1of15<b>Q:</b> Will newcomer Brian Hoyer’s experience or Ryan Mallett’s cannon arm and raw upside potential prevail in the crucial battle for the starting quarterback job?
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<b>Go to the next slide for the answer.</b>Brett Coomer / Houston ChronicleShow MoreShow Less2of15<b>A:</b> It’s a longstanding NFL axiom that having two starting quarterbacks is the same as having no starting quarterback at all, so coach Bill O’Brien will have to settle on one of these guys for the long haul, which makes this the overriding issue of training camp.
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Every ball they both throw every day over the next few weeks be dissected like a frog in sophomore biology class. The seven-year vet Hoyer is the conventional-wisdom favorite because he at least has a measurable body of work, although it doesn’t dazzle. (A recent survey of NFL coaches and talent evaluators had him rated 30th best in a 32-team league.) He was 10-6 as a starter in his hometown of Cleveland the past two seasons, going 3-0 in late 2013 before suffering a season-ending knee injury, then 7-6 in 2014, when he started well before cratering. But he’s got history in O’Brien’s offense, having backed up Tom Brady in New England when O’Brien was the offensive coordinator there. That’s where he first met Mallett, then the Patriots’ third-teamer. It was, of course, Mallett who beat Cleveland and Hoyer last fall in the first of his only two NFL starts. A torn pectoral muscle mysteriously suffered in the weight room two days later ruined him for the Bengals the following Sunday and, needing surgery to repair the damage, he went on injured reserve. Mallett is taller and possesses a stronger arm, but passing accuracy remained an issue as recently as the team's June minicamp.Brett Coomer / Houston ChronicleShow MoreShow Less3of15<b>Q:</b> Can second-year linebacker Jadeveon Clowney recover from his serious rookie-season injury setback and become the monster impact player the Texans thought they were drafting with the No. 1 overall pick in 2014?
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<b>Go to the next slide for the answer.</b>Smiley N. Pool / Houston ChronicleShow MoreShow Less4of15<b>A:</b> Clowney endured a sports hernia and a concussion even before he got into his rookie season, then suffered a fluke – and shockingly serious – meniscus injury to his left knee in the season opener against Washington. The net result would be four game appearances, two starts and all of seven tackles before the Texans sent him back to the operating room for microfracture surgery, needed to repair damage to his articular cartilage. The recovery requires tremendous personal discipline, some cutting-edge rehab methods (blood restriction flow therapy) and a bit of luck, but Clowney appears to have come through the ordeal swimmingly.
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Although he presumably won’t be ready for the start of training camp, his every step – however halting – will require instant analysis. “Hard Knocks” will probably assign a cameraman just to him.Karen Warren / Houston ChronicleShow MoreShow Less5of15<b>Q:</b> Which new receivers – a mix of rookies and veterans – and/or one of last season’s under-utilized tight ends will emerge to pick up the slack for Andre Johnson, the longest-tenured Texan ever who has moved on to Indianapolis?
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<b>Go to the next slide for the answer.</b>Brett Coomer / Houston ChronicleShow MoreShow Less6of15<b>A:</b>Johnson caught 85 passes in his 12th season, so it’s not like he was hanging on by a thread. But the Texans didn’t think he’d be worth what they were going to have to pay him to return for a 13th, so now it’s up to third-round draft pick Jaelen Strong or free-agent finds Cecil Shorts III, late of Jacksonville, and ex-Titan Nate Washington (85) to prove they can make up for what has been lost. Of course, they’re all at the mercy of how well Hoyer and/or Mallett perform, as are tight ends Garrett Graham, C. J. Fiedorowicz and Ryan Griffin, who must contribute more than their anemic total of 51 catches in 2014.Brett Coomer / Houston ChronicleShow MoreShow Less7of15<b>Q:</b> Will Arian Foster, beginning his sixth season as the Texans' lead running back, be able to stay healthy for 16 games, something he’s done just twice in his career?
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<b>Go to the next slide for the answer.</b>Brett Coomer / Houston ChronicleShow MoreShow Less8of15<b>A:</b> A top-tier defense combined with a punishing running game could make the quarterback position less important in Houston than it’s supposed to be. Foster, equal parts brilliant and brittle, holds the key to the former. The league’s 2010 rushing champion starts camp at full strength for the first time since 2012, but evidence of even the slightest hitch in his gitalong in a practice will blow up.
