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Texans OTA offseason workouts 2015

Playoffs

Playoffs

Hall of Fame
OTA Offseason Workouts: May 26-28, June 1-2, June 4, June 8-9, June 11-12

Phase Three 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.​

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Breakfast: 10 things to look for during OTAs
John Harris | Texans Analyst

After a much needed three day break, the Texans head into the OTA (organized team activity) phase of the off-season, starting on Tuesday. I figured this was as good a time as any to highlight the things I’m looking for when OTAs start and continue over the next four weeks. Here are my eleven things, in no certain order, I’ll be spying starting on Tuesday.

1. How healthy are the QBs
Ryan Mallett and Tom Savage. We all talked about Mallett’s injury in the off-season but few talked about the knee injury Savage suffered in December v. the Colts. Both are seemingly healthy heading into OTAs, which should make for an intriguing QB competition, err, situation this spring/summer.​
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2. Increased comfortability of the team’s tight ends
The team didn’t add a tight end to the mix in the off-season but in the second year in this system, the trio of Garrett Graham, C.J Fiedorowicz and Ryan Griffin should see increased targets and must produce more than it did in year one.​
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3. The health of DT Louis Nix
And at what point does he actually start to compete for playing time in this stout defensive front.​
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4. The slot receiver position
The Texans signed Nate Washington and Cecil Shorts and drafted Jaelen Strong and Keith Mumphrey in the off-season. As such, I could see three of the four playing the slot but I don’t ultimately think any of them are perfectly suited for that spot. That said, can Travis Labhart and recently signed rookie UDFA Chandler Worthy (Troy University) make a strong push, alongside incumbents Damaris Johnson and Keshawn Martin?​
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5. Kevin Johnson facing DeAndre Hopkins and the veteran receivers
Watching the first round draft pick and his fellow rookies in rookie minicamp was sort of like watching workouts at the Senior Bowl or Shrine Bowl. On Tuesday, the real test takes place as Johnson will face Hopkins, Shorts, Washington and a bunch of smart and savvy veterans. How does he fare? How does he respond to getting beat?​
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6. Benardrick McKinney’s fit in the defense alongside the veterans
Vince Wilfork in a Texans jersey. It’s just going to be strange NOT seeing him in a Patriots jersey but I can admit fully that I, and many others, have wanted to see a game changer of his pedigree at his position for a while. Seeing Wilfork sandwiched by JJ Watt and Jared Crick is going to be neat-o (as I channel my inner Peter Brady)​
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7. The communication on defense
One of the things I noted last year that I LOVED in OTAs and training camp was how vocal the defense was as it communicated checks, adjustments and the sort. The rookies were extremely impressive in their first weekend on the field, but watching the veterans confidently orchestrate a practice, a drill or a period is fun to watch.​
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8. Practice squad players from last year and how far they’ve progressed
Matt Fieler, Bryan Witzmann, James Ferentz, Labhart, EZ Nwachukwu and Jace Davis are just a few that’ll have my attention. Can one or more make the 53-man roster? The long road to the 53 starts on Tuesday.​
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9. How are the safeties configured?
Sure, there will be changes and adjustments throughout the long season, but I’m curious and excited to see how Rahim Moore, Stevie Brown, Lonnie Ballentine, Eddie Pleasant and company are mixed and matched.​
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10. The day will be complete seeing a relatively healthy David Quessenberry out on the field again
What he can do, what he’s able to do, is actually irrelevant as far as I’m concerned. I want to just see that man on a football field chasing a dream after all he’s been through.​
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So, those are just a few of things I have on my mind as OTAs begin on Tuesday. I’ll shoot out some thoughts after Tuesday’s OTA so be on the lookout next week. Y’all have a tremendous and safe Memorial Day weekend!​
 
If Clowney isn't ready to go full speed ahead, who will be the other OLB opposite Mercilus?

Want to see how Jones does at center but OTAs won't tell us that. I need to see how he fares when Vince Wilfork lights into him during training camp. :D
 
Jayson Braddock ‏@JaysonBraddock
I have a good feel (IMO) for the Texans roster but here's who intrigues me this week:

WRs:
Chandler Worthy
EZ Nwachukwu
Travis Labhart

TE:
Anthony Denham (Could develop into a matchup piece, needs to show early)

QB:
Tom Savage (Yr 2 in same offense, where's his growth)

OTs:
Will Yeatman (Had a great camp in '14 before concussion)
Bryan Witzmann
Matt Feiler

Both flashed in 2014 camp but need consistency.

