The Houston Texans continued making moves on the free agent market and signed wide receiver Cecil Shorts III, formerly of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Shorts comes to Houston on a 2-year deal worth $6 million with $2.5 million guaranteed.

Shorts arrived to Jacksonville as a 4th round pick (114th overall) in the 2011 NFL Draft out of Mount Union. At Mount Union, Shorts set Division-III records, finishing his career with Mount Union having accumulated 4,705 career receiving yards and 63 touchdowns. He was also a member of the track team.

Arriving with Jaguars, Shorts did not get his real chance until the 2012 season where he caught 55 passes for 979 yards and 7 touchdowns. Expecting to carry the workload as a pass target, injuries, quarterback shuffling, and changing of coaching staffs stunted his production as a wide receiver.

We took a look at his 2014 film and, despite erratic quarterback play, Shorts still found ways to produce with the football in his hands.

The Rundown

What He Brings

For the Texans, Shorts will bring a veteran wide receiver option who instantly upgrades the position group. His ability to play both inside and outside as a wide receiver ups his value on the field and brings more speed to an offense that could use an upgrade in that regard. He has shown the ability to generate yards after the catch, and is not afraid to go inside of traffic to catch the football.

Shorts will have to overcome lack of concentration when the ball is in the air to cut down on his drops. Obviously staying healthy is the biggest concern for Shorts and if he can control that, he will help on game days.

Route Running

Shorts can do a little bit of it all as a receiver. When playing on the outside, he can create separation on 9 routes and can plant his foot in the ground to get in and out of breaks, allowing quarterbacks a nice window to throw it to. He runs his best routes with one move and accelerating out of cuts. Shorts has some issues getting going with routes that call for him to change direction more than once, which slows him down in a hurry, allowing defenders to catch up.

The route packages he ran with the Jaguars were similar to what the Texans did under Bill O’Brien offense last season. Bubble and smoke screens, quick slants, and outs from the slot position, Shorts has the foundation with his routes to fit with the Texans.

Hands

The biggest issue is his 29 drops over the past four seasons, which is a drop rate of 14% of passes he gets his hands on. How the Texans help Shorts correct that is going to be tough; it has been an epidemic of sorts for the wide receiver.

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Blocking

Blocking is an underrated skill for wide receivers and Shorts is not afraid to mix it up in the run game. He is not going to devastate defenders but he shows good technique to get defenders on the ground or turn them from making the play on ball carriers.

Creating After the Catch

He will get his yards after the catch on quick hitters, then has the ability to make the big plays, breaking tackles. Shorts has good body control and has shown the ability to make the tough catch in traffic.

Injury History

Shorts missed three of the first five games of 2014 with a hamstring issue. A concussion, along with groin and hamstring issues, caused him to miss 14 games in his four seasons with the Jaguars.

The infamous soft tissue injuries are have slowed Shorts during his career, but it will be up to the Texans training staff to help him overcome those issues.

Final Thoughts

Shorts is a low risk, high reward contract for the Texans and the team is essentially turning this into a one-year deal for Shorts to prove he can produce.

It appears the Texans will look to use him for help at the slot wide receiver position, with his ability to flip outside when needed. One thing for sure is that they have added a wide receiver that has some playmaking ability and can create yards after the catch.

All-22 Clips

Shorts cutting down his defender to clear the way in the running game.

Shorts able create separation with an outside release with a nice comeback route.

Shorts with the bubble screen, able to make a defender miss.

Shorts working the slant. Watch him plant his outside foot hard into the ground to push off to get back inside to create a nice widow for the quarterback.

Shorts with a crisp in-route just underneath coverage.

Shorts has the ability to eat up yards when he gets in the open field.

Working out of the slot, he is able to turn the out route into a nice gain by getting up field. Fumbles as the end of the play.

Shorts out of the slot once again. He shows he can play on either side and plants hard with his outside foot to be back inside. Creates after the catch.

This fits well with what O’Brien likes to do with his screen game. Shorts able to catch and get yards after the catch.

Shorts gives the look as he is going outside and his quick footwork gets him back inside to get wide open.

Shorts stalk blocking to spring the running back.

Shorts drops a pass a little behind him. Still has to haul it in.

Shorts working the bubble screen. Able to get in between blockers to get yards.

Shorts showing field awareness to help his quarterback. He stops before running himself into the sideline and improvises for a big gain.

Shorts with his best reception of the season. Shows his toughness and ability to jump to get the ball. Then he stiff arms a defender and accelerates for a big play.

Shorts again on the bubble screen. Sifting his way through traffic to get more yards.

Shorts with another drop.

Lack of concentration here for Shorts. Bad drop here.

Thrown into traffic. Shorts somehow makes the reception.

Shorts shows his ability to run the 9 route. Able to run past the cornerback for the big reception.

Body control by Shorts and a diving catch and somehow stays in bounds.

Shorts can also throw it if needed.