TEXANS CAMP REPORT
Cody Stoots: 11 observations from Texans training camp for Thurs., Aug. 23
Cody Stoots
Aug 23, 2018, 3:04 pm
Keke Coutee turned some heads today. Photo by Edward Clarke
1. Jordan Thomas had a nice day on the field for the Texans. The rookie tight end hauled in two one-handed catches with coverage draped all over him. Later in the practice, he beat Tyrann Mathieu in a one-on-one matchup. Thomas is much further along from a catching perspective than other Texans tight ends have been as rookies. He is a willing blocker too.
2. Jordan Akins didn't feel like getting left behind today. He had a nice play shaking loose in an individual drill. Think of Akins as last year's Stephen Anderson. Anderson, by the way, is barely noticeable. His time with the team may be short.
3. Ryan Griffin ended up challenging rookie safety Justin Reid, and he found out the hard way the rookie is improving. Reid came out as the winner in that rep as his progression against tight ends continues. He is winning more of those reps than he is losing these days.
4. Short of a surprise, the tight end room looks set with Griffin, Thomas, and Akins. Matt Lengel could be a surprise addition to give an emphasis on blocking, but keeping four tight ends cuts another spot elsewhere.
5. Treston Decoud had a nice couple of plays to stand out today. The switch to safety seems to a better use his physical gifts, though he still has hiccups that allow teachable moments. He is likely to factor into the safety position when the 53-man roster is set.
6. Speaking of new safeties, Kareem Jackson showed off instincts and speed on a nice breakup down the field. The coverage aspect is the only worry about Kareem at safety as his run stuffing ability is top notch. On this rep, he put the coverage worries to bed.
7. Dylan Cole ended up on the right end of a tip drill much to the delight of the defense. Cole was a standout last year before his injury and the offseason of seasoning shows. He is sure of himself and his confidence is up. He fits nicely with Benardrick McKinney and Zach Cunningham.
8. Sammie Coates drew some laughs when he pointed out how open he was at the end of a rep. He was a good 15 yards away from where the ball went and no defenders were close to him. It was just a missed rep, but it showed Coates' ability to lose defenders and stretch the field.
9. Deshaun Watson dropped jaws on two plays today. He effortlessly put the ball a good distance down the field right where he wanted to on the run. It was the type of play forcing defenders to look at each other and just shrug. He doesn't have to show it in practice, but he can find himself in the unstoppable groove the greats showcase.
10. Keke Coutee was incredible today. His quickness is stellar, and he displays some good shake on his routes getting himself open. He isn't afraid to lay out for balls as well. He made a "wow" play on a Watson rollout that pumped the offense up.
11. Drake also owes Coutee an apology. Drake's hit song "In My Feelings" has led to the popularization of the phrase "Keke do you love me?" It has also sparked a social media dance trend. "I'm really tired of the Drake song," the rookie said with a smile. "Everywhere I go it's just 'Keke do you love me?'"
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After the beating C.J. Stroud took in Houston’s divisional playoff loss to Kansas City it was clear the team’s top offseason priority should be upgrading its offensive line.
Instead, the Texans traded five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil and 2022 first-round pick left guard Kenyon Green and released right guard Shaq Mason.
They added tackle Cam Robinson and guards Ed Ingram and Laken Tomlinson, but as the NFL draft approaches their porous offensive line remains the most glaring weakness of the team.
Though the Texans won’t say that they plan to use their first-round pick (No. 25) on an offensive lineman, they’ve said plenty about the need to better protect Stroud this upcoming season. Stroud led Houston to its second straight AFC South title last season despite being sacked 52 times, which was the second most in the NFL.
“Getting better protection for C.J. is definitely a main point of emphasis for us,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We know when C.J. is protected, he has a clean pocket, he’s a pretty good quarterback. ... He’s capable of making any throw on the football field. But it’s just a matter of protecting him and giving him that comfort when he’s in the pocket.”
General manager Nick Caserio said he doesn’t believe they have to draft an offensive lineman next week.
“We feel like we have to add good football players to our football team,” he said. “That’s what we’re focused on. Whatever those positions entail, that’s what’s going to work. That’s how we’re going to approach it and handle it.”
Houston’s pick in the first round is one of seven selections it has in this year’s draft. The Texans return to the first round this season after not having a pick in the opening round last season because of trades, including the one to move up to get defensive end Will Anderson with the third overall pick in the 2023 draft.
Though the offensive line has several holes, Houston’s top priority should be drafting the left tackle of the future.
Robinson could protect Stroud’s blind side this season to give whichever player they draft a season to develop and learn behind him.
A couple of players who could be available when the Texans pick are Kelvin Banks from Texas and Oregon’s Josh Conerly. Banks was a three-year starter for the Longhorns and won the Outland Trophy as the nation’s best interior lineman last season. Conerly started 28 games at left tackle in the past two seasons for the Ducks and was a finalist for the Joe Moore Award given to the nation’s best offensive lineman.
Pick ’em
The Texans have two picks in the third round and two in the seventh this year after receiving the 79th and 236th overall picks from the Commanders as part of the trade for Tunsil.
Needs
Along with the offensive line, the Texans could use some help at receiver. Nico Collins, who has had consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, has developed into an elite option. But the Texans need a solid second option after they moved on from Stefon Diggs after one disappointing season that ended in a season-ending injury in Week 8.
They traded for Christian Kirk, but he’s coming off a tough season where he had a career-low 379 yards before breaking his collarbone in October. The Texans also don’t know when they’ll get Tank Dell back, with the receiver still recovering from a serious knee injury he sustained in December.
Don’t need
The Texans are set at running back after signing Joe Mixon before last season and having a reliable backup in Dameon Pierce.
Draft success
While Caserio has added some stars to the team with first-round draft picks including Stroud, Anderson and cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., he’s also had a knack for finding starters beyond the first round since joining the Texans.
Caserio nabbed Collins in the third round in his first draft with Houston in 2021 and added safety Jalen Pitre in the second round in 2022. He also found starting linebackers Christian Harris in the third in 2022 and Henry To’oTo’o in the fifth in 2023.
Last year he drafted cornerback Kamari Lassiter in the second round and safety Calen Bullock in the third. In their rookie seasons, Lassiter started 14 games while Bullock started 13.