Tag: Texans 2021 training camp

Where did Texans LT Laremy Tunsil train in the offseason?

Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil got away from the Houston area to train for the offseason. Find out where the two-time Pro Bowler went.

Laremy Tunsil has taken the next step in his career since joining the Houston Texans at the end of the 2019 preseason.

The former Miami Dolphins 2016 first-round pick from Ole Miss earned both of his career Pro Bowl selections after joining the Texans, and he also earned his three-year, $66 million contract with Houston.

However, Tunsil, who turns 27 Aug. 2, is pursuing greatness, and he had to use the 2021 offseason to find another aspect to his play to upgrade.

“I always try to find manage in my game to improve on, whether that’s the run game, pass game, double teams, trying to be a leader,” Tunsil said. “I try to find that one percent to get better every day.”

Tunsil says he got away from the Houston area during the offseason and worked out in Lynchburg, Virginia, with his personal trainer, Dominic Studziniski. Tunsil went to Virginia because it is isolated from his regular routines.

“Just going out there and getting your mind right, staying focused, just a peaceful environment, just to focus on you, it’s good to get back to your roots,” said Tunsil.

New coach David Culley knows that Tunsil is a “gifted player” and recognizes that the previous regime acquired his playing rights to solidify left tackle.

“He’s one of the top players in this league at his position,” Culley said. “He’s doing in training camp, along with that entire offensive line, exactly what we expect him to be doing right now. He and [center] Justin (Britt) have kind of been leaders for that group, which has been great. It’s been good to see that.”

Tunsil has never played a full 16-game season in his career, consistently hovering at 14 games each season. However, Tunsil’s presence on the offensive line has been the boost the Texans needed to build an effective barrier to allow their skill positions to flourish.

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RB Mark Ingram feels ‘strong, fast, explosive’ in first Texans training camp

Former Pro Bowl running back Mark Ingram says he feels “strong, fast, explosive” in his first training camp with the Houston Texans.

HOUSTON — Last season was not a good year for 11-year-veteran Mark Ingram. He played 11 games for the Baltimore Ravens in 2020 and rushed for a career-low 299 yards on 72 carries. The emergence of J.K. Dobbins played a factor in Ingram’s struggles, but injuries and COVID-19 were the primary reasons.

Ingram’s battles with the injury bug began during the Ravens’ Week 6 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. He sustained a sprained ankle, and the injury had Ingram bouncing back and forth between the active and injured reserve the remainder of the season.

But ahead of his first year with the Houston Texans, Ingram says he feels strong, fast and explosive.

“I healed up from the ankle injury last season about midseason, but I think just not having as much wear on my body last year, being able to go into the offseason healthy, and put my best foot forward — I feel really good coming into this year,” Ingram said following practice on Saturday. “I feel healthy. I feel strong, fast, explosive and I’m just ready to play and do the best I can do to help the team win games.”

The Texans’ run game should see some significant improvements from the previous season.

In addition to Ingram, Houston signed Phillip Lindsay to a one-year contract while retaining David Johnson. It appears that the Texans will use a rushing attack by committee, but Ingram has been the leadoff man during the first four days of training camp. The backfield trio have a combined six Pro-Bowl appearances — led by Ingram with three.

“We’re just working, trying to learn the system,” Ingram said. “We want to emphasize running the ball. We want to emphasize being physical. And we are just trying to be able to assert our abilities and our talents within the offense. We are all just trying to continue to improve. Continuing to stacking the days. And continue to get better so we can be the best possible when we step on the field on Sunday so we can give ourselves the best chance to win.”

In 132 career games (87 starts), Ingram has rushed for a total of 7,324 yards and 64 touchdowns. He has also proven to be serviceable in the passing game, recording 1,895 career reception yards and 10 touchdowns.

Prior to joining the Texans and Ravens, Ingram played eight seasons with the New Orleans Saints.

