(SportsRadio 610) - The Texans improved to 2-0 in the preseason with a 24-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Friday night. It wasn’t pretty, and it’s rare that’s ever the case in the preseason.
It comes down to finding out who is going to be in and who’s going to be out. The Texans have plenty of decisions to make between now and Tuesday when the roster again must be trimmed down from 85 players to 80.
Final roster cuts to get down to a 53-man squad will be made Aug. 30, following the third and final preseason game, for the Texans that comes after a visit from the San Francisco 49ers next Thursday.
Here’s what we’ve observed and learned so far.
Quarterbacks
Texans QB Davis Mills is developing a chemistry with Nico Collins.
Collins was targeted six times by Mills, catching four of them for 48 yards including an 18-yard completion that went for a touchdown. There were a couple of targets that looked like the two weren’t on the same page with the route, but both Mills and Collins did look to be getting more in sync with their timing and feel.
Mills completed 10-for-12 pass attempts to Collins, Rex Burkhead, Phillip Dorsett and Brevin Jordan. Chris Moore, Chris Conley and Jalen Camp were a combined 0-for-5 on passes from Mills, who finished 10-for-17 for 96 yards and a touchdown in six series. The second-year QB played the entire first half.
Kyle Allen saw his first action of the preseason after missing last week’s game against the Saints due to COVID-19.
He looked comfortable and confident, completing 9-of-12 pass attempts for 71 yards including a touchdown pass to Texans fifth-round rookie tight end Teagan Quitoriano.
Jeff Driskel continued to improve after leading a game-winning drive last week against the Saints. He did it again Friday night, finding tight end Mason Schreck in the back of the end zone.
Schreck reeled in the ball before a nice toe tap for the go-ahead score with 1:05 left to play in the game.
Driskel finished the game 3-of-3 for 27 yards, along with a touchdown and a nice 15-yard scamper that extended the final drive of the game for the Texans.
Running Backs
Marlon Mack got the start for the second straight week, finishing with 29 yards on eight carries. He looked fast, patient and showed ability in getting to the edge and turning the after burners on to get up field.
Veteran Rex Burkhead got a couple of runs, but was used as a pass catcher more in offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton’s system Friday night and looked solid, though he did turn the ball over with a fumble in the second quarter.
Dare Ogunbowale made the best of his six opportunities to run the ball, amassing 27 yards. He took care of the ball, ran strong and showed good burst through the line on a 4th-and-short conversion.
Royce Freeman got the bulk of the carries, running it nine times for 30 yards. He, along with Ogunbowale, ran solid between the tackles, something the Texans starting interior line didn’t allow for earlier in the game.
No Dameon Pierce sighting Friday night after an impressive debut last weekend. His absence was by design as the Texans had to get a solid look at the rest of the running back room.
Receivers
Nico Collins was the biggest takeaway Friday night. Reeling in that 18-yard pass from Mills in the first quarter, while leaping up and wrestling the ball away from the Rams corner is exactly what the Texans need him to do.
Texans coaches have talked about it all camp. They believe Collins, at 6-feet, 4 inches and 215 pounds, should be able to use his physicality to overpower guys. He finished the night with 48 yards on four catches and a touchdown.
Phillip Dorsett made an impressive 32-yard catch on a deep ball from Mills during the Texans’ scoring drive that ended with the Collins touchdown the very next play. He took a massive hit making the catch and made an incredible effort getting both feet down before landing out of bounds.
Tight ends Schreck, Brevin Jordan and Quitoriano all had a nice showing, making some big plays. On Quitoriano’s touchdown, it was a beautifully executed block and release out route that he was able to gather himself and turn up field to find the end zone. Jordan looked strong on routes and through contact, which he showed during camp.
It was good to see Schreck get the opportunity to catch the go ahead touchdown with 1:05 left from Driskel as he’s shown since training camp to be a reliable pass catcher.
Moore, Conley and Camp caught a combined two passes on seven targets. They’ve all looked good in camp this far, and Camp had a touchdown in a good showing last weekend against the Saints. They’ll have to shore some things up in the film room and on the practice field in the coming week.
Offensive line
The interior looked rough in the early going, but improved as the game wore on.
Left guard Max Scharping recovered a fumble early, after getting beat and allowing a Mills sack-fumble, but overall the line played a solid game and kept the quarterbacks clean. Mills got sacked one other time, but he was flushed out of the pocket as a result of a slow developing play.
The Texans will likely not play left tackle Laremy Tunsil this preseason.
Defense
Lovie Smith’s defense continues to be a bright spot amongst the offense, which is under construction.
The Texans sacked Rams quarterback John Wolford three times in the first quarter, with pressures from Christian Kirksey, Demone Harris and Jonathan Greenard.
The Texans defense looked organized, creative and well-designed. They played fast and aggressive.
Many others stood out, including Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Rasheem Green, Grayland Arnold, Derek Rivers, Thomas Booker, Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Isaac Yiadom.
Rookie cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., the No. 3 overall pick this year, made his debut and recorded a pass deflection and one tackle. His stint was brief.
Third-year defensive lineman Ross Blacklock was not good. He needed to show more in the pass rush and ability to stop the run and all he did Friday night was rack up three penalties in two consecutive snaps. He’s been outshined, by a lot, seemingly by every other defensive linemen on the team and his days could be numbered in Houston.
Special Teams
Punter Cam Johnston can kick the hell out of a football.
His first punt of the night would’ve stumped the Rams inside their own five yard line but Tremon Smith bobbled the ball trying to down it.
He’ll continue to be an asset for the Texans this year.
Desmond King II looked good returning punts, was quick and decisive in traffic.
Chester Rogers, who had been out with a leg injury, made his Texans debut and impressed with his first punt return of the night, showing good burst, quickness and speed.
Rogers took three reps for 30 yards, including a fumble lost that resulted in a Rams score. That hurt him a little. But with his athleticism and play making ability, if he stays healthy and takes better care of the ball, he can help this football team.
Grayland Arnold had a good defensive game and showed out in special teams. Showed great coverage skill on the punt team, smoking a Rams returner in the chest in the first half.
Shaun Bijani has spent the last 16 years covering the Houston sports scene for SportsRadio 610. Follow him on Twitter @ShaunBijani.