Day 7 of Training Camp: Observations

Again, thanks to a fellow Texans redditor, I got to attend training camp today. So below or my useless, and quite frankly a waste of your time, observations:

1. Jaylin Noel is very explosive, fast and twitchy. His athleticism pops on normal drills, and he makes a lot of people miss during his punt returns. Changes direction very quickly.

2. You know R.E.S.P.E.C.T song by Aretha Franklin? Because the secondary doesn’t.

3. Defense is suffocating, but just because they dominate it doesn’t make the offense bad. This defense made Josh Allen go 9/31, Goff with the best Oline throw 5 picks, and Herbert throw more picks in one game than he had all season. Additionally, Demeco is a genius defensive mind, and it’s very clear he’s throwing a lot of things at both Stroud and Caley to throw them off.

4. Despite the defense dominating, the offense is able to move the ball in the passing game. I was specifically encouraged when Demeco called a full on Blitz, and Stroud was able to complete a pass for positive yardage. A Texans blitz is not fun to combat. Both sides are trading “wins” everyday, which is NOT what was happening last year. Last year the offense was in a perpetual headlock by the defense

5. Run game needs work, not as consistent.

6. Woody marks looks pretty good both running and catching the ball

7. CJGJ is unhinged but in a “cutesy thank god he’s on my team” kinda way

8. Schultz seems to be better than last season. Getting the ball fairly often

9. Stroud is scrambling more, but keep in mind the defense isn’t allowed to hit him.

10. Barrios seems to want to be the starting punt returner, because he’s the first to the drill and probably the best at it. Only Noel comes close to competing with him in that regard

11. Metchie is stringing along quite a few good plays and days at this point. Let’s see what the team does with him

12. Hutchinson appears to have improved over last year

13. Keep in mind Hutchinson and Metchie improving is a positive sign, but they don’t move nearly as well as our WR4, which is Noel.

14. Stover might become a problem for opposing teams this season. Seems to have worked on his route running, and as always, has solid hands.

15. Will Anderson should be a DPOY candidate with the way he’s destroying plays

16. Some of yall seem to be concerned about Stroud yesterday. He threw a lot today so hopefully that comforts yall.

17. Higgins is a very physically imposing receiver that moves well. This is a player I can’t wait to see in game. Especially after seeing his reps against Stingley

18. I saw Stroud make a pre-snap adjustment and move from under center to shotgun, and complete a pass… Very very encouraging. He was also analyzing the other QBs reps and breaking it down with the coaches. This Tom Brady style of play is something very difficult, and if Stroud can get a hang of it. You might be looking at a new archetype of QB in the current iteration of the NFL. Don’t get drunk now, because as Stroud mentioned, it’ll take time to get to that mental level.

19. I like odd numbers

20. I just wanted 20 points tbh

Overall, removing bias, the offense has shown that it can be more than the coughing baby it was last year. Stroud is making a lot of completion against THE best secondary in football, but the run game will probably be a struggle. However, this is without Mixon, who has shown that he does not need a system to produce. So there’s objective reasoning to why CJGJ said the team is “Super bowl Caliber” today.