5 takeaways from Texans training camp Day 4

Davis Mills got to take a good chunk of the snaps at Houston Texans training camp day four. Here are other observations from camp.

HOUSTON — The Houston Texans held their fourth day of training camp practice at the Houston Methodist Training Center on Saturday. For the first time since 2019, fans were in attendance to get a glimpse of their favorite team.

“There was a little buzz when we came out to practice today,” Texans’ head coach David Culley said. “It was almost like we were playing a game. If there was an interception, they were cheering. And if it was a touchdown, they were cheering. It was a good thing on both ends.”

Here are five observations from the fourth day of Texans’ practice.

WATCH: Texans RB Mark Ingram lays the moves on S Jonathan Owens

Houston Texans running back Mark Ingram showed in training camp against safety Jonathan Owens that he can still move at age 31.

Houston Texans running back Mark Ingram proved he still has some deception left in his moves.

The 31-year-old Pro Bowl running back took part in a drill Saturday at the fourth day of training camp wherein he was being pursued by safety Jonathan Owens and linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill. Ingram faked going inside before kicking it outside and going around the tandem on the right side.

In the process, Owens lost some of his footing, but still was able to recover and continue pursuit of Ingram. In live action, there is no doubt Owens would have recovered enough to make the tackle.

“Mark Ingram’s a bad dude,” running back Phillip Lindsay told reporters on July 29. “His resume speaks.”

Ingram’s last Pro Bowl appearance came in 2019 when he rushed 202 times for 1,018 yards and 10 touchdowns through 15 games, all of which he started. Ingram had a down year in 2020 with 72 carries for 299 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games, nine of which he started.

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Texans host fans at training camp for first time since 2019

The Houston Texans took part in “Back Together Saturday,” an NFL event celebrating having fans at training camp for the first time since 2019.

The NFL celebrated having fans across the country return to training camp for the first time since 2019.

The Houston Texans hosted fans in the stands at Houston Methodist Training Center during “Back Together Saturday.” The Texans hosted a private day for youth football. teams from the 2021 Showcase League at camp.

“Today is so special as we have all of our youth football teams throughout the city of Houston here, and we’re so excited to welcome them to training camp where we have people out here watching our team for the first time in person since 2019,” Texans president Greg Grissom told Mark Berman of Fox 26 [KRIV-26]. “It’s just exciting, exciting day to allow these families and these young players to connect back to the feelings of football that make our game so great.”

 

The Texans will take Sunday off before getting back to work at 9:00 a.m. Central Time Monday for their fifth training camp practic.

 

Texans QB Tyrod Taylor excused from practice, expected back on Monday

Houston Texans quarterback Tyrod Taylor was absent from Saturday’s training camp with an excused absence for personal reasons.

HOUSTON — The Houston Texans were short of one quarterback during Day 4 of training camp at the Houston Methodist Training Center on Saturday.

Tyrod Taylor, who signed a one-year deal to join the Texans in March, had an excused absence due to personal reasons, according to the team. At the end of practice, first-year head coach David Culley said Taylor will return to camp on Monday.

Since the start of training camp on Wednesday, Taylor has taken reps as the Texans’ starting quarterback over Davis Mills, Jeff Driskel and Deshaun Watson. Amid Taylor’s absence, Mills took the majority of quarterback snaps during on-field activities. Watson remained sidelined.

Taylor is entering his 11th season in the league and his first with the Texans. Houston will be Taylor’s fourth team over the past five years, becoming a bit of a journeyman after the Ravens selected him in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

After four seasons with the Ravens, Taylor spent time playing for the Buffalo Bills (2015-2017), Cleveland Browns (2018) and Los Angeles Chargers (2019-2020).

“It’s a wonderful opportunity,” Taylor said following Friday’s practice. “Every time I get a chance to lace up my cleats and play the game that I started playing when I was five years old is a blessing.”

The former 2015 Pro Bowler says he takes no days “for granted.”

