“This is what I've always wanted to do, being out there on the football field with my teammates, and competing. I try not to take it for granted at all.” D’Onta Foreman
The Texans got to work in full pads at the Houston Methodist Training Center while inside NRG Stadium, the Rolling Stones prepared for their concert Saturday night.
Conversations with rookies about these early padded practices usually revolves around getting the fundamentals right, according to head coach Bill O'Brien.
"A lot of guys when we went into that first three-on-three drill, the pads were high, the defensive lineman were underneath us," O'Brien said Saturday. "The pads were high, especially on the younger players, they just don't understand that it's not an east/west game anymore, it's a north/south downhill game, especially in the running game. And so I think fundamentally, footwork, hand placement, and then really just getting used to having the pads on."
First-round draft pick Titus Howard continues to impress in camp, taking snaps at both left guard and left tackle. Not only is he talking to veteran offensive lineman about improving his game, he says he is learning as much as he can from the talented pass rushers on the team too.
The running backs rotated and each had multiple opportunities to carry the ball on Saturday. Josh Ferguson, Karan Higdon Jr., Taiwan Jones, Buddy Howell and Demarea Crockett were all on the field vying for that third running back roster spot behind Lamar Miller and D'Onta Foreman.
Foreman says his body feels a lot better coming off the 2017 Achilles injury. The third-year running back spent his offseason focusing on everything from conditioning to strength training, getting treatments and making sure his body was in alignment heading into training camp.
Former Cleveland Browns wide receiver and return specialist Josh Cribbs is now an intern on the Texans coaching staff. The two-time All-Pro played for special teams coordinator Brad Seely in Cleveland (2009-10), who recommended him.
"He was here in the spring and came back in training camp," O'Brien said. "Really good guy, obviously a great player relative to a lot of different things that he did in his career. He really gives some good teaching points to those guys and I'm glad we're able to use him and have him here during training camp."
Whitney Mercilus discussed the best and worst parts of training camp.
Benardrick McKinney says did a lot of running in the offseason to keep his weight down. He also discussed his debut in a video gaming tournament on ESPN.
Aaron Colvin has been a full-go in training camp after struggling last year with "a pretty significant," according to O'Brien, high-ankle injury. Colvin, now in his second season with the Texans, said his main goal is to help everyone around him.
"Serve any way that I can," Colvin said.
Just like the Stones' hit, "Can't Get No Satisfaction," playing through the speakers during team drills, the Texans hope to get better when they hit the practice fields again on Sunday.
