SB Nation User Blog: SOLIS

Wishing Harry Williams Well

SOLIS — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:54:57 -0000

Nick Scurfield, the Houston Texans publications coordinator, is giving fans an opportunity to send Harry Williams your well wishes and words of encouragement.

From Nick's post at the official HoustonTexans.com message boards:

Please leave your thoughts, prayers and best wishes here for Texans wide receiver Harry Williams. Once he returns to Houston, I'll print out all of your comments and deliver them to him. It may be helpful if you sign using your first name and where you're from.

Take five minutes and let Harry know that we're all keeping him in our thoughts as he continues on the road to recovery.

Link: "Official Harry Williams Get Well Thread"

WR Harry Williams Receives Positive Prognosis

SOLIS — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:43:58 -0000

Early in Friday night's intrastate rivalry game, special teamer WR Harry Williams suffered a serious neck injury. Williams collided with a teammate's knee during the Cowboy's first kickoff return. The result of the collision was a fractured C3 vertebra that left Williams momentarily paralyzed. Now coaches, teammates, and fans are praying for Williams as he begins his road to recovery.

It was a missed tackle during a kickoff that sent Williams careening into the path of S Nick Ferguson. Both were trying to bring down the elusive WR Isaiah Stanback as he returned the ball 44 yards to midfield. As Williams lost hold of Stanback, his helmet ran headlong into Ferguson's knee.

The medical staff at Texas Stadium were quick to spring into action following the unfortunate play. Taking every precaution, Williams was immobilized and carted off the field. It was a deflating moment for players and fans alike.

"Well, it's difficult on your football team," said Kubiak. "I could feel our emotion of our football team. They love that kid. He's been earning his way on this team as a special teams player, and we had a fast start as a football team. We had a nice return. Kris (Brown) makes a nice field goal, and then all of a sudden you're sitting and one of your buddies is down, so that's hard to overcome."

Bill Baptist - Image courtesy of HoustonTexans.com

According to the Texans team physician, Dr. Walter Lowe, Williams is set to undergo a surgery to fuse the adjacent vertebrae in an effort to stabilize his spine. Speaking in the post game press conference, Dr. Lowe addressed the details of Williams' injury:

"During his transportation to the hospital, (Williams) began to regain feeling in his arms and legs. At the current time, he has regained almost normal neurologic function. The evaluation at the hospital revealed a fracture of the C3 vertebra and a significant ligamentous injury to the neck. This injury will require surgical stabilization this weekend."

Although it is far too soon to tell if Harry Williams will ever play professional football again, the prognosis for special teams standout is very optimistic. "The prognosis is very good for Harry to return to normal neurologic function on that, but it will require fusion of the spine before he can move forward from this," said Dr. Lowe.

Renowned for his work ethic, Williams is a player that is well liked and respected by his teammates. DE ND Kalu spoke about the team's mindset following the injury:

"I think when we recovered is when we started hearing rumors that he was moving and that he was OK, because as much as we wanted to win this game, everybody loves Harry, loves his work ethic, (he's) just a good person."

Defensive captain, LB DeMeco Ryans echoed Kalu's sentiment:

"Harry is the hardest working guy on the team. He was playing great on special teams. He had battled to get to this point in his career. I know he will work and be able to come back from this."

Our heartfelt thanks goes out to Harry for playing the game the way it was meant to be played - with the heart of a champion. Our prayers go out to him and his family as we send our wishes for a speedy recovery. Get well soon Harry.

UPDATE: Sadly, it appears that doctors have told Williams that his career is over. Here's hoping he finds the success and happiness he deserves off the football field.

Reviewing the Experts: CHFF's Fillability Index

SOLIS — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 01:36:33 -0000

They often say that the truth hurts. And when they say your team has been struggling to find a ground game and can’t rush the quarterback – there’s no denying the sting of reality.

Whether they make you happy or mad, the guys at ColdHardFootballFacts.com are always willing to let you know how good or how bad your team is – not based on opinion, but based on statistical analysis (a/k/a the cold hard facts).

With a sabermetrics-like approach to covering every aspect of football, they again came up with a bottom line that left me shaking my head. Let's take a look at their latest breakdown as they applied their Fillability Index to the teams of the AFC South.

