Practice hasn't started yet, but Marcus Cannon was ready to begin work weeks ago.
The offensive lineman joined the team via trade this offseason, and he was raring to go after he met new head coach David Culley.
"He got me excited just talking to him and his energy and just what he brings to the organization," Cannon said. "He made me want to practice that day, but we have to wait a little bit. I'm excited to play for him. I'm excited to see what he's all about and he's great. He's great."
Cannon comes to town from the Patriots, while Culley was the Ravens' passing game coordinator the past two seasons. Both are part of the change the organization has gone through the past few months. Running back David Johnson's one player with experience as a Texan, after joining the team in 2020. He too, is enthused about the new leader on the field.
"Very excited to have him aboard," Johnson said of Culley. "I've talked to him a few times and he just let me know my expectations of being a leader by example-type guy, being a guy that does my job in and out every day, off the field, on the field and being respectful that way. I'm going to do my best to help him out that way."
Several players, including running back Mark Ingram II, have experience in playing for Culley. Ingram II, like Culley, spent 2019 and 2020 in Baltimore. Knowing who Culley is and what he represents was a key factor in why Ingram II chose to sign with Houston in free agency.
"He was very encouraging and a positive influence to me in my two years in Baltimore," Ingram II said. "Just to be able to play for him and help him out here in Houston, it was a great opportunity and I'm excited about it."
Ingram II also offered an insight into who Culley is as a coach.
"He's going to demand perfection and that you perform at the highest level," Ingram II said."I know he demanded that every time he addressed the offense or the team. He had a high standard that he set, and guys respected that on the team. I definitely respected it myself. I think he's going to do a great job. I think guys are going to rally behind him and going to support and want to play their best football for him. That's the type of guy he is."
The Texans begin offseason conditioning this week at NRG Stadium.
