The Texans have finally suited up for three days of training camp, heading into this weekend, they are only one week away from a trip to Lambeau Field. For the first of three pre-season games, Houston travel to Green Bay, who have similarly have been embroiled in a quarterback stand off.
Watson and the Texans rift appears to have no logical conclusion, unlike the Packers who were able to appease the 37-year-old Aaron Rodgers, ironically by in-part, when trading with Houston for the bewildering contract of Randall Cobb. The creators of such mess have now departed, well except one, but let’s not go there today. As Watson may have forever disappeared from Texans colours, due to ‘muscle tightness’, an eerily similar strategy to the one employed by Jalen Ramsey, who after his sidelines tantrum at NRG, never suited up again for Jacksonville until his eventual trade to the Rams.
Watson’s endless misguidance off-the-field appears to be compounding in the opposite direction of Houston. But where the situation will inevitably end, is a bigger question than when. Front office’s will not be overly fazed by his legal wrangling, as long as they stay within the civil court and any criminal convictions are dismissed. The endless off-season chatter of leverage, value and public stances, has left the Texans fan base with a sense of fatigue and an eagerness for closure.
The reality is that Caserio can bide his time & truly do what is the best interest of this team, as he’s selling a 15 year investment that has a yield proven to be far higher than many alternatives, bar a few. A prized asset cannot be parted with on a sub-par valuation based on public noise alone. No one appears to know that more than Nick Caserio. He holds the key & only he knows the final tipping point into a new Texans era, which is currently on hold.
Training Camp Flashes or Sunday Contributors?
For the players who are out there grinding, it isn’t easy to properly gauge yet, if they can have true impact on a Sunday, at this stage of the off-season. As many players have flashed in pre-season games, joint practices & training camp but then failed to delver when the lights come on. The real deal, is a world away from what we will watch Saturday, in Wisconsin. It will be prospective look at this newly assembled squad, some of the most important pieces may be under the preserve category such as Tyrod, Cooks & Tunsil will be pulled as soon as they start to sweat.
There are also players who turn it on when they walk through that tunnel. The Texans will hope Davis Mills is one them & he can put on a better showing that his limited 11 vrs. 11 has delivered. Littered by missed throws & continual interceptions despite his pro-style flashes, his lack of collegiate games is showing. He’s been out shone by Nico Collins, who’s been as advertised as the prototypical boundary receiver. Brevin Jordan & Roy Lopez have both turned heads, but within this array of new players, who could turn into future contributors for this team?
Groupings of Players to Watch (No., Position):
Drafted & Time To Perform: Lonnie Johnson Jr. (1, SS); Ross Blacklock (90, DT); Jon Greenard (52, DE); Khale Warring (81, TE); John Reid (34, CB); Isaiah Coulter (82, WR); Charlie Heck (76, OT)
Flashed & Taking A Step: Chuck Omenihu (94, DL); Tytus Howard (71, RT); Max Sharping (74, LG); Pharaoh Brown (85, TE); Shaq Lawson (93, DE)
Prove It – Contract Year: Jordan Atkins (88; TE); Keke Coutee (16, SWR); Justin Reid (20, FS); Anthony Miller (17, WR); Jacob Martin (54, DE)
Belong In This League: Des King II (25, CB); Phillip Lindsay (30, RB); Justin Britt (68, OL); Jordon Jenkins (50, DE); Maliek Collins (97, DT); Christian Kirksey (58, MLB); Kevin Pierre Louis (57, SLB); Justin McCray (64, G); Jaleel Johnson (91, DT); Demarcus Walker (44, DE); Terrance Mitchell (39, CB)
Anything Left in The Tank: Whitney Mercilus (59, DE); Lane Taylor (65, G), Marcus Cannon (61, OT); Mark Ingram (2, RB); David Johnson (31, RB); Rex Burkhead (28, RB); Andre Roberts (19, KR);
Under-Radar Candidates: Paul Quessenberry (45, FB); Auzoyah Alufohai (98, DT); Shyheim Carter (38, S)
Despite the shadow of the Watson mess hanging over this team, it feels in some ways a new era. But oddly similar in others. None the less, this week, football is back.
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