Troy Chapman
Rookie
Rouse was waived with injury designation. If he clears waivers today, he should revert back to Houston's IR. From there likely will be an injury settlement.
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when did Kubiak go to the Saints?
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Broncos and Saints are our "middle games" in preseason, which is typically where you schedule joint practices. Kubiak said 'No' right off the bat. Peyton/Saints bailed after we got Hard Knocks.
John McClain @McClain_on_NFL
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Jets, Dolphins, Eagles among teams with best offseasons so far
By Gil Brandt|NFL Media senior analyst
4) Houston Texans
5) Indianapolis Colts
6) St. Louis Rams
OTHER TEAMS I CONSIDERED:
» Buffalo Bills: New running back LeSean McCoy was a big get.
» Dallas Cowboys: Defense should be helped by first-round pick Byron Jones.
» Green Bay Packers: Keeping Randall Cobb and Bryan Bulaga was crucial.
» Jacksonville Jaguars: Second-round pick T.J. Yeldon is a heck of a player.
» Seattle Seahawks: Any offseason in which you land a dynamic weapon like Jimmy Graham is a good offseason.
By Gil Brandt|NFL Media senior analyst
Now that OTAs are in full swing, we've reached a turning point in the NFL offseason. The off-field moves that have dominated the past few months -- the free-agent signings, trades and draft picks -- are giving way to honest-to-goodness on-field action. As we leave the transaction-heavy portion of the offseason behind, I thought I'd review all the wheeling and dealing to see which teams have been most productive.
Below is my list of the six teams that have had the best offseasons, with five more to consider at the end for good measure:
1) New York Jets
2) Miami Dolphins
3) Philadelphia Eagles
Kelly's a pretty smart guy. In Year 3 of his tenure, opposing teams are bound to have adjusted to his scheme somewhat, which no doubt motivated Kelly to adjust his roster to better match his approach.
Below is my list of the six teams that have had the best offseasons, with five more to consider at the end for good measure:
1) New York Jets
Key additions: CB Darrelle Revis, DT Leonard Williams, offensive coordinator Chan Gailey.
When you add one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL and the best defensive lineman in the draft, you know you've had a good offseason. The Jets ranked sixth in overall defense last season but 14th against the pass; Revis, Antonio Cromartie, Buster Skrine and Marcus Gilchrist will improve what was considered a weak secondary last year. Linebacker David Harris -- the quarterback of their defense -- was retained. Williams, meanwhile, will only bolster a fearsome front that already included Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson.
I'm a Geno Smith backer, and I think he can make good on the flashes of promise we've seen, especially under new coordinator Chan Gailey, who will iron out the erratic throws and forced passes and help Smith establish consistency. Receivers Brandon Marshall and Devin Smith, running backs Stevan Ridley and Zac Stacy and guard James Carpenter will further boost the offense and improve Geno's chances of breaking out. And if the young quarterback falters, New York can turn to veteran backup Ryan Fitzpatrick, whom Gailey knows well from their days together in Buffalo.
New head man Todd Bowles is an exceptional coach, and new general manager Mike Maccagnan has done a heck of a job, especially in the draft. Much depends on the quarterback play, but if Smith makes a leap, the Jets can definitely contend for a wild-card spot.
When you add one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL and the best defensive lineman in the draft, you know you've had a good offseason. The Jets ranked sixth in overall defense last season but 14th against the pass; Revis, Antonio Cromartie, Buster Skrine and Marcus Gilchrist will improve what was considered a weak secondary last year. Linebacker David Harris -- the quarterback of their defense -- was retained. Williams, meanwhile, will only bolster a fearsome front that already included Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson.
I'm a Geno Smith backer, and I think he can make good on the flashes of promise we've seen, especially under new coordinator Chan Gailey, who will iron out the erratic throws and forced passes and help Smith establish consistency. Receivers Brandon Marshall and Devin Smith, running backs Stevan Ridley and Zac Stacy and guard James Carpenter will further boost the offense and improve Geno's chances of breaking out. And if the young quarterback falters, New York can turn to veteran backup Ryan Fitzpatrick, whom Gailey knows well from their days together in Buffalo.
New head man Todd Bowles is an exceptional coach, and new general manager Mike Maccagnan has done a heck of a job, especially in the draft. Much depends on the quarterback play, but if Smith makes a leap, the Jets can definitely contend for a wild-card spot.
2) Miami Dolphins
Key additions: DT Ndamukong Suh, TE Jordan Cameron, WR DeVante Parker.
Suh might have cost a lot, but it's hard to overstate the impact he can have on a team. He's a tremendously competitive and hard-working guy who makes everyone around him better, and he should seriously elevate a defense that was already decent (12th overall in 2014) before he arrived.
Health has been an issue for Cameron, but if the tight end can stay on the field, he'll be a boon to quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Cameron's larger, faster and more athletic than departed tight end Charles Clay. Parker and second-year pro Jarvis Landry are two very good young receivers, while trade acquisition Kenny Still also should help. Getting back tackle Branden Albert -- who missed seven games in 2014 with ACL and MCL tears -- will be huge.
I think there's a great chance either the Dolphins or the Jets join the Patriots as AFC East teams in the playoffs. I like the Jets' overall roster a bit better, but the Dolphins do have Tannehill under center and could snag a wild-card berth if the Jets stumble.
Suh might have cost a lot, but it's hard to overstate the impact he can have on a team. He's a tremendously competitive and hard-working guy who makes everyone around him better, and he should seriously elevate a defense that was already decent (12th overall in 2014) before he arrived.
Health has been an issue for Cameron, but if the tight end can stay on the field, he'll be a boon to quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Cameron's larger, faster and more athletic than departed tight end Charles Clay. Parker and second-year pro Jarvis Landry are two very good young receivers, while trade acquisition Kenny Still also should help. Getting back tackle Branden Albert -- who missed seven games in 2014 with ACL and MCL tears -- will be huge.
