Practice Report

[Vinny]

Practice report
By Nick Schenck
houstontexans.com

Commitment to excellence: Nursing sore muscles from their first two-a-day of the 2005 season, the Texans returned to the field on Sunday afternoon for their third training camp workout, and first inside the bubble. While each new season brings excitement, the raised level of expectation this year has the players buzzing. Improvements in each of the first three seasons have led the team to place the bar even higher in year four.

Quarterback David Carr is encouraged by the team’s progress, particularly in the past months leading up to training camp. Now, he’s ready to break through the playoff wall, and he thinks his teammates are, too. “Really, in your fourth year you get tired of just being average, or less than average,” Carr said. “In the off-season, when all these guys go do anything else, they’re not average in anything. “I think we have a group that not only can win, but deserves to win, because we’ve put in the work and the guys put in the effort to go out and do something exciting.”

Catch-up time: His contract signed, rookie defensive tackle Travis Johnson was all smiles on Saturday night when he stopped by the team’s night practice. Today, though, he was all business.

While Johnson, the 16 th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, is a little behind after missing the Texans’ conditioning test and first two practices, he kept up with the team’s progress as best as he could. Daily conversations with his teammates and a call to his defensive line coach, Mike London, at 1 a.m. helped him stay up-to-date mentally with what the team was doing.

From a physical standpoint, however, Johnson realized immediately that there’s much work to do. Asked what his biggest adjustment is, Johnson didn’t mince words. “Just getting back into football shape and going every day as far as running after the ball sideline-to-sideline and getting back to my usual habits,” he said.

Head coach Dom Capers was relieved to have his first-rounder join the team. He sensed Johnson’s enthusiasm on the practice field, and anticipates big things this season from the former Florida St. Seminole. “I know he’s excited about being out here, so we expect to see improvement out of him every day.” Capers said. “I’ll be interested in looking at tape tonight and see how he did for his first practice.”

Same face, different place: It’s no secret that Andre Johnson will be the focal point of most defenses the Texans face this season. So when the offensive coaches were formulating their strategy this off-season, they looked into ways they could make it as difficult as possible for the opposition to defend No.80.

The result, at least this far into training camp, has been an attack featuring Johnson in constant motion. Wherever he lines up in the beginning of a play, chances are he won’t be there at the time of the snap. To make it harder for teams to double team Johnson, offensive coordinator Chris Palmer changed the wide receiver’s position. “We went into the off-season with the thought that we were going to move Andre to the Z position, which is on tight end side,” Palmer said. “The first two years he played the X wide receiver, which is a single receiver side. Now that gives us the ability, with him off the line of scrimmage, to move him and put him in different spots. He’s adjusted very well in the spring and he’s doing a good job.”

Johnson, the Texans’ lone Pro Bowler in 2004, is noticeably more confident entering his third year. Palmer has seen his fair share of prodigies in 15 seasons of NFL coaching. As far as he is concerned, Johnson shouldn’t have any trouble with his new role in the offense. “Here’s a guy who got 975 yards his first year, was an All-Pro his second year and now, with the ability to move him around, will make it more difficult for the defense to zero in on him,” Palmer said. “The sky is the limit for this guy. He’s a very talented individual and we expect him to have a big year.”

Sights set high: Although he arrived only three months ago, cornerback Phillip Buchanon isn’t timid about sharing his lofty goals for the secondary. Last year, the Texans’ defense accounted for 22 interceptions. This season, Buchanon believes that total can be increased by eight. “Our overall team goal is to take it game-by-game, but we want to make the playoffs,” he said. “For the secondary, we want to get about 30 picks. We have to make it happen and set high goals.”

No NFL team made 30 interceptions last season, but that’s not to say it’s an impossible feat to accomplish. With Buchanon and Dunta Robinson, along with nickel back Demarcus “Petey” Faggins, the Texans boast arguably the best secondary in the AFC South. Training camp began just three days ago, but already the chemistry is evident between cornerbacks Buchanon and Robinson. “Dunta and I are roommates, listen to the same music, and do everything together,” Buchanon said. “I am trying to tell him things and he is trying to tell me things and we are trying to win together.”

Singled out: No, Jabar Gaffney isn’t confused. He knows it’s not Battle Red Day at training camp, but he still has to wear the red pullover during practice to protect his surgically-repaired shoulder. Gaffney’s shoulder doesn’t appear to be a serious concern, but Capers prefers to err on the side of caution.

In other injury news, defensive end Gary Walker (hamstring) was limited to only individual work today, while defensive end Carlos Williams (hyperextended elbow) and cornerback Cedric Williams (heat-related) watched today’s practice from the sidelines. “We’ve been fairly fortunate through the first three practices,” Capers said. “Those are really the only ones and hopefully we can continue on the same.”

houstontexans.com

 

[ghostlight]

Thanks Vinny for this great post. This is what I've been waiting for. First hand reports of substance. You and all of the the other loyal (to many to name)posters put a great deal of time and effort into this Board and those of us that live outside of the Houston media area are grateful.