OG/C:
Cody White (Played all over the OL & played well before injury)
James Ferentz (The shock of 2014 camp)
Greg Mancz

DL:
Jeoffrey Pagan
Louis Nix
Christian Covington

LBs:
John Simon (If Clowney isn't ready week 1, he could be the starter)

Reshard Cliett (Could cut out a Telvin Smith (Jags) role)

jay mic @J_mic7 needs to put on about 40 lbs before that's considered

Telvin Smith - 6'3 218
Reshard Cliett - 6'2 220

Both are 4.5 guys​
S:
Stevie Brown
Lonnie Ballentine
Kurtis Drummond

I expect the biggest leap from year 1 to year 2 to come from TE CJ Fiedorowicz.​
 
Playoffs said:
WRs:
Chandler Worthy
EZ Nwachukwu
Travis Labhart

DL:
Jeoffrey Pagan
Louis Nix
Christian Covington​
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The DL battle should be a good scrap if all these guys are fit and healthy.

Curious about the WR thing though. We carried five throughout 2014 I believe, and without any surprises DHop, Shorts, Nate, and Strong should be the first four. So are the guys quoted the only ones Braddock is looking at for the fifth spot? What about Mumphery? Perhaps we run with six?
 
WHAT TO WATCH: THE OPENING OF TEXANS OTAS

Quarterback Competition
OTAs will bring the start of the Ryan Mallett and Brian Hoyer discussion on who will be the starter. These conversations will more than likely carry on until a decision is made during training camp. Bill O’Brien will split the reps accordingly, more than likely 50/50, and keep everyone guessing on the direction the team wants to go. Both Mallett and Hoyer will get their first full training camp under O’Brien since their New England days and expectations will be high for both of the veteran quarterbacks to lead this team.

Louis Nix
The one player who everyone wanted to know about in 2014, was he lazy, in Bill O’Brien’s doghouse, or was it that he was not healthy, was Louis Nix. What we do know is that Nix struggled with his weight during the season which left him off the active roster in 2014. However, he was also slowed by injures when he arrived from the draft with a knee injury (torn meniscus), sustained at Notre Dame, and had the same knee scoped prior to the start of training camp, coming out of OTAs. With all of this in the rearview mirror, Nix will be front and center when camp arrives and he will be a storyline to follow during the offseason.

Wide Receivers Appear to be Set
The entire group has received an overhaul and the only holdover assured anything is DeAndre Hopkins. Add in Cecil Shorts and Nate Washington, and they appear to be the early favorites to be the top three for the offense. Two draft picks in Jaelen Strong and Keith Mumphery, look to round out the top five of the depth chart putting last year's receivers like Damaris Johnson and Keshawn Martin in survival mode for their time in Houston. How the group shakes out will be a point of interest for the roster construction.

Room for an Outside Linebacker
Whitney Mercilus, fresh off a contract extension, is set to start for his third consecutive season. Beside him, the depth chart appears to be filled with Jadeveon Clowney and John Simon. With room to find another pass rusher and edge presence, the opportunity exists to find another young player add so he can grow as a player. Jason Ankrah spent time on the active roster but with rookies Lynden Trail, Tony Washington, and Carlos Thompson signed to fill the roster, the fourth spot on the outside linebacker depth chart has plenty of competition on the roster.

New Safeties in 2015
The Texans moved on from their top three safeties from the 2014 season in D.J. Swearinger, Kendrick Lewis, and Danieal Manning. There will be three new faces in the back half of the defense for 2015 and it will be important to get their safeties settled into the system quick. Rahim Moore is the only current safety on the roster who could be penciled into the starting role week one. Eddie Pleasant and Stevie Brown would be the next two by default, but players like Lonnie Ballentine and rookie Kurtis Drummond could push their names into the discussion as training camp arrives.

Injuries in the Rearview Mirror?
The Texans dealt with injuries to important players on their roster in 2014, but now, a portion of the roster returns with the rest and rehabilitation aspects of their respective injuries, anticipated to be wrapped up soon. Clowney will be continued to be slowly moved along to a full participation during training camp but not much should be expected from him during OTAs.

Another player that some intrigue that will be worth discussion is the return of David Quessenberry and how he responds from rounds of chemotherapy to put his cancer into remission and back on track to the football field.