I think there's a great chance either the Dolphins or the Jets join the Patriots as AFC East teams in the playoffs. I like the Jets' overall roster a bit better, but the Dolphins do have Tannehill under center and could snag a wild-card berth if the Jets stumble.
3) Philadelphia Eagles
Key additions: QB Sam Bradford, LB Kiko Alonso, RB DeMarco Murray.
Trading quarterback Nick Foles for Bradford was a bold move, one that can pay off brilliantly, provided the oft-injured former No. 1 overall pick can have a healthy 2015. In terms of ability, I like everything about Bradford; he's athletic, smart and accurate. Even accounting for the risk he'll miss significant time, I would have made this trade if I were in Chip Kelly's shoes, because the potential upside is so high -- and because the quarterbacks behind Bradford (Mark Sanchez, Matt Barkley) can be effective enough in this offense, should they have to play.
Some thought the Kiko Alonso-LeSean McCoy trade was somewhat lopsided in favor of the Bills, but I like Alonso quite a bit. The playmaking linebacker had 159 tackles and four picks as a rookie in 2013 before missing the 2014 season with a torn ACL. He's a tough-minded competitor who makes your defense better, and I think he'll have a significant impact playing for his old Oregon coach. Veteran cornerbacks Byron Maxwell and Walter Thurmond and second-round pick Eric Rowe will boost a pass defense that finished 31st in 2014.
Losing McCoy and receiver Jeremy Maclin could hurt, but I really like rookie receiver Nelson Agholor; the first-round pick has a chance to be special, like Odell Beckham was with the Giants last year. Murray might not approach his league-leading yardage total from last season, but Philly's system suits him. Between Murray, free agent Ryan Mathews and incumbent Darren Sproles, the Eagles are set at running back.Trading quarterback Nick Foles for Bradford was a bold move, one that can pay off brilliantly, provided the oft-injured former No. 1 overall pick can have a healthy 2015. In terms of ability, I like everything about Bradford; he's athletic, smart and accurate. Even accounting for the risk he'll miss significant time, I would have made this trade if I were in Chip Kelly's shoes, because the potential upside is so high -- and because the quarterbacks behind Bradford (Mark Sanchez, Matt Barkley) can be effective enough in this offense, should they have to play.
Some thought the Kiko Alonso-LeSean McCoy trade was somewhat lopsided in favor of the Bills, but I like Alonso quite a bit. The playmaking linebacker had 159 tackles and four picks as a rookie in 2013 before missing the 2014 season with a torn ACL. He's a tough-minded competitor who makes your defense better, and I think he'll have a significant impact playing for his old Oregon coach. Veteran cornerbacks Byron Maxwell and Walter Thurmond and second-round pick Eric Rowe will boost a pass defense that finished 31st in 2014.
Kelly's a pretty smart guy. In Year 3 of his tenure, opposing teams are bound to have adjusted to his scheme somewhat, which no doubt motivated Kelly to adjust his roster to better match his approach.
4) Houston Texans
Key additions: QB Brian Hoyer, WR Jaelen Strong, DT Vince Wilfork.
Bill O'Brien's squad -- which won nine games with three starting quarterbacks in 2014 -- has talent. Signing Hoyer, who I expect to beat out Ryan Mallett for the top job, will go a long way toward stabilizing the position and should help Houston reach double digits in wins this season. O'Brien coached Hoyer in New England and knows how to get the most out of him, especially with a promising rookie (Strong) joining rising youngster DeAndre Hopkins on the receiving corps. Re-signing Derek Newton, one of the more underrated right tackles in the NFL, was key, as Newton is a good run-blocker and pass protector.
Wilfork might be entering his 12th NFL season, but I think he played pretty good, all things considered, last year; I wouldn't say he's over the hill just yet. Safety Rahim Moore will also help this J.J. Watt-led defense. First-round pick Kevin Johnson (cornerback) and second-round pick Benardrick McKinney (linebacker) are both capable of starting; Johnson, who can cover and play the run, has Pro Bowl potential, while McKinney brings size and competitiveness. I also like sixth-round pick Reshard Cliett (linebacker), who should be a great addition to the special teams unit. Getting 16 effective games out of Jadeveon Clowney, who lost 12 games to injury in 2014 and underwent knee surgery in December, will be key.
O'Brien is a heck of a coach with a history of shepherding quarterbacks to success, and I expect Houston to compete for a playoff spot.
Bill O'Brien's squad -- which won nine games with three starting quarterbacks in 2014 -- has talent. Signing Hoyer, who I expect to beat out Ryan Mallett for the top job, will go a long way toward stabilizing the position and should help Houston reach double digits in wins this season. O'Brien coached Hoyer in New England and knows how to get the most out of him, especially with a promising rookie (Strong) joining rising youngster DeAndre Hopkins on the receiving corps. Re-signing Derek Newton, one of the more underrated right tackles in the NFL, was key, as Newton is a good run-blocker and pass protector.
Wilfork might be entering his 12th NFL season, but I think he played pretty good, all things considered, last year; I wouldn't say he's over the hill just yet. Safety Rahim Moore will also help this J.J. Watt-led defense. First-round pick Kevin Johnson (cornerback) and second-round pick Benardrick McKinney (linebacker) are both capable of starting; Johnson, who can cover and play the run, has Pro Bowl potential, while McKinney brings size and competitiveness. I also like sixth-round pick Reshard Cliett (linebacker), who should be a great addition to the special teams unit. Getting 16 effective games out of Jadeveon Clowney, who lost 12 games to injury in 2014 and underwent knee surgery in December, will be key.
O'Brien is a heck of a coach with a history of shepherding quarterbacks to success, and I expect Houston to compete for a playoff spot.
5) Indianapolis Colts
Key additions: RB Frank Gore, WR Andre Johnson, DE Trent Cole.
