Here are some pictures of the pitch

 

Sick jersey twitter.com/Nukdabomb/stat…

— Deandre Hopkins (@Nukdabomb) May 22, 2013

The @houstontexans‘ DeAndre Hopkins signs autographs for #Astros fans before the game. twitter.com/astros/status/…

— Houston Astros (@astros) May 21, 2013

@nukdabomb (DeAndre Hopkins) is throwing the 1st pitch out tonight at the @astros game Heres his #astros jersey twitpic.com/cs9hp7

— Michael Williams (@MikesAtexan) May 21, 2013

RT @ortizkicks: Texans first round pick DeAndre Hopkins will throw out first pitch at MMP. twitter.com/OrtizKicks/sta… #Texans

— Reid Laymance (@ReidLaymance) May 21, 2013

Also, some key veterans took the day off to observe practice but helped when needed with the younger players. The temperature was a little humid and the wind once again provided a nice breeze for the players. Here are some quick notes on day two.

Day Two

- The Texans had two injuries with Phillip Supernaw and Sunny Harris that were labeled as foot injuries from yesterday. Neither player was present at practice.

Antonio Smith and Duane Brown

- Wade Smith, Andre Johnson, Johnathan Joseph, Greg Jones, Owen Daniels and Antonio Smith were all healthy “watchers” today at OTAs. All were helping in drills and talking to the younger players in between plays.

- Tim Dobbins was absent for the second day in a row and it was reiterated by Coach Kubiak that these were “voluntary” OTAs. Dobbins is coming off a foot injury that landed him on the injured reserve late last season.

- Wide receiver Keshawn Martin looked good today running routes and catching the football. He showed some quickness with the ball in his hands, and caused some issues for the defense in the middle of the field. Martin has gotten off to a good start in the first two days.

- The quarterbacks had some issues today and still look a bit rusty from the offseason. There were some missed center and quarterback exchanges that ended up on the ground, and some inconsistent passing from the group. All four of the quarterbacks still look to being trying to get into the groove with the new players on offense. Matt Schaub is making sure he works with DeAndre Hopkins when he can and learning the new rookie wide receiver. Schaub knows what he is seeing in Hopkins on the field, now he is trying to get on the same page with his new weapon. Hopkins has been giving crisp routes and gaining the trust of Schaub with every pass thrown his way.

- Rookie tight end Ryan Griffin showed some life today catching some tough passes in traffic. He had a couple of drops but overall he had a good day with the absence of Supernaw. Griffin looks the part of an NFL tight end at 6-6, 256 lbs., but like all new players, learning the offense takes time.

- Kareem Jackson came into OTAs at 208 lbs., but in 2012 he played at 192 lbs. He assured us that he trains heavy in the off-season but it will even out when camp approaches. He said he plays lighter during the season and he has always trained like this.

Jared Crick

- Defensive tackle Jared Crick looks much healthier and ready to take on a bigger role in 2013. Crick has beefed up to 295 lbs. and looks more durable for the run defense. Also, with his weight he looks like he can fill in at nose tackle in a pinch. He has shown good footwork in drills and power on the sled so he should be fun to watch on how much he has grown as a football player.

- Brandon Harris took a nasty spill when wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins fell on his head and knocked him out of practice. Harris was taken in immediately from the practice field to the stadium for further evaluation. Harris has looked good but getting him healthy for training camp is the most important thing for the Texans.

- Once again rookie A.J. Bouye showed up in practice and made some more solid coverage plays on defense. The cornerback stood out in rookie mini camp and now during the first two days of OTAs. He has gained some good film for the Texans’ coaches to evaluate. Bouye is one player to watch, especially with the Texans looking for another cornerback to take the spot of the departed Alan Ball.

- Safety Eddie Pleasant looks like he has gotten a solid grasp of the defense. Today he was constantly lining up linebackers and cornerbacks to formations the offense showed. Pleasant also showed some nice closing speed to plays in front of him. He has an inside track to being one of the safeties in week one.

Jeff Maehl, #15

- Second year wide receiver Jeff Maehl has looked sharp in routes and catching the ball early in OTAs. Maehl has been with the team for three seasons and now is a make or break season for the former Oregon Duck. It is not too far fetched to think Maehl has a real opportunity to make the 53 man roster, especially with DeVier Posey out for the start of the season. That leaves Maehl to compete with Lestar Jean for what looks like the final wide receiver position. Early looks have both wide receivers even at the moment and a situation to watch for training camp.

- David Quessenberry, the rookie guard, is one of the drafted rookies that can be the steal of the draft. Quessenberry moves well at right guard and does a good job of running the zone scheme with Ben Jones and Andrew Gardner. He is one player that will be fun to watch once the pads are put on.

- Cornerback Brice McCain has been doing light work after injuring his foot last season which put him on the injured reserve. He does not have a limp and is moving well.  This is a precautionary measure by the team moving forward. According to Kareem Jackson, the Texans bringing back McCain this season was “huge” for the secondary.

You can follow Patrick on Twitter.  He is the Editor of State of the Texans.

There are some new faces at Reliant and some that were missing, but still a new outlook for the 2013 season is at hand. Here are some early thoughts on the opening of OTAs.

Day One

- Ed Reed was in Colorado finishing some rehab on his hip and is expected to fly back in the middle of the week to join his teammates in Houston. Brian Cushing, Derek Newton, DeVier Posey, Brennan Williams and Tim Jamison watched practice from the sideline but all are working to get ready for training camp.

- Darryl Sharpton had question marks surrounding him on his availability for OTAs but that was put to rest with him being a full participant in practice. He moved well in drills and in team sessions and took control of the huddle on defense. It was surprising to see Sharpton ready to go after all of the speculation that he has not been cleared by his doctors.

- Andre Johnson helped coach up his new teammate in DeAndre Hopkins and teach him some small things about the position. Johnson was showing Hopkins moves to get off the line of scrimmage and talking routes in between repetitions. This was a good sign. Also, with Lestar Jean, Keshawn Martin and rookie Alan Bonner, this is one of the more talented wide receiver groups in Texans’ history.

Brandon Brooks, #79, Guard

- There was noticeable size difference from the 2012 season to this year in Arian Foster, Duane Brown, Brooks Reed, Whitney Mercilus and Brandon Brooks. Think of it as more of a leaner (good in football terms) muscled players on the field. Brown told us after practice he was 7 pounds lighter than last season, but he feels he is just as strong. Mercilus is not heavier weight wise but has spent some good time in the weight room which is apparent when he took the field.

- There were also some Texans players who put on some football weight and look much heavier, Jared Crick and Delano Johnson. During his rookie season, Crick was 287 lbs., this year he is at 295 lbs. He looks much more equipped to play the interior and hold up during run plays. Johnson went from 280 lbs. in 2012 to 290 lbs.

- Roc Carmichael had a great opening day and was all over the field for the secondary. He broke up a couple of passes in tight coverage and played fast and on a mission. Carmichael has all of the physical tools to make a significant contribution to the team and this was a good start to his 2013 campaign.

- One player to watch moving forward is quarterback Stephen McGee. He has some starter experience and enough skills to push for the back up position in Houston. He looked confident and threw the ball with some zip on the field, and looked the most consistent in the passing game not named Matt Schaub. It’s early, but one to keep an eye on.

Greg Jones, #33, Fullback

- The addition of fullback Greg Jones is probably the most underrated signing of the off-season for the Texans. He is a big blocker in front of Foster at 6-1, 268 lbs. and gives the offense that missing link in the running game. He is athletic enough to contribute in the passing game but having a lead blocker again should put a charge in the running game. He looked comfortable in the offense but without pads we only get half the story. When the pads get put on, his real value will come to the front for the Texans.

- New punter Shane Lechler looked good in his punting session today. He was consistently putting the football inside the 5 yard line from the other side of the 50 yard line. Lechler is one of the best in league history and he gave a quick glimpse of that today.

- Drafted rookie outside linebacker Trevardo Williams impressed on his first day of OTAs. He showed his ability to drop in space and today tipped a pass for a Brandon Harris interception. Williams looks like he can play the Sam or Will position for the Texans, and looks like he could be a good late pick for the Texans.

- Sam Montgomery looked much better than this mini-camp debut a couple of weeks ago. He looked strong and more in tune with what the coaches were asking him to do. He showed his ability to dissect plays and had two quarterback sacks, if this was game speed. Montgomery has taken some big steps as an outside linebacker in less than two weeks. It should be fun to watch to see where he ends up by the end of training camp.

- Rookie A.J. Bouye once again impressed in team drills when he came up with an interception on the sideline. Bouye has been doing well since rookie mini camp and keeps making plays to stand out, and today was another example.

- Nose tackle Terrell McClain looked fast today and played like a man fighting for a roster spot. The former 2011 third round draft pick of the Carolina Panthers had some flashes on the field today. Even though pads were not involved, he played low and made some hustle plays down the line of scrimmage. It was said that the Panthers gave up on McClain too early. The Texans might have found a rejuvenated player in the rough.

You can follow Patrick on Twitter.  He is the Editor of State of the Texans.

Here is a look at some injuries to watch moving forward.

Brennan Williams

The drafted rookie right tackle took a mini-camp scare to his knee when he was rolled up on in drills. Williams is scheduled to get some important snaps with Derek Newton out for OTAs, but it will be interesting to see how much Williams is able to do when OTAs open up. Williams has the skills set to push for a starting position in 2013 but his knee injury could put him watching from the sidelines.

DeVier Posey

DeVier Posey

An achilles injury in the Divisional playoff game versus the New England Patriots. There were rumors of him being ready for camp but those rumors have died. Now it looks like Posey will start the season on the PUP list and give him time to get healthy. Posey could have been a great piece for the 2013 season but he will have an upward climb to get back to a healthy player. Texans fans need to remember how long it took former Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans to get fully healthy from his achilles injury. It will be a process for the team to get him back and productive for the team.

Brooks Reed

Off season surgery in January on his groin that he injured in the Thanksgiving game versus the Detroit Lions that caused him to miss 4 games. Reed has deemed himself 100% for the upcoming season, which could include a possible position change. Reed is an important part of the defense and having him healthy is important for the success of the run defense. A healthy Reed makes the Texans a better team and having him the leader of the outside linebackers in an important factor for the 2013 season.

Derek Newton

The starting right tackle is out with a knee injury that required off-season surgery and will make him miss OTAs. Newton will be the penciled in starter at right tackle but will have to work hard to keep the competition from taking his position. Heading into his third season as a Texans, this is a big year for his overall development as a player. Newton did some things well in 2012 but he has to take his game to another level for the offense to take the next step, especially in the run game.

Fullback ,Tyler Clutts, #40 Houston Texans

Tyler Clutts

A forgotten player for the Texans, the fullback Clutts played the majority of last season with a sports hernia that also required off-season surgery. Expected to take over the fullback position when he was traded prior to the opening of the 2012 season for Sherrick McManis, Clutts played nothing more than special teams. He has a crowded fullback group now with the arrival of Greg Jones and rookie Zach Boren. Clutts’ spot on the roster will be under the microscope.

Darryl Sharpton

The biggest question mark heading into the season, and he is currently the starter next to Brian Cushing. Sharpton said at the beginning of the offseason that he felt good and was ready to go but last week the defensive coordinator made it known that Sharpton has not been cleared by doctors to resume his rehab. The veteran has ended his previous three seasons on the injured reserve with a shoulder, quadricep and a hip and now this season is not starting off the best. With an already thin inside linebacker position group, this is still the biggest concern for the Texans’ defense.

Ed Reed

The prize free agent for the Texans, but a torn labrum in his hip has caused some questions on if the Texans knew about this injury. This was the same surgery Reed had in 2010 that caused him to miss 6 games, but there has been no real definitive answers on Reed’s injury. Reed is supposed to be the missing link in the secondary and the leader for an already impressive secondary. The safety position lacked any real ball hawks but Reed should be that guy, but there has been talk about Reed starting the season on the PUP list. Time will tell but this is a big story heading into OTAs.

Brian Cushing

Brian Cushing

The heart and soul of the Texans defense, Cushing is ready to make his comeback after tearing his ACL on an illegal block. The defense took a turn for the worst after he went out and the group lost their edge and speed on the field. It would be wise to see Cushing take it slow during OTAs and training camp, but with him sitting out for an extended amount of time it might be important to see where Cushing is at health wise. There is news that Cushing is moving full speed and ready for the season, which is a big boost for the team.

You can follow Patrick on Twitter.  He is the Editor of State of the Texans.

This is a two-day function that ended at the Rose Bowl to take more actions shots for the card company in their uniforms.

Here are some Snap Shots from the Event

Wow! Chillin’ with @nukdabomb and talkin about that #Texans offense at the @nflplayers #RookiePremiere! #WhosNext twitter.com/ToppsFB/status…

— Topps Football (@ToppsFB) May 17, 2013

@deandrehopkins one handed grab is so smooth! @toppsfb vine.co/v/bEYvu22iI2l

— KP (@KayteePea) May 18, 2013

@ceeflashpee84 shows off some big air to onlookers @dre23_lilbit @nukdabomb @justinhunter_11 @toppsfb twitter.com/KayteePea/stat…

— KP (@KayteePea) May 18, 2013

@nukabomb flashes a great smile and his @toppscards ! @toppscards#RookiePremieretwitter.com/KayteePea/stat…

— KP (@KayteePea) May 18, 2013

 

DeAndre Hopkins

May 20th- May 21st, May 23rd (Practices 1-3)

May 27th- May 29th (Practices 4-6)

June 3rd – June 6th (Practices 7-10)

A new season is upon Houston and, with rookie mini-camp in the books, the Texans will introduce their veterans into the mix with the rookie group. There are few story lines that will be worth a follow heading into this week.

OTAs 

Will Newton be healthy enough to retain the right tackle position?