Also, we could he approaching the end of the road for Alan Bonner, who was part of the 2013 draft class, but who has had both of his seasons ended because of injuries (hamstring in 2013, broken foot in 2014). With no games played in a Texans uniform, Bonner is still an unknown quantity fighting for his roster spot, but, most importantly, he has to prove he is healthy.

Notable 2014 Injuries
Jadeveon Clowney (microfracture surgery), Louis Nix (knee, elbow injury), Ryan Mallett (torn pectoral), Alan Bonner (broken foot), David Quessenberry (Lukemia), Cody White (torn achillies), Lonnie Ballentine (hamstring), Will Yeatmen (Concussion)
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Vince Wilfork’s Arrival
The big fish of the free agency period for the Texans will be depended on to provide a defensive presence, but, most importantly, he offers a blue print on what it takes to bring a championship to Houston. The talk about Wilfork has been how much he has been involved with the team and already proving to be an instant leader to whom players are already asking questions and following his lead.

Adding him next to a player like J.J. Watt and having those two there to mentor the youngsters on the defensive line like Nix, Jeoffrey Pagan, Christian Covington, and Jared Crick, Wilfork will help in more than one department for the Texans.

Kick and Punt Returners
Who will be the main returner for the Texans when the season arrives? That is one of the most important questions that needs to be sorted out. Chris Polk was a big time returner for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2014, while Keshawn Martin has be the Texans primary returner since he was drafted in 2012. Maybe players like Alan Bonner, Keith Mumphery, Chandler Worthy, and Travis Labhart could also figure into the discussion. With no real returner to take the lead, that position is open for the taking.

Log Jam at Cornerback
The Texans are a packed house at the position but could this lead to a possible move for one of the cornerbacks to another position? Kareem Jackson and Johnathan Joseph return to man their positions across from each other for the 5th season. Add in Kevin Johnson, who should see playing time in year one. A.J. Bouye, Darryl Morris, and Jumal Rolle all played significant snaps last season, and Andre Hal was one of the top special teams players returning. Could a someone like Bouye or maybe Jackson make the move to safety to keep talent on the field? The amount of corners could make it possible, if needed.

Sleepers To Keep an Eye On
Texans who could push for a spot with the Texans on the 53-man roster or practice squad include:
Chris Polk - Texans kept 4 running backs to start the 2014 season, Polk’s return ability could land him a spot.
Anthony Denham- the team holds Denham in high regard, a move tight end with a wide receiver body
Lynden Trail- The Texans want size that can move and give the defense a player who can mold into a specific role, and they could possibly look no further than Trail. He needs work on rushing the passer, but has some skill to play in space.
Matt Feiler- Able to play either offensive guard or tackle, Feiler, with his NFL size, has to prove he can play at a higher level now. A year on the practice squad has put Feiler in a good spot.
Kurtis Drummond- Considered a draftable player in the 2015 draft, the Texans landed him in free agency. With the safety position thin, Drummond is in a good spot to make a push to land on the team.
Khari Lee- The rookie tight end is a massive target and with the Texans trying to become more athletic at the position, Lee fits that mold.​
 
I guess the weather must be pretty bad down there then. I can't remember a practice being canceled due to weather before.
 
James Starks @JamesStarksKPRC
· 9m 9 minutes ago
It's way too early but Ryan Mallet looks good. Seems to be 100% recovered. Has a TON of velocity and hitting all the windows. #Texans
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#SaveUsMallett
 
PDS @PatDStat
Strong struggled with conditioning during rookie mini-camp, it has carried over. #Texans

Jaelen Strong has a long way to go. Like @taniaganguli tweeted, plenty of work to do in terms of conditioning. #Texans

One thing of note. Texans offensive line are being worked by new Oline coach Mike Devlin. Much more sound coaching being stressed.

Keith Mumphrey picking up where he left off in rookie mini-camp. Showed some vertical threat to his game today.

Rookie wide receivers Keith Mumphrey and Chandler Worthy had solid days today. Caught the ball very well. #Texans

This just in. Vince Wilfork is large. #Texans

Brian Cushing was a full go during OTAs. Positive for the defense. #Texans

Tom Savage has much more command of the offense and huddle. Now time for his play to catch up with his knowledge of the O. #Texans

Brian Hoyer had his moments today. When he missed his missed high of his targets. Has decent touch on the deep ball. #Texans

Quarterbacks still getting used their weapons. Day one throws iffy. Mallett still has the best arm of the group by far.