Look forward to many more insightful posts.

 

[Vinny]

np ghostlight...just trying to make it easy to find everything in one place for you guys.


Practice report
By Kris Krikes
www.HoustonTexans.com

​

Shelling it out: The Texans started their third day of training camp at 8:45 a.m. on Monday, wearing shells instead of full pads. “We’ll do this periodically,” head coach Dom Capers said. “When we come out in shells, we’re trying to mix up the speed and tempo of the game.”

Capers and his staff slowly have introduced different aspects of the game through each practice. The team worked its third down packages today.

Said Capers: “You saw substituted personnel on both sides of the ball and (we’re) starting to really implement some third down situations, which is a real critical part of the game.”

Among other developments, the team also worked a three-receiver package for the first time, giving many young offensive and defensive players an opportunity for some quality reps. “We’ve got excellent competition going on at the receiver position,” Capers said. “When you’re in that personnel, you’re getting a chance to look at three guys as opposed to just two guys out there. “Same thing on defense, it’s a chance for many of the young defensive backs to show what they’re capable of because we’ll have five or six out there at once.”

Who’s right at left?: Four practices down and the Texans are still trying to figure out which left tackle will best complement the offensive line. As of Monday morning, Seth Wand and Victor Riley were both getting a good number of reps. Yet a number of other players are also in the running. “We’ve got great competition between Seth and Victor,” offensive line coach Steve Marshall said. “And maybe even somebody else before it’s over with. We’re looking at everything at this point.”

Wand started at left tackle last season for the Texans. Meanwhile, Riley, who was acquired via free agency in May, was drafted by Kansas City in 1998 to play left tackle, but has played right tackle for the majority of his professional career.

With both players vying for a starting role, the coaches think the overall level of play on the O-line will improve. “Seth has improved quite a bit so far in his first four practices,” Marshall said. “Victor has come out in great shape, and he’s a veteran guy that knows how to play the game.” “So, the proof is in the pudding, we’ll have to see how it goes. But, for four practices, I couldn’t be more pleased with both of them.”

Settling in: After only four practices at their new positions, linebackers Kailee Wong and Morlon Greenwood seem to be making themselves right at home. “I really like what I see out of those two guys,” Capers said. “First of all, they both know how to prepare. They are both extremely hard workers and they both do extremely well in the classroom.”

As he did in the first few practices, linebackers coach Tom Olivadotti pulled the pair aside after position drills this morning to drill them on their assignments and various terminology. “There are a lot of adjustments, just assignments,” said Wong, who also will assume defensive play-calling responsibilities this season. “You, as an inside linebacker, really have to take the mentality to make every play. And keep yourself alive, not get caught up in the line and be able to flow so that you can make your tackle on the ball carrier.”

Last season, Greenwood played inside in Miami ’s 4-3 defense, while Wong has played outside for the past three seasons with the Texans. Both are excited for the challenge and confident in their abilities to excel at their new positions. “I really like it,” Greenwood said of playing weakside linebacker. “I’ll be on the inside where I can cover about 85 percent of the field, so that’s where I’d like to be – where I can be an impact all over the field.”

Wong and Greenwood are not only intent on learning everything they can about their new positions, but also about each other, both on and off the field. “We’re definitely really tight,” Wong said. “The two inside linebackers really need to be on the same page, it is probably the most critical position aside from maybe the two safeties.”

Capers is confident in the pair’s abilities and likes the speed and aggressiveness they add to the defense. “I think they’re both athletic, tough guys,” Capers said. “There’s no question in my mind. I have a lot of confidence in those two guys and when it comes time to play, they will be totally prepared.”

 

[JDizzle]

Did anyone see TJ and some O. Lineman get into it? It was a pretty decent scuffle, too. I saw it on Channel 13.

 

[TEXANS84]

A+ to Seth Wand this evening. He held his own against Peek and a couple other defensive linemen. Complete turnaround from Saturday's practice.

 

[vtech9]

could someone that was at tonights practice give all of us out-of-towners a run down on what went on?

 

[The Preacher]

A+ to Seth Wand this evening. He held his own against Peek and a couple other defensive linemen. Complete turnaround from Saturday's practice.

Why I am not surprised nine hours have passed and there haven't been any props given to Seth. I know it's just one practice, but I really hope he can step up his game up by what one would call "improving as your young career progresses."

Let's hope this becomes a trend because a great % of the Texans success, especially on offense, will depend on the LT's effectiveness.

 

[Vambo, the Marble Eye]

Guys all I have seen is Mathis dropping a pass which was broke up by Bell?

What is the scoop?

