Training camp 2011 news

[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.

[WMH]

Originally Posted by 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.

CBS Rapid Reports
Aug. 12, 2011 12:10 p.m. - by Brandon Williams - Joseph misses practice with groin issues
CB Johnathan Joseph missed Friday morning's practice with a mild groin pull, but is expected back for Saturday's sessions. The team did get WR Lestar Jean back after he missed Thursday while recovering from being inadvertently kneed in the head during Wednesday morning's drills. Texans RapidReports

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by WMH

CBS Rapid Reports
Aug. 12, 2011 12:10 p.m. - by Brandon Williams - Joseph misses practice with groin issues
CB Johnathan Joseph missed Friday morning's practice with a mild groin pull, but is expected back for Saturday's sessions. The team did get WR Lestar Jean back after he missed Thursday while recovering from being inadvertently kneed in the head during Wednesday morning's drills. Texans RapidReports

This is the report I heard also, groin not hammy.

[edo783]

PFT is reporting that he has taken a shot in the groin to loosen it up. That sounds bad on sooo many levels.

[nunusguy]

I had a couple groin pulls in school (both track and football), and they can keep you out for awhile. I dunno, which is worse, a groin or hamstring injury
and which usually requires the most time for recovery ?