I can't say enough good things about Andrew Luck, but the Colts really needed to address the running game. Gore is a tough, hard-nosed guy who will block, runs well and can catch the ball when needed. I'm not sure he'll reach the 1,000-yard mark, but I'm not sure he'll need to; 750 or so should be enough, considering the Colts reached the AFC title game without a single back topping 520 last season. Johnson isn't the big-play threat he once was, but the veteran wideout can still make the clutch reception when you need a first down. He'll also help keep defenses from keying on T.Y. Hilton. Plus, he'll likely be on something of a crusade after the less-than-rosy way his 12-year tenure in Houston ended.
The Colts boosted their pass rush by signing Cole (85.5 career sacks) and shored up the defensive line with Kendall Langford. And while they didn't use their first-round pick on defense, they did help the unit in the draft; I like third-rounder D'Joun Smith, a cover corner who can play in the slot, and fellow third-rounder Henry Anderson, a big defensive lineman with pass-rushing skills. Presuming the Colts had receiver Phillip Dorsett rated well above the defensive players available at the time, I can't fault them for prioritizing talent over need with the 29th overall pick.
I can't say enough good things about Andrew Luck, but the Colts really needed to address the running game. Gore is a tough, hard-nosed guy who will block, runs well and can catch the ball when needed. I'm not sure he'll reach the 1,000-yard mark, but I'm not sure he'll need to; 750 or so should be enough, considering the Colts reached the AFC title game without a single back topping 520 last season. Johnson isn't the big-play threat he once was, but the veteran wideout can still make the clutch reception when you need a first down. He'll also help keep defenses from keying on T.Y. Hilton. Plus, he'll likely be on something of a crusade after the less-than-rosy way his 12-year tenure in Houston ended.
The Colts boosted their pass rush by signing Cole (85.5 career sacks) and shored up the defensive line with Kendall Langford. And while they didn't use their first-round pick on defense, they did help the unit in the draft; I like third-rounder D'Joun Smith, a cover corner who can play in the slot, and fellow third-rounder Henry Anderson, a big defensive lineman with pass-rushing skills. Presuming the Colts had receiver Phillip Dorsett rated well above the defensive players available at the time, I can't fault them for prioritizing talent over need with the 29th overall pick.
6) St. Louis Rams
Key additions: RB Todd Gurley, QB Nick Foles, OTs Rob Havenstein and Jamon Brown.
Jeff Fisher wants to run. He hasn't had a 1,000-yard back in St. Louis since Steven Jackson put up 1,045 in 2012, and none of his Rams squads have finished better than 19th in rushing, but I think he's finally found a back to build around in Gurley. The Rams also drafted three offensive linemen (Havenstein, Brown and Andrew Donnal), two of whom (Havenstein and Brown) have a chance to start. Between the fresh blood and what I expect will be the continued improvement of last year's second overall pick, tackle Greg Robinson, St. Louis' ground game should be in good shape.
I liked the decision to ship Bradford to Philly in exchange for Foles. (Yes, I thought the trade was win-win for both sides.) Foles might not have the star power or upside of Bradford. But while Foles has had his share of injury issues, I think he's more reliable, at this point, than Bradford, who hasn't played in a regular-season game since Oct. 20, 2013. The Rams can count on the big-armed Foles to be there and give them significantly more than they got from backups Shaun Hill and Austin Davis last season.
I loved the signings of defenders Nick Fairley (tackle) and Akeem Ayers (linebacker). Fairley has plenty to prove and will benefit from being part of a rotation in St. Louis. Ayers can rush the passer or drop into coverage, and he brings a solid veteran presence, despite his relative youth (25). The Rams have a good roster and a chance to make some noise, as long as the off-field subplot of a potential move to Los Angeles doesn't distract the players too much.
Jeff Fisher wants to run. He hasn't had a 1,000-yard back in St. Louis since Steven Jackson put up 1,045 in 2012, and none of his Rams squads have finished better than 19th in rushing, but I think he's finally found a back to build around in Gurley. The Rams also drafted three offensive linemen (Havenstein, Brown and Andrew Donnal), two of whom (Havenstein and Brown) have a chance to start. Between the fresh blood and what I expect will be the continued improvement of last year's second overall pick, tackle Greg Robinson, St. Louis' ground game should be in good shape.
I liked the decision to ship Bradford to Philly in exchange for Foles. (Yes, I thought the trade was win-win for both sides.) Foles might not have the star power or upside of Bradford. But while Foles has had his share of injury issues, I think he's more reliable, at this point, than Bradford, who hasn't played in a regular-season game since Oct. 20, 2013. The Rams can count on the big-armed Foles to be there and give them significantly more than they got from backups Shaun Hill and Austin Davis last season.
I loved the signings of defenders Nick Fairley (tackle) and Akeem Ayers (linebacker). Fairley has plenty to prove and will benefit from being part of a rotation in St. Louis. Ayers can rush the passer or drop into coverage, and he brings a solid veteran presence, despite his relative youth (25). The Rams have a good roster and a chance to make some noise, as long as the off-field subplot of a potential move to Los Angeles doesn't distract the players too much.
OTHER TEAMS I CONSIDERED:
» Buffalo Bills: New running back LeSean McCoy was a big get.
» Dallas Cowboys: Defense should be helped by first-round pick Byron Jones.
» Green Bay Packers: Keeping Randall Cobb and Bryan Bulaga was crucial.
» Jacksonville Jaguars: Second-round pick T.J. Yeldon is a heck of a player.
» Seattle Seahawks: Any offseason in which you land a dynamic weapon like Jimmy Graham is a good offseason.
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TEXANS AND REDSKINS TO HAVE JOINT PRACTICES
The Houston Texans have found a practice partner in the Washington Redskins for training camp.
With the New Orleans Saints canceling nearly after a month agreeing to joint practices with the Houston Texans, the Texans have found a new practice partner, according to ESPN’s Tania Ganguli.
“We’re working on another team. We’re working on another team and we’ll see how that goes.” said Bill O’Brien on possibly finding another team to practice against.
