What can make coaching a position group fun? Throw in a little professionalism and hard work.
According to Houston Texans receivers coach John Perry, the club has that in its top two guys in All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins and speedy No. 2 Will Fuller. Their professionalism has trickled down throughout the rest of the group despite the two only being present in meetings and not the practice field during organized team activities.
“Those guys are just fun to coach because their professionalism is so high and they come in every day trying to work hard, trying to make the team better, whether it’s themselves or aiding somebody else,” Perry said. “So, that’s really exciting. When you see the ability to threaten a defense at all three levels, that’s exciting. That’s always problematic for a defense and I think that’s what those three guys can do.”
Hopkins caught 115 passes for 1,572 yards and 11 touchdowns, leading the Texans. Fuller tore his ACL in Week 8, but he was on pace for a season that could have produced over 1,000 receiving yards and 10-plus receiving touchdowns. Nonetheless, he finished the year with 32 catches for 503 yards and four touchdowns.
Though Hopkins and Fuller aren’t on the practice field, they give as much of their experience as they can. Second-year receiver Vyncint Smith, who typifies the young receivers as he was an undrafted product from Limestone last season, routinely learns from the duo on how to approach the game as a professional.
Said Perry: “Will and Hop are in every meeting, learning, answering questions, talking to the younger players, that type of stuff. Then as far as seeing what those guys do, they’ve had opportunities that they normally don’t get and they’re really taking advantage of them right now. It’s really exciting to watch them do that.”
Second-year wideout Keke Coutee, a fourth-round pick from Texas Tech, has benefited from the absence of Fuller and Hopkins in terms of being able to take reps. Now, it will be up to the young receivers to use the knowledge Hopkins and Fuller imparted upon them when the club begins to trim the roster from 90 men down to 53 in September.