Nate Washington should not be overlooked. Speedy veteran already fitting into the offense.

Players I noticed that the summer did some wonders for improvement body wise? Xavier Su’a-Filo, Ben Jones and Alfred Blue.

Arian Foster very lively today, looks like the Foster of old. #Texans

Louis Nix looks in great shape and had a solid start to OTAs. #Texans

Kevin Johnson very active today during OTAs. Had an interception and showed his breaking on the ball ability. #Texans

#Texans wrapping up first day of OTAs. Plenty of new faces on the field. Practice took place in the bubble.​

Brian T. Smith @ChronBrianSmith
Mallett wasn't always accurate. But he ripped off passes like normal. #Texans

Kevin Johnson pulled off a diving pick on sideline. #Texans

Su'a-Filo split time with Ben Jones at center. #Texans

Jadeveon Clowney watched #Texans' first OTA from side. Looked agile (while walking).

Ryan Mallett went through full OTA today, splitting reps with Brian Hoyer. Mallett was sharp and made all throws. #Texans
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John McClain ‏@McClain_on_NFL
On first day of OTAs, Bill OBrien had some players doing double duty. He's a stickler for versatility.

Xavier Su'a-Filo, last year's 2nd-round pick, should start at LG while Ben Jones moves to C. X getting a shot at backup C.
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Jayson Braddock @JaysonBraddock
Mallett RT ===> who was better mallet or hoyer?

Kevin Johnson was steller for his first day. Picked off Mallett in coverage of Strong. Several other PBUs

Jaelen Strong didn't have what you'd call a great practice. Did nothing to relieve my concerns about his transition to the pros.

EZ Nwachukwu had several nice reps today as well.

Keith Mumphery didn't look like a rookie. Comfortable, quick, good hands and dangerous after the catch. Return ability too

Benardrick McKinney is reactive in pass coverage & while he looks knowledgeable & comfortable, the passing game will still be the issue for him.

Louis Nix was comfortable being vocal when calling out but leverage still seems to be the big question.

If Anthony Denham doesn't make the squad, I'll be shocked. He can be a weapon & blistered ILB McKinney.

Chandler Worthy is fast!! Caught punts & could split coverage or get outside. Name to know for 2015 camp.
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Tania Ganguli ‏@taniaganguli
Just want to be clear, my tweet on Jaelen Strong was simply to note he suffered an injury during practice. Apologies for confusion. #Texans

Jaelen Strong came up lame during a team drill. Seemed to be in his hamstring area. #Texans​
 
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Anyone now if they'll continue working through Friday or was yesterday just lost altogether? Don't know what kind of rules are in place for that, but I gotta think OB will wanna make up that time.
 
SOTT: TEXANS OTAS: DAY ONE IN THE BOOKS

Louis Nix was a hot topic over the offseason and he was a full participant as OTAs started up today. Looking to be in solid shape and participating in every drill during practice, Nix had a strong first day. His conditioning looks good and he appears to be much more prepared and healthy than last season.

Nate Washington is fitting into the offense and could prove to be the best free agent signing of the group by the time the season starts. He runs crisp routes and is smooth when he gets vertical, showing the ability to run by defenders. Washington caught the ball with ease and his veteran presence is a welcome sight.

Kevin Johnson showed why he was a first round pick today and was active in coverage. The one thing that stood out was him being able to plant and drive on the football. Johnson showed strong ability for a rookie to close ground in a hurry and he is off to a solid start with the Texans.

Chandler Worthy showed up in a big way and used his speed on the field to create separation. That speed is what sets him apart and while he made some tough catches, he also struggled with some easy ones. Still, a promising start for the rookie free agent.

New offensive line coach Mike Devlin has made his mark with his players. Devlin is much more involved and focused on technique with his position group. The group was constantly moving and it is a big difference from last season in terms of coaching the offensive lineman.

Kareem Jackson and Johnathan Joseph were back in their normal spots on the defense and helping lineup the secondary. Rahim Moore also looked comfortable talking to the two starters during team sessions as they explained routes and how to lineup.

Three players come to mind when you give a first glance on how much they have improved their bodies over the offseason. Ben Jones, Xavier Su’a-Filo, and Alfred Blue have changed how they look but at the same time still hold their same weight. This is a good sign for Jones and Su’a-Filo, who both struggled with weight issues during the 2014 season.

