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

2017 Houston Texans Official OTA's, Minicamp, and Training Camp Thread

JB

Innocent Bystander
Contributor's Club
The hell he wasn't. You must not have watched any of his games at Edmonton. his specialty was rolling out hitting guys on the Run. He was probably the best roll-out quarterback in all of football at the time he came to the Oilers.

He wasn't coached to be a pocket passer until he got here. I always thought it was stupid that they took the best part of his game away from him.
And that's why Watson would compare better to him then than in his first year in Houston. Did you lose track of the topic?
 

amazing80

Hall of Fame
And that's why Watson would compare better to him then than in his first year in Houston. Did you lose track of the topic?
Did you not listen to McClain when he spoke about his comment. He literally said the comparison between the two is when Moon and Watson first arrived. Their tangibles and command on the field is incredibly similar. He said nothing about their arm talent. Readers on this site have taken it completely out of context and keep spewing the same stuff over and over.
 

TexansBull

Hall of Fame
Did you not listen to McClain when he spoke about his comment. He literally said the comparison between the two is when Moon and Watson first arrived. Their tangibles and command on the field is incredibly similar. He said nothing about their arm talent. Readers on this site have taken it completely out of context and keep spewing the same stuff over and over.
This is what most people saw. His follow up or explanation hasn't been as widely reported or available which is the norm for tweets.

https://twitter.com/McClain_on_NFL/status/890943238848303104
 

Carr Bombed

Hall of Fame
I will defer judgement to those who actually saw the rookie CFL Moon.

But to those of us that didn't - it understandably looked at first like a reach.
His old games are on youtube, if you want to watch. Beauty of youtube is you didn't have to be alive then to watch him play in the CFL


I doubt even the people who actually saw those games 35+ years ago fully remember how he played... it was 35+ years ago. I can't even remember exactly what I ate last week.
 
Last edited:

76Texan

Hall of Fame
His old games are on youtube, if you want to watch. Beauty of youtube is you didn't have to be alive then to watch him play in the CFL


I doubt even the people who actually saw those games 35+ years ago fully remember how he played... it was 35+ years ago. I can't even remember exactly what I ate last week.
Let alone Pancake.
Wait, maybe he remembers what he eats since it's always pancakes.

:ahhaha:
 

JB

Innocent Bystander
Contributor's Club
Did you not listen to McClain when he spoke about his comment. He literally said the comparison between the two is when Moon and Watson first arrived. Their tangibles and command on the field is incredibly similar. He said nothing about their arm talent. Readers on this site have taken it completely out of context and keep spewing the same stuff over and over.
No I don't listen to McClain. I was going strictly of the comparison of rookie to rookie. In my mind Moon was a polished QB (comparatively speaking) when he got to Houston. while Watson is somewhat raw but talented rookie. Moon had already won 5 grey cubs when he got here
 

JB

Innocent Bystander
Contributor's Club
I think you're confused.
I'm not confused but maybe you are misunderstanding me. Moon was a seasoned successful pro when he got to Houston. There is no comparison of him when he first got to Houston to Watson first becoming a pro.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
State of the Texans took time out to answer reader's questions leading into the second preseason game.
Leading up to the second preseason game, we took time to answer readers questions in our State of the Texans Mailbag.

Denzel Rice has had a strong camp but he is going to have to continue building on that work to overtake players ahead of him in the pecking order. If he continues playing strongly with the football is in the air and making tackles on defense and special teams, he has a shot. Rice is going to have to demonstrate that he is better than Robert Nelson Jr., Dee Virgin, and Bryce Jones

I do not think the Texans will change their offensive game plan because of wide receiver injuries. If anything, they need to show they still have confidence in throwing to their wide receivers on film for other teams to see. The Texans have to do a better job against defenses who defend the entire field and this offense needs their wide receivers to eat up yards for the entire unit to even have a pulse. The names of players who lines up at wide receiver will change but the thinking on the best way to move the ball will not.THE REST OF THE STORY
 

xtruroyaltyx

Hall of Fame


Denzel Rice has had a strong camp but he is going to have to continue building on that work to overtake players ahead of him in the pecking order. If he continues playing strongly with the football is in the air and making tackles on defense and special teams, he has a shot. Rice is going to have to demonstrate that he is better than Robert Nelson Jr., Dee Virgin, and Bryce Jones
LoL....ok
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Studs and duds from Texans 27-23 win over Patriots

By: Jeff Risdon | 5 hours ago


The Houston Texans held off the New England Patriots 27-23 in the second preseason contest for both teams. Several Texans stood out for their strong play, while others are not going to like the film review during this coming week of practice.

