The story of this Houston Texans team is a long way from being told. There are still key pieces missing and we're only six practices in, but this will be a day that the offense could look back upon at some point as one that seemed to start setting the tone in 2025.
It was the best offensive day for this group in this training camp without question and one of the better days for this unit in a while. Let's dive into my HARRIS HITS from day six of 2025 training camp.
More asterisks = more DUDE
Typically during practice, I will put an asterisk in my notebook to remind myself of a highlight play that happened in practice. Sometimes, I use my own little asterisk system as to the level of the play. The more asterisks, the more of a DUDE play it was. My notebook has been littered with asterisks next to defensive plays the past few days. But, on Monday, the offense started stealing away some of those plays. Tuesday? The offense had at least six or seven multiple asterisk plays throughout the entire practice. As I watched, I kept muttering under my breath "WOW" a handful of times for offensive things that happened during practice.
Catches. Throws. The word brilliant came up a few times. Now, it wasn't a Picasso, but it was damn close with the offense really going up a level on Tuesday.
It didn't start that way, though, in 7-on-7 drills as S Calen Bullock came up with another interception. The second-year safety from USC beat rookie WR Jayden Higgins to the spot and won the fight for the ball. That's two interceptions in two days, not to mention a couple of key PBUs as well. Monday, he was absolutely top notch breaking on throws in front of him for INT/PBUs and he started Tuesday with another one.
Breaking the seal
On the last play of the series above, QB C.J.Stroud drilled one into WR Christian Kirk and that seemed to break the seal for the offense, in a sense.
QB Davis Mills drove a ball in to WR Justin Watson for a completion, which was followed by a completion to WR Xavier Johnson out in the flat.
Mighty Myles
The asterisks weren't solely for the defense as Bullock showed on play number one. DB Myles Bryant has done nothing but make plays since training camp started. Mills attempted to hit the quick out to WR John Metchie in the right flat, but Bryant diagnosed it and nearly dove in front to knock the ball away. One more step and Bryant is walking into the end zone with a pick six. Myles has been awesome since camp started.
QB Kedon Slovis may have missed an open WR Braxton Berrios on the corner route, but he put one between the eights on Johnny Johnson's jersey for his first completion of the day. Then, on a well-designed play, Slovis found a WIDE ACRE OPEN RB Jawhar Jordan out in the flat for a completion.
Special Teams is Competing
I love watching the Texans work their special teams units. After the first team drill, they engaged in one of the most difficult drills there is. A blocker attempts to stay in front of a defender as the defender chases the bag/target 25 yards downfield. Staying in front the entire way to keep the defender from the bag is ULTRA-difficult, yet there were a handful of guys who mastered a few reps.
Rookie RB Woody Marks had a GREAT rep to start the drill, while LB E.J. Speed won nearly every single rep, on either side of the ledger. What I love is how competitive that special teams drill became for each and every duo. Players seemingly thought to be starters were getting after it on both sides of that drill, too.
When the team periods kicked in, the offense called on RB Nick Chubb on the first play. He made a swift cut out the backside for a solid gain. Chubb looked spry and quick to make the cut as decisively and explosively as he did.
C.J. to Kirk 🤩
Then, it was time for a TWO ASTERISK PLAY on third down. Now, to set this up a little bit, a quick little story; there are games and moments that stay in my mind and one that resonates is 2023 at home vs. Jacksonville. In that game, we had no answer for Christian Kirk. None. I bring that up because the Texans offense ran a similar concept to the one that Jacksonville utilized in that game and C.J. threw maybe his best ball of camp over a defender to Kirk IN STRIDE for a big completion. That was the exact play that I envisioned when the Texans traded for Kirk. Brilliant.
Two reps later, the defense brought a little pressure on QB Davis Mills but the OL and RB picked it up to give Mills enough time to drill one to TE Brevin Jordan for a 2nd down completion.
Masterful Metchie
So, then it was third down. Now, brace for a lot of capital letters indicating excitement because what happened was as good as anything I've seen in six days. Mills dropped to throw and I thanked my lucky stars that he threw directly in my direction. I was standing right in line where he was throwing the football. When he let it go, I wondered what receiver was even close enough to make an attempt at catching the football. Then, I looked up and saw WR John Metchie with a step on the defender. But, Mills had thrown the ball to an open area and had to hope that Metchie would turn in time to track the ball to make the catch. The Texans receiver turned perfectly and slid into the catch for a big first down. THAT WAS BRILLIANT! The THROW! The CATCH! Timing. Throwing his WR open. WR tracking the ball, getting to the spot to make a big play. I LOVED this play so much that I didn't have enough asterisks to describe it.
