10 days of OTAs started

[Nconroe]

So now offseason training has started, and we hope we got the right guys onboard to build a superbowl bound team. Could be.

I was just looking at Linebackers since this is one of places team got really thin at end of last year.

From roster at Houstontexans.com, see these 14 guys in camp now

56 Cushing, Brian ILB 6-3 255 26 4 Southern California
61 Davis, Ja'Gared ILB 6-0 238 R SMU
51 Sharpton, Darryl ILB 5-11 234 25 3 Miami (Fla.)

50 Braman, Bryan LB 6-5 251 26 2 West Texas A&M
49 Collins, Cameron LB 6-2 241 23 R Oregon State
52 Dobbins, Tim LB 6-1 236 30 7 Iowa State
59 Mercilus, Whitney LB 6-4 257 22 R Illinois
Mohamed, Mike LB 6-3 245 25 2 California

63 Jefferson, Willie OLB 6-5 233 R Stephen F. Austin
64 Johnson, Delano OLB 6-4 280 25 R Bowie State
58 Reed, Brooks OLB 6-2 250 26 2 Arizona
47 Tuggle, Justin OLB 6-3 244 R Kansas State
54 Williams, Trevardo OLB 6-1 241 R Connecticut
57 Montgomery, Sam OLB 6-3 262 22 R LSU

Seems 7 or 8 or maybe 9 of these guys will make the team.

Daryl Shapton made it for first day of OTAs, that is good to hear. Saw Cushing working out well on TV, should be ready for training camp.

Sounds like Braman, and Mercilus started at OLB and rotated with Williams and Montgomery on day 1 of OTAs, although guess everyone will get lots of reps.

And Reed and Sharpton started at ILB, rotated with others for now.

Seems the more of these guys we keep, might also help special teams.

[painekiller]

ON a side note, Tim Dobbins is not in town. Kubiak said it's voluntary and he is not required to be here, so....

[Nconroe]

Looks like we are trying to perhaps upgrade our receivers to help on third down conversions and end zone scores.

Looks like a total of 15 in camp now, 10 WR and 5 TE.

Quite a few for some good competition.

16 Bonner, Alan WR 5-10 193 R Jacksonville State
12 Cruse, Andy WR 6-3 212 R Miami (Ohio)
18 Jean, Lestar WR 6-3 212 25 2 Florida Atlantic
80 Johnson, Andre WR 6-3 230 31 10 Miami (Fla.)
17 Lemon, Alec WR 6-1 202 R Syracuse
15 Maehl, Jeff WR 6-0 185 24 1 Oregon
82 Martin, Keshawn WR 5-11 190 23 R Michigan State
11 Posey, DeVier WR 6-1 206 23 R Ohio State
86 Smith, Mike WR 6-0 204 R Connecticut
10 Hopkins, DeAndre WR 6-1 214 R Clemson

Some taller TE which seems the trend all around the league these days.

82 Byrne, Jake TE 6-4 260 23 R
81 Daniels, Owen TE 6-3 249 30 7 Wisconsin
88 Graham, Garrett TE 6-3 244 26 3 Wisconsin
84 Griffin, Ryan TE 6-6 247 R Connecticut
48 Supernaw, Phillip TE 6-5 250 23 R Ouachita Baptist

How many WR will we keep, 5 or 6, and TE 3 or 4. I guess depends on how many RB and FB and OL we also keep.

[Nconroe]

Three days of OTA or first week is done, 7 more days to go starting next Tuesday.

Lots of positive feedback these days, of course its early.

Another area which needed some improvement last year was right side of OL, so other than experience, what going on there.

For camp now have 16 guys on OL, maybe keep 7 or 8 or 9? with quite a few Tackles to look at.

Horn, Tyler C 6-4 305 1 Miami
60 Jones, Ben C 6-3 303 23 R Georgia
55 Myers, Chris C 6-4 290 31 8 Miami (Fla.)

