J.J. Watt took charge to start this episode of “Hard Knocks,” and instead of head coach Bill O’Brien dropping F-bombs and other expletives for change, Watt, he set the tone with his speech in the huddle. While narrator Liev Schreiber could not appropriately describe the episode using the same colorful language, this introduction served as an appropriate beginning for an episode full of tough personnel decisions, explosive practice and on-field intensity, and the effort to balance that with players’ personal lives.
Before becoming akin to a Wild West gunslinger, players have had to prove their mettle through drills and practice situations, but one player quickly found himself in the wrong position at the wrong time. Defensive lineman Jasper Coleman was called in to meet with General Manager Rick Smith, who essentially gave him his walking papers in favor of defensive back Quintin Demps, a former member of the team. O’Brien and Smith informed him that he had a legitimate chance to make the team and the two decision makers wanted to maximize talent above all.
O’Brien also established another theme for the team before the week’s practice leading up to the next preseason game against Denver: maintaining a competitive edge against opponents. In looking to create the mindset of winning every drill, O’Brien motivated his players by saying that they would be competing against the team as well as the entire NFL.
This resonated with the team as Jadeveon Clowney practiced for the first time in ten months last week and echoed his frustration to linebackers coach Mike Vrabel about his shortcomings while Vrabel joked about his absence, saying “Do you even know how your helmet buckles anymore?”
Meanwhile, Watt provided bursts of energy in practice, deflecting passes, plugging openings in the running game on defense, and making goal line stops around the edge. He pointed out that the Ryan Mallett-led offense had zero net yards gained when Watt was playing, saying, “That’s why they put me in the damn game!” Young, lesser known players made their presence felt and tried to create a competitive edge for the Texans, which was no easy task for many.
A couple of lighthearted segments took place in this week’s episode, the first showing how Uzoma Nwachukwu made his case for the team, showcasing his talents on the field and his inquisitive personality on his day off at Johnson Space Center. The curiosity in his teammates about why he used the nickname “E.Z.” despite the letters and structure of his actual name, led to some entertaining conversations..
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Nwachukwu’s exuberance and enjoyment of the moment was evident in his trip to NASA in Houston. He was outgoing throughout the experience there and asked unique questions that one would expect out of the excitable fourth grader on a field trip with aspirations of being a scientist when he or she grew up.
While Nwachukwu seemed to dominate the team’s fun, the Rookie Skits stole the spotlight and stood out as a highlight of this episode more than any other moment. During the week leading up to the 2nd preseason game, O’Brien and the coaching staff highly encouraged rookies and others to work together to develop skits presented in front of the entire team, and these performances were memorable and arguably spot-on to say the least.
Before the festivities began, Assistant Strength Coach Sean Hayes proved that he had another strong wrestling promo to deliver after his opening episode impression of Randy “Macho Man” Savage. This time, it was a commendable impression of the “Nature Boy” Ric Flair.
The skits segment stole the show, with the pick of the lot Khari Lee‘s impression of O’Brien, complete with towel around his neck and standing stone-faced at the podium. O’Brien was in stitches, and veterans such as Watt and Vince Wilfork found the impression hilariously authentic.
Chris Polk was known as a strong back who had multiple runs of five yards or more against Houston a year ago, success rooted in the mystique of the odd catchphrase “Bang bang chikity shrimp!” and football drilling by his mother Elena Polk. Polk’s phrase is and one can tout success using it at every turn, but his mother demonstrated the drills that she ran with her son to usher in that success.
Locker room banter also helped create an extra competition off of the field: swinnis, a mix of soccer and tennis with a net, ball that must be kicked, and boundaries defined by athletic tape on the ground. New star Nwachukwu played the game along with others, who even indicated a resemblance between this game to volleyball, just another way to stay working hard against one another in a highly competitive, yet friendly atmosphere. Fans of the eighties were given a treat with a “Top Gun” reference during this segment.
Competition did not surface automatically on the field though, and the Texans had a rough game against nearly perennial contender Denver which ultimately led to the winner in the quarterback battle.
While no quarterback stood out above the other, O’Brien decided that Brian Hoyer had a more consistent performance throughout the preseason, giving him the nod to start the season. Overall, he emphasized the need to play faster, make plays more consistently, and play good football although Peyton Manning played on the other side. The Texans contained Manning’s strong offense well, but the 2nd and 3rd units struggled to move the ball offensively and allowed big plays defensively. The game finished 14-10 to the Broncos, but could have swayed in Houston’s direction after a jumpball thrown to the Nwachukwu in the endzone fell incomplete with no pass interference call. O’Brien kept his cool but told the officials that they were in “preseason form,” a dig at their choice to not call the penalty.
The change in O’Brien’s demeanor was clear in a segment showing his home life. Together with his wife Colleen, they have a 13-year old son who has a brain deficiency that creates challenges in everyday life, but they showed a love and appreciation for him similar to that Brian Cushing showed to his children last week. O’Brien reads to his son often and his wife says that he curses a lot less at home while showing a lower intensity, characterized as a “great father” who “treats him like any other kid.”
Just as O’Brien lowered his intensity at home, fans and critics alike were given a lesson in realizing the importance of the difference between on-field and off-field reality, creating sympathy in his character in contrast to the hardcore disciplinarian that people doubt has a heart. This closing and Polk’s relationship with his mother brought Watt’s opening thought to the forefront, as O’Brien and others proved to be good people off the field whilst trying to become warriors inside the lines, bringing this episode full circle.