LINKBy Jancy Briles HoustonTexans.com Buzz: Explosiveness, quickness, and precise execution set the tone for Tuesday?s indoor practice. The Texans geared up for the Broncos' arrival by working out in shorts and perfecting their game. Dunta Robinson showed incredible closing speed to bat down a David Carr pass intended for Jabar Gaffney during team drills. Derick Armstrong made a spectacular catch over the middle snagging the ball out of mid-air. And Kevin Kasper was seen using the wedge to perfection to avoid defenders as a kickoff returner.D-Line experience: With a combined 26 years of NFL experience, the Texans veteran defense line brings a great deal of familiarity to the field this season. Gary Walker, a two-time Pro Bowler and the eldest member of the front three, enters his 11th season at left end. Walker returned to Houston in 2002 to continue his NFL career with the Texans after playing four seasons with the Oilers. A healthy Seth Payne enters his ninth NFL season at nose tackle with lofty expectations. At right end, Robaire Smith prepares to take the field for his sixth season. Defensive line coach MikeLondon agrees that he came into a good situation with these three guys. "Seth is like a coach on the field and does everything you ask for," London said. "Gary is a proven veteran and a former all-pro looking to get back to that status again. Robaire is a very talented player, and I don?t think he has even scratched the surface yet."With their first pick, the Texans added youth to their line with Travis Johnson."He is young with a lot of energy and excitement and he is learning how to be a professional," London said. "I am happy that we got Travis and I think he is going to do good things for us." Davis and Who?: After signing a multi-year contract extension, Domanick Davis has firmly secured his spot at running back. However, who will be his primary back-up is still yet to be determined. Jonathan Wells, Tony Hollings and Vernand Morency all continue to show their stuff in practice with hopes of landing the number two position. While Jason Anderson and Adam Matthews fight for a roster spot. With all the competition Texans fans can expect to see some great things from the running back position because running backs coach Chick Harris sure does. "I think with Domanick being the lead back right now it is pushing everybody else to do well," Harris said. "I think competition is important to that position and I think that Wells, Hollings and Morency are doing a good job. Competition breeds a good bunch of guys."Shaking the cobwebs off: Many eyes will be focused tomorrow on Broncos rookie running back Maurice Clarett. Clarett, who helped led Ohio State to a national championship as a freshman, hasn?t played in a game since the Buckeyes? 2003 Fiesta Bowl win over Miami. He was suspended by the team prior to the 2003 season and then challenged the league?s early entry rule. After a federal judge initially ruled the NFL could not prevent him from entering the 2004 draft, the decision was later overturned by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and, ultimately, by the Supreme Court.That left Clarett to wait for this year?s draft, where Denver snagged him with a third-round pick. When the Broncos practice against the Texans, it will mark Clarett?s first taste of another NFL team.Linebacker Shantee Orr, who played at Michigan and faced Clarett in 2002, expects the rookie running back to come out with a little chip on his shoulder.?I remember him as a strong back who really stepped up for them that season,? Orr said Tuesday. ?I?m sure he wants to prove himself to his teammates and to everybody else that he still can play.?Broncos in town: The Texans will take the practice field with the Denver Broncos tomorrow. This will be the first time this season that the Texans will battle it out with another team and head coach Dom Capers is anxious to see how they measure up. ?I think these next three practices will be good evaluation for us because you?ve got a playoff team coming in here. It?s always good to evaluate your team versus a playoff team. We?ll get a chance over three practices and a chance Saturday night to see how we stack up.?