Injuries

Ed Reed (Hip), Darryl Sharpton (Hip) and Derek Newton (Knee) are some of the biggest issues moving forward. Sharpton has not been cleared by doctors, Newton is expected to miss OTAs (but ready for camp) and the Reed rumors are flying around about the time-table with his hip. All three are pieces to the Texans’ 53 man roster but the injuries are a little unsettling.

Foster Has Been Quiet

Arian Foster has been quiet of late and went on a twitter hiatus. He has said recently that he is more focused on the job at hand for the Texans in 2013. Foster carried a big workload (405 carries in the regular and post season) and the spotlight will be on him not to hit a decline in production. There have been signs pointing to a new offensive line or no true fullback, but Foster didn’t look the same as a runner. Now teamed with a new fullback in Greg Jones and an offensive line who will be together for the second season, Foster has all the tools now to succeed.

Can Watt get some help in 2013?

J.J. Watt Needs Help

On a defense where it felt at times only J.J. Watt was rushing the quarterback, the pass rush has to find some help. The additions of Trevardo Williams and Sam Montgomery on the edge teamed up with Brooks Reed and Whitney Mercilus, the team has added more speed on the edge. Antonio Smith is coming off his best sack season and with the return of underrated pass rusher Tim Jamison, the Texans’ defense seems to have more pieces to rush the passer. Anyone not named Watt needs to provide help that was not there in 2012, and the combinations Wade Phillips can put together with his new group should be interesting to watch.

The Return of Brian Cushing

The defense took a downward spiral after Cushing was lost for the season with an ACL injury, but reports have him ready to return. The defense is that much better with their “Captain” on the field and he is heading into the season on the last year of his deal. Proving he is healthy is one thing, but he is playing for a new deal to keep him in Houston. It will be interesting to see how much he participates during OTAs, but it will be a good sign for the Texans to have him back.

DeAndre Hopkins

The Offense Gets a New Addition

Now it is time to see if the addition of DeAndre Hopkins is a big enough boost to a non explosive offense. Hopkins finally gives the Texans a threat opposite of Andre Johnson, but expectations should be tempered for Hopkins. Wide receiver is one of the toughest positions in the NFL to transition to from college, but there will be big things expected out of Hopkins in Houston. It will be up to Gary Kubiak on how to use Hopkins effectively, all signs are pointing to him starting in week one.

You can follow Patrick on Twitter.  He is the Editor of State of the Texans.

You can follow Patrick on Twitter.  He is the Editor of State of the Texans.

Thankful for the opportunity and privilege to join the @houstontexans #Texans #timetogettowork

— Tyler Horn (@Tyler63Horn) May 15, 2013

The Houston Texans have announced the signing of center, Tyler Horn. Horn is a first year player out of the University of Miami and is 6-4 and 305 lbs.

Horn signed with the Atlanta Falcons after the 2012 NFL draft, but was waived on the final cuts heading in the season. In October, Horn was signed to the Tennessee Titans practice squad and he finished the 2012 season with the Titans.

Horn was a veteran invited to rookie mini camp last weekend and ended up being extended a contract to compete for a spot during training camp. Horn and Deji Karim were both signed by the Texans after impressing the Texans during their tryout. With the signing of the two the Texans waived rookies running back George Winn and offensive tackle Dann O’Neill.

The moves the Texans are at 89 players on their current roster.

We talked about his knee injury scare, how the offensive zone schemes from North Carolina and Houston compare, and how he is looking forward to working with Duane Brown.

Listen to Williams. 

You can follow Patrick on Twitter.  He is the Editor of State of the Texans.

We talked to Al Muskewitz from the Anniston Star who covers Jacksonville State football for the Star. We asked Al what he saw in the newest Texans wide receiver.

Digging Deep

When you watch Bonner play, who does he remind you of?

Alan Bonner

I don’t know that I can say because I really don’t watch much more than beyond when JSU plays. I could give you a bunch of dual-skilled guys, because that’s what he does, but I wouldn’t want to over rate a guy. I will say he developed a reputation early in the draft process as a sleeper in this past draft and I think he has a chance to surprise as a smaller school draftee. People figured he was going to be a late round pick or priority free agent. The Texans clearly had a need, they liked him and took him. Not a bad pick when you put all that together.

Is he a true wide receiver or does his value lie in his kick returner ability? 

He’s a wide receiver but the JSU staff recognized early on what his value was as a return specialist. If I remember right, it started when they needed a guy who could at least catch the ball in pouring rain at Florida State — a game JSU had won until the final two minutes — they put him back there and the rest as they say …

What is his biggest attribute that made him draftable for the Texans?

That he can do more than one thing. He’s a down-the-field threat, has good hands and for most, if not all, of his senior year was the FCS active career leader in a bunch of punt return categories.

Was he consistently the best player for the Gamecocks?

I’d say consistently the most reliable. During his career, JSU had former big-time SEC skill position guys – Ryan Perrilloux and Washaun Ealey – but neither went to the Combine or got drafted after their senior years because of character concerns that kept them out of regular season games. They’ve also had a couple DBs make rosters as free agents, but one parlayed one big game as a junior into his opportunity.

Alan Bonner

Can he make the Texans as a wide receiver?

Since Kubiak already is on record saying he likes Bonner’s work ethic and things he’s already seen and there is a definite need at the position, I don’t see any reason he can’t.

How do you see him at the NFL level moving forward? 

The more you can do the more chances you have to play. Bonner’s ability as a return specialist – not just that he can do it, but he has proven he can perform (albeit not within the level of major DI or NFL) — gives him a chance to be in the league longer than if he were just a receiver.

You can follow Patrick on Twitter.  He is the Editor of State of the Texans.

RB/KR Deji Karim @kingkarim36 has signed with the Houston #Texans…congrats to Deji, well deserved!

— Jason Bernstein (@JB_XAM) May 14, 2013

The Houston Texans have signed free agent running back Deji Karim to a deal. Karim was invited to rookie mini camp this past weekend on a tryout basis that resulted in an offer being made. He is 5-8 and 209 lbs. and in his 4th season in the NFL from Southern Illinois.

He was selected in the 6th round of the 2010 NFL Draft (180th overall) by the Jacksonville Jaguars and played last season with the Indianapolis Colts. Karim will bring a veteran in to compete for the final running back position with four free agent rookies.

In his career Karim has 98 rushing attempts for 290 yards with no touchdowns and 17 receptions for 130 yards. He has averaged over 25.9 yards a kickoff return in 86 career returns.

During the three-day stretch of camp, Karim understands the offense well and caught the ball well out of the backfield. The Texans are playing it safe bringing in a veteran running back just in case a rookie can’t take over the position by camps end.

This was Karim’s highlight of the 2012 season at the Texans expense.

See what Jones had to say.

You can follow Patrick on Twitter.  He is the Editor of State of the Texans.

Big takeaway from the Wade Phillips interview was that ILB Darryl Sharpton hasn’t been cleared for offseason work.

— Seth Payne (@PayneNFL) May 13, 2013

Sharpton was injured in the a regular season game versus the Indianapolis Colts in a December 30th loss on the road. It was a hip injury that marked the third time in his three-year span he has ended his season on the injured reserve. He was supposed to be the player to replace DeMeco Ryans after he was traded in the 2012 offseason, but health has prevented Sharpton from taking over the starting inside linebacker position.

He is a tough player inside and compliments starter Brian Cushing well in the 3-4 defense, but with this new development this could lead to bigger issues down the road. This will be a story to watch moving forward for the Texans, especially with OTAs starting next week for the Texans.

Alan Bonner, #16

The three day mini-camp wrapped up and the Houston Texans were able to look at and evaluate 56 players. The Texans had draft picks and 23 rookies already signed to deals who looked to be safe moving out of this phase of the Texans off season.

We were able to take in four of the five practices and get a good look at this new group of rookies who are going to join the veteran part of the team for OTAs and training camp.

*Disclaimer: We left offensive and defensive lineman off until pads are put on but we are high on Brennan Williams and David Quessenberry. 

The Drafted

1. DeAndre Hopkins, Wide Receiver (6-1, 214 lbs.)

He looked better than anyone else on the field. Now it is time to see if he can do it against the veterans. He has the physical gifts to help from the start in week one, but it will be a process. Expectations will grow with every catch he makes in OTAs, training camp and preseason, but he handles himself like a seasoned veteran. Hopkins has the chance to be special and he has a focus that is evident when he gets on the field.

2. D.J. Swearinger, Safety (5-10, 208 lbs.)

Swearinger has the makings for a nice addition to a team that needs a little attitude, a leader and overall football player. He, like Hopkins, stole the show during the mini-camp and was helping defenders line up in the secondary in the first day. Everything he says to his teammates is positive and he backs it up on the field. He had one interception during camp and was all over the field. Swearinger will be a nice compliment to Danieal Manning and Ed Reed.

Trevardo Williams, #54

3. Trevardo Williams, Outside Linebacker (6-1, 241 lbs.)

Put together a little better than we expected, Williams looks like he can play either outside linebacker position. He has some serious speed off the edge and showed he can get low around the corner against offensive tackles. It will be interesting to see how he produces against NFL tackles, but he has gotten off to a good start.

4. Alan Bonner, Wide Receiver (5-10, 193 lbs.)

Another player who is built bigger than what his height and weight make him out to be on paper. Bonner is a good router runner and catches the ball consistently.  He is not flashy but showed some speed when he was asked to stretch the field. He has the makings to be a solid NFL wide receiver with some special teams return ability.

5. Sam Montgomery, Outside Linebacker (6-3, 262 lbs.)

Montgomery is the one player at the Texans camp that is being put under a microscope. He has handled the early media crush well and, despite back spasms, he did improve over the three day stretch. He even showed some coverage skills and did not look that bad in his first attempts to do it. He really flashed some of his skill set when they went to the team session during practice. He played with a little more speed and showed he can get mean with other players. One thing is for sure, he will need to get into better shape which will help him adjust to his new settings.

The Free Agent Rookies

Dennis Johnson, #28

1. Dennis Johnson, Running Back, (5-7, 196 lbs.)

We have said this a few time, we think 5-7 is being generous to Johnson. More will be seen when the pads are strapped on, but he has some lateral quickness and quick feet when he gets the ball in his hands. Also, Johnson has some good vision with the football and he showed some power in blocking drills when he knocked down a teammate that was holding a blocking dummy during pass protection drills.

2. Cierre Wood, Running Back (5-11, 213 lbs.)

A nice runner who has a bigger frame and understands the zone blocking scheme and how to run in it. He has a one cut running style that fits perfect here in Houston and he has some pass catching ability. Wood showed a nice run when he hurdled a defender on the ground and didn’t break stride when he landed to gain more yards.

3. Evan Frierson, Inside Linebacker (6-0, 237 lbs.)

It is hard to tell how Frierson will produce in the run game but he has some good coverage skills and showed some nice speed from the inside. Covering runningbacks or tightens, Frierson has the ability to contribute if he can keep this up. It’s early but how he handles the run defense will be his true test moving forward.

4. Orhian Johnson, Safety (6-3, 215 lbs.)

A gifted athlete, Johnson has all the physical tools to produce at the NFL level. A tall and rangy safety, Johnson showed why he tested off the charts during his pro day at Ohio State. Good feet and 4.4 speed to go with it, he showed he can cover some ground in a hurry. The “Big O” quickly caught on as a nickname on the field and he had an impressive three days.

A.J. Bouye, #34

5. A.J. Bouye, Cornerback (6-0, 186 lbs.)

Bouye has a nice frame as a cornerback and covered well in team and group sessions. He can body up with bigger receivers but also has the ability to run with faster wide receivers. Bouye has some competition from some other teammate, but he started off with some solid technique.

Others to Watch

Justin Tuggle, Outside Linebacker (6-3, 244 lbs.)

Tuggle has only played one real season of defense in college. The former quarterback is an athletic edge player who looks like he can drop and play in space.

Willie Jefferson, Outside Linebacker (6-5, 233 lbs.)

The Beaumont native looks like he should be catching passes, but his speed on the field is impressive. Will be interesting to see if he can use that speed against NFL tackles.

You can follow Patrick on Twitter.  He is the Editor of State of the Texans.

We talked to Orange and Brown about the newest Texans’ defensive player.

Digging Deep

What can you tell us about Chris Jones and what he meant to Bowling Green State University?

Chris Jones was an absolute warrior for BG. He committed to Coach Gregg Brandon who was fired after the season. Schools came after him but he stuck with his commitment under our new Coach. He played on a couple of pretty bad teams as the program was re-built but he continued to be a leader and to play hard on every down. He’s the kind of player you just love and he will forever be a Falcon.

Chris Jones

Do you think Jones can be successful at the nose tackle position for the Texans?

I’m no pro scout but I believe that if anyone has the chance to over-achieve and becoming a contributing NFL player, it is Chris Jones. He is hard working and coachable. As always, you worry about pure size with a guy leaving the MAC, but I think that given a little time Jones will develop.

Jones has the rare ability to get to the quarterback from the interior. What made him successful?

To be fair, they moved him around on the line alot last year on passing downs so I wouldn’t say that they all were on the inside–sometimes he was on the edge. He was probably double-teamed on every sack he got, which makes his productivity even more impressive. Every team planned every play’s pass coverage around him, and he still got to the QB.

I would attribute his success to three things. First, he has an incredible motor. Second, he has a low center of gravity and incredible footwork. Third, he finishes when he gets to the QB. He doesn’t look for a highlight film hit, he puts the QB on the ground.

How does he play against the run?

Run coverage is not the strongest part of his game. First, he was often not on the field on second down…but he was mostly a block eater against the run. You didn’t really see him make big plays on rushes too often.

Chris Jones

How do you see him progressing at the NFL level?

I think he landed in a really good situation. Because Houston has a strong D-line, Chris can develop while playing a few downs a game. I think he does have upside because he has the intangibles and is willing to be taught. I think he will take some time but I am confident he can become a productive NFL lineman in the right situation.

