Preseason Week 1 & Texans Trim to 85
Time to reference game notes from the Saints game and recent team transactions.
Welcome back to another newsletter from Cap & Trade. This past weekend we all were finally able to experience some real football. In this entry, I will dump out my game notes to explain what my eye saw on the field. The Texans also completed their needed roster moves to trim the active roster down to 85 players.
Unfortunately my attendance record at training camp for 2022 is at an all time low due to regular life activities getting in the way. I was able to have some fruitful conversations at the Saints game for context on what we have seen reported during training camp thus far.
Saints vs. Texans
As with most preseason games the reps are limited for the front line starters, and in some cases the reps were non-existent. By my count 21 players were held out from the first preseason game for various reasons.
Turnovers, penalties, Dameon Pierce, and Obgonnia Okoronwo were the high points of this game.
The game ended with a net even turnover battle with both teams finishing with 3 turnovers. Tremon Smith pulled in the team’s one interception on a pass tipped into the air. It appears rookie Jalen Pitre was in position to pull in the interception as well. Three fumbles by New Orleans with two recovered by Houston round things out.
Saints were having center to quarterback exchange issues leading to two of the fumbles. Houston’s defense forced two fumbles thanks to handy work by Jonathan Owens and Tae Davis.
On the flip side Houston finished the game with 11 penalties totaling 99 yards. This will be a major area of focus for head coach Lovie Smith as the team continues through the preseason.
Based on discussions around the room, Marlon Mack was slated to work the 1st quarter followed by rookie Dameon Pierce working the 2nd quarter. Mack did not receive much in the way of run blocking help, finishing his set with 3 carries for 6 yards. Dameon Pierce was the star of the offensive show pulling off a cut back run for 20 yards in the 2nd quarter. Pierce followed that play with a sprint right around the end for 7 yards.
Pierce was the recipient of a poorly placed pass from Jeff Driskel leading to an interception. What followed caught many eyes from the room. Pierce was able to track down the linebacker to make the tackle some 15+ yards down the sideline. Big time hustle there.
On the defensive side Okoronkwo played 35 snaps from the defensive end position splitting time on both sides of the defensive line covering the weak side. Okoronkwo generated four quarterback pressures including one sack on a sweet spin move on rookie Trevor Penning. Okoronkwo’s work also included defensive two run stops (a non-successful run attempt). Okoronkwo easily cemented himself a roster spot to work within the rotation at defensive end.
Other Game Notes
Time to dump out the notebook in no specific order:
Undrafted free agent defensive tackle Kurt Hinnish saw playing time with the 1s and 2s, finished the night with one quarterback sack. Hinnish has a shot at this roster.
Tavierre Thomas was the first player in at slot cornerback. No surprise here but worth noting. Rumor out there on Houston beginning the process of working towards an extension with Thomas.
Jalen Pitre continues to deliver. Easily the team’s starting safety alongside Jonathan Owens. Pitre had a tackle for loss early in the game.
Paul Quessenberry was the first fullback in over Andy Janovich. We will see how this rotation works against Los Angeles this week. The team will carry a fullback on the 53 man roster for 2022.
Austin Deculus received all the reps as 2nd string right tackle. Deculus’ work Saturday night was a strong improvement versus what I saw early in camp. Charlie Heck has OT3 wrapped up.
Chris Moore and Phillip Dorsett battling for the starting slot wide receiver. Moore saw the field first against the Saints.
Houston deployed 21 personnel with Dameon Pierce and Andy Janovich for multiple plays.
The team drastically needs tight end help behind Pharaoh Brown and Brevin Jordan. Antony Auclair is not close to return to practice.
Thomas Booker put in some quality reps in the second half, displaying solid run defense.
Eric Murray and Terrence Brooks were the second set of safeties on the field. Free agent MJ Stewart is on the roster bubble.
Linebacker Blake Cashman was all over the field, as he manned the defensive play calling in the second half. Cashman was solid in coverage. Caserio traded a future 6th round pick for Cashman, who is also a free agent in 2023. Cashman also had 4 run stops with a potential tackle for loss.
Derek Rivers showed speed and explosive off the edge. Rivers is valued inside the locker room, however he is on the outside looking in for the 53 man roster at this point.
Jalen Reeves-Maybin will have to use his knowledge to get around the field, his speed is no longer there anymore. Based on Reeves-Maybin contract, I suspect his is a lock for this roster.
Hopefully Pep Hamilton opens the playbook a bit more for Davis Mills this Friday. To do this, the team needs some positive run attempts early in the game.
Dare Ogunbowale is the RB4 and could challenge Rex Burkhead for third down snaps as the season progresses.
Head Coach Lovie Smith’s management of the clock and timeout usage at the end of the first and second half were excellent. Very intriguing based on the Culley experience in 2021.
As of now the toughest position battles will be the back end of the wide receiver group, defensive line group, and safety group.
Roster Moves
The Texans needed to complete five roster moves to trim the roster down to 85 active players. Four of those roster moves were announced Monday evening.
Waived (goes through waivers as non-vested veterans):
BJ Emmons (RB)
Harrison Elliot (LS)
Damion Daniels (DL)
Released (vested veterans, outright release no waivers):
Chad Beebee (WR)
Jordan Jenkins (DE)
The Daniels, Emmons, Elliot, and Beebee contracts were outside the Top 51 with no pro-rated money meaning their contract terminations did not effect the salary cap space. Jenkins were increased the salary cap space by $2,276,029 net cap dollars.
Rookie WR John Metchie is still counting towards the 85 roster limit, despite an NFI/Active status. Houston cannot move Metchie to NFI/Reserve until the roster reduction to 80 players on August 23, 2022. The team would have to expose Metchie to waivers if the move was made prior to August 23, 2022.
With these moves the Texans will head into the second preseason game with $9,310,785 in available cap dollars.
What’s Next?
Houston will travel to Los Angeles to play against the Rams Friday night.
The team will need to complete five more movies by August 23, 2022 to reduce the roster down to 80 players. The final reduction to 53 players will occur on August 30, 2022.
-TC