Preseason games and the grind of training camp are finished.
The horizon of the 2015 regular season is in sight.
The Texans host the Chiefs in Week 1 at NRG Stadium, and everything's different, routine-wise.
"Now everything is detailed to that opponent," head coach Bill O'Brien said on Monday. "It's a game plan
offense, game plan defense, game plan special teams, so everything we're doing is game plan for Kansas City."
Game planning for the KC offense can be tricky, as the Chiefs come to town with an attack that flows through running back Jamaal Charles and his 5.5 career yards per carry. One of the game's elite ball-carriers, the Texans are mindful of the havoc the former Texas Longhorn can wreak.
"He's a big problem," cornerback Kareem Jackson said. "He can make you miss and he definitely has the speed to take it the distance. For us we definitely have to tackle well as a group. We have to fly to the ball. Once we get there, we have to make him pay."
The Houston Texans practice squad is featured, in pictures. (Updated 9/4/2016)
Last season, Charles was good for 14 touchdowns running and catching the ball, and averaged five yards a pop on the ground.
In front of Charles, however, there's been a change at the tackle positions. Eric Fisher slid from left to right tackle, and Donald Stephenson is now manning the blind side. O'Brien discussed how the Texans can prepare for the switch.
"You're going to have to go back and try to watch some games, watch some times when they've done that," O'Brien said. "It'll be hard to find because it hasn't happened a whole lot, but you're going to have to go back and try to find that."
Regardless, the head coach was very complimentary of the Chiefs' offense, describing it as "very potent".
The players have Tuesday off and will practice Wednesday at the Houston Methodist Training Center. Kickoff on Sunday is at noon CT.
The Houston Texans roster in photos. (Updated 4/16/2021)
TE, Jordan Akins, #88
TE, Antony Auclair
DL, Auzoyah Alufohai, #98
DB, Cornell Armstrong, #30
DL, Ross Blacklock, #90
OL, Justin Britt
DB, Terrence Brooks
TE, Pharaoh Brown, #85
OL, Cohl Cabral, #72
OL, Marcus Cannon
WR, Randall Cobb, #18
DL, Maliek Collins
WR, Chris Conley
WR, Brandin Cooks, #13
WR, Isaiah Coulter, #82
WR, Keke Coutee, #16
DB, Keion Crossen, #35
LB, Zach Cunningham, #41
LB, Tae Davis
DL, Brandon Dunn, #92
LB, Duke Ejiofor, #53
WR, Alex Erickson
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, #7
QB, Ryan Finley
OL, Hjalte Froholdt, #77
LB, Jonathan Greenard, #52
LB, Kamu Grugier-Hill
LB, Nate Hall, #48
DB, Vernon Hargreaves III, #26
OL, Charlie Heck, #67
RB, Dontrell Hilliard, #27
OL, Tytus Howard, #71
RB, Buddy Howell, #38
RB, Mark Ingram
TE, Ryan Izzo
LB, Jordan Jenkins
RB, David Johnson, #31
DL, Jaleel Johnson
DB, Lonnie Johnson Jr., #32
P, Cameron Johnston
DB, Desmond King
LB, Christian Kirksey
DL, Shaq Lawson
RB, Phillip Lindsay
LB, Jacob Martin, #54
OL, Justin McCray
LB, Whitney Mercilus, #59
DB, Terrance Mitchell
WR, Donte Moncrief
DB, A.J. Moore Jr., #33
WR, Chris Moore
DB, Eric Murray, #23
LB, Hardy Nickerson
DL, Charles Omenihu, #94
DB, Jonathan Owens, #36
LB, Kevin Pierre-Louis
RB, Scottie Phillips, #40
TE, Paul Quessenberry
DB, John Reid, #34
DB, Justin Reid, #20
DL, Derek Rivers
WR, Andre Roberts
DB, Bradley Roby, #21
OL, Max Scharping, #74
DB, Tremon Smith
OL, Jordan Steckler
OL, Lane Taylor
QB, Tyrod Taylor
DL, Vincent Taylor
LB, Joe Thomas
DB, Tavierre Thomas
OL, Cole Toner
OL, Laremy Tunsil, #78
DL, MeMarcus Walker
TE, Kahale Warring, #81
QB, Deshaun Watson, #4
LS, Jon Weeks #46
