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Houston Texans Official OTA's and Minicamp Thread

corytx8

corytx8

Rookie
Alright, it is that time of the year for OTA's and Mini-camp. I figure I would start a Official OTA's Minicamp thread to provide a place to post, debate and discuss the Texans camp. OTA's are set to open tomorrow. Let's give this football season a warm welcome.

The Houston Texans will get back to work on the following days.

  • First Day of Workouts: April 18th
  • OTAs Offseason Workouts: May 23-24, May 26, May 31, June 1-2, June 6-7, June 9-10
  • Mandatory Mini-Camp: June 14-16
According to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, each club's official, voluntary nine-week offseason program is conducted in three phases:

  • Phase 1 consists of the first two weeks of the program with activities limited to strength and conditioning and physical rehabilitation only.
  • Phase 2 consists of the next three weeks of the program. On-field workouts may include individual player instruction and drills as well as team practice conducted on a "separates" basis. No live contact or team offense vs. team defense drills are permitted.
  • Phase 3 consists of the next four weeks of the program. Teams may conduct a total of 10 days of organized team practice activity, or "OTAs." No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are permitted.
Article 22 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement stipulates that clubs may hold one mandatory minicamp for veteran players. This minicamp, noted below, must occur during Phase Three of the offseason program.

http://www.scout.com/nfl/texans/story/1657120-2016-houston-texans-off-season-schedule
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Thanks in advance to all those who are going to do the leg work of posting all the info into this thread. It is because of hard workers like you all, that lazy mo-fo's like myself can come to a one stop shop of Texan-y goodness.
 
And you changed that how? by saying it's boring? You sound like folks who sit around whining about nothing to do. Participate or move on. Sheesh.
 
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corytx8 said:
No complaints on my part, just wanted to get a thread started.
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cool go with it. That's what this MB is about. It is just silly what some say but still try to stir up. Reminds me of the guy who did not like fired chicken but was in Popeyes three times a week eating poultry.
 
badboy said:
cool go with it. That's what this MB is about. It is just silly what some say but still try to stir up. Reminds me of the guy who did not like fired chicken but was in Popeyes three times a week eating poultry.
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Are you drinking?
 
The Rundown: A Closer Look at the Houston Texans 2016 Draft Class Post Rookie Mini-Camp

Patrick Starr
05/09/2016


A complete look at the Houston Texans 2016 NFL Draft class after a rookie mini-camp.

With rookie mini-camp in the books, we give our full thoughts on first impressions of the Houston Texans 2016 draft class.


Will Fuller
In a tale of two days for Will Fuller at Texans mini-camp, day one saw him get jammed with ease by defenders and he struggled getting off press coverage. Fuller also just looked tight on the field just trying to be too perfect and overthinking what he had to do on the field on that first day. Fuller did catch football thrown his way, however with more body catches than anything. On day two, the first thing that stood out was Fuller focused on catching the ball away from his body with his hands. He looked visibly more relaxed on the second day and it showed with how fast he was playing on the field. Defenders are aware of his vertical speed and Fuller has enough quickness to snap a route off on cornerbacks who start to turn and run, creating an easy throw for his quarterbacks. Much like many of the Texans 1st round picks, the given talent is there, now it is up to Fuller and the coaching staff to mold and refine his skills as a football player. The early fixes should be centered around beating press coverage and working to get better catching the football with his hands. Still this is a work in progress with over three months until the season kicks off.

Nick Martin
The Texans will do everything in their power to give Martin all the tools to win the starting center position prior to the start of the season. He is in great shape for a rookie center and looks NFL ready. Add in the fact that he is vocal on the field with the other lineman and he has many early positives. Much like D.J. Reader, it is hard to even discuss how well he handles the trenches because there is not much going on without pads and full contact but Martin’s background as a captain at Notre Dame is carrying over to his new team.

Braxton Miller
On raw ability alone, Braxton Miller is a sight to see. He carries himself with confidence on the field and he can create space in his routes if he gets room to work. Miller showed that if he can get a free release, the defender can be in trouble in a hurry. Against the only NFL caliber defensive back at mini-camp, Corey Moore, he demonstrated that he can make things happen. He has such good start and stop ability that he is tough to slow down in routes. He catches the ball well but it is something he is going to have to clean up as his career progresses. Also, learning to get off press coverage will be something Miller will have to work at as well; on the practice field defenders that were able to get into his body were able to slow him in a hurry. Miller, on athleticism alone, is n an intriguing option for the Texans offense.

Tyler Ervin
Ervin was clearly the best player on the field when it came to skill displayed by the rookie class. The two most impressive traits that Ervin possessed are amazingly quick feet and catching the football. Expect Ervin to be in the discussion for kick and punt return duties, but fans will have to have to stay patient for that. Ervin also has plus route running skills coming out of the backfield and he catches the ball with ease. If there is one rookie to pay attention to, it is Ervin because he has a skill set that is ready to translate in the now. How he runs in between the tackles and with NFL caliber players bearing down on him will be for another discussion, but early signs are positive for Ervin.