Ganguli has reported that the new team is the Washington Redskins and we are adding that the Texans will be traveling to Richmond, Virginia for the practices. The practices were agreed upon late last week. Additionally, this practice is not tied to any of the preseason games. It will be a three day practice for the two teams starting on August 6, 7 and 8th prior to the start of the preseason schedule that beings on August 15th in their preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers.
O’Brien has been clear that practicing with other teams have helped the Texans better prepare for the season. The Redskins offer the Texans an early opportunity to turn their focus to competitive preparation prior to the preseason schedule
With the New Orleans Saints canceling nearly after a month agreeing to joint practices with the Houston Texans, the Texans have found a new practice partner, according to ESPN’s Tania Ganguli.
With Saints pulling out, #Texans did not have a training camp practice partner.
Redskins will fill that void. Not tied to a preseason game.
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) June 6, 2015
Redskins will fill that void. Not tied to a preseason game.
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) June 6, 2015
Ganguli has reported that the new team is the Washington Redskins and we are adding that the Texans will be traveling to Richmond, Virginia for the practices. The practices were agreed upon late last week. Additionally, this practice is not tied to any of the preseason games. It will be a three day practice for the two teams starting on August 6, 7 and 8th prior to the start of the preseason schedule that beings on August 15th in their preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers.
O’Brien has been clear that practicing with other teams have helped the Texans better prepare for the season. The Redskins offer the Texans an early opportunity to turn their focus to competitive preparation prior to the preseason schedule
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When the Washington Redskins were looking for an NFL team to scrimmage with during training camp last season, the New England Patriots were the obvious choice. Scheduled to face the Redskins in the preseason opener at FedEx Field, the Patriots didn’t have to make a special trip to Richmond for the three-day joint practice in early August; they simply extended a trip they were making anyway.
As valuable as those workouts were, the Redskins nearly missed out on the chance to schedule a similar joint practice this year, Coach Jay Gruden revealed Tuesday.
For one, Washington opens its 2015 preseason on the road, so it can’t host a joint practice that week.
More significantly, the Redskins are precluded from visiting another team for a joint practice because they’re contractually obligated to hold training camp in Richmond, which built a $10.5 million facility and promised to pay the squad $500,000 a year if it would relocate its camp to Virginia’s capital.
So it was the Redskins’ good fortune that the Houston Texans were jilted by their 2015 practice partner, the New Orleans Saints, after news broke that the Texans would be featured on “Hard Knocks,” the HBO series that offers an unvarnished look at how NFL teams prepare. At that point, Gruden said, Redskins President Bruce Allen approached the Texans about a joint practice in Richmond.
“Bruce first talked to their GM once he found out that New Orleans backed out of the practice session because we needed somebody to practice against,” Gruden told reporters after the team’s two-hour practice at Redskins Park. “It’s hard to get somebody to fly into Richmond, and we can’t really go anywhere else because of our commitment to Richmond. Luckily the Texans decided to come here.”
Joint practices have become a staple of training camp for many NFL teams in recent years.
“It’s game situations,” Gruden said, enumerating the benefits. “It’s unscripted plays. It’s red zone. It’s moving the ball. Third down — all the situations you get against an opponent. It’s competitive every day. You get to see our young guys against their young guys; our vets against their vets. I welcome it.”
The Redskins are among the NFL teams that have turned training camp into a revenue stream. But in some cases, business deals designed to generate revenue can complicate the business of building a winning team...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sport...66de7c-0ecd-11e5-9726-49d6fa26a8c6_story.htmlAs valuable as those workouts were, the Redskins nearly missed out on the chance to schedule a similar joint practice this year, Coach Jay Gruden revealed Tuesday.
For one, Washington opens its 2015 preseason on the road, so it can’t host a joint practice that week.
More significantly, the Redskins are precluded from visiting another team for a joint practice because they’re contractually obligated to hold training camp in Richmond, which built a $10.5 million facility and promised to pay the squad $500,000 a year if it would relocate its camp to Virginia’s capital.
So it was the Redskins’ good fortune that the Houston Texans were jilted by their 2015 practice partner, the New Orleans Saints, after news broke that the Texans would be featured on “Hard Knocks,” the HBO series that offers an unvarnished look at how NFL teams prepare. At that point, Gruden said, Redskins President Bruce Allen approached the Texans about a joint practice in Richmond.
“Bruce first talked to their GM once he found out that New Orleans backed out of the practice session because we needed somebody to practice against,” Gruden told reporters after the team’s two-hour practice at Redskins Park. “It’s hard to get somebody to fly into Richmond, and we can’t really go anywhere else because of our commitment to Richmond. Luckily the Texans decided to come here.”
Joint practices have become a staple of training camp for many NFL teams in recent years.
“It’s game situations,” Gruden said, enumerating the benefits. “It’s unscripted plays. It’s red zone. It’s moving the ball. Third down — all the situations you get against an opponent. It’s competitive every day. You get to see our young guys against their young guys; our vets against their vets. I welcome it.”
The Redskins are among the NFL teams that have turned training camp into a revenue stream. But in some cases, business deals designed to generate revenue can complicate the business of building a winning team...
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Offseason program observations, and an early Texans QB prediction
John McClain
John McClain
School's out for the Texans, and they don't return to the field until Aug. 1, when training camp begins.
After observing an offseason program that lasted almost three months, including 10 OTAs and two days of minicamp, there's a lot to like about a team that finished 9-7 in Bill O'Brien's first season as coach.
For instance, two of the most positive developments in the offseason program involved linebackers Brian Cushing and Jadeveon Clowney.
Cushing had a tremendous offseason physically. Cushing is running well and showing the range he had before suffering two season-ending knee injuries.
Clowney has progressed so well from microfracture surgery on his knee that the goal is to have him on the practice field when camp begins.
The Texans still have concerns on both sides of the ball and special teams, questions that must be answered in camp and preseason before they kick off the regular season Sept. 13 against Kansas City at NRG Stadium.
You can be sure that general manager Rick Smith will sign or claim more veterans right up until the Chiefs opener.