He could be the “steal” of the Texans draft class. Do you agree with that statement and why?

I believe Chris is one of those guys who excels at being better than the guy who is blocking him. He might not translate too well in drills but tape doesn’t lie and he’s a winner. He’s the kind of guy you want in the late rounds and with his work ethic and tenacity, I think he will continue to over-achieve.

 

Arian Foster in a Browns jersey? Sorry, Cleveland fans–it’s just for his upcoming movie “Draft Day” twitter.com/BleacherReport…

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 12, 2013

Day Three Notes

- The day belonged to rookie quarterback Collin Klein, who started his camp off slow. Today he stood in the pocket tall and threw the ball with confidence which included some nice deep balls. He still has some trouble putting zip on footballs in the middle of the field, but when he is on the move his accuracy gets better. Klein had some questions about him as a quarterback coming into camp, but he has progressed nicely in three days especially after a rough day two in camp. He is athletically gifted and might have done just enough to turn his tryout into a potential free agent deal for training camp.

Jake Byrne (89) and Phillip Supernaw (48)

- The tight ends had a big day catching the football. Jake Byrne, Phillip Supernaw and rookie Ryan Griffin all caught the football well. All three are headed into training camp, potentially fighting for one spot on the roster behind veterans Owen Daniels and Garrett Graham. All three will be called upon to run block when needed, and that is what will separate the three when training camp approaches.

- Of course the DeAndre Hopkins update from his mini camp go even more impressive when he hauled in the catch of the day. While running a 9 route, Case Keenum put up the ball for Hopkins to work, and he did just that. With a defender draped on him 30 yards down field, he took to a slide on his back side that resulted in a one-handed catch with his left hand.  Hopkins has made these types of catches the entire mini-camp and he maybe dropped two passes. Needless to say he will help this offense from day one.

- Alan Bonner showed a portion of his game today also, when he went deep for a touchdown with a nice over the shoulder catch from the arm of Klein. Bonner has shown he can do a little of it all, but this was the first time we really got to see his speed to run past someone to make a catch. He has been a quick study when it comes to routes and learning the game.

- Rookie wide receivers Alec Lemon and Andy Cruse both have been catching machines over the stretch. Both are big targets who do everything right and impressed from the standpoint of having minimal drops.

Brennan Williams, #73

- Brennan Williams sat out of practice after a scare from yesterday injuring his left knee. Williams observed practice today and walked around without any noticeable limp. Williams had a good start to mini-camp  but the best news was his MRI coming out clean with no real serious damage to his knee. He will have a real shot to compete for the starting right tackle position when camp rolls around.

-  One player who was on the 53 man roster in 2012 who has impressed is Cameron Collins (6-2 241 lbs.) an inside linebacker who put on some good football weight over the off-season. Collins played special teams last season and has a shot to take one of the open spots at inside linebacker for the upcoming season.

You can follow Patrick on Twitter.  He is the Editor of State of the Texans.

Players looked fatigued during the first practice and the humidity was taking a toll on some players on the field. The second practice was short and crisp and the players looked more in tune with the practice.

Day one notes can be seen here. 

Day Two Notes

D.J. Swearinger before practice.

- DeAndre Hopkins and D.J. Swearinger showed their leadership today with the young group on the field. They are always first in drills and lead by example. Both stole the show with their respective team units, and Swearinger intercepted a pass from Case Keenum and took it in for a touchdown. Hopkins once again made impressive catches, especially one across the middle then he slid low to catch a low pass. Both have also renewed a good rivalry on the practice field from their Clemson and South Carolina days, and the pace picks up when they are both on the field. They are easily the cream of the rookie crop in the early part of the season.

- Texans had a scare when drafted offensive tackle Brennan Williams left the 1st practice session to the locker room after he was rolled up on, which required ice and a trip to the training room before practice was over. Williams returned to practice for the second session, but did not participate. He had an MRI between practices which came up negative, which is a positive sign. Gary Kubiak said Williams will not participate in the remainder of mini-camp, but expects him to return when the veterans report for the start of conditioning.

- Nose tackle Chris Jones impressed with some run technique in drills, and held his own in double team drills. He delivers a strong punch when he comes out of his stance and currently looks like he is the penciled in back up nose tackle for the 2013 season.

- Sam Montgomery showed some coverage skills today versus the tight ends in the team session. There has been questions about Montgomery’s ability to play in space, but for the first time he was not that bad. He showed his ability to run with the receiver and be in the right position. He will need to work on ball skills, but the initial trial run was better than expected.

- Drafted tight end Ryan Griffin looked much better in day two of camp. He has a good feel for finding soft spots in the zone and can catch the ball with ease. Griffin started slow trying to catch up to the offense, but it is good to see him take a step in a day to get going in the offense.

- Collin Klein is a streaky player at quarterback and shows some wow moments, but then struggles at times to make his reads. His athletic ability is very good but the game as a quarterback looks a little fast at times for him. Klein works well on the move and made some good passes to running backs down the sideline on the run. When he has to stand in the pocket to make a throw he either checks down to the running back or scrambles to get yards. He lacks zip to fit the ball in tight spaces and on deep passes it hangs in the air too much which allows defensive backs to make plays.  It will be interesting to see if he can turn this tryout to a contract for training camp, but it is hard to see the Texans taking five quarterbacks to camp.

- Outside linebacker Willie Jefferson is a new name that has shown up. He looks like a wide receiver, but plays on the edge of the defense. His long strides make it tough for offensive tackles to get a good chance to slow him down. To plays on the outside, Jefferson possesses speed to get to the sideline in a hurry. He is going against other rookies, and when the gets to training camp that is when the real test begins for him.

Delano “Lo” Johnson, #64, Defensive End

- Delano Johnson has beefed up to 290 lbs. and moved from outside linebacker to defensive end. Johnson is an athletic and powerful player who showed some of that skill set today. On the practice squad last season, Johnson has been a sleeper for us and has a chance to stick with this team if he can get the position down quickly before camp opens.

- Inside linebacker Evan Frierson showed some good coverage skills versus faster running backs. Frierson is 6-1 and 240 lbs. and has slowly worked himself into standing out from the pack.

- Wide receiver Eze Nwachukwu has impressed us especially with his willingness to go across the middle. He also showed he can go over the top of the defense when needed. At 5-11 199 lbs. he is not as tall as his counterparts, but he has some quick feet and good hands. Where Nwachukwu fits in the Texans plans moving forward is a question, but he has impressed early. ‘

You can follow Patrick on Twitter.  He is the Editor of State of the Texans.

Day One

DeAndre Hopkins, WR #10

D.J. Swearinger, #36

Orhian Johnson, #30

Trevardo Williams, #54 and Sam Montgomery #57

Alan Bonner, #16

Brennan Williams, #73

Cierre Wood, #43

Collin Klein, #5

Zach Boren, #45

Chris Jones, #95

You can follow Patrick on Twitter.  He is the Editor of State of the Texans.

Camp Notes Day 1

- Notable veterans working out for these three days, runningback Deji Karim (5-8 209 lbs.) and cornerback Terrence Wheatley (5-9 185 lbs.)

- DeAndre Hopkins showed his skills on day one, especially catching the football. He made a spectacular one-handed grab that he plucked out of the air with ease. Hopkins showed some crisp route running and ability to separate at the top of routes to create space for the quarterbacks to throw him the ball. He looks like a day one starter and the early impression makes him look like the right selection at the #27 overall pick.

-  Alan Bonner is bigger that what we expected at 5-10 and 193 lbs. Bonner is well put together and has some good ability to get in and out of his breaks while running routes. He has the build to be a NFL wide receiver, he will be one we will watch moving forward.

- Brennan Williams and David Quessenbery are big offensive lineman with bright futures with the team. Both are players you want off the bus first at the opposing stadium. Williams is an athletic tackle who moves with ease and can get to the second level versus linebackers. Playing at North Carolina has helped Williams make the transition with the Texans and looks like he has a head start with the similarities with the zone offenses ran by the Texans and North Carolina.

- Rookie safety from Ohio State, Orhian Johnson is a tall imposing safety who is one of the most gifted players out on the field these next three days. At 6-3 and 215 lbs. Johnson has quick feet and speed to cover sideline to sideline as a free safety. He will intrigue as camp goes on and looks like one of the early players to watch in camp.

Dennis Johnson, Runningback, #28

- The running back situation looks like it will be a dog fight when training camp arrives, but Dennis Johnson and Cierre Wood impressed early. Johnson (5-7 196 lbs.) can fit through tiny creases and catch the football out of the backfield, smaller in stature Johnson looks game ready with an impressive build. Wood (5-11 213 lbs.) reminds us some of current Texans running back Ben Tate with the downhill one cut running style that is necessary for this zone offense. Both rookies will be ones to watch especially with an open position on the 53 man roster at runningback.

- Cornerback A.J. Bouye (6-0 186 lbs.) looked good in coverage and held his own going against Hopkins. Bouye had a pass breakup, but his long frame allows him to play physical, the rookie from Central Florida started camp off well.

D.J. Swearinger, Safety, #36

- D.J. Swearinger was impressive with his leadership skills and directing traffic from the safety position. He was lining up players while taking care of his own business on the field. Swearinger has some early respect from his teammates on the field and is vocal enough to get the defense going. During drills Swearinger has quick feet with good hip movement, and fans are going to like what he brings to the team.

- 1st year tight end Jake Byrne looked good as a Texan in his first official practice. Signed shortly after the end the 2012 season, the blocking tight end, showed he had a good grasp of the offense and caught plenty of passes. Byrne is 6-4 and 260 lbs. and he also showed the ability to set the edge in the run game. (Without pads)

- Chris Jones looks like a younger version of former Texans nose tackle, Shaun Cody. Jones has a quickness with his hands that is impressive, and when he hit the football dummies it made a loud enough noise to hear inside the practice bubble. He also has some nice footwork and will have to work on defending the run as training approaches.

- The Texans have a total 56 players out at rookie mini camp for the next three days. 17 are on a tryout basis with Case Keenum, Phillip Supernaw, Delano Johnson, Nick Mondek, Jake Bryne, Cameron Collins and Keith Browner as the Texans 1st year players allowed to practice with the team.

You can follow Patrick on Twitter.  He is the Editor of State of the Texans.

#Texans rookie mini-camp starts tomorrow. 5 practices in 3 days for draft picks, UDFAs, tryout players & 1st-year players

— Nick Scurfield (@NickScurfield) May 9, 2013

1st-yr #Texans eligible for rookie mini-camp: Case Keenum, P. Supernaw, Jake Byrne, Nick Mondek, Delano Johnson, Keith Browner, Cam Collins

— Nick Scurfield (@NickScurfield) May 9, 2013

 

Rookies and Camp Invites

Offense

Zach Boren, Ohio State, Fullback, 6-1 241 lbs.

Graham Pocic, Center, Illinois, 6-7 310 lbs. TRYOUT

Dann O’Neill, Western Michigan, Offensive Tackle, 6-8 305 lbs.

Marlon Brown, Georgia, Wide Receiver, 6-4 213 lbs.

Raymond Graham,  Pittsburgh, Running back, 5-9 190  lbs.

Uzoma Nwachukwu, Texas A&M, Wide Receiver, 6-0 194 lbs.

Jon Opperud, Montana, Offensive Tackle, 6-7 302 lbs.

Andy Cruse, Miami (OH), Wide Receiver, 6-3 212 lbs.

Bryan Collins, SMU, Offensive Guard, 6-3 313 lbs.

Dennis Johnson, Arkansas,Running back,  5-6 196 lbs.

Alex Kupper, Louisville, Offensive Guard, 6-3 298 lbs.

Collin Klein, Kansas State, Quarterback, 6-5, 226 lbs. 

Cierre Wood , Notre Dame, Running back, 5-11 213 lbs.

Michael Smith, UConn, Wide Receiver, 6-0 201 lbs. TRYOUT

Alec Lemon, Syracuse, Wide Receiver, Wide Receiver, 6-2 202 lbs.

George Winn, Cincinnati, Runningback, 5-10, 216 lbs.

Defense

Justin Tuggle, Inside Linebacker, Kansas State, 6-3, 244  lbs.

Travis Howard, Cornerback, Ohio State,  6-1 200 lbs.

Willie Jeffeson, Outside Linebacker, Stephen F. Austin, 6-6 234 lbs. 

Ja’Gared Davis, SMU, Outside Linebacker, 6-1 235 lbs.

Earl Okine, Florida, Defensive End, 6-6 286 lbs.

Evan Frierson, Illinois State, Inside Linebacker, 6-2 240 lbs.

Orhian Johnson, Ohio State, Safety, 6-2 210 lbs.

Johnny Adams, Michigan State, Cornerback, 5-11 177 lbs.

Torlan Pittman, SMU, Defensive Tackle, 6-1, 285 lbs. 

Jawanza Starling, USC, Safety, 6-1 200 lbs.

Malik “Fig” James, Langston University, Defensive Back, 6-0 195 lbs. 

A.J. Bouye, University of Central Florida, Cornerback, 6-0 186 lbs.

Javicz Jones, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Linebacker/Safety 6-0 224 lbs. 

Specialty

Andrew Shapiro, Fresno State, Punter, 6-0 198 lbs.

Dansby is one of the more attractive free agents on the market and will sign with a NFL team before training camp opens across the league.

The 10 year veteran (Auburn) is 31 and is 6-4 and 250 lbs. and would look to be a viable compliment to starter Brian Cushing for the 2013 season. This would give the Texans one of their best inside linebacking groups in team history rivaling DeMeco Ryans and Cushing from previous seasons.

Dansby has flourished in the 3-4 defensive scheme, and if the Texans can sign him for the upcoming season it would be another upgrade to an already solid defense.

Montgomery was a defensive end at Louisiana State University but it looks like he will be switched to a strong side outside linebacker. We talked to Billy Gomila from and The Valley Shook, an LSU blog covering the Tigers.