 

[Runner]

Why I am not surprised nine hours have passed and there haven't been any props given to Seth. I know it's just one practice, but I really hope he can step up his game up by what one would call "improving as your young career progresses."

Let's hope this becomes a trend because a great % of the Texans success, especially on offense, will depend on the LT's effectiveness.

I posted a little OL vs. DL blurb on the "Piqued by Peek" thread.

 

[swisher]

Mathis blew by Faggins like he was standing still and caught a long td during seven on sevens.

And David Carr has got some guns:

 

[aj.]

Mathis blew by Faggins like he was standing still and caught a long td during seven on sevens.

The inside juke froze Petey and it was all over after that. Of course there wasn't a deep safety on that side but that's not the point. Mathis is showing that he has more than raw speed. In the two practices I've watched him, I've seen good hands, adequate moves, and the ability to go up and fight for jump balls. So far, I really like what I see from this draft class.

 

[nunusguy]

The inside juke froze Petey and it was all over after that. Of course there wasn't a deep safety on that side but that's not the point.

Perhaps that is the point, if you consider that the deep safety (in real game situations), would be on the other side commited to giving assistance to that sides corner to help cover AJ.

 

[humbleone]

Very nice post AJ....thanks! Wow Mathis could really be another DD value type of personnel move by Texans management. First he impresses the heck out of DRob, then blows past Faggins....so far, so good!

One more thing...nice going to CC and McNair on one more time getting all of our draft choices on board and in camp. If we are going to blast CC for OL moves we have not made (and like others here I don't know what the specific opportunities we passed up on that would have made us better were) we at least should say "nice going" for what he has done.

Go Texans!

 

[Vinny]

Perhaps that is the point, if you consider that the deep safety (in real game situations), would be on the other side commited to giving assistance to that sides corner to help cover AJ.

The most commonly used def scheme used against us is the cover2 shell where both S are over the top of both the CB's who are on the x and z.

 

[nunusguy]

Last night I spent some time watching our 5th round pick, center Drew Hodgdon. I dunno...Hodgdon is not built like a OL, actually he plain doesn't
have the physique of a football player. Here's what I'm saying, you look at
say Weigert or McKinney, they are big men all over but they have really big butts and legs. That's how it should be, especially for a lineman - football, especially for linemen, is played more than anything else from the waist down. These guys are like 2 catapillar tractors that line up head on and try to push each other backward. Hodgdon is barrel chested with huge
arms, but his butt and legs are disproportinately small to his huge upper torso to the point that he is almost cartoonish in appearance. Not a good physique for a football player. And to make matters worse, he's short with short arms.
But its evident that he's very determined. Just don't know if he has enough natural ingredients to really compete effectively at this level and help us.

 

[Porky]

The most commonly used def scheme used against us is the cover2 shell where both S are over the top of both the CB's who are on the x and z.

Ya, I have seen that coverage. Correct me if I am wrong here. They are in a 2 deep coverage I believe, with the safeties playing fairly deep, one covering each half of the field. This being the case, would trying to exploit this coverage with a seam route by a TE or by the slot WR make some sense?

 

[Vinny]

yeah...the best way to beat this scheme is hammering them in the ground game forcing a S close to the LOS and finding the seams in the passing game after streching them out to cover the field vertically as well as horizontally.

 

[nunusguy]

yeah...the best way to beat this scheme is hammering them in the ground game forcing a S close to the LOS and finding the seams in the passing game after streching them out to cover the field vertically as well as horizontally.

Or having a TE who has some real skills as a pass receiver.

 

[NoBullTexan]

The inside juke froze Petey and it was all over after that. Of course there wasn't a deep safety on that side but that's not the point. Mathis is showing that he has more than raw speed. In the two practices I've watched him, I've seen good hands, adequate moves, and the ability to go up and fight for jump balls. So far, I really like what I see from this draft class.

Thanks, AJ_, I confess, after the draft, I thought we had gotten a speed merchant with nothing but straightline speed. The kid is really looking good......now to see him against a real opposing CB? The part about liking what you see from this Draft class is like music to my ears.

 

[Wolf]

Hot, Fat, and Hungry

didn't know if this is posted,but here is another day 2 report

 

[rmartin65]

mathis sounds impressive.

 

[TEXANS84]

Heard last night on 610am that Robaire Smith was lining up in the Houston offensive backfield in goal-line situations.

 

[texasguy346]

Heard last night on 610am that Robaire Smith was lining up in the Houston offensive backfield in goal-line situations.

Aug. 4, 2005, 10:32PM
Texans Notebook
Monster Backs

Quarterback David Carr likes the idea of having 300-pound defensive lineman Robaire Smith lining up at fullback in short-yardage and goal-line situations.

"Robaire's scary," Carr said after Thursday's practice. "He's like a train wreck. He was right behind me when we ran a play earlier, and I thought he was going to run me over. I've never seen a fullback that size."

