Showdown Every Play
Many Texans' players/coaches/staff etc…noted that Monday's practice was a little chippy between the two units. I'm here to tell you that if Monday was chippy then Tuesday was damn near explosively feisty. The first full-on offense-defense brouhaha took place and, well, it might be time to hit someone in a different colored jersey. Not yet! But soon. Here are my HARRIS HITS from day 11 aka day two at The Greenbrier.
Surprise One-on-Ones Break Out
Marc and I got a little surprise early in practice, but near the end of our show - one-on-ones all over the field! It was great, yet really frustrating because we were still on the air and there were three different battles going on at the same time. OL/DL was right in front of us, but some of the action on the DB/WR field was awesome to watch.
In the Trenches: OL vs. DL Battles
Let's start with the OL/DL and the first ones up were OT Tytus Howard and DE Will Anderson Jr. Howard has been at guard the entire camp, until we got to West Virginia where he started playing more right tackle. So, he hasn't seen Anderson Jr. much in practice, but he held up to Will's power on the first rep about as well as anyone has in camp.
Anderson's pal DT Sheldon Rankins had a strong day, in my opinion. He consistently got on edges in one-on-one pass rush drills, easily getting to the QB and he was in the backfield a ton in team periods. When the OL/DL went two on two, he slipped an arm over to get clean into the backfield against the guard. That was one of the best rushes of the day.
DE Danielle Hunter turned up the heat as well. On his first rush against rookie OT Aireontae Ersery, Hunter blazed a trail up the field, ripping under the stout rookie, taking a bee line to the QB. That was explosively impressive from the Texans star.
OG Jaylon Thomas had to REALLY anchor in to slow down DT Mario Edwards Jr on one of their battles, but the former SMU Mustang was able to get his cleats in the ground and keep Mario from the QB. That was some serious anchor and power from Thomas on that rep.
DE Casey Toohill is one heck of a rusher and he showed that with a slick crossover inside move to get clean inside a tackle on his first pass rush rep.
Every single day, I keep thinking that DT Tommy Togiai can't be any better, but he was stellar again on Tuesday. On his first one-on-one rep, he used a shock/yank about as well as it can be done. He powered into the guard and then when he felt the guard about to anchor, he yanked him forward and got clean to the QB.
Wideout Wins: WR vs. DB Highlights
I saw some of the WR/DB one-on-ones as well. One of the first I saw was WR Xavier Hutchinson and DB D'Angelo Ross. The Texans DB was all over Hutchinson, but X was able to wrestle the ball away for a reception. That was one heck of a competitive rep.
I've mentioned rookie WR Daniel Jackson a bit more the past few days and for good reason. All he's done is catch seemingly everything thrown his way. He was able to shake free from rookie CB Jaylin Smith for a nice catch on the sideline in their one-on-one rep.
WR Christian Kirk put his route on shimmy shake to the power of ten as he slid out to the sideline wide open for a catch. I mean, what? That was so impressive.
Each and every day I see WR John Metchie make an outstanding play that gets my attention. He was able to get separation from All-Pro CB Derek Stingley Jr. for a catch on the sideline. That was another competitive rep and a wonderful play by Metchie for certain.
Rookie WR Jaylin Noel's reps go so fast and so quick, as he's blur when he's running routes or running after the catch. He fought for space against DB Myles Bryant and reeled in the catch in their one-on-one battle.
Jayden Higgins Steals the Show
But, the star of the day was fellow Cyclone WR rookie Jayden Higgins. Young buck put on a display throughout practice. On his first route of one-on-one, CB Damon Arnette was all over the rookie receiver, and by all over, I mean, draped like a blanket. But Higgins still maintained his concentration to make the catch, much to the chagrin of his defensive mate.
RB Reps & Comic Relief
Training camp needs a little humor throughout the day too, and one of the funniest things I saw happened in a simple pass protection drill for the RBs. Nick Chubb was up in line and he alternated blocking hand shields held by his fellow RBs. When rookie RB Woody Marks stepped up, Chubb popped him and knocked him right on his wallet. Chubb meant no malice, that's how he did every single rep in that period. But, when the RBs saw Marks hit the turf, they howled. RB Dare Ogunbowale turned to the nearest camera and was like "Y'ALL GOT THAT?!?" Moment of comical relief when it was absolutely needed.