Digging Deep

Sam Montgomery

What do you think about Montgomery falling to the 3rd round? Is it a product of his interviews or his play on the field?

It’s a little of both. His junior season wasn’t quite as productive as everybody would’ve hoped, and when he was asked, he made it no secret: he didn’t play his hardest against a schedule that didn’t feature as many big games in 2012. When Sam Montgomery finishes a game against somebody like Towson, with two tackles, its a safe bet he was loafing it. And when asked at the NFL Combine, he gave an honest answer.

Do you think Montgomery benefited the most from the talent that LSU put on the field in 2012, or was he one of the better players?

If you asked me who was the better college player out of Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo, I would’ve taken Sam every day. That said, everybody on LSU’s defensive line in the last two seasons benefited from their teammates: two first-round picks (Mingo and Michael Brockers last year) plus a pair of later round guys like Montgomery and Bennie Logan (taken by the Philadelphia Eagles), with more likely coming in the near future as well. So the answer’s ultimately a little column A, a little column B.

Montgomery sounds like he will make the transition to a stand up edge player. Do you think his talent will help or hurt this move?

To be perfectly honest, I would’ve guessed he’d be a better fit with his hand on the ground. Sam has a tremendous first step but he’s not an elite 40 guy like a Mingo or a DeMarcus Ware, and he never showed the kind of movement in space you’d think you would want. My first guess when I saw the Texans took him, was that he’d be groomed as a bigger 5-technique pass-rusher, similar to J.J. Watt. However, Wade Phillips is a really good defensive mind and knows how to fit guys into his style. I’d trust him.

What did Montgomery mean to the LSU program?

Sam was one of the real heartbeats of the team the last few seasons. He came to school as a really highly recruited defensive end and met the hype about as well as could be expected. He was at his best in the team’s biggest games, especially Alabama in recent years, and always carried himself well in interviews (aside from his attack of over-honesty at the combine). He’s also a fun-loving character with a Sonic the Hedgehog obsession. Fans will love him.

Montgomery getting the quarterback.

What type of player do you think the Texans are getting with Montgomery?

Montgomery seems a bit miscast as a 3-4 outside linebacker, but he definitely has NFL talent. When he’s dialed in, he’s a high-motor guy that can really burst off of the line and uses his hands incredibly well. What’s more, he was always a very tough run defender despite not being the biggest of ends in the SEC. I’m not sure I could ever see him being a star in the NFL, but I can easily see him being a good starting-caliber player for a long time, barring injury of course.

What do you expect of Montgomery at the next level with the Texans?

From a football perspective, I’m very curious as to how Phillips will use him. He might need to shed a little weight to play in a two-point stance, but as a third-round pick that’s hardly a big risk, and if it doesn’t work out I think he could shift to 3-4 defensive end very well. NFL teams can always use talented defensive linemen and I think Houston will enjoy having Sam. Like I said, he’s also a character that should fit in well in most locker rooms.

Williams is everything you want in an offensive tackle, a nasty player that knows how to finish off blocks. We talked to our good friend Doc Heelfire from the Tar Heel Blog and he gave us more insight into the big right tackle.

Digging Deep

Williams at the 2013 NFL combine.

What did Brennan Williams mean to the UNC football program?

Williams was one of the anchors of a Tar Heel line that finally lived up to expectations. Williams held down the right side of a line that blocked for a 3,000-yard passer in Bryn Renner and a 1,000-yard runner in Giovani Bernard. It was easy for Williams to be overshadowed being on the same line as NFL top-10 pick Jonathan Cooper, but Williams and left tackle James Hurst were rock-solid on the outside. Williams was named second-team all-ACC despite missing the last month of the season.

How big of loss was it for the Tar Heels when they lost Williams for the season?

It was a significant loss because of his skill and leadership. Carolina was deep on the line and was able to compensate for his absence, but I think the impact of his loss was in the intangibles. Perhaps the best measure of that was left tackle Hurst changing his number from 68 to Williams’ 73 for the remainder of the season to honor his injured teammate.

How would you describe Williams game?

Williams is an excellent run blocker and he will pancake a defender given a chance. He moves well downhill and has great footwork. Unfortunately, he is not as adept at pass blocking. When he is forced to settle in and handle a defender one-on-one in a pass blocking scheme, he can struggle, especially given how good of a run blocker he is. There is also concern from some experts about his inexperience (only a season and a half as a starter) and his return from his shoulder injury.

What is Williams biggest strength as an offensive tackle?

In addition to the aforementioned footwork, he is the kind of tackle you want to see out of central casting: nearly 6-6 and 310 lbs. He is relatively quick for an offensive lineman and has great athleticism.

Williams with his signature look.

Do you think the Texans have found a future starting right tackle in Williams?

I think so. Given some of the Texans’ O-line struggles, especially on the right side, he may even have a chance to come in and fight for snaps right away. It will be interesting to see how he returns from the torn labrum but when he is full speed, he has the potential to contribute right away.

They said T.J. Yates spoke up for Williams when the Texans drafted him, are you surprised?

Not at all. Yates is a class guy and had the chance to play with Williams at UNC. Williams is a character guy and I’m sure Yates has seen his development since he became a full time starter during Yates’ rookie year in Houston.

How do you see Williams projected at the next level?

Williams’ father played a decade in the NFL as a defensive lineman so I’m sure Williams knows what to expect on the other side of the ball. He also had the chance to work every day in practice against a future NFL first-round defensive lineman in Sylvester Williams. Brennan is the definition of upside as he will likely only get better as he adjusts to the pro game and is coached up to be a better pass blocker and keep his hands inside. He has the potential to be a stalwart in Houston for a while.

D.J. Swearinger

If there is one player that seems to be drawing more interest, it has to be the second round pick of the Houston Texans, D.J. Swearinger from South Carolina. Swearinger is a player that plays with alot of confidence and looks to be the Texans’ future at the safety position.

We talked to Gamecock Man from the Garnett and Black Attack to talk more about Swearinger and what he brings to the table for the Texans.

 Digging Deep

What type of player did the Texans get with Swearinger?

Swearinger’s greatest strength is his hard-hitting style. He’s definitely a player in the classic mold of the safety who makes receivers fear for their lives when making a catch over the middle. He’s a ball hawk who made alot of big plays over the course of his career. I’d encourage you guys to look up his pick-six against Arkansas this year or his fumble return against UAB for evidence. He’s also a versatile player with solid coverage abilities, although he’s a bit too stiff to play corner in the NFL and he may be a liability covering slot receivers. Although known for his on-field swagger, he’s also a high-character kid who was a good student and was known as a leader in the locker room at Carolina.

Is he better suited as a box safety or free safety?

I think he’s better suited for free safety because he’s the kind of player you want roaming the field looking to make a play. He’s versatile though and one of his strengths for the Texans will definitely be that he’s capable of backing up both positions early in his career. He even played a little bit of cornerback in college, although I doubt he could do so in the NFL.

What do you think of this comment about Swearinger from Todd McShay, “He’s going to have to be careful with the way he hits at the next level.”?

I agree with McShay. Swearinger is not shy to go for the brutal bone-cruching hit and he hits high sometimes. He’s drawn alot of penalties over the course of his career and, if I recall correctly, his response to one of them wasn’t that he screwed up, but that the rules were forcing players to get away from the way football should be played. That should give you an idea of his attitude.

Another thing to note in this regard is that he is often a little too physical with receivers in coverage. He’s gotten away with alot over the course of his career that will be called as pass interference in the NFL.

Swearinger

Swearinger made a comment when he signed with S.C. that they would not lose to Clemson while he was there. The Gamecocks went 4-0 during that stretch. Did he always back up what he talked?

I’d say he did, and he took a special interest in beating Clemson. On the subject of his hard hits, he drew a taunting penalty against Clemson this past year after a hard hit against Clemson runningback Andre Ellington. At the time, you wondered if the penalty would cost us. However, it actually seemed to accelerate our momentum in the game. The Carolina-Clemson series during our recent run has been characterized by Carolina’s ability to physically impose upon Clemson, and that play was the one where Carolina began to cower Clemson. The play is illustrative of Swearinger’s style. The aggressive play gets him in trouble sometimes, but he’s also a player who strikes fear into the opposition.

What did Swearinger mean to the Gamecocks’ program?

He’s a player we’ll all remember fondly. He had alot to do with Carolina’s emergence as a top program in recent years. His off-field devotion reflected the team’s new-found commitment to playing for elite status, and his on-field style reflected a new-found confidence for the program. He had a tangible effect on most of our big wins over the last couple of years.

What do you expect from Swearinger moving forward with the Texans in the NFL?

I think he’ll be excellent for you guys. Like I said, his versatility could make him a valuable backup in his first couple of years, while he’s learning the ropes of the league. When his time comes, I think he could be an excellent starting free safety for you. He’ll help you win games and fans will enjoy his style of play.

We wanted to find out more about DeAndre Hopkins and how he performed at Clemson and get Brian’s thoughts on how Hopkins could project moving forward as a Houston Texan.

Digging Deep

DeAndre Hopkins

What can you tell us about DeAndre Hopkins and his time at Clemson?

Ever since Hopkins stepped on campus most fans knew he would be special. He is a local guy (graduating from Daniel High School in Clemson) and one of the biggest frustrations from Clemson fans is that we don’t get a chance to give him a proper sendoff on Senior Day this coming year. He has shown real improvement each season at Clemson and is a wide receiver that will go and get the ball. His performances against Auburn and LSU this past year were simply spectacular. Everything thrown to him seemed to be caught and he went after the ball without a single care towards the man defending him. Though he doesn’t have pure speed like some receivers, he does have football speed and woe betide any linebackers that are forced to cover him.

Does Hopkins still have room to grow as a wide receiver? If so, what does he need to work on?

Probably his biggest area of improvement is going to come off the ball, especially in blocking. Hopkins has the willingness to do it, but needs to work on technique. I’d also like to see him add a bit of muscle to help fight off NFL DB’s, especially with his tendency to go after the ball at its highest point.

I think he can be. When he arrived on campus, it was a shock that it took even half a season for him to break into the starting lineup and he had success even as the only receiver who could catch the ball that year. Quarterback Tajh Boyd has always trusted Hopkins to make the big plays. It seemed like any critical third down over the past 2 seasons involved getting the ball into Hopkins’ hands, and he delivered.

What can Texans’ fans expect from Hopkins the player and Hopkins the person?

As a player, you are getting someone who isn’t going to take plays off and someone who is going to make some plays. He isn’t flashy and my guess is alot of fans outside of Houston aren’t going to know who he is, but Hopkins is okay with that. He is a good kid and, as he grows as both a player and a leader, he will be a great locker room influence. By starting him opposite of Andre Johnson, the Texans will set up pretty nicely to succeed on the offensive side of the ball.

Hopkins the basketball player.

What made Hopkins so successful his final season at Clemson?

The early suspension and then illness of Sammy Watkins certainly helped. Boyd was forced to go to Hopkins early and the partnership continued through the entire season. Even when Watkins returned, it seemed like he played second fiddle to the Boyd-Hopkins route. This was also the first season where Hopkins devoted the entire offseason to football. After his freshman year, Hopkins played basketball for Clemson and that hurt him coming into the 2011 season. The offseason between 2011 and 2012 allowed Hopkins to really put some work into becoming a complete football player.

How do you envision Hopkins’ future playing out in the NFL?

I think he is going to have a solid and quite possibly spectacular career. With his work ethic, I don’t think the transition to the NFL will be too difficult for him, and with the number of NFL offenses that like to throw the ball around, he’s going to have alot of opportunities to get the ball in his hands. The only concern I would have is his height, especially against some of the DB’s in the league.

This is already is the first medical issue for Reed, and hopefully the last for some time. Reed played with the labral tear the entire 2012 season and playoffs for the Baltimore Ravens and he has not missed a start the past two seasons.

Reed was the Texans biggest off-season acquisition after he signed a three-year $15 million deal with Houston. Reed is ready to start his 12th season in the NFL and his first with the Texans.

Tale of the Tape Ray Graham

Ray Graham

Ht:                   5’9

Wt:                  199

40  time:         4.68

10 yd split:      1.70

Vertical:          32”

Broad:             9’04”

20 yd Shuttle:            4.21

3 cone:            7.03

Reps:               18

Career Rush:   3,271 yds

Rush TDs:        32 TDs

Career Rec:     98

Rec Yards:       799 yds

Rec TDs:          4 TDs

When evaluating Ray Graham, it was like watching two different players.  There is Ray Graham BK (Before Knee Injury) and Ray Graham AK (After Knee Injury).  You can see the similarities in the two players but it’s the differences that caused him to go undrafted.

Before Graham tore his ACL against the University of Connecticut in 2011, he was averaging 134 yards a game.  He was explosive, ran with power at the point of contact, lowered his pads to gain balance through the tackle and maybe the most exciting aspect was that he had a diabolical spin move that never looked forced or out of control.  Let’s now fast forward to 2012.

Ray never lost his vision or cutting ability.  He also showed talented hands out of the backfield.  Due to the agility in his lateral movements, this still makes him a threat in the NFL, especially on third downs.  A positive that came from Graham’s injury was the fact that he became more patient on developing blocks.  If he can ever regain his 2011 form, this would make him even more deadly than Ray Graham BK.

The Texans were smart to add Graham as a priority undrafted free agent.  Marcus Lattimore was more publicized but the two backs have a similar story.  Both were at the top of the running backs’ rank in college football and neither regained the form that they once showed.  The 49ers wisely used one of their many draft selections to add Lattimore into an already heavily saturated backfield.  There is zero risk for San Francisco.  The Texans are basically doing the same thing with Graham and didn’t even have to use a draft pick.  They were considering drafting University of Miami running back Mike James in the 6^th round, but he was selected six picks before the Texans’ selection.  Houston went on to draft Alan Bonner, mainly for his return ability.  That’s another thing that Ray Graham can bring to the table.  He was a kick returner during his freshman and sophomore years at Pitt.