Smith and inside linebacker DeShon Polk lined up in the backfield. Inside linebacker Kailee Wong played tight end.

"If they want to come over and play with us, as long as they know what they're doing, I think it's good," Carr said. "If you have athletes like that who can go both ways and block and hit, you've got to use them.

"You can only dress a certain number of players, so I guess that's where a lot of teams get stuck and try to use different guys. So why not?"

...

link

 

[stephen1]

were turning into the patriots which is not a bad thing at all

 

[Lauren]

This is TEXANS84--

On ABC13 Seth Wand got laid flat on his back by Travis Johnson on the 9 on 7 drills. It looked like a bad angle/off balace that Seth had, but Travis made him look real bad.

Good news for the D-line, bad news for the offensive line.

 

[FILO_girl]

This is TEXANS84--

On ABC13 Seth Wand got laid flat on his back by Travis Johnson on the 9 on 7 drills. It looked like a bad angle/off balace that Seth had, but Travis made him look real bad.

Good news for the D-line, bad news for the offensive line.

Again? Wand was mowed over on Saturday, hope this isn't a trend.

 

[SheTexan]

Good news for the O line would be for Wand to get replaced by SOMEONE!! Maybe Riley will step in and get the job done. If not, Carr will be running for his life!

 

[aj.]

Double dip

 

[aj.]

We are screwed at left tackle.

Carter probably wouldn't let me get away with that on the Voice so there you have it.

 

[tiger06]

We are screwed at left tackle.

Yeah, I think it's clear what we'll be looking at on draft day 2006.

 

[FILO_girl]

We are screwed at left tackle.

Carter probably wouldn't let me get away with that on the Voice so there you have it.

Call 'em as you see 'em, aj. Alot of us share that same sentiment.

 

[ledzeppelin229]

If it makes anyone feel better, theoretically the line should only be better than last season. I'm not saying they'll be good, but some degree of improvement is something I hope we can expect.

 

[aj.]

What could save them is if this line can dominate in the running game to take some of the pressure off Carr. I know that's their plan and it's been talked about constantly but that need has never been clearer. They were good last year but they need to get better in order to reduce the number of obvious pass situations. That plus a lot of help from a TE or fullback. Body language tells me Wand's confidence is shot. I hope he can get over the hump and put it back together.

 

[wags]

What could save them is if this line can dominate in the running game to take some of the pressure off Carr. I know that's their plan and it's been talked about constantly but that need has never been clearer. They were good last year but they need to get better in order to reduce the number of obvious pass situations. That plus a lot of help from a TE or fullback. Body language tells me Wand's confidence is shot. I hope he can get over the hump and put it back together.

That or have every pass play be a rollout to the right.

 

[Ibar_Harry]

Actually I like what I hear out of TC, becuase our defensive line is making the O-line look bad. That's good, because in previous years that wasn't happening and we know how our defensive line, as well as, our O-line was doing. Sounds like our D-line and players are getting better and will put pressure on the opposition this year. They inturn our doing a number on the O-line and that will allow the O-line to get better. If you don't know what you are doing wrong, you can't get better. At least they don't have the false comfort level of the past thinking the O-line is just spiffy when it wasn't. I'd rather have the O-line knocked around in practice than when the season begins. At least now they have a shot at fixing it and figuring out what they need to do to do so.

 

[nunusguy]

What could save them is if this line can dominate in the running game to take some of the pressure off Carr.

No OL is good enough to constantly move the chains in the first 2 downs.
The best of lines will always leave the offense in long and third situations from time to time, and we definitly don't have the best of lines. There's just no way of getting around it, all OLs have to be able to pass block.

 

[Runner]

Again? Wand was mowed over on Saturday, hope this isn't a trend.

Let's say this:

Wand takes a rusher in pass protection - say Peek. Wand takes Peek's outside speed rush and pushes him past the QB and the QB is able to throw.

Two pratices later, another lineman, say Riley, takes Peek's speed rush and pushes him past the QB, who is able to throw.

Does it get shown on the news? No. It isn't exciting the many times the blocker is successful.

Do we say "Peek got stopped twice - hope this isn't a trend?" I doubt it.

We're pretty hyper-critical here without putting things in context. Maybe it's just because LT is the only position being contested in most people's view.

These replace "the left tackle and everything will be fine posts" don't really address the problem. The whole line needs to improve. If we had Orlando Pace playing LT last year that would have done nothing to stop the constant pressure that Carr faced up the middle. McKinney was no better than Wand; an injured Weigert was no better than Wand either. Last year there was more consistent pressure up the middle then there was from the left. And Wand almost always was matched up one-on-one against the other team's best rusher. The inside of the line at least had the opportuniy for more double teams.

There is no "replace one player" quick fix available.