Preview.....Texans-Panthers.

[Greenbacks]

Tom Savage to start for Texans preseason opener.

After two weeks of training camp, Tom Savage still seems to hold the lead in Houston's quarterback battle.
As expected, the veteran will start against Carolina in Houston's preseason opener Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET on NFL Network). Despite rave reviews thus far, rookie first-round pick Deshaun Watson will come off the bench.
It will be interesting to see how Texans head coach Bill O'Brien staggers his reps throughout the preseason. The entire organization has been steadfast in their support of Savage this offseason as the opening day starter. On any other team, that would mean that Savage would start three of four preseason games and sit for the finale. Will the allure of a quick understudy with a higher ceiling change that? Is it more valuable for Savage to take all the reps he can get or will O'Brien want to see his rookie against one NFL starting-caliber defense this summer?
Savage's audition, which has earned the respect of top wideout DeAndre Hopkins, begins in earnest now. A concussion robbed him from putting significant reps on tape down the stretch last year, but now he has a chance to put to rest any doubts about his ability to keep the job for all 16 games.

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[Greenbacks]

When it comes to quarterback play for the Texans, coach Bill O'Brien isn't saying much other than that all three of Tom Savage, rookie Deshaun Watson and veteran backup Brandon Weeden will play Wednesday, but it will be Savage making the start. O'Brien would not divulge on how much time each signal caller would spend under center.
It should be noted that Savage has taken all the first team snaps so far during training camp and starters typically play no more than a drive or two in a preseason opener. However, Savage could see a few more snaps since he has only made two starts in his three-year career.
On the other side of the ball for the Texans, J.J. Watt will play as well, but don't expect more than a series or two from the three-time Defensive Player of the Year award winner. Watt missed most of 2016 with a herniated disc.
Meanwhile, Panthers starting quarterback and former MVP Cam Newton is likely out for this game. Newton suffered a setback in his recovery from shoulder surgery. Reports out of camp are saying he suffered the setback throwing in line drills on July 30th.
Backup Derek Anderson will start in Newton's place, with Joe Webb and newcomer Garrett Gilbert expected to see plenty of action.
While Newton won't play, we'll still get treated to the debut of Panthers' rookie running back Christian McCaffrey. He has been the talk of Panthers' camp, so keep an eye on the play-making back out of Stanford as we get a glimpse of how Carolina will employ him this season.

 

[Greenbacks]

Panthers eager to see retooled offense in action.

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- For a sneak preview of how the Carolina Panthers are evolving offensively heading into their preseason opener Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET against the Houston Texans, let's turn to a member of the defense who sees it each day.
For his evaluation, free safety Kurt Coleman began with baseball terminology.
"If you see a fastball over and over again, you're going to be able to time it up and hit it," Coleman said. "So it's the off-speed, being able to change directions, being able to manipulate the defense the way you want to.
"That's what this offense is really evolving into. They have the pieces and the makeup to be able to run the up-tempo, run the slowdown, hit you with one formation and then with the same personnel hit you with a totally different formation. It's really tough right now for us to get a hold on what they're doing."
And all this without starting quarterback Cam Newton, who won't play in the game against the Texans as he continues to rest his surgically repaired shoulder.
But even though Newton has been a spectator since midway through a July 30 practice, when he was pulled for soreness and fatigue, the offense has continued to grow.
Running back Christian McCaffrey has proven to be as dynamic as the Panthers expected when they selected him with the eighth pick of the draft. He has lined up everywhere on the field as a back and wide receiver.
He even lined up in the shotgun in the Wildcat formation.
His versatility as a runner and receiver has opened up layers of the offense that weren't there on a regular basis before. That has helped Newton (prior to his being rested) and backup Derek Anderson get the ball into the hands of their playmakers more instead of relying on the quarterback to carry the load.
McCaffrey has been so impressive that Rivera said the former Stanford star was ahead of where you would expect a rookie to be, a tribute to McCaffrey's preparation and football IQ.
"They're really utilizing the playmakers that they have, and when [second-round pick Curtis] Samuel comes back, that's going to be another dimension," Coleman said.
McCaffrey and Samuel, a slot receiver out of Ohio State who can also play running back, have similar skills. Samuel hasn't been able to practice because of a hamstring injury, but he showed signs the past two days of being ready to return soon.
His versatility should help open up more layers of the offense for wide receivers Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess and tight end Greg Olsen.
"Funch and KB on the outside, and it's opening up the lanes for a lot of the playmakers on the inside like Greg and Christian ... all the guys that are coming through the middle," Coleman said.
Coach Ron Rivera likes what he's seen thus far, but he wants to see how it works against another defense. The Texans -- who ranked first in the NFL in total defense last year even though star defensive end J.J. Watt played in only three games -- will be a good test.
"Some of the changes that we have implemented are going to be beneficial to us," Rivera said. "Some of the players we have brought in, that we have drafted, are going to add to what we want to and what we're trying to do.
"I really think we can grow and become even more explosive."
The Panthers led the NFL in scoring in 2015 but fell to 15th last season, scoring about nine fewer points a game. Newton also took a beating behind an offensive line plagued by injuries.
So Rivera and his staff spent the offseason rebuilding the line and surrounding Newton with more dynamic weapons. The objective is to have more of a quick-strike offense that will rely less on Newton out of the read-option and reduce the number of hits he takes waiting for longer plays to develop.
Newton was adapting well before being pulled as part of the team's cautious approach to his rehab. He has thrown on the side the past three days, an indication he is close to returning.
Team officials say they aren't concerned, that Newton is on track to be ready for the regular-season opener.
Newton ultimately will benefit from this evolution. But so will the defense, which is getting more looks in practice that are similar to what the D will see every week from teams such as Atlanta and New Orleans.
"That's one of the really good things about it," Rivera said. "We come here and do start with the basics. But the thing that always seems to happen is you get right into the complicated. If you can handle those early on, it's going to benefit you.
"That's one of the things about being a multifaceted offense. It helps your defense in terms of growth."

