Conditioning

There is no way to prepare for the amount of conditioning required for rookies coming into the NFL for their first mini-camp. Not only is the NFL a higher level of competition than any rookie has seen, but players from outside of the region really struggle with the humidity in Houston, leading to cramps and fatigue early in practice. It was evident today at practice that, despite being an overcast 88 degrees with a nice wind, the humidity was too much for some players out on the field. The focus for some of the players who struggled with humidity and fatigue will be to rehydrate and recuperate so they can have a better day two.

Kevin Johnson

1st round draft pick, cornerback Kevin Johnson, had a solid day and has all the skill sets needed to be successful in the NFL. He appears NFL-ready, but technique will be the one thing he has to refine before week one of the regular season arrives. In addition to Johnson's good feet and quickness, he is able to open his hips and run with wide receivers. His abilities have Johnson entering the NFL ready to be an above-average corner for the Texans.

Benardrick McKinney

McKinney was soft spoken during media interviews but that all changed when he got on the field, as he lined up and directed traffic on the defense. It is clear that McKinney has a good grasp of the defense, with his ability to get players in position and how he communicates coverages and adjustments on the fly. He did struggle in one-on-one coverage, a skill in which he will have to improve before the season opens, but he has the athleticism to be more than adequate in that department.

Keith Mumphery

If there is one rookie out of the draft class who impressed on day one, it was Keith Mumphrey. Working out the outside wide receiver position, Mumphrey showed that he is a step above his defensive counterparts when the ball is in the air. His best catch came in traffic one-handed and he did well maintaining his stride after catching the football, running away from defenders. Despite early criticism after being drafted, Mumphrey was easily one of the stand-outs of day one of the rookie mini-camp.

Jaelen Strong

If there is one player who is going to have improve from his day one showing, it is Jaelen Strong. It was hard to get a good read on what Strong can do on the field because of his struggles with conditioning in the Houston weather. Strong was visibly fatigued and it directly affected his performance in camp, making it a rough opening day for the third-round pick. The wide receiver will need to take care of his conditioning before he can contribute to Bill O'Brien's offense.

Kurtis Drummond

The rookie safety from Michigan State, Kurtis Drummond, had an up and down day to open camp. Drummond showed good range and coverage skills, and impressed with his soft hands during interception drills. At 6'1" and 208 lbs., Drummond is a little bit on the smaller side for the safety position and was having issues with bigger receivers coming at him. He was also hampered by the weather, which slowed him down late in practice, as his body acclimated to the heat.

Lynden Trail

The 6'7", 269 lb. outside linebacker, Trail, passes the eye test when he steps on the field. More impressive is his movement for his size and overall athleticism for an edge player. Trail even showed off his versatility by dropping in coverage and getting his hands on the football when it was in the air. He showed some leadership qualities on the field, by helping line up defenders and communicating calls defensively. Trail still has some work to do as a pass rusher, but he has all the tools to make an NFL roster.

The Rookie Tight Ends

If there is one thing that is clear, the Texans are trying to add size to their tight end position. Khari Lee (6'4", 235 lbs.) and Mike McFarland (6'5", 252 lbs.) are imposing figures at the position. Both showed nice catching ability when running routes and it was a good start for both rookie tight ends, who each gave the smaller defensive backs issues in the passing game.

Dan Pettinato

The defensive end from Arizona, Dan Tettinato, had a strong showing. With no full contact, it is hard to get a good read on players on the offensive and defensive line, but Tettinato showed good awareness from his position. He was one of the few players on the defensive line to understand how to get in the passing lane of the quarterback throwing the football. He made it tough for QBs to complete passes and batting down passes won him some praise from the coaching staff. However, we will have to wait until full pads are on to get a better feel for the rookie.

Defensive Back Tryout Players

Tryout players Le'Vander Liggins and Raymon Taylor had strong showings on day one from their secondary positions. Liggins, a cornerback, was very active in coverage, breaking up passes and covering Jaelen Strong with ease. Taylor, a safety, got his hands on passes intended for deep receivers and was one of the better looking safeties on the day. Most defensive backs will have to put together two more strong days in order for the Texans to offer them a contract.

Travis Labhart

A year with the Texans helped Travis Labhart more than was expected. The second-year wide receiver who spent 2014 on the practice squad, was easily the best player on the field on day one. Labhart looked much stronger, faster, and quicker than we saw last year, catching everything that was thrown his way. His best two receptions came with a high pass for which he had to jump for in traffic, and on a play down the seam on an over-the-shoulder catch with a defender draped across him. Labhart has made a big jump in his second year with the organization and now it will be up to him to carry this momentum into OTAs and training camp.

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