Big rookie tight end catches O’Brien’s eye
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. — Snatching passes out of the air over shorter defensive backs, towering rookie Jordan Thomas is good at using his superior size to full advantage.
At 6-5 and 280 pounds, Thomas is the Texans’ biggest tight end.
The sixth-round draft pick from Mississippi State is extremely athletic. He has run the 40-yard dash in 4.69 seconds.
A converted wide receiver, Thomas caught 22 passes for 263 yards and three touchdowns last season.
The Texans regard Thomas as an excellent developmental prospect.
“Big guy, good size, good hands,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “He started out his career at Mississippi State (as a wide receiver). Obviously, after last year, he’s 275 pounds. So he moved closer to the ball the bigger he got.
“The first few days here, he’s actually done a decent job blocking relative to being a young player — better than I thought he would do. I think if he can keep improving in that area — he’s good in the passing game — I really like what we’ve got there.”
Fuller’s versatility proves appealing
Will Fuller provides a lot of intriguing choices, enough to fill up several pages of the Texans’ playbook.
The third-year wide receiver from Notre Dame is more than a speedster with a 4.28 time in the 40-yard dash.
Fuller is also capable of lining up at multiple positions.
“He’s very versatile,” quarterback Deshaun Watson said. “He can play inside, outside. You can move him around. You can have him going deep, short, mid-routes.
“Anything you want him to do, he’s a guy that can do that, and he makes everything look the same. He’s a guy that’s very, very intelligent. He has great instincts, and he just uses his ability to get open and does a good job doing it.”
Entering his third NFL season, Fuller has caught 75 passes for 1,058 yards and nine touchdowns. He was limited to 28 receptions for 423 yards and seven scores during an injuryriddled 2017 season.
Fuller underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in January and has made a full recovery. He’ll start opposite All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins this season.
“He’s a very, very good route runner,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “He’s really good, and I think that because of injuries we haven’t been able to see that. I think the big thing is he came back stronger, put a little weight on, and I think you can see in training camp some of the things that he’s able to do.
“We’re able to use him in different spots. … I think he’s improved his hands. So, I think the big key with Will is always going to be health. Can he stay healthy? Can he be there for 16 games? That’s going to be a big, big thing for Will.”
Scarlett makes most of first-team time
As long as Jadeveon Clowney is being eased into drills,
Brennan Scarlett is operating as the Texans’ starting outside linebacker.
Clowney worked on the side again Wednesday.
Scarlett doesn’t look out of place with the first-team defense. The third-year linebacker from Stanford started five of 11 games played last season and had 29 tackles and two sacks.
Scarlett is adept at stuffing the run or rushing the passer.
“It’s good to be out there, whether I’m with the ones or the twos,” Scarlett said. “To have the ability to be out there working and working on the moves I’ve been working on and training and thinking about moves and be able to practice those things, this is the time to really flourish.”
Scarlett celebrated his 25th birthday Tuesday by attending practice and several meetings.
“I’ll talk to my family and friends,” Scarlett said. “Luckily, we get a free dinner every night.”
That included a huge sushi dinner consumed by the linebackers and defensive backs shortly after arriving at The Greenbrier for training camp.
Coates invaluable as a low-cost asset
When the Texans claimed wide receiver Sammie Coates off waivers from the Cleveland Browns, they saw value.
For a $705,000 base salary, the Texans obtained an athletic wide receiver with 28 career receptions for 518 yards and two touchdowns.
The former Pittsburgh Steelers third-round draft pick from Auburn is also good at special teams in kick coverage.
Coates (6-1, 212) has made several difficult catches so far at camp.
“Good work ethic, good speed, good size,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “He’ll help us, hopefully, on special teams and then does some decent stuff on offense. He’s done a good job.”
Sharper practice pleases coach
One day after coach Bill
O’Brien was displeased with the tempo and intensity of practice, the Texans had a much sharper practice.
The Texans had fewer mental errors and looked more aggressive during individual and team drills.
“Yeah, they were ready to go,” O’Brien said. “They had a good morning meeting. It was a tough practice, a lot of plays, a lot of contact. So it was good, very good.”