To end the preseason the Houston Texans defeated the Minnesota Vikings 28-24 on Wednesday night finishing with a record of 3-1. This game for the Texans like many others, was a time to look at players on the bubble of making the final 53 man roster for the regular season starting Sunday against the Dolphins. With basically no one who had their spot solidified on the team playing during the game there was still much to see and talk about out there this week. Be prepared to hear some names you don’t regularly hear and might not notice as we get into the Houston Texans Week 4 preseason wrap up folks.
Texans returner Trindon Holliday celebrating with Arian Foster and Duane Brown after punt return for a TD.
First things first, credit must be given to thoughs who have earned it and kick returner Trindon Holliday definately earned the paraise of fans and coaches a like this preseason. After already returning a kickoff for a score against Carolina in week 1 and a punt for a score against the 49ers 2 weeks before returned another punt in the 3rd quarter against the Vikings 67 yards for yet another TD. After fumbling twice last week against the Saints Holliday showed he could pick it back up and go get it done in the return game this final week of the preseason. Holliday may be the blessing in diguise the Texans need, last season S Daniel Manning returned kickoffs after playing defense on the previous drives. And the now released Jacoby Jon returned punts and also played offense. With a player only doing returns it will ensure that Holliday will have fresh legs on most every return this year if he is the guy.
Newly signed RB Justin Forsett also had an outstanding game that evening. Rushing for 114 yards on 13 carries. Forsett a 5 year veteran who was signed to take over as the teams 3rd RB after Derrick Ward was let go has been worth the price of admission thus far. He’s great at catching out of the backfield and if Foster or Tate go down you know there’s a decent vet coming in to replace either one of them. Also worth knowing is the fact that Forsett knows how to run in a zone blocking scheme, learning while in Seattle. Coming to Houston he actually came to a team that was already built to accomodate him right away.
The no.3 QB battle didn’t seem like much of a battle at all like many thought it would be. Former Redskins QB John Beck actually played most of the game and rookie Case Keenum only got time toward the very end of the game. Keenum who started off camp well has shown he has a grasp on the offense but not as much a Beck. Beck does have the luxury of coming from anothere sysem similar to the Texans in Washington. Keenum, a Houston native is hoping he did what it took to make the final roster for his hometown team. If not I can almost garauntee he’ll sign with the practice squad. Why not take a paycheck to stay home and get better? He wouldn’t be a no.2 QB anywhere else around the league either. He’s just not quite ready.
Rookie WR Devier Posey on a big play against Vikings.
Rookie WR Devier Posey, a 3rd round pick also showed he had the chops to make plays when given the opportunity coming up with 2 catches for 93 yards and a TD. The former Ohio State Buckeye sat the whole college campaign last year after getting punished durning the same probe in that forced Terrell Pryor to enter the supplemental draft. Still he went to every team practice keeping his skills on par, knowing one day he’d get his shot at the NFL. Now he sits behind 2 other young talented WR’s and knows when his shot comes he’ll need to produce to climb the depth chart. What he did against the Vikings was a perfect example of that. The Texans took a chance on the kid and I beleive he’ll make them happy for doing so in the future.
OLB DJ Bryant was a unsigned rookie free agent after not being drafted out of James Madison University and the Texans took a chance him as well. He come up with 2 sacks against the Vikings during this weeks game, and had another called back because of a helmet to helmet call. For Bryant this was the 1st time he was able to get on the field and show the staff what he could do because of the depth the Texans have at OLB. he did make the most of the situation, with those foremantioned sacks and numerous QB pressures on the night he looked like a man amongst boys on a lot of occasions. Hopefully this was enough for the rookie to make the final 53 man roster this year. But if not do not be surprised to see Kubiak and company ink him to the practice squad if he’s waived and not claimed. The Texans have a very good group of guys signed to their practice squad, and with a player like Arian Foster once being on that same practice squad it would be easy to lure a guy into signing.
OLB DJ Bryant pressuring Vikings QB Joe Webb.
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