Death to Google Ads! Texans Talk Tip Jar! 🍺😎👍
Thanks for your support!

Houston Texans Official OTA's and Minicamp Thread

I'm really happy that Jaelen Strong has come out and balled out of control. Nice to shut up all the people who were crapping on him.
 
Alfred Blue takes on veteran role for Texans as reserve running back
By Aaron Reiss
June 14, 2016 Updated: June 15, 2016 9:20am

The warrior lunged inside an empty storage room of NRG Stadium. His arms were outstretched, one hand nearly touching a small television, the only thing resembling a decoration or amenity in this beige box.

The warrior, in this instance, was Texans running back Alfred Blue, who demonstrated his favorite yoga pose. It's called the Warrior Two. The pose requires lunging while your torso is turned to be parallel with your hips. Your arms are spread wide. Your hands hang slightly lower than your shoulders.


"Your body starts shaking," Blue said of holding the pose. "You're like, 'Man.' "

Emphasis on "man."

The pose makes leg muscles more shapely. It relieves cramps in the calf and thigh muscles. It brings elasticity to the leg and back muscles.

All things a running back wants. Especially a running back such as Alfred Blue, who wants to become more durable, and with it more consistent.

"You can't stay consistent if you're not on the field," Blue said Tuesday after the Texans' first minicamp practice.

Last season, his second in the NFL, Blue felt more bumps and bruises. He filled in for an injured Arian Foster and led the Texans in rushing yards, attempts and touchdowns. But while Blue showed flashes of being a true starter - he had three games with 100-plus rushing yards - he also strung together multiple mediocre games, including a three-game November stretch in which he averaged 2.5 yards per carry.
Wanting to ensure he is available this season when the Texans need him, he started attending classes at Joy Yoga before OTAs began.

Those instances of the Texans relying on Blue may become fewer this season.

One of the team's big offseason acquisitions, running back Lamar Miller, played in all 16 games in each of the Miami Dolphins' last three seasons. The Texans also drafted Tyler Ervin, a speedy back from San Diego State, in the fourth round.

Not that Blue has any say in who the Texans sign or draft, but the third-year running back from LSU didn't appear disappointed to move down the depth chart.

He said Miller came to help the Texans win, and that's all that matters. But he also laughed thinking about the running backs' film-room dynamic, the calling out of the word "buttery" when the group watches someone drop a pass.

Veteran in offense

Maybe that sense of ease comes from yoga, too.

"It's all about building up strength and self-esteem," said Max Dunner, a yoga instructor at the University of Houston recreation center who also works at Joy Yoga.

Self-esteem?

"Because it's the warrior pose," Dunner said. "You're covering a lot of ground when you're in Warrior Two. You're supporting yourself even though you're spread thin."

Blue should contribute on special teams this season as well as get some carries every game. He sees himself as the power runner of the unit.

He also recognizes he's a veteran in the group. Of the running backs on the roster, Blue has the most carries and experience in coach Bill O'Brien's offense. He has helped Miller with the playbook when the newcomer has questions.

That's the new dynamic in the group - Foster is gone, Miller is here, and Blue is both a veteran but also in the same backup position as he has been in years prior. When OTAs began, running backs coach Charles London told the former sixth-round pick he's "the old head now."

'Enhance and change'

O'Brien said Tuesday he wants his players to "enhance and change."

Though not entirely in the way O'Brien intends, Blue, who said he dreams to be a featured back, is doing both - some of it intentional, some not. He's reverting back to a reduced role in the offense. He's trying to build off the lessons he learned as Foster's replacement and become the consistent player he never was last season.
Click to expand...
 
Trending Up and Red Flags for the Houston Texans Coming Out of Mandatory Mini-Camp
Unknown.jpeg

Patrick Starr
Yesterday at 9:52 AM
What did we learn with the Houston Texans breaking for the summer? We take a look at what is trending up and the red flags for the Texans.

Trending Up
The Texans skill position players are a sight to see and, with DeAndre Hopkins, Jaelen Strong, Lamar Miller. Will Fuller V and Cecil Shorts III all starting strong during the off-season, there is a lot to like about the wide receiver group. It has been a while since the Texans could feel comfortable about the receiving corps they have, but they are now legitimately deep at each position. We did not even mention Braxton Miller, Tyler Ervin and Alfred Blue but there are enough options to game plan differently from week to week. The skill group is greatly improved but they still have to put it together.

The defense is returning all but one of their top 15 defensive players that the Texans used last season. The only position that will not remain the same is the defensive end spot vacated by the departure of Jared Crick, but that should not slow down a mixed group of youth and veterans who put together a top five caliber defense in 2015. They have shown so far that it is like they never left the field and they have been giving the Texans offense fits with how well they work together. Communication between the entire group is impressive and it shows on the field during and after the play. Lead by veteran presences like J.J. Watt, Vince Wilfork, Johnathan Joseph, Kareem Jackson and Brian Cushing, the Texans defense is setting the bar for their youth in Kevin Johnson, Benardrick McKinney Jadeveon Clowney, D.J. Reader and Andre Hal.

Wait and See
Brock Osweiler is doing everything in his power to understand the offense and run it efficiently. There have been highs and lows throughout OTAs and Mini Camp but there is not enough to even feel like he is ready to go. He will eventually get there and it will probably not be until the Texans get to the regular season that there can be a good enough feel for what Osweiler will be in the offense. Osweiler marks the third starting quarterback to open the season as the go-to guy for the Texans and even Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brian Hoyer had a learning curve as they struggled well into the start season. If Osweiler can get ahead of the pace before the season starts, even better. There will be some bumps in the road but if the Texans can squeeze life out of the quarterback group that they have had the past two seasons here, Osweiler, who has the best skill set of all of them, should be able to maintain at a better level.