Truth be told, I’m a big fan of CHFF.com and their unique slant on the NFL. They have several different indexes that they use to determine the strengths (and weaknesses) of any given team within the NFL. For example, their Offensive Hogs Index attempts to determine the strength of the offensive line while their Bendability Index seeks to find which defenses best demonstrated the ability to "bend and not break".

This week they took stock of which teams in the AFC South made the best offseason acquisitions based on last season’s greatest weaknesses. The better the team filled its needs, the higher they graded out on the CHFF Fillability Index.

Jacksonville Jaguars

According to the stat gurus, Jacksonville scored the highest marks in the AFC South. They received a respectable A- for drafting DE Derrick Harvey and DE Quentin Groves with their first two picks. CHFF said that the pass rush, although serviceable, was one of the only real soft spots for the Jags. I’m not sure that the two rookies can replace DT Marcus Stroud (BUF) and DE Bobby McCray (NO), but we’ll have two real good looks at them this year.

Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans garnered a solid B+ with their moves on the offensive side of the ball. The Titans were offensively inferior to the stellar play of their defense. CHFF handed out the B+ based on the acquisition of free agent TE Alge Crumpler and rookie RB Chris Johnson. While Crumpler and Johnson are decent additions to the former Oilers, they still have an inept quarterback. That being the case, I don’t agree that they addressed their greatest area of need. They get an F- from me. (Sorry, that’s my Titan hate bleeding through).

Indianapolis Colts

Citing the Colts mediocre Defensive Hogs Index, CHFF thought that the defensive front seven is where the team should have focused its efforts. Apparently third round pick OLB Phillip Wheeler and fifth round pick OLB Marcus Howard were decent enough picks to warrant a B-. If that’s what you get by filling your needs with a couple of mid-round picks, then the Texans should have fared just as well – right?

Houston Texans

Well, about those Texans… let’s just say that they weren’t the head of the class. By CHFF’s estimation, the Texans Fillability Index graded out to a D. Yep, that's roughly a 65. Here’s their reasoning. According to their Defensive Hogs Index, which measures the overall productivity of the front seven, the Texans ranked next to last. Even with some of the best young talent in DE Mario Williams, DT Amobi Okoye and MLB DeMeco Ryans, the Texans failed to establish a consistent pass rush. No real argument there.

While they were looking under the sinks, they pointed out the Texans abhorrent Defensive Passer Rating that also ranked near last (30^th). (Shaking your head yet?) As abysmal as that was, it isn’t groundbreaking news.

CHFF justified the D grade because, although the Texans did address these areas of need through free agency and the draft, they didn’t provide any significant upgrades. According to them, a couple of journeymen and some mid-rounders aren’t enough to get us over the hump. A couple of games into the preseason, and you can kind of see what they are getting at. But a D?

So the question remains, can free agent acquisitions like LB/DE Rosevelt Colvin and OLB Chaun Thompson give the Texans other options to pressure the quarterback? Can CB Jacques Reeves and rookie CB Antwaun Molden help shore up the secondary?

In any case, it’s all just speculation. Last year the Texans earned a C- because they mortgaged their future on an unproven quarterback and another defensive lineman. Aside from having a nonexistent running game and several no name receivers they still managed to shoot up the offensive charts by slinging the ball all over the place. Here’s hoping this year the Texans can again prove the index wrong.

I know the Fillability Index didn’t take into account the hiring of assistant coach Ray Rhodes or the maturing of DT Amobi Okoye, but either way, it was too low. If I was grading out the acquisitions, I probably would have put us at a B-. From my perspective, we filled every glaring need. Whether those pieces will gel in time for the opening game remains to be seen.

So using CHFF’s rationale for assessing the offseason acquisitions, what grade would you give the Texans? Looking forward to reading your answers in the section below. Cheers to the new season.

When the Texans Go Marching In

SOLIS — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:24:05 -0000

After nearly a month of practicing in the stifling humidity of the Bayou City, the Texans are paying a visit to another city famous for its sweltering heat and boggy marshes. The Texans made their way to the Big Easy and if all goes well, both teams should be in for a hard week of practice.

The Saints provide a different set of players for the Texans to practice against as they prepare for the regular season. The Saints are also looking to hone their skills as they try and rebound from last season’s disappointing 7-9 season.

