HOUSTON — The National Football League’s (NFL) Texans had a visitor on their sidelines Friday that looked as if he could suit up and play some snaps at wide receiver. That is, if he ever decided to leave his day job.
Rockets head coach Stephen Silas attended camp as a special guest of Texans head coach Lovie Smith. Silas was pleased with what he saw from the Texans and equated what Smith is doing in helping rebuild the Texans to what he is doing with his own young core in Houston.
“They have a bunch of young guys that are trying to make it and make an impression,” said Silas, who was joined by some of his high school friends that were in town for his birthday. “They’re doing a lot of teaching. They’re doing a lot of, ‘Come here, let’s go and talk about what the future will look like, and how you can be successful.’
“The teaching part is so similar. They (Texans), like we (Rockets), can teach these guys how to work and can structure how they want to. That is exciting as well and very similar to how we are going to be this season.”
Smith and Silas had never met before, but both felt the need to meet face to face and plan to communicate with each other regularly.
“It’s very special. Stephen (Silas) is doing a great job,” Smith said. “I’m a big basketball fan. I see what he’s doing with our Rockets. A young basketball team developing, a lot of great young talent, can’t wait to see them play next year. He’s H-town like we are, so it’s good for us to compare notes, (and) good to see him at practice.”
“The teaching part is so similar,” said Rockets HC Stephen Silas about the similarities between his team and the Texans. #LightTheFuse #WeAreTexans #Sarge #RocketsWire @TheRocketsWire pic.twitter.com/W8O0KhgXLv
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) August 7, 2022
Adversity and youth at critical positions led to back-to-back disappointing seasons for both teams, with each finishing at or near the bottom of the standings in their respective sports. Going forward, however, both coaches believe that the work ethic and athletic ability of their young core will be a building block for what is to come.
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Silas has seen that firsthand in recent weeks, with most players working out in the offseason at the Rockets training facility.
“It is great to have everyone in the building,” Silas said. “That is the great thing about being in Houston. They love being in Houston, so (in the) offseason, I have my whole group here.”
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