Texans morning huddle: Clowney improving
By Randy Gurzi
Good morning Texans fans and happy Friday! We are one day out from another Game Day! Let’s get ready for the weekend and the upcoming battle between the Houston Texans and Denver Broncos by catching up on all the Texans news we can! Enjoy;
Jadeveon Clowney improving daily at Texans camp – by Ron Clements Sporting News
"After seeing his rookie season end with a knee injury, Houston’s Jadeveon Clowney is progressing well.Clowney completed his third practice of training camp Wednesday since coming off the physically unable to perform list. Texans coach Bill O’Brien liked what he saw from Clowney, who is beginning to show the mobility, athleticism and explosiveness that made him the No. 1 overall pick out of South Carolina in 2014.“We do a little bit more each day with him, and so far, so good,” O’Brien said, via the Houston Chronicle. “I think it’s been three days in a row now which is good, and do a little bit more tomorrow, and then we’ll evaluate him at the end of the week. But so far, so good.”O’Brien isn’t going to rush Clowney back from microfracture surgery, but said the second-year outside linebacker is making significant progress.“More about, not necessarily what I’m looking for with him but just communicating with him: ‘How’s it going, how you feeling?’,” O’Brien said. “What I’m looking for is his mentality when it comes to how much he knows with the defense, how much is review, how has he been paying attention."
Breakfast: 5 things I’ve learned from #HardKnocks – by Eric SanInocencio of HoustonTexans.com
"There’s a scene in the first episode of this year’s ‘Hard Knocks’ that has stuck in my mind all season long.“Who is the COO, the Chief Operating Officer, of this organization?”Texans head coach Bill O’Brien poses this question to rookie Keith Mumphrey, as the entire team sits in an auditorium on the eve of training camp. The fifth-round pick out of Michigan State pauses for a few seconds and then states, “Cal McNair”. O’Brien lets him know he’s correct and then moves on to ask other players questions about their teammates and the organization as a whole.I’ve been in that auditorium. It is a hallway and a flight of stairs away from where I’m writing this, a place we often meet as a business staff to discuss goals and philosophies. I’ve probably sat in that exact seat Mumphrey did, but instead of looking at Bill O’Brien, I’m focused on Jamey Rootes, our team president.The question itself is also an important reminder that there are two sides to the business of football, especially in this building.What you are watching on Hard Knocks, the coaches and players, are what we call ‘football operations’. That side of the building is headed up by Rick Smith and O’Brien, and is what most people think of when they hear about the Houston Texans. However, as O’Brien pointed out, there is another side to the team. The business operations wing, which is where we work, moves in lock step with the football side, forming a cohesive unit that helps maintain the organization on a daily basis. We all work under the guidance of Texans owner, founder and CEO Bob McNair.So, to O’Brien’s point, despite the fact that we don’t personally know each other, we coexist to serve the same purpose. It’s written on the walls of our offices.1. Win Championships2. Create Raving Fans3. Do Great Things For The City of Houston"
O’Brien: QB situation “an even battle” – by Deepi Sidhu of HoustonTexans.com
"Brian Hoyer or Ryan Mallett?The Texans still have a decision to make on their starting quarterback for 2015.“They both have the quality of leadership; they both have the quality of intelligence,” head coach Bill O’Brien said Thursday. “So, it’s an even battle. And like I said, we’ll make a decision at some point. We’ll go with one guy to start the season. That other guy needs to be ready to play. We played four quarterbacks last year, so you just never know but we can only play one at a time. So, we’ll pick one eventually and go with that guy.”O’Brien has not only watched their performance in practice, but also the demeanor of both Hoyer and Mallett. He praised both for their leadership skills in the locker room and the meeting rooms but he needs to see more. With an entire offseason of OTAs and training camp in the books, the quarterbacks will get a final shot during preseason action.“If I had the body of knowledge right now, I would probably make the decision,” O’Brien said. “I need to see a little bit more and I want to give Ryan a chance to start a game, and put some more thought into it. Then make a decision at some point whether it’s next week or the week after. At some point, we’ll make a decision.”After giving the Hoyer the nod to start last week against San Francisco, O’Brien will give Mallett a chance to do the same this week against Denver. Mallett completed 10-of-11 passes for 90 yards, while Hoyer was 2-for-4 but threw for 67 yards and a touchdown in Houston’s 23-10 win over the 49ers."
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