Give that man a hand: Hopkins wows at practice
Receiver puts on a show for fans able to attend training camp for first time
Fans were able to watch the Texans at training camp for the first time Thursday morning, and receiver DeAndre Hopkins put on the kind of show that would make Broadway producers take notice.
There’s a different kind of buzz at camp when fans attend, and 4,622 showed up at Houston Methodist Training Center to see their favorite team for the first time. Hopkins always likes to provide them with spectacular entertainment. Those eager to see Hopkins make circus catches were not disappointed.
Among his best receptions were a sliding touchdown catch in the end zone, a onehanded catch on the sideline and an overthe-middle catch in traffic. The fans let Hopkins know they were impressed and
appreciative with loud ovations.
“Our fans are amazing, some of the best fans in America,” Hopkins said while signing autographs and posing for pictures after practice. “When fans are out here, it gets me extra jacked up.”
One reason Hopkins and defensive end J.J. Watt are superstars and All-Pros is how hard they work in practice, how serious they are about using it to get better. Some superstars like to coast in practice — the Allen Iverson philosophy — but most believe practice makes perfect. The Hopkins and Watt philosophy.
“I get jacked up for practice in general because I love to compete,” Hopkins said. “I love to compete every day. Coming out here and competing is where it starts. I want to win every ball.”
Sometimes, it’s more fun to
watch Hopkins fail to make a reception than it is to watch others actually catch the ball. His large hands, catch radius, focus when the ball’s in the air and determination give him a sizeable advantage, making him more interesting to watch.
“I feel there's a lot of room for improvement in my game, which is only going to help the team,” he said, modestly.
It’s not just the fans who get pumped when Hopkins makes a magnificent catch. His coaches and teammates are impressed, too, even though some have seen him to it a hundred times in practice and games.
“You see it a lot, but you don’t take it for granted — that’s for sure,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “He’s got great hands, and he can make all the contested catches, so that’s why he’s a go-to guy.”
The go-to guy for quarterback Deshaun Watson. Last season, Hopkins caught 115 passes for 1,572 yards and 11 touchdowns from Watson. Hopkins didn’t drop a pass, according to Pro Football Focus.
Watson and Hopkins plan a repeat performance this season, when they should be recognized
as one of the most exceptional quarterback-receiver combinations in the NFL. It’s a relationship made in Clemson heaven.
“D-Hop, that’s my dog,” Watson said. “(He’s) like my brother. I’ve known him since I was recruited at Clemson. It seems like we’ve been knowing each other since we were little kids. We talk about everything. Having him around — having him in my circle — is awesome.”
Watson is like Hopkins in that he believes in the importance of practice. He arrives early and stays late. He spreads the ball all over the field to his different receivers. He’s making remarkable improvement heading into his third season.
After all the quarterbacks he’s played with — Matt Schaub, Case Keenum, T.J. Yates, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Mallet, Tom Savage, Brian Hoyer, Brock Osweiler and Brandon Weeden — Hopkins appreciates being able to count on having Watson, the Texans’ first franchise quarterback.
“He's getting better every year,” Hopkins said. “You look at what he can do at practice, and it relays to the game.”
Hopkins and Watson have high expectations this season. Like their teammates, coaches and fans, they were emotionally crushed over the awful performance in the playoff loss to Indianapolis at NRG Stadium. The Texans let down their fans, and they know it. Time to make amends.
“Everybody who plays football should have as their goal to win championships,” Hopkins said. “I feel like that’s the mindset of every player, not just mine. If you don’t (have that mindset), there’s no need to come to practice.”
Fans return to practice Saturday, and Hopkins will put on another show. Like a rehearsal for next week’s production in joint practices at Green Bay.