2019 Training Camp Thread

[barrett]

Watched most of practice today.

Bernard McKinney is a huge human being. He also has a ton of fun out there.

Jordan Thomas is whatever is like 2 levels bigger than a huge human being. The guy dwarfs the linemen.

The TEs and Safeties went at it on my end of the field so I missed the WR/DBs. Jerell Adams is fast for a TE and ran great routes. He killed every DB he matched up with. Jordan Thomas can't get an inch of separation against man coverage.

In the team portion our offense looked good. Watson hit Fuller and Hopkins for nice gains over the middle. Fuller also had a play where he lined in tight to the line and then just ran a fade into the space outside. He wasn't 'open' but Watson threw it to the boundary and Fuller easily beat the DB to the ball for a beautiful play that was impossible to cover. And the ball came out on time in spite of no obvious read. Against our defense the Lions couldn't throw the ball at all. On almost half of the pass plays stafford ended up being flushed to his right and throwing on the run to nobody. They did gouge us on 1 run play where the guy went to the house even with 2 hand touch rules.

I hadn't been to a practice in 4 years and the atmosphere was way better. It seems like they cut the number of 'tickets' in half and the smaller crowd was way more fun. I also loved the shade over the bleachers.

[barrett]

And I forgot to add earlier that while watching the LBs work zone coverage drops I was struck that the assistant coach throwing the passes was built like an action figure. He was so huge I pulled up the list of assistants to figure out who he was.

Brian Cushing.

Let me just say our assistant strength coach looks fully qualified and also looks like he shouldn't pee in a cup any time soon.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by barrett

I hadn't been to a practice in 4 years and the atmosphere was way better. It seems like they cut the number of 'tickets' in half and the smaller crowd was way more fun. I also loved the shade over the bleachers.

This is encouraging. Thanks for sharing. Very happy the team is back from the Greenbriar.

The development of the young TEs is something I am very interested in following.

I have a hard time reconciling that head coaches allow their star players to compete in these joint practices where tickets are usually free, yet paying fans don't get that in the preseason games. Some two-handed touch vs. tackling sure, but I've also seen some hitting in these joint workouts, too.


Sorry for the off topic rant, but when 20% of your season ticket prices goes to that fake game garbage, I feel justified complaining.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Keith

This is encouraging. Thanks for sharing. Very happy the team is back from the Greenbriar.

The development of the young TEs is something I am very interested in following.

I have a hard time reconciling that head coaches allow their star players to compete in these joint practices where tickets are usually free, yet paying fans don't get that in the preseason games. Some two-handed touch vs. tackling sure, but I've also seen some hitting in these joint workouts, too.


Sorry for the off topic rant, but when 20% of your season ticket prices goes to that fake game garbage, I feel justified complaining.

The preseason is a racket beyond all doubt. Saw an article the other day they may go to 7 playoff teams and the 2 extra WC round games will be enough to make up for the revenue of cutting the preseason in half. So if that happens you'll be paying for one less worthless ticket.

But I get the draw for a coach to the practices. Coaches have far more control and every NFL coach is a control freak. They can take away the randomness of preseason games with crazy intense fringe guys gunning for jobs and replace it with controlled reps where their QBs where red jerseys. They can also sit behind the huddle and yell at guys. Matt Patricia was in a walking boot so he was using a 4 wheeler as his scooter with one leg on the 4 wheeler and one down. He drove right out to the 20 while his team operated from the 30. On Saturday he'll sit on the sideline while his guys get hurt at a rate about 500% higher than they did today for the same amount of reps.

Maybe they'll just start holding preseason practices on the game field and selling tickets. It's not like the NFL misses many opportunities to monetize the sport.

[nunusguy]

Hey Barrett hopefully you got a look-see at the OLine group and if so what are your thoughts about them and top Draft pick Tytus Howard in particular ?

[barrett]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Hey Barrett hopefully you got a look-see at the OLine group and if so what are your thoughts about them and top Draft pick Tytus Howard in particular ?

I didn't see them at all in their individual drills. They were on one of the back fields.

In the team drill Watson had time on all but one play where he got hit pretty hard even though he wasn't taken to the ground. It happened so quickly after the snap I assume it was a missed assignment but without replay I'm not sure. In the running plays during the team portion Miller got the corner once so that was nice.

Honestly I can't say I saw a ton of the OL.

[Arky]

Training Camp Day 17: Notes and Quotes - Deepi Sidhu

The Texans put on the full pads and practiced indoors at the Houston Methodist Training Center on Tuesday.

Running back Duke Johnson practiced for the first time since the Texans traded for him on August 8.

“It's great to have him out here,” head coach Bill O’Brien said. “He's a good addition to the team, good in the passing game, good runner, had some good plays today. Good to have him out there."

When asked, O’Brien said he did not know yet whether Johnson will play in Saturday’s preseason game at Dallas.

Johnson already knows several of his teammates well, including fellow Miami Hurricanes Lamar Miller and Andre Johnson as well as tight end Darren Fells. Johnson and Fells were teammates last year in Cleveland.

Cornerback Derrick Jones, wearing No. 35, also made his practice debut after signing with the Texans on Monday. The third-year player spend the last two seasons with the New York Jets where he also contributed on special teams.

The Texans began game planning on Tuesday with players getting reps against the scout team. The third week of the preseason is when the mode of practice begins to look more like a regular season practice, O’Brien said Monday.

Buddy Howell, who saw action in 15 games in 2018, said he is not thinking about the impending roster cuts and is just grateful to be in Houston.

“At the end of the day, I can’t control it," Howell said. "I can only control what I can control and what I do on the field.”

The second-year back led the team in Saturday’s preseason win over the Lions, rushing for 84 yards and a touchdown, averaging 5.6 yards per carry.

More at link.

Was most impressed with RB Howell's performance on Saturday and wondering why we haven't seen more of him in real games.....

In the where-are-they-now department, Alfred Blue is with the Jags and has a shot as the back up RB but is nursing a sore ankle....

[HPF Bob]

I miss the old cutdown dates. Made for some artificial drama and speculation.