Also, about Alfred Blue, he appears to have much more burst on the field and looks stronger. He is far removed from how he looked coming out as a rookie last season.

The quarterbacks are still trying to get settled with the new setting and offensive players around them. Tom Savage is the only holdover from OTAs last season, while Ryan Mallett and Brian Hoyer enter their first training camp with the Texans. The overall throws were inaccurate especially for Hoyer who was missing high with his throws. Mallett threw with velocity and had some solid passes from 15 yards in. At one point, Mallett gave a receiver a stare down after he dropped an easy pass. Expectations are high when Mallett is on the field and he makes it known. Savage looks much different this season, especially with his command of the huddle; he is more vocal and gets his teammates lined up.

Brian Cushing was a full participant in OTAs and moved around well. It is a good sight to see Cushing back on the field with him not coming off with no real major surgery from the offseason.

Keep an eye out for how the offensive guard and center positions play out. Ben Jones and Xavier Su’a-Filo appear to be the odds on favorites. Cody White, Will Yeatmen and James Ferentz also are names to keep in discussion as possibilities who could sneak into that competition as the off-season progresses.

Keith Mumphrey had a strong day and picked up where he left off from rookie mini-camp. He showed his ability to run by defenders and was a vertical threat, making a nice catch on a deep ball thrown by Hoyer.

Jaelen Strong is still trying to get his NFL footing and it starts with his conditioning. Struggling with this issue during rookie mini-camp, Strong started off practice well but as the day went on, he once again dealt with other issues not related to football. Strong has some major work to do to get into football shape.​
 
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Mollywhopper said:
I love the intrasquad chicken & egg stuff. WR's looked strong, must mean the DB's aren't up to snuff.

If the DB's make a couple plays, does that mean our QB's are doomed?
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We have dumpster diver WRs. If they are making our premium CBs look like **** we are in serious trouble.

Mallett needs to take over this team or this is going to be a long season.
 
infantrycak said:
We have dumpster diver WRs. If they are making our premium CBs look like **** we are in serious trouble.

Mallett needs to take over this team or this is going to be a long season.
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Just for once, and it would be a first for the Texans, I'd like to see them having good seasons from BOTH sides of the ball.
 
None of the WR's are burners, sure, but there's more to getting by coverages than speed, and they are veterans by and large.

My larger point though was that throughout the workouts these little battles tend to even out. It's why I generally don't watch college spring games, there's no control to place values against. I just want to hear that coaching is taking hold, guys are getting in game shape, and above all that Mallett looks the sharper of the qb's, as between the two there is a control group to judge them against.
 
Mollywhopper said:
None of the WR's are burners, sure, but there's more to getting by coverages than speed, and they are veterans by and large.
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So are our CBs...and higher priced. And we just dumped one of the best route running WRs around because he had slowed down to the speed of ... these never weres.

Like I said, Mallett is going to have to be the kind of QB who turns mediocre into gold or we are in trouble. And I think he can be, but it's uncertain. This season turns on Mallett. Anything else is stagnant (and another year of JJ gone).
 
infantrycak said:
So are our CBs...and higher priced. And we just dumped one of the best route running WRs around because he had slowed down to the speed of ... these never weres.
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They didn't even say anything about who the DB's were. Anyway, no unit is going to shut the other out all camp. The scoreboards are off and they're just working out. The DB's will go on to make some plays, the kinks will be smoothed, and eventually everyone will be thrilled to lace em up against another team. Then the Henny Penny's can start to lookin skyward.
 
Mollywhopper said:
Anyone now if they'll continue working through Friday or was yesterday just lost altogether? Don't know what kind of rules are in place for that, but I gotta think OB will wanna make up that time.
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ESPN reported:
Tuesday's was scheduled to be the first of 10 OTA sessions to begin Phase 3 of the Texans' offseason program, as prescribed by the league's collective bargaining agreement. Phase 3 lasts four weeks and the Texans may reschedule the canceled session provided it falls within the designated four-week period, according to an NFL spokesman.
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Mollywhopper said:
They didn't even say anything about who the DB's were. Anyway, no unit is going to shut the other out all camp. The scoreboards are off and they're just working out. The DB's will go on to make some plays, the kinks will be smoothed, and eventually everyone will be thrilled to lace em up against another team. Then the Henny Penny's can start to lookin skyward.
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Hearing that our WRs were blowing by our defense would be like hearing, "Jj struggled in practice today."

