Who will be the next star?
This is the time of year coaches try to spot breakout players.
One of the most interesting things about the Texans’ offseason program, especially during OTAs and next month’s three-day minicamp, is watching the progress of younger players.
The Texans are in their second week of OTAs, and this is an exciting time for coaches, too, because they’re watching progress made by veterans and young players in the classroom and on the field.
“These guys really compete hard against each other,” coach Bill O’Brien said last week. “It’s OTAs (and) it’s no pads, so it’s not real football. It’s a chance for you to work on certain things like the passing game and conditioning and things like that — different drills to try to get better individually and in all three units.
“I think we’ve gotten a lot accomplished. We’ve got a great bunch of guys. They work really hard. They compete against each other. It’s been fun being around them.”
Some younger players undergo a metamorphosis. Until they actually play in regular-season games, though, it’s difficult to predict who might become the next Benardrick McKinney or Greg Mancz.
There’s no shortage of candidates to do what McKinney and Mancz did in their second season.
McKinney became one of the NFL’s better inside linebackers, and Mancz took all but one snap at center.
The Texans had high expectations for McKinney when they selected him in the second round in 2015. He started 11 games as a rookie, accumulating 58 tackles, one sack and two hits on the quarterback.
Last season, McKinney started every game, recording 129 tackles, five sacks and 11 hits on the quarterback. Linebackers coach Mike Vrabel, promoted to defensive coordinator in the offseason, did a terrific job with McKinney, who was the only player in the league with at least 100 tackles and five sacks.
McKinney gives the Texans a fourth effective pass rusher behind J.J. Watt, Whitney Mercilus and Jadeveon Clowney.
At 6-4, 260, McKinney struggled to cover running backs on pass routes, but he has worked hard to improve in that area. Imagine how good he can be in his third season after the way he improved in 2016.
Mancz, signed as an undrafted free agent in 2015, got into three games as a rookie. He was inactive, and then injured and done for the season.
Pressed into starting duty last season after highly touted rookie Nick Martin suffered a season-ending ankle injury in preseason, Mancz started and was a rock in the middle. He played well as a run blocker and pass protector. At this time last year no one could have predicted that kind of performance from Mancz. Making strong impressions
Based on what little we’ve seen of the offseason program, there are players returning from last season who are making a strong impression.
Running back Tyler Ervin, a fourthround pick in 2016, looks like a different player. He knows the offense better. He’s more confident. The coaches have a better idea of what he can do as a runner and receiver and, hopefully for the special teams, as a return specialist.
In the one OTA the media has been able to watch, Ervin was very impressive.
So was cornerback Robert Nelson. After being waived by Cleveland, Arizona and the Texans, he was placed on the practice squad last year. When he was activated, he allowed some big plays, but he made enough plays for the coaches to keep him around.
Nelson, who ran in the 4.3s coming out of college, was all over the field last week covering receivers and knocking down passes. He has a chance to become an important part of the defense as the fourth cornerback.
The three corners in front of Nelson — Johnathan Joseph, Kareem Jackson and Kevin Johnson — combined to miss 15 games because injuries last season. Nelson’s development could make him a significant contributor.
The coaches are watching closely the progress made by three players entering their second seasons. Nose tackle D.J. Reader and outside linebacker Brennan Scarlett have a chance to start. Braxton Miller can solve an issue at slot receiver.
Reader, a fifth-round pick last year, could make the biggest impact of any new starter on both sides of the ball. He was impressive as a rookie, starting nine games, counting playoffs, at every position on the defensive line.
At 6-3, 335, Reader is built like a nose tackle, but he made six starts at end, three on each side. The coaches would love for him to step in and replace Vince Wilfork.
With Watt and Clowney as his bookends, Reader probably won’t get a lot of attention, but his performance can help them as well as McKinney and Brian Cushing, the other inside linebacker.
Scarlett, another undrafted free agent, spent seven games of his rookie season on injured reserve before being activated because of John Simon’s injury. With Simon out of the picture, Scarlett has an opportunity to earn a starting job and make an impact on special teams.
It was unfair last season to expect much from Miller, a third-round pick from Ohio State. After becoming one of the nation’s elite quarterbacks, he returned from a shoulder injury and moved to receiver, taking 87 percent of his snaps in the slot in his last season with the Buckeyes.
As a rookie, Miller was often lost when it came to learning a difficult position. He needed a season to watch and learn.
Miller made six starts when the Texans opened with three receivers. He had 15 catches for 99 yards and a touchdown. That 6.6-yard average per catch was terrible, but that should improve significantly. Welker’s influence to help
Miller has an advantage this season. The Texans hired Wes Welker, the best slot receiver in NFL history, and part of his responsibilities as a rookie coach is to help the slot receivers. Miller should be Welker’s star pupil.
Two more second-year players — Martin and safety K.J. Dillon — will be watched closely.
If Martin gets back his starting job, will Mancz transition to guard and be good enough to get on the field? At this point of the offseason program, it looks like center will be one of the team’s strong positions because of Martin and Mancz.
Dillon, who flashed early in the season before going on injured reserve, can be in the mix at safety, where a lot of players will compete for playing time.
Others we’ll be observing this week at OTAs are offensive tackle Kendall Lamm, inside linebacker Shakeel Rashad, safety Kurtis Drummond and end Joel Heath.
With so many veterans being kept on the sideline because of injuries, it creates more opportunities for young players who lack playing experience. It’s going to be a while before we learn who takes advantage of his opportunity.