Texans camp report Aug 6 (1 Viewer)

Notes from the Houston Texans August 6th evening training camp session. Shoulder pads and shorts. Almost no contact at all, even less than normal. This wasn't a very intense practice. It being the only evening practice that was open to the public, it had a huge turn out from the fans and they seemed to design the practice to be entertaining as much as it was about practice. At the opening you could tell the defense was intentionally giving up some long touchdown passes for the fans to cheer about.



Signings and injury news:

Newly signed CB Deltha O'Neal and RB Andre Hall participated in practice.

CB Glover Quin (knee bruise) practiced though I don't think he took a full number of reps.

RB Arian Foster is out until probably Monday with a tweaked hamstring.

RB Jeremiah Johnson is going on IR with a shoulder injury.

LB Zac Diles was on the sidelines but I didn't see him participate.



Kickoff return

Started out with Kris Brown working on kickoffs. Andre Davis, Jacoby Jones, Brice McCain, Glover Quin, Darnel Jenkins all took turns receiving kickoffs.

Next they did some 11 on 11 but this was when they were just showing off for the fans, so I don't have much to report from that drill. 1st string D was Mario, A. Smith, Okoye and Deljuan Robinson on the line. Cushing, Adibi and Ryans at LB. Bennet and McCain were at CB and Ferguson and Wilson at safety, no surprises. 2nd string D had Barwin and Bulman at DE, Okam and Zgnonina at DT, LBs were Chaun Thompson, Cato June and Kevin Bentley, with AJ Davis and Glover Quin at DB, Barber at safety and I didn't note the other safety. Offense was unchanged except for the RB injuries. Moats and Andre Hall ran with the 2nd and 3rd strings.

11-on-11 from midfield

They finally started normal practice then with more 11 on 11. Though the formations were mixed at first, by the end they were running most of it out of single WR I-formations. AJ was getting open pretty easily against McCain. Bennet had good coverage on Andre Davis on a deep pass. Barwin was continuing to get in the backfield and get pressure. Moats didn't have a great day in general I didn't think, he got swallowed up a few times on running plays. Not a lot to note. Slaton looked very good, but no one else really stood out in the running game other than him. Andre Hall didn't look all that great, but it was his first day under contract. Brown got a few carries but didn't stand out in my mind as having any big plays.



Goal line drills

They ran a bunch of plays from the 2. Here were the plays and the personnel if I had time to record them:

1st string O (Schaub QB):

2 WR, FB, TE, RB: Slaton caught a swing pass for a TD

1 WR, 3 TE, RB: Pass to TE James Casey, knocked away on a nice play by the D, didn't see who the defender was.

3 WR (Anderson 3rd WR), RB, TE: Slaton right tackle for a TD

2 TE, RB (Moats), 2 WR (AJ, Walter): Fade to AJ broken up nicely by Fred Bennet

2nd string O (Orlovsky QB):

RB (Moats), 2 WR (AD, Jacoby), 2 TE (Dreesen, Casey): TD Jacoby Jones on a slant

RB, I think 3 WR, 1 TE: Incomplete pass, Moats missed blitz pickup, likely a sack

1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR: TD Jacoby Jones

2 WR, 2 TE, think RB was split wide: Orlovsky QB draw for a TD

3rd string O (Grossman QB):

Normal I-formation: Andre Hall stopped short of goal line

1 WR I-formation: Quick pass to Glenn Martinez for TD.

3 WR, 1 RB, 1 TE: Grossman nearly picked off, didn't see who he was throwing to

Not sure personnel: Grossman threw a TD but would have probably been sacked before he released it if it was full contact



11-on-11 from 50 yard line:

1st string O

Kevin Walter 20 yard completion GREAT pass protection on the play. Schaub would have had to run a few yards just to reach a defender.

Swing pass to Slaton in the flat, read very well by Antonio Smith who just missed dropping him for a five yard loss. Slaton probably picked up a net yard or two before going out of bounds.

C. Brown off tackle for a few yards

Bootleg, Schaub throwing on run to open David Anderson but led him too much.

2nd string O

Owen Daniels in with 2nd string, 25 yd completion

Jacoby Jones 35 yard great catch while well covered

Moats swallowed up on run, don't think he had a hole anywhere he could go.

Orlov overthrew someone deep who was only somewhat open.