79 Brooks, Brandon G 6-5 340 23 R Miami (Ohio)
61 Collins, Bryan G 6-3 301 R SMU
62 Kupper, Alex G 6-3 300 R Louisville
74 Smith, Wade G 6-4 307 32 10 Memphis
67 White, Cody G 6-3 301 24 R Illinois State


73 Williams, Brennan T 6-6 318 R North Carolina

76 Brown, Duane T 6-4 320 27 5 Virginia Tech
66 Gardner, Andrew T 6-6 308 27 2 Georgia Tech
68 Harris, Ryan T 6-5 300 28 5 Notre Dame
69 Mondek, Nick T 6-5 303 24 R Purdue
75 Newton, Derek T 6-5 318 25 2 Arkansas State
70 O'Neill, Dann T 6-7 326 R Western Michigan
77 Quessenberry, David T 6-5 302 R San Jose State

[painekiller]

I see the OT position as a quandary. Brown is a no brainier, if he stays healthy he will be the OT for a long time. But the RT is still in flux.

Can Newton recover and have a sophomore jump in his play, a big if with a repaired patella tendon. Even if he recovers, the team sent a huge message by drafting an OT in the 3rd round. Most likely if healthy the future swing guy.

And now the 3rd round guy, Williams is having a hard time getting on the field due to a fluke injury. It is real early and we have a very small amount of data on the kid, but the kid has to get out of the tub or he maybe a redshirt guy on the IR. (He has months to get healthy and make an impression, I get that). He fits the part on paper, long arms, good feet, and a monster run blocker.

The surprise find is Quessenberry, he fits the ZBS and he can play inside and outside. Which is very valuable on game day. He and Jones should be penciled in as the backups that suit up on game days this season.

I am also intrigued to see Mondek during open practices and preseason games, how much has he progressed.

I consider most of the rest as roster fillers so they can practice 3rd and 4th teams during camp. Someone may surprise, and force an unpleasant roster move for the Texans, but unlikely. We will see one or two of these guys make the PS come September.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

How many WR will we keep, 5 or 6, and TE 3 or 4. I guess depends on how many RB and FB and OL we also keep.

The Texans have been doing an excellent job of collecting talented players, we have guys that will be picked up by other teams and placed on there active rosters. This was unheard of during the Casserly years.

I am guessing they go:
5 WR : AJ, Hopkins, Martin, Bonner, Jean, Posey on the PUP, with Jean on the bubble when Posey comes back.
4 TEs : Daniels, Graham, Griffen, Supernaw
3 RB : Foster, Tate, Karim or one of the UDFA, my money is on Johnson,
1 FB Jones and Boren on the PS ( does Jones play ST? if not then they keep Jones or Klutes on the active roster).

[Nconroe]

We do seem to have quite a few good skill position players on the roster now.

I'm hoping by Schaub being at OTA with all these guys he gets used to distributing ball to many of them rather than mostly going to AJ.

Wonder if they will work more hurry up offense into system of playcalls this year.

The OL I agree seems fairly set other than RT, although looks like good competition there. If OL can give Schaub just a little more time in pass protection consistently might get rid of a few of those interceptions that seemed to come at just the wrong time the last six games last year.

[Nconroe]

Fourth day of OTA, observation appeared to be that the DB's and defense did real well with total of four interceptions.

That is a good sign, since seems I read during last six games Texans defense gave up like 32 passes over 20 yards, evenly distributed amongst the DB's depending on playing time.

From Texans web-site the 15 DB's who are part of 90 man minicamp roster are:

42 Adams, Johnny CB 5-10 182 R Michigan St.
34 Bouye, A.J. CB 6-0 186 R Central Florida
22 Carmichael, Roc CB 5-10 195 24 2 Virginia Tech
26 Harris, Brandon CB 5-10 194 23 2 Miami (Fla.)
27 Howard, Travis CB 6-1 200 R Ohio State
24 Joseph, Johnathan CB 5-11 189 29 7 South Carolina
21 McCain, Brice CB 5-9 184 26 4 Utah
25 Jackson, Kareem DB 5-10 192 25 3 Alabama

36 Swearinger, D.J. S 5-10 208 R South Carolina

20 Reed, Ed FS 5-11 205 34 11 Miami (Fla.)

30 Johnson, Orhian S 6-3 215 R Ohio State
31 Keo, Shiloh S 6-0 202 25 2 Idaho
38 Manning, Danieal S 5-11 210 30 7 Abilene Christian
29 Starling, Jawanza S 6-0 202 R Southern California
35 Pleasant, Eddie SS 5-10 210 24 R Oregon

[Nconroe]

First six of 10 OTA's done or two weeks complete. One more week of the voluntary OTA's or 4 days remain, starting Monday.