Calm before the storm: Injuries are a major concern for each NFL team, which is why the Texans and Broncos opted out of wearing full pads during their three joint workouts this week. Instead, the players practiced with shoulder pads and shorts. The play was physical, but after two days of holding back the players are ready to start thudding pads. Linebacker Morlon Greenwood, one of the Texans? most intimidating defenders, is anxious to play for another reason: It will be his first game inside Reliant Stadium. ?Yeah, I?m looking forward to playing for the Houston Texans and being in this stadium for the first time,? the former Miami Dolphin said. ?It?s going to be great to see what the fans are like; the atmosphere, and everything.? Pleased with the work this week, head coach Dom Capers said it was beneficial for the Texans to face a different style of offense and defense. Today?s final combined practice went so well that both Capers and Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan ended it 30 minutes early to give the players a break from the afternoon heat. ?The Broncos have been an excellent team to work against,? Capers said. ?We got an awful lot out of it. I can?t think of a better way to get prepared for your first preseason game than to work against the team that you?re going to be playing, so it was a productive three practices.? On Friday, the Texans will have a late morning practice before shutting things down in preparation for Saturday?s contest. As far as playing time for the game, Capers and the coaches will meet Thursday night to discuss the rotations they plan on using. ?We?ve got kind of a round number of plays that we would like to give people,? he said. ?But tonight is really the staff meeting that we?ll go through and talk about that and see how many plays we want to give each and every guy.? Ground work: One of the Texans? points of emphasis early in the preseason is to establish the running game. In his early evaluations, Capers has noticed the Texans? offensive line is faster off the line of scrimmage than in the past. That?s a good sign for offensive coordinator Chris Palmer?s unit, which suffered some growing pains learning the zone blocking scheme last season. ?I just feel like with our running backs, if we can give Domanick (Davis) a little bit of a downhill entry, then he?ll find a crease in there,? Capers said. ?But I think we?re coming off the ball with more power, and I like our footwork. I think the coordination of the guys working together is the best it?s been.? Said Davis: ?We?re going with this zone blocking. Guys understand it. I think we?re ready to show something, so I?m excited for it.? Buch wild: Cornerback Phillip Buchanon missed the memo. Walking out to practice this afternoon, he expected to enter the air-conditioned bubble. But the workout was scheduled outside because of space constraints. After practice, Buchanon, with sweat dripping down his brow, admitted that he was fooled. ?I thought I was going in the bubble today,? he said. ?But coach got me today. Capers got me.? Smiling, Buchanon sounded encouraged by the progress of the Texans? secondary following the combined practices with the Broncos. Yet he downplays any talk of the team?s defensive backfield being the best in the AFC, which some media members have suggested. ?Truly, right now people can say so many things,? Buchanon said. ?But you still have to prove it on the field. People always talk about Dunta (Robinson) and I being young, and we?re this and that, but we have to make it happen in the first game (at Buffalo ).? Capers certainly has been impressed by what Buchanon has brought to the secondary. "I saw Phillip make a nice breakup over here today,? Capers said. ?I think he has the right kind of temperament for his position. He?s come in and we couldn?t ask for more out of Phillip. He?s done everything we?ve asked him to do. He?s a fun guy to be around. I think he?s a pro. He comes out here and works. I think he fits into our defensive backfield really well.? Speed bump: Wide receiver Jerome Mathis has blossomed into an impressive punt and kickoff returner during the early portions of training camp. At Wednesday night?s practice, he wowed spectators with his quick burst and long strides against the Broncos? coverage team. Unfortunately, he might have to wait before showing his skills on a larger stage. He was held out of practice on Thursday because of a groin injury. Capers says that Mathis could play on Saturday, but it depends on how quickly his groin responds to treatment. ?I?m hoping that he?s ready to play Saturday night,? Capers said. ?We?ll just have to see what he does here the next couple days in his rehab. There?s a chance that he will play.? Injury report: Wide receiver Jabar Gaffney (left shoulder) was limited at practice this afternoon. The following players did not practice: safety Glenn Earl (right shoulder), Mathis (right groin), tight end Billy Miller (left ankle), linebacker Zeke Moreno (left leg), cornerback Jon Pendergrass (right knee), linebacker DaShon Polk (left thumb), wide receiver Sloan Thomas (left ankle), defensive end Gary Walker (left knee), center Todd Washington (right ankle) and guard Zach Wiegert (left ankle). Wiegert is one of the players that Capers will be monitoring closely over the next couple days. He hopes that the veteran will be able to log some snaps with the first-team offense on Saturday night. ?We?ve held Zach Wiegert out of the last couple of practices,? Capers said. ?I think Zach should be able to be back and ready to go. You?d like to have your unit work together out there.?