The Texans hope that Ray can get back some of the speed, explosion, power and spin ability that made him such a dynamic collegiate running back.  If he does regain those attributes to go along with his vision, lateral movements and hands, then the NFL will start to build the legend of Gary Kubiak’s ability to find hidden running back talent late, much in the same manner of his mentor, Mike Shanahan.

My Opinion:  Ray Graham has fallen into the perfect situation for himself.  He goes to a zone team that fits his current strength and one that won’t give up on him early.  His spin move was deadly and I’d like to see it come back, but in 2012 he didn’t trust the repaired knee yet.  He has more value now than he would have had 10 years ago due to the successes of Willis McGahee, Frank Gore and Adrian Peterson coming off similar injuries.  Arian Foster is coming off a season where he received way too many touches.  Ben Tate can’t stay healthy.  Houston is looking for one of these rookies to contribute, but probably have long term plans for a couple and maybe even all of them.  Houston has “magically” found a way to keep several talented younger players around at positions of needs in the past.  The IR, PUP and practice squads aren’t considered dirty words for this organization.   When you have a running back that I stop just short of comparing his jump cut to Reggie Bush “esque” and he isn’t even 100%, you find a place for him in your organization.

Tale of the Tape on Dennis Johnson

Dennis Johnson

Ht:                   5’7

Wt:                  196

40  time:         4.48

10 yd split:      1.59

Vertical:          32 1/2”

Broad:             9’10”

20 yd Shuttle:            4.53

3 cone:            7.13

Reps:               21

Career Rush:   2,036 yds

Rush TDs:        13 TDs

Career Rec:     63

Rec Yards:       510 yds

Rec TDs:          4 TDs

Dennis Johnson’s 2011 and 2012 seasons were the exact opposite of Graham’s.  Johnson came off a 2010 injury in 2011.  In 2012, he became the better back.  The reason the Texans like Johnson could be all too telling on their infatuation for Graham.  They don’t have to look into a crystal ball to see how much of a difference an extra year will make with Ray Graham because they already saw it in the Arkansas film on Johnson, but it’s not just the running back position that intrigues the Texans on Dennis.

Johnson is 9^th on the all-time list for career all purpose yards in the SEC.  As far as the eight guys ahead of him on that list, a few might stick out, Darren McFadden, Hershel Walker and former Texan, Domanick Davis (Williams).  Johnson has 2,784 kickoff return yards and has had a return of 90+ yards in three different seasons in the SEC.

In his first year coming back from injury, Johnson’s feet were choppier during his change of direction.  While he’ll never plant and cut as exceptionally as Graham, he did show impressive lower body manipulation in 2012.  He was more decisive and took the wasted movement out of his game after he had a couple of years to get back to form.

Johnson can run between the tackles with power and has the speed to go wide outside of the tackles.  In the first year back from the injury, he relied too heavily on initial burst to the hole.  If he didn’t come back healthy in 2012 and become more of an “analyze and cut” back, he wouldn’t have been a solid scheme fit for Houston.  Johnson has an entertaining and unusual running style for backs of his size.  He plays quick and violent which makes him a consistent big play threat.  Dennis runs with lean towards contact which prepares him to embrace impact and contain balance.  Don’t let his 5’7″ frame fool you, he lives for the end of runs.  It’s not because they always end in touchdowns, it’s due to the fact that he’s more the aggressor.  Johnson routinely drops his shoulder into the chest of attackers and has the compact punch to lay them out.

My Opinion:  Dennis Johnson will be the Houston Texans’ 2013 kick returner.  He can immediately contribute to the running and receiving game.  If Ben Tate or Arian Foster goes down, Houston wouldn’t have a problem running through the remainder of the season with Johnson getting 10+ touches a game.  Johnson is a great fit as a 3^rd down back as he possesses the ability and understanding of blitz pickup.  He’s comfortable with his hands, can make players miss in opening space and always keeps his legs churning for extra yardage.  In 2012, he regained his lower body strength which allowed him to move piles.

Tale of the tape on Cierre Wood

Cierre Wood

Ht:                  5’11

Wt:                  213

40  time:         4.52

Vertical:          37.5”

Broad:             10’4”

20 yd Shuttle:            4.25

3 cone:            6.81

Reps:               18

Career Rush:   2,447 yds

Rush TDs:        16 TDs

Career Rec:     52

Rec Yards:       384 yds

Rec TDs:          2 TDs

When you initially watch Cierre Wood, it’s easy to see why the kid went undrafted.  That sounds like a shot at him but it’s actually not.  Most zone runners aren’t pleasing to the eyes.  It’s why Terrell Davis, Alfred Morris, Arian Foster and others go late or undrafted.  They aren’t the risk and reward type of runners, and the jump off the film, 4.2 type runners.

Wood isn’t going to be the fastest running back. He has an elongated jump step, nothing is flashy in his game, and that suits Kubiak and the Texans to a T.  Wood’s strengths are more boring things like patience, scheme concepts and discipline.

Wood sees the blueprint of his protection as soon as the ball is snapped.  He stays disciplined to the fundamentals of the zone blocking scheme.  He’s the most patient of the three runners.  His style of play fits better in the Vonta Leach, Lawrence Vickers and Greg Jones eras than the James Casey led backfield.  Wood meshes perfectly behind a zone line with a fullback plowing over the first brave soul that is willing to peek out from around his offensive linemen.  After watching numerous games of Wood’s, the one word that kept coming up was patience.  Every move that Cierre makes may be without excitement, but it’s filled with purpose.  Wood is incredible at “squeezing the creases” which points to his unique ability of squeezing his 215 pound frame through the smallest of evaporating seams in the defense.  He sees the opening and closing of lanes and weaves through them with relative ease.  He’s always looking for positive gains and never takes the risk at plays for a loss.

My Opinion:  Out of the three undrafted running backs, I believe that Wood is cut in the closest mold to that of Arian Foster. Kubiak should immediately fall in love with his ability to always find a positive gain and his instant professionalism to not put his teammates in a bad down and distance situation.  He probably won’t be the team’s first option as a third down back.  Dennis Johnson seems a better fit on third down or they can stick with Foster or Tate.

Summary: My comments may come off as a little too rosy when discussing these three undrafted players.  I may be accused of being a homer but I’m actually not a fan of any NFL team and I cover the whole NFL with zero rooting interest.  The Texans are finally a destination city for top of the line free agents, drafted or undrafted.  Houston is reaping the benefits of being a legitimate contender.  Most NFL teams would be ecstatic to get a haul that included one of these three backs so to get all three is simply remarkable.

It’s my belief that Ray Graham is in the team’s long term plans at running back.  It wouldn’t be in the team’s long term interest for him to play early, in my opinion.  Dennis Johnson should be the week one starting kick returner, see time as a 3^rd down back and be the team’s big play threat out the backfield.  Cierre Wood is the most similar to Arian Foster out of the three.  His value skyrockets if Foster gets injured.  Keep in mind that I’m not saying that he is Foster, just that his running style and mentality in the offense runs parallel to that of Arian.  He’ll be a favorite of the coaches as they believe in their offensive line and newly acquired fullback.  They want a running back that doesn’t want to be the show but rather a part of the show.  They will not care that he’s not a big play threat (20+ yards).  They know and he knows that he’ll get his production by taking the 3-6 yard gains consistently and trusting his linemen to provide him with the lanes to get 3 to 4 plays a game in which he gets his 10+ yard carries.

DeAndre Hopkins

DeAndre Hopkins

DeAndre Hopkins Baptized at Practice 

Hopkins Tough Road to get to Houston

Clemson Football Blog Reacts to Hopkins Being Drafted

D.J. Swearinger

Swearinger Joins Teammate and Rival in Houston

The Swearinger Effect

The Garnet and Black Attack weighs in On Swearinger 

Free safety D.J. Swearinger’s boldness an important part of South Carolina’s success

Brennan Williams

Former Catholic Memorial Williams Drafted

Easton’s Williams Drafted by the Texans

UNC Williams Drafted

Sam Montgomery

Sam Montgomery

LSU’s Sam Montgomery picked by Houston Texans in NFL draft

Montgomery Prior to the Draft on Combine Comments

Montgomery could be a Handful for the Texans

Trevardo Williams

Trevardo Williams taken by Houston Texans

Williams Was Slowed at the NFL Combine

Alan Bonner

Bonner first player from Jacksonville St. Drafted since 1991

Houston Picks Newnan’s Alan Bonner In 6th Round

Jacksonville State receiver Alan Bonner drafted by Houston Texans in 6th round

Chris Jones

Chris Jones

2013 NFL draft: Former Brownsburg High School star Chris Jones drafted by Houston Texans

Hustle Belt: NFL Draft Profile: Chris Jones

Monster of the MAC

Ryan Griffin

 Ryan Griffin Gets his Call

UConn Coach Paul Pasqualoni On Record Five NFL Draft Pick

After One Snub, Ryan Griffin Prepares To Be Noticed

You can follow Patrick on Twitter.  He is the Editor of State of the Texans.

At this moment, by our estimations, the Texans have SIX roster spots up for grabs but that number can change with normal OTAs and training camp situations.  The Texans could upgrade these spots and still have a chance to make their team even better for the 2013 season.

Special teams play needs to get better but that starts with depth behind the starters that can get the job done. With the draft picks and potential for more players, the Texans are making that group faster to prevent the poor play from last season that haunted the team the entire 2012 season.

Take a look at the “Early Bird” Texans 53 Man Roster

Early Bird 2013 Texans 53-Man Roster

Green Denotes Rookies

Andre Johnson finally has help.

Offense (22)

Quarterback: Matt Schaub, T.J. Yates, Stephen McGee

Runningback: Arian Foster, Ben Tate, ?????

Fullback: Greg Jones

Tightend: Owen Daniels, Garrett Graham, Ryan Griffin

Wide Receiver: Andre Johnson, DeAndre Hopkins, Keshawn Martin, Lestar Jean, Alan Bonner

Offensive Tackles: Duane Brown, Derek Newton, Dan Quessenberry, Brennan Williams

Offensive Guards: Wade Smith, Ben Jones, Brandon Brooks

Center: Chris Myers

PUP: DeVier Posey

This is an offensive group that got young in a hurry, especially on the offensive line and wide receiver position. The offensive line looks like a position group that is set up for the future and it could be one of the strengths more than ever moving forward, only problem will be time. One issue to watch moving forward with the offensive line is the health of starting right tackle Derek Newton, who is recovering from patellar tendon surgery from this offseason and will be out until training camp. The drafting of two offensive tackles should be a reason for concern and put Newton’s overall health heading into camp into question.

Also, the Texans will have to watch the situation with Wade Smith moving forward, who is in his last year of his deal with the team. The offense has two capable players in Brooks and Jones to take the veteran’s spot, and the ability to keep another young player around in Cody White. White has the versatility to play both guard and center for the team and he was moved up to the active roster to protect him from a Carolina Panthers team who was going to claim him off the practice squad during the 2012 season.

The Texans have to find a third running back. They have always had three on the roster since the arrival of Gary Kubiak. With Cierre Wood, Dennis Johnson, George Winn and Ray Graham all brought in as rookie free agents, the team might be looking for one of them to emerge in camp. There are street free agents the team could find, but it might be wise to take the rookie runningback that could provide some special teams help and spot carries. This will be a position battle to watch as OTAs and training camp approaches.

Notable Players from the 2012 team not in depth chart: Ryan Harris, Andrew Gardner, Cody White, Tyler Clutts, Nick Mondek

 Defense (24)

Defensive End: J.J. Watt, Antonio Smith, Jared Crick, Tim Jamison

Nose Tackle: Earl Mithcell, Chris Jones

Outside Linebacker: Brooks Reed, Whitney Mercilus, Bryan Braman, Sam Montgomery, Trevardo Williams

Inside Linebackers: Brian Cushing, Darryl Sharpton, Tim Dobbins, ?????, ?????

Cornerback: Johnathan Joseph, Kareem Jackson, Brice McCain, Brandon Harris, Roc Carmichael, ?????

Safety: Ed Reed, Danieal Manning, D.J. Swearinger, Eddie Pleasant, Shiloh Keo

Darryl Sharpton has to stay healthy, can he?

The defense will be interesting and it all hinges on what Wade Phillips’ final decision is on Brooks Reed. Reed during draft weekend was hinted on being moved to inside linebacker with the drafting of two outside linebackers, but post draft press conferences makes the coaching staff and Rick Smith non committed to make the move. If Reed stays on the outside, look for that to open two spots on the inside linebacking group, behind the three veterans. If Reed moves to the inside, the team will be looking for a player for both the inside and the edge.

Darryl Sharpton is the wildcard of the defense and it feels like the Texans are going to give him every opportunity to be the man next to Brian Cushing. With Sharpton’s injury history, the Texans could be wise to sign a veteran free agent to fill the starters spot for opening week. Reed could be an option for the inside but the edge run defense would take a hit. Sam Montgomery’s development over training camp could possibly move Reed to the inside, especially if Montgomery can get the SOLB position learned quickly.

As for the secondary, there are some positions up for grabs. An extra cornerback should be needed and Eddie Pleasant and Shiloh Keo’s future with the team is not set in stone. There will be an open competition for the last two safety spots and should be one of the upcoming position battles to watch.

Notable Players from the 2012 team not in depth chart: David Hunter, Cameron Collins, Terrell McClain

Specialty (3)

Kicker: Randy Bullock

Punter: Shane Lechler

Long Snapper: Jon Weeks

Barring injury, this will be the specialty unit for the 2013 season and this group looks like an upgrade on paper already. Rookie kicker success across the NFL should give the Texans a sense of ease with Randy Bullock this season after missing the entire 2012 season with a torn groin.

