The Lions were in town for joint practice to push the Texans a little

11 observations from Texans training camp for Aug. 14

11 observations from Texans training camp for Aug. 14

@EdClarke03/Eddie Clarke

Matt Kalil

If you missed Monday's observations you can find them right here

Lions in town and Patricia driving around

Bill O'Brien praised the Lions and mentioned how easy it was for the Texans and Lions to decide what they were going to do for joint practices. Lions head coach Matt Patricia has an injured left leg and he was in a boot. So to get around he rode his ATV around the field. He never really went too fast. Overall I would say today was a win for the Texans.

Kalil's long day

It was a roller coaster day for the Texans left tackle. He started off not getting the job done on the ground in the first set of team drills but his pass protection held up. Later, he was annihilated and placed promptly in Deshaun Watson's lap. It was an ugly rep and the start of four straight bad plays by the Texans offensive line. Kalil held up later in some pass protection situations but when he is bad, it is really bad.

Right side, strong side

Max Scharping at right guard and Seantrell Henderson at right guard had a pretty nice day. In the Texans first team drills of the day they bullied the Lions. Later there was a missed assignment on the right side that blew the play dead but overall it was a nice day for Henderson and the Texans rookie.

I am higher on Henderson than most, I think he has had a nice camp. I am not concerend with him holding down the right side. Scharping seems to get a little better each time he is out. There are still a couple of moments where he looks like a rookie but he doesn't make many mistakes twice.

Wideouts winning

​The Texans wideouts feasted on the Lions secondary today. Darius Slay is the best cornerback on the Lions and DeAndre Hopkins earned a few victories over him. DeAndre Carter again had a nice day from the slot. Even after he slipped Tyron Johnson recovered to win a one-on-one rep. Not saying they won every matchup but the Texans wideouts clearly beat the Lions defensive backs today.

Will Fuller caught an over the shoulder pass on the sideline in front of the fans. The fans were going to cheer the catch no matter what but the referees at practice confirmed it was a catch. That got Deshaun Watson a high five from Bill O'Brien.

Roby's run continues

Bradley Roby has been a very nice addition to the Texans. He is the best defensive back to play opposite Johnathan Joseph in a while. He had some very nice plays today including being step for step and knocking a Lions pass catcher out of bounds to prevent him from scoring.

Karan on my wayward back, there'll be paydirt when you are done

Karan Higdon had a nice day and flashed for the running back group. He powered through a few Lions for a big play in the red zone. He and Damarea Crockett are in an absolute fight for the third running back spot. They trade the lead frequently. Joint practices Thursday and the preseason game Saturday will be huge for both of them.

Lamar Miller had one play today where he hit the edge and was flying up the field. He has the most juice we have seen him have in a long time.

Defensive line dominance

The Texans were missing Carlos Watkins and D.J. Reader today among others. That didn't matter as the defensive line worked the Lions. J.J. Watt was an absolute terror drawing multiple blockers regularly and not having it matter. Whitney Mercilus was as disruptive as ever. There was one hiccup where the linebackers and defensive line let a Lions player go nearly untouched into the end zone but other than that a very strong day for the front.

Angelo Blackson has had a nice camp as a depth player on the defensive line. He batted down a Matt Stafford pass today.

More on Mercilus

Bill O'Brien hinted after practice the team will be seeing more of what Whitney Mercilus was doing in 2016. Mercilus' most prolific pass rushing seasons were 2015 and 2016. He was injured in 2017 and last year the team used him differently limiting his pass rush opportunities. With no Jadeveon Clowney we are seeing much more pass rush opportunities for the Texans veteran.

He his a spin move on the Lions left tackle today that would have had him sending Matt Stafford into another dimension if he could have tackled the Detroit quarterback. It was glorious.

Tight end talent

Jordan Akins had an amazing over the shoulder catch with the defense draped all over him. Jordan Thomas just missed skying for a touchdown but later shook loose for a wide open score. Darren Fells won a few pass catching reps today. Lions tight end and first round pick T.J. Hockenson was filthy on a few plays. He is an incredible athlete for his size. The big fellas had a good day today.

Play of the day

DeAndre Hopkins was sliding backwards on his butt. ON. HIS. BUTT. Darius Slay was in coverage. Hopkins came down with the ball snatching it out of the air for a touchdown. It was one of the best catches of his career. My jaw dropped. Slay looked dejected. Watson just smiled. There weren't even cheers really the fans were so stunned.

Quote of the day

"We haven't seen him. We haven't really seen him since the end of the season. So, I really don't know. I can do my best to answer your question but I really don't know. When he arrives we'll handle it when he arrives, but that's his prerogative. He doesn't have to be here right now. That's part of the franchise tag and all those different things."

Bill O'Brien when asked about Jadeveon Clowney. And about those trade rumors, are you hearing all that?

"No, not at all."

Got anything to say about it?

