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Texans Training Camp Preview 2023

pirbroke said:
Do we not have practices where coaches tell team we want a failing o-line or failing d-line to see how qb’s/receiver’s respond or CB’s linebackers. I would certainly think this would be normal some days without the public watching even realizing. You got to have some practices, especially on offense of under duress because those days will happen throughout the season.
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"Honest, the coach made me do it!"
 
  1. C.J. Stroud had his worst day of work so far with the Monday practice. Stroud’s struggles started early as he tried to loft a ball over the head of linebacker Blake Cashman. Cashman jumped and picked off Stroud. It was a learning opportunity for Stroud who didn’t put enough on the pass to beat the defender.

  2. C.J. Stroud usually bounces back after a bad play or two, but early he didn’t. After the interception to Cashman in team drills the Texans offense ran the ball. On the ensuing play, the officials present called a delay of game on Stroud. It was a very rocky and wonky start for the rookie quarterback. Stroud would bounce back slightly on his next opportunity with some work over the middle.

  3. Derek Stingley got in on C.J. Stroud’s tough day later. Stroud was trying to hit a strike to the sideline to one of his wideouts but Stingley saw what was happening. Stingley raced towards the throwing lane, picked the ball off, and took off for the endzone. Pick six. DeMeco Ryans after practice praised Derek Stingley for his practices to this point in training camp.

  4. Davis Mills had more than a solid day. Mills operated the offense well. Didn’t make a ton of mistakes with the decisions. It wasn’t amazing, none of the offense was really, but it moved better today than with C.J. Stroud at the helm. It was the first day I can say Davis Mills was ahead of Stroud. For those keeping track at home, the Stroud leads Mills 2-1-2 with two practices being a draw.

  5. Rookie wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson had another big play in practice. Davis Mills, with all sorts of pressure bearing down on him, uncorked a pass that landed in Hutchinson’s hands behind the defense. The rookie has played well the past two days. Mills made a really nice throw with his feet dealing with some of that pressure.

  6. The above-mentioned play never should have happened. I say never should have happened because Will Anderson dominated his blocker and would have annihilated Davis Mills. Anderson was, again, a monster. Some poor team is going to try to block him with a tight end and that will end poorly nearly every time. Anderson also frequently was affecting passing lanes with his rush getting into the line of sight of the quarterbacks. After practice, Anderson explained he has seen a lot of improvement occur in watching the film of his workouts. He said he stays up at night dissecting little aspects of his game and really improves his game by watching the film with the coaches.

  7. The linebackers are a bit deeper than I imagined they would be initially.     Blake Cashman has channeled Brian Urlacher the past couple of practices. Henry To'oTo'o has been on the field a lot and doesn’t look out of place. Christian Harris met more than a few running backs at the line of scrimmage. There could be some tough cuts at the linebacker position.
  8. The tight ends are struggling right now. Dalton Schultz and Brevin Jordan were out on Monday. DeMeco Ryans didn’t seem to think Schultz’s absence was anything too serious. Mason Schreck, Eric Tomlinson, and Andrew Beck combine for 43 career NFL receptions. There aren’t a lot of options right now with the players missing time. It was not crisp watching the tight ends in drills or teams on Monday.

  9. Rookie center Juice Scruggs was shouted out after practice by DeMeco Ryans. When asked about the rookie center Ryans revealed he was highlighted in a recent team meeting for his execution of the offense. Scruggs also has guard versatility in addition to playing center. Ryans also said Scruggs has picked up the offense well.

  10. With the offense struggling it led to a funky day for the wideouts. It felt like players were getting open, but sometimes the ball was late or not coming to them. Nico Collins got open in some nasty traffic in one team session. The wideouts did a really good job in red zone drills, but there weren’t many standout moments from the pass catchers as a whole on Monday. John Metchie worked with Derek Stingley individually after practice. Stingley said those conversations help because he learns what beat him and he can impart his approach to the wide receivers.
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www.houfootball.com

11 Observations from Day Five of Texans Training Camp

The pads were on for the first time much to the delight of the defense
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The Texans went from Indy (individual, I mean before Marc loses his mind mentioning that team up north) and group installation periods right into their first team period. So, first play, Texans QB C.J. Stroud floated one down the sideline and LB Blake Cashman leapt in the air to snag his second interception in as many days. Cashman has more than made his mark early in training camp. He's been as good as I can remember any linebacker in coverage in Texans training camp. Over the past two days, he's had two PBUs and two INT and one of those PBUs should've been another INT too.