You can follow Patrick on Twitter.  He is the Editor of State of the Texans.

First Round

No. 27 overall

DeAndre Hopkins

DeAndre “Nuk” Hopkins / Wide Receiver

SOTT Analysis:

Hopkins is the epitome of a technician at wider receiver. He runs great routes and is adept at all receiving routes on the tree, making him ready to start day one. Hopkins comes in a very polished receiver that has very little holes to fill. While Hopkins isn’t a burner, he has enough speed to get separation on deep routes. Hopkins will go up and pluck the ball and compete for the ball in tight coverage. When the Texans targeted him, you can instantly tell why as Hopkins isn’t a diva receiver nor is he a player that will need to be babysat. Hopkins has a very mature demeanor and speaks with confidence as though he belongs in the NFL. He’s not cocky, yet has a quiet confidence about him much like his (soon to be) mentor Andre Johnson.

Texans Fit:

The Texans will more than likely make Hopkins the “Z or Flanker” receiver and Andre will be mainly the “X or Split End” receiver. The “Z” receiver is the receiver that’s usually lined up off the line of scrimmage and will run the short to intermediate routes, while the “X” receiver will run the deep routes. As the season progresses, the Texans will mix Hopkins in as the “X” receiver depending on how well he can get off the jam at the line of scrimmage.

NFL Comparison:  Roddy White, Hakeem Nicks

SOTT DeAndre Hopkins Player Profile

Second Round

Pick no. 57

D.J. Swearinger (from gogamecocks.com)

D.J. Swearinger / Free Safety

SOTT Analysis:

D.J. Swearinger is everything you want in a safety. He has ball skills, awareness, fluid hips and, most importantly, lays the boom! He is the enforcer on the team that will keep the open field free from wide receivers looking to move into his territory. Swearinger has a temperament much like Bernard Pollard (former Texans safety) but has much better range and ball skills.

Texans Fit:

I mentioned on twitter before the Wade Phillips press conference that DJ Swearinger would fill the role of Glover Quin (former Texans safety). He has all the tools that Quin had yet he’s more aggressive. The Texans will make him their third safety in their dime packages. He will be a much better defender of the deep ball than Shiloh Keo or Quintin Demps. Swearinger will be mentored by Ed Reed and will be his eventual replacement when he retires.

NFL Comparison: Glover Quin, Bob Sanders

SOTT D.J. Swearinger Player Profile

Third Round

Pick No. 89

Brennan Williams

Brennen Williams / Tackle

SOTT Analysis:

Brennen Williams is a tackle well suited for the position that is gifted with athleticism and size. Williams has good quickness, arm length and footwork which allows him to stay with quick defenders even if they have a step on him. One of the attributes that stands out about Williams is his aggressiveness and ability to finish blocks and show some nastiness. He will need work on his technique some as he is still raw having only a season and a half as a starter.

Texans Fit:

Williams will come into camp as a rotational guy behind Derek Newton and Ryan Harris, but knowing Kubiak he will allow Williams to be in the mix to start. With Derek Newton coming off of major knee surgery, if he takes advantage of the snaps he gets he could steal the starting position.

NFL Comparison: Winston Justice

SOTT Brennan Williams Player Profile

Third Round

Pick No. 95

Sam Montgomery

Sam Montgomery / Outside Linebacker

SOTT Analysis:

Sam Montgomery is the prototypical player that the Texans like at outside linebacker. He has a relentless motor and has the ability to convert speed to power coming off the edge. Montgomery is a fiery guy once he gets going and will be another volatile personality on the defense along with Cushing, Smith and Watt.  Montgomery shows great explosion off the snap, and burst to close in from backside pursuit or while chasing quarterbacks. He has the strength to set the edge against the run and flashes the ability to disengage from linemen to chase the ball carrier off the edge. One of the things Montgomery will need to work on at the next level is hand technique to disengage consistently, and his flexibility when rushing off the edge.

Texans Fit:

Sam Montgomery is a great pick at this position getting maximum value with a player with a high upside and potential to start for the Texans as rookie. Montgomery will be another guy converted from defensive end to outside linebacker much like Brooks Reed. There is a chance that Montgomery could come in and replace Reed as the strong side linebacker if he shows the ability to drop into space. He will have every opportunity to do this with the Texans potentially moving Reed inside next to Brian Cushing.

NFL Comparison: Lamarr Woodley

SOTT Sam Montgomery Player Profile

Fourth Round

Pick No. 124

Trevardo Williams

Trevardo Williams / Outside Linebacker

SOTT Analysis:

Williams brings to the Texans an athlete with explosive pass rush ability, plus burst off the line of scrimmage along with flexibility to flatten off the edge. He is a high motor guy like the Texans like and plays through the whistle. Williams is undersized for a traditional outside linebacker and will have to improve his ability to set the edge and increase his pass rush repertoire.

Texans Fit:

Trevardo will be a rotational pass rusher that can come in on sub packages or in pass rush situations. Trevardo can be moved around and used to blitz from the slot or from the middle. He is athletic enough to cover some tight ends from the slot and drop into zone coverage. Will be an interesting chess piece once he learns the Texans’ defensive scheme.

NFL Comparison: Elvis Dumervil

SOTT Trevardo Williams Player Profile

Sixth Round

Pick No. 176

David Quessenberry

David Quessenberry / Offensive Tackle

SOTT Analysis:

Quessenberry is a former tight end that transitioned to a lineman. Has the mobility and lateral agility to move in space. Shows the natural ability to get off the line of scrimmage and move to the second level. Has long arms and strength in hands to give defenders a jolt. Quessenberry anchors well enough to neutralize the bull rush and redirect.

Texans Fit:

Quessenberry will come in to compete at right tackle along with rookie Brennan Williams for a chance to start. The bottom line is if he doesn’t win the starting position he could become a swing tackle or move inside to guard.

NFL Comparison: Doug Free

SOTT David Quessenberry Player Profile

Sixth Round

Pick No. 195

Alan Bonner

Alan Bonner / Wide Receiver

SOTT Analysis:

Bonner is an undersized receiver that is quicker than fast. Will be at best a slot receiver at the next level but brings ability to return punt and kickoff returns.

Texans Fit:

The Texans will use Bonner as a return specialist.  If he makes the team, it will be on the special teams, but more than likely he will be a practice squad guy at best.

NFL Comparison: David Anderson (Former Texans receiver)

SOTT Alan Bonner Player Profile 

Sixth Round

Pick No. 198

Chris Jones

Chris Jones / Defensive Tackle

SOTT Analysis:

Jones is a high-motor lineman that was very productive in college albeit on a lower level of competition. Jones shows some burst off the line of scrimmage, uses his hands fairly well, and has a modest pass rush for a defensive tackle. Will use a swim move to get skinny in gaps and get into the backfield; however, he uses a spin move frequently to move away from lineman that wall him off. Jones displays power in his hands and short area quickness to bull rush a blocker into the backfield. Jones also shows the versatility to move across the line from a 0 technique down the line to a 5 technique. I believe that Jones will bulk up to make up for his lack of size as a nose tackle, but he will have to use proper technique to keep leverage against larger blockers.

Texans Fit:

Chris Jones will be a rotational player that will compete with Earl Mitchell for the starting nose tackle position.

NFL Comparison: Earl Mitchell, Karl Klug

SOTT Chris Jones Player Profile

Sixth Round

Pick No. 201

Ryan Griffin

Ryan Griffin / Tight End

SOTT Analysis:

Ryan Griffin is a versatile tight end. He can be used as a split end, used inside in the slot or as an inline blocker. Griffin has a wide catch radius, initial quickness into his routes and is aggressive as a blocker. At the next level, Griffin will have to improve his ability to set the edge as a blocker and learn more of the route tree.

Texans Fit:

I believe Griffin will come in and immediately compete with Garrett Graham for playing time and potentially replace Graham due to multiple concussion issues. As Griffin develops as a tight end, he can be the alternative or part of the alternative to Daniel’s exit and more cap space for the Texans.

NFL Comparison: Joel Dresseen

SOTT Ryan Griffin Player Profile

Orhian Johnson

Orhian Johnson has a real quality skill set that NFL teams look for and the Houston Texans realized what he was and is. Spending four seasons in Columbus, Ohio, Johnson attended one of the more storied schools in the country at The Ohio State University. Johnson was just too good for the Texans to pass up and not have him in a Texans’ uniform.

Johnson started 23 games for the Buckeyes between 2009 and 2012 and appeared in 49 total games, racking up over 130 total tackles. “I feel like I can play either safety position. I can play deep, if needed, but I know playing inside the box is my strength.”, Johnson told us.

At 6-3 and 216 lbs., Johnson has the body frame of a safety to make an NFL roster. Throw in the fact he ran a 4.45 40-yard dash at his Pro Day, broad jumped 10 feet 10 inches and then finished his day off with a 39 1/2 vertical jump. His athletic attributes are off the charts, “I feel like my athleticism is the one thing that makes me different. I can play deep thirds or man to man, depending on what the coaches want from me.”

The Ohio State University was his second home. He is originally from St. Petersburg, Florida, and he is scheduled to graduate in May. “I want to finish school for myself. I want to get my degree from here. When I came to school, I wanted to make sure I got my degree.” Johnson was part of an undefeated Buckeye football team in 2012 and talked highly of the arrival of Head Coach Urban Meyer. “He was exactly what this program needed, a breath of fresh air. Coach came in and everyone on the team bought into what he was doing. We studied and prepared every week and we ended up undefeated which made it a special season.”

The Texans Called

Shortly after the draft, Johnson received a phone call from the Houston Texans and talked about the process, “Location was a big thing for me and heading back South was a key. The Texans came calling and I felt it was a good fit for me and what I wanted to do. This is a childhood dream of mine and I am getting to live it as a Houston Texan.” He continued, “I was waiting at home and when I finally received the phone call it was a moment I will never forget. That is the best thing about this process, I got to choose the best spot for me. Houston was it.”

As we continued talking, I asked him who was the first person that congratulated him. “It was my Dad, and he looked at me and said call DeVier (Posey) now. After I got off the phone with DeVier, we had a nice get together with my Mom and Dad and some family to celebrate.” He continued talking about his father, Oscar, “He has always been there for me and pushing me to get better. He has been the biggest influence in my life and I appreciate everything he has done.”

“The whole process is surreal and I want to come there and work and soak up as much information as I can.” We asked him about getting to camp. Then we asked him about the newly acquired Ed Reed, “He is one of the best to play the game. I am going to listen to him as much as I can, but I also have a job to do to make sure I stay with the team.”

With Johnson coming to Houston, he also has three past teammates who will be with him when he hits camp in current Texans’ wide receiver DeVier Posey, rookies Travis Howard (cornerback) and Zach Boren (fullback). “I talked to everyone and they are all ready, and it will be good to have familiar faces with me in Houston. It is a special situation to have all of the guys together. After I found out we are all going to Houston, we called each other immediately.”

 Moving Forward

“I plan on working until I have to fly to Houston for rookie mini-camp, and I am going to learn as much as I can during those days.”, Johnson expressed. He feels at home with the weather that Texas brings during the summer, especially growing up and playing his high school football in Florida. “I remember that heat and I think I will be good when camp hits, but I have to be prepared for it.”

Johnson knows that this is his best landing spot, especially with the thin safety depth in Houston. “I just want to come in and work and do my job to stay with the team. I have played football my entire life and I am lucky enough to keep playing at the NFL level. I can’t take anything for granted and I thank Houston for the opportunity. Now it is my time to hold up my end of the bargain.”

Orhian Johnson Buckeye player page. 

NFL Draft Profile

We want to thank Orhian Johnson for taking time out to talk to us here at State of the Texans.

You can follow Patrick on Twitter.  He is the Editor of State of the Texans.

 The Drafted Class

DeAndre Hopkins (Clemson) (Twitter)

D.J. Swearinger (South Carolina)  (Twitter)

Brennan Williams (North Carolina)  (Twitter)

Sam Montgomery (LSU)  (Twitter)

Trevardo Williams (UConn)  (Twitter)

David Quessenberry (San Jose State)  (Twitter)

Alan Bonner (Jacksonville State)  (Twitter)

Chris Jones  (Bowling Green)

Ryan Griffin (UConn)

The Rookies

Justin Tuggle (Kansas State)  (Twitter)

Travis Howard (Ohio State)  (Twitter)

Willie Jefferson (SFA)  (Twitter)

Graham Pocio (Illinois)  (Twitter)

Ja’Gared Davis (SMU)  (Twitter)

Earl Okine (Florida)  

Zach Boren (Ohio State)  (Twitter)

Evan Fierson (Illinois State)  (Twitter)

Dann O’Neill (Western Michigan)  

Marlon Brown (Georgia)  (Twitter)

Ray Graham (Pitt.)  (Twitter)

Uzoma Nwachukwu (Texas A&M)  (Twitter)

Jon Opperud (Montana)  (Twitter)

Andrew Shapiro (Fresno State)  

Geroge Winn (Cincinnati)  (Twitter)

Andy Cruse (Miami-OH)  (Twitter)

Orhian Johnson (Ohio State)  (Twitter)

Bryan Collins (SMU)  

Dennis Johnson (Arkansas)  (Twitter)

Alex Kupper (Louisville)  

Collin Klein (Kansas State)  (Twitter)

Cierre Wood (Notre Dame)  (Twitter)

Michael Smith (UConn)  (Twitter)

Johnny Adams (Michigan State)  (Twitter)

Torlan Pittman (SMU)  (Twitter)

Jawanza Starling (USC)  (Twitter)

Malik “Fig” James (Langston)  (Twitter)

A.J. Bouye (UCF)  (Twitter)

Alec Lemon (Syracuse)  (Twitter)

If you have any info on the ones we cannot find, please put them in the comment section below. -PDS

You can follow Patrick on Twitter.  He is the Editor of State of the Texans.

