Texans Training Camp 2023

Shark44 · Aug 3, 2023

Rockets34Legend said: ↑

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Good thing we drafted 2 centers.

zeeshan2 · Aug 3, 2023

zeeshan2 · Aug 3, 2023

It was the best day C.J. Stroud has had yet. The rookie quarterback was crisp with everything he did early in practice. Stroud looked in control and executed his ball placement at a high level for most of the day. It is awesome to see this type of practice after two practices where he didn’t perform as well. It displays Stroud’s ability to bounce back.

C.J. Stroud and the offense authored one of their best drives of all training camp on Thursday. Stroud was methodical in his approach and quick to make decisions. He started the drive with an effortless pitch and catch to Robert Woods and eventually, the offense was in the red zone. Stroud lofted one to the back corner of the endzone and Nico Collins came down with it for a score over Derek Stingley. It was a well executed drive. Later, Stroud had a scramble for 19 yards to get the team in field goal position.

Davis Mills answered with a scoring drive of his own. Mills led the offense into the red zone but didn’t get all the way to the endzone. On one play in the drive Jacob Martin came flying in as he didn’t bite on a play action. The drive ended with the first sighting of Ka'imi Fairbairn in the team portion of practice. The kick was good.

While the offense started hot, it didn’t finish that way. The defense started to catch up and create some messy pockets for the quarterback. The operation was inconsistent from the messy pockets for both Mills and Stroud. I did enjoy seeing the offense combat the tough pass rush with some quick passing. That worked well. Stroud had his best day, and Mills has had better days, but Stroud pulls ahead in the standings. Stroud leads Mills 3-2-2 through seven practices.

Center Scott Quessenberry was injured at practice and had to be carted off the field. It is one of the grueling aspects of football. Everyone hit their knee as the trainers attended to him and loaded him up. His teammates came over to give him their best, and when I say his teammates I mean damn near every single person went over to him. It sucks for Quessenberry who was playing well in camp to this point. Juice Scruggs took over his reps after the injury.

The rushing attack had a few nice plays on Thursday. You can tell the offense is building on successes each day as there is more and more for the running backs and the passing game. Dameon Pierce had a run I believe would have been a touchdown from about 20 yards out. The play was whistled dead but based on where Pierce could have realistically encountered the first defender, I say touchdown.

Will Anderson got a wakeup call in practice Thursday. The rookie defensive lineman was tasked with trying to beat Laremy Tunsil on a few plays. Tunsil made success look easy. I’m not sure it was, but Tunsil handled Anderson on one rep to the point where nobody was moving unless Laremy Tunsil moved them. Later in a rushing play the two tangled to draw, neither giving an inch. Anderson still had some nice plays Thursday as one memorable one he blew up a run play pushing the offensive lineman into the running back.

The defense got a little handsy a few times. It seemed like the aggression was a little much for the officials who called what looked like pass interference. There were multiple first downs awarded via penalty on the defense. One penalty robbed rookie wideout Xavier Hutchinson of a great play. Davis Mills uncorked one down the left sideline and Hutchinson was just short having it bounce off his fingertips. The flag was out though as the defensive back affected Hutchinson. I will score it a big catch for the rookie.

Henry To’oTo’o is a fun watch on the field. I don’t know that you can always say that about a middle linebacker, but you can about him. He’s constantly barking at teammates seemingly to line them up in the right spots. He’s had tackles for losses and stuffs for no gains. Thursday he had a pass breakup. I don’t know if he is going to start, but he is going to play for the Texans defense.

The running backs catch the ball well. San Francisco targeted running backs nearly a fourth of the time they threw the ball last year. I don’t know if the number will be that high in Houston, but the backs are working on being ready. Dameon Pierce had a great play where he looked to be headed outside and darted back inside for a smooth catch and run for a first down.

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https://www.houfootball.com/p/11-observations-from-day-seven-of

zeeshan2 · Aug 3, 2023

Sometimes a rest day helps. The Texans returned to practice after taking Wednesday off, and rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud rebounded from a rough two-day stretch in which he threw three interceptions by making a series of impressive throws Thursday.

The No. 2 overall pick dropped a gem of an end-zone fade to Nico Collins, whose equally impressive catch over Derek Stingley Jr. prompted the entire offense to rush over and celebrate the touchdown. Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik himself sprinted into the crowd of players and joined the fun.

Stroud demonstrated apt decision-making during all four of Houston’s team drills but still faced pressure and tight coverage from the first-team defense. He is at the very least learning how to safely get rid of the ball when facing danger. During the third session of team drills, Jalen Pitre blitzed late, rushed freely up the middle and forced Stroud to fling a sideline throw just beyond Noah Brown and incomplete. But Stroud is still learning how to diagnose blitzes. The following series, nickel safety Desmond King soared off the right edge and would have recorded a sack had full contact not been forbidden.

