Defense shines in Houston Texans’ fourth preseason practice

After the first day off of this summer’s training camp on Sunday, the Houston Texans returned to the practice field Monday morning, again in warm but not unbearable temperatures, and without protective gear. Reportedly, the team’s first practice in front of fans, scheduled for Tuesday morning, will be the first with protective gear, meaning a much more accurate and, therefore, much more substantive evaluation.

In the meantime, there were some newsworthy events happening Monday morning at the Methodist Training Canter. Here’s what you need to know:

Defense wins
Through the first three practices, I would have given the offense a slight edge, if we were scoring points like a boxing match. That’s to be expected with sophomore CJ Stroud at quarterback, and with Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon added to the mix. Monday, however, was the first clear-cut victory for either team in team drills, and the victory went to the defense. The offense seemed out of sync in the passing game, largely due to the relentless pressure from the defensive front, which is actually cool to see. After all, the guys on defense are Texans too!

CJ Stroud rarely gets animated when frustrated, so it’s interesting that you could sense his angst from the sidelines where the media is watching. I’m guessing film study won’t be pleasant later today. Good job by the defense, though. Name a guy on the defensive line, and he probably made a play today.

Return of the children of the class of 22
Year three is when players really try to establish themselves, especially with free agency looming a year later for many of them. The Houston Texans’ 2022 draft class, comprised entirely of third-year players from this team, has been somewhat of a shambles since entering the league. There’s been some good, like Derek Stingley’s 2023 season and Dameon Pierce’s rookie season in 2022, and some bad, like injuries or illnesses to Kenyon Green and John Metchie, or Pierce’s subsequent demise in 2023. I don’t know how much DeMeco Ryans is counting on Green, Metchie, Pierce or Jalen Pitre, all of whom had worse-than-expected 2023 seasons, but if camp is any indicator, the Texans could get some unexpectedly good performances from this quartet.

Green returns from his missed 2023 season in great shape and runs with the first-team offensive line. Pitre is being used in a nickel corner role and around the line of scrimmage, a style that suits him much better than moving around center field. Metchie has looked explosive and focused. Finally, Pierce looks ready to contribute, with a much better command of the offense. Credit to the coaching staff and these guys themselves for putting themselves in position to contribute in 2024.

Practice notes and observations
Here are some quick points from Monday’s session:

* Joe Mixon was out for a second straight practice, so there’s clearly something wrong, but Ryans said it’s nothing serious and he’s not concerned. It’s worth noting that the Texans signed veteran RB Cam Akers, who is coming back from a torn Achilles tendon last season, over the weekend. Mixon’s situation is worth monitoring.

* Christian Harris was absent from practice for the fourth straight time. Additionally, Laremy Tunsil took the field. Rookie Blake Fisher took Tunsil’s snaps on the offensive line during team drills.

* The Texans special teams coaches once again followed the new kickoff rules to the letter on Monday, even running some sexy return plays with multiple laterals and throws. It was fun to watch. I still think the game is going to be chaotic until the coaches get their act together.

* As far as individual play goes, there wasn’t much to write home about on offense. Xavier Hutchinson had a long gainer (maybe a touchdown in a real game) on a crossing route. CB Jeff Okudah, who has been on a strong run lately, had an interception, and rookie safety Calen Bullock should have had an interception six against Davis Mills. Again, the defensive line was a collective terror all day.

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