Each and every week the Texans play a football game of some sort, I think about the things I'd LIKE to see in a game. When I drove to NRG for the game against the Giants, I had a few things I WANTED to see, a few things I HOPED to see and a few things that I WISHED to see. I'm confident that the Texans managed to do/hit/accomplish every single one of those things in the Texans 28-10 win over the New York Football Giants.
1. Football goals in a game - takeaways, protect the QB and the ball, stop the run, be great on third down and run the ball well. The Texans had five takeaways and dropped a sixth. They didn't give up a sack and didn't turn the ball over. They held New York to just 74 yards rushing. They ran for 114 yards. They had a 54% conversion rate on third down, but, BUT they did yield 50% conversion rate on third down. Well, six out of seven ain't so bad.
2. Man, the defense was suffocating, especially, the first unit. Put it this way, the Giants leading receivers in the first quarter went as followed:
Giants WR Malik Nabers one reception for 14 yards
Texans DB Jalen Pitre one interception for five yards and a TD
Giants TE Theo Johnson one reception for four yards
Giants RB Devin 'Motor' Singletary one yard
Texans CB Derek Stingley one interception for no yards
3. Giants three receptions to the Texans two interceptions. More "receptions" for Texans defensive backs than for Giants receivers. It was a no good, oh so bad day for Giants QB Daniel Jones and an excellent one for the Texans number one defense, in particular.
4. It should've been three interceptions, but Sting wasn't able to hold on to the first pass/first play of the game. Sting's mirroring of rookie WR Malik Nabers was just awesome. Nabers tried to give his fellow LSU football alum a hesitation move and some shake before running a hitch route. Sting tracked Nabers every single step and stepped right into the passing lane…but couldn't hang on to it. Not sure if Nabers would've prevented the pick six, but Sting's momentum was definitely headed toward the south end zone for six. He just needed to, well, you know, catch it.
5. He did catch the next one, though. The Giants put together a drive based on a Daniel Jones scramble, a nifty Singletary run and a brilliant Malik Nabers reception. But, when Jones challenged Stingley Jr down the field with speedy WR Jalen Hyatt, Stingley SNATCHED the pass out of the air for his first interception of the preseason. It further proved two points. The first one is one that I've championed for a while - Sting has the best hands on this team. The second? Best not to challenge Sting for a while, if ever again.
6. The Texans first interception ended up as a pick six and the easiest one that Jalen Pitre will probably ever have. But, the catch and short run for the touchdown weren't the real story for Pitre on this play. It was his burst to TE Theo Johnson that made Jones re-cock his arm in the first place. He seemed to come out of nowhere but he showed out in the flat when Jones reached back to throw and that forced Jones to pull down the ball and, foolishly, not throw the ball into the turf. The Giants' misfortune and Pitre's coverage led to a 7-0 Texans lead.
7. As I said earlier, I was hoping that the Giants' version of a Big 3 - NT Dexter Lawrence, OLB Brian Burns and OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux - was going to play. Facing that front was imperative for this OL to show how far it's progressed…or hadn't. The OL didn't provide gaping running holes and that aspect of the game still needs work. It did, however, protect QB C.J. Stroud in his only quarter of play. Backed up and coming out, no sacks. Down the field on the first drive, no sacks. The Giants had one TFL for no yards lost (figure that one out).
8. Regardless, I was pleased with the OL, in particular rookie Blake Fisher who faced the Giants mega-millions free agent acquisition OLB Brian Burns throughout the first half. Fisher has faced Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr throughout camp, but Burns is a twisty, plastic man whose contortions and bend make him difficult to block out on the edge. Fisher wasn't perfect, but solid and kept Burns from living in the backfield.
9. Stroud was dialed in, looking so calm and poised in the pocket. He hit the Big Three (aka Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell and Nico Collins) with beautiful passes, even though Tank Dell's 30-yard reception was called back for a holding. Sure, that unit didn't score even after getting into the low red zone, but in a game, that would've been a three point drive, at a minimum. Regardless, #7 was locked in and put on a masterclass for Giants fans to watch how the QB position should be played vs. what they saw of their own guys.
10. Early in the second quarter, WR John Metchie III made an over the shoulder catch on the Texans sideline. Unfortunately, he was out of bounds by inches. I said on the broadcast that even though the reception didn't count, I was happy that he made a difficult catch like that because it could really amp up his confidence. I was right, seemingly, as he turned in his best performance in a practice or a game in this training camp. He really DID build off of that catch that didn't count. Every time he made a catch, I was pumping my fist in the broadcast booth and so excited for him. He finished with six catches for 68 yards and a tuddy, leading the Texans in all receiving categories. Now, comes the biggest week of all for this gaggle of receivers, including Metchie III, aiming to make this roster alongside Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell and Nico Collins.
11. Approximately two weeks into training camp, I realized that as tough as the roster cut was going to be at receiver, it would be equally difficult at running back. But, the trip to Ohio quelled that talk and its momentum a bit. So, I was curious how the running backs would respond against the Giants. Let's just say, the running back discussion just climbed a number of notches and, now, I don't know even know what to think about which three or four RBs the Texans will keep on the 53-man roster. J.J. Taylor, Cam Akers and British Brooks all had 14+ yard runs, including one of Brooks' TD runs. Jawhar Jordan was the second leading receiver in the game with four catches for 42 yards, but it was his tackle breaking ability and make-you-miss ability that showed why he was a star at Louisville. The backs all made a statement in the second half, for certain.
12. Brooks might have been a revelation for fans that haven't religiously read Harris Hits, but those of you that have read them know that British has been really good in training camp as a rookie. But, seeing him flash the way that he did in this game was really impressive. He showed power on his first TD run and then showed the speed to get the corner on his second TD run. After not getting much run, or many runs, in the first two preseason games, Brooks made the most of his time with the rock on Saturday afternoon.
So, that's a great place to end these Hits before we dial up a BIG week for this Texans squad. One joint practice with the Rams. One preseason game with the same LA team. 48 hours later, the 53-man roster will come into shape. Three weeks from today and it's time to tee it up with the Colts for real. Wow, it's gone fast and will be here even faster. See ya next week, everyone!
