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Houston Texans 2025 Training Camp

KoolAid Sipper said:
New offensive coordinator and 1st time player caller
New offense
New offensive line (3 or 4 out of 5)
New starting WRs (except Nico)
RB1 nursing an injury
What could possibly go wrong?
Good days and bad days, use camp to work out the wrinkles...but (fill in the blank)
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I guess we are going to see what kind of wrinkle cream the Texans are using.
 
badboy said:
I did not expect this until the last preseason game.
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Eleven weeks out for a grade II quad strain is what is an unexpected...............time to beginning to practice for this injury. Desperation...............Mixon out, Chubb not looking good, Marks need development.

My previous post above on Pierce explains all you need to know.
 
WAJTerminator said:
Feels like a microcosm of last year, moving players and shuffling the deck on the line. I'm appreciating your assessment of trying to understand why we are bringing oft-injured players of key importance aka LT. Didn't realize Cam had a history of being an iffy tackle and injured. Appreciate your knowledge! Let's hope they can get this line right!
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Not sure if you are aware but @CloakNNNdagger is a renowned surgeon. He has contacts all over including the NFL teams. For years, he has provided very accurate, inside information on the health of NFL players as well as college players..
 
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steelbtexan said:
Man Fisher must be really stinking up the joint.
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This really surprises me as I expected Fisher, If left at right tackle, would be better than last year. He seemed to show some progress at the end of the season. He is going backwards and I cannot understand why. I guess it is possible that knowing Houston brought in Ersery as well as Robinson that management did not have confidence in him and that affected him.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
Eleven weeks out for a grade II quad strain is what is an unexpected...............time to beginning to practice for this injury. Desperation...............Mixon out, Chubb not looking good, Marks need development.

My previous post above on Pierce explains all you need to know.
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I don't understand your comment about Marks needing development, unless you are referring to physical development - adding a few pounds? But he seems to be one of those rare players who may know how to avoid serious injury. In 5 years of collegiate play he missed only one game. His lack of size does impact his blocking. He's a "willing blocker" and can pick up the blitz. But he can be just steam rolled by overmatched rushers.
 
Number19 said:
I don't understand your comment about Marks needing development, unless you are referring to physical development - adding a few pounds? But he seems to be one of those rare players who may know how to avoid serious injury. In 5 years of collegiate play he missed only one game. His lack of size does impact his blocking. He's a "willing blocker" and can pick up the blitz. But he can be just steam rolled by overmatched rushers.
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Your last sentence is why I think Woody could be another tank dell waiting to happen even at his size..
 
badboy said:
This really surprises me as I expected Fisher, If left at right tackle, would be better than last year. He seemed to show some progress at the end of the season. He is going backwards and I cannot understand why. I guess it is possible that knowing Houston brought in Ersery as well as Robinson that management did not have confidence in him and that affected him.
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If I remember his draft profile correctly, it's his footwork. He's overmatched by speed rushers on the outside edge.

So, has this been his problem in camp? Or what?
 
badboy said:
That is confusing to me as to why they are giving Andrews so many snaps rather than Patterson.
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Because Andrews has played for Popovich before and knows what Popovich expects out of the C position. Plus Andrews is the better run blocker.
 
steelbtexan said:
If Ersery plays LT then Brown really needs to get healthy, step up and plat RT like he has in the past.
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100% agree but would be okay with holding Trent out until absolutely necessary. As a many-year vet, I don't think he will need much time to be ready. I hope his weight is under control. Another reason I was hoping Fisher would improve and allow Trent even more time.
 
Number19 said:
If I remember his draft profile correctly, it's his footwork. He's overmatched by speed rushers on the outside edge.

So, has this been his problem in camp? Or what?
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The link is to an evaluation that I agree with. It does say he needs work with speed rushers but many do coming out of college into the NFL. I have seen nothing that shows me our new offensive line coach is any better than previous. The following indicates to me that this is a player who should be excelling with good coaching and he is not.
 
badboy said:
This really surprises me as I expected Fisher, If left at right tackle, would be better than last year. He seemed to show some progress at the end of the season. He is going backwards and I cannot understand why. I guess it is possible that knowing Houston brought in Ersery as well as Robinson that management did not have confidence in him and that affected him.
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Or maybe we overrated Fisher.

So far in 2 yrs he's sucked.
 
badboy said:
Your last sentence is why I think Woody could be another tank dell waiting to happen even at his size..
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Woody is 5’10 and weighs 207 pounds at the combine.

He ain’t small.

