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

6 reasons C Nick Martin is ready for 2017
http://www.houstontexans.com/news/a...for-2017/ae67882f-b9c1-4e68-a633-c7449dee91f7

1. "He’s a tough guy."

2. "He’s strong"...

3. "smart"

4. "good leader"

5. "He’s got all the intangibles you’re looking for.”

6. "He’s a good communicator. He does a good job communicating with the guys left and right of him because he’s smart. I think he spends a lot of time with the quarterbacks so he knows what they’re thinking. With different calls that they’re making, he’s able to relay it and like I said, I think he’s a strong player.”

...
O'Brien also said he thinks Martin makes the players around him better.
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That last one is huge. We're going to need all the OL help/chemistry/consistency we can muster.
 
PapaL said:
Nuk doing the things that Nuk does. Half man, half amazing. Looks like KJ30 is matched up on him.

https://twitter.com/BrittBanks14/status/892770778017673217
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GIF'ed this the other day:

PsUhYoZ.gif
 
DX-TEX said:
GIF'ed this the other day:

PsUhYoZ.gif
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Must've missed it. Damn that was a thing of beauty. Regular season I could see PI on Nuk or hands to the face. Great damn catch tho!

*EDIT*
Your post shows up only as an IMG tag but when I quote you the gif shows up. Maybe that's why I didn't see it. Thanks for sharing it!
 
PapaL said:
Must've missed it. Damn that was a thing of beauty. Regular season I could see PI on Nuk or hands to the face. Great damn catch tho!

*EDIT*
Your post shows up only as an IMG tag but when I quote you the gif shows up. Maybe that's why I didn't see it. Thanks for sharing it!
Click to expand...
Yeah Imgur does some weird crap every so often. Free hosting sites that actually work are not easy to find
 
PapaL said:
Must've missed it. Damn that was a thing of beauty. Regular season I could see PI on Nuk or hands to the face.
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Maybe, maybe not.. the D.B. never exactly played the ball and DeAndre does have the knack for getting away with slight pushoffs...like Michael Irvin good. Lol, every other fan in the AFC South has been frustrated and pissed as hell for years now about it. :) (They have threads about it).

Anyways outside of the obvious great catch, that was also one hell of a throw (assuming it was Savage, not sure).. put the ball in a spot where only one player had a chance in hell of catching that pass. Kevin Johnson was a dead man walking as soon as Hopkins got behind him to the corner of the end zone and the ball was placed where it was. I like it, if that was Assweiler, he probably would've nailed KJ in the ass.
 
Texian said:
I received a lot of similar comments, just like yours when I commented on Osweiler's less than promising scouting report.
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I expected better from you.
I couldn't care less about any previous discussion you've had they 0 to do with our current discussion.

Our discussion is about the claims that you made no more no less.

Texian said:
Our discussions reminds me of when the Texans drafted Louis Nix.
Click to expand...
Again 0 to do with our current discussion.

None of either of the above parts of your post address in any way the claims that you made that I asked you to support and you declined to.
Subsequently I addressed and pointed out the errors in your claims in detail and you have no reply other then to talk about Osweiler and Nix? Umm okay.

Texian said:
I sense a similar situation from you. Bon Voyage on the SS "I DO Love ME Some Deshauan Watson" enjoy your cruise. :)
Click to expand...
I'm not going to say what I sense from you because it would be inappropriate. And to be clear, I responded to YOUR negative claims about Watson. If correcting your negative, unsupported claims about Watson reduces you to petty name calling that's your issue.

Cheers all the same.
 
Davenport at LT, Cunningham 3rd string, and the RB depth chart stood out to me.
I take the Davenport as a direct shot at Brown.
 
DeAndre Hopkins says Tom Savage should be Texans' QB
1:44 PM CT
  • Dan GrazianoESPN Staff Writer

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. -- Nothing against rookie first-rounder DeShaun Watson, but when it comes to the Houston Texans' quarterback competition, the team's top wide receiver is Team Tom Savage.

"If anybody should be a judge of quarterbacks, I've played with the most quarterbacks in NFL history throughout my first four years," DeAndre Hopkins said after practice here Friday. "So I put the stamp on Savage, and I think that's all that needs to be said about that."

It's certainly not all that WILL be said about before this camp ends. And there remains a chance Watson wins the job by the end of camp or at least during the season. But here at the Greenbrier, where the Texans practice, there's a clear depth chart delineation right now. Savage has taken all of the first-team reps so far in camp and Watson has worked exclusively with the second team.