Even if he was going against Duane Brown, it's not something you'd expect to hear. That's the kind of gap there is between our DBs & our WRs.

Now if we were told Jjo, KJax, & our 2015 first round "not a reach but a smart, obviously best player available" pick sat out today, then it wouldn't be so hard to hear.
 
thunderkyss said:
Hearing that our WRs were blowing by our defense would be like hearing, "Jj struggled in practice today."

Even if he was going against Duane Brown, it's not something you'd expect to hear. That's the kind of gap there is between our DBs & our WRs.

Now if we were told Jjo, KJax, & our 2015 first round "not a reach but a smart, obviously best player available" pick sat out today, then it wouldn't be so hard to hear.
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You're reading a few nice comments about some of the wideouts as though it was all one-sided and the DB's forgot to wear their pants to work today. There wasn't even a tiny bit of context added to those comments. Not who was on d, not what kind of focus either side of the ball was directing their attention towards, not the particular tempo, just that Nate and Mumphery looked sharp. I don't know how you can survive a full preseason's worth of reports at this rate.
 
I didn't see today, but it just be possible that hearing blown by defenders is hyperbole? From reports looks like maybe the staff knew something about Mumphery that looks past a not so killer 40 time?
 
Observations from Day 1 of OTAs
John Harris|Texans Analyst

The start of OTAs gave all of us a little bit of an idea of how the puzzle will fit together for the 2015 season. Here are some observations from day one.

Reps. There will be no shortage of reps for the quarterbacks in this QB competition. I love how nearly every drill had a mirror component on the other side. Whenever there was a team drill or 7-on-7 going on, there was one full group on one side and one full group on the other side. At the end of the day, literally, there were hundreds of reps for each quarterback. Not to mention, each one of those reps is needed to find a synergy with a completely revamped receiver corps.

As it pertains to quarterbacks, one thing to keep in mind is that finding the starting quarterback is sort of like a painting. It’s a cumulative process and it may look one way one day and may look completely different the next day. Point being? The point is that even though one QB seemingly got starters reps one day doesn’t mean anything is set in stone. This QB situation is going to evolve over the next few months and there will be a guy that wins the job, not two that lose it. So, there will be a lot of talk about who took what reps with what group. Tomorrow? That could be the complete opposite. Let it ALL play out over time.

The last thing on quarterbacks is that I haven’t seen a group quite like this in Houston. All told, these guys can fire the football. I thought Brian Hoyer’s arm was much stronger than I remembered in Cleveland. There were a couple of “WHOOO” throws from Ryan Mallett and Tom Savage threw some seeds as well.

I lied...one more thing about this group was how they all threw the ball down the field. Too often in past years, Texans QB in practice settled for the checkdown route and it would infuriate me. Not today. Yes, all three quarterbacks took a few checkdowns along the way, but they all took shots down the field, especially in the intermediate areas of the field. My mindset has always been that you take risks in practice so you know the limits and boundaries during a game. These QBs were firing today and it was fun to see.

The defensive backs got after it today! Sure, the pass catchers caught plenty of footballs along the way, but there were numerous aggressive breaks on the football during 7-on-7 and team drills. Darryl Morris made a great break on a short throw that got everyone fired up. First round pick Kevin Johnson had a number of PBUs and a couple of interceptions. That guy doesn’t back down from anyone and really took his play up a notch. Jumal Rolle also made a great break on a short throw to break up a pass. It felt as though that group relished being aggressive, especially on shorter throws throughout the day.

The day rookie WR Keith Mumphrey was drafted, I noted how good he’d be for the special teams units but if he’s not careful he’s going to inject himself right into the WR competition. That guy caught a ton of passes throughout the day and even got some kudos from Brian Hoyer during the QB’s media session after the OTA. He’s a rookie. He’s not perfect. He dropped a pass or two. But, that guy is making a big impression right away with the staff and veterans.

Another guy that just gets open and catches everything is Travis Labhart. His 1-on-1s with Kevin Johnson were fun to watch. He’s so good running routes and has the speed to get behind a DB. Keep in mind at A&M, it took a while to get a shot and when he did, he became one of Johnny Manziel’s go-to guys.