To find out what we learned during the offseason program, let's start with the offense.
O'Brien and his assistants, including offensive coordinator George Godsey and offensive assistant Pat O'Hara, really do believe the quarterback situation is in better hands than most outside their facility.
Brian Hoyer moved seamlessly into a system he knew well from working with O'Brien for three years in New England. Watching him on the practice field, you could see almost daily improvement from Hoyer - confidence making calls at the line of scrimmage, mobility, accuracy, leadership.
Ryan Mallett made significant strides in his first offseason with O'Brien and Godsey since they were in New England. He looks the part - great size and a strong arm. With only two starts in his career, including one relatively healthy, he's got a terrific upside.
Tom Savage returned with a better grasp of the offense, and it showed when he got opportunities. He improved on and off the field. Barring injuries, though, his second season will be another learning experience.
O'Brien won't make a decision on his starter until after he's seen them against opponents like Washington in camp and perhaps the preseason opener against San Francisco, so the job is still open.
If you ask me to make an early prediction about the starter for the Chiefs game, I'm going with Hoyer. He seems to be well-suited for managing games the way the coaches demand.
One of the bright spots of the offseason program was the performance of running back Arian Foster. He's healthy, understands the system even better and seems excited about being used in so many different ways. Barring injury, expect him to have another outstanding season.
Injuries at receiver, including veteran DeAndre Hopkins and rookie Jaelen Strong, hampered their progress, but both will be ready for camp.
A nice surprise has been the development of rookie receiver Keith Mumphery, a fifth-round pick from Michigan State. He's 6-0, 215 pounds and faster than he showed before the draft when he ran the 40-yard dash in the 4.5s.
Mumphery has good hands, runs nice routes and has the toughness coaches like for special teams. Keep an eye on him.
Other than quarterback, the biggest issue on offense is depth in the line.
The players and coaches are impressed with new line coach Mike Devlin, a teacher demanding toughness and perfection when it comes to technique and communication.
The Texans are solid when it comes to their starters, but they lack veteran depth. That's why they reached out to center Chris Myers, who was released in March. Expect them to add some experience among their reserves.
Romeo Crennel's defense has undergone significant change. Signing nose tackle Vince Wilfork and free safety Rahim Moore improved two key positions.
Drafting cornerback Kevin Johnson and inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney in the first two rounds gives the defense an infusion of youth and talent.
When Clowney returns, he and Whitney Mercilus will be on the field at the same time. That means Mercilus probably will move to the left side and stay there.
The Texans need depth in the defensive line, a starter to emerge next to Cushing and a strong safety to step up and produce the way the coaches demand.
One positive has been second-year nose tackle Louis Nix III, who spent his rookie year on injured reserve. He participated in every practice and did well enough to put O'Brien's doghouse in his rearview mirror.
Camp also will be important for second-year end Jeoffrey Pagan and rookie end Christian Covington, both of whom impressed at times but have to take the next step.
Two second-year defenders - inside linebacker Max Bullough and cornerback/safety Andre Hal - stood out because of their consistency. They've figured out the system and should push for playing time.
Two undrafted rookies and a second-year free agent to watch are strong safety Corey Moore (6-2, 206), outside linebacker Lynden Trail (6-7, 269) and cornerback Charles James (5-9, 178). Moore and Trail are raw but talented and have to continue in camp what they started in the offseason program.
James lacks size but covered well and knocked down a lot of passes. He's in a logjam of talent corners trying to make the team.
As far as special teams, kicking (Randy Bullock), punting (Shane Lechler) and snapping (Jon Weeks) are in good hands, but the return game is still unsettled.
Volunteers? The line begins to the left when training camp begins.
After observing an offseason program that lasted almost three months, including 10 OTAs and two days of minicamp, there's a lot to like about a team that finished 9-7 in Bill O'Brien's first season as coach.
For instance, two of the most positive developments in the offseason program involved linebackers Brian Cushing and Jadeveon Clowney.
Cushing had a tremendous offseason physically. Cushing is running well and showing the range he had before suffering two season-ending knee injuries.
Clowney has progressed so well from microfracture surgery on his knee that the goal is to have him on the practice field when camp begins.
The Texans still have concerns on both sides of the ball and special teams, questions that must be answered in camp and preseason before they kick off the regular season Sept. 13 against Kansas City at NRG Stadium.
You can be sure that general manager Rick Smith will sign or claim more veterans right up until the Chiefs opener.
To find out what we learned during the offseason program, let's start with the offense.
O'Brien and his assistants, including offensive coordinator George Godsey and offensive assistant Pat O'Hara, really do believe the quarterback situation is in better hands than most outside their facility.
Brian Hoyer moved seamlessly into a system he knew well from working with O'Brien for three years in New England. Watching him on the practice field, you could see almost daily improvement from Hoyer - confidence making calls at the line of scrimmage, mobility, accuracy, leadership.
Ryan Mallett made significant strides in his first offseason with O'Brien and Godsey since they were in New England. He looks the part - great size and a strong arm. With only two starts in his career, including one relatively healthy, he's got a terrific upside.
Tom Savage returned with a better grasp of the offense, and it showed when he got opportunities. He improved on and off the field. Barring injuries, though, his second season will be another learning experience.
O'Brien won't make a decision on his starter until after he's seen them against opponents like Washington in camp and perhaps the preseason opener against San Francisco, so the job is still open.
If you ask me to make an early prediction about the starter for the Chiefs game, I'm going with Hoyer. He seems to be well-suited for managing games the way the coaches demand.
One of the bright spots of the offseason program was the performance of running back Arian Foster. He's healthy, understands the system even better and seems excited about being used in so many different ways. Barring injury, expect him to have another outstanding season.
Injuries at receiver, including veteran DeAndre Hopkins and rookie Jaelen Strong, hampered their progress, but both will be ready for camp.
A nice surprise has been the development of rookie receiver Keith Mumphery, a fifth-round pick from Michigan State. He's 6-0, 215 pounds and faster than he showed before the draft when he ran the 40-yard dash in the 4.5s.
