Nothing going on until training camp starts. Brian Cushing has been cleared to resume all football activities on July 17 (this Wednesday).
So he should be able to get some full work outs in before the Texans' training camp starts a week-and-a-half later (July 26).

The Texans cheerleaders posted this from their practice session on Friday.
Not quite what the Dolphins cheerleaders have done the past two summers.
But it's still pretty good for a freestyle friday. Another week closer to the season starting.

Our defense was depleted. Johnathan Joseph played through a groin tear and Cushing's absence was statistically one of the biggest "negative differences" for any defense in the league last season. I'm still not sure how we won those games against the Jaguars and Lions in overtime to tell you the truth.

John Clayton mentions that fact starting at 1:08



I'm still shocked they were only giving up 344.9 yards and 23.5 points per game without Cushing. Felt more like 400 yards and 40 points, which it probably was against the elite teams like the Packers and Patriots. Even the Lions spanked us up and down the field with their high-octane offense. I'm pretty sure Matthew Stafford embarrassed us, at least passing yardage wise, just as much as Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady did.

The Texans have a lot to prove entering this season. Well, I should say entering the playoffs.

Nobody will care if the Texans go 14-2 or 10-6, as long as they are healthy in the playoffs and are ready to reach the AFC Championship game and Super Bowl. There is no extra points for glamour points in the regular season. The Ravens looked like complete shit for most of last season but turned it up come playoff time.

Hopefully Ed Reed can bring some of that magic and veteran leadership to the secondary.
Maybe flash his Super Bowl ring around the locker room and lead the team on the field during the playoffs.
Teams like the Texans and Falcons -- nobody and I mean nobody -- will take them seriously until they win the Lombardi Trophy.

Hako I like your posts in here...




























It reminds me that there is still a NFL team in Jacksonville

Stephen A. Smith is ripping the Texans on First Take this morning for calling the Patriots game a homecoming game.
They did it last year with the Ravens and won 43-13 after the Ravens had owned us for years and years.
I'm not sure it's necessarily a bad thing if it gets them pumped up for the game. Whatever works.
But let's not overlook the Broncos here. They're the team to beat in the AFC, not the Patriots.

Here was that segment I was talking about. Typical Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless hating on the Texans.
Notice how they also show Aaron Hernandez scoring two Touchdowns in the highlights (1:12 and 1:22)
Real classy First Take. I'm sure Hernandez will kick our ass again. As will Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd (nice TD at 1:16).



And it's not like our defense will be any better with our best cornerback and linebacker being healthy along with the Ed Reed addition.
Yep. I expect the Patriots to come into Houston and spank us every bit as good as they did up on Foxboro.

First take = zzz

This was our so-called homecoming game last year. Against the Super Bowl champs.
http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=321021034
I'm all for it if the team is able to back it up. They're 1-0 in such games.
But of course Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless fail to mention that.

Video: J.J. Watt pulls off near 5-foot box jump

http://blog.chron.com/ultimatetexans/2013/07/video-j-j-watt-pulls-off-near-5-foot-box-jump/

J.J. Watt’s sack total jumped from 5.5 in his rookie season to an NFL-best 20.5 in his breakout sophomore campaign, which netted him Defensive Player of the Year honors.

As you can see, the Texans’ 6-5, 290-pound defensive end was able to easily make the 59.5-inch jump, which is 4 inches better than his famed 2011 box jump that was featured last season on NBC’s Sunday Night Football.



Unbelievable. 59.5 inches. He shattered his old record. I'm starting to think he's not human.

Inb4 an NFL record 25-sack season in 2013. He keeps taking things to another level.