It was great to see rookie Kyonte Hamilton blow up a run that got his position coaches jacked up. He destroyed a blocker on the play and went to track down the runner to help on the tackle.
Then, the offense got back to cookin'. Rookie QB Graham Mertz took his drop and saw WR Justin Watson work his way into a hole in the Texans zone defense. Mertz threw the perfect two ball (one = laser, three = lofted parabola, two = right in between) to Watson who went up and snagged it for the completion before taking a shot in the back.
Stroud came back in and threw quick to Nico Collins to start the drive, just before RB Nick Chubb picked up a few yards on the ground.
Cyclone Time
The best catch of the day went to a Cyclone, which covers me, because on this day, it could either have been Xavier Hutchinson or Higgins. I DO KNOW that it was certainly one of those two. Mills came back into the drill on a 3rd and six. He had Hutchinson in man coverage to our sideline so Hutch ran a speed out towards us. Mills put the ball a little wider than perhaps expected. He did need to get it away from the DB, but when he threw it, I thought he had gone a bit too far. NOPE. Hutchinson stuck out his big right paw and snagged the pass one handed for first down yardage.
The last team period was one with the Texans offense backed up to its own goal line. The goal was to get a first down from their own two yard line. On the first series, the Texans ran Chubb on inside runs for the first two plays before Stroud drilled one to Brevin Jordan for a first down. I wrote down "GOOD OFFENSIVE SERIES". Good start, anyway.
LB Jake Hansen is well known for his special teams contributions, but he's one heck of a playmaking linebacker as well. On first and ten from the two, he slammed the door shut on a run that initially looked like it had possibilities. He was so quick to the hole and then physical and strong enough to shut it down.
Catch of the Day?
The very next play? The Catch of the Day (or the runner-up, it's close). Higgins was lined up on the left side of the formation, the sideline where I was standing. On the snap, Mills immediately locked into Higgins who faced man coverage with a defender down on his hip, down our sideline. Mills lofted one HIGH in the air in that direction. Now, I've seen HIggins do this a million times in college and at the Senior Bowl, but against grown man professionals? That's a different story, but that's exactly what he did! He leapt in the air and "Moss'd" the defender as they both fell out of bounds, Higgins cradling the ball in his arms. I got shielded by a few bodies in front of me but I looked to the field to see the players' reaction. RB Jawhar Jordan signaled first down but he wasn't totally sure until he got closer and then his reaction was like ours "HE CAUGHT THAT?!?" He did and he'll do it again for all to see later this camp and this season.
Runnin' Hard
I really like the way that young RBs Jawhar Jordan and Woody Marks are running the ball. More specifically, I LOVE how hard they're running the ball. J.J. Taylor too. Those guys aren't backing off, trying to bounce runs outside when there's an inside gap available. Marks may have only picked up three yards on a run late in practice, but the way that he took an interior run and SLAMMED into the defense to pick up those three yards was impressive.
Stroud dart
Then, it was time for the ones v. ones again to finish the drill. On first and ten, C.J. threw a ball that I'm not really sure how he was able to make a completion. He had TE Dalton Schultz on a seam route that he bent inside away from CB Derek Stingley Jr. Schultz's subtle movement gave Stroud just enough space, perhaps the size of a big purse, where the third year QB could place the football. Then, HE DID. How he fit that ball into that tiny space was, just, I don't know how to describe. That's HIM. That dude that threw that ball is special, man.
Stroud hit Nico on a speed out to our sideline on the next play, but the defense came up with a stop on the final play of the drill. Either way, I thought it was Stroud's best day in camp by far.
Jaylin Smith stands out
The rookies made a number of asterisk plays throughout the day and the last one was from former USC star CB Jaylin Smith. He broke up a speed out to Watson and was inches away from taking that one to the house. He's going to be a player for this defense and on into the future. Mark my words.
So, that'll do it for day six. What an offensive day! Not perfect, but a damn lot of progress. Iron is certainly sharpening iron the past few days in pads. Pass protection has been much improved. Blitzes are getting picked up. Confidence is growing. LB Henry To'o To'o said that the one thing that stood out to him about this defense was how confident it is and it looked like the offense found some of its confidence on Tuesday. Back for more tomorrow, folks. See ya on Wednesday!!