Mumphery has good hands, runs nice routes and has the toughness coaches like for special teams. Keep an eye on him.
Other than quarterback, the biggest issue on offense is depth in the line.
The players and coaches are impressed with new line coach Mike Devlin, a teacher demanding toughness and perfection when it comes to technique and communication.
The Texans are solid when it comes to their starters, but they lack veteran depth. That's why they reached out to center Chris Myers, who was released in March. Expect them to add some experience among their reserves.
Romeo Crennel's defense has undergone significant change. Signing nose tackle Vince Wilfork and free safety Rahim Moore improved two key positions.
Drafting cornerback Kevin Johnson and inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney in the first two rounds gives the defense an infusion of youth and talent.
When Clowney returns, he and Whitney Mercilus will be on the field at the same time. That means Mercilus probably will move to the left side and stay there.
The Texans need depth in the defensive line, a starter to emerge next to Cushing and a strong safety to step up and produce the way the coaches demand.
One positive has been second-year nose tackle Louis Nix III, who spent his rookie year on injured reserve. He participated in every practice and did well enough to put O'Brien's doghouse in his rearview mirror.
Camp also will be important for second-year end Jeoffrey Pagan and rookie end Christian Covington, both of whom impressed at times but have to take the next step.
Two second-year defenders - inside linebacker Max Bullough and cornerback/safety Andre Hal - stood out because of their consistency. They've figured out the system and should push for playing time.
Two undrafted rookies and a second-year free agent to watch are strong safety Corey Moore (6-2, 206), outside linebacker Lynden Trail (6-7, 269) and cornerback Charles James (5-9, 178). Moore and Trail are raw but talented and have to continue in camp what they started in the offseason program.
James lacks size but covered well and knocked down a lot of passes. He's in a logjam of talent corners trying to make the team.
As far as special teams, kicking (Randy Bullock), punting (Shane Lechler) and snapping (Jon Weeks) are in good hands, but the return game is still unsettled.
Volunteers? The line begins to the left when training camp begins.
Who dressed J-Jo?Red Carpet Texans at 2015 CMT Awards. Ben Jones, Johnathan Joseph, Brian Cushing, J.J. Watt, Kareem Jackson and Shane Lechler
C'mon dawg...? Did they not tell you it was the country music awards?
Playoffs
Hall of Fame
SOTT TEXANS MAILBAG: SUMMERTIME IN HOUSTON
The one that stands out is inside linebacker Max Bullough. He made it to the 53-man roster last season but his season was cut short with a hamstring injury. Now Bullough, like many of the Texans, are in the second year of the system. Fellow linebacker Brian Cushing called him the smartest linebacker in the room, which is a big compliment. He looks more athletic than he did last season and looked much better in coverage than he did last season.
The consensus thought is that Chris Myers is weighing his options. Truthfully, veterans would prefer to avoid OTAs and mini-camps. While no one is saying that Myers is that type of player, that is something to consider. There is validity to the Texans checking on Myers and if he would come back, but if he did, it appears it would be in a backup role, which is fine because the Texans need to figure out if Ben Jones is their guy for the center position moving forward.
I think the arrow is pointing up for one simple reason. The quarterbacks understand the offense and where the ball is supposed to go. The tight end position caught 32 passes all season last year lead by Garrett Graham with 18. If there is one thing to remember, Graham’s best game of the season came against the Cleveland Browns in Ryan Mallett’s first start, where he scored a touchdown. Is there work to be done? Yes, and if the group does not produce this year then expect some evaluation on the personnel heading into the 2016 season.
I believe the slot position will have multiple players in the position, but if you’re looking for the primary player who lines up there, we think it will be Cecil Shorts III. Shorts looked solid in mini-camp and kicked it into another gear which he had not shown during OTAs. Big thing for Shorts is to stay healthy; he has missed eight games over the past three seasons due to injury. We also covered the slot position in our podcast.
Another player who could see some time there is Keith Mumphery. It is unlikely to be immediate but he could see some work when they want to go four wide receiver sets or for a change of personnel.
It is early and if we base it off last season, we are looking at a five receiver depth chart. Here is the early look, in no particular order: DeAndre Hopkins, Keith Mumphery, Cecil Shorts III, Nate Washington, and Jaelen Strong. I would add Keshawn Martin to that list if something happens to one of the previous five listed. I think the position is pretty settled despite the talk of competition heading into the season.
The thing that jumps out about C.J. Fiedorowicz is how much stronger he looks catching the football. It looks more natural this year, evidence by an impressive catch during mini-camp over two defenders at the back corner of the end zone. It will be hard to see how much he progressed until pads go on during training camp, but Fiedorowicz even acknowledged his rookie season was a wake up call and things have slowed down for him this season during the off-season work.
As for the A.J. Bouye type of player for the Texans who worked his tail off to get on the field? The early accolades have to go to Andre Hal and Keith Mumphery. Hal has made a solid transition to safety and looks comfortable at the position. Training camp will see if Hal really has what it takes to land on the depth chart at the position. The wide receiver Mumphery has probably been the one rookie who has made a play each practice session that opened eyes. It is early but those two have been bright spots for the Texans.
The Texans worked all the outlets they could to move D.J. Swearinger and there was a belief they had a deal worked out with the Cleveland Browns, but that deal fell through late. Once NFL teams find out that you are trying to trade a player, if that player is not a true difference maker, the proposed trade partner will ultimately wait until said player is released. That is what happened with Swearinger and, despite his ability to create turnovers, the team was parting ways because off the off the field issues (club incident, stealing his own Batman truck ,and his dog biting a teammate) had outweighed what he did on the field. The organization is built differently now under Bill O’Brien and buying into what the Texans are now selling is what O’Brien wants.