He’s not Barkley big or Henry freight train sized, but look at the size of some of the RBs on this page

fftoday.com

Running Back Rankings: 2025 Regular Season - FF Today

Fantasy football player rankings from FFToday.
fftoday.com
 
DBCooper said:
Woody is 5’10 and weighs 207 pounds at the combine.

He ain’t small.

He’s not Barkley big or Henry freight train sized, but look at the size of some of the RBs on this page

fftoday.com

Running Back Rankings: 2025 Regular Season - FF Today

Fantasy football player rankings from FFToday.
fftoday.com
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Right. For rushing and receiving. But blocking, his tape, I believe, does show him getting steamrolled at times by larger rushers. Is it technique or lack of size? And how highly is this skill rated for our RBs?
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
I've been caught up most of today, but I wanted to post it until I saw that you did. I have made it clear that I was concerned with Robinson's consistent availability, especially as a LT. Keep in mind that Robinson has been out for injuries for over half of the games in his last 3 years.

You can't keep bringing in players with significant histories of major injuries and expect to go unscathed.
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Yeah you can if you're the Texans. Count them up
 
KoolAid Sipper said:
New offensive coordinator and 1st time player caller
New offense
New offensive line (3 or 4 out of 5)
New starting WRs (except Nico)
RB1 nursing an injury
What could possibly go wrong?
Good days and bad days, use camp to work out the wrinkles...but (fill in the blank)
Click to expand...
This is going to be an average offense and CJ is gonna get hit alot. They could've solved alot of problems by bringing in Becton, Daniels, or scheriff, instead they chose Rankins, Robinson, and bunch of guys who gave up alot of pressure and sacks last year.
 
Rich Schmidt said:
I don't see it as a trap. You use you resources ($'s and draft picks) wisely. They saw they could fill holes on defense with vets, and reset the offense with some solid draft picks. Jayden Higgins (WR, Iowa State), Aireontae Ersery (OT, Minnesota), Jaylin Noel (WR, Iowa State), Jaylin Smith (CB, USC), Woody Marks (RB, USC), Jaylen Reed (S, Penn State), Graham Mertz (QB, Florida), Kyonte Hamilton (DT, Rutgers), and Luke Lachey (TE, Iowa)

4 of the top 5 draftees were offense. In total, 6 offense, 3 defense. In free agency brought in 2 OT, 2 G, 2 C, 2 WR, 1 RB

I cannot see your story looking at the actual guys brought in.
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The most important position was battered last year. Their answer? Bottom of the barrel guys. Look how quickly they jumped in for defensive guys and look at the oline replacement. You best oline player was traded for player half as good with the same faults. Tomlinson hasn't been good in years, he's you cheap lg. Who knows who's playing center? Now you have a 2nd yr player who was so bad they move that the rookie over there
 
leebigeztx said:
The most important position was battered last year. Their answer? Bottom of the barrel guys. Look how quickly they jumped in for defensive guys and look at the oline replacement. You best oline player was traded for player half as good with the same faults. Tomlinson hasn't been good in years, he's you cheap lg. Who knows who's playing center? Now you have a 2nd yr player who was so bad they move that the rookie over there
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A lot of truth in this post.

Good news is that Howard is in shape and is looking solid. Ersery looks like the best on the team. So the right side of the ol should be solid. If Andrews or Patterson can step up at C and be solid that would help a lot. I'm hoping Robinson can be serviceable at LT. If these things happen the Texans can become contenders. Another big issue is the lack of depth on the ol, if even one starting ol gets hurt this team is in trouble.

On a more positive note, Schultz and Stover are looking much better this year.
 
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Number19 said:
I don't understand your comment about Marks needing development, unless you are referring to physical development - adding a few pounds? But he seems to be one of those rare players who may know how to avoid serious injury. In 5 years of collegiate play he missed only one game. His lack of size does impact his blocking. He's a "willing blocker" and can pick up the blitz. But he can be just steam rolled by overmatched rushers.
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To be considered for 3-down back, I believe that he needs to gain muscle/strength............and more experience to learn how to best handle NFL defenses.

As far as injuries, before his collegiate career concluded, Marks had a history of playing through injuries, including a broken nose at Mississippi State. More worrisome though, towards the end of the 2024 college football season, while playing for the USC Trojans, he sustained a head injury in a game against Notre Dame on November 30, 2024, resulting in a concussion that kept him out for the remainder of that game. He was also dealing with an ankle injury for a couple of weeks prior to the Notre Dame game. Marks' college career ended with him missing his final game, the Las Vegas Bowl on December 27, 2024 due to his head injury sustained earlier in the season. Despite his previous injuries, he indeed had a productive 2024 college season. But his recent concussion history should not be taken lightly.
 
badboy said:
Your last sentence is why I think Woody could be another tank dell waiting to happen even at his size..
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5’10 and 207 lbs isn’t all that small. And he for sure no where close to Tank Dell.

