THE DEFENSE PUT ON A SHOW FOR THE FANS IN THEIR FIRST OPEN PRACTICE

11 observations from Texans training camp, August 1

Cody Stoots
Aug 1, 2019, 3:58 pm
@edclarke03/Eddie Clarke

Plenty of juice for the fans

Photo by @edclarke03/Eddie Clarke.

The Texans did what was probably one of their longest situational team work sessions of camp. There was a lot of simulation of a game and Bill O'Brien stressed how important it was to get that worked out and then build on it from a two-minute situation to simulating a four-minute simulation as well.

Hopkins vs vets

DeAndre Hopkins worked over Johnathan Joseph in their first rep in one-on-one drills. He easily separated from the veteran corner and caught the ball one-handed falling out of bounds as Joseph closed. The next time the two players matched up Joseph didn't even finish the rep and had Hopkins beat. The quarterback threw the ball and it sailed way past Hopkins. A win for Joseph.

After the rep, the veteran corner, with a little jawing, started to discuss what went wrong with Hopkins' route and started to fix it with him. Joseph is such an asset having played so much football.

Keep writing his name down

I had been watching drills for mere moments and the above video occurred. Tyron Johnson is going to make this team. He has been the fourth best wideout in camp. He can run all the routes and I would wager can work inside and outside well enough the Texans would be comfortable with him doing each. He's fun and easy to root for each day.

Defense wins the day

The defense were the big winners today. They got to Deshaun Watson a few times and were terrors to most of the wideouts. This is to be expected with question marks at some of the spots for the starting offensive line and the defense having almost every starter from last year back as well. They're ahead but the offense was able to rattle off some yards. It wasn't smooth for the offense as much as start and stop.

Tytus the key? 

Tytus Howard had a day off and will be back working with the team Saturday. The various players filling in for him didn't bring his level of success against the defense. He is really carving out a nice role for this team. If you had said the Texans would draft a starter with their first round pick, we all would have been happy right?

Whitney's way back

Whitney Mercilus is in the final year of his contract with the Texans and after a down year last year looks poised to punish offenses. He has worked the Texans tackles all camp rarely coming away with a loss in his rep. Today he flashed through the line forcing Watson to step up into more pressure. He could be a key player for this pass rush if he rushes more than last year.

Ball security issues

I wouldn't put this on Deshaun Watson as much as the right side of the offensive line but there were a couple of forced fumbles. J.J. Watt shook loose and knocked the ball out of Watson's hands. Another couple players got a forced fumble or affected the throw by Watson. Not a good showing for the right guards and tackles today.

Backup spots up for grabs

Not only are there plenty of starting spots up for grabs on the offensive line, the players who don't end up starting are battling with each other for the few backup spots. The Texans always keep an extra tackle, extra interior player who can snap the ball, and another lineman. That would be eight. It is hard to see them keeping nine. Plenty of spots to be had if someone can separate themselves from the pack.

Coutee's new workouts

Bill O'Brien above mentioned some of the various things he wants Coutee to work on now that he is healthy. Coutee is healthy after changing up his offseason work. He mentioned more stretching and he looks to have put on some weight as well. If healthy, he should be an extremely solid option for Watson.

Play of the day

DeAndre Hopkins one-handed on the sideline against Johnathan Joseph. I had to go to it again. My word.

Quote of the day

Texans Head Coach Bill O'Brien

@Cody_Stoots/Cody Stoots

"There's probably a hundred things spoken about relative to your decision to do something whether it's with the team that currently exists or something outside the team. We talk everyday. We've got a great structure of communication."

Texans Head Coach Bill O'Brien on how the team discusses potential moves in and outside the building.

BONUS: Watt loves the troops

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Yeah, the Houston Astros are giving off John Lennon vibes

The Astros are the toast of the town. Composite image by Brandon Strange.

The signing of free agent first baseman Jose Abreu on Monday shows one more time that baseball is Jim Crane’s world and 29 other teams are supporting players on a reality show called Keeping Up with the Astros.

Crane, owner of the World Series champs, parted ways with general manager James Click earlier this month. So what does Crane do without a front office boss during this free agent season? He turns around and negotiates a deal on his own with former MVP and 3-time All-Star Abreu, one of the most coveted free agents who just happens to fill a hole in the Astros lineup.

Crane is now Jerry Jones, both team owner and general manager, with one big difference: Crane’s team has won titles this millennium.

What does the Abreu signing mean for the Astros’ chances of repeating as World Series champions in 2023? And what does it mean for arch rival Yankees?

One headline Tuesday put it this way:

“Yankees Season Over Before It Even Started.”

Abreu, who puts the “every” in everyday player (he played 157 games last year and hit .304), will take over for Yuli Gurriel at first base. Gurriel, who is a free agent, may be brought back by the Astros as a utility player.

If you’re looking for hardware, Ace is not the place – try the Astros batting order. Manager Dusty Baker will fill out a lineup card with Jose Altuve (MVP, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, 3 batting titles), Jeremy Pena (ALCS MVP, World Series MVP, Gold Glove), Yordan Alvarez (Rookie of the Year, ALCS MVP, Silver Slugger), Alex Bregman (All-Star Game MVP, Silver Slugger), Kyle Tucker (Gold Glove), Jose Abreu (MVP, Rookie of the Year, Silver Slugger).

Don’t be surprised if Justin Verlander, the last piece of Crane’s announced puzzle, returns to the Astros next year, and two years after that. Verlander is chasing career goals like 300 wins. Where does he stand the best chance of getting there?

At the moment, the 2023 Astros batting order falls off the cliff 7-9 with Chas McCormick (.245 in 2022), Jake Meyers (.227) and Martin Maldonado (.186). But who’s to say that general manager/owner Crane is done dealing?

The Astros aren’t just successful on the field. They’ve won the hearts and minds of Houstonians. Astros baseball has become sort of a religion in recent years.

In 1966 John Lennon told a magazine writer that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus. Lennon caught hell for that remark and had to apologize. On a less ecumenical matter, the Astros might say they’re more popular than Thanksgiving and sorry not sorry.

Earlier this month, the Astros drew a million people to their downtown World Series celebration. Last week, they held the Thanksgiving Parade in Houston and many of the sidewalks looked like the upper deck at Texans games – maybe 20,000 people at the parade and I’m being generous.

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