Stroud and incumbent starter Davis Mills are still continuing an interchangeable rotation as starters during practice. Mills, who delivered two long throws to Collins and Xavier Hutchinson earlier in the week, began Thursday with the second-team offense and unfurled another on-target deep ball to Hutchinson that would have fallen within the 5 had Hutchinson not dropped the pass.

Texans general manager Nick Caserio and coach DeMeco Ryans both value efficiency from their quarterbacks. They also are distinguishing Stroud and Mills by how they handle in-game simulations during practice.

On Thursday, the Texans ended practice by putting 45 seconds on the clock, placing the ball at the offense’s 45 and setting a tie game on the scoreboard. Neither quarterback engineered a touchdown drive. Mills, with the first-team offense, was 1-of-3 passing and ended his drive’s quick turnover on downs with an incomplete slant to Robert Woods. Stroud, with the second-team offense, was 1-of-2 passing but showcased his ability to scramble on two runs before the offense was eventually stopped short of the goal line.

“When we have our compete periods, we want everybody off to the side, and we want it as real as it can get,” Ryans said. “We want to see the players make plays without the coaches standing behind telling them what to do. Can the guys just go out and operate efficiently without anyone else on the field? Because that’s real football. For me, I want to simulate as much game-like exposure as possible, and that’s what we do in those situations.”
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https://www.houstonchronicle.com/te...om&utm_campaign=sftwitter&utm_medium=referral

zeeshan2 · Aug 3, 2023

Before that injury, the offense really found a groove, but the defense didn't back down in the slightest. On the first play of the first team session, WR Robert Woods carried the ball up the field turning the left corner and it looked like…WHAM! Out of nowhere, DB Jimmie Ward brought the absolute FUNK on a hit on the veteran receiver. It got both sides juiced up and perhaps that's what stoked the embers that much more for the next period or two, but Ward really brought the hammer on Woods, who popped right up and wanted more. Honestly, I've got to say, that was a fun moment.

On the next play, RB Dameon Pierce saw as much open space as he's seen this camp on an inside run. The interior MOVED defensive linemen off the ball and gave Pierce time and space to make hay. He got to the second level in a hurry.

Then, QB C.J. Stroud ran the bootleg to perfection, dotting Woods on the sideline for another strong gain for the offense.

DL Jerry Hughes was not feeling the offensive flow, so on the next play he absolutely caved in the backside of a run and snatched up Pierce on a run play away from him. He must not have liked me saying that he should be a pass rush specialist. Not in the slightest. That play got the defense CHARGED up a bit. The next play, though, had the offense losing its collective mind.

Stroud threw the best pass I've seen him throw, shoot, since being a Texan. The offense had the ball near the red zone or just inside of it as Stroud went back to throw. He had WR Nico Collins in his sweet spot - one-on-one time, outside the numbers, in the end zone. I can still see this throw as I write this observation. Stroud put it high, but not too high. He had velo on it, but not too much sauce. It couldn't have been put in a better spot had C.J. walked over there and placed it in Nico's hands from 30 yards away. DIME TIME. Fade route to perfection. TD.

What I loved even more was the reaction from the offense. Every blue shirt and Stroud (in red) went running to the end zone to celebrate with Collins after the catch. I wrote in my notebook "THE OFFENSE WENT NUTS"

I think part of it was that the offense finally just let loose. However, THAT was that play. Protection was excellent. Great throw. Outstanding catch. The whole drive was solid and well executed. There's a ton more to come in that regard for the offense, but that was something exciting for the offensive unit to lose their collective minds in celebration.

The defense must not have liked that touchdown/celebration all that much because on the very next play, DL Hassan Ridgeway threw an interior lineman "out the club" and snatched up the running back for a stuff of no gain. Talk about physically impressive. I just had my eyes on the interior the whole way and saw Ridgeway doing THAT work. Holy cow.

Remember how I said there was a ton of talking? Well, QB Davis Mills scrambled to his right after finding no one open. As he ran out of bounds, I could hear a few defenders WHILE THEY CHASED DAVIS yelling some not too nice things to him. All in good fun, of course…I think. But, I was dying laughing because they're yelling AS they're running after him. That was my funny moment of the day.

DL Derek Rivers and DL Kurt Hinish blew up QB Case Keenum first play which looked like a screen at some point. Those two hammered both the receiver and anyone else in a blue jersey, which turned that play into mush on the spot.

On the next play, it was time for new DL Chase Winovich, who was back on the field for the first time as a Texan, and LB Jake Hansen shutting a screen. They both read the play perfectly, hugging up on RB Gerrid Doaks before the ball arrived.

Keenum hit WR Xavier Hutchinson out in the flat on third down, which preceded a Ka'imi Fairbairn field goal attempt that went down the middle.

