Bijani: Observations from Day 6 of Texans training camp
(SportsRadio 610) - Training camp entered its second week of workouts and position groups across the board are getting a little lighter than they were last week as camp legs are maybe starting to set in for some.
Here are some observations:
No real serious injuries to report at the moment, but a number of Texans were sidelined Monday, including tight ends Dalton Schultz and Brevin Jordan (hamstring); fullback Troy Hairston (back); offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson (leg); linebacker Christian Kirksey (leg); and safety Brandon Hill (hamstring).
Charlie Heck (foot) and Teagan Quitoriano (quad) are still on the PUP list.
If you're scoring at home, It's 2-2-2 after six days of camp, including two days of full-pads practice. C.J. Stroud probably lost the last two days of practice to Davis Mills after winning the first two. It felt like the middle two days, Friday and Sunday, were a wash.
Mills connected with Nico Collins on a deep corner route of 40-plus yards, as Collins high-pointed the ball to make a difficult grab over Steven Nelson.
Meanwhile, at an early team period of 11-on-11, Stroud got flushed from the pocket and tried to force a ball back across the field, throwing across his body. Steven Nelson read it perfectly and made the easy interception that could've very well gone for six points the other way.
During a team period toward the end of practice, they worked situations with each quarterback getting 1:15 minutes on the clock.
Stroud saw mixed results, but did take care of the football. He hit fullback Andrew Beck twice and Nico Collins on his first three throws, but after Dare Ogunbowale dropped a short screen pass, Stroud took a sack and failed to get a first down with about 31 seconds left on the clock.
Mills looked solid during the situational period.
His first pass sailed inclinometer but quickly connected with running back Gerrid Doaks for a nine yard gain. A bad snap by rookie lineman Juice Scruggs with Jimmy Morrissey playing right guard during the period sent them backwards and stalled the drive thereafter.
He's shown a lot of burst when the ball is put in his hands the last few practices. The rookie running back out of Arizona State had a chance for a big moment on a ball thrown by Case Keenum, it was perfectly placed for an over the shoulder grab, but Valladay left his feet to extend and just couldn't complete the catch.
He could make this team, and while that would've been a highlight reel type of play, Valladay is going to have to show he can catch the ball out of the backfield to contribute in this offense.
The rookie linebacker out of Alabama is showing good instincts and reads versus the run. He needs to work on his angle of attack to ball.
Got a rest day from team periods, he was fully dressed. Rookie offensive lineman Tyler Beach got first team run at left tackle.
He, does not appear to be him.
He was blowing up the inside run and batting balls down on back to back plays during team period with Mills under center.
Lopez looks like he's taken a big step in the right direction after working on his body this offseason. It's about performing and being a disruptor in this DeMeco Ryans led defense though, so far so good for Lopez.
He weighed in on head coach DeMeco Ryans' decision to call the defense for now to "see how it goes."
"It's been very collaborative," Burke said. "I think early on in the process, he felt he had to commit some of his attention to other parts of getting this program going. He has a very specific vision for how he wants the defense to play and I think he felt he had some more time to dedicate to that part of it."
Burke may very well end up being the guy that calls the defense down the road, but I think because of exactly what Burke mentioned regarding DeMeco's "specific vision" he has on that side of the ball, he made the right call on being the voice to get things going.
