(SportsRadio 610) - The Texans knew Tank Dell possessed plus-speed during the pre-draft process, but new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik still had questions.
The former University of Houston receiver leading all of FBS receivers in yards his senior season. He amassed 1,398 yards on 109 catches, including 17 touchdowns his senior season at Houston.
But according to Slowik, it wasn't until he saw Dell at the Senior Bowl that he was convinced the receiver could be a challenge for opposing defensive backs at the next level.
"Every question we had, he answered," Slowik said. "It was all there against really good players at the Senior Bowl. So, to me, once we saw how that translated even against better competition, that kind of told us all we needed to know and then we met him.
"And once you meet Tank, you're sold. He's about as good of a man as we have on the team. He's really fun to be around. I don't know many people that, when he's mentioned, they don't immediately smile."
Dell, 24, is coming off of his best game of the season after hauling in eight catches for 149 yards and a touchdown in a 21-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals. He's about to play in the biggest game of the season Sunday against the Jaguars at NRG Stadium with first place within the AFC South on the line, Dell has made plenty of fans very happy thus far.
Through nine games played (seven starts), Dell has 42 receptions and 659 yards, including six touchdowns. He's hauled in 10 passes for at least 20 yards, including six that have gone for 30 or more yards.
However, his big-play ability wasn't the first thing that Slowik referenced when asked about what his favorite attribute of Dell's was.
"I would actually say, is that he thinks he's Nico Collins in the run game," Slowik said. "My man will throw himself in there with reckless abandon to the point where we have to pull him back, and I love that because he attacks everything the same way."
When Dell was told about the adulation Slowik had for his temerity to do the dirty work and block, he said the Texans entire receiver core had that capability.
"NB (Noah Brown), Woody (Robert Woods), Metch (John Metchie), Neek, (Nico Collins), all of us," Dell said with a grin. "We all coming."
"That says a lot about how much he cares about the team, what he is, what his character is, and I think that's why he continues to just grow and grow and improve week in and week out through the course of the year," Slowik said. "I think that's who he is as a man."
It's an offensive coordinator's dream to have a guy that can not only change the game as a plus route-runner and pass catcher, but to try and do it in the run game as well, is next level stuff the Texans are getting with Dell in particular.
I told Dell about Slowik's glowing remarks about his growth and performance this season and in his self-effacing demeanor, he deflected the compliment back onto his offensive coordinator.
"That's awesome, all glory to God, but you know it's coach Bobby, too," Dell said. "He puts me in great positions to go out there and make plays."
Dell's ability to make plays are complimented with the route-tree Slowik has installed within the offense. The first-year coordinator and play-caller has utilized Dell's elite ability to get in and out of routes quickly by having him run a ton of curl, comeback and out routes. He's certainly run a lot of go-routes as well, as his quickness off the line has caught plenty of corners off guard.
"I'm not going to spill any of his tricks, but he's got his own little ways that he's figured out to do that and get that done, and obviously a route tree and stuff like that can help offset some of that," Slowik said. "He's made the size issue almost a non-factor."
It feels like everyone missed on this duo being an absolute x-factor before the season now that we've seen it come together, but given Dell's 5'8, 165 pound frame and the unknown about literally everything with this team, predicting just half of what we've already seen through 11 weeks of this NFL season would've been silly.
"Me knowing how to be a separator, that's my God-given ability that I work on that God gave me, so that's what I try to use to the best of my advantage," Dell said. "Other players got other things like physicality, but I can get physical if I want to."
The bond that C.J. Stroud and Dell have isn't necessarily something that is easily defined.
Remember, Stroud told the Texans he wanted them to draft Dell. The two hadn't known each other very well to that point, just knew more of each other.
Maybe it's as simple as ball players recognize other ball players. Even Stroud couldn't really explain why they've grown so close to this point.
"I don't know," Stroud said. "I think it just kind of happened naturally. I think that's how real friendships work. You don't force it. We were just cool. It's been cool to just have a good friend to lean on, not only on the field, but off, as well. So yeah, that's my brother."