The start of the offense's day wasn't quite what Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans and his staff would've wanted. Interception on first play. Flag on the third play. Tough start, but the offense had some sweet moments as well, which we'll get to in a bit. Regardless, it was a rough start, yet a ton of teachable moments
The NFL refs were on hand too which was really important. Head official Land Clark and his crew were in Houston ready to roll and that was huge. Those NFL refs know exactly what NFL guys can get away with and what will get penalized throughout the season. The officials being on site was perhaps the most important aspect of the day. There were a good handful of flags thrown, which will be HUGELY important for learning time with this young squad.

One of those great offensive plays came a few plays into QB Davis Mills stint at QB. He dropped to throw and moved up in the pocket a bit to find rookie WR Xavier Hutchinson on a deep post to the middle of the field. I love that combination route and have run it for years. A big thanks to Mills, no, not Davis, but former Florida WR Ernie Mills for that one. Anyhow, for the second straight day, Hutchinson ran past the Texans secondary DEEP for a big catch and score. I've been sayin' it, I've been saying IT since Saturday in the draft. Just don't be surprised, that's all I'll say now.

Now, here's the flip side of that play - in a real game, rookie DL Will Anderson Jr. would've had a solo sack. He completely obliterated the right tackle with a violent shock/yank to get CLEAN to QB Davis Mills. He pulled up and didn't touch Mills so he could complete the play. But, that would've been a defensive celebration for Anderson Jr for sure.
A little later in practice, Anderson Jr was lined up on the defensive left side alongside Roy Lopez and the Texans offense called for a run on the opposite side. 51 and 91 just obliterated that backside and both met at the running back for no gain.

I liked seeing OL Greg Little and OL Michael Deiter work a combination block on a run during that team period in practice. The timing of their double was fabulous; they got movement up front on the down guy and locked up the LB for the RB to hit the gas for a first down.

A couple plays after that, QB C.J. Stroud linked up with WR Tank Dell for a first down. Stroud whipped his head around after a play fake and threw a laser shot to Dell. THANKFULLY that wasn't a game because DB Jalen Pitre would've hit Dell so hard that the entire offense would've felt it. Pitre pulled off, as he should in practice, at the right time to allow Dell to make the catch. But, the entire defense "OOOHHHHed" and "AHHHed" because it knew. That said, good ball, excellent catch, tremendous restraint.

Once down in the red zone, the first rep was fun to watch. QB Davis Mills had WR John Metchie III on a slant route immediately. I heard DB Jalen Pitre yell out "CHRISTIAN, CHRISTIAN" letting LB Christian Harris know to look for an inside route. Harris immediately got his eyes toward Metchie III who pulled up short so as to not get thrown INTO Harris. Mills saw the same thing, so he purposely threw behind Metchie III a bit to make the completion. I love the cat-mouse chess match before the snap but it's even more intriguing after the snap too, as evidenced right here.

I mentioned Will Anderson Jr earlier and I've got to bring him up again. The Texans were back in the red zone and C.J. Stroud threw a quick screen to WR Steven Sims TO Will's side. As soon as the ball came out of Stroud's hand, Anderson pivoted back whence he came and sprinted right to Sims, tackling him for a TFL. I mean, WHAAAA??? It was a bubble screen to Anderson's side; that's supposed to be a play for someone else to make. Yet, Anderson ran down one of the fastest players on this squad for a TFL. All those national media types can miss me with "that was a bad trade." If THAT'S what Will Anderson Jr. brings NOW, my goodness, that'll be remembered as a great trade.

The run game didn't really get rolling against the defense on this day, but on one run play in the red zone, OL Scott Quessenberry and OL Shaq Mason worked a combination block beautifully. The joy I get seeing a combination executed to perfection is more than the average person, I think. But, it's okay because it's needed for the run game to pop.
Our Monday morning radio guest DB Eric Murray came through with an excellent PBU down in the red zone. Stroud eyed a slant on the opposite side of the field, but LB Denzel Perryman jumped into the passing lane and took that away. Stroud pulled it down and couldn't find anyone open so he fired to TE Mason Schreck near the goal line. Murray was in Schreck's hip pocket for the pass breakup.

Two plays after one of the better runs of the day by RB Xazavian Valladay, QB Case Keenum completed two flat routes in a row. He hit WR Alex Bachman just short of the goal line and on the other he completed a pass to Valladay, who was knocked out at the one yard line.

DB Shaquill Griffin had a wonderful pass breakup just at the goal line in that same team period. QB Davis Mills knew he didn't have much time or space to complete a slant route to WR Robert Woods so he fired into, well, not much space. Griffin went hard at the ball and knocked away the pass for the PBU.

On the next play, Stroud kept the ball himself on a run play and at first it looked like it was a sure touchdown. I felt that way because I wasn't focused on DB Jalen Pitre. The second year safety saw it the whole way. He read his keys and would've tackled Stroud for a loss or no gain. Pitre continues to play at a high level early in camp.
On the first play of the third team session, Stroud tossed the ball to RB Dameon Pierce around the right side. It looked like he had some room but the defensive team speed slowed that play completely, in particular, blazing fast rookie Henry To'o To'o who beat EVERYONE to the ball.