Camping in the Crescent City

Nick Schenck - Image courtesy of HoustonTexans.com

NFL training camps are in full swing, and teams are getting the itch to test themselves against a new set of opponents. With starters typically limited to a small number of plays in the first preseason game, coaches are eager to see how their starters will do against another group of NFL first stringers. Gary Kubiak spoke about his impressions:

"It’s really good to practice against somebody else. You see different defenses; they see different offenses. Just different things going on. I think you get almost a better look at your young players because it’s not against the same old guys everyday. So, we are really enjoying it."

When players are finally able to swap paint with different-colored helmets, its not uncommon to see tempers flare and a fight to breakout. With the coaching staff reminding everyone about professionalism, its not surprising that the teams were able to keep from stirring up trouble.

LG Chester Pitts spoke about fighting on the practice field:

"It starts at the top. The discipline is instilled and we are professionals. I can’t figure that one out or understand that; I think that’s kind of ridiculous honestly. But we are all professionals and we are just out here trying to get better. It’s about a common respect for the men across from you. We’re at war and it’s football, but at the end of the day we are playing a game."

With Gary Kubiak responsible for keeping a watchful eye on his players, he emphasized the importance mutual respect plays when playing with another team.

"There is a lot of respect; coaches that know each other, a lot of the players know each other. I think our work habits are the same; how we practice with shoulder pads on or without the pads. I think that’s all under control. We got a lot of respect and we just work good and we are trying to get better."

Third Coast Rivals

Houston Texans owner Bob McNair didn’t become a self-made billionaire by making decisions that didn’t yield dividends over time. Being extremely business savvy, McNair knows the importance of building on the Texans and Saints burgeoning rivalry.

Nick Scurfield - Image courtesy of HoustonTexans.com

"New Orleans and Houston have so much in common, and so many people in Houston go to New Orleans to do business and people in New Orleans come to Houston on a regular basis" said McNair. "So, it is an opportunity to develop a rivalry that I think can be meaningful over time. I hope that we’ll play in preseason every year."

Bob McNair also understands that these two teams will be linked as long as the DE Mario Williams and RB Reggie Bush career comparisons rage on.

With the Bush Bowl well in the rear view mirror, McNair was asked if he could recall the moment the Texans decided to take Williams, and with the class and tact of an elder statesman, he said:

"I remember it well. What it came down to was as a team if you improve your offense by having Bush, are you a stronger team if you just put him out on the team. Do you have a better chance of winning with him on the Houston Texans or by improving your defense by taking Mario Williams? Our coaches felt that we had a better chance to win by improving our defense and that even if we had a Bush, our offense would not be better than say Indianapolis. So, the way for us to win in our division was to strengthen our defense and that was the decision that was made."

With that decision making more and more sense as the teams continue to develop the players they drafted, McNair got down the brass tacks behind the team’s rationale, "How often do you see a physical specimen like (Mario Williams)? He’s 6-6, 6-7, 290 pounds. He can run and jump like a running back."

And as if to tell all the naysayers who questioned the decision to take Mario, McNair pointed out:

"He’s still learning. He’s still not at the top of his game. He’s still getting better."

The Best is Yet to Come

Nick Scurfield - Image courtesy of HoustonTexans.com

While many in the Texans fan base breathed a sigh of relief after Mario Williams' Pro-Bowl caliber performance last season, there was at least one person who wasn’t satisfied – Mr. Mario Williams. When asked if he felt vindicated after last season’s breakout year, Mario frankly said, "No."

"I don’t because when I look back on it - not just myself, I get other guys to critique me – there was a lot of things that were left on the field that could have been better and that could have helped me out and could have helped the team out. You know, there is always room for improvement."

And improvement is what Mario Williams has been focused on. Despite last year’s outstanding numbers, Mario has his mind set on doing even better heading into his third season.

Williams said, "I realized that what I did before wasn’t good enough. I see it like that, and I want my teammates to see it the same way. We all push each other."

When asked what he did differently this offseason, Mario’s response was, "I worked harder."

From the initial rumblings out of the Texans camp, all indications are that Mario is set to have another stellar year. With sacks being the "must have" stat for an end in a 4-3 defense, how many could Williams have by the end of the season? Mario seems to think that "the sky’s the limit."

