Tag: Texans training camp

Texans coach Lovie Smith says success starts with the defensive line

The Houston Texans’ success starts with the defensive line, according to coach Lovie Smith.

The Houston Texans got down to the basics on the first day of training camp Friday at Houston Methodist Training Center.

The Texans will have two days of “ramp up” before taking a break Sunday. On Monday, the Texans will kickoff the first day of August with their first week of padded practices, which will give the coaches a true evaluation of where the offensive and defensive lines are at.

According to coach Lovie Smith, the Texans, who play a four-man front in their Tampa 2 scheme, will have at least linemen in uniform on game days.

“We will at least dress, at a minimum eight linemen,” Smith told reporters. “They will all play. We are going to have a starter but everybody, fresh guys, playing hard. The veteran guys on the line that you talked about, yes. Jerry Hughes, Mario Addison, I know Malik Collins has played a little bit.”

Hughes and Addison, both of whom come over from the Buffalo Bills, where defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire worked as an assistant defensive line coach, provide veteran leadership and also experience in the rotation. Houston brought back Collins at 3-technique defensive tackle, one of the significant roles in the Tampa 2.

The one defensive lineman who will have the spotlight on him throughout the season is third-year defensive end Jonathan Greenard. The former 2020 third-round pick from Florida had 8.0 sacks for the Texans through 12 games in 2021. Greenard and the Texans will be eligible to discuss a possible contract extension after the 2022 season, and Greenard can put himself in great negotiating position coming off a double-digit sack season.

“This is a big year for Jonathan Greenard, eight sacks whatever year, part-time, he is healthy now,” said Smith. “In order for us to have success, I talk about playing better defense, it starts with our defensive line.”

If the Texans are able to succeed with the defensive line, the results should resound throughout the rest of the team.

Texans CB Derek Stingley on track to play in Week 1 vs. Colts

Houston Texans CB Derek Stingley is on track to play Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts after a Lisfranc injury in 2021 limited him to three games.

Houston Texans rookie cornerback Derek Stingley was in uniform for the first day of training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center.

The third overall pick from LSU played in three games last year due to a Lisfranc injury. The Texans didn’t let it stop them from making him their top draft pick in April.

General manager Nick Caserio told reporters ahead of the first practice that Stingley would be limited, but it wouldn’t have anything to do with his injury.

“Derek has done a lot of stuff,” said Caserio. “From what he’s done during the course of the spring, some of his testing metrics and numbers are better than anybody on the team. So, I wouldn’t say he’s necessarily in a limited capacity. There’s just certain things he hasn’t experienced yet that he’s going to have to go through. So, any player, when you don’t play football over the course of a year, you sort of have to re-acclimate, not only the body, but the mind as well to some different things.”

“So, it’s about one day at a time, making progress that day, turning the page to the next day, and stacking days on top of each other,” Caserio said.

Coach Lovie Smith said that the former Bayou Bengal is on target to play in Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts Sept. 11 at NRG Stadium.

“Yes, I do, Week 1,” Smith said. “Whenever a player is coming off a major injury, you know, there’s ramp up period. That’s what it’s for. We’re going to ease him into it. But he’s healthy, see him running around, we had him do a few plays. He’s got to play each day. He’s on schedule. But that’s how we’ll treat all of our players coming off major injuries.”

If Stingley is able to play the first game, it should give the Texans’ defense a significant boost in coverage.

Texans LB Christian Kirksey says Garret Wallow has taken a leap

Houston Texans linebacker Christian Kirksey says that second-year linebacker Garret Wallow has progressed in his development.

The Houston Texans’ five-man 2021 draft class was about acquiring talent that could provide competition at their respective positions.

With the Texans picking fifth-round linebacker Garret Wallow from TCU, Houston was looking for a defender who could meld well into then-defensive coordinator Lovie Smith’s Tampa 2 scheme.

With the Texans promoting Smith to coach in Feb. 2022, he isn’t the only one who has taken another step. According to linebacker Christian Kirksey, Wallow is also making strides in his development.

“Garret, that’s my guy,” Kirksey told reporters after the first day of training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center. “I call him ‘Gary’ just for fun. It’s a little inside joke. But he’s a high motor. He’s smart. He can play any of the three linebacker positions and he just has that high motor where he’s going to go make a play and he can go do it all day.”