11-on-11 2 minute drill starting on own 30

1st string O vs 2nd string D

Dump to Slaton for about 5 yards

AJ reception to 47, getting open at will against CB AJ Davis

AJ reception to opponents 30.

Incompletion, didn't see what happened

David Anderson reception to the 7.

Pass to Walter at the 2 broken up by hit by DB

Owen Daniels misses acrobatic one-handed catch in corner.

Incompletion to Daniels at the 2, good coverage by D.

4th down, Incompletion to Daniels, ball turned over on downs.

2nd string O vs 1st string D with Okam in at DT

Jacoby Jones 20 yard reception to 50, got out of bounds

Andre Davis 14 yard reception to 36, clock rolling

WR Darnell Jenkins 6 yard gain to 30, clock rolling

WR Darnell Jenkins 14 yard catch to 16 yard line, out of bounds.

Sack by pressure up the middle, probably Frank Okam.

Sack, Okoye and Mario

Pass to TE Joel Dreesen broken up by Demeco Ryans.

All out blitz by defense, Orlovsky had to throw it fast... either a sack if full contact, or incompletion if he could still get it away. Turn over on downs.

Other notes:

I only noted the 1st string defense personnel on one nickel play and it was Demeco Ryans and Brian Cushing as the LBs.

In base 4-3, they were playing the 4-3 Under maybe around 50% of the time, with Cushing up on the line on the Tight End like a 5th lineman. Mario seemed to be moved to whichever side the TE wasn't on.

Andre Hall got a fair amount of touches in the early drills and he didn't look that great, though in his defense he probably just signed today. I did watch Antonio Smith in the earlier drills and he didn't really do much that was very impressive early on. He totally bit into a run-fake bootleg that left Schaub completely alone to survey the field. Didn't manage to get a lot of penetration. But later he had the nice read on the swing pass he almost stopped for a loss. I watched Cushing specifically on a few plays as well, though all but one went to the other side of the field, and the other he wasn't able to fight through Owen Daniels on a running play (sweep or off tackle that bounced outside).

General impressions:

Jacoby Jones had a really nice day. The Texans were really throwing the ball around today... part of that might have been it was the biggest fan experience open practice session and they were definitely playing to the crowd some as well as practicing. 1st string defense was getting a lot of pressure on the QB near the end (against 2nd string O).

Thanks for this info, greg. Schaub and Slaton are two guys that could finish top 7 at their positions so this type of stuff is invaluable.

Great report!

Thanks...

I read tonight somewhere that J Johnson was waived-injured.

Fantastic work, Greg. That news about Mario flopping to the weakside is good stuff.

Just curious your thoughts from watching these practices since we don't see him talked about much......

What do you think of Kevin Walter? Blends in with other WRs? Stands out at all? Last year a complete aberration or will continue to be involved?

In your best guess. Who is going to be the guy to own as Slaton's hand cuff. I heard Foster was looking good but he is off for a couple of days with a tight groin. Chris Brown is as average as they come. What is your best guess entering the season as a depth chart for the RB's?

Thanks

Carter_Can_Fly said:

In your best guess. Who is going to be the guy to own as Slaton's hand cuff. I heard Foster was looking good but he is off for a couple of days with a tight groin. Chris Brown is as average as they come. What is your best guess entering the season as a depth chart for the RB's?

Thanks

Click to expand...

Actually, I disagree with this. Chris Brown is definitely above average. Chris Brown's issue isn't talent. His issue is staying healthy enough to stay on the field. Replace "average" with "brittle" and I think you'd be more accurate.

gianmarco said:

Carter_Can_Fly said:

In your best guess. Who is going to be the guy to own as Slaton's hand cuff. I heard Foster was looking good but he is off for a couple of days with a tight groin. Chris Brown is as average as they come. What is your best guess entering the season as a depth chart for the RB's?

Thanks

Click to expand...

Actually, I disagree with this. Chris Brown is definitely above average. Chris Brown's issue isn't talent. His issue is staying healthy enough to stay on the field. Replace "average" with "brittle" and I think you'd be more accurate.

Click to expand...

Not to argue this anymore than it needs to be, but don't let one good season fool you into thinking a player is an above average football player. If you want to argue that Brown at one point had an above average year for that one season where he played 11 games and looked good then you would have me. But that would make guys like L. Betts and other back up talents who have much better resumes than Brown also become above average as well. I think to be above average football players you need to produce and Brown has not produced much of anything. Did he have some talent? Sure. Is he an above average football player? No.

