*The following is a random assortment of quotes, oddities, scattershots and interesting tidbits from Saturday's training camp practices.
-Cornerback Johnathan Joseph said he prepared for 2013 a little bit differently than in years past.
"I did a lot of yoga classes with my wife," Joseph said. "We took yoga together and I think it's paying off for me right now."
-Defensive end J.J. Watt was named a captain during the middle of the 2012 season. He often gave the team pregame speeches on the field. Outside linebacker Brooks Reed had an interesting perspective on Watt's motivational preparations.
"Yeah, he's good," Reed said. "I think it's a little pre-meditated. I think he practices in front of the mirror a little bit, but he's good at it and we all need that."
-Running back Arian Foster spoke at length about his role in the movie 'Draft Day', which is set for a 2014 release. You can listen to that conversation here.
-Foster said he played the title role in Shakespeare's "Macbeth" as a junior high thespian.
-Wide receivers Lestar Jean, Jeff Maehl and Alec Lemon caught tennis balls from a tennis ball machine following the afternoon practice. Each player stood about 20 yards away from the machine and hauled in the tennis balls to help improve their hands.
-Linebacker Brian Cushing wore American flag cleats.
-Safety Ed Reed is still unable to practice with his teammates, but he can be seen talking football on the sidelines with his teammates. On both sides of the ball. Reed and fellow starter Danieal Manning frequently go back-and-forth, and Reed has also worked with the younger members of the secondary like rookie . For the second straight morning, Reed joined running back Arian Foster, wide receiver Andre Johnson and tight end Owen Daniels at the JUGS machine while the team filed into the Houston Methodist Training Center for the second phase of practice.
-At the end of the afternoon practices, the Texans separate by unit for the walk-thru portion. The offense takes the south end of the field inside and the defense the north. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips often lines up under center as the quarterback, since there's no tackling or contact.
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