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.
José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
The home run by Peraza.
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.