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Week One Training Camp Review

dalemurphy

dalemurphy

Hall of Fame
This first section deals with QB and RBs. There are a lot of useful links in the story, sending the reader to Kubiak quotes as well as to Houston Diehards Blog as well as AJ's. Here it is (WR and TEs later today):

Week One Training Camp in Review

Yesterday, on my way to watch the Andre Johnson press conference at www.houstontexans.com, I saw the countdown to the openning preseason game against Arizona. Clearly, I have a problem, because I got chills when I saw “9″ days! There is a game next Saturday and the team is wrapping up its first week of training camp. Today is a good time to review what we have learned at camp. First of all (no offense to Justin Griffith and Glenn Martinez), it is great to get through the first week without any serious injury issues.

PART I: QBs and RBs

QB

There is no position on this team where less has been learned. Matt Schaub is the leader of the offense. He will be widely recognized as an elite NFL Qb this season if he is able to stay healthy. An interesting note about Schaub: he is really strutting in practice. Walking from one field to another or one teammate to another, even his strides indicate that he is feeling extremely confident these days.

Here ends the celebratory portion of our QB breakdown!

Dan Orlovsky- I was very happy with the free agent signing last season. I did not share the concerns of many other fans and commentators who were baffled by the money we gave him. I was extremely encouraged by Kubiak’s tone and optimistic attitude regarding Orlovsky during the off-season. Since then, though, every piece of information has been discouraging. I attended two practices and saw nothing to get excited about with Orlovsky. In team drills, I don’t think he ever completed a pass of more than 15-20 yards. I saw balls hit short-hop WRs and some thrown behind them. Sometimes, I would see him hold the ball for five seconds or more. The most damning evidence for me, though, is that I never could tell whether Booty or Orlovsky was in the game unless I craned my head to located the jersey number. In other words, Orlovsky has been playing on par with a 3rd string QB, according to my eyes. Combine my observations with the rest of the reports coming out of camp at www.houstondiehards.com and from Alan Burge, for instance, at the picture is even bleaker. The death blow are the comments from Kubiak about Dan Orlovsky’s inconsistency. UGGH! (that’s hate speech from Gary Kubiak). Now, all is not lost. We are talking about one week of camp and he can improve and the light can click on. However, those 2nd and 3rd quarters at Arizona next week and New Orleans the week after, should be nail-biting for everyone involved to see if Dan O can run this offense.

Booty is a farm hand and nothing more. There is zero chance that he is on the 53 man roster when the season starts, IMO.

RB

Now for some good news! The Rbs look excellent!

Arian Foster- Kubiak gave Foster the preliminary starter role in camp as a reward for his work late last season and his off-season work ethic. It was the equivalent of a pat on the butt. Foster has treated it like he was knighted. Everyone thinks he looks great in camp and Kubiak is constantly praising his work ethic and professional demeanor. Even Maurice Jones-Drew...more
 
The most damning evidence for me, though, is that I never could tell whether Booty or Orlovsky was in the game unless I craned my head to located the jersey number
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This.

Just judging from practice, it looks like Orvlosky and Booty are neck and neck...In fact, Booty might have the slight edge...

I saw him make a few more plays than Orvlosky did...

I think we'll be able to tell a bit more from the pre-season games though.
 
Rey said:
This.

Just judging from practice, it looks like Orvlosky and Booty are neck and neck...In fact, Booty might have the slight edge...

I saw him make a few more plays than Orvlosky did...

I think we'll be able to tell a bit more from the pre-season games though.
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It's difficult to be too critical of the passing offense on the third day of training camp. I would just like to see or hear something impressive in the first week to ease my concerns.
 
I am not an expert or anything, but I was at practice on Sat morning and did get a good feeling for Booty over Orlovsky. There were a few times I thought it was Schaub out there only to realize it was Booty. I definatley knew when Orlovsky was out there. He was underthrowing alot and it seemed like things were just not as smooth.

I am worried about our backup QB position. I sure hope they try to address this issue before we go into the season. If Schaub goes down we are toast!
 
dalemurphy said:
He'd be stashed on practice squad. There is no way they take up a roster spot with him, IMO. I think last year was the first season they kept 3 QBs on the roster.
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Hasn't he been in the league too long for practice squad elgibility?
 
JB said:
Hasn't he been in the league too long for practice squad elgibility?
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He hasn't been in the league too long, I don't think, but if he's been active too many games, then I think that could disqualify him. If so, then I think he's a cut. I just don't see them cutting guys like Andre Davis, maybe Tim Bulman, Chris White, etc... but keeping Booty.
 
dalemurphy said:
Here's part II, WRs and TEs
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There's been a bit of discussion on the value of down field blocking on the part of receivers in general, and JJ in particular, over in another thread. This report made a point of this, also. I'd like to see some follow-up over the course of the training camp.