K.J. Dillon
Dillon is bigger in person than expected and he will be one of the bigger safeties the Texans will have on the roster at 6’0" and 210 lbs. With this being a primarily a pass camp, Dillon held his own and showed some decent ball skills, knocking passes down. He was able to stay in the hip pocket of tight ends and running back and, at times, looked physically imposing with his strength. The real test will come when he is asked to play inside the box, but that will not come until August.

D.J. Reader
Disclaimer: it is hard to discuss defensive lineman without pads. However, the early impressions of Reader are positive. He is more athletic than one would think for a man who puts his weight at 333 lbs., and it is not a sloppy weight for him either. At 6’3", Reader looks athletic and he moves like it too. During dynamic stretching. Reader can pick up his legs and move at a good pace. Did we mention he can run well for his size too? Remember in 2013, Louis Nix arrived to camp as the incumbent nose tackle and checked in at 6’1" and 331 lbs., but he looked much heavier and squatty, built low to the ground. Reader, on the other hand, looks like he has longer legs and arms, and is much more athletic and explosive than the former nose tackle. Reader looks the part for the Texans and will be a clear understudy for the veteran, Vince Wilfork.
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From the O'Brien quite uninformative post OTA conference:

no updates on injuries
rookies good job long way to go
Os off to a good start
Clowney took reps
won't get into specifics on players
Q:several players look like they dropped weight A:I haven't noticed:foottap:
Fairburn not present because at graduation
goal to stay healthy
Texans have hired Erik Korem as director of sports science
Izzo is very smart, very good STs coach/player, good communicator with players
 
Aaron Wilson ‏@AaronWilson_NFL 51m51 minutes ago

DeAndre Hopkins on Jaelen Strong: 'He's playing with a chip on his shoulder'



DeAndre Hopkins said he gained a bit of weight, put on some muscle



DeAndre Hopkins on Brock Osweiler: 'He's a pro's pro. He's a natural leader.'



DeAndre Hopkins: 'I think we did good. I would say Brock [Osweiler[ led us, the receivers paid attention.'



Bill O'Brien said back at Senior Bowl that Jadeveon Clowney wouldn't require foot surgery



Jadeveon Clowney said he didn't have foot surgery



Jadeveon Clowney said he's 100 percent in terms of health



Jadeveon Clowney: 'I feel great. I got healthy enough to be where I want to be.'



Whitney Mercilus on Jadeveon Clowney: 'He's a talented player. It would allow us to have a chance to win games.'



Whitney Mercilus said he and Jeff Allen were extremely competitive with each other in practice at Illinois, including a few scuffles



Whitney Mercilus: 'Personally as a player I had to to pick up my game.'



Brock Osweiler said he had a couple of turnovers and was glad Bill O'Brien got on him about them



Texans guard Jeff Allen credited his roots growing up in Chicago to injecting toughness in him



Jeff Allen on being roommates with Whitney Mercilus at Illinois: 'He was a great roommate. I would probably say I was the neat one.'



Brock Osweiler on Bill O'Brien: 'I loved his energy, I love his fire. He's a phenomenal football coach.'



Brock Osweiler :'It's like making the perfect recipe'



Aaron Wilson ‏@AaronWilson_NFL 1h1 hour ago

Brock Osweiler on chemistry with receivers: 'It's growing every day.'



Brock Osweiler: 'It was fantastic. It was a lot of fun.'
 
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Fuller is what I thought he was but he should be able to shrug off his rooky ness and listen to coaches. He hopefully will adjust quickly. The coaches need to be selective with how they criticize him and hopefully he will not listen to fans if he drops a pass. I don't see him as a prima donna type player but not sure if he has the thick hide that Kareem Jackson had either. Once he understands he can use his speed against NFL DBs, he should develop quickly.

Hopefully Reader is the anti-Nix.
 
I really hope he won't need that kind of thick skin. DeAndre will still be target number one so Fuller's opportunities to be criticized should be far less. It felt like poor Kareem was getting picked on and burnt on nearly every play that year.
 
Jayson Braddock ‏@JaysonBraddock1h1 hour ago

"Tom always had that chip on his shoulder. It's in him. Year 3 for him now, he's developing" Hopkins on Savage

Hopkins says he hasn't dropped weight, he gained weight in muscle.

"I feel great. After 2 seasons I finally feel like I'm where I need to be" Clowney

"Greatly, he played 14 years in league. As far as the pass rush, setting the edge" - Mercilus on Vrabel helping his development

"I'm a Texan now, I don't want to talk about the Chiefs" - Jeff Allen on Texans defenders & KC OL mixing it up in playoff game

"It's installing in the morning, then go out there & rep it on the field. A lot if times its the 1st time guys have seen the play" - Os

"Day one there's some good plays & there's some plays you wish you had back" - Osweiler on this OTA & past OTAs

Bill O'Brien says Clowney is off to a good start just like everybody else. Haven't got his opinion on the color of the sky or water.