 Here is a list of the Houston Texans undrafted free agents that will be invited to the Texans’ rookie minicamp.  

These have not be confirmed by the team.

2013 UDFA/Rookie Mini Camp Class

Offense

Zach Boren, Ohio State, Fullback, 6-1 241 lbs.

Graham Pocic, Center, Illinois, 6-7 310 lbs. TRYOUT

Dann O’Neill, Western Michigan, Offensive Tackle, 6-8 305 lbs.

Marlon Brown, Georgia, Wide Receiver, 6-4 213 lbs.

Raymond Graham,  Pittsburgh, Running back, 5-9 190  lbs.

Uzoma Nwachukwu, Texas A&M, Wide Receiver, 6-0 194 lbs.

Jon Opperud, Montana, Offensive Tackle, 6-7 302 lbs.

Andy Cruse, Miami (OH), Wide Receiver, 6-3 212 lbs.

Bryan Collins, SMU, Offensive Guard, 6-3 313 lbs.

Dennis Johnson, Arkansas,Running back,  5-6 196 lbs.

Alex Kupper, Louisville, Offensive Guard, 6-3 298 lbs.

Collin Klein, Kansas State, Quarterback, 6-5, 226 lbs. 

Cierre Wood , Notre Dame, Running back, 5-11 213 lbs.

Michael Smith, UConn, Wide Receiver, 6-0 201 lbs. TRYOUT

Alec Lemon, Syracuse, Wide Receiver, Wide Receiver, 6-2 202 lbs.

Defense

Justin Tuggle, Inside Linebacker, Kansas State, 6-3, 244  lbs.

Travis Howard, Cornerback, Ohio State,  6-1 200 lbs.

Willie Jeffeson, Outside Linebacker, Stephen F. Austin, 6-6 234 lbs. TRYOUT

Ja’Gared Davis, SMU, Outside Linebacker, 6-1 235 lbs.

Earl Okine, Florida, Defensive End, 6-6 286 lbs.

Evan Frierson, Illinois State, Inside Linebacker, 6-2 240 lbs.

Orhian Johnson, Ohio State, Safety, 6-2 210 lbs.

Johnny Adams, Michigan State, Cornerback, 5-11 177 lbs.

Torlan Pittman, SMU, Defensive Tackle, 6-1, 285 lbs. TRYOUT

Jawanza Starling, USC, Safety, 6-1 200 lbs.

Malik “Fig” James, Langston University, Defensive Back, 6-0 195 lbs. TRYOUT

A.J. Bouye, University of Central Florida, Cornerback, 6-0 186 lbs.

Javicz Jones, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Linebacker/Safety 6-0 224 lbs. TRYOUT

Specialty

Andrew Shapiro, Fresno State, Punter, 6-0 198 lbs.

You can follow Patrick on Twitter.  He is the Editor of State of the Texans.

Ryan Griffin

The Houston Texans select Ryan Griffin, tight end from University of Connecticut.  Griffin is a big target who has size and height and who can play the ball in the air and be a nice target in the passing game. He also has some ability to run block from the tight end position, which could be a big asset for the team moving forward.

Griffin was on the Mackey award watch list prior to the 2012 season and looks versatile enough to move around and play in multiple positions as a tight end.

Pick Analysis: With the need of a third tight end that can provide some inline blocking, Griffin could be that player at 6-6 and 247 lbs. Griffin will not be a starter but will have to beat out Jake Byrne and Phillip Supernaw for the third tight end spot on the active roster.

Tale of the Tape

Height: 6-6

Weight: 247 lbs.

40 yard dash: 4.9

Hometown: Londonderry, NH

Key Stats: 2012: 29 receptions, 484 yards, 6 touchdowns.

UConn Player Page

Chris Jones

The Houston Texans have selected defensive lineman Chris Jones from Bowling Green University. A stout interior defender, Jones has some pass rushing ability that could help the defense. Jones will probably be a nose tackle for the Texans moving forward and compete for a spot on the roster.

Considered one of the most productive defensive lineman in the country, Jones’ motor is what will give him a shot to make the Texans roster.

Pick Analysis: Hard to say whether Jones will make an impact on the team at this moment, but trusting what the Texans’ front office is doing with drafting Jones should be all fans need to know. Jones’ biggest attribute has to be his pass rushing ability from the inside, one thing the Texans have lacked since Wade Phillips came to run the defense.

Tale of the Tape

Height: 6-2

Weight: 302 lbs.

40 yard dash: 5.25

Hometown: Brownsburg, IN

Key Stats: 2012 MAC Defensive Player of the Year (12.5 sacks)

Awards

• Team Captain (2012)
• MAC Defensive Player of the Year (2012)
• First-Team All-MAC (2012)
• Third-Team All-American by AP (2012)
• First-Team All-America by FWAA (2012)
• First-Team All-MAC (2011)
• Team Captain (2011)
• Named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week twice (Idaho, Temple, 2011)
• Third-Team All-MAC (2010)
• National Defensive Lineman of the Week (Central Michigan, 2010)
• Named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week (Central Michigan, 2010)

Bowling Green Player Profile

NFL Combine Profile

Alan Bonner

The Houston Texans have selected Alan Bonner from Jacksonville State, who plays wide receiver and returner. He ranked ninth in the nation in punt returns and, as for his kick return ability, he averaged 25.9 yards a return. His senior season, Bonner had 50 catches for 859 yards and 8 touchdowns.

Pick Analysis: Bonner brings a returner to the mix and is able to compete for the 5th wide receiver position. He will have every opportunity to make the team and at this point being the full time kick return specialist could be his best way to make this team.

Tale of the Tape

Height: 5-10

Weight: 190 lbs.

40 yard dash: 4.5

Hometown: Newnan, Gerogia

Jacksonville State Player Page

NFL Combine Page

David Quessenberry

The Houston Texans have drafted offensive tackle David Quessenberry from San Jose State University.  Quessenberry is one of the more versatile offensive lineman in this draft and has the skill set to play any position on the offensive line. He really stood out at the 2013 Senior Bowl where he opened some eyes when he held his own versus better competition. A former tight end, he has the skill set to move and get to the second level in the run game and has the athleticism to stay with quicker rushers.

Pick Analysis: This pick is built for the future and he with Brandon Brooks, Ben Jones and newly drafted Brennen Williams are a good foundation moving forward. Quessenberry’s value was too good to pass up, especially his ability to play any position on the offensive line.

Tale of the Tape

Height: 6-5

Weight: 302 lbs.

40 yard dash: 5.06 seconds

Hometown: Carlsbad, CA

San Jose State Player Page

NFL Draft Combine

Trevardo Williams

The Houston Texans have selected defensive end/outside linebacker Trevardo Williams from the University of Connecticut. Williams is the essence of what a pass rusher is and looks to bolster a questionable 2012 pass rushing team. Williams is an explosive player with natural pass rushing ability. He can close on ball carriers with ease and is an athletic piece that can be moved around due to his ability.

Pick Analysis: Williams is to be competing at the weak side outside linebacker position, and using his pass rush ability is what will be needed from the beginning. It will be interesting to see what happens with the positions, but the Texans have upgraded their outside linebacker position with this pick and Montgomery last night. Brooks Reed could possibly be on the move to the inside (just a guess).

Tale of the Tape

Height: 6-1

Weight: 241 lbs.

40 yard dash: 4.57 seconds

Hometown: Bridgeport, CT

Key Stats: 11.5 Sacks in 2012 (30.5 in 4 seasons)

UConn Huskies Player Page

NFL Combine Profile

Sam Montgomery

The Houston Texans selected defensive end Sam Montgomery from Louisiana State University. Montgomery looks like he will be playing outside linebacker for the Texans moving forward, which will add some much-needed depth for Brooks Reed and Whitney Mercilus.

Montgomery was questioned coming out of the combine about his play on the field and was taken off many NFL draft boards for this. He has short area quickness that can be utilized in pass rush situations and has some toughness that was learned by playing in the SEC.

Pick Analysis: This is a risky pick but provides some good depth to help the outside linebacker for the Texans. Montgomery’s pick comes from the Mario Williams compensation pick and he is considered a second round talent. Expect a learning curve for Montgomery at outside linebacker, but this could be a great pick down the road.

Tale of the Tape

Height: 6-5

Weight: 260 lbs.

40 yard dash: b

Hometown: Greenwood, South Carolina

Key Stats: 9 sacks in 2011 and 8 sacks in 2012

Awards

2012 Ted Hendricks Award Finalist
2012 Second Team All-American (Walter Camp, Sports Illustrated)
2012 Third Team All-American (AP, CBSsports.com)
2012 All-SEC First Team (Coaches, CBSsports.com, ESPN.com)
2012 All-SEC Second Team (AP)
2012 SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week (vs. South Carolina)
2012 SEC Defensive Player of the Week (at Auburn)
2012 SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week (vs. Washington)
2011 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Finalist 
2011 First-Team All-American (FWAA, FoxSportsNext.com)
2011 Second-Team All-American (SI.com)
2011 Third-Team All-American (AP, Rivals.com)
2011 First-Team All-Southeastern Conference (AP, Coaches)
2011 SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week (Alabama)
2011 SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week (vs. Kentucky)
2010 Freshman All-SEC (Coaches)

LSU Player Page

NFL Draft Profile

Brennan Williams

The Houston Texans have selected Brennan Williams, offensive tackle from North Carolina. Williams had a labrum injury that ended his season in 2012 and is almost back to 100% strength. His father, Brent Williams, played in the NFL for 8 seasons.

He is an athletic offensive lineman and can play the position well. Considered a good pass protector, Williams will be looking to be the right tackle of the future for the Texans.

Pick Analysis: The Houston Texans have added another offensive tackle to push any tackle not named Duane Brown. Williams is another piece to the offensive line to add more youth to the Texans’ offensive line. He will have to learn the system but this is a pick for the future and possible starter at right tackle.

Tale of the Tape

Height: 6-6

Weight: 318 lbs.

40 yard dash: 5.32 seconds

Hometown: West Roxbury, MA

Williams Tar Heels Player Profile

Williams NFL Combine

D.J. Swearinger

The Houston Texans have selected defensive back D.J. Swearinger from South Carolina. Swearinger is what the Texans are looking for to take over and build for the future of the secondary, and should be able to see the field as a third safety for the defense. A good frame and aggressive player, Swearinger plays with the physical aspect that NFL teams want from their safeties.

Originally a cornerback at South Carolina, he also played safety.  He should make the conversion to safety completely where he is a natural fit in the NFL.

Pick Analysis:

The Texans have found their third safety behind Danieal Manning and Ed Reed and the future safety for the franchise moving forward. Expect Swearinger to be on dime packages for the defense and contributing on special teams as much as he can. Swearinger brings a physical player who is not scared to stick his nose into ball carriers.

Tale of the Tape

Height: 5-11

Weight: 208 lbs.

40 yard dash: 4.63 seconds

Hometown: Greenwood, South Carolina

Key Stats: 4 seasons at South Carolina: 184 total tackles, 6 interceptions, 1 touchdown, 6th all time in SEC tackles (184)

South Carolina Player Page

NFL Draft Profile

 

WR DeAndre Hopkins and his mother Sabrina in front of his new locker #Texans @nukdabombtwitter.com/HoustonTexans/…

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) April 26, 2013

Updates from his Press Conference

First-round draft pick @nukdabomb at his 1st press conference as a Texan. #NFLDraft twitter.com/HoustonTexans/…

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) April 26, 2013

The new #Texans receiver and a bottle of water.twitpic.com/cm56gp — Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) April 26, 2013

ON the phone call last night from the Texans: “My agent tapped me on the shoulder and said ‘this could be it!’” — Texans PR (@TexansPR) April 26, 2013

@nukdabomb with #Texans offensive Coord, Rick Dennison at Reliant Stadium twitter.com/RandyMcIlvoy/s… — Randy McIlvoy (@RandyMcIlvoy) April 26, 2013

On if it’s sinking in: “Just a little bit. Looking at you guys (media), it’s starting to.” — Texans PR (@TexansPR) April 26, 2013

“As soon as I got off the plane I was greeted by the fans. I can see it’s a love city from the beginning.” @nukdabomb on Houston #NFLDraft — Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) April 26, 2013

On talking to his teammates: “Me and @jjwatt & @mschaub8 have texted back and forth a couple times.” Hasn’t talked to @johnson80 yet — Texans PR (@TexansPR) April 26, 2013

“I bring a championship mentality. Whenever the ball is in the air, I feel like it’s mine.” — Texans PR (@TexansPR) April 26, 2013

On what mom means to him: “She’s my mother and I love her. We’ve been through alot as a family so, this time right now, we’re enjoying it” — Texans PR (@TexansPR) April 26, 2013

On his role: “I’m just going to come in and compete for a spot and try to be the best WR I can be.” — Texans PR (@TexansPR) April 26, 2013

More on Offense: “… I’ve got a great cast around me to help me come in and grow as a rookie.” — Texans PR (@TexansPR) April 26, 2013

Said he came to college as a DB & when he was moved to WR he just focused on every detail to try to improve. — Texans PR (@TexansPR) April 26, 2013

Said QB @mschaub8 texted him last night, told him to come in and be ready to help this team and to contribute — Texans PR (@TexansPR) April 26, 2013

Credits @clemsonfball head coach Dabo Swinney for helping him make transition to WR from DB. Swinney was fmr Clemson WR coach. — Texans PR (@TexansPR) April 26, 2013

New Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins said one word describes him: “Relentless.” — Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) April 26, 2013

Hopkins on blocking: “With a great running back like Arian, I have to be downfield blocking to make his runs open up.” — Texans PR (@TexansPR) April 26, 2013

Hopkins describing himself in 1 word: “It would be ‘relentless.’ I play with an edge and I’m relentless out there on the field.” #NFLDraft — Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) April 26, 2013

Hopkins on learning from @johnson80: “I’m going to make sure he teaches me what he knows so that I can be in his position years from now.” — Texans PR (@TexansPR) April 26, 2013

“That’s how I want to be on the other side of the ball.” @nukdabomb on @jjwatt ‘s style of play. #NFLDraft — Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) April 26, 2013

DeAndre Hopkins said he’ll make sure to learn from Andre Johnson so “I can be in his position” one day #Texans

— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) April 26, 2013

The Houston Texans, in the 2013 NFL draft, have selected DeAndre Hopkins from Clemson University and have added one of the most complete wide receivers in the draft. During his senior season, Hopkins posted 82 receptions for 1,404 yards and 18 touchdowns. In three seasons at Death Valley, he had 27 total touchdowns and showed he can create as a wide receiver many ways. He can play across the middle or go over the top of defenses.

