BRB Group Think: Have We Learned Anything Yet?

This week’s Group Think is a question that is premature. We still don’t know much of anything. It’s been a lot of Twitter-feed coach speak. Everyone is stronger, faster, and tougher. Practices have to be crisper. Nobody has been injured yet. Anyways, the Texans’ training camp has been going on for a week or so now. Is there anything you have learned about the team, or anything that you are excited about when the season starts that you were previously unaware of?

Matt Weston:

The usual sweaty beat reporter snippets, Lamar Miller is skinnier—could he finish third in rushing DVOA again?—Will Fuller V can bench press 135 pounds, J.J. Watt is hungry, Deshaun Watson is running without a brace—haven’t been super interesting. It’s been about the same as it is every year. A whole lot of nothing that we will all forget about once it’s Week Eight, and we’re no longer starved for football, and this stupid helmet rule has made us hate the game we all used to love so much.

What I’ve been most excited about is the lack of news regarding Julie’n Davenport. I thought he could be a good enough pass blocker out of college to be a starting NFL tackle. After watching him last year, coupled with the putrid offensive tackles on the roster, I thought he was the Texans’ best option to play left tackle this season. He needed to get stronger this offseason for it to happen.

Aaron Wilson still hasn’t written a story about what Davenport ate and lifted this summer. I still don’t know if his biceps are plump enough. But not hearing anything at all is kind of a good thing. There haven’t been tweets that Whitney Mercilus, Jadeveon Clowney, J.J. Watt, or even Brennan Scarlett are embarrassing him. If things were dire, I’m sure there would be news about the oncoming slaughter of Deshaun Watson. This hasn’t happened. So far, so good.

I’m rooting for Davenport this summer. Hopefully things remain the same and he holds down the left tackle spot admirably once real, actual football begins.

Diehard Chris:

The one piece of news that I’m allowing myself to read into is that apparently Lamar Miller is more lean. If this was planned, it gives me hope that O’Brien will no longer run him as if he is Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, and that instead with Deshaun Watson running things, the plan is to get Miller out in space more often to take advantage of his strengths. What a concept!

I’m also a sucker for all things Honey Badger. I eat up all the stories about how Tyrann Mathieu’s teammates gravitate to him, how he’s already a natural leader of the defense, how he’s already so integrated, building personal and football chemistry with his teammates, etc. In fact, I’m so into it that I’ve already projected him to be really good this year (I KNOW IT’S A LEAP - LET ME HAVE THIS). I’m already sad about the possibility of his stay in Houston being limited to one year.

Capt Ron:

I’m actually pretty curious how Sammie Coates works out. I heard him interviewed earlier this week and have seen some good reports so far on his camp performance.

What I’m REALLY excited about is the LACK of tone-deaf comments from the owner. May this continue forward in perpetuity!

Kenneth:

It’s hard to know much when all the reporting about training camp is one-sided positivity. Someone has a good pick? Well, who threw the ball, what happened, was it a bad route? I just want more, man.

Second, training camp doesn’t crystallize much until the first preseason game. From all the info I’ve gathered, there are about 60 players competing for the 53 man roster. Everyone else is fodder.

Luke Beggs:

The only catch technique I want my receivers practicing is the one where they catch that there pigskin before tucking that ball away nice and tight and getting me that first down, dammit.

In all seriousness, I’m interested to hear what will become of the safety position with Andre Hal’s absence and Tyrann Mathieu and Justin Reid’s arrival. I think those two will end up being the starters, but I am curious whether Kareem Jackson will get more of a look at safety due to his familiarity with the scheme and Romeo Crennel.

bigfatdrunk:

I saw that Lestar Jean is looking fantastic.

Rivers McCown:

Zac Diles is looking extremely cost-efficient, as well.

What about you? Have you learned anything new or found something else to be excited about now that training camp has popped off?