In three starts for the Texans last year, Tom Savage targeted DeAndre Hopkins with 30 percent of his passes. Mickey Bernal/Icon Sportswire
Savage is the incumbent, having spent three years with the Texans and started two games for them last season due to the struggles of Brock Osweiler. Watson may be the more exciting prospect, and the national college champion for whom the Texans moved up in the first round this April. But Hopkins is a believer that the Texans can win with the guy who was already here.

"I've played with at least 10 quarterbacks," Hopkins said. "So because of what he does well, and what he can do for this team, I know he can help us win what we want to win. He does everything well. He's a student of the game, from just being on the bench, watching and learning from other people's mistakes, seeing what they've done wrong. He can put the ball in any place. He has a strong arm. He has a knowledge of this offense. He's been in this offense his whole career."

The brief Osweiler era in Houston didn't go well, and Hopkins seemed to struggle to find a connection with 2016's big free-agent signing. After a 2015 season in which he became the first receiver in NFL history to record 100-yard games with four different quarterbacks, Hopkins had only two such games last year with Osweiler. His reception total dropped from 111 in 2015 to 78 last year, his yardage total from 1,521 to 954 and his touchdown catches from 11 to four. Yet he declined to call it a frustrating year.

"No, I wouldn't say I was frustrated," Hopkins said. "We were winning. We didn't win the ultimate goal, but we gave the Patriots one of their closest games of the whole season and biggest challenges that they had. So I would be selfish on my part to say I was frustrated with my team going to the second round of the playoffs and almost beating the Patriots."

Hopkins seems to be in a pretty good place right now, which may explain why he's here in camp at all. He held out one day of training camp last year in protest of a contract that still hasn't been extended and now still has only one year left on it. But this year, even as holdouts seem to be making a comeback league-wide, he's been in camp from the start in spite of the lack of a new deal.

"Because I know I have a great team," Hopkins said when asked why. "My teammates, those guys count on me to come out here and make this team better. Guys like Lamar Miller, like J.J. Watt that want to win a championship. And I know, for them to be able to do that, I have to be able to come out here and help those guys do it. So you know, the other 52 players on the team, they depend on me. That's why I'm here."

Hopkins could find himself next March at the top of a free-agent wide receiver class that includes himself, Buffalo's Sammy Watkins, Miami's Jarvis Landry, Jacksonville's Allen Robinson, Philadelphia's Alshon Jeffery and Washington's Terrelle Pryor, among others. But he says he hasn't thought about his place in such a market.

"I'm sure those guys are going to get a chance to be able to make a living for themselves successfully when they do hit free agency," Hopkins said. "Those guys earned it. Some of those guys haven't been on a winning team, and they're competitors. I know those wide receivers, they just want to win."

Hopkins' point was that, unlike some of those other players, he HAS been on a winning team. And while he'd love a new contract, he ultimately would like it to be with Houston.

"I've come this far," Hopkins said. "I've been a No. 1 receiver for only two years why whole football career. At Clemson, I was a No. 2 receiver. Just a couple of years ago, I was a No. 1 receiver. So you know, who I am and what people think of me? I'm not a selfish player, but I know what I'm worth, to put it in that aspect.

"I'm pretty sure there's a lot of teams in the NFL that would love to have me, but the Houston Texans is my home and the team that I want to play for forever."
 
Quick Hitters: Houston Texans Training Camp Day Nine
Quick Hitters from the Houston Texans day nine of practice from The Greenbrier.


When evaluating the Texans offense, the quality of the defense they face each practice needs to be taken into account. The offense has been struggling to move the ball consistently but when they find weaknesses, they exploit them and progress down the field with ease. Tom Savage is working against the defense non-stop and they can make life tough for anyone, which could be setting a bar that makes it easier during the preseason. Most defenses they will be going against are not as stout as that of the Texans. There are two ways to look at it but the top ranked defense from 2016 makes life tough for the offense during camp.


Whitney Mercilus carries the defense when he is allowed to cut loose and with Jadeveon Clowney and J.J. Watt getting their normal off day, it was the Mercilus show defensively. He blew up the run game and had two would be sacks if it was game day. Mercilus is giving the offensive tackles fits off the edge and is showing that it will take more than one guy to slow him down. In big moments during situational drills for the defense, Mercilus turned it up a notch to stop the offense on third downs. The Texans have three edge players in Mercilus, Clowney, and Watt, each of whom singled handedly changed the game for the offense some time during camp.