It appears the Texans are going to roll with Vince Wilfork and Louis Nix, possibly for the season. The recent signing of Brandon Deaderick will help out with depth, but the Texans have what they want. Their signing of veteran Wilfork acts to bridge the gap for Nix when he is ready for more playing time. The Texans have a strong group of nose tackles.
@SOTTexans @PatDStat who looks to be the most productive/impactful that went undrafted from this and last years class?
— Smooth Shiny Balls™ (@MyBallsRPatentd) June 19, 2015
— Smooth Shiny Balls™ (@MyBallsRPatentd) June 19, 2015
The one that stands out is inside linebacker Max Bullough. He made it to the 53-man roster last season but his season was cut short with a hamstring injury. Now Bullough, like many of the Texans, are in the second year of the system. Fellow linebacker Brian Cushing called him the smartest linebacker in the room, which is a big compliment. He looks more athletic than he did last season and looked much better in coverage than he did last season.
@SOTTexans what's the deal with Myers? Is he probably coming back or was that just a rumor? if he did how does that change the o-line chart
— William Sage (@dubya_sage) June 18, 2015
— William Sage (@dubya_sage) June 18, 2015
The consensus thought is that Chris Myers is weighing his options. Truthfully, veterans would prefer to avoid OTAs and mini-camps. While no one is saying that Myers is that type of player, that is something to consider. There is validity to the Texans checking on Myers and if he would come back, but if he did, it appears it would be in a backup role, which is fine because the Texans need to figure out if Ben Jones is their guy for the center position moving forward.
@SOTTexans I'm worried about the TE position. What are chances we'll get even above average play there?
— Jeff Sechelski (@JeffSechelski) June 18, 2015
— Jeff Sechelski (@JeffSechelski) June 18, 2015
I think the arrow is pointing up for one simple reason. The quarterbacks understand the offense and where the ball is supposed to go. The tight end position caught 32 passes all season last year lead by Garrett Graham with 18. If there is one thing to remember, Graham’s best game of the season came against the Cleveland Browns in Ryan Mallett’s first start, where he scored a touchdown. Is there work to be done? Yes, and if the group does not produce this year then expect some evaluation on the personnel heading into the 2016 season.
@SOTTexans @PatDStat who do you predict is our slot guy this year?
— daniel shorter (@bballshoto23) June 18, 2015
— daniel shorter (@bballshoto23) June 18, 2015
I believe the slot position will have multiple players in the position, but if you’re looking for the primary player who lines up there, we think it will be Cecil Shorts III. Shorts looked solid in mini-camp and kicked it into another gear which he had not shown during OTAs. Big thing for Shorts is to stay healthy; he has missed eight games over the past three seasons due to injury. We also covered the slot position in our podcast.
Another player who could see some time there is Keith Mumphery. It is unlikely to be immediate but he could see some work when they want to go four wide receiver sets or for a change of personnel.
@SOTTexans @PatDStat - Pat, WR seems to be wide open and competitive. It is early, but how do you see it shaking out. Who will stick?
— Michael Brooke (@mbrooke_brooke) June 19, 2015
— Michael Brooke (@mbrooke_brooke) June 19, 2015
It is early and if we base it off last season, we are looking at a five receiver depth chart. Here is the early look, in no particular order: DeAndre Hopkins, Keith Mumphery, Cecil Shorts III, Nate Washington, and Jaelen Strong. I would add Keshawn Martin to that list if something happens to one of the previous five listed. I think the position is pretty settled despite the talk of competition heading into the season.
@SOTTexans 1. CJ Fiedorawicz looked overmatched at times last year. How's he progressed? Is he still a liability on running downs?
— It më (@qtab) June 19, 2015
@SOTTexans last year SOTT had very high praise very early for Bouye and he turned into a contributor for the D. Who's this year's Bouye?
— It më (@qtab) June 19, 2015
— It më (@qtab) June 19, 2015
@SOTTexans last year SOTT had very high praise very early for Bouye and he turned into a contributor for the D. Who's this year's Bouye?
— It më (@qtab) June 19, 2015
The thing that jumps out about C.J. Fiedorowicz is how much stronger he looks catching the football. It looks more natural this year, evidence by an impressive catch during mini-camp over two defenders at the back corner of the end zone. It will be hard to see how much he progressed until pads go on during training camp, but Fiedorowicz even acknowledged his rookie season was a wake up call and things have slowed down for him this season during the off-season work.
As for the A.J. Bouye type of player for the Texans who worked his tail off to get on the field? The early accolades have to go to Andre Hal and Keith Mumphery. Hal has made a solid transition to safety and looks comfortable at the position. Training camp will see if Hal really has what it takes to land on the depth chart at the position. The wide receiver Mumphery has probably been the one rookie who has made a play each practice session that opened eyes. It is early but those two have been bright spots for the Texans.
@SOTTexans Why didn't #Texans get a draft pick for Swag Two Spoons instead of straight release? He created turnovers.
— TimmyCanDo (@timc4567) June 19, 2015
— TimmyCanDo (@timc4567) June 19, 2015
The Texans worked all the outlets they could to move D.J. Swearinger and there was a belief they had a deal worked out with the Cleveland Browns, but that deal fell through late. Once NFL teams find out that you are trying to trade a player, if that player is not a true difference maker, the proposed trade partner will ultimately wait until said player is released. That is what happened with Swearinger and, despite his ability to create turnovers, the team was parting ways because off the off the field issues (club incident, stealing his own Batman truck ,and his dog biting a teammate) had outweighed what he did on the field. The organization is built differently now under Bill O’Brien and buying into what the Texans are now selling is what O’Brien wants.
@SOTTexans [Bringing in more NT help?] pic.twitter.com/Bd94abXUGS
— Bill AstrO'Zimmerman (@The_Reliant) June 18, 2015
— Bill AstrO'Zimmerman (@The_Reliant) June 18, 2015
It appears the Texans are going to roll with Vince Wilfork and Louis Nix, possibly for the season. The recent signing of Brandon Deaderick will help out with depth, but the Texans have what they want. Their signing of veteran Wilfork acts to bridge the gap for Nix when he is ready for more playing time. The Texans have a strong group of nose tackles.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
I don't believe for a second (obviously can be proven wrong) Myers will sign to sit on the bench. If he comes back, he starts.
