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It sure seems like Houston Texans have a star in the making
Aug 16, 2023, 12:33 pm
Tank Dell looks like the steal of the draft. Composite Getty Image.
The Houston Texans are a team on the come up. Part of that come up is establishing new stars. Finding guys that can play is one thing, but a team needs guys that will appeal to fans and others in order to further establish a brand. The brand? Winning, being popular, and must-see television. Sure, having numbers two and three overall at two of the most important positions on the field helps. A quarterback and a pass rusher impact winning far greater than a wide receiver can. But receivers can put asses every 18 inches with their flare for the dramatics.
Last week, I wrote about the Texans catching lightening in a bottle. Part of that was talking about my observations on several players. The one that stuck out the most was Tank Dell. His speed stuck out most, but there were other things I really liked about him:
Dawgs: I LOVED seeing guys get after it! Tank Dell was the most impressive guy vs. the Patriots. He's going to have the slot WR job locked up very soon. He may even push to start since he's clearly a matchup nightmare. Will Anderson Jr is so quick/fast. His speed/quickness jumps out at you when watching him. Seeing him blow up run plays and cause the QB to get sacked by trying to escape his pressure will be more fun when the games count.
When he was drafted, most probably thought Dell would be a slot receiver. After watching him play his first game, he may make waves to push for a starting job. His size (listed as 5'8, 165 pounds) isn't ideal for an X or Z receiver. The same was once said about guys like Tyreek Hill (5'10, 191 pounds) and Steve Smith Sr (5'9, 195 pounds). Both guys make/made a huge impact on the game from the X and Z positions despite size limitations. Hill is an All-Pro and considered one of the best receivers in the game. Smith Sr was an All-Pro as well and arguably a Hall of Famer.
Another reason I can see Dell earning a starting job is the wide receiver depth on this team. Nico Collins, Robert Woods, and Noah Brown are all listed ahead of him currently. Woods is a solid vet with 10 years experience. I expect him to start given his experience, especially with a rookie quarterback. Brown has five years, while Collins has two. Neither of those guys have shown they're entrenched. Collins is a big body who might start to give C.J. Stroud a big target on the outside. However, NONE of these guys create the matchup problem Dell does!
As you can see, I'm not the only one thinking this. Dell and Stroud have been working together since being drafted. One thing I've noticed is that Dell and Stroud both seem very committed to their craft and developing chemistry. Whenever a receiver and quarterback work on chemistry off the field and outside of practice, it tends to show up on game days. I want to give the other vets in the receiver room more credit, but this kid is so exciting. He's already a matchup nightmare.
While his size may be a concern, those other guys I listed, as well many others, have had productive careers being one of the smaller players on the field. Ideally, I'd like to see Collins and Dell start alongside Woods. This gives them a big body in Collins, a crafty vet in Woods, and Dell as a field-stretching matchup nightmare. Mark my words, this kid WILL be a star!
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Miami (6-7) at Houston (8-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS
BetMGM Odds: Texans by 3.
Against the spread: Dolphins 5-8; Texans 5-6-2.
Series record: Texans lead 8-3.
Last meeting: Dolphins beat Texans 30-15, on Nov. 27, 2022, in Miami.
Last week: Dolphins beat Jets 32-26 in OT; Texans were off, beat Jaguars 23-20 on Dec. 1.
Dolphins offense: overall (19), rush (24), pass (14), scoring (23).
Dolphins defense: overall (9), rush (7), pass (11), scoring (T14).
Texans offense: overall (18), rush (16), pass (17), scoring (11).
Texans defense: overall (5), rush (10), pass (7), scoring (T12).
Turnover differential: Dolphins minus-2; Texans plus-10.
Dolphins player to watch
QB Tua Tagovailoa, who has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL at throwing with anticipation and accuracy since he returned from a concussion in Week 8. Tagovailoa leads the NFL with a 73.8% completion rate and threw for 300 yards for the third straight game last week vs. the Jets. Tagovailoa is the first player in NFL history to have at least 40 pass attempts, multiple touchdown passes and no interceptions in three consecutive games within a single season.
Texans player to watch
QB C.J. Stroud has thrown for at least 225 yards in each of his six home games this season and is 11-4 in 15 starts in Houston, including the playoffs. He has thrown for 3,117 yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season.
Key matchup
Houston RB Joe Mixon vs. Miami’s run defense. Mixon ran for 101 yards in Houston’s previous game for his seventh 100-yard game this season. He ranks third in the NFL by averaging 88.7 yards rushing a game. This week he’ll face a run defense that ranks seventh in the NFL by holding teams to 105.6 yards a game.
Key injuries
Miami LT Terron Armstead is dealing with a knee injury that limited him to just five snaps last week. He did not practice Wednesday… LBs Bradley Chubb (knee) and Cameron Goode (knee) could make their season debut, depending on how this week of practice goes, coach Mike McDaniel said. … WRs Tyreek Hill (wrist) and Jaylen Waddle (hamstring), RB Raheem Mostert (hip), and LB Anthony Walker Jr. (hamstring) were among those limited in practice Wednesday. … Houston S Jalen Pitre is expected to miss a second straight game with a shoulder injury. … DE Denico Autry was limited in practice Wednesday because of a knee injury.
Series notes
Houston won the first seven meetings in this series. … Miami didn’t get its first win against the Texans until a 44-26 victory in 2015. … The Dolphins have won the past two meetings. … These teams first met in the season opener in 2003 when Houston got a 21-20 win on a late field goal.
Stats and stuff
Three of Miami’s final four games of the season are on the road. … K Jason Sanders needs 13 points Sunday to reach 800. He also needs one field goal to reach 177, which would give him the second-most field goals made in franchise history. … TE Jonnu Smith needs 100 yards receiving to reach 792 and set a franchise record for most yards receiving by a tight end in a single season. Smith had three catches for 44 yards, including the game-winning TD vs. the Jets last week after having no receptions during regulation. … Tagovailoa needs a completion rate of 70% or better on Sunday to reach eight consecutive games completing at least 70% of his passes. That would tie him with Joe Montana (1989) and Drew Brees (2017-18) for the longest streak in NFL history. … The Dolphins gave up a season-high 402 yards to the Jets last week. Aaron Rodgers burned Miami’s pass defense for 319 yards, and Miami’s secondary allowed a combined 223 yards by Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams. … Houston can clinch the AFC South title for the second straight year with a win and a loss by Indianapolis Sunday. … The Texans rank second in the NFL with 84 tackles for loss. … Their 42 sacks also rank second. … WR Nico Collins had eight receptions for 119 yards for his fourth 100-yard game this season in Houston’s previous game. He has had at least 75 yards receiving and a TD reception in each of his four home games this season. … TE Dalton Schultz had five receptions for 61 yards and a score in Week 13. He has had at least five catches in two of his past three games. … LB Azeez Al-Shaai will serve the first game of a three-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head of QB Trevor Lawrence Sunday. … DE Danielle Hunter is one of two players in the NFL this season with at least 15 tackles for loss (15) and 10 sacks (10 1/2). It’s his sixth career season with at least 10 sacks. He has eight tackles for loss and five sacks combined in his past three games. … DE Will Anderson has had a sack in his past two home games. … LB Henry To’oTo’o has had at least five tackles in four straight games. … CB Derek Stingley had his third interception of the season in his previous game. … CB Kamari Lassiter had a career-high eight tackles, including a tackle for loss in Week 13. … S Jimmie Ward has had an interception in his past two home games. He also had an interception in his previous game against Miami in 2022 while with San Francisco.
Fantasy tip
Collins has 456 yards receiving and four touchdown receptions in four home games this season.