Finally, Akeem Hunt was able to make some noise at camp and had one of his strongest days. He showed his speed to bounce the ball outside of the tackles and move the chains, plus he had a pass in the flats where he ate up yards after making at least three defenders miss. Hunt has a spot on this team, but it will take the coaching staff thinking creatively and finding the room for him. Hunt is part of a talented backfield and he continues to solidify his spot.


The successes continue.for Tyler Ervin during camp both on the ground and through the air. He works well with Savage and is able to provide a nice target for the offense. Add in some decent running today and Ervin was able to create issues for the defense.


The combination of Hunt and Ervin will work and it appears both will find their role for 2017.


The Texans also hosted a local youth football organization and helped fit the players with shoulder pads after practice.


It continues to be an interesting time for Tom Savage and he is being pushed by the defense. It was not the best start for the offense with a couple of penalties to start their team session at practice. The Texans play situations just like the game and if he is getting no protection or the offense commits a penalty, the offense goes backwards. Savage was harassed by Christian Covington and Mercilus today, leading to a slow start for the offense. It got a little better towards the end of practice with Savage hitting C.J. Fiedorowicz, DeAndre Hopkins, Ervin, and Hunt in the passing game. They did not put the ball in the end zone but they did eat up some yards. Savage’s best ball went to Hopkins in the corner of the end zone over Robert Nelson. This is one area on which Savage and Hopkins have been Working, the timing of those routes in the red zone.


Deshaun Watson threw his first interception since the second day as be forced the football into a window he shouldn’t have. Watson too had a delay of game during and overall not so great day for the offense. If there is one thing Watson did do well today, he is getting the ball out quickly and into his receivers' hands. His understanding of routes and coverages is better than expected but he does get tunnel vision at times. DeAndrew White and Riley McCarron continue to be his favorite targets and they reward him with nice catch and runs. Watson is getting better with his touch as camp goes on and is growing comfortable with his personnel.
 
DeAndre Hopkins Wants to Make His Home With the Houston Texans
DeAndre Hopkins wants to make his home with the Houston Texans for the long-term.
One contract situation that has been on the back burner since he reported to camp without incident this season is that of DeAndre Hopkins, who is now in his final season of his deal with the Houston Texans. Last season, Hopkins did not report to camp on opening day but reported shortly after day one to prepare for the 2016 season.

Hopkins arrived to the The Greenbrier on time and has been checked in with both the offense and his teammates, putting together one of his best training camps since he arrived as a rookie. Hopkins has gotten back to his old ways of running precision routes and shoeing off his trademark acrobatic receptions.

When Hopkins was asked if he was worried about his contraction situation he made it clear he wants to say in Houston.

“Not at all. I'm pretty sure there's a lot of teams in the NFL that would love to have me, but the Houston Texans is my home and the team that I want to play for forever," Hopkins told ESPN’s Dan Graziano.

Hopkins likes what the Texans are doing offensively in camp and credits the work with he put in with Tom Savage during the off-season as one of the reasons things that seem to be clicking.

“I think we’re at a good point, definitely, for sure,” Hopkins explained. “You can tell guys have been working in the offseason, doing things that they needed to work on and it showed today.”

Tom Savage and Hopkins have done pretty much whatever they want on the field together during camp. Savage has looked to Hopkins plenty during team sessions and the success rate of the two on the field has been an added plus.

Savage, much like Hopkins, credits the extra work they put together in the off-season as a reason for their success.

“It’s huge. We got together a couple days in the offseason up in Philly," Tom Savage said of his work with Hopkins. “We’ve just been throwing, and we talked probably every other day this whole offseason. I think it’s huge just to kind of get to know the guy and be on the same page with him.”

Bill O’Brien backed Hopkins in the off-season when questions surfaced about his "down year" in 2016 and the head coach likes what he has seen from Hopkins through the first two weeks of camp.

“Yeah, he’s been good. He’s a dynamic player. He can make great catches,” O’Brien stated. “He’s got incredible hands. He can jump. He knows our system, we can move him around a lot. He ran some really nice routes today.”

O’Brien thinks Hopkins does not get enough praise for the type of receiver he is and likes to say that he has some of the best set of hands he has coached.

