mike Tomlin hired Smith last offseason to run the Steelers' offense, which improved in several categories this season with Russell Wilson at quarterback as Pittsburgh made the playoffs.
Smith spent 10 years with Tennessee, including the last two as the Titans' offensive coordinator in 2019 and 2020. He previously had a stint with Washington as its defensive quality control coach in between college stops at North Carolina (2006) and Mississippi (2010).
The 37-year-old Slowik met with the Jets in a video interview since the Texans remain in the playoffs and are preparing to face the Chiefs in Kansas City on Saturday.
He's in his second year running the Texans' offense with quarterback C.J. Stroud, who was last season's AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and has been one of the league's most dynamic young playmakers.
Slowik, whose father Bob coaches in the CFL after several years as an NFL assistant, spent six years as an assistant under Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco before joining the Texans. The Princeton, New Jersey, native started his pro coaching career as a video assistant for Washington in 2010 before being promoted to defensive assistant, a role he held for three years. Slowik then worked at Pro Football Focus as a senior analyst for three years before being hired by the 49ers.
The Jets are also conducting an extensive search for a new general manager. They have interviewed 15 candidates for that position, including Green Bay Packers executive Jon-Eric Sullivan and Miami Dolphins assistant general manager Brian Gaine on Tuesday.