Texans OC Hamilton bringing new life to offense

Author: Daniel Gotera

Published: 3:23 PM CDT August 6, 2022

HOUSTON — Pep Hamilton is becoming a very popular man within the Texans' ranks.

 

“Pep is the same person every day,” quarterback Davis Mills said. “He’s very unique, and I think the control of the offensive unit he has right now is amazing. I'm really excited to see what he can do in year two calling the plays.”

 

The Texans' new offensive coordinator is generating a lot of buzz as the team continues its work during training camp. Hamilton, who served as the team’s quarterbacks coach a year ago, is anxious to see what his scheme will look like with this group of players.

 

“Well, it's our offense, and as we've said from the beginning, it's about our ability to put our playmakers in a position to make plays,” Hamilton said. “It has nothing to do with anything else. It's our job to score at least one more point than the opponent, but ultimately you score points by getting the ball to the right guys, and we have the right guys.”

 

Hamilton’s resume in the coaching ranks is long. From college, the NFL and even a stop in the XFL in 2020, the Howard University graduate has a proven track record of success, especially with the work he’s done with quarterbacks.

 

Davis Mills is his next project and the growth that he’s seen from year one to year two has been impressive.

 

“We feel like he's playing faster, and that's really just processing information as you drop back as opposed to just saying, okay, what happened pre-snap is the determining factor in where we start,” Hamilton said. “You've got to be able to make post-snap reads, and we'll continue working on that, but that's something that I feel like he's improving that.”

 

Hamilton takes over play-calling for a group that in 2021 ranked 30th in scoring offense in the NFL. They were tied for last in the league in rushing touchdowns and were towards the bottom of the league in passing yards.

 

From the players' perspective, the creativity that Hamilton has brought to the unit is already noticeable.

“You know, it's been great. Got a lot of respect for Pep,” veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks said. “Pep's seen a lot of ball, played with a lot of great players. To be able to feed off him and learn from him and the offenses he's been in before was helpful for me and to be able to have that feedback for one another has been great.”

 

Hamilton knows that there’s a lot of work still needed with this young group, but an improved offensive line, some more talent in the backfield, experience in the receiving corps and a quarterback showing improvement should lead to better results in 2022.

“We have a depth of experience, but a diverse group of coaches with regards to our backgrounds,” Hamilton said. “Having the opportunity to go back and coached college football as well as the time that I spent in the XFL, it gave us a good outlook, a different outlook on different ways to really stress the opponent. So, we'll see. We'll see when it gets to game day.”

Texans C Justin Britt praises consistency of RB Rex Burkhead

 

Mark Lane 

July 30, 2022 5:14 pm CT

Rex Burkhead has never been the feature back in any of the backfields that have deployed him during his previous nine NFL seasons. However, the Houston Texans have a high opinion of the former Nebraska product.

Burkhead finished the 2021 campaign with 122 carries for 427 yards and three touchdowns. Houston signed Burkhead to a contract extension near the end of the season that will keep him with the club through 2022.

Although the former Cincinnati Bengals 2013 sixth-round running back seems to be a natural candidate for usurpation — whether by reclamation project Marlon Mack or fourth-round rookie Dameon Pierce — the Texans nevertheless kept him around.

According to center Justin Britt, the way that the former Super Bowl champion carries himself is part of the reason Burkhead continues to find utility on the Texans’ roster.

“I think that room is led by a really good running back, Rex Burkhead,” Britt told reporters after the second day of training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center. “He might be one of the most consistent running backs that I’ve been around as far as how they show up and how they come to work. He’s a great role model for them.”

Burkhead recorded the Texans’ lone 100-yard rushing game in 2021 as Houston beat the Los Angeles Chargers 41-29 in Week 16 at NRG Stadium.

Britt admits he is biased towards quarterbacks and running backs as he views them “kind of like our little brothers,” but regardless of who is carrying the ball, Britt will ensure they have the opportunity to advance drives.

“We just want them to get into the open space and score,” said Britt. “So, whoever is back there, we are going to do our best to do that for them.”

Burkhead added 25 catches for 186 yards in the 16 games he played for Houston, five of which he started.

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