The first day in pads were big for a few different Texans
11 observations from Texans training camp, July 27
Jul 27, 2019, 5:07 pm
The first day in pads were big for a few different Texans
If you missed day two you can find them here.
There wasn't a ton of thumping in pads but there was some solid work. The defensive line had a solid day despite not having J.J. Watt or Jadeveon Clowney. The defensive backs and wideouts got good work in today with each other as well. The running backs had a long day with the linebackers.
It’s not fun as a rookie for the #Texans trying to cover the best WR in football. Lonnie Johnson won a rep against Hopkins later though. pic.twitter.com/ty2z4UDrdv
— Cody Stoots (@Cody_Stoots) July 27, 2019
Imagine being a rookie and trying to cover DeAndre Hopkins. This rep didn't go Lonnie Johnson's way but after some quick instruction and another chance later the rookie won a rep against Hopkins via solid technique and being physical. A huge asset for Johnson is he seems to pick things up quickly.
#Texans OL Tytus Howard said he mines the DL for info as well. pic.twitter.com/bPBCXmlVYB
— Cody Stoots (@Cody_Stoots) July 27, 2019
Tytus Howard has a solid day. There were certainly some moments where he looked less than impressive but he held his own on a few different reps including a pseudo-pancake of D.J. Reader. He got a little tired and the technique was a little loose later in the practice. These early days will be huge for testing his conditioning and ultimately improving it. O'Brien noted he worked more at left guard but got some tackle work as well. Howard said he uses Matt Kalil as a resource to learn.
D.J. Reader was a terror today for all the offensive linemen. Wherever he worked he annoyed the offense. He got into the backfield more than a few times. He will be a key piece to the Texans defensive line this season. Nobody else can do his job.
Max Scharping looks the part and he had a decent day on the offensive line. He did have some moments where he will likely want those reps back. There's plenty to work on for the second round pick but there are moments where it is clear why the Texans invested in him.
Joel Heath has been around the Texans for a few years and has been in and out of the lineup. He had a really good day Saturday and showcased his length and athleticism. There are plenty of options for the Texans to choose from on the defensive line but the numbers will start filling up quick. Heath will need to build on this day and stay healthy but he looked solid.
Fullback Cullen Gillaspia had a long day. His first year playing fullback was last season for his college team Texas A&M. There were moments where he looked like he had a tough time with the strength of some of the defenders he was asked to block. He also had a few miscues in the passing game. O'Brien mentioned technique and fundamentals are an early emphasis for the younger players.
Rookie defensive lineman Charles Omenihu stood out a few times. He flashed strength and speed on a couple of occasions. He looked like he was more ready than some for pads. I will be anxious to see a rep against Matt Kalil down the line for Omenihu to see if the veteran can use his experience to tame the young defender.
Former Ohio State wide receiver Johnnie Dixon has been stringing together solid days. He has an opportunity for this team with the final two wideout spots up for grabs and maybe some special teams action as well. He has a lot of competition but among the young wideouts he had one of the best plays of the day. He used his agility to dip away from a defender and create a ton of separation.
Will Fuller had a couple of plays where nobody was even close to him. He's making it look easy.
Texans OL Tytus Howard
Cody Stoots
"70 yards"
Texans OL Tytus Howard when asked if he can still throw the ball far. Howard was a former high school quarterback.
Jose Altuve drove in the go-ahead run with a single in the 10th inning after Yordan Alvarez tied it with a two-run homer in the ninth and the Houston Astros rallied from an early six-run deficit to beat the Minnesota Twins 9-7 on Sunday.
YORDAN TIES IT IN THE TOP OF THE NINTH!#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/0auYzD6UjF
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 6, 2025
Altuve's single off Twins reliever Louis Varland (1-1) scored automatic runner Brendan Rogers from third base.
ALTUVE FOR THE LEAD! 8-7 ASTROS! pic.twitter.com/ks3mUYF8VE
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 6, 2025
Jake Meyers then stole home on a double steal to make it 9-7.
GETTING THE JOB DONE! 😤#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/vyyAS4OcPJ
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 6, 2025
Josh Hader (1-0) retired all six batters he faced to earn the victory.
The Twins led 7-1 after four innings, but the Astros came all the way back by scoring twice in the ninth off Twins reliever Griffin Jax to tie it at 7. Isaac Paredes led off with his fourth single of the game and Alvarez hit Jax's next pitch for his first home run of the season.
Matt Wallner had four hits and Trevor Larnach drove in three runs for Minnesota.
The Twins scored three runs in the first, a rally keyed by Ryan Jeffers' two-out, two-run double. They added three more in the fourth, with Byron Buxton and Larnach's back-to-back doubles driving in the runs as Minnesota took a 7-1 lead.
With two on and two outs in the sixth, Alvarez sliced a sinking liner to left field off reliever Danny Coulombe. Harrison Bader charged in and made a diving catch to preserve Minnesota’s 7-5 lead.
The Astros (.565) and Twins (.551) began the day ranked 29th and 30th in the league in OPS, but combined for 24 hits in the game.
Astros: Begin a three-game series at Seattle on Monday with RHP Hayden Weseneski (0-1, 5.40) starting the opener.
Twins: Send RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (0-0, 4.50) to the mound Monday when they open a four-game series at Kansas City.