Organized Team Activities — the NFL's version of unofficial spring practice — have a way of growing monotonous. It's still a long, long way till the season, the weather's already hot (at least in Texas) and little that happens is going to truly decide who wins the few jobs really available.
Under this environment, things like a minor calf injury to a star like Arian Foster can blow up (at least briefly) on Twitter and in the news cycle.
But while Foster getting carted away from the practice field (with a strain) on the first day after Memorial Day Weekend figures to be forgotten by training camp, other largely overlooked scenes will live on and leave an impact long into the season. Like Johnathan Joseph taking buzzed-over first round draft pick DeAndre Hopkins to school.
"He gets a little mad when he doesn't make a play. That's good."
It's been apparent to anyone who's watched recent practices. When Joseph finds himself covering Hopkins in a drill, the intensity level ratchets up and the veteran Pro Bowl cornerback gives no quarter.
There's Joseph stepping in at the last moment to break up a sure completion to Hopkins on a slant, flashing a smile as the rest of the Texans defensive backs erupt in hoots and hollers.
There's Joseph matching the rookie stride-for-stride down the field and denying him from hauling in a long bomb.
There's Hopkins getting enough separation to catch a deep pass on Joseph.
No. 24 is pushing No. 10 and he's getting some push back too.
"I love those one-on-one battles," Joseph says. "It doesn't matter that it's practice or OTAs. There's no, it's only . . . It's not just practice. Every day is a competition.
"You have to win those one-on-ones to win games."
DeAndre Hopkins doesn't realize it, but he's in Johnathan Joseph School.
Joseph and the rest of the Texans defensive backs follow a mantra when it comes to practice and preparing for the fights to come. "It's 365 Judgment Day," Joseph says.
Joseph, veteran safety Danieal Manning and fourth-year cornerback Kareem Jackson sometimes call out the phrase to each other when they make a play in OTAs. Big free agent signee Ed Reed still may be in Colorado working on his hip, but this is a secondary already filled with a fierce competitive drive.
"We try and bring it every single day, every single play we're out there," Manning says. "I think the young guys see that."
Hopkins is arguably the Texans' most important young guy, the rookie who must produce from Week One for Houston's Super visions to really take off. It's natural for Andre Johnson to take Hopkins under his wing. What No. 10 could not have expected is what an interest Joseph would have in pushing him to be better.
"I really like that he's competitive," Joseph says of Hopkins. "He gets a little mad when he doesn't make a play. That's good. It doesn't matter if you're a young guy going against an older guy or an older guy going against a young guy, you've got to fight to make the plays."
DeAndre Hopkins doesn't realize it, but he's in Johnathan Joseph School. Every broken up pass, every relentless pass route shadowing is part of the curriculum.
Sure, it's only May. But Joseph will tell you it's never too early.
The fact Joseph is pushing the new rookie receiver is a testament to how far the Texans have come under coach Gary Kubiak. This is in many ways a team that can self police itself now, one where the head coach isn't the only one who sees the larger picture.
Johnathan Joseph loves to compete. But he also knows the Texans need DeAndre Hopkins to get better.
365 Judgment Day. No. 24 will make sure the rookie understands that quick.
Johnathan Joseph knows how to raise the intensity level — whether it's May or November.
