Young wide receivers start learning process
Breaking the huddle, bolting into patterns and building chemistry with quarterback Brock Osweiler, it was a day the Texans’ revamped receiving corps attacked the learning curve.
The constant presence for the Texans is Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, but change is the watchword for the defending AFC South champions.
The Texans have a new quarterback in Osweiler, signing him to a four-year, $72 million contract after enduring a quarterback carousel of Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett, T.J. Yates and Brandon Weeden last season.
And the Texans drafted wide receivers Will Fuller (first round) and Braxton Miller (third round) after veteran starter Nate Washington signed with New England.
“Some things we’ve got to work on, some things we did good,” Hopkins said Monday following the Texans’ first organized team activity practice. “First day out, so you know it’s not going to be the best. You’re not going to get our best showing, but we did good. Brock led us, the receivers paid attention, all of us were helping each other out there. Some guys first time playing pro football, so just getting used to the tempo that we work at, and I think we did good.”
For Fuller and Miller, it’s a major adjustment from the collegiate level. A former Notre Dame star, Fuller displayed outstanding speed and did a nice job of tracking the football Monday. Miller is a shifty, tall converted quarterback from Ohio State with a lot of athleticism but has limited experience at the receiver position.
“They did a good job; they’ve got a long way to go,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “I don’t think it matters what position you play. I don’t think it matters what team you play for, what system you’re in. I think that’s a very difficult transition.”
One returning receiver who has made a quantum leap from a year ago when he reported overweight after being drafted in the third round is Jaelen Strong. Strong appears determined to put an offseason arrest for misdemeanor possession of marijuana in Arizona behind him.
“Jaelen’s been working all offseason; even during what he was going through, he was working,” Hopkins said.
Watt, Brown among sidelined
Defensive end J.J. Watt didn’t practice as he continues to work his way back from offseason groin surgery.
Watt had several core muscles repaired after a season in which he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year for a third time.
Watt worked out on the side and has made steady progress in his recuperation from the procedure.
Meanwhile, left tackle Duane Brown remains sidelined as he recuperates from a torn quadriceps tendon that required surgery. Brown has said he expects to be back for the season opener.
Also not practicing: cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph (arthroscopic knee surgery), Kevin Johnson (foot surgery, wrist surgery) and Charles James (foot surgery), safety Lonnie Ballentine (knee surgery), center-guard Greg Mancz (knee surgery), linebacker Max Bullough, tight end Ryan Griffin, running back Tyler Ervin and offensive lineman Jeff Adams (knee surgery).
Offensive lineman David Quessenberry didn’t practice. He’s missed the past two seasons on the non-football illness list while dealing with non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
“We’re off to a good start,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “We’ve had just about 100 percent attendance.
“If there wasn’t 100 percent attendance, it was something where a guy had a family matter or something like that. Our guys are doing a great job of participating in a voluntary program.”
Hal snags acrobatic pick
Diagnosing the path of the football, free safety Andre Hal made a decisive, acrobatic reaction.
Hal leapt, twisting his body to snag a Brock Osweiler pass for an interception.
It was arguably the most impressive play of the Texans’ organized team activity Monday, and it served as a statement that Hal intends to maintain the standard he established last season.
A converted cornerback from Vanderbilt drafted in the seventh round three years ago, Hal led the team in interceptions last season with four.
Texans join science club
The Texans have hired former Texas A&M player Erik Korem as their director of sports science.
Korem’s previous positions include high performance coach at Kentucky and director of sports science and football operations at Florida State.
“We’re trying to, again, do what’s best for our players, trying to maximize peak performance,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “What we’ve tried to do is bring Erik Korem in here to try to help us with player workloads, sleep habits, nutrition, scripting in certain instances. He kind of branches into a lot of different areas. He’s a very bright guy.”