Texans morning huddle: Clowney focused, Nate the underdog
By Randy Gurzi
It’s Friday and the weekend is calling our names. The Houston Texans are ready for this weekend too as they look to even up their record with a win against Carolina on Sunday. Let’s take a look at what is going on with the team as they are preparing for their big game!
Bill O’Brien officially names Ryan Mallett as Texans’ starting QB – by Tania Ganguli, ESPN
"Quarterback Ryan Mallett will start this weekend for the Houston Texans against the Carolina Panthers, replacing Week 1 starter Brian Hoyer, coach Bill O’Brien announced Thursday.“I feel like when Ryan entered the game, he added a spark to our team,” O’Brien said. “I felt like he moved the ball downfield. He was decisive, had some energy, showed good leadership. We scored 10 [11] points. It’s not an indictment on Brian Hoyer, still have great respect for Brian as a player and as a person. Still think he’s a great leader in our locker room.”O’Brien becomes just the fifth coach since 2005 to make a quarterback switch after one week that wasn’t related to an injury, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.“You feel bad when it’s one week, whatever, but also you’re excited to finally get out there and show what you’ve been working towards,” Mallett said. “… It’s my dream to play in this league every week every down, and I’m going to keep chasing it. I’m going to do what I have to do to achieve that.”The Texans were trailing the Chiefs 27-9 on Sunday with 6:10 remaining in the game when O’Brien pulled Hoyer, who finished 18-for-34 with one touchdown, one interception and one lost fumble. He was sacked four times."
Nate Washington doesn’t mind underdog role – by Deepi Sidhu, HoustonTexans.com
"Nate Washington doesn’t mind being the underdog.In fact, he embraces it.“I’ve always had the underdog role and I appreciate it,” Washington said. “It makes your drive and makes your motivation a little harder than what it would normally be. I’m not saying that’s all the motivation that I need but, to be an underdog and to be overlooked at times, I think it gives me a little bit of extra motivation to go out and make something of myself.”The veteran wide receiver caught six passes for 105 yards last week against the Chiefs. Washington became the first Texan in franchise history to post a 100-yard receiving game in his debut with the Texans.Washington, now in his 11th NFL season, has learned a lot from his time in the league. It may be the reason why his fellow wide receivers have nicknamed him “O.G.” He isn’t worried about filling the shoes of Andre Johnson or anyone else for that matter.“I’m here to do my job,” Washington said. “I’m not here to compare myself to anyone.”"
Houston Texans’ Jadeveon Clowney focused on football ahead of homecoming – by Joseph Person, Charlotte Observer
"Houston Texans outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney’s social media alerts started buzzing shortly after a Week 1 loss to Kansas City.Friends, family members and acquaintances from Clowney’s hometown of Rock Hill wanted tickets for his Week 2 homecoming game in Charlotte.But one person Clowney hasn’t heard from is his father, who’s been held at the York County Detention Center without bond following an Aug. 4 shooting at a Rock Hill strip club.David Morgan, 45, faces two counts of attempted murder and weapons charges after he allegedly shot at a night club employee after being removed from the stage. Morgan, a convicted felon known as “Chilli Bean,” was shot when the club employee returned fire.Clowney said Wednesday he hasn’t spoken to his father since the incident, adding he’s focused on his responsibilities with the Texans after an injury-shortened rookie season.But Clowney says it hurt to hear about his father’s arrest, which occurred while the Texans were at training camp.“Of course I was disappointed (and) sad for him because that’s my dad, for one, and you don’t want nothing like that to happen to nobody in your family,” Clowney said during a conference call. “He’s in the situation. There’s nothing I can do about it. I’ve just got to keep doing what I can do, take care of what I can take of.”Clowney was raised by a single mother while Morgan served 12 years in prison in South Carolina on a series of felony charges, mostly burglary related. Morgan was released from prison while Clowney was becoming one of the nation’s top high school recruits at South Pointe."
Texans vs. Panthers: Full Houston Week 2 Preview – by Brian McDonald, Bleacher Report
"Never say never, but if the Houston Texans lose on Sunday to the Carolina Panthers, their chances of making a surprise playoff run will be close to zero.From before the start of the 2014 season, since 1990 only 23 of the 198 teams which started 0-2—12 percent—went on to make the playoffs, according to CBS Sports.During the 2014 season, only the Indianapolis Colts made the playoffs after starting 0-2.The playoffs were always more of a long shot than a reasonable expectation for this year’s team, but getting hit with the realization that the season could be over after just two weeks is rough for any fanbase.Sadly, fans of the Texans are accustomed to starting NFL draft talk way too early, but let’s hope it doesn’t get to that point."