Here are the studs and duds from the impressive home win.

Stud: Tom Savage
The Texans starting quarterback was darn near perfect on the stat sheet, completing 8 of his 9 attempts while facing largely the Patriots first-team defense. But the manner in which he accomplished those completions is even more impressive.

Savage had the look of a leader. This showed later in the game when cameras spotted him counseling Deshaun Watson on the sidelines, offering encouragement but also advice as they looked at still photos of the defense after a poor drive from the rookie.

Dud: Lamar Miller
The rushing offense just isn’t producing, and while the blocking hasn’t been great, Miller has to be tougher to tackle. The starting running back netted just 18 yards on seven carries. Miller needs to be more decisive and aggressive in attacking whatever holes he might find. He showed no issue with that during his first season in Houston, so hopefully this can be chalked up to preseason rust.

Stud: Bruce Ellington
His first action in a Texans uniform showed great promise for the freshly claimed wideout. Ellington demonstrated both speed and elusiveness, both with the ball in his hands as well as at running routes to get open. No. 12 caught four of the five passes thrown his way, leading the team with 93 receiving yards. Someone needed to step up with DeAndre Hopkins in street clothes, and it was the newest Texan who rose up.

Dud: Zach Cunningham THE REST OF THE STORY
 

TheRealJoker

Hall of Fame
https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-refocused-houston-texans-27-new-england-patriots-23

Edge Ufomba Kamalu, 89.8 overall grade
The game-ball selection for the game went to Kamalu after scoring a sack, three additional QB pressures, and a mighty healthy 12.5 pass-rushing productivity over 26 pass-rushing snaps. Kamalu would also collect three tackles (zero missed) in run defense that enabled him to cruise to the second-highest run-stop percentage (20.0) of preseason Week 3 at his position.

And for some perspective on Cunningham's poor game... Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler also had a bad showing:

CB Malcolm Butler, 41.6 overall grade
Butler allowed receptions on all four of the balls that were targeted into his coverage for a total of 59 yards and a touchdown. Jaelen Strong had him off-balance on an in-breaking route for his touchdown; Texans QBs had a perfect 158.3 passer rating when targeting Butler’s coverage.
 

otisbean

Veteran
Contributor's Club
https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-refocused-houston-texans-27-new-england-patriots-23

Edge Ufomba Kamalu, 89.8 overall grade
The game-ball selection for the game went to Kamalu after scoring a sack, three additional QB pressures, and a mighty healthy 12.5 pass-rushing productivity over 26 pass-rushing snaps. Kamalu would also collect three tackles (zero missed) in run defense that enabled him to cruise to the second-highest run-stop percentage (20.0) of preseason Week 3 at his position.

And for some perspective on Cunningham's poor game... Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler also had a bad showing:

CB Malcolm Butler, 41.6 overall grade
Butler allowed receptions on all four of the balls that were targeted into his coverage for a total of 59 yards and a touchdown. Jaelen Strong had him off-balance on an in-breaking route for his touchdown; Texans QBs had a perfect 158.3 passer rating when targeting Butler’s coverage.

How does Savage go 8-9 and a TD with no turnovers and end up with a 72?
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame

One J.J. Watt Prediction: ‘Better Than He Was’ Before Injury




WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.V. — On Wednesday, in a joint practice session against the Patriots, J.J. Watt lined up at left defensive end, across from Patriots tackle Marcus Cannon, a rising 335-pound building block for the New England line. Tom Brady took the snap. Now, in most of these joint practices, there’s no blitzing, no motion, and little stunting—it’s just man-on-man. And with the Patriots and Texans set to play in Week 3, you won’t see either team trying out many tricks. For the defense, it’s basically bull-rush football.