“I don’t think people talk about his hands enough,” O’Brien explained. “This guy’s got great hands. He’s got good feet on the sideline. He’s got a lot of good things going for him.”

The Texans want Hopkins to stay in Houston for the long term while keeping young and talented players remains the overarching organizational goal year to year. It is just a matter of time before a deal can be worked out, allowing Hopkins to remain here long-term with the Texans.
 
Are Lamar Miller and Alfred Blue getting any reps?

Hunt, Foreman and Ervin are getting all the mentions.

Are Blue and/or Miller at risk??
 
kiwitexansfan said:
Are Lamar Miller and Alfred Blue getting any reps?

Hunt, Foreman and Ervin are getting all the mentions.

Are Blue and/or Miller at risk??
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Miller is a lock. Blue is a lock unless he really screws up before the season begins. Foreman isn't going anywhere. Hunt and Ervin will be apparently fighting it out for RB, returners, or slots..
 
"I'm pretty sure there's a lot of teams in the NFL that would love to have me, but the Houston Texans is my home and the team that I want to play for forever
*************
Wow Hopkins is saying all of the right things with nothing but praise and gratitude for the Texans organization.
I suspect about now they've got his new deal more or less hammered out and just dotting the I s and crossing the T s.
Dunno for sure but very likely make a new contract official by the end of TC.
 
IDEXAN said:
"I'm pretty sure there's a lot of teams in the NFL that would love to have me, but the Houston Texans is my home and the team that I want to play for forever
*************
Wow Hopkins is saying all of the right things with nothing but praise and gratitude for the Texans organization.
I suspect about now they've got his new deal more or less hammered out and just dotting the I s and crossing the T s.
Dunno for sure but very likely make a new contract official by the end of TC.
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What they're saying and doing in public might not be what they are saying and doing behind closed doors. I would bet his agent is putting out feelers. It's show me the money time.
 
Kaiser Toro said:
A chilling vision of things to come
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IMO I think it will basically come down to if the Texans will meet his his number. If they do he likely signs, if they don't he won't. The one caveat in this negotiation, when you look at and consider what Nuke has had to endure the last 3 years he might opt for more stability and a solid QB.

If the Texans have no intention of signing Nuke then they should be trying to trade him for a #1 or a #2.
 
Last edited:
xtruroyaltyx said:
Ya know....I have spit plenty venom towards the Texans organization. There are still things which the do/are doing which make me roll my eyes...During the season when they suck I will certainly not be shy about my disapproval ...After the draft, if they pick a guy I'm not that fond of I'll let that be known...

But somewhere between the draft and the start of the season I tend to ease up and drink the koolaid some.
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Eh... why waste time trying to justify how you do your thing. You aren't here pissing in everyone's cheerios.
 
Texian said:
You should know that much of my discussion comes from people asking my opinion. And that can generate a few pages of discussion.
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True. Much of the time. But you're pretty good at lobbing handgrenades too.

Texian said:
To answer your question honestly, as I sit here and look at Fitzpatrick, Hoyer, Mallett, Weeden, Yates, the decision to spend $72MM to get Osweiler, the decision to eat $10MM of his salary and give Cleveland a 2nd RD draft pick to take him off our hands a year later, to give up next years #1 to move up I can't say there is much to be positive about.
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That's the most common opinion here.

Texian said:
There is no more benefit of the doubt. McNair has more than likely set this team back 5 years.
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Maybe. I mean the Fitzpatrick, Mallett, Hoyer thing wasn't moving us forward any. This might be the move to set us back on the right track. No more bargain bin QBs... maybe Watson doesn't pay off, but the expense they've paid to dump Osweiler (though unnecessary) & get Watson could be a sign that they finally see value in a better than average QB leading their team... Our team.
 
thunderkyss said:
What about Dare Ogunbowale?
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I can't say for sure with him evidently impressing the Texans. But my guess is unless Blue screws the pooch, Ogenbowale is destined to the practice squad..........definitely a chance that he could be subsequently plucked by another team in need.
 
kiwitexansfan said:
Are Lamar Miller and Alfred Blue getting any reps?

Hunt, Foreman and Ervin are getting all the mentions.

Are Blue and/or Miller at risk??
Click to expand...

