Special teams

[ramp1028]

Special players on special teams
Special teams coordinator Joe Marciano was not happy with the players’ overall performance in special teams practice on Friday, but there were some positives to come out of the morning session. It looks like the Texans have three special teams stars in the making in rookies Cushing, Barwin and tight end James Casey.

After Friday’s practice, Marciano was discussing how far the Texans have come in terms of depth since 2002, when most of his special teams player were street free agents that no other club wanted, when he compared Casey and Barwin to Jim Thorpe – one of the greatest, most versatile athletes in history.

“They can do everything," he said.

They did do just about everything in college. Barwin was a defensive end, tight end and walk-on basketball player at Cincinnati. Casey was a tight end, running back, quarterback and punt returner at Rice – and that was after he played minor league baseball for three years. He is being groomed to be the Texans’ long snapper.

“Casey was a quarterback, so that helps,” Marciano said. “He can throw. You show him the motion. I did it. I snapped a perfect spiral back to him. So he did it, and did the perfect spiral. So if he can do that, he can put two hands on the ball and do it. If you watch on Monday, he'll be snapping for us."

Is this saying that Casey is the long snapper?

And who is receiving the punts, and kicks? Jones?