Watt low-leveraged into Cannon and pushed him back a couple of straining steps with brute force. Cannon prevented Brady from taking a hit, but on this play and many others over two days, the Texans, and Watt, saw everything they needed to see against prime competition. Watt’s surgically repaired back held up, and he is playing with no residual pain after disc surgery that KO’d his 2016 season. The man who won the NFL defensive player of the year award at 23, 25 and 26 before sitting his age-27 season believes he can pick up where he left off at 28. As does his coach.

“I can tell you right now the guy’s going to be at the top of his game,” Bill O’Brien told me. “He’s had a great training camp. I think he’ll be better than he was.”

Whoa.

When I told Watt what O’Brien said, he seemed genuinely happy—not just in a cliché sense. “I appreciate that, I appreciate it very much,” Watt said. “Obviously coming from him, it means a ton because he has seen every practice. He’s been out here, he’s been watching the film, he’s seen the practices, he knows what’s been going on. I haven’t talked too much about it. Everybody always asks, ‘Hey, how are you going to be? What is this season going to be like for you?’ And I don’t talk too much about it because the thing I have been focused most on this year is letting my play do the talking in practice. It’s been fun, I’ll say that. I feel very good.”

Remember that Watt won his third defensive award in 2015 when he was entirely healthy for maybe two weeks. It was September 2015 that a series of injuries—to his core, his groin and his back—began to accumulate through the season, and he and trainers had to scotch-tape the way through the season. It was still a 17.5-sack year, though it was often agonizing. He paid for that year with back surgery last fall, and the lost 2016.

“I feel like I am playing football the way I am supposed to play football, and I feel like I am the player I am supposed to be,” he said. “In the offseason, I transferred the tire-flipping and the 700-pound back squats into different exercises. Now I’m doing 14 different core exercises. It’s not any less time or less effort. It’s just different.”

“Do you honestly think you can be better than you were?” I asked.

“I don’t know the answer to that,” he said. “I’m sure the doctors don’t know the answer. That’s the goal. But all I know is I can be as smart as I can possibly be, and that’s with practice reps, that’s with workouts, that’s with doing everything I can to make sure that for those 16 games-plus a year, I am ready to roll. I feel great, and as long as we stick to the plan that we’ve got—a day off here and there, some practice reps off here and there—I think we are going to be in good shape.”
 

cuppacoffee

Resident Grouch
I like the slow deliberate process they are taking with Watt.

From what I read that was one hell of a surgical procedure he went through.

I doubt he will be "better" than before, or even as dominating as he was, but just being close he will be better than most.

Guy is one hell of a competitor.

:coffee:
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Texans seeing bigger gains, quicker pace, better red-zone production
Longer gains, quicker pace offer progress over last year
By John McClain

August 20, 2017 Updated: August 20, 2017 10:02pm


During the offseason program and in training camp, Texans coach Bill O'Brien emphasized that he wanted his offense to play faster, make more big plays and improve in the red zone.

In the first two preseason games against Carolina and New England, the Texans have used an up-tempo style, including the no-huddle, a lot of the time.

Maybe it's the faster pace, or maybe it's just execution, but the Texans have four plays of at least 30 yards - two by running back D'Onta Foreman and two by receiver Bruce Ellington.

After two preseason games in 2016, the Texans had no plays of at least 30 yards.

Foreman and Ellington have something in common: This is their first season with the Texans.

Foreman, the third-round pick in this year's draft, was supposed to make a contribution as a rookie. He has been terrific, contributing a 41-yard run against the Panthers and a 63-yard catch in Saturday's 27-23 victory over New England. He turned a slant route over the middle into the team's longest gain.

Ellington could be just what the Texans need, considering their top-three receivers - DeAndre Hopkins (hand), Will Fuller (collarbone) and Braxton Miller (ankle) are out.

Ellington was San Francisco's fourth-round pick in 2014. He caught 19 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns in his first two seasons with the 49ers. He suffered a torn hamstring that caused him to be placed on injured reserve last year.

