Houston Texans

Fiedorowicz ready to make an impact for Houston

Published Jun. 3, 2015 12:57 p.m. ET

foxsports

Like many young players entering their second year in the NFL, Houston Texans tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz has found just how much of a difference a year can make.

"There was so much learning last year," Fiedorowicz said, according to ESPN's Tania Ganguli. "You come up the huddle and there’s three or four things. You got to know the protection, you got to know where to line up, read the safeties, see what kind of coverage it is. There was just so much going through my head where I wasn’t able to play fast. I noticed already this OTA session, I’m going out there and when I see it I’m going fast. The quarterbacks are really seeing us right now, so we’re all excited."

Fiedorowicz, Houston's third-round pick in 2014, largely struggled to make his presence felt as rookie season. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound former University of Iowa standout appeared in 15 games, but managed just four catches for 28 yards and one touchdown. Some of his modest stats can be attributed opportunity, though. As Ganguli points out, the Texans had the fewest number of passes thrown to tight ends of any team in the league, and the majority of those Houston did have were thrown to Garrett Graham.

With a new season and more experience comes the hope for more involvement in the offense.Texans head coach Bill O'Brien indicated Fiedorowicz has the potential to brings a valuable skill set to the offense.

"I would like to see very consistent play," coach Bill O'Brien said. "I’d like to see him really do a good job blocking. I think he’s a very good blocker. When he really puts his mind to it, he’s able to go out there and know his assignment and know what to do. He’s a very good blocking tight end and I think he can help us in the passing game. I think he can run the different routes that we need the tight ends to run. I know that these quarterbacks really like throwing to tight ends, so they’re working hard with him and the other tight ends in the passing game."

With his rookie year behind him, Fiedorowicz said he's excited for what the season holds for him and his fellow tight ends.

"Every rookie will say it’s a grind; it’s not an excuse, but I kind of started feeling it last year," Fiedorowicz said. "I came back ready to work. (Brian) Hoyer is doing a great job quarterbacking and he’s really seeing the tight ends. We’ve been making big strides as a group, that’s given us confidence," he said. "You want to go out there and keep working hard when we’re seeing the ball."

(h/t ESPN)

Photo credit: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images