Training camp 2011 news

[NBT]

Thanks to Arky & PK for getting out there in that 100 degree heat to let us know some things. Stay hydrated guys. We really appreciate your efforts.

If Brooks Reed is really 6-2, 263, I don't see how he could look "small"?

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by NBT

Thanks to Arky & PK for getting out there in that 100 degree heat to let us know some things. Stay hydrated guys. We really appreciate your efforts.

If Brooks Reed is really 6-2, 263, I don't see how he could look "small"?

I gather you are referring to my description of Reed, and I probably could have used a better adjective than "small". Perhaps I should have said he was relatively "short" when compared to somebody like Connar Barwin who's overall length seems to make him better suited to play the 3-4 OLB position ?

[NBT]

Oh OK, now I see where you were coming from. I imagine most people would look "small" with all those behemoths out there.

[painekiller]

Yesterday was not an easy day to report on. They did a large portion of the practice on the south side of the field, thus my position near the 20 on the north side bleachers was not a good seat for that part of practice.

If you saw the chron.com report of practice yesterday you got most of my observations.

I will add a couple of notes I remember, The running backs on the field yesterday, Ward, Slaton and Chris Ogbonnaya, all looked sharp. Slaton is showing the burst he had as a rookie, and has had some big runs in camp. Ogbonnaya is showing speed and quickness I do not remember from his days at Texas. Tate is still on the sideline and he is losing ground. He is in desperate need of reps, and Slaton has been able to secure his spot as at he number 3 back. Not saying that Tate will be cut or is a bust, just saying he is falling further behind.

Holiday had a huge punt return that highlighted his speed, he hit the seam and he was gone no one could get near him, he is going to have to do that in the games a few times to make this team.

The UDFA WRs that the scouts secured are all pushing for that #5 WR spot. I am glad that I am not having to make this decision. Jean, Maehl and Toliver are all making cases for making this team. I have Jean slightly ahead of Toliver on the outside, and Maehl is a slot guy that is an upgrade over Anderson right now. So keeping all three will be tough.

Right now my favorite UDFA defender is Bryan Braman. He is at worse a practice squad guy. He is old for a rookie, 25, but he is showing a huge motor and great quickness at the OLB. He had another big play today, a sack.

I have to say, I am not seeing Mario flash in camp in the team drills. Could it be why he is getting called out by AJ?

Sorry Keith, but no big report on Harris. That does not means he has done bad, but the plays I watched him on, he had solid coverage and no one challenged him with a throw. So he did not have any big plays, just solid plays on a consistent basis. I guess that is a report.

Keo is not getting any return work with the ST which is surprising me. They are working Quin on punts, go figure.

Our high priced free agent DBs appear to worth every penny, and I agree with all the hype in the paper, The opening day starters at CB will be Joseph and Allen. I don't see that Jackson is consistent enough to get on the field as a starter yet. And I am not calling Jackson a bust, just not the 2nd best CB we got right now. Jackson is looking better than last year, but not as good as Allen right now. And in the NFL you never have to many CBs.

Oh and Watts...........

[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

[painekiller]

Biggest news today was Casey appears to have hurt his ankle. It looked like his ankle rolled on a catch late in practice, and he was very slow in getting up. He laid flat for a at least 30 seconds before getting up. He was helped off the field, but was walking with his weight on the ankle. He was limping. Not sure how bad it was.

News flash, Maehl dropped a pass today. And TE Hill actually caught one.

I want to point out Allen was working with the 1st team, but so was Jackson. I did not see Joseph in team drills. Not sure if I just missed him or what. Jackson had a real nice day. He stripped AJ on a few occasions. Like I said yesterday, he has improved. It's amazing what a pro coach can do with raw talent.

As for Harris, I watched him on a large number of plays. In team drill late in practice they played it like a game, the #2 offense in a 3 wide set got the ball on the 20 and they had to work against the #2 defense in a nickle package. Harris was on Maehl who has had a wonderful camp. Harris covered Maehl and keep him from being involved in the game. I think Maehl was targeted on one play and Harris broke it up. Brice was working with the #1's nickle.

Mario was back out there today. I'm still not seeing him making plays. Barwin has looked like a beast.

A note on Casey, he was working only with the 2nd team today. And Vickers was blown up again today, second time this week I've seen him blown up. Not just beaten, but blown up.

Leinart is a good solid backup, and Yates is still looking good.

Ward and Ogbonnaya both looked great again. So the OL is looking solid in the run game.

[NBT]

Channel 13 was saying that Joseph tweaked his hammy so was held out of morning workouts. A lot of hammies a result of the lockout and lack of OTA's IMO.