1. Davis Mills is legit
Mills led Houston’s first and only touchdown drive of the game and unveiled the new offense under Nick Caley for the first time. He went 4/5 for 50 yards and a touchdown to veteran, free agent receiver Braxton Berrios. While there is no competition at QB in Houston, fans can sleep soundly knowing that the team possesses two capable QBs.
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2. The toughest cut will be at the wide receiver position
The receivers showed out in their first preseason game with John Metchie III’s five catches on eight targets, Berrios’ touchdown, and Xavier Hutchinson’s two strong receptions.
The Texans tend to keep six receivers, but with Nico Collins, Christian Kirk, Jayden Higgins, and Jaylin Noel all locks, the three above receivers must compete for two spots.
3. Darrell Taylor will be a great addition to the defensive line
Taylor was the most dominant pass rusher on the team. His PFF grade of 66.9 led all defensive linemen. He generated a consistent pass rush throughout the first half and supported the run game by funnelling plays back into the teeth of the defense. He has been flourishing with Denico Autry and Derek Barnett out throughout training camp.
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4. E.J. Speed brings the SWARM mentality
No defensive player stood out more in the preseason game than Speed. He tallied three tackles, a tackle for loss, and broke up a pass. His 92.0 PFF grade led the entire team. Speed had a huge hit in the first quarter to shut down a run play on the boundary. While he currently is the backup, Speed brings depth and tenacity to the linebacker group.
5. Mertz looks healthy, but not ready for the bright lights
Three interceptions in a row is a death knell for a rookie QB. Low passes, tipped balls, and errant throws due to miscommunication ruined Mertz’s first game back since tearing his ACL last October at Florida. He looked distinctly worse than second-year QB Kedon Slovis. Mertz wasn’t in the competition to make the roster, but he has a lot to prove to earn a spot on the Texans’ practice squad at this point.
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6. Texans’ secondary depth isn’t as talented as hoped
Injuries to C.J. Garner-Johnson and rookie Jaylen Reed zapped the depth out of this elite group. The Texans’ second and third-string defensive backs struggled in protection and gave up multiple deep throws in the third and fourth quarters. Namely, Russ Yeast, M.J. Stewart, and rookie Jaylin Smith were targeted quite often in the passing game. Hopefully, Houston can get back either CJDJ or Reed soon to bolster the depth in this important positional group.
7. The offense trusts Dare Ogumbowale
All the hype this offseason has been around rookie fourth-rounder Woody Marks and 2024 sixth-rounder Jawhar Jordan, but it was Ogumbowale who had the most productive outing. With Nick Chubb, Joe Mixon, and Dameon Pierce not participating in this game, the healthy trio of Ogumbowale, Marks, and Jordan carried the backfield. Ogumbowale led with five carries for 29 yards, while Jordan only amassed 18 yards on six runs.
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8. New faces on offense, still the same issues
Houston racked up multiple false starts and holding calls on offense, the bane of this team’s existence. Zach Thomas and Blake Fisher each committed a false start, and neither looked particularly capable on Saturday either. Maybe there’s something in the water at NRG, but nothing seems to kick the issues plaguing the offensive line.
9. The Gary Kubiak System is BACK
Bootlegs, play-action passes, and three-step drops under center… what is this, 2008? The first preseason game delivered a live-action demonstration of the Nick Caley offense. Caley comes from the Sean McVay and New England Patriots systems, which are predicated on play action and short passes. While I can’t imagine the new offensive coordinator showed all (or any) of his cards on Saturday, it is intriguing to see the Texans run such a familiar system once again.
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10. C.J. Stroud criticism for not participating is warranted
The Texans are trying to win a Super Bowl. They have a completely new offense, offensive line, rookie receivers, and a rookie running back. They all need reps together with the starting QB. Waiting until the season for those reps to occur is unprofessional and weak. It’s one thing for them to practice together; it’s another to test them in the preseason. While Stroud had a fantastic rookie campaign, that doesn’t mean he should be exempt from improving through preseason games.