Said Taylor: “I’m excited to be able to go out and lead the group, to be able to go out and continue to make plays. It’s a joyful feeling to be able to go out on the field and compete. That’s what I look forward to each day.”

Taylor has a 24-21-1 record as a starter, and he led the Bills to their first playoff appearance since 1999 back in 2017. Since then, the most games Taylor has started in a season is three.

Texans DT Ross Blacklock needs to ‘trust’ himself in 2021

Houston Texans defensive tackle Ross Blacklock says he needs to trust himself more in 2021 and not second guess his on-field decisions.

Houston Texans 2020 second-round pick Ross Blacklock had a lackluster rookie campaign. If it were the lone season of his career, it would be fair to say the TCU alumnus was a bust.

However, there is always next year, and the defensive tackle seeks to take advantage of the Tampa 2 system new defensive coordinator Lovie Smith is implementing.

To get where Blacklock wants to go in his career, he knows he has to first reconcile with himself on the football field.

“Just trust myself, trust my instincts, trust my abilities, don’t second guess anything, and just be able to use my abilities to the best as I can,” said Blacklock. “Just go out there and just have fun and play. Just take all the thinking out of it.”

There were some signs Blacklock could make an impact on defense with 14 combined tackles with a tackle for loss and two quarterback hits through 15 games, one of which he started.

In 2021, Blacklock wants to be part of a unit that can get after the quarterback.

“We’ve got a lot of really good pass rushers,” Blacklock said. “Guys can just go and just rush up field, use a move. It’s not really like a one-system thing. Guys can get out of their comfort zone and try new stuff and new moves, as well as myself. So, I’m excited to see what everybody has for the season and get to unleash some new tricks.”

If Blacklock’s new tricks include helping the Texans stop the run, of which they gave up 5.2 yards per carry last year, the most in the NFL, and also procure takeaways, of which they could gather just nine, the fewest in the league, then the former TCU product’s tricks will be enough to treat Houston sports fans to a taste of success in an otherwise presumed disastrous campaign.

Texans QB Tyrod Taylor says he has the responsibility to lead

Houston Texans quarterback Tyrod Taylor has taken the responsibility to lead, which is one of the jobs of being the signal caller.

The mantle has fallen upon Tyrod Taylor.

The former 2015 Pro Bowler joined the Houston Texans with a hydra of objectives. Was he there to backup quarterback Deshaun Watson, who requested a trade in late January? Was he there to keep the seat warm for third-round rookie Davis Mills? Was he there to actually be the starter for first-year coach David Culley, who incidentally was his position coach in 2017 with the Buffalo Bills?

Taylor doesn’t know; all he knows is that it is his job to lead.

“I definitely feel that guys look for me for leadership, and obviously that comes with the quarterback position, and I welcome that role,” Taylor said. “It also comes with experience in the NFL. Guys naturally gravitate to older guys and want to learn and pick their brains, and that’s what we need.”

Taylor isn’t a spring chicken with 10 seasons accrued. The Baltimore Ravens drafted him in the sixth round in 2011, and he finally got his shot to be the field general in Buffalo in 2015. After his departure from the Bills, Taylor has been the placeholder for first-round quarterbacks — Baker Mayfield in Cleveland in 2018, Justin Herbert with the Chargers in 2020.

However, Taylor sees himself as part of a cavalcade of veteran leaders on the Texans roster, including running back Mark Ingram, receiver Brandin Cooks, defensive end Whitney Mercilus, and safety Justin Reid.

Said Taylor: “It’s not just me on this field. Of course, I’m a natural leader, but we also have other natural leaders on the field as well, and veterans who have been other places and guys who have been here that have a ton of knowledge of the game. It’s up to the young guys to ask those questions, but it’s also the responsibility of the older guys and the veterans to share that knowledge because it all brings us up.”

