The word brutal came to mind when thinking about Wednesday's practice at the Houston Methodist Training Center.
No, not brutal in the performance, but brutal as in the searing heat that I won't miss one bit when the calendar turns to October and November in a short amount of time.
There's one more training camp practice tomorrow and it's a BIG one with the Los Angeles Rams ready to rock for one joint practice. That all said, there's plenty to dive into from today's practice and my Harris Hits are ready.
1. Let's start with 1-on-1's and you know I watch the OL/DL during that period, one that was a little extended, which was NICE. The first rep was a solid one from OT Tytus Howard as he anchored against a powerful rush from DE Danielle Hunter. Tytus didn't have a ton of action last week against the Giants, but he looked as spry, agile and powerful as I could remember. The lights went on and he was ready.
2. When OG Shaq Mason and DT Khalil Davis strap up against one another, I always find myself holding my breath as I watch - so exciting. The first rep was solid on both ends with each man countering a counter, sliding back together to the inside of the field.
3. OC Juice Scruggs stood up to the power of DT Foley Fatukasi about as well as possible during their one-on-one rep. It's imperative that Juice do that at the center position regularly and he showed he's more than capable right here.
4. Now, when I tell you DT Mario Edwards Jr was shot out of a cannon, believe you me, the dude's burst off the ball against Kenyon Green knocked the former Aggie back a couple of yards on their rep against one another. Ooweee, he FLEW out of his stance.
5. Laremy Tunsil also got his first one-on-one rep of training camp against DE Derek Barnett. On the first rep, Tunsil just danced and slid his way in front of Barnett to keep the veteran DE from getting anywhere near the QB. But, after they cycled all the way back to Barnett v. Tunsil, Barnett threw a SICK Euro jump through cross chop against LT and Barnett hit that mug clean. I mean, Barnett's move was super nasty and got him a clear path to the QB.
6. Every single rep that DT Marcus Harris takes, he's improving two and three-fold. I didn't write down his opponent but he worked his bull rush to a late rip under to get to the QB. He's got some twitch for a 6-2, 280 lb. interior defensive lineman. I've seen him work every day to get better and that progress is showing.
7. A few reps later, Harris threw a wicked dip and rip late in his rush that opened his lane to the QB. I would've liked to see that immediately after the snap, but I loved seeing it as a counter to his initial rush.
8. Another guy for which progress is happening is rookie DE Solomon Byrd. Last Saturday against the Giants, he had a strip sack in his first action at NRG Stadium. That play was seemingly the culmination of the work he's been doing up to that point. He's really grown as an edge rusher while in this training camp and it looks like he's that much more comfortable with his rushes. That was evident in his reps during one-on-ones too. He showed some power with a quality bull rush against OT Blake Fisher during their first rep against one another.
9. Later in practice, I saw Byrd on the other side of the field slow down a couple of wide runs as well. I love seeing rookies at this point of training camp that have stacked positive days after staying healthy.
10. In a partner stunt drill, DT Khalil Davis and Hunter deked a twist stunt and then gave individual pass rush moves to the right side of the line. Both won, proving they didn't need a stunt to get to the QB. Davis went with a rip under and then turned to the QB, while Hunter used some sort of swipe move and he got free too.
11. Really liked seeing Kenyon Green and Scruggs passing off an interior tackle stunt and locking them up nicely in their final rep together in this one-on-one drill. That was similar to how they worked together on pass protection against the Giants last Saturday too.
12. Okay, let's get to team drills…on the second play of the series, RB Joe Mixon had one of my favorite runs of the day. He made a cut back against the grain that was nasty. Well, it wasn't even a cut; it was more of a Top Gun Maverick "I'll hit the brakes and he'll fly right on by" sort of cut. He saw a defender to his left, pulled up, let the defender fly by and hit the gas again through a decent sized hole. I liked that a lot.
13. On the final play of the series, QB C.J. Stroud threw a quick slant to WR Tank Dell. The ball looked like it was tipped at the LOS by a DT. Then, it went through Tank's hands. Then, it went through Derek Stingley Jr's hands. Tip Drill times three, but the throw eventually fell harmlessly to the turf.