The Rest of the Story
 

TD

Super Bowl Mascot
Watching live feed on FB. I am jealous of you locals. :-/

Its a LOT different than watching the Oilers in San Marcos
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Nothing wrong with a little positive thinking
I agree. There's nothing wrong with a little positive thinking. But I know that a little healthy dose of reality would be in order. I know with what you do and what you've seen, coming back as just a "good" player and being able to stay on the field for a significant portion of the season, would be a fairly lofty goal/accomplishment in itself for Watt, in light of his history of back and other significant core injuries/surgeries.
 

TheKDog

Hall of Fame
Contributor's Club
Our top 3 WRs don't need to be present to evaluate drops and route running.
That's true, but these guys are dudes we just picked up off the street and no one else wanted. There's almost zero chance they're gonna be good, right?

I mean he's wasting his time if he's trying to make these scrubs into good players.
 
Last edited:

amazing80

Hall of Fame
Team didn't practice well the first day back lol....hopefully they get it together with their practices with NawLeans.
 

otisbean

Veteran
Contributor's Club
I agree. There's nothing wrong with a little positive thinking. But I know that a little healthy dose of reality would be in order. I know with what you do and what you've seen, coming back as just a "good" player and being able to stay on the field for a significant portion of the season, would be a fairly lofty goal/accomplishment in itself for Watt, in light of his history of back and other significant core injuries/surgeries.
I agree. I'm hopeful that:

A) that the surgical procedures are getting better (fingers crossed)

B) his new training regime will improve his core strength and endurance to help protect/buttress the spine (I like that he mentioned doing 14 different core exercises, fingers crossed they are the rights ones)

C) the Texans are smart with how they use him. One of the things Dr McGill talks about is fatigue being a big issue in back injuries. The spine buckles when the supporting musculature gets tired and can't do it's job. In this light paying attention to the number of plays and, as best you can in a NFL game, minimize his risk. Maybe keeping some big fatties in on obvious run downs and using JJ more in passing situations, taking him out early if we've got a sizable lead ect...

D) he has miraculous healing ability ala AP with his ACL several years back. Again, positive thinking
 
  • Like
Reactions: JB

badboy

Hall of Fame
I'm hoping positives we are seeing from DL Dunn, Heath and the drafting of Carlos Watkins will allow some time to rest Watt during the season. Reader can play some DE with Ankou at Nose. The question I have is will JJ allow it?
 
  • Like
Reactions: JB

ObsiWan

Hall of Fame
Contributor's Club
That's true, but these guys are dudes we just picked up off the street and no one else wanted. There's almost zero chance they're gonna be good, right?

I mean he's wasting his time if he's trying to make these scrubs into good players.
did you watch Ellington?
he has potential.
 

Texas Jake

Rookie
That's true, but these guys are dudes we just picked up off the street and no one else wanted. There's almost zero chance they're gonna be good, right?

I mean he's wasting his time if he's trying to make these scrubs into good players.
You work with what you got and there have been plenty of examples of players who have walked in off the street and impacted the game. Carl Roaches was driving a garbage truck IIRC, walked in off the street for a try-out and became a heck of a return man for the Oilers in 1980-84.
 

Texian

Hall of Fame
Clowney again was not present in the non contact (paddless) practice today. I still strongly suspect that, like Hopkins had, he's walking around with some "mysterious" injury.
What do you think Doc, is the warranty wearing out on his microfracture surgery?
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
As I posted a couple of days ago, suspected it before................Sounds like a repeat of what we heard re. Hopkins.........not injured, but will be ready for week 1.

888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

Texans Pro Bowl pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney didn't practice again Monday, working on the side as he hasn't practiced in a week and was held out of a preseason game against the New England Patriots.

Clowney isn't injured, according to coach Bill O'Brien. A source not authorized to speak publicly emphasized that it's nothing serious, saying that Clowney is dealing with general soreness and tight muscles and will be ready for the season-opener Sept. 10 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Clowney worked on the side with other injured players Monday at practice.


Drafted first overall by the Texans out of South Carolina in 2014, Clowney experienced a myriad of injuries at the start of his career. The defensive end underwent microfracture knee surgery and dealt with a concussion, among other health issues. LINK
 

kiwitexansfan

Hall of Fame
I'm hoping positives we are seeing from DL Dunn, Heath and the drafting of Carlos Watkins will allow some time to rest Watt during the season. Reader can play some DE with Ankou at Nose. The question I have is will JJ allow it?
I'd like to say that JJ will do what the coaches tell him or he sits on the bench but star culture being what it is....
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Also per McClain:
*************************************************************************************************

Meanwhile, several other injured players didn't practice Monday.

