The work continued on day two highlighted by a star's return and a special teamer standing out

11 observations from Texans training camp, July 26

Cody Stoots
Jul 26, 2019, 1:51 pm
@edclarke03/

A star returns

Texans star pass catcher DeAndre Hopkins made his return to the practice field just one day after the workouts started. He worked on some very specific drills during the workout. He practiced catching the ball from different body positions like squatting and leaning. He will be on a rep count for the Texans during camp.

Roby's run continues

Make it two days of impressive work in a row for new cornerback Bradley Roby. He ripped down a pass for a pick-six which Bill O'Brien claimed occurred because a pass catcher ran the wrong route. Roby didn't mind how it happened though, he took the ball the 70-plus yards for a score.

Speaking of pass catchers

This may be the deepest pass catching depth in history for the Texans. It feels like everyone can catch the ball well. We know about Hopkins and Will Fuller but Keke Coutee is the first real slot the Texans have had and the tight end room is loaded with every kind of tight end you would want. Deshaun Watson has a plethora of options to hit on the field.

The other Jordan

Jordan Thomas will get a lot of love during camp, as he should. But, don't forget about Jordan Akins. Though he had some plays Friday he might want back he had plenty of play maybe only he can make. Akins should be quite the chess piece for Bill O'Brien to move around the field. A few linebackers had a rough day trying to matchup with him.

Linebackers covering

Zach Cunningham and Dylan Cole are here for among other things their reliability in coverage. The duo showed again today how athletically gifted they are as they chased down tight ends and running backs. It will be imperative Cole stays healthy this season and give the team the much needed depth for that job.

A.J. Moore day

The special teams standout from last year had a strong day between the lines today. He was all over the place breaking up plays. He hauled in a long pass for an interception which really fired up the defense. He has plenty of opportunity while Justin Reid is out to add to his resume on defense.

Reid returns next?

While there is no timetable for Justin Reid to be activated for the team Bill O'Brien didn't seem concerned about his second-year safety's timeline. Reid was hit by a drunk driver before camp started and is currently on the Active/Non-Football Injury list. In his absence Jahleel Addae, most recently with the Chargers, has been getting a good amount of work.

AJ day 2.0

Backup quarterback A.J. McCarron diced up a few defensive sets. He rolled out a few times confusing defenders and extending a play just long enough for his players to come open. He threw a laser into the back of the end zone for a touchdown. He also isn't afraid to take a deep shot.

Pads come on Saturday

The team will have their first padded practice on Saturday. This is where more can be learned about the offensive and defensive lines. The list of most interesting players to be in pads tomorrow for me is as follows:

OL Tytus Howard

OL Max Scharping

OT Julién Davenport

DE Charles Omenihu

Play of the day

Fullback Cullen Gillaspia made the play of the day. He caught a pass in the corner of the end zone over his shoulder with a linebacker right on him in coverage. The defense protested saying the catch wasn't made in bounds. Gillaspia smacked into a storage shed finishing the rep but popped right back up.

Quote of the day

"We'll only keep him on the left side and he'll get his tackle reps."

Texans Head Coach Bill O'Brien on rookie offensive lineman Tytus Howard.

BONUS: Hopkins on his Madden rating

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Here's how the Houston Texans stack up against the Jaguars

Can the Texans secure their first win of the season? Composite Getty Image.

What: Texans @ Jags

When: 9/24 12pm CST kickoff

Where: Jacksonville, FL EverBank Stadium

TV/Radio: KRIV-TV, KILT-Radio

Betting Lines: Jags -9 (-110), O/U 44.5 (-110) *As of this writing

The Texans come into this game a hobbled 0-2. The Jags are 1-1 with their only loss being a one score game to the defending WORLD CHAMPS! Don't get me started on that whole debate! I digress. The season is still young. This game has a chance to catch a division rival off guard. The problem is, this division rival is hitting their stride and the Texans are too busy applying Band-Aids to half the roster. Let's take a look at this matchup…

When the Jags have the ball: So far, the Jags haven't been able to successfully navigate their run offense. Averaging 3.6 yards per carry so far on 57 carries in their two games isn't what they expected. They want to pound the rock and use it to open up the pass game. This bodes well for the Texans because they're giving up 4.3 yards per carry so far this season. If they can find a way to hold it down with their run defense, it'll help the pass rush with longer down & distance. Trevor Lawrence has a lot more weapons now than he used to. Evan Engram, Calvin Ridley, Zay Jones (questionable), and Christian Kirk provide him with the type of weapons that make a quarterback's job easy. Good thing Tavierre Thomas and Steven Nelson have been true lockdown corners this season according to Pro Football Focus. They're ranked numbers 2 and 3 in the cornerback position grades...but Thomas is out with a hand injury for at least a week or two and Derek Stingley Jr could head to IR with a hamstring injury, per Aaron Wilson. Stingley Jr will definitely be missed. Given his injury history, he can't be relied upon until he proves otherwise. More on this later. With Jimmy Ward hopefully back at safety, they'll stand a much better chance.

When the Texans have the ball: The offensive line continues to be an issue. C.J. Stroud is proving himself to be the best of this year's rookie quarterbacks so far. While he's lost two fumbles this season, he hasn't thrown a pick. His fumbles can be attributed to the line woes, and him holding onto the ball too long, wanting to make a play. This Jags defense is tough. They have two talented high first round pass rushers in Josh Allen and Travon Walker. They also have guys who can cover, hit, and go sideline to sideline. Quicker throws (drags, ins/outs, slants, screens) will be Stroud's best friend. It'll also be an extension of the run game which desperately needs help. Averaging a paltry 2.5 yards per carry this season is not how you help your rookie quarterback. I really hope there are more runs called. 49 rushes through two games is not ideal either. With the injuries along the line, you'd think run blocking wouldn't be a problem because that's the easier of the two. Maybe a more power-based approach will be to their liking. That and quicker throws. Getting that average up around 4.5 per carry or more is best because it forces the defense to load the box and makes play action more effective.

Outcome: I believe the Texans will cover that 9 point spread. This team is too talented, when healthy, on defense to lose by double digits. The offense needs to help the defense out by sustaining drives and putting points on the board. The defense can help the offense by causing turnovers. They'll help each other to a 24-17 loss. That's a cover and the under. I think the Jags have more firepower on offense, their defense is healthier, and their quarterback has more experience. In wrestling terms, the Texans will take the pin, but put people on notice with their performance.

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