Training camp is just over a week away.
The players have been working out on their own, resting and mentally preparing for the grind of August, and the eventual 17-week campaign of the NFL regular season.
We've been getting ready as well, and Texans Insider John Harris went to the whiteboard for some X's and O's discussion.
He started out by detailing the basic concept of the 3-4 defense, which the Texans have employed for all but five years in the franchise's history. From 2006-2010 they ran a 4-3, but since Wade Phillips arrived in 2011, and was succeeded this offseason by Romeo Crennel, they've been in a 3-4. Those two coaches have different variations of a 3-4, and Harris described the difference in a quirky way.
"It's kind of like having a Ford Mustang, and having a Ford Escape," Harris said. "They're all Fords, but they're going to look completely different."
Harris then flipped over to the offensive side of the ball to describe the different names for offensive skill position players. Years ago, wide receivers were called split ends and flankers. Tight ends and tailbacks and fullbacks, were simply tight ends, tailbacks and fullbacks.
But now there are X, Y and Z pass-catchers, and H-Backs and F-Backs. Harris, a former high school coach himself, described each position and why they're named what they are.
We'll have some more of these videos over the next week. The next one will be all about the "techniques". Meaning, where a defensive lineman actually lines up in relation to an offensive lineman.
