Texans morning huddle: Starting lineup projection, Texans in the spotlight
By Randy Gurzi
Good morning and a happy Friday to all you Texans fans! Let’s get the day started right with all the Houston Texans news we can find. Today we look at a projected starting lineup as well as seeing which college the Texans use as their own personal pipeline. Enjoy;
Houston Texans starting lineup projection – by Tania Ganguli of ESPN
"The Houston Texans open training camp on July 31 at Methodist Training Center in Houston. Here is a projection of what their starting lineup could be at the beginning of the season.OffenseQuarterback (Brian Hoyer): The competition between Hoyer and Ryan Mallett is still active and will likely be determined early in training camp.Left tackle (Duane Brown): The Texans have high expectations for the two-time Pro Bowl player who is entering his eighth NFL season. Last season marked the fourth time Brown has gone an entire season without being called for holding.Left guard (Xavier Su’a-Filo): After being used in various places during his rookie season, the 33rd overall pick of the 2014 draft is now focusing on becoming the Texans’ starting left guard.Center (Ben Jones): Jones was drafted for this role in 2012, but waited behind veteran Chris Myers until this season.Right guard (Brandon Brooks): Brooks has solidified himself as one of the league’s better guards and Texans coach Bill O’Brien has been impressed with his conditioning this year.Right tackle (Derek Newton): Once everyone’s favorite punching bag, Newton now provides stability and versatility to the Texans’ offensive line. He signed a five-year, $26.5 million deal this offseason."
College with most players on Texans is… – by Drew Dougherty of HoustonTexans.com
"On the Texans’ current roster, what college is most represented?If you said “Michigan State” without looking at the roster page, congrats. You’re a Super Texans Fan.There are 89 Texans on the roster right now. Houston starts training camp on August 1, and five former Spartans are on the roster. Quarterback Brian Hoyer, receivers Keshawn Martin and Keith Mumphery, linebacker Max Bullough and safety Kurtis Drummond all played their college ball at Michigan State.There are four Aggies on the Texans’ roster, with punter Shane Lechler, kicker Randy Bullock andreceivers EZ Nwachukwu and Travis Labhart representing Texas A&M.Three schools have three players apiece with Houston, as Alabama, Georgia and Iowa each placed a trio on the squad.Twelve colleges have two players suiting up for the Texans right now, including the likes of Texas State, South Florida and William & Mary."
Texans in the spotlight with ‘Hard Knocks’ filming, Watt’s new deal – by Olivia Pulsinelli of the Houston Business Journal
"Houston Texans fans will get the chance to see the team on an HBO show and a star player on TV commercials soon.Defensive lineman J.J. Watt will be featured in at least two commercials for Houston-based Reliant Energy, which recently named him a spokesman. The commercial show Watt with a synchronized swim team and curling.Reliant, part of Houston- and New Jersey-based NRG Energy Inc. (NYSE: NRG), announced on July 22 it named Watt the first so-called “vice president of power relations.” Reliant declined to disclose the value of the contract.In recent years, Watt also has been named a spokesman for Houston Area Ford Dealers and San Antonio-based H-E-B Grocery Co.Also on July 22, the Texans posted a video on the team’s website in which offensive tackle Duane Brown discussed the HBO show “Hard Knocks.” The Texans announced in May they were chosen as the subject of the reality show’s 10th season.According to Brown, filming is already underway, and the crew filmed him and his wife at a concert over the weekend.The show’s five-episode season premieres on Aug. 11."