TEXANS CAMP REPORT
11 observations from Texans training camp Day 8
Aug 5, 2021, 2:37 pm
The defense is constantly defeating the offense.Image via: HoustonTexans/Screenshot.
The Houston Texans had officials out on the field as more team and individual work was on the docket in pads yet again.
1. Deshaun Watson remains out for the Texans and head coach David Culley explained there is no change on Watson. Culley said he and general manager Nick Caserio meet regularly on the team and how to handle each day.
2. The Texans should think about swapping out Jeff Driskel for a different quarterback. With rookie quarterback Davis Mills struggling and Driskel also having a rough day constantly, the Texans aren't getting a ton out of the reps not involving Tyrod Taylor. The team previously had Ryan Finley on the team after an offseason trade, and Finley is still a free agent.
3. Davis Mills had a couple of rough spots on Thursday. Mills overthrew tight end Ryan Izzo in seven-on-seven drills. Mills also threw another interception in practice. He scrambled out to his right and tried to beat three defenders, but safety Lonnie Johnson came down with the ball.
4. Veteran wide receiver Chris Conley cooked Bradley Roby for a score in one-on-one drills. Conley has made some great plays and has been very consistent this camp. Only Brandin Cooks has been better and more consistent.
5. Bradley Roby might have been beaten by Conley once, but Roby had almost no losses the rest of practice. Roby even had a pass breakup on a surefire score as well.
6. Keke Coutee shakes loose from defenders with ease. Coutee drew cheers when he juked out second-year cornerback John Reid and drew a pass interference call in team drills. Coutee however did drop an over-the-shoulder dime later in practice.
7. The defense is constantly defeating the offense. The consistency on offense just isn't there right now. Head coach David Culley mentioned after practice he wasn't pleased with the offense today, but gave credit to the defense for their string of successful days.
8. Rookie Roy Lopez had another few successful plays as he builds on his big Wednesday. Lopez immediately beat his blocker to reroute a rushing play. Lopez also had what looked to be a sack in team reps.
9. Defensive lineman DeMarcus Walker has only practiced a handful of days, but has shown up more than a few times altering plays. The competition for the defensive line spots will be hard. Jacob Martin, who is now listed as a defensive lineman after being a linebacker last year, had a speedy sack in drills.
10. Third-year offensive lineman Max Scharping is on his way to bouncing back after a poor 2020 season. He's played left guard mostly and if the Texans had to play tomorrow, he would likely be in the starting rotation. It will be interesting to see how the line changes their positions when Marcus Cannon and Lane Taylor return from the physically unable to perform list.
11. Third-year tight end Kahale Warring had a pass bounce off his hands in the end zone that ended up in an interception. Against air and in one-on-one sessions, Warring has some plays that really wow. Warring is absent and a non-factor during the team sessions though. It will be an uphill battle with some solid performances in preseason games needed for Warring to make the team.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
NFL insiders hint at eye-opening future for Houston Texans offense
Dec 7, 2024, 2:38 pm
C.J. Stroud faced criticism in Houston's last few games as the Texans hit a rough patch after losing just two of their first eight games.
But the second-year quarterback remained confident and his strong performance last Sunday helped the Texans (8-5) to a 23-20 win over the Jaguars to enter their bye with a two-game lead atop the AFC South.
“When he is leading and playing the way he is playing, our entire team feeds off of him,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “I am excited for his second year. I think he is showing a ton of growth, he is in a really great spot for us physically, mentally. I really love where he is and I am excited to see how he comes back after the break.”
Stroud threw for 242 yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville to leave him ranked fourth in the NFL with 3,117 yards passing this season. That game came after he threw two interceptions in a 32-27 loss to Tennessee a week before for the team’s third loss in four games.
Those two interceptions brought his season total to nine, which are four more than he threw in 15 games a rookie. But the Texans aren’t worried about that statistic and believe he has grown in his second year.
“He’s made a lot of progress,” general manager Nick Caserio said. “There are some plays, like all of our players, that we probably wish he could have back, but happy he’s our quarterback, happy with what he brings to the table. ... Wouldn’t want anyone else leading this team.”
The Texans are in position to win their division for a second straight season despite dealing with several significant injuries on offense. Running back Joe Mixon missed three games early with an ankle injury and leading receiver Nico Collins was sidelined for five games with a hamstring injury.
They also lost four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs for the season when tore an ACL in Week 8.
Mixon leads the team with 887 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns and has added four touchdown receptions. His work in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati has helped the team deal with those significant injuries to the receiving corps.
Mixon ranks third in the NFL by averaging 88.7 yards rushing a game and has had at least 100 yards rushing in seven games.
Stroud has continually raved about Mixon’s contributions on and off the field.
“He’s a servant, a helper,” Stroud said. “That’s ultimately what I want to be as well. Who can I serve and how can I help? That’s ultimately what the game of football is.”
While Mixon has been the team’s most important new acquisition on offense, Danielle Hunter has been Houston’s new defensive star. The defensive end spent his first eight seasons in Minnesota before joining the Texans this year.
He has helped Houston lead the NFL with 84 tackles for loss after piling up 15 this season, which is tied for third most in the league. He also leads the Texans with 10½ sacks to help them rank second with 42.
Hunter been a great addition to a team that already had defensive end Will Anderson Jr., last year’s AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. Anderson ranks second to Hunter on the team with 13 tackles for loss and 9½ sacks.
Ryans said this week’s break is much needed for a team that opened the preseason on Aug. 1 in the Hall of Fame game.
“It’s here and we’re going to take advantage of it,” he said. “We’ve been going at it for a long time.”
The Texans need to recharge this week with a brutal stretch of three games in 10 days when they return from their bye. Houston hosts Miami on Dec. 15 before a trip to Kansas City on Dec. 21 and a visit from the Ravens on Christmas Day.
“It’s Christmas and all that, but we can’t worry about that. All we can do is focus on Miami,” Caserio said. “And then when we get through the Miami game, then we kind of turn the page to the next. ... We’re either going to earn it or we’re not. Not to oversimplify it, but that’s the truth.”
The Texans will play those game without starting linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after he received a three-game suspension for his violent hit to the head of Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, which led to a concussion.
Al-Shaair will be eligible to return for Houston’s regular-season finale against Tennessee.