In fact the guys we’ve long thought have a shot at playing a role in the slot - Labhart, Damaris Johnson, etc. - had solid days. But, keep an eye on rookie Chandler Worthy from Troy. That guy has SCOOTS, man he can go and made a couple of excellent grabs in team/7-on-7.

There’s not a ton to learn from the OL & DL early in OTAs, but I will say that it did my heart good to see Vince Wilfork in a Texans #75 jersey. It’s going to take a while to remember that Derek Newton is now #72, but we’ll get there.

Many wondered why the Texans didn’t draft any OLB in this past draft, given the lack of depth at the position in base defense situations. But, the UDFA that the Texans signed - Carlos Thompson (Ole Miss), Lynden Trail (Norfolk State) - are LONG and athletic. I’ll include a guy like Kourtnei Brown who was signed middle of last year. It looks at times like a bunch of small forwards out on the field at that position.

If there’s a guy that I’m truly stoked about his progress as a second year player, it’s TE C.J. Fiedorowicz. He made a great fingertip catch on a ball down the seam. If he’s healthy, he’s going to impact this offense in 2015 and be a multi-purpose “tight end” in every respect.

That’s all for now, but as we get to see more OTAs, I’ll be back with more thoughts and observations. Stay safe and dry, everyone!​
 
Goldensilence said:
I didn't see today, but it just be possible that hearing blown by defenders is hyperbole?
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I think that's all it was. My comment (& I'm sure 'cak's) was a bit of the same. I doubt he really believes Wilfork would be defending 9 routes & bang 8s.

This title for tats gone a lot further than either of us expected our comments to have gone.

Whoa is me, our DBs are being blown by on the first day of OTAs! !!
 
tempBB1_0256--nfl_mezz_1280_1024.JPG


That is one HUGE individual!
Can't wait until the contact starts and Su'a-Filo or Jones has to try and keep him out of the backfield.
 
I just hope that our OL doesn't get depressed and lose confidence trying to stop our DL in practice. They could be GREAT and still get burned badly by our DL.
 
infantrycak said:
We have dumpster diver WRs. If they are making our premium CBs look like **** we are in serious trouble.

Mallett needs to take over this team or this is going to be a long season.
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Showing the ability to run by defenders is not the same as leaving them in the dust. I know you didn't like the way AJ was handled, but you're really harsh on what may be the best overall group of wr's we've ever had.
 
JB said:
Showing the ability to run by defenders is not the same as leaving them in the dust. I know you didn't like the way AJ was handled, but you're really harsh on what may be the best overall group of wr's we've ever had.
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That may be fair.

Hope to be proven wrong but right now I think we have a bunch of 2's and 3's and no #1.
 
JB said:
Showing the ability to run by defenders is not the same as leaving them in the dust. I know you didn't like the way AJ was handled, but you're really harsh on what may be the best overall group of wr's we've ever had.
Click to expand...
infantrycak said:
That may be fair.

Hope to be proven wrong but right now I think we have a bunch of 2's and 3's and no #1.
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Sure, they "might" be the best set of WR we've ever had, but based on what exactly? We have no player on the roster with any real time playing WR1. Rookies are rookies - they might light the world on fire and while more common than finding HoF QBs in the 5th round, they still aren't all that common...especially 3rd+ rounders.

I'm very cautiously optimistic, but I'm not under any impression that the Texans WR corps is going to set the league on fire this year.
 
JB said:
... but you're really harsh on what may be the best overall group of wr's we've ever had.
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What? Why might this be the best overall group of WRs we've ever had?

Is it because Cecil Shorts & Nate Washington effectively replaces Andre Johnson?

We've had Andre & DeAndre for the last two years, gonna be hard to beat that with the group we've got.... vets that never was & rookies with questionable "potential."
 
disaacks3 said:
Sure, they "might" be the best set of WR we've ever had, but based on what exactly? We have no player on the roster with any real time playing WR1. Rookies are rookies - they might light the world on fire and while more common than finding HoF QBs in the 5th round, they still aren't all that common...especially 3rd+ rounders.

I'm very cautiously optimistic, but I'm not under any impression that the Texans WR corps is going to set the league on fire this year.
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I agree we don't have a #1 in the mold of AJ, but the overall group is better than we've had before. Hopkins is a very good #2 and Washington and Shorts are solid. We may get surprised by rookies but I'm not counting on it. I never said they would set the league on fire, but we've never had a group that would warm up the league other than AJ and a bunch of no bodies until we got Hopkins
 
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