The Texans practiced for the final time until July 30, the start of training camp, on Wednesday at the Methodist Training Center.
It was the final practice of a three-day mini-camp designed primarily for rookies and young players. Before mini-camp, the entire team went through 14 practices during organized team activities from May 17-June 10.
"It's been a good offseason," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "I think once again, this team's going to have some young players that are going to help it, but as I always say, I think the key to our football team and organization is that the core players around here get better.
"I like the way we're handling more football right now, but what we've got to do as coaches is isolate on what we do good and get ready to open up against a great football team, the Colts (in Week 1 of the regular season). I'm excited about it. Everybody needs a break from each other right now, but it won't be long and we'll be after it."
Texans players now will have a number of voluntary workouts at Reliant Stadium between now and the start of camp.
"We had a good month and we need to move away from each other a little bit, but they've got to keep working," Kubiak said. "We come in here July 30th and we're going to try to accomplish a goal some of us have been working on around here the last four years."
Roster moves pending
General manager Rick Smith anticipated roster movement on the horizon as the team continues to sign draft picks and evaluates the seven players who tried out during mini-camp.
"There's a little bit even in the next 24-48 hours because we've got to release some players in order to sign those draft picks," Smith said. "We'll do a little bit of that, and you know I'm always working, so if we can ever improve, that process never stops for me."
The Texans signed four of their nine draft picks by the end of mini-camp thanks in large part to the efforts of Smith, vice president of football administration Chris Olsen and football administration analyst Kevin Krajcovic.
"Chris does an outstanding job for us, and he's worked very diligently in that regard with Kevin Krajcovic and so we've been able to come to terms with a couple of our guys," Smith said. "We still have five draft picks to sign, and we'll get that done over the course of the next few weeks and be ready to go to camp."
Olsen was promoted on Wednesday from his post as director of football administration. Director of football operations Lloyd Richards also was promoted to a vice president position, and Mike Maccagnan was named assistant director of college scouting. The Texans also announced the hiring of pro scout Larry Wright and college scout Mike Ackerley.
Physical campWith position battles looming at running back, interior offensive line and interior defensive line and new players on the roster who will be competing at those spots, Kubiak forecasted a physical training camp in 2010.
"The guys that we've had, you know who are physical players," he said. "The new faces, you don't know until you actually put the pads on, and it changes when you put all that gear on. We'll probably have to do it more this summer than we have in the past because we have so many key issues to find out. So we'll probably be in pads a little bit more than we have in the past."
That's what he said
"They've done a good job and worked hard. We're prepared; we could go to camp today. So we'll stay ahead, but just like everybody else, take a little break and come back and get ready."
- Texans coach Gary Kubiak, on what's next for his coaching staff between now and training camp
Follow Nick Scurfield on Twitter at ****twitter.com/NickScurfield*** or find him on the "I'm A Texan Club" at _***imatexan.com/profiles/NickScurf/***_.*
The Texans practiced for the final time until July 30, the start of training camp, on Wednesday at the Methodist Training Center.
It was the final practice of a three-day mini-camp designed primarily for rookies and young players. Before mini-camp, the entire team went through 14 practices during organized team activities from May 17-June 10.
"It's been a good offseason," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "I think once again, this team's going to have some young players that are going to help it, but as I always say, I think the key to our football team and organization is that the core players around here get better.
"I like the way we're handling more football right now, but what we've got to do as coaches is isolate on what we do good and get ready to open up against a great football team, the Colts (in Week 1 of the regular season). I'm excited about it. Everybody needs a break from each other right now, but it won't be long and we'll be after it."
Texans players now will have a number of voluntary workouts at Reliant Stadium between now and the start of camp.
"We had a good month and we need to move away from each other a little bit, but they've got to keep working," Kubiak said. "We come in here July 30th and we're going to try to accomplish a goal some of us have been working on around here the last four years."
Roster moves pending
General manager Rick Smith anticipated roster movement on the horizon as the team continues to sign draft picks and evaluates the seven players who tried out during mini-camp.
"There's a little bit even in the next 24-48 hours because we've got to release some players in order to sign those draft picks," Smith said. "We'll do a little bit of that, and you know I'm always working, so if we can ever improve, that process never stops for me."
The Texans signed four of their nine draft picks by the end of mini-camp thanks in large part to the efforts of Smith, vice president of football administration Chris Olsen and football administration analyst Kevin Krajcovic.
"Chris does an outstanding job for us, and he's worked very diligently in that regard with Kevin Krajcovic and so we've been able to come to terms with a couple of our guys," Smith said. "We still have five draft picks to sign, and we'll get that done over the course of the next few weeks and be ready to go to camp."
Olsen was promoted on Wednesday from his post as director of football administration. Director of football operations Lloyd Richards also was promoted to a vice president position, and Mike Maccagnan was named assistant director of college scouting. The Texans also announced the hiring of pro scout Larry Wright and college scout Mike Ackerley.
Physical campWith position battles looming at running back, interior offensive line and interior defensive line and new players on the roster who will be competing at those spots, Kubiak forecasted a physical training camp in 2010.
"The guys that we've had, you know who are physical players," he said. "The new faces, you don't know until you actually put the pads on, and it changes when you put all that gear on. We'll probably have to do it more this summer than we have in the past because we have so many key issues to find out. So we'll probably be in pads a little bit more than we have in the past."
That's what he said
"They've done a good job and worked hard. We're prepared; we could go to camp today. So we'll stay ahead, but just like everybody else, take a little break and come back and get ready."
- Texans coach Gary Kubiak, on what's next for his coaching staff between now and training camp
Follow Nick Scurfield on Twitter at ****twitter.com/NickScurfield*** or find him on the "I'm A Texan Club" at _***imatexan.com/profiles/NickScurf/***_.*
