Training Camp 2018

[Arky]

Some Harris stuff:

-- Man, it was great to see J.J. Watt back in action...and Deshaun Watson...and Nick Martin...and D.J. Reader...and Whitney Mercilus...and Christian Covington. That’s a lot of firepower that was lost to injury last year.

-- Watt looked like he hasn’t missed one minute in the weight room and I can’t wait to see him bangin’ in pads on Saturday.

-- One thing I noticed studying free agent signee interior lineman Zach Fulton was his strength. There were no pads on today, but I saw him take a Texans linebacker and literally shove him ten feet by the pile as if it were nothing.

-- I didn’t see many dropped passes on Thursday at all, which when I think back a few years, that was a real issue.

-- Loved seeing the coaches challenge the linebackers/safeties/cornerbacks during one-on-ones forcing them to cover with no use of hands/collision. That’s as challenging a drill as can be for cover guys to rely solely on read/react/redirect skills.

-- Running back Alfred Blue’s pass receiving skills seem to have improved every single year in the NFL and he made a couple of slick catches during the one-on-one/seven-on-seven periods.

-- Linebackers had a ton of trouble slowing down running back Lamar Miller in pass periods.

-- Still trying to get used to a few number changes. Tyler Ervin is now #21. Dee Virgin is Ervin’s old #34. Seantrel Henderson is wearing #76, which was worn for nearly a decade by Duane Brown.

-- Rookie receiver Keke Coutee has some serious next level quickness and speed, but his best overall trait might be his gluesticks for hands. He really snatches the football no matter where it’s thrown to him.

-- Tyrann Mathieu is a Texan. Tyrann Mathieu is a Texan...maybe if I keep repeating myself, it’ll sink in more and more. The star safety has such excellent instincts, whether it’s cutting off a route in coverage or reading the QB/playing the middle of the field in zone coverage.

[barrett]

I'm happy just to see posts around here.

It's a huge bummer Foreman is hurt. I'd love to see him take the job by season's end. We are right out of the 1990s paying premium money for above average RB production.

[Arky]

Day 2

More sunshine from John Harris:

-- I love seeing new drills from different positions/groups. There was one that I’ve never seen in all my years of football - a toss/bootleg drill between the quarterbacks and running backs. It was brilliant from the quarterbacks and running backs.

-- Rookie receiver Keke Coutee made a pair of grabs, including a DeAndre Hopkins Toe Drag Swag type catch, during team drills. His hands are just outstanding.

-- Fellow slot receiver Bruce Ellington made another couple of catches down the field on Friday as defensive backs struggled to cover him deep in the secondary.

-- A few of the defensive veterans relished the challenge of covering the team’s rookie tight ends - Jordan Akins and Jordan Thomas - during drills. They, in particular linebacker Benardrick McKinney, had some success early, but Akins went down the seam later in practice and hauled in a beauty and the chatter seemed to stop at that point.

-- First play of 7-on-7, Watson hit Hopkins on an out route to the sideline. Pitch. Catch. Toe Drag...it’s like they’ve doing that for years.

-- Rookie receiver Jester Weah adjusted to a deep throw from Brandon Weeden during 7-on-7, making a sliding catch. He just has to be more consistent catching everything thrown his way.

-- There’s a comfort in having Tyrann Mathieu at safety for this defense. He had a pass breakup on the first play of team in the red zone.

-- Down in the red zone, after a few stops by the defense, Watson lasered one to Jordan Akins. The defensive back seven looked at each other afterwards like “nothing we could do.” They were right.

-- We can talk all we want about receiver Will Fuller’s speed, but he’s a much more accomplished route runner than anyone likes to discuss. Yes, his speed helps sell those routes, but very few utilize that speed properly on their routes.

[Keith]

From a sporting perspective, three things helped make this offseason fly:
1. Astros are good.
2. Rockets are good.
3. World Cup.

Great combo especially in an offseason without a first round pick in the NFL draft.

[Arky]

Training Camp Day 4: Notes and Quotes, Deepi Sidhu:

Johnson Bademosi has also transitioned well to his new team. Last year, he was traded to the New England Patriots shortly after they wrapped up practices at The Greenbrier with the Texans. The Texans signed Bademosi to help improve special teams and bolster the secondary.

“Good guy, has really good size, good speed,” O’Brien said. “I like the way he communicates. Smart player, practices hard, brings a good attitude to the field every day. Definitely a guy that has fit in really well here.”

Bademosi also loves acai bowls (who doesn’t?) and even has one named after him in California. He described the recipe for the famous Bademosi Bowl.

“Acai, blueberry, peanut butter, I think it has chia seeds in the mix,” Bademosi said. “And then on top, you have granola, strawberries, blueberries, banana, put some cinnamon on top and then drizzle some honey. It’s perfect.”

After practice, J.J. Watt and Bruce Ellington found a soccer ball and played a few rounds of soccer golf, followed by kicking field goals with the soccer ball.

The Texans do not practice again until Tuesday. Many have plans to relax, rehab while others may explore West Virginia. If they do, O’Brien won’t be joining them.

“I know I won’t be river rafting or on an ATV,” O’Brien said. “I’ll be watching some film.”

[nunusguy]

Where's the Chuckster I would have thought he'd of checked by now with
TC underway.
Oh wait, those wealthy River Oaks types spend quite a bit of their time up in Aspen this time of the year don't they to avoid these horrid summers we have in these parts.
Yes he's probably up their golfing, playing tennis and such things with the McNairs and some of his other very well to do River Oaks pals.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Where's the Chuckster I would have thought he'd of checked by now with
TC underway.
Oh wait, those wealthy River Oaks types spend quite a bit of their time up in Aspen this time of the year don't they to avoid these horrid summers we have in these parts.
Yes he's probably up their golfing, playing tennis and such things with the McNairs and some of his other very well to do River Oaks pals.

Nunu! Jolly good to hear from you old boy, what what! Whilst dressing me this very morning my manservant mentioned you'd rang as it were and after a restorative breakfast of boiled guinea fowl I thought I'd give you a pip pip!

Yes, of course, I've been to the horses with Bobby and Jan over at their summer cottage in Saratoga, and they honoured me with their graceful presence at my seaside shanty in Bar Harbor where we have enjoyed a number of bathes that were most agreeable.

I regret that I must wrap this up for now. The yachting club awaits, and I must confess at my advanced age extended use of a monocle pains my dominant eye.

My staff and I extend our warmest wishes to you and all of your chums in the work release program and to your neighbors in the park, I certainly hope management has not once again raised your lot fees.