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So Polk wants to be Number 2. Well, he'll have to beat out Blue for Number 2, and frankly, between Blue and Polk, I think those are horrible names for the **** back spot.
So Polk wants to be Number 2. Well, he'll have to beat out Blue for Number 2, and frankly, between Blue and Polk, I think those are horrible names for the **** back spot.
He wants to be #1, at the very minimum he wants to be part of a duet & not a quartet.
We signed him to a one year deal, any opportunity he gets on the field, he's auditioning for FA.
Nobody gets my humor in this forum either. I'm going to have to rethink my concept of humor, obviously it's above everyone's head.![]()
Polk's 102 yd kickoff return...
Looks like he could be a special teams upgrade.
if that hammy behaves
Nobody gets my humor in this forum either. I'm going to have to rethink my concept of humor, obviously it's above everyone's head.![]()
Yet in a recent post on this MB, OBrien did not name Polk as a possible return guy.![]()
CHRIS POLK KEEPING IT SIMPLE WITH THE TEXANS
Considered a long shot when arriving to Houston as free agent. Chris Polk is making an early impression during OTAs to make a run at the 53-man roster when training camp arrives.
It has not always been easy for Chris Polk since he arrived as a top running back coming out of Washington. Entering the NFL as a rookie free agent, Polk has worked nonstop to find himself on NFL rosters for the past three seasons. Now he is learning to keep things simple and stay true to what landed him in the NFL.
Polk arrived to Houston in a crowded backfield, looking to make an impression and is working to find himself on the depth chart when training camp eventually breaks.
Spending the past three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, Polk is learning from the ground up with the Texans. As Polk called it, he has been in a “Running Back Gold Mine,” learning from some of the best in the league. Playing on the same roster as Darren Sproles and LeSean McCoy, he is now in the same backfield as Arian Foster. A visual learner, he has picked up the nuances of the position by watching those three veterans, and has been complimentary of Foster's hands-on approach to help younger backs pick up the offense.
“It is like I am a rookie all over again,” said Polk on arriving with the Texans. “In regards to the team, they ask so much of their running backs, where it is route running, blitz pickup, and learning all the different run tracks. I am really starting back at square one.”
Polk understands the backfield is filled with different types of runners, each of whom could fit on the final 53-man roster.
"I see myself as a balanced runner,” Polk says of his running style. “We all do something different; the most important thing for a running back is stay true to his style and how he runs.”
The fourth year back has returned kicks, played special teams, and been a spot player on offense, at times. He understands that all of those aspects are in play for him to make the Texans roster in 2015.
“I am going to do whatever they want me to do. If they want me to return kicks, block for the kicker I am going to do it. I just want to play, I just want to win,” explained Polk on what it will take to make this team.
The one factor that separates him from others on the roster is his return ability, where he averaged 30.9 yards a return last season. He has a chance to break through and take over that position. Polk attributes his success returning kicks to one thing: keeping it simple.
“It was broken down to me in college as the simplest thing. A kick return is an extended hand off, once you get the ball it is like a running play, just run. It is that simple.”
Even Head Coach Bill O’Brien has taken notice of one of his newest running backs during OTAs.
“Chris Polk has come in here and really picked up the offense pretty well, so he’s made the position even more competitive,” O’Brien said of Polks start to OTAs. “He’s a good pass catcher out the backfield. He’s a smart guy. It’s going to be a very competitive training camp at that position.”
With the Texans having shown an inclination to keep four running backs to start the season, Polk has a realistic shot of making it on the roster. His key to success will have to be winning the kick return duties and, as O’Brien put it, that position is open for the taking.
Considered a long shot once OTAs started, Polk is keeping it simple and putting his name into the ring to make it tough for the team to move on from him.
Head Coach Bill O’Brien
(on having RB Chris Polk back at practice) “Good. Anytime we can get all of our players out there, it’s important. He’s missed some time and him being back out there today helped that running back situation depth-wise. It was good.”
(on what RB Chris Polk adds to the running back group) “I see him as a three-down back. He’s still learning our system. He needs to be out there every day. He’s working hard to stay healthy. He’s a really good guy. He’s a hard working guy. Biggest thing with him is health.”
edit: listening to the presser now, OB sounded less positive than the quotes may led you to believe.
Polk had significant hamstring problems throughout all of last season. It was the reason for him missing some games and a significant factor in the Eagles' notable limiting of his RB role. Hopefully this problem does not follow him to the Texans.
I thought you once said soft tissue trauma like this seldom completely goes away.
don't let me misquote you on this
I have said that repeatedly. When I was injecting the "hopefully," I was at least trying to piss a little sunshine into the cereal this time.
As a high frequency full contact type of running back, his shoulder is much more worrisome than what appears on the surface. In 2008 as a Freshman in college, he sustained a right labrum shoulder injury that required season ending surgery. In 2009, he suffered the same injury to the same shoulder, but made the decision to tough it through with the aid a heavy brace because he did not want to miss back to back seasons. Following that season, he proceeded with his 2nd shoulder surgery. There were reports before the 2012 Draft that several examining team doctors labeled Polk's right shoulder as "chronic" and "degenerative." Dr. James Andrew, though was asked to examine him and said that his shoulder was just fine. Fast forward 1 year later........he again injures his right shoulder labrum shoulder that required surgery January of last year. BTW, each of his shoulder injuries leading to surgery were not as a result of a fall to the ground, but as a result of direct shoulder to body contact during his runs or blocks.
So what do you think about this guy?
I had hopes, young RB, buried on depth chart, impressed when he got his chances... I hoped that maybe he could be productive for us & after Arian got hurt, started thinking maybe he can be the one to rise to the occasion.
But after watching our first three preseason games & of course, Hard Knocks... I'm just not seeing it. He seems to walk around as if his spot is secured, but he does very little on the field.
Granted, we're not seeing a whole lot of anything from any of our RBs, but I'd just as soon put the younger no names in the game than see him go out there with his fake laugh.
So close to what I'm thinking that I could have written this. If you told me I did in my sleep I'd believe you. Like you said nobody is really doing much of anything so far and I'm trying to take that into consideration but it seems like everybody has had at least one carry this preseason that promises something more. If Polk has had that carry I must have missed it.
O'Brien to Hervoyel: It was in "closed" practice!![]()
Fixed it for you.![]()
Thanks! The way things are aligning, I expect the Texans to have the best practice team in the League!
Reminding me of that scene from Hard Knocks where BOB is raving about Polk. Rick Smith: 'O'Brien would have Polk in the HOF'.O'Brien to Hervoyel: It was in practice!![]()