I'm please to see that David Anderson is having a fine camp and has the 4 spot locked in. A possession receiver is the QB's best friend, with the exception of future hall of famer AJ, of course.
 
ProximoMetalica said:
I am not an expert or anything, but I was at practice on Sat morning and did get a good feeling for Booty over Orlovsky. There were a few times I thought it was Schaub out there only to realize it was Booty. I definatley knew when Orlovsky was out there. He was underthrowing alot and it seemed like things were just not as smooth.

I am worried about our backup QB position. I sure hope they try to address this issue before we go into the season. If Schaub goes down we are toast!
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This is just not making any sense to me. Didn't we make this guy a millionare?

You know, if I was Matt Schaub's back-up, I would be working my butt off to make sure I will be ready when that day comes, because I know it will come.

Rex Grossman being put ahead of me would have been the biggest slap in the face wake up call you would have thought a man would need, if he was interested in being somebody.

If he has truly regressed (because I did like what I saw when he was in Detroit), and he doesn't want to be here, I think it should be pretty obvious, and we should send him packing.
 
thunderkyss said:
This is just not making any sense to me. Didn't we make this guy a millionare?

You know, if I was Matt Schaub's back-up, I would be working my butt off to make sure I will be ready when that day comes, because I know it will come.

Rex Grossman being put ahead of me would have been the biggest slap in the face wake up call you would have thought a man would need, if he was interested in being somebody.

If he has truly regressed (because I did like what I saw when he was in Detroit), and he doesn't want to be here, I think it should be pretty obvious, and we should send him packing.
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Wow! That is a surpising statement! Where did you ever come up with that?
 
JB said:
Wow! That is a surpising statement! Where did you ever come up with that?
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If he's regressed.

If he doesn't want to be here.

All supposition and speculation.

The man is talented. He is good enough to be in the NFL, started some games even. He's 6'5" 230lbs... prototypical. He's got everything a QB needs to be successful, minus a proven running game... QB Guru (check).. Gimpy 1st stringer(check)... Decent pass protection(check)... one bad mother of a WR(CHECK)... Talented Tightend(check).. & everything out of the backfield can catch a ball(check)...

If he can't get it done on this team, I'm just wondering how badly does he want to get it done at all.
 
thunderkyss said:
If he's regressed.

If he doesn't want to be here.

All supposition and speculation.

The man is talented. He is good enough to be in the NFL, started some games even. He's 6'5" 230lbs... prototypical. He's got everything a QB needs to be successful, minus a proven running game... QB Guru (check).. Gimpy 1st stringer(check)... Decent pass protection(check)... one bad mother of a WR(CHECK)... Talented Tightend(check).. & everything out of the backfield can catch a ball(check)...

If he can't get it done on this team, I'm just wondering how badly does he want to get it done at all.
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I agree with most of that, but how about intelligence? It may not be lack of effort, but lack of ability instead.
 
I think what we should really be interested in is if Kubiak would put Booty at 2nd string over Dan O if he really did out perform him. Chances are he wouldn't. With Grossman Kubiak had a qb that had played in a superbowl even though he was a piece of crap. Boom 2nd string. Kubiak rates experience way higher than talent.
 
Part III: Offensive line

Many Texan fans are frustrated with the lack of media attention the Texans receive outside of our tiny subculture in south Texas. I live in Austin and I usually receive one of three reactions when I identify myself as a Houston Texan fan:

“Is that a band? What kind of music do they play?” When I explain to these hippies that it is football and that they don’t play UT this year, it is usually followed by “Cool… oh, you want to hit this, dude?” (it is Austin, after all)
“The Texans! Why? You know they didn’t draft Vince! What was that about? That was stupid!”
“The Texans! They Suck! Why can’t they get a decent offensive line? Your QB, what’s his name… David Carr, gets killed every game!”
The Texans singular successful media blitz in their nine years of existence came from the David Carr grocery commercials where he calls out the offensive line. It’s an infamous group yet nobody (other than crazies like us) know anything about them. Barrett and I are a little obsessed with the big uglies. Since last Friday, I’ve learned a few more things about them. So, here ya go:

continue story here: Texans Bull Blog
 
thunderkyss said:
If he's regressed.

If he doesn't want to be here.

All supposition and speculation.

The man is talented. He is good enough to be in the NFL, started some games even. He's 6'5" 230lbs... prototypical. He's got everything a QB needs to be successful, minus a proven running game... QB Guru (check).. Gimpy 1st stringer(check)... Decent pass protection(check)... one bad mother of a WR(CHECK)... Talented Tightend(check).. & everything out of the backfield can catch a ball(check)...
Click to expand...
I'm with TK (once again).