"When I looked at last year after I critiqued myself and had my coaches critique myself, there was a lot of things where I was like, ‘That could have been another one. That could have been another one.’ And that’s how you’ve got have to see it.

You are only dissatisfied whenever you look at the film and you know that you didn’t miss any of them, and that number could be tremendous. That’s the thing about football, the guys throughout the season, they don’t get them all. But if you can get them all or try to get as many as you can, the number can be outstanding."

Parting Shots

LB DeMeco Ryans on what its going to take to make an impact in 2008:

"I think we can make a bigger statement by running the ball better on the offensive side. We were plagued with injuries last year. We stay healthy, run the ball well, and we play solid defense, create turnovers, and I think that’s going to improve our record a lot."

Houston Diehards Hits the Airwaves!

SOLIS — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:37:54 -0000

Chris at HoustonDiehards.com has upped the ante for all of us hacks in the Texans blogosphere. Over the past month or so, he's been tinkering with some new gadgetry and it looks like all his hard work has paid off.

Today Chris unveiled the first ever Houston Diehards Podcast! For his "maiden voyage", he spoke with Matt Campbell (a/k/a MDC) of DGDB&D: ATexansBlog.com. Its an excellent start to what should become a staple of every Texans fan's favorites folder. I know I am looking forward to it.

Click the icon for a direct link to Chris' site.

Congratulations Chris, and best of luck to the Houston Diehards Podcast!

Rick Smith: The Pact

SOLIS — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 02:56:26 -0000

For the past two years, Texans GM Rick Smith has proven to be a shrewd negotiator and an excellent judge of talent. He was a part of the team that drafted impact rookies DT Amobi Okoye and CB Fred Bennett, as well as acquiring the talented veterans FS Will Demps and WR Andre Davis.

Saturday morning, Rick Smith was once again being applauded for brokering a fantastic deal. The impact of this deal could rival that of any the general manager has made to date.

Eric J. Solis

Under the morning’s clouded sky, a group of ardent Texans fans stood in the back of the end zone. I, being one of them, was taking in the sights and sounds of the Texans training camp.

I watched as rookie RB Steve Slaton bounced runs to the outside and was pursued by draftmate LB Xavier Adibi. One particular play saw WR Andre Johnson induce a crowd-rousing cheer as his double move to the sideline got him free for a spectacular catch.

Among those also impressed with Johnson’s catch was GM Rick Smith. He stood there near the goal line, arms crossed, watching the action unfold. With a big grin, Rick Smith looked back at our small crowd of diehard fans and (albeit for a brief second) joined us in cheering.

Then, something drew his focus. Rick Smith paused and made his way towards the crowd. Intent on his target, he strode the ten yards with a keen look in his eye. The object of his attention was a young boy named Donovan.

After a quick question and a nod, Rick Smith picked the boy up over the waist-high fence and took him onto the field. There they stood on the sideline, two friends watching their favorite team. Close enough to hear the calls of the offense and see the quickness in the defense, the boy looked in awe as the players collided after every snap.

After nearly fifteen minutes, and with camp soon to conclude, Rick Smith walked Donovan back to his parents. After a handshake, he proceeded to share with Donovan’s parents, as well as everyone in earshot, portions of the conversation he had with their son.

He said they spoke about the amazing catch they had just seen and how much they liked the team. Rick Smith said that he asked the boy if he had ever been to a game, and Donovan told him no.

Eric J. Solis

That’s when Rick Smith negotiated one of his finest contracts to date.

He told Donovan’s parents that he and their son made a "pact". And the terms of their agreement where as follows: If Donovan did well in school, and his report card showed that he was making good grades, then Rick Smith would provide tickets so that they could bring Donovan to a game this season.

Again, Rick Smith added emphasis to the conditions of their agreement. Donovan knew he was going to be held accountable not only to his parents, but also to newfound friend Rick Smith.

The once talkative crowd was now entirely focused on Rick Smith as he smoothly delivered the particulars of the agreement. Most were taken aback, staring in utter amazement at what had just taken place. The small crowd, in appreciation for the gesture and acknowledgment of the moment, could do nothing more but stand back and applaud.

It was one of the classiest things I've ever seen. There was something truly genuine about the moment, and considering there were no cameras or reporters in the area, it was an act of altruism at its finest.

