Training camp 2015

[WMH]

Clowney made it back on the field today, without a knee brace. That's pretty impressive.

If he can get/stay healthy, man, that D has the tools to be sumthin.

[Arky]

Video - Clowney speaks

---------------------------------------------

14 observations from Monday's #TexansCamp

John Harris
Texans Analyst

As Sunday was a day off for the squad, many players squeezed in a trip to the movies, got some rest or got much needed sleep. Or in Christian Covington’s case got some Game of Thrones reading done. But, the time off was much too short as the team got back on the field on Monday in shorts and jerseys, welcoming back a couple of familiar faces on each side of the ball.

Here are a few things from today’s workout.

1. Everyone had been anticipating the arrival of OLB Jadeveon Clowney and by everyone, I mean nearly every TV and Hard Knocks camera followed his every move during the early part of practice. Honestly, I didn’t think I’d see this day when it was announced in November that he was having microfracture surgery. But, consider the work he put in to get back to this point and the work that Geoff Kaplan and his training staff to motivate JD to keep pushing himself. It all paid off to get him back into camp at this point. But, it’s going to be slow going and that’s by the team’s design. JD feels ready but as I’ve said a few times, it’s a marathon, not a sprint, so he’ll get the call in due time.

2. He wasn’t the only one to return to the practice field today. Akeem Dent worked out with the team for the first time since the win over the Jags in early January 2015. A lower leg injury kept him out of workouts until today and his return only serves to muddy up the ILB waters. In a good way, of course. So, Clowney and Dent returned on Monday; it was a good day.

3. Not to be left behind, the offense saw the return of Ryan Griffin to the tight end group. He had a stellar week of practice prior to getting nicked up in Richmond, so here’s hoping that he can pick right up where he left off.

4. I noted in my game observations that the 49ers long run of the night was unfortunate, but correctable. One aspect that I know riled up secondary coach John Butler was that the receiver cracked on the safety and it appeared that safety Eddie Pleasant had no idea it was coming. Sure as shootin’, what was the first thing I heard today when the Texans defense did their walkthrough this morning? “CRACK!” Audible and heard all the way to the sideline where we were standing. Message. Received.

5. Players throughout time have made the transition from being a special team stalwart to key offensive or defensive contributor. As such, the special teams reps often get pushed off to another player. Not so for Alfred Blue. He’s the first guy in line for all the special teams reps, even though if the season started tomorrow, he’d be the starting running back. As a former coach, I notice little things like that and love it.

6. Standing near the end zone, watching practice with former Texas A&M and Dallas Cowboy great Dat Nguyen, quarterback Ryan Mallett dropped an absolute dime right in front of us to Damaris Johnson, with Kevin Johnson draped all over him. Dat is visiting from San Antonio where he co-hosts the afternoon show on our ESPN San Antonio affiliate with Jason Mannix. As such, this was his first look at the quarterbacks and he remarked after that throw what a gem that was. I look forward each year to get to watch practice with Dat to hear what he thinks. He was impressed with Mallett today.

7. I looked down during 1-on-1s with RB and linebackers and as soon as I did, Chris Polk made a one hand catch and made it look easy. The linebacker covering him, I can’t recall, I think it was Max Bullough perhaps, just stared at him as if to say “you didn’t just do that, did you?”

8. Rookie Kevin Johnson flashed a few good moments on Saturday night and his confidence seems to be growing by the day. He had multiple pass break ups on the day and his breaks on the ball were outstanding. He ran a few routes for the receivers and it seems he brings his juice to the ballyard every single day. He never seems to be at a loss for energy and excitement.

9. Kourtnei Brown’s performance on Saturday night will make him a guy to watch in camp this week. He got the coaches attention and it appeared his confidence shot through the roof.

(more at link)

[Keith]

Originally Posted by WMH

Clowney made it back on the field today, without a knee brace. That's pretty impressive.

