HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610) -- Day 5 of practice at Houston Texans training camp on Thursday morning saw the team working for the fifth straight practice in pads, and the third straight practice in the Texas heat outdoors.
For the first time, though, it felt like head coach Bill O'Brien was really using almost an entire practice to make up for the lack of preseason games and joint practices against other teams, as the Texans went almost exclusive 11-on-11 drills the whole time.
Here are my observations from perhaps the most applicable practice yet, in terms of evaluation:
1. ATTENDANCE: J.J. watt did not practice again, but did work out off to the side with the team trainers, doing several very Watt-esque drills, like literally running while dragging a human attached to his torso via n elastic band.
Will Fuller also had a "workout off to the side" day, but looks healthy. Keke Coutee was not out at practice, for reasons unknown. Brandin Cooks was dressed, warmed up, and then was held out of 11-on-11 drills. Gareon Conley did not practice either.
2. For the third straight practice, the defense won the day, as they held the offense out of the end zone until the final 10 minutes or so of practice -- NOTE: They ran 11-on-11 drills for WELL over an hour overall -- when Deshaun Watson found Jordan Akins, not once, but twice.
The second touchdown was a spectacular catch at the goal line that saw Akins stretch horizontally and lunge into the end zone. Good day for Akins.
3. One thing to note here, as the defense had its third straight solid day -- the reps were split FAR more evenly between the 1's, 2's, and 3's on Thursday, so there was a decent amount of Alex McGough under center, and probably far too much fo A.J. McCarron (he had a second straight shaky day).
For what it's worth, Watson has looked excellent throughout camp. He's fine, and once he has all of his weapons working with him, this offense will be fun to watch.
4. Speaking of that, during the walk throughs at the beginning of practice, the Texans lined up in a three-WR formation where the three wideouts were Brandin Cooks, Randall Cobb, and Kenny Stills.
So, no Fuller (as mentioned earlier, he was working out with trainers). Last year, when there was no Fuller, the wide receiver trio was some permutation of DeAndre Hopkins, Stills, and then probably DeAndre Carter.
I feel a whole lot better about what the team is sending out there sans Fuller this season. Not saying I'm glad O'Brien traded Hopkins, but I think a trio of Cooks, Cobb, and Stills can make life tough for opposing defenses (especially if you add in two elite pass catching backs).
5. It felt like defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver was opening up more of the defensive playbook today, with several edge players cued up for free runs at the quarterback, and some safety blitzes mixed in.
The big winner was backup OLB Davin Bellamy, who was a practice squad guy last season, and showed up in my practice notes no fewer than a half a dozen times for plays made in the opposing backfield or around the line of scrimmage.
I don't know if Bellamy makes the team, but today was a step in the right direction.
6. The offense stalling out frequently in 11-on-11 drills meant plenty of opportunities for Ka'imi Fairbairn (and his shiny new contract making him a top five highest-paid kicker in the league).
He looks to be in midseason form (and I don't mean like midseason last year, when he was struggling like crazy). Fairbairn was routinely banging through 50 to 55 yard field goals when given the chances on Thursday.
7. Another really good day for Isaiah Coulter and Stevie Mitchell in a battle to be the fifth or sixth WR on the team. Coulter, in particular, made a couple tough plays over the middle, one time absorbing a "joint practice" level hit from a defensive back whose license plate I did not make out.
Chad Hansen, an early favorite of mine to push for a spot, has been kind of silent the last couple practices.
8. Beneficiaries of Anthony Weaver-called blitzes from the secondary on Thursday -- A.J. Moore and rookie CB John Reid. Both with sacks that I was able to see in 11-on-11.
We are back out at practice Friday morning at 9:30 a.m., and will have you covered all day long here on SportsRadio 610 and SportsRadio610.com.