Taylor is taking up the mantle of leadership with the singular goal to help the Texans rebound from their 4-12 campaign from a season ago.

“Ultimately, we want to be a better team,” said Taylor.  “The more information, the more we can share with those guys, the better we are as a team.”

Texans QB Tyrod Taylor says Deshaun Watson ‘is part of the team’

Houston Texans quarterback Tyrod Taylor says that Deshaun Watson is a part of the team, and everything has been a “positive conversation” with him.

Believe or not, but Tyrod Taylor and Deshaun Watson are actually friends.

According to the former 2015 Pro Bowl quarterback, he and Watson developed a friendship off the field over the years.

Taylor told reporters Friday after day three of training camp that Watson has “absolutely” been a resource for him as far as comprehending the offense.

“Me and Deshaun are friends,” Taylor said. “We’ve known each other for a number of years now. We’ve had conversations on the field, off the field, about football, about life. Everything has been a positive conversation, and it will continue to be that way.”

Although the conversations may be positive, the situation is puzzling. Watson is in camp with the Texans, who he would rather not be with. The three-time Pro Bowler still hasn’t rescinded his trade request from late January.

Watson reported to camp on Sunday, and has been out at all three practices at Houston Methodist Training Center.

“He’s part of the team,” said Taylor.

However, Taylor says he is paying attention to his own assignments and leading the quarterback group, which doesn’t afford him much time to speculate on why Watson is fourth in individual drills and on the scout team as a safety.

“When we come out here, we’re all focused on working and getting better at every aspect, and that’s different for every person, but my focus has been leading the group, executing when the opportunity is presented, and just focusing on being better each day,” said Taylor.

The focus from the outside has been on Watson and his placement with the team. The focus for Taylor and the rest of the Texans has been to get the team ready for a productive 20th season, one wherein they can erase the bad taste from the 4-12 finish from a year ago.

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Texans coach David Culley says QB Tyrod Taylor is ‘a consummate pro’

Houston Texans coach David Culley says that former Pro Bowler Tyrod Taylor exudes qualities that make him a “consummate pro.”

Houston Texans coach David Culley has been around his fair share of quarterbacks in his 27 seasons before taking the top job with the AFC South club.

With the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999-2012, Culley spent time with Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick. With the Kansas City Chiefs from 2013-17, he worked with Alex Smith.

According to Culley, Texans quarterback Tyrod Taylor has similarly positive qualities that benefit the team.

“He’s been around,” Culley said after the third day of training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center. “He’s been a starter. He’s a consummate pro. I don’t use that loosely. He’s a consummate pro. He’s the first guy in this building every morning. He’s usually the last guy to leave, and that’s every day. That’s just who he is. You won’t ever hear him a whole bunch talking about this or talking about that. He just goes about his business.”

Taylor is the penciled-in starter atop the depth chart for the Texans, albeit general manager Nick Caserio told reporters on July 28 that all jobs were up for grabs. Through three days, Taylor is the leader as Jeff Driskel, rookie Davis Mills, and three-time Pro Bowler Deshaun Watson are behind him in taking reps.

What Culley especially appreciates about Taylor is his vast experience from spending the past 10 seasons in the NFL. Taylor started out as a sixth-round pick with the Baltimore Ravens in 2011 before joining the Buffalo Bills in 2015. While in Buffalo, Taylor led the Bills to their first postseason qualification since 1999 during the 2017 campaign. Taylor played in Cleveland the next season, and then with the Los Angeles Chargers for the last two years.

Said Culley: “He’s one of our guys right now, he’s been doing a nice job, he’s got a lot of experience. He’s been a starter in his league, he’s taken teams to playoffs in this league and right now with the competition that we are having, he’s right in the mix and doing his thing.”

In 2018, rookie Baker Mayfield supplanted him as the starter after three games. The same happened in 2020 with Justin Herbert, also a first-round rookie like Mayfield. Time will tell if Taylor ends up being a placeholder once more.

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