Hard Knocks

Attention. Everyone wants it, very few get it. As Houston fans, we all feel like we don’t get enough attention nationally. We know we have good teams and great stories, but the damn media only focuses on useless crap like Tom Brady’s balls or what Jerry Jones is going to do with the Cowboys. We finally have a chance to make a splash in national media…right? Who really watches Hard Knocks? I’ll be honest, I’ve only seen one clip of the HBO show, which was when the Falcons came to Houston. People only care about their teams. Who the fuck cares what is happening in Miami or Cleveland on a daily basis. I just want to know what my team is doing. I’m pretty sure more NFL players and coaches watch Hard Knocks than casual fans. Still, it is a good opportunity to get some interesting stories out their for the people that do watch. Let’s take a look at the what we want to see Hard Knocks.

1. JJ Watt- Isn’t this obvious? JJ has been the only ray of light that has shone through the jungle that is national media (quite brightly too). We have heard so much about his work ethic and monstrous physical abilities. This is one of the first times we will get to see what Watt really looks like in practice everyday.

2. Brian Cushing- Cushing is probably the most underrated loved player in Houston. We see his intense, head butting play on the field, yet he seems civilized and calm off the field. After coming off two knee injuries, we are hoping he can be the Cushing we saw in his first 2 years in the league. It will be interesting to see if he is civilized or intense during training camp. Will he be the mature leader guiding the young guys by the hand, or will he be the relentless, push you to your limit veteran?

3. Rookies- Coming off a disappointing season for Texans’ rookies last year (hopefully they can get through a practice), we need some real production from this class. Kevin Johnson has already made showed a glimpse of his talent on the first day of OTAs, making a diving INT on the sidelines. Unfortunately, Strong is still catching his breath after the first day of conditioning, but his endurance will rise over time. Seeing these guys progress, and see how they handle the pressures of the NFL will be quite interesting.

4. Ben Jones- Ben’s transition to center will be interesting, but we really care about his antics. We have heard from many people that Ben Jones is probably one of the most entertaining guys on the team. Us country folk would love to see Ben represent our fun-loving culture in practice with his southern swagger.

5.QB Competition: Mallett v.Hoyer. This competition could be the defining moment in Texans’ history. We may finally, after over a decade of waiting, have a franchise quarterback if everything works out. So whose the favorite? It will be fun seeing the former Cleveland failure try to battle it out with Houston’s best chance at a franchise QB (unbiased view, of course).

6. Bill O’Brien- The most interesting story by far. As we all know, and are tired of hearing, the former Belichick assistant brings a “New England” savvy to the team. However, he brings more fire and energy than his former employer. Although his coaching style is interesting, I respect him most for his off field story. OB’s son Jack has lissencephaly, a brain disease, that requires him to receive constant care. If you thought he was a cold, hardcore coach, watch this ESPN special: http://http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4770560/bill-obrien-gains-perspective-beyond-field