That includes wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins (hand), Braxton Miller (ankle), Will Fuller (broken collarbone), Devin Street, Riley McCarron and Bruce Ellington, linebacker Sio Moore (hamstring), running back Akeem Hunt, center Greg Mancz, linebacker Dayon Pratt, cornerback Denzel Rice (ankle), punter Cory Carter, cornerback Robert Nelson (hamstring), defensive end Carlos Watkins, offensive tackle Chris Clark (muscle soreness) and outside linebacker Eric Lee.

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

Ellington was waive twice back to back (last one officially due to failed physical). When we first signed him I posted that earlier during OTA period, he again had some signs of hamstring issues and was sidelined by the 49ers, his failed physical probably due to ongoing tenderness and tightness...........not a good sign after very limited practice. Now he is back in full go mode in preseason game, and I suspect most likely his hamstring is again emerging as an issue that is requiring rest.

Chris Clark, who needs reps, was not practicing or out there since the 1st preseason game. Another source tells me it is a leg injury. "Soreness" seems to be a Texans code word for injury.
 
Last edited:

amazing80

Hall of Fame
Also per McClain:
*************************************************************************************************

Meanwhile, several other injured players didn't practice Monday.

That includes wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins (hand), Braxton Miller (ankle), Will Fuller (broken collarbone), Devin Street, Riley McCarron and Bruce Ellington, linebacker Sio Moore (hamstring), running back Akeem Hunt, center Greg Mancz, linebacker Dayon Pratt, cornerback Denzel Rice (ankle), punter Cory Carter, cornerback Robert Nelson (hamstring), defensive end Carlos Watkins, offensive tackle Chris Clark (muscle soreness) and outside linebacker Eric Lee.

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

Ellington was waive twice back to back (last one officially due to failed physical). When we first signed him I posted that earlier during OTA period, he again had some signs of hamstring issues and was sidelined by the 49ers, his failed physical probably due to ongoing tenderness and tightness...........not a good sign after very limited practice. Now he is back in full go mode in preseason game, and I suspect most likely his hamstring is again emerging as an issue that is requiring rest.

Chris Clark, who needs reps, was not practicing or out there since the 1st preseason game. Another source tells me it is a leg injury. "Soreness" seems to be a Texans code word for injury.
Did any WRs practice today? My god....hopefully they are keeping them out because we practice with the Saints this week.
 

cuppacoffee

Resident Grouch
Also per McClain:
*************************************************************************************************

Meanwhile, several other injured players didn't practice Monday.

That includes wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins (hand), Braxton Miller (ankle), Will Fuller (broken collarbone), Devin Street, Riley McCarron and Bruce Ellington, linebacker Sio Moore (hamstring), running back Akeem Hunt, center Greg Mancz, linebacker Dayon Pratt, cornerback Denzel Rice (ankle), punter Cory Carter, cornerback Robert Nelson (hamstring), defensive end Carlos Watkins, offensive tackle Chris Clark (muscle soreness) and outside linebacker Eric Lee.

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

Ellington was waive twice back to back (last one officially due to failed physical). When we first signed him I posted that earlier during OTA period, he again had some signs of hamstring issues and was sidelined by the 49ers, his failed physical probably due to ongoing tenderness and tightness...........not a good sign after very limited practice. Now he is back in full go mode in preseason game, and I suspect most likely his hamstring is again emerging as an issue that is requiring rest.

Chris Clark, who needs reps, was not practicing or out there since the 1st preseason game. Another source tells me it is a leg injury. "Soreness" seems to be a Texans code word for injury.

Any chance groundwork being laid to IR a couple of players? idonno:

:coffee:
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Any chance groundwork being laid to IR a couple of players? idonno:

:coffee:
(If you're implying no injury and just stashing) Doesn't seem too likely for players (excluding Hopkins and Fuller) such as Mancz, Clark, Sio Moore, either Miller or Hunt, Ellington and even Nelson.
 
Last edited:
Top