I thought Stroud's best throw of the day came a couple of plays later. He threw a laser shot to WR Nico Collins across the middle for a completion. It was not a day the QBs will remember forever, but small wins, like this one, make for incremental positive progress. That was a throw for sure.

The throw that Stroud would love to have back, though, slipped out of his hands. These NFL QBs are so good throwing the football that when the ball has a bit of a wobble, it catches your attention. Well, this one was flat out flopping in the air. Even had it been a great pass, DB Derek Stingley Jr. would've picked it off. Regardless, he DID snatch this one and took it back for six.

When the offense finds its groove, RB Devin Singletary 'Motor' is going to be a huge part of it. He's so sudden with all of his movements but just when it looks like he's only just dancing or shaking people, he's already five to seven yards into the secondary.

Perhaps the craziest play of training camp thus far was on a throw from Stroud to WR Jalen Camp on a slant route. As soon as the ball arrived, so did DB Shaq Griffin. The ball popped into the air, was tipped by another DB and then Camp turned around and snatched it for a reception. Went to football practice and a volleyball match broke out.
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Harris Hits: Training Camp Observations Day 5

Hits on a Monday, the first time in pads at Training Camp
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xtruroyaltyx said:
IMO that is highly unlikely.

Not only is that wasted reps for two units, but you run the risk of somebody getting hurt.

Thats just not the way things are done at practice.
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I would still think no hit QB, but yea I’m kinda surprised they don’t have chaos practices. Of course if someone on defense was always penetrating quickly I guess you getting plenty of reps, lol. But yea cool I’ll take y’all’s word on it, learn someone’s everyday.


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zshawn10 said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1686036411147862016
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Anderson beat that guy in a nano second. Never a good thing for the olineman. I was kind of looking at everyone blocking there though and none of it was pretty.

Hard to reeeealllly see, but lots of guys who were supposed to be blocking for the qb turned around looking at him at the end of the play is never a good thing.

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pirbroke said:
I would still think no hit QB, but yea I’m kinda surprised they don’t have chaos practices. Of course if someone on defense was always penetrating quickly I guess you getting plenty of reps, lol. But yea cool I’ll take y’all’s word on it, learn someone’s everyday.


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So they actually do get the kind of work i think you are hinting at.

For DBs, its one on ones. No safety help over the top. No dline rushing the qb forcing a hurried or off target throw. Thats the equivalent of what you are saying with having no support and a "failing dline".

For Olinemen their version of that is the pass rush one one one drills. No help from the guy next to you, no rbs or te's chipping. Dlineman knows its a pass so they are just teeing off.

So they do kinda go through those pressure test situations that i think youre getting at. Just not in team drills.
 
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I hope Slowik develops the offense and that they find an identity and that they can find some success. I hope that he utilizes a system based on their abilities rather than asking them to execute something for which they are ill-suited. If the offense is totally inept, it's on Slowik.
 
The Pencil Neck said:
I never had oxtail until I moved to Spain.

You do it right and it's some tasty isht. There's a place near us called Ca la Iaia (Grandma's House in Valenciano) and they have an oxtail ravioli dish that just kills.
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The French have the oxtail bourguignone, the Vietnamese the oxtail phở noodle.
It's good and It's quite a bit more expensive than the regular phở noodle soup.
 
Buckeye Homer said:
I hope Slowik develops the offense and that they find an identity and that they can find some success. I hope that he utilizes a system based on their abilities rather than asking them to execute something for which they are ill-suited. If the offense is totally inept, it's on Slowik.
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Already setting up excuses in case of failure.
 
TheRealJoker said:
Schultz must be missing time. They signed another Dalton:

nfltraderumors.co

Texans Signing TE Dalton Keene

The Houston Texans are signing TE Dalton Keene following a successful workout, according to Aaron Wilson. Keene, 24, was selected with the No. 101 overall pick in the third round of the 2020 draft after
nfltraderumors.co nfltraderumors.co
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Our TE room is pretty thin, so I’m not surprised they signed another guy.
 
OptimisticTexan said:
The bad thing about gloating this early......is the taste of crow later.
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Have no doubt, steelbtexan is cheering wildly for Stroud to be the biggest bust since Ryan Leaf.

Whether it's Stroud or Mills or anyone else at QB, if Slowik's offense is a disaster, Houston goes from possibly winning 8 or 9 games to 6 or less. As OC, his job is to put his offense in a position to move the ball. He has to adapt his offense to their skill sets and not the other way around.
 
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