After hosting the Miami Dolphins for two joint practice sessions during the week, the two teams went head-to-head in the Texans' first preseason home game Saturday afternoon at NRG Stadium.
The Texans played most of their starters the entire first half on both sides of the ball.
The starting offensive line was:
LT Laremy Tunsil, LG Kenyon Green, C Juice Scruggs, RG Shaq Mason and RT George Fant.
Rookie quarterback CJ Stroud played the entire first half. He finished 7/12 passing for 60 yards in four series of work. Stroud was accurate, elusive, and made some nice throws on the run.
After limited action in his preseason debut against the New England Patriots last week, playing in just two series for a total of just 11 snaps, I needed to see Stroud and the Texans' offense sustain a drive.
On the team's second offensive series, they did just that. Stroud led an 11 play 61-yard drive that took 5:37 off of the clock, resulting in a 35-yard field goal from Ka’imi Fairbairn.
Nico Collins, Noah Brown and Robert Woods were the key contributors on the drive. One of the more interesting things to watch in training camp has been the way offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik has used Collins and the creative ways he’s gotten him the ball.
On the first play of the series, Collins came in motion from right to left and took a bubble screen pass from Stroud for seven yards.
Stroud looked natural running the bootleg. He hit Brown for a 14-yard gain on a crossing route out of the bootleg, delivering a perfectly placed ball to the seventh-year pro.
Stroud’s second preseason contest and home debut was a success, showing that he’s ready to be this team's starting quarterback.
Nice start
Texans LB Denzel Perryman intercepted Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on the first play of the game. The veteran dropped into zone coverage and high-pointed the ball, returning it 19 yards to the Dolphins' 7-yard line.
Not on the same page
Following Perryman’s interception, while Stroud was under pressure a couple of times when he dropped back to pass, it was clear that he and tight end Dalton Schultz still have some work to do.
Deciding to go for it on a 4th-and-6, Stroud’s pass sailed out of bounds near the first pylon on the left side of the end zone. Anticipating Schultz continuing his route to the sideline, he stopped instead.
Stroud immediately went over to Schultz after the turnover on downs to discuss the miscue with Schultz.
Early pressures
The Texans certainly struggled defensively in the first half with their starters, allowing four plays of 15 or more yards, including a 65-yard touchdown run by running back Salvin Ahmed.
But, they had good pressure early on as Maliek Collins, Will Anderson, Jacob Martin, Sheldon Rankins and Roy Lopez got in the backfield.
Collins, Anderson and Martin combined on a 5-yard tackle for loss on running back Raheem Mostert.
Rookie Will Anderson had his first “WOW” play for the Texans. The No. 3 overall selection in this year's draft sacked Dolphins backup quarterback Skylar Thompson for an 11-yard loss and forced a fumble on the play.
The most impressive part of the play was him bulldozing running back Salvon Ahmed to get to Thompson. He came free as the tight end left in motion, staying disciplined as to not follow the shifting line, he kept his eyes in the backfield and made the play.
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It was bound to happen
Tyreke Hill has done it to a lot of guys, but he put Desmond King in a blender on the Dolphins' second drive of the game. King had no chance as Hill created plenty of separation for a 13-yard gain.
There he is!
Texans fourth-year defensive end Jonathan Greenard has been lost in the shuffle a bit this camp. While healthy, much focus and attention has, of course, been on the rookie Will Anderson, but Greenard made sure he would be noticed Saturday afternoon.
He recorded a tackle-for-loss on Fin’s running back Salvon Ahmed for a 4-yard loss. He can be a disruptor when healthy.
Linebackers struggle in coverage
Linebacker Henry To’oTo’o got some run with the first-team defense. He did a nice job picking up rookie running back De’Von Achane on an out-route, stayed discipline so as to not over-pursue the scrambling quarterback on the play.
He did give up a touchdown later in the first half, though. Dolphins receiver Braxton Berrios got loose on a play that took a while to develop as the Texans' pass rush flushed Thompson out of the pocket. It’s a lot to ask of a linebacker to cover for that long, but the rookie should’ve been able to contest the ball. He’s got to improve his coverage skills.
Linebacker Jake Hanson failed to pick up the Dolphins running back out of the backfield on a 2nd-and-goal from the eight-yard line. Ahmed leaked out on the left side and Hanson never reacted, leaving the 4th year back wide open to walk into the end zone. It’s a fundamental play. Just a simple lack of attention and reaction. Those kind of mistakes gets guys cut.
Run defense is still an issue
The Texans' run defense wasn’t good. They allowed 140 rushing yards on 19 carries. The Dolphins had 4 runs of at least 10 or more yards in the first half, including a 65-yard run by Ahmed.
Most of the big plays appeared to come off of the edge during outside-zone runs.
Finding depth on the offensive line
With right tackle Tytus Howard out and second-year pro Kenyon Green not exactly making people feel warm and fuzzy about the Texans making him the 15th overall selection in last year's draft, the Texans still have legitimate concerns on the offensive line.
They’ve been shuffling guys around all camp. Saturday, the starting line for the second half looked like this.
C Michael Dieter, RT Austin Deculus, LT Killian Zierer, RG Jimmy Morrissey and LG Jarrett Patterson.
While CJ Stroud had more time to throw Saturday afternoon than he did last week and certainly at any punt during the joint practices this week against the Dolphins, there is a lot of room for improvement.
It’ll be interesting to see if the Texans keep an extra guard or tackle as depth when they make their cuts.
With only three tackles (Howard, Fant and Tunsil) as obvious locks to make the squad, it’s reasonable to think competition will beat up between Killian Zierer, Tyler Beach, Rashaad Coward and Austin Deculus ahead of the August 29th cut-down day.
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