07-30-2007, 08:56 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Both of them
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,225
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Texans Training Camp: Day 3 (morning practice)
King Solomon's Mind: Texans Training Camp: Day 3 (morning practice)
Quote:
Even if you love football, it's hard to love football practice. Why? Because so little football is actually played at football practice.
But there are two times football practice is fairly good - when the team dresses in full pads and when there is a live scrimmage.
Today was the first day for the Texans to go full pads for a workout. And finally, there were a couple of collisions - nothing like you will see when the team hosts Kansas City for the season opener, but at least we heard a clack or two.
A few observations from the practice field:
• Backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels didn't look particularly sharp in this morning's workout, missing several targets completely and putting the ball in the wrong spot on a couple of occasions.
• Never-will-be backup QB Bradlee Van Pelt looked horrible. The Venus de Milo has a better throwing arm than Van Pelt. It's almost so bad that practice nearly comes to a halt when he steps behind center. One positive is the receivers get to work on adjusting to overthrown/underthrown balls. That could come in handy one day.
• The flip-flopping of practices between center Mike Flanagan and Steve McKinney is a smart move for two players with a combined 20 years of playing experience in the league. Flanagan handled snaps this morning, while McKinney watched in shorts. McKinney will take over this afternoon.
• The 9-on-7 running game drill was not too exciting (for the offensive line that is), as for the most part holes were hard to find for the running backs. But Ahman Green showed some scoot when he touched the ball.
• That No. 59 on defense is pretty good. Whether its half-speed, in walkthroughs or in dreams, DeMeco Ryans knows how to find the ball.
• The hardest hit — again, there were only a handful — was delivered by fullback Vonta Leach, who nearly beheaded DaMarcus Faggins after grabbing a swing pass in the flat. Coaches yelled at Faggins to keep his head up when closing to make a tackle.
• The catch-of-the-day goes to tight end Owen Daniels, who made a leaping grab across the middle over Morlon Greenwood.
• Jamar Fletcher, backup corner and nickel back, looks extremely small, even smaller than his listed size of 5-10, 186 pounds. That sound you hear is the licking of chops of QB-WR combos around the league when they think of the Texans' nickel defense with Faggins and Dunta Robinson at corner, C.C. Brown and Glenn Earl at safety and Fletcher inside.
• Owner Bob McNair, looking much like a coach in Texans' gear and shorts, watched a lot of the practice alongside general manager Rick Smith. Smith, a former coach, couldn't help his instincts. When the team was moving from one drill to another, he admonished a few defensive linemen "Don't walk! Don't walk!" he said.
• A tackle by linebacker Danny Clark on Wali Lundy drew the ire of the offense. Clark met Lundy in the hole, stood him up and then as other defenders arrived, Lundy was twisted into the pile. He wasn't injured, but offensive players voiced their displeasure.
• Unfazed, a few plays later, Clark gently slung Lundy to the ground a few plays later. Samkon Gado limped off the field near the end of practice, but said he was fine.
• Head coach Gary Kubiak said running back Chris Taylor was in surgery while the team was practicing, so news of whether his knee injury is a season-ending injury or not will come later today. Backup Ron Dayne sat out the morning practice.
• The team hits the field again at 3:15 p.m. for another practice that is open to the public. {UPDATE: Due to weather, the practice has been moved indoors. Fans will not be allowed to attend.** Attendance figures will be released earlier today, but quite a large gathering elected to eschew morning church services for this morning's practice.
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Texans Training Camp: Day 3 (morning practice)
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