A combination of review and a look ahead for a critical, if less-attention-grabbing, part of the team
Welcome to the optimism of the off-season. The offensive side of the ball will get the most attention, between the emphasis on improving the the offensive line and adding to the receiver room. Houston already took one step in that direction with their trade with Jacksonville to add Christian Kirk for at least the 2025 season. Of course, along with the interior of the line, Houston will need to settle that rather significant left tackle slot, as Laremy Tunsil will call the DMV home after a major trade. Along with that action, Houston will not say no to a chance to improve the defense, especially at DT and safety. They currently have seven picks and some unexpected cap room for roster upgrades.
Yet, one area not getting a lot of attention this offseason: Houston’s Special Teams. PK Ka’imi Fairbairn and P Tommy Townsend are locked into their roster spots. Special Teams Coordinator Frank Ross continues as the most tenured coordinator. They played a significant role in the fortunes of the team, for good and ill. With that, some thoughts on the Specials Teams this past season and for the future.
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Overall, the Special Teams played mostly good…
Most of the numbers associated with the Texans related to their special teams look solid, as they continued to rank among the better units in the league. They were particularly strong in punt coverage (#1 in punt return yards allowed). Tommy Townsend, after a rough start to the season, mainly due to some blocking errors and a rather slow punt motion, managed to deliver on his contract, ranking among the leaders in net punting (3rd) and punts inside the opposing 20 (2nd). Fairbairn’s season was a little mixed. He did set records for the most made 50+ yd FGs in a season (14), punctuated with his walk-off 59-yarder against Buffalo. However, he also had some bad misses at the worst times. His two short FG misses in the 4th quarter against the Jets and Titans hurt the Texans and then that playoff game at Arrowhead…The punt return game was solid, but not spectacular (tied for 9th in yards/return), as the squad rotated between Steven Sims (later released and picked up by Baltimore) and Robert Woods. Tank Dell also took a turn here, but his season-ending injury against Kansas City (regular season) ended that option.
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About the new kickoffs in 2024:
Houston handled the new kickoff rules fairly effectively. They did not find the endzone this season after two kickoff return TDs in 2023. Dameon Pierce, when healthy, proved a dangerous kick returner, averaging over 37 yards a return, punctuated by his massive 45-yard return against Baltimore. The Texans’ kick coverage was solid (8th in kickoff return yardage allowed), but the team was prone to surrender a few big returns (especially in the playoffs). On kickoffs, Houston generally followed the league trend of kicking to the end zone (8th in the league in touchback percentage), letting their top 10 defense hold off the offense at the 30 vs. taking their chances with bad coverage on a kick return.
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The Playoffs for the Houston Texas…the best of times, the worst of times:
The two playoffs games saw the best and the worst of Houston’s special teams. Against the LA Chargers, the squad managed a blocked punt (even if it still yielded the most fortuitous bounce even seen for a block) and a blocked PAT for a 2-point score (a playoff first). Fairbairn was perfect in that game, and the kick coverage limited the Chargers’ ability maximize field position on special teams plays. Then the game against Kansas City. From the horrid kick coverage on the 1st play of the game to Fairbairn’s game from hell (one missed FG, one blocked FG and a missed PAT), to generally just poor overall play where KC out-thought and out-executed one of the better units in the league.
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The most impactful non-specialist on Houston’s Special Teams Returns:
In a low-key move, Houston shored up its running back/special teams room by returning Dare Ogunbowale on a one-year, $2M deal. While he served as the 3rd string running back/3rd down specialist, with his biggest offensive play his game-clinching TD reception against Jacksonville, Ogunbowale generally made his biggest impact on special teams. His critical fake punt run against Miami did much to salvage a needed win. However, Ogunbowale was not without flaws. The less said about his game against the Titans at NRG, the better (especially that near-disastrous muff of a kick return).
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Long Snapper Jon Weeks:
The constant of the Texans. For 15 years, he plied his trade as long snapper on all punts and FGs. He been the long snapper longer than the Texans’ tradition of opening the playoffs on a Saturday afternoon at NRG. This season’s Jon Weeks tracker:
Regular Season:
- Punt Snaps: 77
- FG Attempts: 42
- Extra Point Attempts: 36
Playoffs:
- Punt Snaps: 6
- FG Attempts: 7
- Extra Point Attempts: 4
This updates his career totals to:
Regular Season:
- Punt snaps: 1152
- FG Attempts: 505
- Extra Point Attempts: 538
- COMBINED TOTAL: 2,195
Playoffs:
- Punt snaps: 68
- FG Attempts: 27
- Extra Point Attempts: 28
- COMBINED TOTAL: 123
TOTAL Long Snaps: 2318
TOTAL “Bad” LONG SNAPS: 0.00
Possibly we’ve seen the last of Weeks. He is 39 and the team has yet to re-sign him. However, if Weeks wants to come back, it is hard to see the Texans saying no to their most tenured player, even as Houston signed a potential replacement to a futures deal.
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How do the special teams improve?
As stated, the key positions of P and PK are set for next season. Other than Fairbairn just executing better in the clutch, there is not much to change there. Perhaps the LS position might be open for the first time since 2010, but TBD. Likely the kick coverage units will see a changeover, especially with some of the newer draft picks and back-of-the-roster bodies getting into the mix. Barring injury or some sort of personnel move this offseason, Dameon Pierce figures to return as a leading kick returner, if he can stay healthy. Ogunbowale will reprise his role as Special Teams Swiss Army Knife.
The punt return position figures to be an area to watch in lead up to the regular season. Woods, if he returns, could start the year there, but likely a new body (either via free agency or the draft) will get a chance to lock down that position. Then there is the mental side. Putting that Divisional Round debacle behind everyone will be critical if the Texans want to get to the promised land of the AFC Championship and beyond.