HOUSTON \u2013 Tommy Togiai engineered a breakthrough season the only way he knows how: countless hours of hard work spent in the Texans\u2019 weight room and studying his technique.<\/p>\n
Togiai emerged as a key figure in the Texans\u2019 top-ranked defense as Tim Settle Jr. and Mario Edwards Jr. went down with season-ending injuries.<\/p>\n
A former practice squad member who earned the nickname \u2018Mr. Consistent\u2019 from Texans coach DeMeco Ryans, Togiai started six regular-season games and two playoff games. He earned a one-year, $3.3 million contract extension through next season, recording a career-high 59 tackles, six for losses, five quarterback hits, 1 1\/2 sacks and a memorable fumble return for a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the best football the former Ohio State blue-chip recruit has played in his career.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would agree with that, definitely,\u201d Togiai told KPRC 2 a day after the Texans\u2019 season-ending playoff loss to the New England Patriots. \u201cI think it showed this season, too. And it really went back to the offseason, staying here, working out with the team, the winter workouts. I think it really just showed what I could do because I really dived into the stuff of details, technique.\u201d<\/p>\n
A lot of the push Togiai created in the middle collapsing the pocket helped spill quarterbacks to All-Pro defensive ends Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. He also defended four passes.<\/p>\n
Lined up at fullback in the red zone for a play designed as a nod of respect for all of his diligence and his strength and athleticism, Togiai never got the football against the Colts on offense. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud realized it was crowded at the line of scrimmage for a smooth hand-off, so he kept it himself for a touchdown.<\/p>\n
That wasn\u2019t the end of his chances to score his first touchdown since playing high school football in Idaho as the Gatorade Player of the Year.<\/p>\n
Down 32-30 with five seconds left in the game and out of timeouts, the Colts were in desperation mode. Colts rookie quarterback Riley Leonard hit wide receiver Josh Downs and the Colts began a series of laterals on a play the Texans call \u201crugby\u201d that went back to Leonard from Michael Pittman Jr. <\/p>\n
An attempted lateral from Leonard to rookie tight end Tyler Warren was unsuccessful and the football bounced away from him as well as Texans linebacker Henry To\u2019oTo\u2019o, going right to an alert Togiai.<\/p>\n
Then, Togiai, who bench pressed 500 pounds and squats 700 pounds as one of the Texans\u2019 strongest players, took off for a 17-yard fumble return for a touchdown. He showed some impressive speed and agility and a nose for the end zone, eluding a tackler for a diving score.<\/p>\n
\u201cTommy Togiai wasn\u2019t a figment of anybody\u2019s imagination two years ago and he\u2019s now one of our best defensive players,\u201d Texans general manager Nick Caserio said. \u201cHe got here in the middle of last year, in October, on the practice squad. The guy played as well as any defensive tackle in the league.\u201d<\/p>\n
Togiai celebrated with Texans coach DeMeco Ryans after his touchdown. It was a cool moment as Ryans even did Togiai\u2019s traditional Samoan celebration forming his big right arm into an S.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a coach\u2019s dream,\u201d Ryans said. \u201cHe\u2019s always in the right place, always doing what you ask him to do. <\/p>\n
The Texans allowed the fewest yards in the league and the second-fewest points.<\/p>\n
In the playoffs, Togiai started both games and had 13 tackles, two for losses and one forced fumble.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just extremely proud of this group on defense,\u201d Togiai said. \u201cAll the guys, I just appreciate the work that was put in each and every day, on and off the field, in the meetings. Just to help me out each week, the relationships we\u2019ve built throughout the season.\u201d<\/p>\n
Togiai has already mapped out his offseason plan: Run it back.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the plan,\u201d Togiaia said. \u201cI\u2019m going to be around here working out. I\u2019m going to take a little time off first, some vacations with my wife, see my family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Does he have a key to the Texans\u2019 weight room?<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, they were just joking with me,\u201d Togiai said. \u201cThe coaches said, \u2018I\u2019ll see you tomorrow.\u2019 (Strength and conditioning coach Mike Eubanks) is unbelievable. What he\u2019s doing, it works. We\u2019ll keep that going.\u201d<\/p>\n