[Arky]

Taking advantage

Running back Chris Ogbonnaya is getting a lot of chances to carry the ball even though he went to camp fifth on the depth chart.

Arian Foster and Ben Tate have been out with hamstring injuries. Steve Slaton suffered a hamstring injury, too, during the morning practice. Ogbonnaya and Derrick Ward should get a lot of action in practice and in Sunday's preseason opener against the New York Jets.

Stripping the ball

Glover Quin was the team's best cornerback after his first two seasons, but he was moved to strong safety during the offseason. Quin has good size (6-0, 203), speed (4.55), instincts and hitting ability for safety.

In the morning practice, Matt Schaub threw a beautiful pass to the sideline for Andre Johnson. Right when Johnson was about to catch the ball and pull it to his chest, Quin showed a great closing burst, reached out and stripped the ball from Johnson, which doesn't happen very often.

Keep an eye on

A couple of defensive backs who continue to make plays and earn praise from their coaches are cornerback Sherrick McManis and safety Quintin Demps.

McManis (6-1, 193) and Demps (5-11, 206) made a lot of plays during the morning practice. McManis enters his second season. Demps is a four-year veteran who grew up in San Antonio and played at UTEP. The coaches will be watching them closely Monday night against the Jets.

Looking good

It’s not as if any extra evidence was necessary, but TE Owen Daniels and WR Andre Johnson are and have been exceptional… Rookie free agent WR Jeff Maehl continues to impress. Wide receivers coach Larry Kirksey was reserved Thursday in his praise of Maehl, mostly because the former Oregon star hasn’t shown what he can do yet in live action, but Kirksey said there were things the wide receiver possessed that can’t be taught. “He’s not a fast-twitch athlete, but at the same time, you find him making plays out here on the field,” Kirksey said. “He has a long ways to catch up with the speed of the game, but at the same time, he has playing speed… He’s someone who gets open and plays smart.”

Have had better days

Matt Leinart wasn’t as sharp as he was to open training camp, and the timing is curious because he’s slated to play plenty in Monday’s preseason opener against the New York Jets.

More at the chron