Here’s a list of backs who played at a high level in the NFL.

Warwick Dunn 5’9 180
Darren Sproles 5’6 190
Maurice Jones-Drew 5’7 210
Bobby Sanders 5’8 206
Emmitt Smith 5’9 216
Barry Sanders 5’8 200
 
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Fisher and Green. Two high draft picks at G and T who look like total fails. I think on whole id give Nick a B- as GM. If those two were just decent…it would easily go to B+ or even A-. But when you blow those kinds of picks completely…it really drags your overall. Grade down.

OTOH…i will never question a NC DB selection again. The man is gold at those positions.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
To be considered for 3-down back, I believe that he needs to gain muscle/strength............and more experience to learn how to best handle NFL defenses.

As far as injuries, before his collegiate career concluded, Marks had a history of playing through injuries, including a broken nose at Mississippi State. More worrisome though, towards the end of the 2024 college football season, while playing for the USC Trojans, he sustained a head injury in a game against Notre Dame on November 30, 2024, resulting in a concussion that kept him out for the remainder of that game. He was also dealing with an ankle injury for a couple of weeks prior to the Notre Dame game. Marks' college career ended with him missing his final game, the Las Vegas Bowl on December 27, 2024 due to his head injury sustained earlier in the season. Despite his previous injuries, he indeed had a productive 2024 college season. But his recent concussion history should not be taken lightly.
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while this may be true then the entire league must be damned.
 
leebigeztx said:
The most important position was battered last year. Their answer? Bottom of the barrel guys. Look how quickly they jumped in for defensive guys and look at the oline replacement. You best oline player was traded for player half as good with the same faults. Tomlinson hasn't been good in years, he's you cheap lg. Who knows who's playing center? Now you have a 2nd yr player who was so bad they move that the rookie over there
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I agree with you they took a swing with a lot of middle of the road at best OL people. They seem to think the focus, chemistry, working together just was not there and that they could get average out of average. I mean they have historically played the game, 2 1st's Tunsil, Kenyon 1st, Howard, 1st, Fisher 2nd, Scruggs, 2nd, ... They can hit and develop DB's, why not OL? Something is wrong in their evaluation, development, scheme etc. If anyone has the exact answer please tell Nick. They had lots of draft capital and $$'s in that horrible line we saw last year. Please just be average guys, and yes, hoping is not a strategy
 
Rich Schmidt said:
I agree with you they took a swing with a lot of middle of the road at best OL people. They seem to think the focus, chemistry, working together just was not there and that they could get average out of average. I mean they have historically played the game, 2 1st's Tunsil, Kenyon 1st, Howard, 1st, Fisher 2nd, Scruggs, 2nd, ... They can hit and develop DB's, why not OL? Something is wrong in their evaluation, development, scheme etc. If anyone has the exact answer please tell Nick. They had lots of draft capital and $$'s in that horrible line we saw last year. Please just be average guys, and yes, hoping is not a strategy
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Caserio drafts who the coaches and scouts recommend to fit a specific scheme. Lovie, Pep, Warrhrop ran a power gap scheme. ( A scheme that fit Green) Then they switched over to a ZBS scheme and Ryan's, Slowik, Strausser wanted an OT like Fisher. Caserio got the people they wanted and Fisher is starting to look like a bust. I'm really interested to see how Green does in Philly under Southland
 
I thought Fisher looked great when he got early looks subbing for chunks of some games early at both LT and RT last season... When he took over RT full time, he definitely was exposed sometimes on the edge vs. pass rush but there was still plenty to like, IMO. From what I have heard, the issue is he is in worse shape and physically weaker than he was last year. I don't know if that was from lingering injuries/etc., a lack of professionalism in the off-season, or something else... Seth Payne made some pretty direct and specific comments on his podcast a couple days ago about how Fisher has looked.
 
I did address his size and still think no 200 lb running back is going to hold up against defensive linemen and linebackers. I think that's one of the reasons we have a fullback on the roster. It will be interesting to see how many snaps that Stroud has with an empty backfield near him.
 
badboy said:
I did address his size and still think no 200 lb running back is going to hold up against defensive linemen and linebackers. I think that's one of the reasons we have a fullback on the roster. It will be interesting to see how many snaps that Stroud has with an empty backfield near him.
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You know, a two back backfield with Marks paired with a FB, and a TE and two wideouts, might really be effective. I'd utilize the FB as a runner, as well as a blocker.
 
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