They say that incentive-laden contracts are the best for ensuring the player performs to expectation. Saturday morning, Rick Smith handed out a contract with a fantastic set of incentives and better yet, it has no bearing on the salary cap.

Although a set of game tickets is now Donovan’s goal, the real reward comes from learning that accolades are not given, but earned.

We're all rooting for you Donovan. Get those tickets and enjoy the feeling of a job well done!

Mike Bell is Your Newest Texan!

SOLIS — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:22:37 -0000

Megan Manful of the Houston Chronicle is reporting that the Texans have signed free agent running back Mike Bell. For the Texans, it adds another former Bronco who is familiar with the offensive system being implemented by head coach Gary Kubiak.

Whether or not this means the end of the the Chris Brown experiment in Houston is yet to be seen, however it does indicate that the Texans are serious about establishing a consistant running game in 2008.

Manful also reported that S Brandon Mitchell was released to make room for the newly acquired running back.

Feel free to leave your opinions of the signing in the comments below.

(h/t to Robb for breaking the story in the fanpost section)

Talking Texans Training Camp: Day Six

SOLIS — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 04:01:35 -0000

Wednesday’s practice session came and went without much in the way of breaking news. However, there was a report from the Houston Texans' own Brooke Bentley that said free agent running back Mike Bell would be paying the Texans a visit Thursday morning.

As Texans training camp marches along, a handful of players continue to nurse injuries while others are making a case for being a part of the 2008 starting lineup.

Chris Brown Expected to Miss Several Practices

Brooke Bentley
Image courtesy of HoustonTexans.com

RB Chris Brown missed yet another day of practice. Gary Kubiak said Brown was held out to "rest off" an injection he received to alleviate his back pain, adding that "…we’re probably looking at a few days if this injection goes good."

As questions about Brown’s durability arise, Kubiak seemed adamant about giving Chris Brown a chance to prove himself.

"I think a lot of Chris as a player and a person. It’s just unfortunate that this has happened, but we’re going to do everything we can to get him right," Kubiak said. "Am I disappointed he’s not on the field? Yes. I’m not disappointed in Chris. I just know he can help this team. We need him out here on the field to do that."

As Chris Brown continues to spend more time rehabbing his injuries and less time on the playing field, the reputation that preceded him is beginning to ring true. Despite Kubiak’s vote of confidence, I’m sure he remembers the merry-go-round at running back he’s had to deal with over the past two seasons. I have a feeling that if Chris Brown isn’t practicing by the Broncos game on August 9th, his days of sporting liberty white are all but over.

Hard Work Earns Praise from the Coach

WR Kevin Walter is proving himself to be the consummate professional and his coach has taken notice. Kubiak said, "He’s turned into a heck of a player. He’s a special worker. He’s a great kid and he’s managed in taking his skill and expertise - what he’s done is take it to a new level. Nothing would surprise me."

The comparisons between Kevin Walter and former Denver Bronco great ‘Easy’ Ed McCaffrey were often bandied about by the Texans' faithful after Walter’s outstanding 2007 campaign. Wednesday, Kubiak went on record as making the very same correlation.

"We’ve got to have guys that go out there and dig out safeties and stuff in the run game." Said Kubiak,"He reminds me of a kid who played for me a long time, Ed McCaffrey. He reminds me of him a great deal. What happens to guys that people say they are lacking this or lacking that, they find a way to make up for it. Kevin (Walter), in his career, has become such a technician at what he does that if he’s lacking a tenth of a second here or there speed-wise, he’ll find a way to make it up."

Easy Ed comparisons aside, Kevin Walter proved his worth to the Texans last year by stepping up in a big way. With Pro Bowl WR Andre Johnson sidelined for nearly half of the season with a knee injury, Kevin Walter caught 65 passes for 800 yards.

With another year in the starting lineup almost assured, Walter is poised to have another impact year.

Guard Making the Most of Opportunity

OG Mike Brisiel has been quietly biding his time on the practice squad since being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2006.When injuries sidelined RG Fred Weary and backup OL Chris White for the final four games in 2007, Brisiel was called up and placed in the starting lineup. By all accounts, he didn’t disappoint. Heading into camp with the accolades from a job well done, he’s making a strong case to be a starter for the Texans in 2008.

Coach Kubiak said the following about the third year guard, "You talk about a guy who is having a heck of a camp. We’re starting to play (Brisiel) a little bit of center too just because we have to prepare for suiting seven guys on game day. He’s a player who got an opportunity, did a hell of a job when he got the opportunity, can’t get him off the field. He’s doing a heck of a job. I don’t need to go much further than that. He’s a good football player."

Texan Tackle Ready for the Next Step

CBS Sports’ Senior Writer Pete Prisco released his "Breakout 30", a list of 30 unheralded players who are ready to make their mark in the NFL. Coming in at number 13 was fan favorite RT Eric Winston.

As I noted yesterday, Eric Winston is having plenty of fun during the rigors of NFL training camp. His attitude and work ethic earned him some deserved compliments from his head coach. Kubiak said, "He’s turned into a pro, busts his tail every day. Good kid, good technician, should play out there for a long, long time. He’s got a lot of respect around this league and I think the future is very bright for him, just like the type of guy he is out here day in and day out."

When asked about his recent recognition, Winston made the following comments:

Nick Scurfield - Image courtesy of HoustonTexans.com

"I feel like I’ve been slowly improving. I feel like my first year here, I was kind of all over the place, and then when I got my chance, I made the most of it. Last year, I think I took a big sophomore step in proving myself and solidifying my spot and what I can do there. Now I’m really able to come out here and do something special.

Maybe not such a leader, but just a standard bearer for the offensive line and just give it everything I have every play and every game, practice. I try to lead by example and do things right. Try to set up a tradition here with the Texans with the offensive line play."

Also making Prisco’s Breakout 30 list was CB Fred Bennett (ranked 15th). As Prisco noted, with CB Dunta Robinson return uncertain, Bennett is going to have to continue his strong play well into the 2008 season.

Parting Shots

Andre Johnson on regaining confidence in his left knee:

"I definitely have confidence in what I can do. But I feel like I can still get better. I feel like I’m not where I want to be. Like I said, at times I still kind of baby my left leg when I’m running routes and things like that. The only thing that’s going to make that better is me doing more stuff out here on the field and it becomes more natural to me."

Talking Texans Training Camp: Day Five

SOLIS — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:39:38 -0000

Tuesday wrapped up Day Five of Houston Texans training camp. Again, temperatures in Houston reached well into the mid 90s. Sweltering heat aside, the Texans continued to focus on improving individually as they work towards building the best team in franchise history.

Texans on the Mend

Nick Schenck - Image courtesy of HoustonTexans.com

CB DeMarcus Faggins sat out another practice with hamstring issues. CB Jamar Fletcher and rookie CB Antwaun Molden are picking up his reps. Kubiak called it "a very competitive situation".

G Fred Weary was also held out of practice with a troublesome hamstring. Training camp has been the first action of the offseason for Weary, who did not participate in OTAs. He was still recovering from the broken leg he suffered in the December 2nd game against the Titans.

Gary Kubiak said," Fred’s kind of going through, basically, his offseason in a lot of ways because he’s behind the team from a physical standpoint. So we just took him out of there this morning. We’ll continue to be smart with him when he practices. He practices in the morning."

WR Jacoby Jones and T Scott Jackson both sat out with foot problems. While Kubiak noted that Jackson’s recovery could be a ways off, he seemed optimistic about Jacoby’s prognosis saying, "… (Jacoby) checked out OK. We’re going to be day-to-day and we’re going to get him right." Kubiak also added that Jones’ absence gives the coaches an opportunity to take a closer look at some of the younger receivers.

RB Chris Brown hasn’t done much during training camp to shake his reputation for being injury-prone. As Brooke Bentley noted, this is the sixth practice that Brown has missed due to back spasms. Gary Kubiak wouldn’t commit to saying he was worried about the time that Brown has missed, but he did say he was concerned. "You’ve got four backs going, guys really working hard. He needs to get on the field and catch up with football team, but we’ve got to deal with the issues."

I have a feeling that if Chris Brown doesn’t resolve his "issues" that he will be a roster-size casualty.

Alex Gibbs Making an Impression

When Alex Gibbs arrived in Houston, everyone knew he was going to bring a fiery style backed by his no-nonsense attitude. Despite Gibbs’ assertive demeanor, his players are enthused about his coaching style.