Looks like 11 guys currently at OTAs along the Defensive Line. Lots of youth and speed. Hope the year experience for several will help this year to get a little better. Sounds like effort and teamwork is there.

98 Browner, Keith DE 6-4 276 25 R California
93 Crick, Jared DE 6-4 287 23 R Nebraska
96 Jamison, Tim DE 6-3 285 27 4 Michigan
71 Okine, Earl DE 6-6 284 R Florida
94 Smith, Antonio DE 6-4 284 31 8 Oklahoma State
99 Watt, J.J. DE 6-5 295 24 2 Wisconsin

91 Harris, Ra'Shon DT 6-5 301 26 2 Oregon
95 Jones, Chris DT 6-2 302 R Bowling Green

72 Hunter, David NT 6-2 303 23 R Houston
97 McClain, Terrell NT 6-2 300 24 2 South Florida
92 Mitchell, Earl NT 6-3 300 25 3 Arizona

[Nconroe]

Today was ninth of ten OTA's, with a mandatory mini-camp next week, then overall break for most including coaches until training camp.

Overall , injuries seem minor compared to some years and some teams.

Duane Brown had minor surgery to remove a bone spur on his anakle today, but should be good to go for training camp in late July.

Special teams sounds on paper like it will be better and more consistent this year. Adding a leader like Shane Lechler who can punt accurately and long should help. Adding a second ST coach and emphasizing ST to guys who aren't part of the starting rotation should help as well.

4 Bullock, Randy K 5-9 208 23 R Texas A&M

9 Lechler, Shane P 6-2 230 36 13 Texas A&M
14 Shapiro, Andrew P 6-0 198 R Fresno State

46 Weeks, Jon LS 5-10 248 27 3 Baylor

Shapiro probably won't make team unless someone injured, could be practice squad or show good and another team picks him up. He punts and kicks long for kickoffs and is great for ST practices.

[Nconroe]

last day of OTA's today.

Seems like good RB competition after Foster and Tate.

23 Foster, Arian) 6-1 229 26 4 Tennessee
37 Graham, Ray RB 5-9 199 R Pittsburgh
28 Johnson, Dennis RB 5-7 196 R Arkansas
Karim, Deji RB 5-8 209 4 Southern Illinois
44 Tate, Ben RB 5-11 215 24 3 Auburn
43 Wood, Cierre RB 5-11 213 R Notre Dame

Looks like Texans signed a tight end for camp to replace injured Supernaw.
Adam Schiltz. rookie free agent from Emporia State 6-4 and 256 lbs.

I guess still a lot of questions and camp to go, right now RT being a concern, but should be ok.

[Nconroe]

To complete the positions and 90 guys on roster now, I think.

Here are the QB's. Seems lots of good coverage about Case Keenum, such as only one INT thrown during OTA's. Make's one assume other QB threw more than one, but not sure about that.

QB's and team did some hurry up offense practice during OTA, good to hear that.

7 Keenum, Case QB 6-1 209 25 R Houston
3 McGee, Stephen QB 6-3 225 27 4 Texas A&M
8 Schaub, Matt QB 6-5 239 31 9 Virginia
13 Yates, T.J. QB 6-4 219 26 2 North Carolina

So, might be time to hazzard another guess on how many from each position group will be kept for final 53 man roster. Tough choices coming with so many guys really showing promise, desire, hard work, athletic skills and football skills.

[HPF Bob]

I think Keenum can be put on the practice squad like last year while McGee cannot. That could be the deciding factor at cut time.