You can be proven wrong ? That's a surprising admission on your part there Infantrycak ? But anyway if a backup role with the Texans is the only offer he gets he'd probably take that to sitting out the season. And I think he has a big family, wife and several kids who are here in Houston, so that gives an edge to the Texans I'd say for his services unless he gets an opportunity from a SB contender like the Seahawks who have been rumored to be interested.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Myers has made over $31 mil in his career. He doesn't "need" backup money.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
He reportedly has an offer from Denver. That's a lot safer bet than us if he just wants to be on a playoff team.
badboy
Hall of Fame
Did not know that..yep Denver would probably be his choice
Playoffs
Hall of Fame
Offensive uncertainty gives Texans average offseason grade
With offseason workouts and minicamps in the rearview mirror and training camps just a few weeks away, we assess the Houston Texans' offseason moves and assign a letter grade in the video above.
Best move: Signing nose tackle Vince Wilfork. This 11-year veteran is in the twilight of his career, but he'll be a big help to the Texans on the field and in the meeting room. They signed the defensive lineman to a two-year deal worth $9 million, reuniting him with the defensive coordinator with whom he began his NFL career. Romeo Crennel's last year in New England was the year the Patriots drafted Wilfork. Signing him enables somewhat of a transitional period for the Texans. He won't play 11 years with them, naturally, but while they look for the guy who will, they'll have one of the best ever to do it as part of their team.
Riskiest move: Cutting Andre Johnson before having a clear plan to replace his production. The Texans feel confident they can replace Johnson's production with the players they have on their roster, and I'm not saying that won't be the case. But the decision to move on from Johnson came before the free-agent signings of Nate Washington and Cecil Shorts III, and long before the draft. It left a hole in the roster that became a significant and pressing need for the Texans, and there was an air of desperation to Houston's actions in the third round of this year's draft. The Texans absolutely had to select a receiver with that pick, and everyone knew it. It was a risky position, and one completely of their own doing.
Shoring up the cornerback position: The Texans committed a little more than $41.5 million in guaranteed money to the cornerback position this offseason, giving Kareem Jackson $20 million guaranteed on his four-year, free-agent deal, Johnathan Joseph $11.5 million guaranteed on his two-year extension that will take him through the 2017 season, and Kevin Johnson a fully guaranteed rookie contract worth slightly more than $10 million. It's an important position in this passing league, and the focus on defensive backs makes sense. The one question many have posed -- and it's a fair one -- is whether it was wise for the Texans to address that position in the first round of this year's draft while having other, more pressing needs.
Training camp outlook: While the Texans focused a lot of their personnel efforts on the defensive side of the ball, there's still a lot we don't know about their offense and how it will perform. Until it's settled, the main event at Texans training camp will be the quarterback decision. Ryan Mallett and Brian Hoyer have shown the coaches how much they know in meetings, they've displayed their work ethics, they've shown what they can do in no-contact, no-pads practices. Coach Bill O'Brien might wait to make a decision until after he's seen the quarterbacks against an opponent. And if he does, we'll all get a look at it through the lens of HBO's "Hard Knocks."
Best move: Signing nose tackle Vince Wilfork. This 11-year veteran is in the twilight of his career, but he'll be a big help to the Texans on the field and in the meeting room. They signed the defensive lineman to a two-year deal worth $9 million, reuniting him with the defensive coordinator with whom he began his NFL career. Romeo Crennel's last year in New England was the year the Patriots drafted Wilfork. Signing him enables somewhat of a transitional period for the Texans. He won't play 11 years with them, naturally, but while they look for the guy who will, they'll have one of the best ever to do it as part of their team.
Riskiest move: Cutting Andre Johnson before having a clear plan to replace his production. The Texans feel confident they can replace Johnson's production with the players they have on their roster, and I'm not saying that won't be the case. But the decision to move on from Johnson came before the free-agent signings of Nate Washington and Cecil Shorts III, and long before the draft. It left a hole in the roster that became a significant and pressing need for the Texans, and there was an air of desperation to Houston's actions in the third round of this year's draft. The Texans absolutely had to select a receiver with that pick, and everyone knew it. It was a risky position, and one completely of their own doing.
Shoring up the cornerback position: The Texans committed a little more than $41.5 million in guaranteed money to the cornerback position this offseason, giving Kareem Jackson $20 million guaranteed on his four-year, free-agent deal, Johnathan Joseph $11.5 million guaranteed on his two-year extension that will take him through the 2017 season, and Kevin Johnson a fully guaranteed rookie contract worth slightly more than $10 million. It's an important position in this passing league, and the focus on defensive backs makes sense. The one question many have posed -- and it's a fair one -- is whether it was wise for the Texans to address that position in the first round of this year's draft while having other, more pressing needs.
Training camp outlook: While the Texans focused a lot of their personnel efforts on the defensive side of the ball, there's still a lot we don't know about their offense and how it will perform. Until it's settled, the main event at Texans training camp will be the quarterback decision. Ryan Mallett and Brian Hoyer have shown the coaches how much they know in meetings, they've displayed their work ethics, they've shown what they can do in no-contact, no-pads practices. Coach Bill O'Brien might wait to make a decision until after he's seen the quarterbacks against an opponent. And if he does, we'll all get a look at it through the lens of HBO's "Hard Knocks."
Playoffs
Hall of Fame
2015 Texans Training Camp
Rookies report: 7/26
Veterans report: 7/31
Houston Methodist Training Center Houston, TX
Joint practices with Washington: August 6th-8th
Preseason opener vs San Francisco 49ers: August 15th
Rookies report: 7/26
Veterans report: 7/31
Houston Methodist Training Center Houston, TX
Joint practices with Washington: August 6th-8th
Preseason opener vs San Francisco 49ers: August 15th
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