Bill O'Brien doesn't know if Hopkins, Hilliard & Blue dropped weight.
 
Welcome coach Izzo!

*****************************

Texans' new special teams coach Larry Izzo brings high energy
By John McClain

Updated 4:03 pm, Monday, May 23, 2016


920x920.jpg


New Texans special teams coordinator Larry Izzo coaches the way he played in the NFL for 14 seasons – at 100 miles an hour.

Izzo is always on the move, talking and yelling at his players, as he tries to improve the special teams, an area of weakness in the last two seasons.

"He's got a good grasp of special teams," coach Bill O'Brien said Monday after the first organized team activity. "He's very smart. He's a very hard worker."


Izzo, one of the best players in Rice history, played five seasons with Miami and eight with New England before finishing his career with the New York Jets.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
Welcome coach Izzo!

*****************************

Texans' new special teams coach Larry Izzo brings high energy
By John McClain

Updated 4:03 pm, Monday, May 23, 2016


920x920.jpg


New Texans special teams coordinator Larry Izzo coaches the way he played in the NFL for 14 seasons – at 100 miles an hour.

Izzo is always on the move, talking and yelling at his players, as he tries to improve the special teams, an area of weakness in the last two seasons.

"He's got a good grasp of special teams," coach Bill O'Brien said Monday after the first organized team activity. "He's very smart. He's a very hard worker."


Izzo, one of the best players in Rice history, played five seasons with Miami and eight with New England before finishing his career with the New York Jets.
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You couldn't find a bigger picture?
:D

Liked Izzo as a player. One of those more heart/effort than natural talent guys. Hope he instills that in our guys.
 
Thanks for all the info. Love having one place to find out what's going on. Appreciate it.
 
Vinnie said:
I really hope he won't need that kind of thick skin. DeAndre will still be target number one so Fuller's opportunities to be criticized should be far less. It felt like poor Kareem was getting picked on and burnt on nearly every play that year.
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21st pick of draft and Docston selected right after him? He will be criticized every time he drops a pass or doesn't blow past a DB. You are correct if he get 20 targets rather than 30, he would be criticized less times but the cacophony will be hard for him regardless.
 
badboy said:
21st pick of draft and Docston selected right after him? He will be criticized every time he drops a pass or doesn't blow past a DB. You are correct if he get 20 targets rather than 30, he would be criticized less times but the cacophony will be hard for him regardless.
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I guess we'll see. I know one thing for sure, I've never seen this fan base go after a player the way they did Kareem. I genuinely felt bad for the kid. It was so bad there were people still bad mouthing him even after he started getting to be decent/good. Granted bringing Joseph and Manning in seemed to help that situation tremendously.
 
Vinnie said:
I guess we'll see. I know one thing for sure, I've never seen this fan base go after a player the way they did Kareem. I genuinely felt bad for the kid. It was so bad there were people still bad mouthing him even after he started getting t.o be decent/good. Granted bringing Joseph and Manning in seemed to help that situation tremendously.
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I was one who was most vociferous but not at him but rather team selecting him. KJ was not a bump and run or mirror back but an "off" corner and that proved to be true. He did much better when allowed to play to his skill set. That is why I have referred to him as having a tough hide and that Will Fuller may need to have same. I hope fans understand what Fuller brings and allows him to adapt to NFL. It will be up to OC's calls and Osweiler's ability to put ball into Fuller's catch radius as rookie year he will not win battles for ball often.
 
SAMURAITEXAN said:
I eat donuts and I'm not American. Is there any other OTA news besides food?
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Haven't you heard. The football press isn't allowed to report anything but generic football info. The bagel/donuts talk represents the amount of specific, interesting news coming out of OTAs from the media.
 
ObsiWan said:
Haven't you heard. The football press isn't allowed to report anything but generic football info. The bagel/donuts talk represents the amount of specific, interesting news coming out of OTAs from the media.
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Sorry ObsiWan, just kidding with you. How sad for us fans isn't it? We just want to know how well our team is doing.
 
ObsiWan said:
Haven't you heard. The football press isn't allowed to report anything but generic football info. The bagel/donuts talk represents the amount of specific, interesting news coming out of OTAs from the media.
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I think the bagel/donut talk is code for the Texans working on the no back offense, with Lamar Miller split out.

But don't tell anyone.
 
Every once in a while there's a new coaching concept someone implements that it takes the league years to figure out. Between the time it's implemented and ends that team is dominant.

Whispers of an edge position.

New qb stacked with versatile skill position players.

New media policy.

Could we be guarding an innovative new offensive explosion that revolutionizes modern day football?

Yeah, probably not. Nevermind.
 
I have a chocolate filled donut I am willing to trade down. Anyone interested? (man I hope Infantrycak does not see this. He will besmirch me again about my trading).
 
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