Team Period Action: Explosive Plays on Both Sides
As they moved into a team period, LB Henry To'oTo'o made one heck of a play, destroying a block and making a tackle on an inside run. On the next play, RB Jawhar Jordan found a hole and burst through, and past LB Jake Hansen, who had been the run game's biggest nemesis through the first ten days of camp. That was a man's run by Jordan.
When RB Nick Chubb got his first carry during the team period, he bounced a run to the outside and hit the gas up the far sideline. For a guy that many wonder whether he still has the juice, yeah, he's good.
Kamari Lassiter's Breakout Moment
Another 5-star STUD on Tuesday was CB Kamari Lassiter. On the very next play after Chubb's run, QB C.J. Stroud lofted a deep ball to WR Nico Collins, but he overthrew him. Unfortunately for the offense, Lassiter was in perfect position and made a Willie Mays over the shoulder catch for the interception. K3 made that look like it was way easier than it actually is.
But, BUT his even more impressive play came a while later in a team period, one in which the offense worked on getting out from under the shadow of their own end zone. Stroud threw quickly to WR Xavier Hutchinson on the hitch route, but out of nowhere, Lassiter jumped in to swat the ball away, But, as he swatted at it, he knocked it up into the air slightly and ripped it down for one of the best interceptions I've seen in this camp.
In the team situational period near the end of the practice, Lassiter got up on his ladder and knocked away a deep shot to WR Nico Collins. Those three Lassiter plays were as good as it got throughout the day.
More Higgins, Noel, Hutchinson… On Cue
But, back to Higgins, man was he good. While the team was in the early part of the team period, I was doing an interview with Vikings play by play superstar Paul Allen. He had been reading Harris Hits in preparation for our preseason game on Saturday. He asked me about the former Iowa State stars and I'm telling you in succession on the three previous pass plays, Jaylin Noel made a slick catch on the far sideline. Then, Higgins made a sick diving catch on the far sideline and that was followed up by Xavier Hutchinson making a tough catch on our sideline amongst a ton of traffic. Great timing, fellas and thank you (Hi Paul!).
A couple of periods later, Higgins was lined up out wide with QB Davis Mills under center. Mills took a few steps away from center and LAUNCHED DEEP to Higgins. The rookie ran under it and corralled the catch…then after some earlier periods of feistiness between the two units, dropped the ball and signaled first down. Higgins is the nicest young man you'd ever want to meet, but he channeled some of that Offensive/Defensive angst that manifested itself on the field.
Then, a few plays later, Mills went right back to Higgins on the fade route and the rookie made another fantastic catch. It reminded me of the last couple days of minicamp where he seemed to make every play imaginable. He did that again on Tuesday.
Chippy, Chippy Chippy!
Okay, so the chippiness started a bit earlier when QB C.J. Stroud found TE Cade Stover holed up in an open spot in the zone and made a strong catch. Stover fought off a defender and then turned up the field. As he did, S C.J. Gardner-Johnson came over to end the play. Stover was FIRED UP and went back in Gardner-Johnson's face. In doing so, there were about 35 defenders ready to throw hands. Now, Stover is one of the toughest SOB's on this team and he was ready to TAKE ON EVERYONE, but that minor skirmish set the tone for what happened later.
Mills took a snap and threw to TE Dalton Schultz on the option route. Schultz slid outside and caught the ball but as he did, he was seemingly off-balance and heading to the ground. S Russ Yeast was in a full sprint and, well, Dalton wasn't thrilled. Yeast didn't back off. Then, there was a football flying, some words exchanged and… you probably know the rest..
Like I said, it's time to hit someone else.
Final Fireworks: Finishing with Playmakers
Earlier in team drills, It was great to see QB C.J. Stroud shred a defensive blitz on a completion to Brevin Jordan. RB Dare Ogunbowale stepping up to take on a LB in pass protection made my heart grow 10x larger, like the Grinch.
LB E.J. Speed just seems to be getting more and more comfortable in this defense. He popped TE Cade Stover to knock the ball loose for a PBU in the situational period late in practice.
Wrapping It Up
So, yeah, let's cut it there. Some fireworks at this practice on Tuesday and some youngsters starting to emerge. Time for more of that (but less fisticuffs) on Wednesday. See ya then, everyone!!