Wallow generated 23 combined tackles, two tackles for loss, one quarterback hit, and 1.0 sack through 17 games, two of which he started. The former Horned Frog played 286 special teams snaps compared to 180 on defense.

That may change if Wallow’s progress can translate to the gridiron.

Said Kirksey: “You could see the leap from year one to year two in his confidence level. Also you could see what he’s been doing in the weight room and on the field, just how his body is transitioning. He’s put a lot of work in the offseason. So, I’m excited for him this year.

The Texans also drafted a linebacker in Round 3 of the 2022 NFL draft in Alabama’s Christian Harris. With the Texans trending towards a younger linebacking corps, Wallow may emerge as one of the leaders by example of the unit.

Texans WR Brandin Cooks says QB Davis Mills is ‘a lot more vocal’ in meetings

Houston Texans receiver Brandin Cooks says that quarterback Davis Mills has been more vocal in meetings throughout the 2022 offseason.

Houston Texans receiver Brandin Cooks has noticed a change in quarterback Davis Mills.

The second-year signal caller from Stanford was the first selection taken in the Nick Caserio era with the 67th overall pick (Round 3) in the 2021 draft. Mills took his lumps with an 0-6 record to start his career. Mills finished with a 2-9 record overall, but the final five games were optimistic as he went 2-3 down the stretch with Week 18 seeing the Tennessee Titans have to work for their win that netted them home-field advantage in the playoffs.

Mills’ leadership has been on display for the offensive players throughout the offseason, according to Cooks.

“It’s been awesome,” Cooks told reporters after the first day of training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center. “We had the guys, including Davis, out in Oregon just a week before camp, and it was great to see. He came out to be able to lead, be able to be organized the way that he was.”

The leadership continued from Mills as he has taken a more active role in meetings.

“When we get out here, he’s a lot more vocal in the meeting rooms than he was his rookie year, and that’s what you want to see from your quarterback,” said Cooks. “It’s your team. And we love to see that demand that he’s taken.”

The Texans are giving the 2022 entirely to Mills as the backup quarterbacks in Kyle Allen, Kevin Hogan, and Jeff Driskel are more for the cohesion of the quarterback room than to actually compete for the starting job. Nevertheless it appears that Mills isn’t cruising through the reps and responsibilities as the starter; he is shouldering the burden of leadership, which should help the Texans properly evaluate where they need to go at the position beyond the 2022 campaign.

Texans coach Lovie Smith says he would vote for QB Davis Mills for team captain

Coach Lovie Smith explained why second-year quarterback Davis Mills is going to get his vote as one of the Houston Texans’ captains.

There is a big election coming up in the fall and everyone knows it.

The Houston Texans will be electing their team captains the Monday before their Week 1 tilt with the Indianapolis Colts. Election day is Sept. 5, and coach Lovie Smith is already making a compelling case for second-year quarterback Davis Mills.

Smith met with reporters after the first day of training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center and detailed why he would vote for Mills as a team captain.

“First, showing up — every time we open up the building he’s been there,” said Smith. “He leads everything. You see him the first to do everything, and then though making plays.”

According to Smith, the team leaders are established on both sides of the ball and, “there’s no doubt whose ours is.”

Smith and the rest of the team will get one vote for team captains.

“I’m going to vote for one special team, one offense, one defensive guy,” Smith said. “Davis Mills, of course, gets my vote for captain.”

With the Texans having confidence in Mills, it should help the second-year signal caller excel in his role as Houston’s starter — at least for 2022. Another four-win campaign may have the Texans looking for other answers at quarterback.

As of the first day of training camp, it seems Mills is the captain now.

WATCH: Kenyon Green takes the field at Texans training camp

Houston Texans rookie guard Kenyon Green took to the practice field on the first day of training camp.

 

Houston Texans first-round offensive lineman Kenyon Green took the practice field for the first day of training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center Friday.

Green, a product of nearby Atascocita High School, is expected to take over a guard spot despite playing his final year at Texas A&M at tackle. Nevertheless the move inside allows for former 2019 first-round pick Tytus Howard to kick out to right tackle permanently.

With Green, a two-time All-American with the Aggies, moving inside, it will beef up the Texans’ run game, which was last in the league in yards per carry (3.4) and yards per game (83.6).