14. A few plays later, CB C.J. Henderson reached over the top of WR Steven Sims for a clean one handed knockaway PBU.
15. The DBs then got their first interception of the day as Stroud attempted to hit WR Stefon Diggs on a crossing route. C.J. overshot Diggs as it seemed he might have been trying to throw it away. But, rookie CB Kamari Lassiter fell off his coverage and made the interception.
16. A couple of plays later, Stroud showed his cool, not getting rattled when no one was open, holding the ball until the last possible second, before finding RB Dameon Pierce on the sideline. Pierce motored up the field until he was bounced out of bounds by S Jimmie Ward, who had a few "feel me" hits today in practice.
17. Okay, my first three asterisk play of the day was a connection between Stroud and Mixon. The Texans were working a third down situation and the defense had a look for C.J. to examine from the pocket. He got solid protection, but near the end of the play, there was a little leakage. So, C.J. started to move forward in the pocket, and as he did, Mixon flashed across the middle. Stroud threw low to keep the ball away from the defenders and Mixon slid right into that catch beautifully. That was really, REALLY nice…three-asterisk nice!
18. I mentioned Solomon Byrd above and a couple of plays after Mixon's catch, the rookie from USC shut down a wide run from Dameon Pierce. Then, he completely destroyed the tackle on his side with a "now you see me, now you don't" type rush. QB Davis Mills felt Byrd's presence in the area and was unable to throw accurately to Xavier Hutchinson as a result.
19. To start the third team period, DT Khalil Davis went for a ride and not in a bad way, I mean. He went backdoor on a run period and knifed into the backfield in a quick second. As he was sprinting to RB Joe Mixon, the Texans RB stopped and cut back as Davis was in full sprint mode. As a result, Davis tried to hold up as Mixon ducked and hopped on Mixon's back to end the play. Everyone was okay, so I can say I chuckled a bit seeing how that play developed, but what was no joke was Davis' penetration and quickness to get into the backfield the way that he did to stop that run for a loss.
20. The next play was probably Stroud's best throw - a laser shot over the middle to Stefon Diggs for a completion. Stroud ripped the cord on that throw for the completion.
21. Well, I say that about how great a throw that was but two plays later, Stroud threw to Dell on a post route and that was a DIME. Beautiful toss and catch. Stroud then hit Nico Collins on the final play of that drive.
22. Then, QB Davis Mills had one of his best throwing series all camp long…and he's had a brilliant camp in total too. On the second play of the series, Mills rolled right, not sure if boot or pressure, but as he ran to his right, he saw John Metchie III down the field, headed to the end zone, with a step on the defense. Mills fired DEEP and connected with Metchie III for the touchdown. That completion set off the crowd for sure.
23. After a number of run plays, Mills went DEEP AGAIN, but this time, he looked left and he looked for Xavier Hutchinson on the fans' side of the field. Mills aired that ball OUT deep down the field and dropped it right into the waiting arms of Hutchinson for a TD. DIME TIME! The crowd ERUPTED!
24. Then, the drill moved into the low red zone and Mills looked up Hutchinson again on the goal line fade route. MONEY, AGAIN! Those three throws from Mills were Grade A++, exquisitely executed for touchdowns.
25. When the team went to a last minute, end of game situation, Stroud hit three straight to Tank Dell and Dalton Schultz, before S Eric Murray snatched a last second throw at the end of the drill for an interception.
26. Mills, then, led his unit down the field in the same end of game situation. After a few completions, CB Kris Boyd came up with one of the most athletic pass breakups of the day, leaping HIGH into the air to knock down a pass intended for Hutchinson.
27. Then, a few plays later, with just two seconds on the clock, Mills DRILLED one to WR Quintez Cephus in the end zone to end the game, errrr, practice with that touchdown catch.
Okay, that's going to do it for these Harris Hits, but there's one more training camp version tomorrow as the Rams come to town for joint practice on Thursday. Can't WAIT!! See ya then, everyone.
