Fresh start gives chance for forward thinking

It all started on the practice field at NRG this week.

There wasn’t a cloud in the sky as the Texans took the field for the second day in a row.

With most of the team back together, plus the additions of new faces, the squad was able to get back to work, to get back to playing football.

Bill O’Brien and his coaching staff have been eagerly waiting for this week.

After months of offseason meetings, planning and waiting, they finally hit the field with their players.

Sure, it’s not real football yet. No pads. No hitting. But the majority of the Texans were there this week for organized team activities.

They were there to get started — to put last year in the past and focus intently on this season.

And O’Brien couldn’t help but show his excitement to have them all back.

“The offseason, when they aren’t around, we definitely miss them,” he said. “It’s good to be back together.”

Spirits were high Tuesday at NRG when the Texans met for their second day of OTAs. It makes sense. The Texans are eager to move past the rollercoaster season of last year.

They finished the regular season 9-7, winning the AFC South. They picked up a playoff win over Oakland before losing to eventual Super Bowl champ New England.

While they did win games and there were highlights — the phenomenal play of the defense, for example — it was a bumpy ride.

There was the seasonending J.J. Watt injury before things really got started. There was the Brock Osweiler experiment, which was a complete and total failure.

But on this day, everything was looking up.

For one, Watt was on the field.

For another, Osweiler was not.

Other good things were happening, too.

Praise for rookie QB

Rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson is already earning rave reviews from teammates.

“He’s working hard,” receiver DeAndre Hopkins said. “He’s young. He’s learning every day from Tom (Savage) and Brandon (Weeden.) He’s trying to get better. He’s doing good.”

And the team looks healthy overall.

“I feel good about the health of this team,” O’Brien said. “I mean, we do have some soft tissue injuries that always occur during this time of the year — some hamstrings, some quads — but nothing that’s major or serious. There’s nothing more important than the health of the team, and I feel good about the health right now.”

There’s a lot to be optimistic about as the Texans start looking ahead to the 2017 season.

Watt — the team’s emotional leader — is back and says he’s healthy and ready to go.

Without him last year, the defense was easily one of the best in the league. With him back at full strength, it could be downright scary.

The incoming rookies are exciting for the future of the team. Watson has a world of potential, which made him a popular pick for the Texans in the draft last month. D’Onta Foreman, from Texas City, is a local favorite and was a stud running back at Texas, where he regularly escaped tackles and broke free for big runs.

Next season isn’t coming without its share of question marks, though.

The first sitting squarely on Savage — the Texans’ starting quarterback.

Savage played in three games last season — started in two — and was just OK.

No touchdowns. No interceptions. Nothing great. Nothing terrible.

Time to see

There wasn’t time to see if Savage had what the Texans need — a quarterback capable of running an offense that needs a jolt. He has time now to prove if he can handle the job.

If the offense can improve and the defense doesn’t drop off, the Texans have a chance for real improvement next season.

On Tuesday, Savage seemed at ease and comfortable with the challenge.

“This has been the longest I’ve ever been in an offense in my career, so it’s been fun,” Savage said. “I’m learning a lot and just going out there … executing what these coaches are teaching me and ultimately trying to win games.”

Games aren’t happening any time soon. It will be awhile before the Texans even put on pads and really go at each other in practices.

But this week is a start — a fresh one for a team trying to make a big leap.

And it’s a chance for the Texans to get back to the basics.

“We all love playing football,” offensive tackle Kendall Lamm said. “And we are back to that, back to football. We are ready to get back to it and get better for next year.

“This is where it all starts.”