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Remember, he finished a strong 2014 season – 1,246 rushing yards – with another pulled hamstring. As for Foster’s mental health . . . Mrs. Foster recently filed for divorce. A compelling preseason backup battle figures to be waged between Alfred Blue and rookie Kenny Hilliard, former LSU teammates who were low-round draft picks but could very well represent the Texans’ future post-Foster.Brett Coomer / Houston ChronicleShow MoreShow Less9of15<b>Q:</b> Will Bill O’Brien make his peace with the “Hard Knocks” crew?
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<b>Go to the next slide for the answer.</b>Brett Coomer / Houston ChronicleShow MoreShow Less10of15<b>A:</b> Of course. He’s an Ivy League guy. He gets it. And the more “F-bombs” he drops – he can’t help himself in that regard; what you see is what you get and bless him for it – the more interesting the Texans will become to their new prime-time fans, most of whom couldn’t care less who starts at quarterback or if the Texans can find two new competent starting safeties or if the 325-pound transplanted New Englander Vince Wilfork can somehow stave off heat stroke.Brett Coomer / Houston ChronicleShow MoreShow Less11of15<b>PLAYERS TO WATCH</b>
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<b>WR Keith Mumphery, 6-0, 215</b>
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The fifth-round pick from Michigan State has soft hands, runs good routes and is faster than the 4.54 seconds he ran in the 40-yard dash at the combine.Brett Coomer / Houston ChronicleShow MoreShow Less12of15<b>PLAYERS TO WATCH</b>
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<b>ILB Max Bullough, 6-3, 249</b>
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The undrafted free agent spent most of his rookie year on the practice squad, and the coaches expect significant improvement.Brett Coomer / Houston ChronicleShow MoreShow Less13of15<b>PLAYERS TO WATCH</b>
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<b>TE Ryan Griffin, 6-6, 254</b>
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This tall target enters his third season hoping to finally stand out as a receiver after impressing during his rookie season.Brett Coomer / Houston ChronicleShow MoreShow Less14of15<b>PLAYERS TO WATCH</b>
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<b>OLB John Simon, 6-1, 252</b>
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Entering his third season, Simon (top) is expected to set the edge and apply some pressure on the passer while continuing to improve.Brett Coomer / Houston ChronicleShow MoreShow Less15of15<b>PLAYERS TO WATCH</b>
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<b>S Lonnie Ballentine, 6-3, 215</b>
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After spending his rookie season on injured reserve, he has a chance to contribute in a big way. The coaches love his size and speed.Brett Coomer / Houston ChronicleShow MoreShow Less
With high expectations created by last season’s 9-7 record, the Texans begin their 14th training camp on Saturday at Veterans Houston Methodist Training Center.
Veterans report today for their second camp under Bill O’Brien. The rookies reported on Sunday for a week of conditioning and orientation.
After last season’s seven-game improvement under O’Brien, the excitement level in Houston has been elevated as the Texans are expected to compete for their first playoff berth since 2012.
By the time camp officially ends on Aug. 25, the Texans will have played two preseason games at NRG Stadium against San Francisco (Aug. 15) and Denver (Aug. 22).
The game against the Broncos features Gary Kubiak’s return to Houston, where he was fired late in the 2013 season. After spending last season as Baltimore’s offensive coordinator, Kubiak was hired at Denver to replace John Fox.
The Texans have only four practices at camp before they pack up and head for Richmond, Va., to practice against the Washington Redskins three times.
The Texans were supposed to practice against the Saints before their nationally televised game (Aug. 30) at the Superdome, but coach Sean Payton pulled out when it became official that the Texans would be featured on “Hard Knocks” this year.
The HBO series goes behind the scenes with a team that could have new starters at eight positions.
On offense, the Texans will have new starters at quarterback, receiver, left guard and center.
On defense, they’ll have a new nose tackle, outside linebacker, free safety and strong safety.
And, of course, players could dislodge starters by the time preseason ends and the Texans begin regular season against Kansas City at NRG Stadium.
Either Brian Hoyer or Ryan Mallett will be the starting quarterback. Ben Jones moves from left guard to center. Xavier Su’a-Filo replaces Jones at left guard.
The job that belonged to Andre Johnson is wide open opposite DeAndre Hopkins.
The defense will have Vince Wilfork at nose tackle and Rahim Moore at free safety.
John Simon starts at outside linebacker opposite Whitney Mercilus. When Jadeveon Clowney returns, it’ll be up to the coaches to find the best way to use him until he’s ready to play on a full-time basis.
Strong safety is wide open in the competition to replace D.J. Swearinger.
Besides determining who the new starters will be, the coaches must develop depth in the offensive and defensive lines.