Orlovski played well in Detroit.
Actually, I think he played extremely well for the Lions, considering his lack of experience and the talent level around him.
There were things he needs to improve on, definitely.
We'll see how it goes in PS, but I'm comfortable with Dan O. as our back-up.
 
JB said:
I agree with most of that, but how about intelligence? It may not be lack of effort, but lack of ability instead.
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If we were hearing about making the wrong read, or not recognizing a defensive package, that would be one thing.

But the last report I read, was about short throws, behind the receiver, in the dirt.
 
thunderkyss said:
If we were hearing about making the wrong read, or not recognizing a defensive package, that would be one thing.

But the last report I read, was about short throws, behind the receiver, in the dirt.
Click to expand...

Hopefully the fog of uncertainty around Dan-O's performance will start to lift during the Texan's first preseason game against the Cardinals next Saturday in Arizona. Orlovsky should get a lot of playing time during this game, so afterward we should have a much better idea of where he is really at. I hope the early reports about Dan-O are either wrong, or maybe just premature. But it is hard to deny these reports have consistently been no good so far.
 
Here's the fist installment for the defense:

Defense Part I: Secondary

Welcome to the 2010 edition of the Houston Texans… The one where there is an expectation for the defense! Sure, we do have some questions. However, I see no signs of Petey Faggins, Matt Stevens, Busing, Fred Bennett (will be gone in about 3 weeks), Robaire Smith, Morlon Greenwood…. No, we have a defense littered with football players! Yes, we are relying on a rookie CB. I would like to note that he blew up Eric Winston in practice today. Now, that is a football player! We’ve got undersized guys in the secondary like Brice McCain and cast-offs like Bernard Pollard. We have a 7th round pick starting at WLB. Our best DL man was booed with vigor when he was selected with the first overall pick. I love them all! They are a fun group to watch and to appreciate because these guys love football. And, particularly on defense, that shows up on the field. So, let’s begin with the secondary (I’m stalling for the imminent Schobel signing).

CB

Dunta Robinson, oh Dunta, how you hurt my heart! If you are a passionate Texan fan, odds are good that Dunta was among your favorite Texans for most of his six years in Houston. He was intense. He spoke his mind. He was a little guy that hit and tackled with vigor. He loved football and we loved him. As fans, we turned a blind eye to his very pedestrian cover skills. I was in total denial of that reality for years. Then, he was gone. Earl Cochran ron dayned his knee and hamstring in Cleveland in 2007 and we didn’t know if our 175lb hero would ever return to the NFL… and, to my way of thinking, he hasn’t. Instead, wearing the same dreadlocks and #23, we suffered through a self-centered, uninspired CB that all of a sudden couldn’t even make a tackle. Now, that shell of his former self has left for more money and even worse rush hour traffic (Atlanta). Some fans are terrified of the impact of his exit. Myself, I am overjoyed. This group will be the best group of CBs we have ever rooted for as Texan fans.

Kareem Jackson- Man, he’s been torched more than a few times in training camp. Credit 60% of those whippings on Andre Johnson, but I saw him give up a long TD to Andre Davis as well. He has struggled in coverage but has proven to be a physical presence with a great work ethic. It will be very interesting to see how he handles the opposing WRs early in the preseason. The coaches really believe in the guy and I am more than willing to let this thing play out for awhile. MORE HERE!
 
dalemurphy said:
Sorry that this took longer than expected. Here's the review of the Defensive Line through 10 days of camp:

Texans Bull Blog
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Dale,

I don't know if anyone else has this issue but I've noticed it each time I've logged on to your blog. The Google Add header takes up the first paragraph. This time it was about Mitchell and I really wanted to read it but can't. Have you had this feedback before or is it just my computer?
 
drs23 said:
Dale,

I don't know if anyone else has this issue but I've noticed it each time I've logged on to your blog. The Google Add header takes up the first paragraph. This time it was about Mitchell and I really wanted to read it but can't. Have you had this feedback before or is it just my computer?
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Looks like the ad had been moved higher away from the text.

When it obscured the text, there was an x button to close it.
(I think the x didn't show up until a few seconds later???)
 
76Texan said:
Looks like the ad had been moved higher away from the text.

When it obscured the text, there was an x button to close it.
(I think the x didn't show up until a few seconds later???)
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Thanks much. I looked for a way to close it but didn't find it. I was able to catch on the other Texans board.
 
drs23 said:
Dale,

I don't know if anyone else has this issue but I've noticed it each time I've logged on to your blog. The Google Add header takes up the first paragraph. This time it was about Mitchell and I really wanted to read it but can't. Have you had this feedback before or is it just my computer?
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We are working on the layout still. Those are not our ads. I'm hopeful to have the ad space reconfigured significantly in the next few weeks. Sorry for the difficulties. I certainly appreciate the feedback.
 
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