"Nope."

nfl camplionstexans

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

ESPN Houston 97.5 FM

How CJ Stroud, Texans can overcome Vikings' relentless blitz attack

Could too much rest be a bad thing for Framber Valdez and Hunter Brown? Composite Getty Image.

The legendary Yogi Berra’s most famous aphorism was/is “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.” Or was that Aristotle? No, definitely Yogi. The point is, the American League West race isn’t yet over. But it’s over. Well, almost definitely. The Astros have played mediocre baseball the past month (14-14 over their last 28 games heading into this weekend’s four-game series vs. the woeful Angels), but so far as the AL West is concerned that was just fine given the second place Seattle Mariners could do no better. The Astros woke up August 19 with a five-game lead, the Astros woke up September 19 with a five-game lead. Unless this weekend they chump it up against the Angels and the Mariners whip up on the Rangers in Arlington, the Astros-Mariners set starting Monday at Minute Maid Park looms as largely anticlimactic. The Astros could clinch their seventh consecutive full-season division crown this weekend. Or it could happen by beating the Mariners directly.

The Astros are highly fortunate the AL West is by far the weakest of the three AL divisions this year. In fact, it’s the only of the six MLB divisions the Astros could have won. None of that merits any asterisk. This team has overcome plenty and is wholly capable of making another deep into October run with an eighth consecutive AL Championship Series appearance in play. The flip side of the coin is this could be the Astros’ shortest postseason stint in franchise history.

Setting aside the 60 games 2020 COVID season, this is the weakest team the Astros have had since they last missed the postseason in 2016. Such things are relative. Finishing last in the Olympic 100 meters final doesn’t mean one is slow. Over the last eight years the Astros had several spectacular teams including four 100-plus game winners. This squad is not close to that caliber, it’s merely pretty good. As a result, unless the Cleveland Guardians stumble badly over the next week, the Astros haven’t played well enough to make the regular season ending three game series against the Guardians matter. It is extremely likely the Astros are going to play host to a best-of-three Wild Card series, something neither of their prior division champion teams had to survive after Major League Baseball moved to the current postseason format in 2022.

Clearly, Framber Valdez is the Astros’ postseason game one starting pitcher. Equally clearly, Hunter Brown goes in game two. Unless tweaked, Brown and Valdez go this Monday and Tuesday against the Mariners. Of mild concern, that would mean Framber would have seven days rest ahead of the playoff opener, with Brown on eight days rest going into game two. Rest or rust? You never know, including after the fact.

If there is a decisive game three, who starts that would be a huge question. Barring injury or jarringly lousy performances in his remaining two regular season starts, Yusei Kikuchi probably would get the ball with Ronel Blanco the backup and alternative unless he was used in games one or two. There is no reason for Justin Verlander to get consideration. Verlander and Spencer Arrighetti should both miss the Wild Card round roster. There is zero cause to carry 13 pitchers for a best-of-three series, or for a best-of-five Division Series should the Astros advance to it.

It would be a fun subplot if the Astros' Wild Card opponent winds up being the Detroit Tigers. A.J. Hinch's club has roared into contention. Over their last 35 games the Tigers are 25-10.

Bring back Breggy?

With all due respect to the wonderful Jose Altuve, his sincere words this week about Alex Bregman’s future with the Astros should carry no weight with the Astros' decision makers. Altuve told The Athletic’s Chandler Rome that if he (Altuve) was in control he’d pay free agent-to-be Bregman whatever he wants and that Bregman is a superstar. Setting aside that Altuve and Bregman are the two remaining pillars who span this full glorious era and that Altuve’s agent (Scott Boras) is Bregman’s agent, Bregman is an absolute gamer and absolutely a good player, but he was last a superstar in 2019. He is not worth “whatever he wants” unless he “wants” another five year 100 million dollar extension which would equal his expiring contract. That the desperate San Francisco Giants paid third baseman Matt Chapman 151 mil for the next six years doesn’t dictate the Astros do similar or more with Bregman. Bregman turns 31 on the third day of the Astros' 2025 season. He is still a plus player, but is also having the worst full season of his career, including batting .188 with a .618 OPS over the first dozen games this month.

The Astros have payroll issues, starting with the 60 million dollars next season for which they will get absolutely nothing from Jose Abreu (19.5 mil), maybe nothing from Lance McCullers (17 mil) and Cristian Javier (12.8), and little to nothing from Rafael Montero (11.5). Unless Jim Crane decides to continuously spend at Yankee, Met, Dodger levels, profit margin and Competitive Balance Tax penalties be darned (for which there is an argument, to be expanded upon in a future column!), re-upping Bregman at big years big bucks would kiss off the notion of keeping Kyle Tucker and Framber Valdez beyond next season after which they become free agents if no contract extensions get done. Both Tucker and Valdez are better than and more valuable than Bregman.

*Catch our weekly Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast. Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and I discuss varied Astros topics. The first post for the week generally goes up Monday afternoon (second part released Tuesday) via The SportsMap HOU YouTube channel or listen to episodes in their entirety at Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

astroshouston astrosmlb

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome