For Wednesday's practice, it was Jack Loder (@JackLoder_) on offense and Cole Topham (@HamAnalysis) on defense.
Offense
Tuesday was Trenton Bourguet’s day. He took reps with the first team skill position players, and made each and every throw assigned to him. So it came as a surprise on Wednesday when he was paired with only the second team offense. Emory Jones ran with the first team.
Jones and Bourguet were each adequate in their reps on Wednesday. After it looked like Bourguet had taken a slim lead in what Aguano called a “true open competition” based on Tuesday’s practice, neither quarterback did much to separate himself from the other on Wednesday.
First team offense:
QB Emory Jones
RB Daniyel Ngata
TE Messiah Swinson
WR Elijhah Badger
WR Giovanni Sanders
WR Bryan Thompson
Offensive line from left to right: Isaia Glass, Chris Martinez, Ben Scott, Des Holmes, Emmit Bohle.
On his first snap, Jones handed to Daniyel Ngata who ran left and picked up about three yards before contact. He then threw a nice quick bubble screen to Giovanni Sanders. The pass was on the money, and Sanders made a nice move inside to pick up what probably would have been a touchdown. Jones found Sanders again on the next snap. This time it was a slant to the left. Jones targeted Sanders once more during the viewing period. This time it was a slant to the right, and Jones fired on target but just high. The ball should have been caught by Sanders but Jones’s pass certainly wasn’t perfect.
Second team offense:
QB Trenton Bourguet
RB Tevin White
FB Case Hatch
TE Jalin Conyers
WR Andre Johnson
WR Chad Johnson Jr
Offensive line from left to right: Ralph Frias, Armon Bethea, Ben Bray, Kolbe Stuckwisch, Thomas LeBoucher.
Bourguet was teamed up with Chad Johnson Jr, Andre Johnson and Jalin Conyers with the second-team offense. His first pass was a risky one, threading the needle in traffic in the end zone intended for Andre Johnson. The pass was well covered and broken up, but not because it was a poor throw. Johnson could have met the ball out front a little more and the catch would have made it a highlight reel throw from Bourguet. Another nice PBU came courtesy of Ed Woods on the right pylon. Bourguet targeted Cam Johnson and threw to his back shoulder. Woods was blanketed on Johnson and the pass fell incomplete. Some on the offense signaled that they thought a pass interference flag would have been warranted in a game situation. On his final snap, Bouruguet found Jalin Conyers over the middle and put it right between the numbers for a nice gain. Conyers wasn’t Bourguet’s first read on the play and he stood in a collapsing pocket before delivering the strike.
Shaun Aguano was again observed behind the offensive formation more involved with direct play calling and pre-snap communication. It was reported on Tuesday that Aguano will officially be taking over play calling duties from offensive coordinator Glenn Thomas. It certainly seems like that’s the case based on his increased involvement during 11 on 11.
Attendance
Left guard Ladarius Henderson was absent again on Wednesday. His finger injury has kept him out for multiple weeks now, and after two missed practices this week Henderson is not expected to be active for the game at Colorado. Wide receiver Charles Hall IV was also absent, which is a new development. He had been bouncing between the first and second teamers at practice. Wide receiver Zeek Freeman was again sidelined as he deals with turf toe. Running back Xazavian Valladay was present and dressed but did not take part in 11 on 11.
Position Drills
Xazavian Valladay took part in the offensive reps against air after sitting out 11 on 11 for the fourth straight viewing practice. He took a pair of hand-offs and seemed to gingerly cut up the field. Valladay indicated to reporters on Tuesday that he isn’t dealing with any specific injury, but that he just wants to keep his body fresh.
The running backs went through their normal routine of footwork drills before taking hand-offs and pitches and avoiding a slowly rolling yoga ball. The tight ends teamed up with the running backs and worked on passing and run blocking towards the end of the viewing period.
Offense
Tuesday was Trenton Bourguet’s day. He took reps with the first team skill position players, and made each and every throw assigned to him. So it came as a surprise on Wednesday when he was paired with only the second team offense. Emory Jones ran with the first team.
Jones and Bourguet were each adequate in their reps on Wednesday. After it looked like Bourguet had taken a slim lead in what Aguano called a “true open competition” based on Tuesday’s practice, neither quarterback did much to separate himself from the other on Wednesday.
First team offense:
QB Emory Jones
RB Daniyel Ngata
TE Messiah Swinson
WR Elijhah Badger
WR Giovanni Sanders
WR Bryan Thompson
Offensive line from left to right: Isaia Glass, Chris Martinez, Ben Scott, Des Holmes, Emmit Bohle.
On his first snap, Jones handed to Daniyel Ngata who ran left and picked up about three yards before contact. He then threw a nice quick bubble screen to Giovanni Sanders. The pass was on the money, and Sanders made a nice move inside to pick up what probably would have been a touchdown. Jones found Sanders again on the next snap. This time it was a slant to the left. Jones targeted Sanders once more during the viewing period. This time it was a slant to the right, and Jones fired on target but just high. The ball should have been caught by Sanders but Jones’s pass certainly wasn’t perfect.
Second team offense:
QB Trenton Bourguet
RB Tevin White
FB Case Hatch
TE Jalin Conyers
WR Andre Johnson
WR Chad Johnson Jr
Offensive line from left to right: Ralph Frias, Armon Bethea, Ben Bray, Kolbe Stuckwisch, Thomas LeBoucher.
Bourguet was teamed up with Chad Johnson Jr, Andre Johnson and Jalin Conyers with the second-team offense. His first pass was a risky one, threading the needle in traffic in the end zone intended for Andre Johnson. The pass was well covered and broken up, but not because it was a poor throw. Johnson could have met the ball out front a little more and the catch would have made it a highlight reel throw from Bourguet. Another nice PBU came courtesy of Ed Woods on the right pylon. Bourguet targeted Cam Johnson and threw to his back shoulder. Woods was blanketed on Johnson and the pass fell incomplete. Some on the offense signaled that they thought a pass interference flag would have been warranted in a game situation. On his final snap, Bouruguet found Jalin Conyers over the middle and put it right between the numbers for a nice gain. Conyers wasn’t Bourguet’s first read on the play and he stood in a collapsing pocket before delivering the strike.
Shaun Aguano was again observed behind the offensive formation more involved with direct play calling and pre-snap communication. It was reported on Tuesday that Aguano will officially be taking over play calling duties from offensive coordinator Glenn Thomas. It certainly seems like that’s the case based on his increased involvement during 11 on 11.
Attendance
Left guard Ladarius Henderson was absent again on Wednesday. His finger injury has kept him out for multiple weeks now, and after two missed practices this week Henderson is not expected to be active for the game at Colorado. Wide receiver Charles Hall IV was also absent, which is a new development. He had been bouncing between the first and second teamers at practice. Wide receiver Zeek Freeman was again sidelined as he deals with turf toe. Running back Xazavian Valladay was present and dressed but did not take part in 11 on 11.
Position Drills
Xazavian Valladay took part in the offensive reps against air after sitting out 11 on 11 for the fourth straight viewing practice. He took a pair of hand-offs and seemed to gingerly cut up the field. Valladay indicated to reporters on Tuesday that he isn’t dealing with any specific injury, but that he just wants to keep his body fresh.
The running backs went through their normal routine of footwork drills before taking hand-offs and pitches and avoiding a slowly rolling yoga ball. The tight ends teamed up with the running backs and worked on passing and run blocking towards the end of the viewing period.
