Watch: Texans Assistant Coaches Meet With Media After OTAs

The Texans have been sweating and toiling, but most of all, they have been competing, competing, competing, and competing for everything: their jobs, their roles on the football team, their dignity, their lives, the sole thing inside their chest keeping them alive. Following another spat of competition, the Texans’ assistant coaches met with the media to discuss how the competition has gone. You can watch James Campen’s press conference here, Tim Kelly’s here, Danny Barrett’s here, Andy Bischoff’s here, Pep Hamilton’s here, Robert Prince’s here, Lovie Smiths’s here, Frank Ross’s here, Greg Jackson’s here, and Bobby King’s here.

You probably aren’t a true detective. You probably don’t have the time to listen to Campen opine about Charlie Heck’s pass set. Thankfully, Rivers McCown has pulled and plucked pertinent clips for your viewing.

Tim Kelly doesn’t want to talk about Deshaun Watson, the man who requested Kelly keep the job he currently has, which the team accommodated in a halfhearted attempt to appease the (former?) franchise quarterback.

Despite finishing 32nd in rushing DVOA last season, Tim Kelly says the Texans need to run the ball more, not less, and will plan on doing so with David Johnson, Phillip Lindsey, Mark Ingram, Rex Burkhead, and Tyrod Taylor.

Running backs coach Danny Barrett agrees that competition is good, competition is great, and competition will sort out of the current backfield competition.

Marcus Cannon is a right tackle, meaning other players may need to change their roles so he can continue to play RT. This means Tytus Howard, who has been a really good pass protecting offensive tackle but has been awful in the run game, may be squeezed back inside, where he struggled during his rookie year.

Pep Hamilton doesn’t know what Houston’s offensive plan will be, but he will be ready to execute it once he knows, whenever that may be. In the meantime, it’s time to get down to fundamentals. That’s what the summer is for.

New defensive coordinator Lovie Smith says Whitney Mercilus can run, set the edge, and rush the passer, despite being unable to do any of the three for the entirety of the 2020 NFL season and being a year older at the ripe age of 30 when speed has never been Mercilus’ strong suit.

Follow Rivers McCown on Twitter @riversmccown. I’m sure there will be more sleuthing there. In the meantime, there will be more competing, competition, and getting down to the fundamentals for your Houston Texans.