Chris Brown has been having a great camp, and Kubiak has had nothing but good things to say about him. If hes healthy, hes the clear #2. For #3 it will come down to if Foster can get back on the field and have an impressive showing. Moats is probably the #3 right now as Foster has the hammy acting up. As far as Kevin Walter, the last 2 years were no fluke. Walter is a talented receiver and with AJ drawing double teams, he only has one man to beat. I would predict another good showing from Kevin. Don't forget he's nearing the end of his contract too.

GregR said:

Notes from the Houston Texans August 6th evening training camp session. Shoulder pads and shorts. Almost no contact at all, even less than normal. This wasn't a very intense practice. It being the only evening practice that was open to the public, it had a huge turn out from the fans and they seemed to design the practice to be entertaining as much as it was about practice. At the opening you could tell the defense was intentionally giving up some long touchdown passes for the fans to cheer about.



Signings and injury news:

Newly signed CB Deltha O'Neal and RB Andre Hall participated in practice.

CB Glover Quin (knee bruise) practiced though I don't think he took a full number of reps.

RB Arian Foster is out until probably Monday with a tweaked hamstring.

RB Jeremiah Johnson is going on IR with a shoulder injury.

LB Zac Diles was on the sidelines but I didn't see him participate.



Kickoff return

Started out with Kris Brown working on kickoffs. Andre Davis, Jacoby Jones, Brice McCain, Glover Quin, Darnel Jenkins all took turns receiving kickoffs.

Next they did some 11 on 11 but this was when they were just showing off for the fans, so I don't have much to report from that drill. 1st string D was Mario, A. Smith, Okoye and Deljuan Robinson on the line. Cushing, Adibi and Ryans at LB. Bennet and McCain were at CB and Ferguson and Wilson at safety, no surprises. 2nd string D had Barwin and Bulman at DE, Okam and Zgnonina at DT, LBs were Chaun Thompson, Cato June and Kevin Bentley, with AJ Davis and Glover Quin at DB, Barber at safety and I didn't note the other safety. Offense was unchanged except for the RB injuries. Moats and Andre Hall ran with the 2nd and 3rd strings.

11-on-11 from midfield

They finally started normal practice then with more 11 on 11. Though the formations were mixed at first, by the end they were running most of it out of single WR I-formations. AJ was getting open pretty easily against McCain. Bennet had good coverage on Andre Davis on a deep pass. Barwin was continuing to get in the backfield and get pressure. Moats didn't have a great day in general I didn't think, he got swallowed up a few times on running plays. Not a lot to note. Slaton looked very good, but no one else really stood out in the running game other than him. Andre Hall didn't look all that great, but it was his first day under contract. Brown got a few carries but didn't stand out in my mind as having any big plays.



Goal line drills

They ran a bunch of plays from the 2. Here were the plays and the personnel if I had time to record them:

1st string O (Schaub QB):

2 WR, FB, TE, RB: Slaton caught a swing pass for a TD

1 WR, 3 TE, RB: Pass to TE James Casey, knocked away on a nice play by the D, didn't see who the defender was.

3 WR (Anderson 3rd WR), RB, TE: Slaton right tackle for a TD

2 TE, RB (Moats), 2 WR (AJ, Walter): Fade to AJ broken up nicely by Fred Bennet

2nd string O (Orlovsky QB):

RB (Moats), 2 WR (AD, Jacoby), 2 TE (Dreesen, Casey): TD Jacoby Jones on a slant

RB, I think 3 WR, 1 TE: Incomplete pass, Moats missed blitz pickup, likely a sack

1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR: TD Jacoby Jones

2 WR, 2 TE, think RB was split wide: Orlovsky QB draw for a TD

3rd string O (Grossman QB):

Normal I-formation: Andre Hall stopped short of goal line

1 WR I-formation: Quick pass to Glenn Martinez for TD.

3 WR, 1 RB, 1 TE: Grossman nearly picked off, didn't see who he was throwing to

Not sure personnel: Grossman threw a TD but would have probably been sacked before he released it if it was full contact



11-on-11 from 50 yard line:

1st string O

Kevin Walter 20 yard completion GREAT pass protection on the play. Schaub would have had to run a few yards just to reach a defender.

Swing pass to Slaton in the flat, read very well by Antonio Smith who just missed dropping him for a five yard loss. Slaton probably picked up a net yard or two before going out of bounds.