CloakNNNdagger said:
Miller is a lock. Blue is a lock unless he really screws up before the season begins. Foreman isn't going anywhere. Hunt and Ervin will be apparently fighting it out for RB, returners, or slots..
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They had 4 RB on the roster to start the season last year but had 5 by the end. I'd say Miller, D'Onta and one of either Ervin or Hunt are locks. Not so sure about Blue. Depends on how many they keep and if they are considering keeping both Ervin and Hunt.

Of course, what these guys do on special teams is going to play a big role too, and I haven't heard jack squat about ST reps.
 
edromeo said:
About the only thing that is accurate in the statement above is that Watson played in a spread offense.

Even with the most cursory glance at his film anyone can see him going through progressions.
Even the most cursory knowledge of his game shows he's not a 1 read then tuck and run QB.

But this area of evaluation is difficult to discuss on a message board. I think this question can be answered by actually watching Clemson/Watson game cut-ups and understanding the Clemson offense. Its quite obvious to see Watson going through both pre and post snap progressions. And by looking at the plays from the Clemson passing game its also quite obvious that the offense required him to go through pre and post progressions.

OB seems to think that Clemson's offense prepared him well and based on his apparent success thus far in camp it would seem that OB was correct.

Or maybe Watson is such a savant that his inability to read a defense, go through a progression and make quick decisions developed over night on his own despite not being a trait he possessed prior to training camp?

Questionable is purposefully ambiguous term but anyhow....


1. Deshaun Waston was the sixth-most-accurate QB on deep targets this season.


Being able to stretch the field does wonders for an offense, and Watson is one of the best in the nation at throwing deep. Among QBs with at least 50 deep attempts (passes traveling 20-plus yards in air), Watson ranks sixth in adjusted completion rate, at 49.4 percent, and his numbers improved as the season went on.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-3-stats-that-define-deshaun-watsons-game

I do agree that if you fine focus his accuracy only on the distances below:
31-40: Yd Adj Comp % 25.0% #39
40+ : Yd Adj Comp % 30.8% #27

He needs to improve there in the above areas.
But he's money where it counts most:
21-30 Yd Adj Comp % 60.0% #2 and this is by far the bulk of NFL throws

His accuracy numbers are well documented for anyone that's truly interested in speaking factually about such topics...


Questionable again ambiguous.
Sports science measures his velocity at 53.5 mph which is on par with Sam Bradford.
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He is also accurate within 30 yards which is the range our receivers can regularly attain.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
I can't say for sure with him evidently impressing the Texans. But my guess is unless Blue screws the pooch, Ogenbowale is destined to the practice squad..........definitely a chance that he could be subsequently plucked by another team in need.
Click to expand...
:corrosion:
 
I think Blue and Hunt are similar but Hunt is faster and has more versatility. With Ervin's upswing it may be a good thing to keep both Ervin and Hunt. Foreman and Hunt can handle the running plays between the tackles and Miller - Ervin can do their primary damage from many different points in this offense. Ogenbawale goes to the PS where he hopefully remains until the Texans call upon him.

Could Blue return a RD7 pick? Wouldn't hurt to bundle up some additional late round picks since this where the Texans 2018 draft will be focused.
 
I think Blue and Hunt are similar but Hunt is faster and has more versatility. With Ervin's upswing it may be a good thing to keep both Ervin and Hunt. Foreman and Hunt can handle the running plays between the tackles and Miller - Ervin can do their primary damage from many different points in this offense. Ogenbawale goes to the PS where he hopefully remains until the Texans call upon him.

Could Blue return a RD7 pick? Wouldn't hurt to bundle up some additional late round picks since this where the Texans 2018 draft will be focused.
 
OptimisticTexan said:
I think Blue and Hunt are similar but Hunt is faster and has more versatility. With Ervin's upswing it may be a good thing to keep both Ervin and Hunt. Foreman and Hunt can handle the running plays between the tackles and Miller - Ervin can do their primary damage from many different points in this offense. Ogenbawale goes to the PS where he hopefully remains until the Texans call upon him.

Could Blue return a RD7 pick? Wouldn't hurt to bundle up some additional late round picks since this where the Texans 2018 draft will be focused.
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Blue and Hunt are not the same; Ervin and Hunt are the same.
Edit: you beat me to the post, Thunder.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
Miller is a lock. Blue is a lock unless he really screws up before the season begins. Foreman isn't going anywhere. Hunt and Ervin will be apparently fighting it out for RB, returners, or slots..
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Still it is interesting that the RBs - aside from Foreman - aren't really getting much ink. I guess the media is, as usual, has fixated on the QB position.
 
