Texans Morning Huddle: The Wilfork Effect

It’s Thursday morning Texans fans, which means it is time for another edition of the Toro Times’ Morning Huddle. Today we will catch up on stories about how veteran nose tackle Vince Wilfork is helping defensive end J.J. Watt become a better leader and look at what people want to know following the OTAs. Let’s jump right in;

J.J. Watt leaning on Vince Wilfork to become better leader – By Tania Ganguli of ESPN

"J.J. Watt likes to make the most of the chance he has to play with someone who has had as much experience and success as Vince Wilfork.“He’s seen championship teams, he’s been around great players, great leaders,” Watt said. “Obviously myself being a leader I’m always trying to be the best leader I can be, so I go to him and [ask], ‘What made your championship teams great? How did you guys get to where you were?’ Then I just let him speak and listen to what he has to say. Let him talk about my leadership style, what he thinks I can do better.”"

Kevin Johnson impresses O’Brien during Texans’ offseason workouts – By Brian T. Smith of The Houston Chronicle

"Texans coach Bill O’Brien is hard on rookies, pushing the first-year players to adapt to the strict requirements of their new professional world.But 2015 first-round pick Kevin Johnson has already made a strong impression on the demanding coach. Johnson has played with confidence during offseason workouts, made several highlight-worthy plays and was singled out by O’Brien on Wednesday."

What fans and fantasy football people want to know after Texans OTAs – By Stephanie Stradley of The Houston Chronicle

"1. The Texans offense was ranked average to below average depending on your measures against the worst defenses in the NFL in 2014. I think a part of that was the entire team, and perhaps some of the new coaches (goodbye old offensive line coach) not being familiar with the complex system. The 2014 Texans worked hard to deal with their limitations with knowing the scheme, issues at quarterback.2. I do not buy that all Patriots-related coaches are doomed to fail in their post-Patriots NFL careers. On the other side, I am not at the “In Bill O’Brien We Trust” point of view that the system is so good, they can system around the problems they have with the roster. I’m at wait and see with all of this. He is obviously a knowledgeable, personable, hard-working coach, and I hope he is successful.3. The theme of OTAs in talking with both O’Brien and many players seems to be that more familiarity with the system will mean more ability to run a scheme that looks more like a real NFL offense more consistently.4. The short term question is whether the scheme can overcome real questions about having enough quality skill position players and depth on offense. The bigger picture view is whether the staff has the ability to put together a roster on offense that can run this complex system so that the offense is no longer an albatross as it has been for years. I think these are open questions."

Houston Texans RUMORS: Brian Hoyer Leading Ryan Mallett, But QB Of The Future Not On Roster? – By Cal Setar of HNGN.com

"Mallett and former 2014 fourth-round pick Tom Savage represent the developmental projects currently on the Texans roster, though neither has shown much in the way of firm production or progress of late – Mallett has all of seven games and 42 completions to his name in two NFL seasons, Savage even less.While the likeliest outcome for 2015 is probably Hoyer running the offensive show for Houston, Texans head coach Bill O’Brien and GM Rick Smith will probably need to look to an early draft choice sometime in the not-too-distant future if they’re to provide a final answer at the game’s most crucial position."

Next: Houston Texans: Players To Watch In Preseason