Texans morning huddle: A bigger Duane Brown, 5 training camp questions

Good morning and a happy non-football Sunday to all of you. To help fill the void we have a stories about the five biggest questions heading into camp, as well as a look at a lineman who wants to play bigger and stronger in 2015.

5 questions heading into Texans training camp – by Dale Robertson of the Houston Chronicle

"1 Will newcomer Brian Hoyer’s experience or Ryan Mallett’s cannon arm and raw upside potential prevail in the crucial battle for the starting quarterback job?It is a long-standing NFL axiom that having two starting quarterbacks is the same as having no starting quarterback, so coach Bill O’Brien will have to settle on one of the two for the long haul, which makes this the overriding issue of training camp. Every ball they throw over the next few weeks will be dissected like a frog in sophomore biology class. The seven-year vet Hoyer is the conventional-wisdom favorite because he at least has a measurable body of work, going 10-6 as a starter for Cleveland the past two seasons. And he has history in O’Brien’s offense, having backed up Tom Brady in New England when O’Brien was the Patriots’ offensive coordinator. That is where he first met Mallett, then New England’s third-team QB. It was, of course, Mallett who beat the Browns and Hoyer last fall in the first of his only two NFL starts. A torn pectoral muscle mysteriously suffered in the weight room helped end his season early. Mallett is taller and possesses a stronger arm, but passing accuracy remained an issue as recently as the team’s June mini-camp.2 Can linebacker Jadeveon Clowney recover from injury and become the player the Texans thought they were drafting with the No. 1 overall pick in 2014?"

What to Watch for in Houston Texans Training Camp – by Team Stream Now , B/R Video

"The Houston Texans are nearing the start of training camp under second-year head coach Bill O’Brien.Can Jadeveon Clowney contribute after a disappointing, injury-plagued rookie season? Who will come out on top in the quarterback competition?Watch as Bleacher Report NFL Analyst Matt Miller previews Texans training camp in the video above."

A bigger, stronger Duane Brown? – by Deepi Sidhu of HoustonTexans.com

"Duane Brown isn’t going on a diet anytime soon.“I’ve been trying to gain weight this offseason,” Brown said to Texans Radio on Tuesday. “The last couple of seasons, I’ve been playing around 305, 310 (pounds) and I think I’m more effective when I’m a little heavier.”Brown has played at different weights over the course of his seven years in the NFL. His weight has fluctuated from 300 to 320 pounds, plus or minus a few, he said. It may seem like a drop in the bucket for a 6-4 offensive lineman, but the two-time Pro Bowler can definitely tell a difference.“In 2012, I was around 320, somewhere around there,” Brown said. “So that’s kind of where I’ve been, around 320 or so right now. Still feeling good, still feeling agile and that’s something I don’t want to sacrifice but been trying to gain some weight.”It seems to be working for the Texans starting left tackle, who says he definitely feels stronger now than he did last year. Brown, entering his eighth season with the Texans, knows what type of conditioning is expected of players heading into training camp under head coach Bill O’Brien.“It’s very competitive, fast-paced,” Brown said of O’Brien’s camp practice. “I think every training camp is tough across the league but I think it’s extremely competitive here and I’m looking forward to it.”"

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