ObsiWan said:
Still it is interesting that the RBs - aside from Foreman - aren't really getting much ink. I guess the media is, as usual, has fixated on the QB position.
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because the RB position- aside from Foreman - is same-o, same-o. Not much to talk about there. There has been some talk about how Ervin is looking improved but not a lot of talk. The big question marks are in other positions. Houston media can only handle so many challenges at once
 
JB said:
because the RB position- aside from Foreman - is same-o, same-o. Not much to talk about there. There has been some talk about how Ervin is looking improved but not a lot of talk. The big question marks are in other positions. Houston media can only handle so many challenges at once
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you mean one at a time
lol
 
Speedy said:
They had 4 RB on the roster to start the season last year but had 5 by the end. I'd say Miller, D'Onta and one of either Ervin or Hunt are locks. Not so sure about Blue. Depends on how many they keep and if they are considering keeping both Ervin and Hunt.

Of course, what these guys do on special teams is going to play a big role too, and I haven't heard jack squat about ST reps.
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Blue is a lock Speedy.
 
I remember last preseason Alfred Blue didn't play at all. Or at least very little. Texans know what he is... and they like it enough to keep him on the roster.

If we see more of him this preseason that means he's fighting for his roster spot.
 
The Texans completed their 10th practice of training camp today, and it's clear that Tom Savage has had the best camp at his position. Deshaun Watson has looked good, as well, and has impressed the coaching staff with how far he's progressed in the past few months, but Savage has shown he's the No. 1 quarterback.

Sarah Barshop, ESPN Staff Writer
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John McClain‏Verified account@McClain_on_NFL 2h2 hours ago

Tom Savage has been terrific in the first 2 weeks of camp. He's clearly No. 1. Makes every throw, respected by teammates, knows this offense
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Speedy said:
I guess we'll see. Considering talent eval with this organization, you're probably right.
So who doesn't make it, Hunt?
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Texansballer74 said:
Yes I don't think Hunt will make the cut. But like you said we shall see.
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  1. [*]John McClain‏Verified account@McClain_on_NFL 2h2 hours ago



    RB Tyler Ervin also lines up in slot and wide. He made 2 excellent catches in traffic, turned it up the field and took off at warp speed.

    Second-year RB Tyler Ervin continues to catch and run well. So quick getting up the field. Quick cuts, excellent acceleration.

    RB Akeem Hunt, 1 of the team's fastest players, dropped a pass but caught 2 good ones over middle and near the sideline while covered well.
    Click to expand...
 
John McClain‏Verified account@McClain_on_NFL 2h2 hours ago

TE Ryan Griffin, 6-6, made a leaping catch in back of end zone on a pass from Savage, who threw it to only spot DBs couldn't get to it.

Hopkins ran a crossing route through back of end zone and Savage hit him perfectly on a pass thrown through 3 defenders.

Second-year WR Wendall Williams took a short out from Watson and turned it into a long TD when he outran the DBs. He's got incredible speed.

Watson showed again in practice today he can throw with velocity and accuracy going to his left. Overthrew a couple but lots of zip.

One of the many things I like about Watson is how he's unafraid 2 throw it away if he can't find a receiver open stead of trying 2 force it

CB Denzel Rice made a leaping INT in back of end zone on a pass thrown by Brandon Weeden. Rice has been impressive.

Clowney, listed at OLB on depth chart, played more RDE than OLB in practice today, as he does every day.
 
Bill O'Brien Balancing Running the Texans and the Offense
Bill O'Brien balancing running the offense and the Houston Texans with his new role in 2017.

Bill O’Brien arrived to Houston Texans training camp without an offensive coordinator and put himself in charge of the offense for 2017. With three years of subpar offensive output for the Texans, former offensive coordinator George Godsey and the team parted ways to pave the way for O’Brien to take over the offense.

When rookie mini-camp arrived, it was clear that O’Brien would be much more involved with the offense than before and it has carried to training camp.

“Yeah, it’s been good,” O’Brien said of running the offense. “I really enjoy coaching these players. I just enjoy the preparation for practice. I enjoy the competition in practice.”

The Texans try and make practice mimic game time situations as closely as possible during camp. If they are in a four- or two-minute drill, or in the red zone, O’Brien sometimes throws different situations on the team just to see how they react.

