GregR
Footballguy
Some observations from the Wed, July 31 training camp. Team was in pads.
Depth chart stuff
LB Joe Mays suited up and was playing with the first string. Sharpton, the competion for starting ILB, was out, but it could be viewed as a wakeup call for Tim Dobbins that Mays was put in ahead of him already.
Brian Cushing had just been doing position drills, but he did play some 11-on-11 today.
Swearinger is still playing with the 2nd team defense at safety. Eddie Pleasant got most of the snaps with Manning on the 1st string.
Muir got at least a few snaps at nose tackle though Mitchell was in there as well.
Receivers
AJ was AJ. I seldom need to say much about him, he did how you'd expect. A few great catches.
DeAndre Hopkins met my expectations. Great hands, and several times went and attacked underthrown balls, fighting back past corner to make a catch. He was underthrown several times he otherwise was well covered, leading to receptions as he went back to get it. I suppose if you have a QB who is more likely to underthrow than overthrow, he's an especially great fit. I didn't see a ton of separation when he was against Johnathan Joseph, but he put a nice move on Manning, hook that he turned into an out to get wide open and would have had a long run after with.
Martin didn't really stand out at all. Lestar Jean didn't take place in any scrimmage plays that I saw. Of the other receivers, Bonner and Alec Lemon both continued to look good. Frankly, they looked better than Martin did I thought, though were playing against lesser DBs mostly. If they don't make the roster, I'd expect the Texans to try to get them on the practice squad.
Graham wasn't on the field much as the TE2, I believe he was ill, but did play some. That gave Ryan Griffin extra snaps. I am predisposed to liking Griffin over Graham, and today didn't change that. Griffin had a few catches, and just looks smoother to me running his routes than Graham does. Didn't get a chance to watch his blocking. If Griffin can become a solid TE2, I'd love the depth of having Graham as a TE3. Owen Daniels was himself, had a few catches.
RB
Foster worked with a trainer on another field. Tate and Dennis Johnson worked with the 1st string. I felt like Tate was almost being too patient compared to his style as a rookie, but he ran competently and had a few nice runs. Dennis Johnson looked pretty good. Has a nice burst and made some really sharp cuts in the hole that were impressive. He also was getting some correction from the coaches on some of his decisions though. If he can pick up a blitz I won't at all be surprised to see him as the 3rd RB. Cierre Wood was probably next on the depth chart and looked capable as well. I'd give the edge to Johnson but won't rule Wood out. Deji Karim has a lot of speed but probably needs to land a return job to make the team. Ray Graham got most of the other reps and didn't stand out to me.
QB
I didn't think it was a masterful day for the QBs. Schaub was ok but too many underthrows. Keenum and Yates looked about the same. It's a contentious topic around here especially with Keenum being a UH grad, but I could see him challenging TJ for the backup role. McGee out of A&M looked bad. I hope for his sake he just had a bad day. Fumbled a snap, a few poor throws.
Defense
Watt got some definite pressure, one play he'd have completely engulfed Tate deep in the backfield if it had been a live game. I didn't get much worthwhile impression on most of the LBs despite trying to watch them some. One intriguing player is Willie Jefferson, a WR/TE who has been converted to DE. He's around 6'6" 235 maybe. He looks like a leaner Jason Taylor to me. I'd heard he's been getting a lot of pressure, and he seemed to get in the backfield a fair amount. Not sure how he'll hold up against the run, but I could see him coming in to play pass rush DE in nickle and dime.
Though I watched Swearinger a fair amount, but unfortunately a lot of those plays went away from him. On one run he did set the edge but couldn't get off the block to make a tackle.
McCain should have had a pick but bobbled it and K. Martin made the catch on it. Brandon Harris had a nice pick. Rookie corner AJ Bouye had a nice play or two and a chance at a pick but couldn't bring it down.
Return game
Drill mostly around catching kickoffs, Martin, Manning and Bonner were the returners. In a couple of actual 11-on-11 returns, Bonner and Deji Karim were the returners.
Edit to add: I don't have much to say about the O-line play, was watching the receivers and secondary a lot. The 1st string had Derek Newton at RT and Brooks at RG.
