Since he signed with the Texans in early March, Brock Osweiler's been around Houston a bit. In meeting fans out and about, he can tell how "excited" they are for 2016.
"Just being around town and mingling with some fans and people like that, it's been fantastic," the Texans quarterback said on Monday. "You can really feel the vibe out there, but bottom line there's a lot of work to do before the season starts."
Osweiler and the Texans wrapped up their first week of OTAs, and got a lot of work done in the process. It was his first chance to put on a helmet and direct the offense against a defense. While he might not be Emeril Lagasse just yet, he likened the first week of work with the playbook to being a cook.
"Absolutely, it's like making the perfect recipe if you will," Osweiler said. "You've got to add this ingredient, this ingredient and this ingredient, a formation, a protection, a route concept and then a cadence at the line of scrimmage and reading the defense."
He acknowledged that the work in OTAs is a "great test" of his and the rest of the offense's playbook knowledge. Pro Bowl receiver DeAndre Hopkins said Osweiler passed that first test.
"He operates like a pros' pro," Hopkins said. "He comes out and he demands the best out of everybody, offensive line, fullbacks, even the guys that aren't even in the huddle. He's a natural leader."
Head coach Bill O'Brien said Osweiler got off to a "good start" like the rest of the squad. For the 5th-year pro, getting on the field and experiencing a setback or two in May actually helps him become a better quarterback.
"Like all my previous other OTAs, day one there's some good plays and then there's some learning plays, some plays you wish you had back," Osweiler said. "Bottom line, that's why we're out here practicing right now and as long as you learn from those bad plays that's part of the process."
The process rolls on next Tuesday at the Houston Methodist Training Center, when Osweiler and the Texans begin their second week of OTAs.
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See photos from Monday's Texans OTA workout.