Analysis: The Texans have finally added that elusive wide receiver that the team has needed for some time. Hopkins will get every opportunity to win the opening day spot and this is finally a day where the Texans filled one of their biggest needs of the past seasons. Hopkins gives the Texans an immediate threat and another weapon for an aging offense, and will give the team a wide receiver for the future.

Tale of the Tape

Height: 6-1

Weight: 214 lbs

40 yard dash: 4.57 seconds

Hometown:Central, South Carolina

Key Stats: 205 career catches (68 catches a season) 3,009 career receiver yards (1,003 average a season) 27 receiving touchdowns

Talented wideout who had outstanding hands and ball skills … had 206 receptions for 3,020 yards and 27 touchdowns, 12 punt returns for 82 yards, and two kickoff returns for 32 yards in 2,059 snaps over 39 games (32 starts) in his career … first in school history in receiving yards, first in receiving touchdowns, first in 100-yard receiving games (12), and second in receptions … became the second player in ACC history to total at least 50 receptions as both a freshman and sophomore … had at least one reception in each of his last 36 games, tied for the school record … only Tiger in history with multiple 100-yard receiving performances in bowl games; he had three; had 32 receptions for 403 yards and three touchdowns in three career bowl games … played basketball for the Tigers after the football season ended in 2010-11; he was a member of Clemson’s NCAA Tournament team, but did not travel to the tourney.    From his Clemson profile

NFL Draft Profile

Clemson Profile

Quick Tweets on Hopkins

#Texans OC Rick Dennison says they checked out the hotel trashing incident “enough to know it was not an issue” for DeAndre Hopkins.

— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) April 26, 2013

#Texanstalk. Dennison says that Hopkins “wears DBs out.” says he was the guy they really liked above all others in terms of WR

— James Palmer (@JPalmerCSN) April 26, 2013

Dennison: “I was holding my breath at the end.” Hopkins was the WR he wanted.

— Texans PR (@TexansPR) April 26, 2013

“Just a complete player for us,” #Texans OC Rick Dennson said of DeAndre Hopkins #NFLDraft

— Nick Scurfield (@NickScurfield) April 26, 2013

Dennison on expectations: “He’ll fit in with the group and go out there and compete.”

— Texans PR (@TexansPR) April 26, 2013

“The more you watched him, he’s very competitive. He catches the ball in the crowd. It doesn’t matter to him.” Dennison on Hopkins #NFLDraft

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) April 26, 2013

Dennison on productivity: “Every year he got more and more production. … It didn’t look like anything was too big for him.”

— Texans PR (@TexansPR) April 26, 2013

“Very competitive. Catches the ball in a crowd. Competes, wears the DBs out.” Rick Dennison on DeAndre Hopkins #Texans

— Nick Scurfield (@NickScurfield) April 26, 2013

OC Rick Dennison said he was holding his breath hoping DeAndre Hopkins would last to the #Texans. twitter.com/DoughertyDrew/…

— Drew Dougherty (@DoughertyDrew) April 26, 2013

Round 1

PICK NO. 57

Justin Hunter, Tennessee

JUSTIN HUNTER / 6’4 / 196

WIDE RECEIVER / TENNESSEE

With all of the receivers worthy of a first round grade gone and Keenan Allen’s knee issue, the Texans choose to go with a bit of a wild card in Justin Hunter. The Texans need a playmaker and that’s just what Hunter is. He has all of the traits that the Texans need in a wide receiver opposite of Andre, plus with his height it brings a different element to the offense. He can make the tough catches, he runs all the routes, and can get yards after the catch. He has the speed to take the top off of offenses and if he reaches his full potential he could be the Texans’ next no. 1 receiver when Andre Johnson calls it a career. Yes, I understand he had issues with drops, but that shouldn’t erase his entire collegiate career. He’s been highly productive throughout his career, and coming back from a knee injury in his junior year he was still their top receiver in 2012. I don’t weigh the high drop rate as much as some; however, unless he becomes Jacoby Jones 2.0 I can see him overcoming those mental mistakes.

Round 2

PICK NO. 57

Kyle Long, Oregon

KYLE LONG / 6’6 / 313

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN / OREGON

I have the Texans taking Kyle Long with the 57^th overall pick due to the fact that they filled the receiver need and the linebackers and defensive backs that they value here are gone. I picked Long over other higher rated offensive linemen because of his versatility. Long played as a left guard and later moved to tackle. Since the Texans have a tackle in Newton returning from major knee surgery, it would be best that they gave him legit comp instead of another developmental player. The best part about Long in this situation is if he doesn’t beat out Newton for the right tackle spot you can move him inside to left guard where he could replace Wade Smith and give them some cap relief. Like I said before, the board never falls perfectly so this is a worst case scenario.

Round 3

PICK NO. 89

Brandon Williams, Missouri Southern

BRANDON WILLIAMS / 6’1 / 335

DEFENSIVE TACKLE / MISSOURI SOUTHERN

If and when the Texans take a defensive tackle, most of the time it’s the third round. With the Texans seeing that a bigger defensive tackle would be needed to add another dimension to their defense, they go after a low risk, small school guy who could potentially be a starter. Brandon Williams is what Texans’ fans need and the Texans’ coaching staff realize they need in order to keep their linebackers clean. This is a welcomed pick and with all the other potential picks like Sylvester Williams, Kawann Short and Sheldon Richardson all gone off the board, Williams will do what they need. There is a possibility that the Texans draft a safety or a linebacker at this spot, but this late in the round I don’t see the clear value being available in an area of need.

Round 3

PICK NO. 95 (COMPENSATORY PICK)

Kiko Alonso, Oregon

KIKO ALONSO / 6’4 / 238

LINEBACKER / OREGON

I know, I know.  You’re saying there’s no way this happens. However, at the end of the third round I think this is great value for a guy like Alonso. Alonso has red flags; however, he has never been suspended and most of his mistakes have been just due to being young and immature. I will say that I believe Alonso is the ideal inside linebacker to pair up with Brian Cushing. He flashes on the screen as much as his former teammate Dion Jordan. He’s a big, physical linebacker with an edge much like Cushing. The locker room in Houston now has all of the good character guys it takes to corral a young stud like Alonso. He will be an excellent piece to add to Wade Phillips’ defensive arsenal with a high ceiling and unlimited potential.

Round 4

PICK NO. 124

Duke Williams, Nevada

DUKE WILLIAMS / 5’11 / 203

SAFETY / NEVADA

Duke Williams is a physical safety, solid against the run, and has the athleticism to cover tight ends as well as receivers. He will be a nice addition on the back end to help solidify the defense as the third corner. Williams should improve under the tutelage of Ed Reed and be a possible replacement for Daniel Manning when his contract ends.

Round 5

PICK NO. 160

Devin Taylor, South Carolina

DEVIN TAYLOR / 6’7 / 266

DEFENSIVE END / SOUTH CAROLINA

Taylor is a guy I can see the Texans target if William Gholston is off the board. I see Devin Taylor as a moldable piece. He can be a 3-4 defensive end because of his length, or an outside linebacker. Yes, I believe when the Texans took interest in Taylor at the NFL Combine they saw the potential in him to stand up and rush from the outside. We’ve seen his type before in Mario Williams and I can see Wade Phillips working with Taylor as an outside linebacker to seal the edge against the run and rush the passer from the weak side.  If you watch Taylor’s 2012 tape, it’s uninspiring and doesn’t show much potential. In order for me to come to such a blunt statement, you have to go back to his 2010 tape at South Carolina to see how versatile he is. At this spot, the Texans can afford to take a gamble on a potential rotational player.

Round 6

PICK NO. 195

Will Davis, Utah

WILL DAVIS / 5’11 / 186

CORNERBACK / UTAH STATE

Will Davis is a good corner from a small school. He shows all the skills needed to be a starter at the next level. Davis has speed, ball skills and fluid hips which is ideal for a boundary corner. He should come in and, with some playing time and technique work, challenge to be in the Texans’ rotation in a season or so.

Round 6

PICK NO. 201 (COMPENSATORY PICK)

Corey Fuller, Virginia Tech

COREY FULLER / 6’2 / 204

WIDE RECEIVER / VIRGINIA TECH

Fuller is a smooth wide receiver with deep speed to separate and take the top off the defense. He is a work in progress and will need to polish his routes and learn how to use his size to his advantage. Fuller must get better at run blocking and get stronger to avoid being overpowered by defensive backs at the next level. If Lestar Jean doesn’t step up at receiver, he could leave the door open for Fuller to move into his spot.

Round 7

PICK NO. 233

Lucas Reed, New Mexico

LUCAS REED / 6’6 / 247

TIGHT END / NEW MEXICO

Lucas Reed, as you probably have guessed, is the brother of Texans’ outside linebacker Brooks Reed. With the Texans last pick, I can see them drafting Reed as a special teams player and developmental player that could eventually be stashed on the practice squad.

Will the Texans finally get their wide receiver that Andre Johnson has been asking for or will the Texans play it safe and take another defensive player to add to their young defense? Many fans are calling for the Texans to trade back to get more picks but this is all speculation at this point.

We have tried to narrow down who could possibly be there for the Texans at 27. See who we have narrowed it down to.

The Options

DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson

1. DeAndre ”Nuk” Hopkins, Wide Receiver, Clemson

The hotel incident at the NFL Combine could have some teams shying away from Hopkins. Arguably the best wide receiver of the class, Hopkins posted some crazy numbers at Clemson (82 receptions, 1,405 yards, 18 touchdowns) against some quality opponents.  Recent analysts have Hopkins falling out of the first round but his talent should not be over looked.

Adding Hopkins to the Texans could give the offense another different look that they have not had, a receiver that can get vertical or turn a short catch into a big play. A definite upgrade to the wide receiver group.

2. Keenan Allen, Wide Receiver, California

Knee and ankle issues have put a red flag on Allen who is one of the more polished wide receivers in the draft. He was finally able to perform for scouts after a knee injury caused him to miss part of his final season at California, and after posting a 4.7 40-yard dash he was only deemed 75% healthy. Allen is a big bodied wide receiver who has been compared to Anquan Boldin, and a good route runner. His biggest knock could be the lack of break away and game changing speed.

Allen has had a private workout with the Texans so the interest is there. Thursday night will show what the team really thought of him.

Robert Woods, USC

3. Robert Woods, Wide Receiver, USC

Another wide receiver fans should not over look, especially with a breakout 111 catch, 1,292 yards and 15 touchdown season during the 2011 season. Overshadowed by his teammate on the other side at USC, Woods has put together a productive three seasons for the Trojans. He caught 32 touchdowns in three seasons and is also one of the more polished wide receivers in the draft.

Woods could possibly be one of the safest wide receivers to take in the draft but it all depends who is left on the board to justify Woods at that pick.

Justin Hunter, Tennessee

4. Justin Hunter, Wide Receiver, Tennessee

One of the few players gaining steam late into the draft and considered a fringe 1st round prospect. Considered an upside player, Hunter has had an issue with drops but he is another upside player that could project well with perfecting his craft. A big target at 6-4 and able to run a sub 4.4 40-yard dash, Hunter fits the mold of Texans’ wide receivers.

He is another player that can use a veteran presence to help him develop into a better player down the road. The biggest question mark would be if Hunter can come in and produce from day one.

Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame

5. Tyler Eifert, Tight End, Notre Dame

Eifert is one of the more interesting prospects and could be a nice weapon for the Texans once Owen Daniels’ time is up in Houston. The top rated tight end of the draft, Eifert could be an immediate player and contributor for the Texans and possibly push Garrett Graham to less snaps. Eifert can fit into the evolving world of tight ends in the NFL and give matchup problems to safeties and linebackers in the middle of the field.

If all of the top wide receivers are gone, Eifert could be a pick regarding the future for the Texans.

Jamar Taylor, Boise State

6. Jamar Taylor, Defensive Back, Boise State

Taylor has visited the Texans and should be an option for them if all of their potential offensive targets are gone. With Kareem Jackson coming up for a new contract, they could look to start finding insurance for the secondary. Taylor can play either cornerback or safety which could be vital in future seasons.

A definite playmaker, Taylor should not be overlooked, especially with his value that late in the draft.

Honorable Mention

Cordarrelle Patterson, Wide Receiver, Tennessee

One of our favorites and his stock has been slipping some, maybe enough to be there at #27 for the Texans to make a steal.

Kevin Minter, Inside Linebacker, LSU

A solid player and tackling machine, Minter could easily come in and fill a void next to starter Brian Cushing.

You can follow Patrick on Twitter.  He is the Editor of State of the Texans.

RT @richeisen: Doubt @arianfoster has been compared to Ray Allen but he has been cast in prominent role of RB in Costner movie “Draft Day”

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 24, 2013

It looks like Houston Texans running-back Arian Foster will be hitting the big screen in a movie directed by Kevin Costner. The movie is called “Draft Day”, and there is little information outside of this project, but definitely something to watch moving forward when this will occur.

Here is the information on the upcoming movie called Draft Day.

Foster made an appearance on Hawaii Five-O during the Pro Bowl and looks like he will continue building off of that cameo.