Depth chart stuff
LB Joe Mays suited up and was playing with the first string. Sharpton, the competion for starting ILB, was out, but it could be viewed as a wakeup call for Tim Dobbins that Mays was put in ahead of him already.
Brian Cushing had just been doing position drills, but he did play some 11-on-11 today.
Swearinger is still playing with the 2nd team defense at safety. Eddie Pleasant got most of the snaps with Manning on the 1st string.
Muir got at least a few snaps at nose tackle though Mitchell was in there as well.
Receivers
AJ was AJ. I seldom need to say much about him, he did how you'd expect. A few great catches.
DeAndre Hopkins met my expectations. Great hands, and several times went and attacked underthrown balls, fighting back past corner to make a catch. He was underthrown several times he otherwise was well covered, leading to receptions as he went back to get it. I suppose if you have a QB who is more likely to underthrow than overthrow, he's an especially great fit. I didn't see a ton of separation when he was against Johnathan Joseph, but he put a nice move on Manning, hook that he turned into an out to get wide open and would have had a long run after with.
Martin didn't really stand out at all. Lestar Jean didn't take place in any scrimmage plays that I saw. Of the other receivers, Bonner and Alec Lemon both continued to look good. Frankly, they looked better than Martin did I thought, though were playing against lesser DBs mostly. If they don't make the roster, I'd expect the Texans to try to get them on the practice squad.
Graham wasn't on the field much as the TE2, I believe he was ill, but did play some. That gave Ryan Griffin extra snaps. I am predisposed to liking Griffin over Graham, and today didn't change that. Griffin had a few catches, and just looks smoother to me running his routes than Graham does. Didn't get a chance to watch his blocking. If Griffin can become a solid TE2, I'd love the depth of having Graham as a TE3. Owen Daniels was himself, had a few catches.
RB
Foster worked with a trainer on another field. Tate and Dennis Johnson worked with the 1st string. I felt like Tate was almost being too patient compared to his style as a rookie, but he ran competently and had a few nice runs. Dennis Johnson looked pretty good. Has a nice burst and made some really sharp cuts in the hole that were impressive. He also was getting some correction from the coaches on some of his decisions though. If he can pick up a blitz I won't at all be surprised to see him as the 3rd RB. Cierre Wood was probably next on the depth chart and looked capable as well. I'd give the edge to Johnson but won't rule Wood out. Deji Karim has a lot of speed but probably needs to land a return job to make the team. Ray Graham got most of the other reps and didn't stand out to me.
QB
I didn't think it was a masterful day for the QBs. Schaub was ok but too many underthrows. Keenum and Yates looked about the same. It's a contentious topic around here especially with Keenum being a UH grad, but I could see him challenging TJ for the backup role. McGee out of A&M looked bad. I hope for his sake he just had a bad day. Fumbled a snap, a few poor throws.
Defense
Watt got some definite pressure, one play he'd have completely engulfed Tate deep in the backfield if it had been a live game. I didn't get much worthwhile impression on most of the LBs despite trying to watch them some. One intriguing player is Willie Jefferson, a WR/TE who has been converted to DE. He's around 6'6" 235 maybe. He looks like a leaner Jason Taylor to me. I'd heard he's been getting a lot of pressure, and he seemed to get in the backfield a fair amount. Not sure how he'll hold up against the run, but I could see him coming in to play pass rush DE in nickle and dime.
Though I watched Swearinger a fair amount, but unfortunately a lot of those plays went away from him. On one run he did set the edge but couldn't get off the block to make a tackle.
McCain should have had a pick but bobbled it and K. Martin made the catch on it. Brandon Harris had a nice pick. Rookie corner AJ Bouye had a nice play or two and a chance at a pick but couldn't bring it down.
Return game
Drill mostly around catching kickoffs, Martin, Manning and Bonner were the returners. In a couple of actual 11-on-11 returns, Bonner and Deji Karim were the returners.
Edit to add: I don't have much to say about the O-line play, was watching the receivers and secondary a lot. The 1st string had Derek Newton at RT and Brooks at RG.
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