TEXANS VS. STEELERS
What (and who) to expect when Houston Texans square off with Steelers
Aug 6, 2024, 12:39 pm
The Texans starters are expected to play against Pittsburgh. Composite Getty Image.
When it comes to NFL preseason games, you're never sure what you're going to see. Some coaches hold out their starters completely, while others like to get them reps in a game setting.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans falls in the second category. Ryans told the media on Monday, that starters will see some action against the Steelers this Friday.
To what extent we see the starters is still unknown. Will it be one series, maybe two? Will this be the first time we see CJ Stroud throwing to Stefon Diggs in live game action? We'll have our answer soon enough.
If we are going to see Stroud this Friday, protection is going to be paramount. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil won't be playing this week, as he's still working his way back from offseason surgery. Right tackle Tytus Howard left Tuesday's practice, according to KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson.
Tytus Howard leaving field with trainer walked under own power headed inside on golf cart for further examination @KPRC2 https://t.co/Hr7CKYsWKT
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 6, 2024
Details of what caused Howard to leave practice aren't clear. He was in the medical tent before leaving the field, so something has to be bothering him.
There's no reason to rush him back this early in the preseason, so he may not be available to play on Friday. Tackle Charlie Heck is working through plantar fasciitis, we don't expect him to play this week either.
With that in mind, how much do the Texans want to put Stroud at risk behind backup tackles against the Steelers in August? Probably not much. Stroud tossed three interceptions in Tuesday's practice, for what it's worth.
We also shouldn't expect Joe Mixon to play, he's still dealing with a quad injury and not practicing. Which might be a good thing. Houston needs to see what they have at running back behind Mixon.
We expect to see Dameon Pierce this week after being held out of the Hall of Fame game. Hopefully he looks more comfortable in the offense after another offseason to get acclimated.
One of the most exciting battles to watch will be the fight for the number three running back. Dare Ogunbowale should have a good shot to return in that role, but Cam Akers showed some “juice” against the Bears. Especially in the passing game. Jawhar Jordan, JJ Taylor, and British Brooks should also see some reps.
Defense
Linebacker Christian Harris hasn't been practicing, and rookie corner Kamari Lassister hasn't practiced this week. DE Danielle Hunter returned to practice on Tuesday. Coach Ryans told the media on Monday that both Hunter and Will Anderson are fine, despite not practicing on Monday.
ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime is reporting that corner Jeff Okuhah and Desmond King both were out of practice on Tuesday.
Danielle Hunter IS practicing today.
Kamari Lassiter is NOT practicing.
Desmond King is NOT practicing
Will Anderson is NOT practicing
Jeff Okudah is NOT practicing.
LT, Joe Mixon, Christian Harris aren’t either but that’s not new. But they ll be back eventually
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) August 6, 2024
We'll continue to monitor practice reports as we get closer to game day this Friday!
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So where does one turn now in Houston for mediocre, overpriced salsa? I kid, I kid. While wondering if Breggy Baked Beans are on the horizon. Congrats to Alex Bregman and agent Scott Boras for landing an on its face outlandish three-year 120-million dollar contract with the Boston Red Sox. With deferred money part of the deal the contract will be valuated in the neighborhood of “only” three years 90 million. Would Bregman have taken that from the Astros if offered? The Astros’ six-year 156-million dollar proposal was 26 mil per season. Bregman has the right to opt out after each of the first two seasons of his BoSox deal. If his decline (while still a very good player) of the last two seasons continues, or even if he holds steady, there is near zero chance of Bregman opting out unless he hates life in New England. At the end of the three years, will Bregman be able to land a three-year 66 million-dollar deal when he’s about to turn 34 years old? That plus the 90 mil with deferrals accounted for in his new deal would total 156 million. Massachusetts taxes personal income of just over a million dollars and upward at a nine percent rate. Playing half his games in the Bay State, Bregman will pay Massachusetts tax on half his salary.
Reminders...
Bregman obviously had an excellent Astros’ career, among non-pitchers he is top 10 all-time, but the excellence was frontloaded. Over Bregman’s first three big seasons he compiled a .289 batting average and .924 OPS. Elite numbers. Over the five seasons since: .261 and .795. Good, nothing legendary. After his monster MVP runner-up 2019 season (stats aided by the juiced balls of that season) Bregman was on a strong early Hall of Fame track. Now not so much, without some offensive resurgence. Fenway Park should suit Bregman well. He’ll bang singles and doubles off of the Green Monster, though the much higher than Crawford Boxes wall will not goose his home run numbers. In his time with the Astros Bregman mashed at Fenway with a .375 batting average and 1.240 OPS. That’s in a statistically not very significant 98 regular season plate appearances.
It is myth that Bregman in the postseason was some relentless hitting machine. He posted phenomenal numbers over seven Division Series batting .333 with an OPS over 1.000. Over 68 American League Championship Series and World Series games: batting average .196, OPS sub-.700.
For his career, Bregman’s worst month of performance by far has been April (plus any days in March, .737 OPS). In 2024 Bregman was baseball garbage into mid-May. Should a typical slow start happen again, we’ll see what the Fenway faithful patience level is. By far, Bregman’s best batting month has been August (.992 OPS). As it works out, both Astros-Red Sox series are in August this year. First in Boston August 1-3 then in Houston August 11-13.
Who's on third?
Over the last two seasons combined, new Astros’ third baseman Isaac Paredes has been as good offensively as Bregman. That includes Paredes pretty much stinking for two months in Chicago after being dealt from the Rays to the Cubs. Paredes, who turns 26 years old on Tuesday, was an AL All-Star last season. Bregman, who turns 31 March 30, was last an All-Star in 2019. The defensive drop-off from Bregman to Paredes is a fairly steep one.
There is no question that Bregman’s official departure weakens the Astros via a domino effect. Had Bregman wound up staying here, Paredes would have shifted to second base with Jose Altuve primarily in left field. Now, 600-plus plate appearances that Bregman would have taken project to be divided among Mauricio Dubon, Ben Gamel, Zach Dezenzo, and others. That projects as a substantial offensive downgrade. The lineup net result of the Astros’ offseason is negative. Christian Walker and Paredes joining the infield in lieu of Jon Singleton and Bregman is fine. Kyle Tucker out, hodge-podge in in the outfield, oh boy.
Alex Bregman is an unquestioned gamer, leader, and would seem to have the temperament to take well to the more intense baseball environment of Boston relative to that in Houston. Yankee fans should reeeeally love him now!
New beginnings
Considering baseball wasn’t invented until more than a century later, the poet Alexander Pope did not have baseball in mind when in 1732 he wrote “Hope springs eternal (in the human breast).” It works though. Other than the Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies, Major League teams have convened in Florida or Arizona thinking if things break right this could be their year! I’d probably put the Miami Marlins in with the ChiSox and Rockies. Many Astros’ fans are strongly disgruntled over the departures of Bregman and Kyle Tucker. This team still has “gruntlement” potential. The batting order appears Morganna-level (Google as necessary) top heavy, but one through five stacks well versus most other lineups. In the American League only the Mariners, Yankees, and maybe Royals have starting pitching rotations that should rate above the Astros’ rotation. Let the countdown to Opening Day begin!
Spring training is up and running. Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!
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