WATCH: QB Davis Mills throws drag route to WR Brandin Cooks at Texans training camp

Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills and receiver Brandin Cooks demonstrated their connection in the passing game on the first day of training camp.

Quarterback Davis Mills and receiver Brandin Cooks displayed the chemistry in the passing game the two had been forging all throughout offseason workouts.

During the first practice of Houston Texans training camp Friday at Houston Methodist Training Center, Mills connected with Cooks on a drag route according to video from ESPN’s D.J. Bien-Aime.

Cooks has demonstrated his production with the Texans regardless who is under center, as the former New Orleans Saints 2014 first-round pick has tallied 1,000-yard seasons in each of his two years with Houston. However, forging a better connection with Mills should help the second-year signal caller make his case to continue as the franchise’s solution under center.

Texans place 3 players on PUP list to start training camp

The Houston Texans placed three players on the physically unable to perform list a day before the first training camp practice.

The Houston Texans have added players to the physically unable to perform list to start training camp.

The Texans have their first practice July 28 at Houston Methodist Training Center.

The three players on the PUP list are defensive end Jordan Jenkins, defensive back Tristin McCollum, and fifth-round tight end Teagan Quitoriano.

According to Aaron Wilson from the Pro Football Network, the Texans placed Jenkins on the PUP list due to an ankle injury. The former New York Jets 2016 third-round pick is not expected to stay on the PUP list very long.

Texans training camp could be prime time for rookie S Jalen Pitre

Houston Texans safety Jalen Pitre is expected to headline many reports coming out of training camp.

One Houston Texans rookie from the 2022 NFL draft class that has intrigued Clutch City sports fans is safety Jalen Pitre.

The second-rounder from Baylor graduated from nearby Stafford High School. Not only does Pitre generate fan favorite sentiments from being a local kid coming home to start his NFL career, but the 5-11, 198-pound defensive back is a welcomed infusion of youth and playmaking to the Texans’ secondary.

According to D.J. Bien-Anime, the new Texans beat writer for ESPN, Pitre will be dominating reports coming out of Houston Methodist Training Center.

Camp prediction: Safety Jalen Pitre will be a dynamic force during training camp. The Texans’ second-round pick out of Baylor showcased premier playmaking skills in college. In Pitre’s last season, he finished with 18.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 7 pass breakups and 3 forced fumbles. Some in the NFL compare Pitre to Tyrann Mathieu, Quandre Diggs and Budda Baker. Making plays on the football is Pitre’s forte, and that fits into coach Lovie Smith’s defense. Pitre’s versatility should give him the ability to roam in the box and play deep middle safety. Expect to see plenty of reports of the No. 37 overall pick being a disruptor heading into the season.

Smith gave a favorable report on Pitre on June 7 during the last week of organized team activities.

“He’s been outstanding; knack for the football,” said Smith. “Has done a lot of good things.”

If the Texans are able to have the good things Pitre does in training camp translate to the regular season, it should help Houston improve upon their 25 takeaways in 2021, which were tied for the 10th-most in the NFL. The Texans were the only team with a losing record in the top-10 in takeaways. Adding Pitre allows the Texans a chance to stay in the top-10 and possibly advance further.

Texans work out 4 running backs ahead of training camp

The Houston Texans worked out four running backs as training camp is less than a week away.

The Houston Texans worked out four running backs according to a league source.

The first running back Houston worked out was undrafted free agent running back Max Borghi from Washington State. Borghi had signed with the Indianapolis Colts during rookie minicamp but was released less than a week later.

Houston also worked out Cyrus Habibi-Likio, another undrafted free agent. Habibi-Likio generated 107 carries for 374 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns last year with Boise State.

Artavis Pierce also worked out for Houston. The former Chicago Bears running back tallied six carries for 34 yards and a touchdown in his six career games with the NFC North club from 2020-21.

Former Rice Owl and Crosby High School product Austin Walter also worked out for the Texans. Walter was an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers in 2019, but didn’t make their 53-man roster. Austin spent the 2019 regular season with the New York Giants. In 2020, Walter played for the XFL’s Dallas Renegades and then with the 49ers. In 2021, Walter played for the New York Jets.