HOUSTON (CBS HOUSTON) – Bill O’Brien has stressed competition among positions since his arrival in Houston in 2014.
That definitely rings true at the wide receiver position opposite DeAndre Hopkins this season after the Texans released their longtime star, Andre Johnson. They’re also searching for a slot receiver. When O’Brien was asked about the group’s progress after Wednesday’s minicamp, he talked about how they’re all very competitive and working hard to learn the offense and stay one step ahead, but he did mention the unrestricted free agent the team signed in April.
“I would start with the veteran we brought in, Nate Washington,” O’Brien said. “He’s a guy that’s come in and learned our offense. It’s not an easy offense to learn but he’s obviously studied it, gone out there and made a connection with both quarterbacks and he works extremely hard. He’s a good guy to have on the team. He has a lot of experience.”
Another free agent wide receiver the Texans signed this offseason was Cecil Shorts, the Jaguars’ fourth-round pick in 2011.
“Cecil has done a good job, along with Nate Washington,” O’Brien said after Tuesday’s minicamp. “I would kind of put those guys in a similar category as far as being veteran players that are new to our system. They’ve both come in here and put a lot of studying in.
“Cecil is a very bright guy. He’s a professional and he’s done a good job coming in here.”
The fact that O’Brien is grouping Shorts, who’s in his fifth year in the NFL, with 11-year receiver Washington as the “veterans” of the group is telling of just how young this receiver corp is. With Washington missing Wednesday’s minicamp due to illness, Hopkins still out after postseason wrist surgery and rookie Jaelen Strong not participating after returning Tuesday after a minor hamstring injury he suffered the first week of OTAs, it gave more young guys a chance to see more reps.
“It’s a hungry room, it’s a good room,” Shorts said. “Everybody is very capable of making the team, very capable of making plays and doing well in this offense and I think all of us working together, we’ll push each other to be great and to be good at what we do.”
But Shorts isn’t getting caught up in all the competition talk.
“I’m just excited to be here, and I think I’ll let it play out for itself – just go out there, make plays, be consistent, know what I’m doing on that side of the ball and I think everything will work out,” Shorts said.
As for how comfortable he feels with this offense by now, Shorts says it’s going well.
“Just got to really study, got to stay in my books like I’m back in school,” Shorts said. “Just make sure I’m on top of things, understanding what’s going on on the defensive side of the ball and the coverage and the checks. There’s a lot that goes into this offense.”
Of course the biggest competition on the team is between Ryan Mallet and Brian Hoyer at starting quarterback, and with Shorts having been on the receiving end of both throughout the offseason program, he still can’t choose who has the upper hand.
“I’m glad I don’t have to pick who wins that competition, but they’re both looking good,” Shorts said. “They both bring stuff to the table that’s beneficial to the offense, and right now I think it’s neck and neck and I think they’re doing a great job.”
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