Houston Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins is the focal point of every third down the offense faces. Regardless of the down and distance, the defense has to account for the two-time All-Pro.
Even so, teams are still having a hard time stopping Hopkins, who has produced 14 third down conversions, tied for seventh-most in the NFL.
Why can’t they guard Hopkins?
“I think one of the things that he does a really good job of, Hop, is that he knows every position,” coach Bill O’Brien told reporters Tuesday. “He know the offense cold, so you’re able to move him around. He’s not always going to be in one spot. He can line up in a lot of different spots, so I think that helps when you’re trying to locate him and double him and things like that.”
Hopkins isn’t perfect. After all, his 16 third down receptions are tied with Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert for the 12th-most in the NFL. Meanwhile the Los Angeles Rams’ Cooper Kupp leads the NFL with 24. However, Hopkins’ knowledge of the Texans’ passing offense is what gives Houston a chance to convert every third down, especially with quarterback Deshaun Watson under center.
“Eventually you’re going to find him, but I think him knowing the offense and understanding what we’re trying to do as well as he does helps him a lot, and then obviously it’s his skill set, Deshaun’s ability to get him the ball accurately, his ability to catch the ball in traffic, contested catches,” said O’Brien. “He’s a great player.”
The Texans will need Hopkins to provide one of his better efforts against the Indianapolis Colts Thursday night at NRG Stadium. In the initial encounter from Week 7, Hopkins caught nine passes for 106 yards and a touchdown in Houston’s 30-23 loss to their AFC South rivals at Lucas Oil Stadium.
