David Culley was happy to have a whistle back around his neck and players to coach.
For the first time as the Texans head coach, he and his staff of assistants were able to work with players on the field, as the 2021 rookie minicamp wrapped up on Saturday at the Houston Methodist Training Center. Culley and company got their first look at the five players the club drafted two weeks ago, along with the undrafted rookies and an array of other young veterans and tryout players.
He was excited to be in action, and for the first time since the NFL Draft, Culley spoke with the media. A veteran of 27 seasons as an NFL assistant coach, his 28th year comes as a head coach. He explained why general manager Nick Caserio and the Texans chose each of their five Draft picks.
3rd round (67th overall) QB Davis Mills, Stanford: "I thought Nick's staff did a great job of all of a sudden earmarking a guy that fit what a quarterback in the NFL is all about. Obviously he didn't play as much football as some of the other guys because of the COVID situation in the Pac-12, but we really love what he's all about. We love all of the intangibles he has. He's a protype NFL quarterback and we feel good to have him. He's smart. He can make all the throws and we feel good and feel fortunate that we're able to get him when we got him."
3rd round (89th overall) WR Nico Collins, Michigan: "I've got a couple of coaches on my staff that have some background with him. Pep (Hamilton) had him in Michigan. (Ben McDaniels) had him, who actually coached him, assistant receivers coach Ben (McDaniels). We had an idea that we liked his size. He is the protype wide receiver, big strong, 50/50 catch type guy in this league and we feel like he'll bring that to us. We're looking forward to that. Very tough kid, very tough kid."
5th round (147th overall) TE Brevin Jordan, Miami (FL): "Oh my goodness. Let me tell you something. We feel like we got a steal with him where we got him. We felt like that guy would probably be gone before the fifth round, but once we got to that point and he was there, it was a no brainer with the ability that he has as far as being a protype tight end in this business."
5th round (170th overall) LB Garret Wallow, TCU: "Our people love what he's all about. I'm talking about he's a football player. He is a flat-out football playing 'Jessie,' I like to say. Old term from the south, you've heard that term before. We love that about him."
6th round (195th overall) DL Roy Lopez, Arizona: "He's down in the trenches. He's excellent there. We felt good when we got to that point of being able to get him and once we got to that point, it was good. Lovie (Smith), loved where he was."