“We’re doing a lot of non-scripted things, which I love,” O’Brien said of practice. “The game isn’t scripted so I think after a few practices, really you should throw the scripts away and just give the situation and be specific about that, but call plays. I think that’s what all the coaches love.


“They’re competitive. They’re doing a good job over there mixing it up,” O’Brien said of Vrabel running the defense. “We’re mixing it up. I think he’s doing a good job. He’s very organized, detailed, works very hard. He’s got a great way with the players, so I think so far, so good.”

O’Brien has been working situational football with the offense, pushing them each practice. Defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel has to adjust to the Texans offense and make sure his defense is matched up, giving both O’Brien and Vrabel game-like situations while working off the practice script.

With O’Brien now so involved with the offense, he is not walking the field as much as before taking in all positions groups like in his previous three seasons. O’Brien may not do that as often as before but it is still his team and he makes sure that he catches up on everything during squad meetings.


“Being in charge of all three phases is something that I really enjoy,” O’Brien stated.


“Maybe I don’t do it quite as much, but I’m around,” O’Brien said of checking on the defense. “I mean, they know I’m there. We still squad-meet every day, we watch all three phases. There’s no doubt that I’m more involved with the offense but I’m still enjoying, loving, being the head coach of this team.”
 
Yet another hardship story for a Texans player.

***********************************************************
Daniel Ross overcomes adversity to get a chance with Texans
By: Harry Latham-Coyle | August 2, 2017 11:58 am ET


Big defensive lineman Daniel Ross is one of the most intriguing rookie free agents on the Texans roster. Ross, listed at 6-foot-6 and 325 pounds, is a powerful and stout interior lineman who has versatility for the Texans 3-man front, able to flip flop between defensive end and nose tackle.

Ross’ path to the NFL has been unconventional, to put it mildly. As a child, Ross’ mother could not provide for him so he had to live with his grandmother. However, from this childhood hardship Ross emerged at Northeast Mississippi Community College and played two years on their football team. From there, he ventured north at the age of 20 to play in the Canadian Football League, first on the practice squad with the Edmonton Eskimos in 2014. Cut prior to the 2015 season, Ross kept himself in football shape and was rewarded with another contract with the Eskimos but played only one game, before once again finding himself searching for an opportunity, unsure whether he would ever play football at a high level again.

His agent, Matt Striegel, began to contact NFL teams, sending film of Ross’ community college play for in an attempt to peak their interest. Late in the draft, Ross took a phone call from the Texans, offering him a rookie free agent deal and giving Ross a shot at the highest level.

Daniel Ross is an anomaly in NFL circles. He was not heavily recruited out of high school and did not ascend to stardom at a flashy college program. He has battled back from extreme adversity to receive an opportunity to try and stick as an undrafted free agent. A slow start to camp may have been expected as Ross tries to adjust to the NFL speed of American football, but since pads have come on, those at training camp have positive feedback on the defensive lineman who has impressed with his power and athleticism at his size.

The defensive line is a cluttered group. The Texans lost Vince Wilfork in the offseason to retirement but return J.J. Watt, D.J. Reader, Christian Covington, Joel Heath and Brandon Dunn, all of whom have spent time on the 53-man roster. They also spent a mid-round selection on defensive tackle Carlos Watkins, who is expected to make the roster come final cuts. The Texans tend to keep six players on the defensive line to enter the season but with Jadeveon Clowney’s versatility may choose to keep five this coming season, meaning the chances of other rookies making the team are slim.

There are higher-profile names that of Daniel Ross competing for a spot. Eli Ankou of UCLA and Matthew Godin of Michigan were projected as draftable players prior to the 2017 NFL Draft, and have solid fundamental skills cultivated at these Power 5 schools. But they have not faced adversity the way Ross has had to: from a disruptive childhood to a small school to being cut twice in Canada, he has worked hard to get to this point and knows he has to work harder to make it in the NFL.

“My Granny always told me she is going to see me on that big screen one day. I am trying to live that dream and just trying to be successful for her. It didn’t tear me down, I didn’t let it take me down.” Ross told Patrick Starr of State of the Texans. “Sometimes I wake up and look to the sky and just thank the Lord for this opportunity because this opportunity doesn’t come often. A few, one in a million people, get this chance and I am just lucky that I am one of them and I am just trying to embrace it, just be a good teammate, learn the plays and stay humble.”
 
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