Starting the next drive, RB Devin Singletary hit the gas on an inside run, slicing and dicing through the defense. It doesn't look, at first, like Singletary is running exceptionally fast, but man, he accelerates with some pop and he never loses ground with his cuts. That run was all about his quickness and burst. Then, on the next play, Singletary hit the backside hole on a play that wasn't designed to go that direction. I don't even know how he saw what was open on that play, but he ran to the proverbial daylight for a solid gain.

Stroud ran a bootleg on the next play and tried to find versatile weapon X Andrew Beck out in the flat. The Texans QB got a little pressure so he really couldn't set his feet to make the throw, but he got rid of it to Beck in the flat. LB Christian Harris broke up the pass and it didn't set well with Beck. It was probably interference and Beck had a point. But, when Beck said something to the official, asking why no flag, Harris had a few words for him too. Man, it was REALLY competitive today in practice.

DB Jimmie Ward did Harris one better with a diving pass breakup on the next play. He came over the top of TE Mason Schreck to knock away an accurate throw to the tight end. Initially, the defense started to get excited then saw Scott Quessenberry on the turf. That was tough to see for everyone.

Then, it was rookie LB Henry To'oTo'o turn for an outstanding PBU. He was in the middle of the field and spied WR Robert Woods, in the area, open for a potential reception. To'o To'o got as close as he could before laying out and knocking away the pass from Davis Mills.

A series of flags came out on the next few plays. First, DL Jonathan Greenard inadvertently knocked the ball out of QB Davis Mills' hand. Then, the offense missed a blitz for a sack and then had a procedure penalty on the next play. The defense returned the favor with a hands to the face penalty on the next play too.

QB Case Keenum walked into the huddle and calmed everything down. He hit new TE Dalton Keene for a reception out in the flat. On the second play of that drive, Keenum threw a laser shot to WR Noah Brown off play action for another reception. I knew it was good but when my pal Andre Ware started saying "NICE!! NICE!!" I knew it was better than good.

That seemed to get the QBs back on track as Stroud hit shifty and speedy Mike Boone out in the flat. Execution was brilliant on that throw from Stroud as Boone was able to catch it in stride, turn up the field and make a significant gain.

Boone was instrumental on the next completion - Stroud to WR John Metchie III - as well. He spied a blitzer on the outside and made a tremendous blitz pickup to allow Stroud to deliver the ball accurately and on time.

Twice, that I counted, QB Case Keenum, the veteran, drew the defense offsides. QB Davis Mills also got the defense to jump and on that play, he automatically threw deep, but unfortunately, rookie WR Xavier Hutchinson couldn't quite hang on. He was quite upset and he knew that was a huge play that he should/could make. He's made plenty but that would've been a great connection.

Case Keenum's OL opened a huge hole for RB Xazavian Valladay on an inside run play. That play was at the end of the period so they showed the replay on the video board a number of times from all different angles. Each time, a new facet of the run popped up. Valladay's shifty jump cut. The blocking execution. All of it, over and over. It did my heart some good.

The offense had a few rough spots in the next few reps. A flag on one play, QB throwing out-WR coming in on another. Just disjointed for a few plays. Even though there was one flag, it was a dart from Stroud to WR Nico Collins. That throw was ripped to Collins who appeared to be the hot receiver with the blitz.

Stroud then hit WR Robert Woods on a short, accurate hitch throw for a completion.
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https://www.houstontexans.com/news/harris-hits-training-camp-observations-day-7

conquistador#11 · Aug 3, 2023

Metchie on 610: " I understand cancer is a part of me of who I am. But yeah I'm ready to move on. "

Translation: "Stop asking me about it. I'm finna hit up the league for a 1,000 yard season. League is F'd."

red5rocket · Aug 4, 2023

zeeshan2 said: ↑

that's a nice avatar you got there
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Did you have it?

zeeshan2 · Aug 4, 2023

zeeshan2 · Aug 4, 2023

zeeshan2 · Aug 4, 2023

QB1

Fulgore · Aug 4, 2023

zeeshan2 · Aug 4, 2023

zeeshan2 · Aug 4, 2023

red5rocket said: ↑

Did you have it?
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No I was legit complimenting you

Fulgore · Aug 4, 2023

That 3rd rep Shultz didn’t have anyone within 20 yds of him

red5rocket · Aug 4, 2023

zeeshan2 said: ↑

No I was legit complimenting you
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Thank you. I have a ton of faith in our secondary this year. Especially if Will Anderson turns out to be Con Miller lite.

zeeshan2 · Aug 4, 2023

Qan · Aug 4, 2023

Sounds like he might be name starter?

tmacfor35 · Aug 4, 2023

CJ has been playing well last two days. Seeing a lot of positive reviews from people at camp.

conquistador#11 · Aug 4, 2023

Qan said: ↑

Sounds like he might be name starter?
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It's probably too early. Coaches treat the 2nd preseason game the way they treated the 3rd preseason game, so a day or two prior to that game

zeeshan2 · Aug 4, 2023

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