G Chester Pitts said, "(Alex Gibbs) just wakes up and he is like a firecracker, but its fun to me. I enjoy his energy. He’s out there always having fun and all he wants is for us to get better. All he wants is for us to be successful and do well. What more can you ask for? I love the guy now."

Not only does Chester Pitts love Alex Gibbs, apparently so does LT Ephraim Salaam. "I love Alex" said Salaam. "I’ve always said Alex will make you good or he’ll make you gone. That’s his favorite thing to say is getting good or get gone. And he definitely knows what he’s doing; he’s been doing this for a long time. He’s had some of the best offensive linemen, the best running backs the best offense in the league hands down year round, every year and you got to love it. I love it; I love it. Me being an older player, I can relate to him. I love him."

RT Eric Winston also appreciates Gibbs approach to coaching. In Eric’s words, it’s all about having fun. "Football is fun and it should be fun. It is not all pressure and you don’t have to be serious all the time. You can have fun while you’re working out here. I think that is what (Alex Gibbs) is really bringing too. With everything else he is bringing, I think he is bringing a sense of ‘Hey lets have some fun while we’re working. Let’s work hard but let’s have fun. Let’s not kill ourselves out here stressing out about things we can’t control. Let’s go out there, work hard, and get better, but at the same time let’s have some fun." Adding that taking stuff from Alex Gibbs is "… all in good fun and we’re having a lot of fun while we are doing it."

Yes. You read that right. He used the word "fun" eight (8) times. For an offensive lineman to use the word "fun" in the midst of summer two-a-days is an amazing testament to Eric Winston's attitude.

Rookie Spotlight

Rookie DT Frank Okam continues to learn the nuances of playing pro ball. According to his head coach, he’s been up and down, but he thinks Okam can contribute. "He’s pretty good, don’t get me wrong there, but there’s another level for Frank," Kubiak said. "We’ve got to keep pushing. We’re playing him at both spots, the nose and the three, so that may have something to do with some of the indecision that’s been going on. But he’s got a chance to help this team."

Eddy Matchette - Image courtesy of HoustonTexans.com

Okam, who helped anchor the line for the Texas Longhorns, is adjusting to his role in the NFL. "I’m fitting in pretty good," said Okam. "I’m playing both tackle positions. At the nose, you have to try to stop the run. At three-technique, you have to make plays. I’m used to trying to make plays and being on the field. So, just being out there and making sure I know what I’m doing and not messing up. That’s the most important thing as a rookie is knowing your playbook and executing it."

Okam continues to lean on the veterans for advice. "Really, watching Amobi (Okoye) and Mario (Williams), Travis (Johnson) has really been helping me a lot off the field and Jeff Zgonina, who’s been in the league forever, has been giving me a lot of tips," said Frank. "It’s the mental part of the game that’s different and the little tidbits of techniques that the wily veterans use to make themselves more successful than the younger guys. You can see the little subtle things they do that I’m trying to pick up on so I can put in my game and make myself better."

With the coaching staff pushing Frank to learn both the NT and DT (three-technique) positions, it’s apparent that they are getting him ready to be a part of the line’s rotation. Being a big body who can make plays allows him to be an effective part of the line, as well as provide valuable insurance should one of the starters go down.

Parting Shots

From WR Kevin Walter, on the biggest difference he’s seen this year so far: "Confidence. I feel like we got a lot of playmakers. This year we’re executing better and we’re playing faster. This is our third year in the system under Coach Kubiak and I think everyone feels more comfortable and if you’re more comfortable you can go out there play like you’re hair is on fire."

Quinn Gray Continues Trek Across the AFC South

SOLIS — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:10:03 -0000

Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com is reporting that QB Quinn Gray and QB Jared Lorenzen have signed with the Indianapolis Colts. This move was made to give the Colts more arms in training camp as Peyton Manning continues to recover from his career-threatening (sic) knee surgery.

No word on whether the Colts cafeteria will remain all you can eat. In light of their two recent additions, something tells me that there may be a change in policy.

(Images courtesy of Picapp.com)

In other related Texans news, Kuharsky also reveals that Matt Schaub likes what he has seen from the running backs so far. Personally, I can't wait to see how dynamic this offense can be with a bona fide running game. 30...20...10..5.. TOUCHDOWN! It would be something like that.

(h/t to Eric - DGDB&D's uber-poster for posting the link)