Many want to see Braxton Miller fresh out of the box and doing what he did at Ohio State. Miller is one of the more athletically gifted offensive threats on the roster but fans have to take into account that he only played wide receiver during his final season at Ohio State. There is already a learning curve with which Miller is dealing, including running routes at right depths, understanding the offense, adjusting to the NFL life, and, most importantly, showing he can handle the position day in and day out. It might not be until two to three seasons in that Miller will be ready for a bigger role in this offense and it could be beneficial for Miller to be eased in early, developing correctly for the long haul.

Red Flags To Monitor
The Texans are taking a risk by depending on Ryan Griffin and rookie tight end Stephen Anderson to help infuse an additional pass catching option into the offense. C.J. Fiedorowicz will continue to be the in-line tight end to help in the run game and pass pro from time to time. Fiedorowicz will get his occasional catches, but the offense is really depending on Griffin and Anderson to pick up the slack. Griffin needs to stay healthy; he missed over half of the 2015 season with a knee injury and has missed all of the off-season rehabbing an achillie injury. Anderson has gifts as a player but the reality is that the infamous rookie jump exists and he is going to have to show he can get into a NFL mentality and beat the obstacles in front of him to become a factor when the season arrives.

The depth at defensive end after J.J. Watt will be another situation to watch. If the team is in base defense or nickel and dime packages, the Texans are going to have to find a player(s) who can hold at the point of attack. Devon Still, Christian Covington, Brandon Dunn, Jeoffrey Pagan, Ufomba Kamalu, Joel Heath Dan Pettinato are all options going into training camp, but that is a young group with little experience. Still has the most experience but he was a rotational player with the Cincinnati Bengals and has not played a significant NFL snap since December 12th of 2014. The only player who we feel safe about saying who will be on the roster come week one would be Covington, after that is still a toss up. That is not the best look but perhaps a free agent signing will be the answer. The questions on this position will be sorted out in a hurry when training camp arrives.
Click to expand...
 
First I've heard of Shorts taking huge cut in pay:

Houston Texans wide receiver, Cecil Shorts III, has taken a pay cut to stay with the team. Reports say that Shorts has cut his base salary from $2.7 million to $1.2 million for the season, but now has been given a chance to get back $500,000 if he makes the roster. The pay cut totals $1 million, when all is said and done.

Shorts signed with the Texans on a two-year deal worth $6 million in the 2015 off-season. With youth being infused into the team’s wide receiver depth chart, Shorts will have to win his roster spot before week one arrives.

In 2015, Shorts had 42 receptions for 484 yards and two touchdowns, but he was slowed all season with various injuries. Having only played in 11 games, his lowest total since 2012, Shorts missed much of the season with shoulder and hamstring injuries.
 
badboy said:
First I've heard of Shorts taking huge cut in pay:

Houston Texans wide receiver, Cecil Shorts III, has taken a pay cut to stay with the team. Reports say that Shorts has cut his base salary from $2.7 million to $1.2 million for the season, but now has been given a chance to get back $500,000 if he makes the roster. The pay cut totals $1 million, when all is said and done.

Shorts signed with the Texans on a two-year deal worth $6 million in the 2015 off-season. With youth being infused into the team’s wide receiver depth chart, Shorts will have to win his roster spot before week one arrives.

In 2015, Shorts had 42 receptions for 484 yards and two touchdowns, but he was slowed all season with various injuries. Having only played in 11 games, his lowest total since 2012, Shorts missed much of the season with shoulder and hamstring injuries.
Click to expand...

I said it before, I don't think he's a lock to make the roster. Yeah we'll be young but besides age he doesn't bring much to the roster. May the best men win.
 
PapaL said:
I said it before, I don't think he's a lock to make the roster. Yeah we'll be young but besides age he doesn't bring much to the roster. May the best men win.
Click to expand...
Yep, reducing salary give him shot at roster he might not get elsewhere and he can make bonuses if he produces. He is age wise in his prime so if he can remain healthy could be a good target for QB. If we could go with Hopkins, Strong and Short3, it would allow younger guys to adjust. Also could see Strong to move slot some to allow Fuller and Miller some targets. This season could allow WRs and RBs some rest and keep all fresh. Offensive line is my concern even if starters remain healthy and Brown is on field. Our starting linemen historically IIRC, play majority of snaps; maybe we will not need depth.
 
2016 Houston Texans Player Profile: Ka'imi Fairbairn
Patrick Starr
10:19 AM

A closer look at the Houston Texans roster heading into the 2016 training camp.


The Rundown

Ka'imi Fairbairn arrived to the Texans as a rookie free agent from UCLA. He was the 2015 Lou Groza Award Winner (best place kicker in college), going 20 of 24 on field goal attempts. Also, over the past two seasons, Fairbairn displayed a strong leg, forcing 73% of his kickoffs. Additionally, he finished his college career with 41 straight made field goals from 35 yards and in.

Fairbairn has the ability to put in long field goals and showed that with a 60-yard field goal against Cal.

Outlook

The young kicker was able to show his leg strength in the early practices and, during rookie mini camp, he was able to cut it loose. Pushing 55-plus yards for his field goal attempts and splitting the uprights with ease was a good start for the rookie kicker. Fairbairn will get a better opportunity when training camp starts but every one of his kicks will be analyzed by the staff with every make, miss, and kick off opportunity he gets.

Roster Status: Will be in competition for the kicking duties with Nick Novak.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top