Wrapping Up

Texans Rookies and Veterans Complete 2019 Organized Team Activities

The Houston Texans wrapped up their final OTA’s practice at the Houston Methodist Training Center. Now the free agents who were invited to participate in the all voluntary drills will wait to hear back from the Texans for the chance to participate in training camp. Those who do will have an opportunity to be a part of the organization for the regular season. After wrapping up, the team made the best evaluators of that talent (assistant coaches) available to the media to discuss what they had seen during the off-season program from the rookies and veterans.

"I think just being able to teach overall general scheme and techniques. I think there's a lot of carryover between the different positions. We have a saying here, 'The more you can do, the more value you have’,” said new offensive coordinator Tim Kelly who will move from coaching the tight ends to calling plays with head coach Bill O’ Brien.

Kelly isn’t the only one with new duties for the Texans this year. Houston has added quarterback guru, Carl Smith to the staff from Seattle. Smith helped Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson become a superstar under his guidance and hopes to do the same for Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. With Smith leading the way, Wilson threw for at least 3,000 yards for seven straight seasons, topping 4,000 yards twice. Those are the type of numbers that he hopes to get Watson and help the Texans amass wins in the process. On Tuesday, Smith recalled meeting Watson during the NFL combine before he was drafted.

"I remember I got to interview him at the combine in the train station and he was outstanding. I remember the interview. Sometimes the very top guys don't go to the train station, but I’m always impressed with the guys that do.”

Two key defensive linemen for the Texans did not participate in OTA’s. 2019 All-Pro J.J. Watt and outstanding linebacker/defensive end Jadeveon Clowney were not in attendance which opened the door for rookie fifth-round pick Charles Omenihu out of the University of Texas. His skills were on display for the coaches to see as he took snaps with the defensive first unit. Omenihu impressed defensive coordinator/assistant head coach Romeo Crennel and caught the eye of defensive line coach Anthony Weaver.

"He's very raw. But like you said, he's got a bunch of tools to work with. So, we're just trying to mold him right now to get him how we want him to be, to be a Texans defensive lineman and hold that standard that we have that's really high at this point. He has the right approach to work. He comes in every day with the right mindset, so I think he'll get there," Weaver said.

The Texans will have mandatory mini-camp for the veterans, newly acquired free agents and rookies who have signed contracts on June 11-13th. This will be a small tune-up and accountability check before heading into training camp late July and August back home for the first time in two years. Houston spent 2017 and 2018 at the Greenbrier in West Virginia.