I'm not sure this can be understated if the rest of camp for Clowney proceeds accordingly. This franchise has often over-promised and under-delivered on injured players. Clowney is returning from a serious surgery, and it still remains to be seen how close he can return to pre-injury form, but this is at least beyond encouraging for our otherwise justifyingly cynical fanbase.

[WMH]

Originally Posted by Keith

I'm not sure this can be understated if the rest of camp for Clowney proceeds accordingly. This franchise has often over-promised and under-delivered on injured players. Clowney is returning from a serious surgery, and it still remains to be seen how close he can return to pre-injury form, but this is at least beyond encouraging for our otherwise justifyingly cynical fanbase.

Yep. Watched some videos on the website of him cutting during some drills. Didn't look limited at all.

[barrett]

The biggest thing to me is I know how hard he must have worked in his rehab. That work ethic and maturity was a question mark for him. Even though he will likely never be the same athletically, he may be a similar player from the personal growth and increased ability to work.

[Arky]

23 observation's from Tuesday's #TexansCamp

John Harris
Texans Analyst

It’s another Hard Knocks Tuesday, but more importantly Tuesday was essentially the middle of training camp. It’s ALL downhill from here, right? Well, not really, there’s a lot of work still on the docket with two weeks and change remaining.

Here are some observations from Tuesday’s full pads practice.

1. Coach O'Brien started the day with a “going out” drill. The ball was placed inside the offense’s five-yard line as it was forced to maneuver. Hoyer, taking first team reps today, hit Cecil Shorts for a short gain and following a five yard run from Alfred Blue, Hoyer hit his fullback Jay Prosch for a first down. The offense looked efficient against a strong rush from the front seven on D.

2. When Ryan Mallett took over on offense, he hit Damaris Johnson in stride. That was where the good start ended as following a false start, Coach O'Brien colorfully told his 2nd team offense to “take a lap.”

3. Tom Savage made a couple of accurate throws leading to a 1st down but it appeared that the slow start frustrated Coach O’Brien and the staff. That would change throughout the rest of the day as the team picked up the intensity and execution.

4. During individual drills, rookie defensive tackle Christian Covington consistently flashed with effort and intensity. There’s rarely a time when he isn’t going all out at every time.

5. During 1-on-1s, safety Eddie Pleasant was all over Garrett Graham, doing a great job of limiting him in the open field. Graham did bounce back with a catch on a well-executed pivot route.

6. One guy who consistently covers the tight ends better than anyone else is former Georgia safety Corey Moore. He locked up Graham on one rep and ended up with a pass break up against the guy that rarely has been covered in training camp.

7. Later in the 1-on-1 drills, Ryan Griffin, who was healthy after missing about a week of practice, ran a pristine route for a big gain. I was also really impressed with rookie Khari Lee who, again, made a few nice catches; he’s been improving a little bit each day.

8. With each and every opportunity in training camp, C.J. Fiedorowicz is flashing in the passing game. He made a great grab on a back shoulder fade down the perimeter and has gotten open consistently.

9. Chris Polk impressed with a catch against Benardrick McKinney that went for a TD. Polk, though, didn’t get everyone. A moment later Polk had a pass broken up by Bullough way downfield.

10. During pass rush 1-on-1s, ILB Benardrick McKinney blew through like a house of fire on one of his interior rushes to get easily to the quarterback dummy. No, the QB isn’t a dummy, the dummy that was in place of the QB. RB Jonathan Grimes had perhaps one of the best reps of the day as he did a GREAT job on Cushing.

11. Jadeveon Clowney finally got to put pads on for the first time since November 2014. He didn’t do any team or group stuff, but he got the chance to lock horns with TE C.J. Fiedorowicz in 1-on-1 run blocking drills. He held up against the Texans best blocking tight end. The power. The leverage. The knee bend. All there. He got two reps against C.J. and that was all, but it’s just wetting the appetite for later in training camp. Tantalizing to say the least.

12. During 7-on-7 drills, Graham looked really strong with some nice catches all over the field from Brian Hoyer. He broke multiple tackles and came down with some 50/50 balls. He continued his assault on the intermediate areas of the defense.

(more at link)