C. Brown off tackle for a few yards

Bootleg, Schaub throwing on run to open David Anderson but led him too much.

2nd string O

Owen Daniels in with 2nd string, 25 yd completion

Jacoby Jones 35 yard great catch while well covered

Moats swallowed up on run, don't think he had a hole anywhere he could go.

Orlov overthrew someone deep who was only somewhat open.

11-on-11 2 minute drill starting on own 30

1st string O vs 2nd string D

Dump to Slaton for about 5 yards

AJ reception to 47, getting open at will against CB AJ Davis

AJ reception to opponents 30.

Incompletion, didn't see what happened

David Anderson reception to the 7.

Pass to Walter at the 2 broken up by hit by DB

Owen Daniels misses acrobatic one-handed catch in corner.

Incompletion to Daniels at the 2, good coverage by D.

4th down, Incompletion to Daniels, ball turned over on downs.

2nd string O vs 1st string D with Okam in at DT

Jacoby Jones 20 yard reception to 50, got out of bounds

Andre Davis 14 yard reception to 36, clock rolling

WR Darnell Jenkins 6 yard gain to 30, clock rolling

WR Darnell Jenkins 14 yard catch to 16 yard line, out of bounds.

Sack by pressure up the middle, probably Frank Okam.

Sack, Okoye and Mario

Pass to TE Joel Dreesen broken up by Demeco Ryans.

All out blitz by defense, Orlovsky had to throw it fast... either a sack if full contact, or incompletion if he could still get it away. Turn over on downs.

Other notes:

I only noted the 1st string defense personnel on one nickel play and it was Demeco Ryans and Brian Cushing as the LBs.

In base 4-3, they were playing the 4-3 Under maybe around 50% of the time, with Cushing up on the line on the Tight End like a 5th lineman. Mario seemed to be moved to whichever side the TE wasn't on.

Andre Hall got a fair amount of touches in the early drills and he didn't look that great, though in his defense he probably just signed today. I did watch Antonio Smith in the earlier drills and he didn't really do much that was very impressive early on. He totally bit into a run-fake bootleg that left Schaub completely alone to survey the field. Didn't manage to get a lot of penetration. But later he had the nice read on the swing pass he almost stopped for a loss. I watched Cushing specifically on a few plays as well, though all but one went to the other side of the field, and the other he wasn't able to fight through Owen Daniels on a running play (sweep or off tackle that bounced outside).

General impressions:

Jacoby Jones had a really nice day. The Texans were really throwing the ball around today... part of that might have been it was the biggest fan experience open practice session and they were definitely playing to the crowd some as well as practicing. 1st string defense was getting a lot of pressure on the QB near the end (against 2nd string O).

Click to expand...

Thanks for the report.

Carter_Can_Fly said:

In your best guess. Who is going to be the guy to own as Slaton's hand cuff. I heard Foster was looking good but he is off for a couple of days with a tight groin. Chris Brown is as average as they come. What is your best guess entering the season as a depth chart for the RB's? Thanks

Click to expand...

It is kind of hard to say right now. Things like ability to pick up a blitz are going to factor heavily into that kind of decision, and I really can't say how Foster is in protection.I think probably the thing to do is to draft Chris Brown as the handcuff but keep a close eye on the news, and if you have big rosters maybe take Foster late. Brown said in a radio interview he feels the best physically that he has since his 2nd year in the league. Of course that doesn't mean he'll be less brittle, but he's at least feeling good after a year's rest.I'm cheering for Foster as a dynasty owner, but right now I'd probably still take Brown if I could only have 1.

as good as anything out there on the texans training camp

thanks for the info!

gianmarco said:

Just curious your thoughts from watching these practices since we don't see him talked about much......What do you think of Kevin Walter? Blends in with other WRs? Stands out at all? Last year a complete aberration or will continue to be involved?

Click to expand...

He was a little quiet in both of the practices that I was at, but there were times he was open and just didn't get the ball, which is understandable when you're on the field across from Andre Johnson. I don't think last year was necessarily an aberration. I think he can put up comparable numbers. I think the biggest worry for the Texans passing game would be an injury to Schaub or significant injuries to the O-line. Walter is pretty solid.I've long been impressed by Andre Davis and never understand why the Texas don't get him involved more. What I've seen in camp has continued to make me feel that way, and Jacoby Jones also is having a good camp both from what I've read and heard. But I still haven't seen anything to make me think that Walter is at any risk of losing playing time.