STOOTS ON TEXANS
11 observations: Houston Texans training camp, Tuesday August 16
Aug 16, 2022, 12:56 pm
Texans QB Kyle Allen was back on the field. Photo via: Cody Stoots.
The Houston Texans had a lighter workout just a few days after their preseason win. Here are 11 observations from the practice.
1. Despite using the word “scrimmage” to describe the workout earlier in the week, Lovie Smith’s team took it easy on Tuesday. There were some fun one-on-one drills and a few team sessions, but it was one of the lighter workouts.
2. Davis Mills was tossing some deep passes in one-on-one work today. He completed a few strikes downfield, including one to Phillip Dorsett and one on the sidelines to Nico Collins. It will be interesting to see when the deeper passing shows up in a game. The Texans took a few workouts when training camp started to showcase that, this may be a similar situation for game reps.
3. Chris Moore had a nice catch in the above-mentioned drill. He beat Jonathan Owens soundly. Moore is a factor in the wideout room, but his eventual role is hard to tell right now.
4. Preseason star Dameon Pierce had a nice run in a team session. He darted through a big hole on the right side of the line. Credit to A.J. Cann for opening it up, it looked like the veteran did some work to spring the rookie.
5. Marlon Mack and Rex Burkhead should not be forgotten. The veterans are still a factor in the rushing attack, especially with Pierce never having had huge workloads in his college career. Mack and Burkhead each had a nice run Tuesday.
6. Max Scharping bullied Ross Blacklock on a rep in one-on-one work. It will be interesting to see between Scharping and Justin McCray who ends up playing more left guard in the second preseason game.
7. Kenyon Green was at practice but didn’t practice again. He is dealing with a knee injury.
8. Justin Britt and Roy Lopez were a fun watch. The veteran center bested Lopez in an encounter but then moments later Lopez won himself a round. The defensive line and offensive line worked to about a stalemate in the one-on-one session I watched. Rookie Kurt Hinish had a nice win over Scott Quessenberry.
9. Tavierre Thomas had a nice interception. He stepped in front of a pass and would have taken it to the house for a score. Thomas has had a quiet camp in my opinion, but the flashes of one of the better slot corners have been there.
10. Kyle Allen was back at work after Covid forced him to miss a little time and the preseason game. Allen connected with rookie Teagan Quitoriano for a nice chunk play. The rookie tight end has started to show a little more as he has been practicing.
11. Just one more workout before the next preseason game against the Rams. Lovie Smith explained there would be a reveal on playing time expectations, so perhaps there will be some more clarity on how much the team will showcase Davis Mills and if Derek Stingley plays in the preseason.
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Reynaldo López struck out seven over six scoreless innings, Orlando Arcia homered and the Atlanta Braves won their third straight, 6-2 over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.
López (2-0) allowed four hits and walked one in his third straight sterling outing to start the season.
“It’s like I’ve always said, for me, the important thing is to focus,” López said through an interpreter. “To have the focus during the outings and then, to be able to locate those pitches.”
He has given up one run in 18 innings for an ERA of 0.50.
“He threw the ball really well against a really good hitting club,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “Another solid one.”
Arcia hit a solo home run to left in the second and a sacrifice fly in the seventh.
Luis Guillorme and backup catcher Chadwick Tromp each hit a two-run double in the ninth to put the Braves ahead 6-0.
“Tromp has done a good job ever since we’ve been bringing him in these situations and filling in,” Snitker said. “I’ve got all the confidence in the world in him back there. ... He’s an aggressive hitter. He’s knocked in some big runs for us in the limited time that he’s played.”
Kyle Tucker homered for the Astros leading off the ninth against Aaron Bummer, and Mauricio Dubón had a two-out RBI single to cut the lead to four. After Bummer walked Chas McCormick to put two on, Raisel Iglesias induced a groundout by Victor Caratini to end it and secure his fourth save.
“They pitched well, and our guys are grinding out at-bats,” Houston manager Joe Espada said. “Even in the ninth inning there, we’re grinding, fighting until the end.”
Hunter Brown (0-3) yielded two runs on five hits with three strikeouts and three walks in six innings. Brown allowed nine runs in two-thirds of an inning in his previous start, last Thursday against Kansas City.
Brown said he executed better Tuesday than he had in his previous two starts.
“He mixed all his pitches well,” Espada said. “The breaking ball was effective. He threw some cutters in on the hands to some of those lefties. He mixed his pitches really well. That was a really strong performance.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Braves: 2B Ozzie Albies was placed on the 10-day injured list with a broken right big toe. IF David Fletcher had his contract selected from Triple-A Gwinnett to take Albies’ place on the roster.
Astros: RHP Justin Verlander (right shoulder inflammation) threw a side session Tuesday, but Houston will wait until Wednesday to see how Verlander feels before deciding whether he will make his first start this weekend against the Nationals, Espada said. ... RHP Luis Garcia (right elbow surgery) threw around 20-25 pitches off the bullpen mound, and RHP José Urquidy (right forearm strain) also threw off the mound, Espada said. ... LHP Framber Valdez (left elbow soreness) played catch off flat ground.
UP NEXT
Atlanta LHP Max Fried (1-0, 8.74 ERA) starts Wednesday in the series finale opposite RHP J.P. France (0-2, 8.22).