 

[Greenbacks]

QB play among Bill O'Brien's focus in preseason opener.

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -- After two long weeks of training camp, the Houston Texans will finally get to compete against another team in Wednesday's preseason opener, and Tom Savage is looking forward to it.
"I know our offense and defense are kind of getting on each other's nerves right now, so it'll be good to take it out on someone else," the quarterback said with a smile.
He will get that chance after being named the starting quarterback for Wednesday's game against the Carolina Panthers, where he said his goal for the evening is simple -- score points and protect the football, both things that the Texans struggled with at quarterback last season.
Here are three things to watch on Wednesday night:

What will Houston get at quarterback? Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said all three quarterbacks -- Savage, Deshaun Watson and Brandon Weeden -- will play against the Panthers, starting with Savage. While Savage is currently the starter, Houston does not know exactly what they are getting from him.
He has been with the Texans since he was their fourth-round pick in 2014 -- O'Brien's first season with the club -- but has only appeared in five NFL games and started just twice. Savage has been injured each of his first three seasons, and is yet to throw a regular-season touchdown. Savage has looked good during training camp, but his true test will come in live action.
Watson, who the Texans traded up in the first round to draft with the No. 12 pick, has impressed their coaching staff in his less than four months with the team. He has done a good job of picking up the offense in practice, but in-game action will be a different story. Watson will likely work with the second team in the game and will have the chance to show the progress he has made.
O'Brien said he is looking for all three quarterbacks to have a "good operation of the offense," to "take care of the football," and to get "in and out of the huddle quickly."
"From all three of them, just a clean game, a clean operation," O'Brien said. "[Get] everybody on the same page and see if we can score some points."

How much of J.J. Watt will we see? The Texans have been careful with Watt during training camp as he returns from back surgery, but he said he's looking forward to being back on the field and being able to hit the quarterback. Watt returns from injury to a Texans' defense which finished 2016 ranked No. 1 in the NFL, and can make a big impact in his return.
In practice, he and outside linebackers Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus have done a good job putting pressure on Savage. While it remains to be seen whether he can return to the level he played at in 2015 -- 17.5 sacks, 76 combined tackles, three forced fumbles and an NFL Defensive Player of the Year award -- getting back on the field on Wednesday will be a good test for Watt.

How will the offensive line look without Duane Brown? A year ago, when the Texans were playing preseason games without Brown, it was because he was recovering from an injury. When Houston takes the field without the veteran left tackle on Wednesday, it's because he did not report to training camp, an absence that is thought to be contract-related. It seems unlikely that Brown will continue to hold out during the regular season, but the Texans' first preseason game will be a good indication of where the group will stand if he does not show up.
Without Brown, O'Brien is likely to start Kendall Lamm and Chris Clark at the two tackle spots and see if either is capable of starting at another position of need -- right tackle, assuming Brown eventually returns to play on the left side.

 

[Greenbacks]

 

[Greenbacks]