The Houston Texans starts the second week of training camp on Monday after a week of getting themselves acclimated to being back on the field and under that hot Texas sun. Here are a couple of things I will be looking at this week at the Houston Methodist Training Center.

1. What Will We See Once The Pads Go On?

First year head coach David Culley will get a better overview of what his team will be starting Tuesday when the Texans put pads on for the first time. Coach Culley has been adamant that he likes what he has seen so far with his team in helmets and shorts, but the real assessment will come starting Tuesday.

1. Will Mills Progress?

Let me preface my statement by saying, “Yes. I do know he is a rookie?” I understand the Texans selected quarterback Davis Mills with their first pick in round 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft. What did I expect from a rookie in his first training camp of his NFL career? More.

Yes, I said more. Is it fair to compare him to Deshaun Watson, who is the last rookie quarterback I observed in training camp? No, it is not, but I at least need to see more. Coaches and players rave over the fact that Mills is a sponge and soaks up all the information he is give. They also say that he has the intangibles to make it in this league.

Yet as I watched him go through training camp on Saturday taking the majority of the snaps due to the absence of Tyrod Taylor who was excused to handle a personal matter, he looked lost. The Texans focused more on red-zone situations, and he just wasn’t fluid enough in his reads nor his passes. He was inaccurate and that lead to the defense picking him off five times on the day.

1. Texans Defense May Have Fallen in Lov(ie)

One thing that the Texans need more than anything is a new identity. They ranked 27th last year in total defense and was dead last in run defense giving up over 2,500 yards and 24 touchdowns. Insert new defensive coordinator Lovie Smith who can draw up defensive schemes in his sleep.

The former AP Coach of the Year during his time as head coach of the Chicago Bears will have his hands full trying to turn a defense around that also gave up over 6,668 total yards.

Once again, I know that they have only been in shorts and helmets for the first four days. I also am fully aware that they have practiced against quarterbacks that are not on the same level as the one that stands behinds the players and watch practice (Deshaun Watson).

Yet, I like what I have seen from the players who are “Flying around the field,” as coach Culley likes to say. The aggressiveness of the defense is building character and confidence in not only themselves, but also coach Smith.