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Houston Texans Defense Continues To Raise Expectations At Training Camp
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- Houston Texans Defense Continues To Raise Expectations At Training Camp
While the Houston Texans offense struggled to find much consistency during Saturday night's practice, the defense provided plenty of reasons for optimism.
According to ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime , the Texans defense "displayed the potential of a top-three unit in the NFL." It was an impressive showing from a group that already entered training camp with high expectations.
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There was no shortage of big plays throughout the night. Bien-Aime noted that the defense recorded plenty of sacks, while Pro Bowl safety Calen Bullock came away with an interception in a recent article for ESPN, "However, the defense displayed the potential of a top-three unit in the NFL. There were plenty of sacks, an interception from Pro Bowl safety Calen Bullock and pass break ups. But most importantly, they're not satisfied. Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke's assessment of the defense was 'okay.' Burke said Houston is chasing perfection defensively."
Houston has built one of the more talented defensive groups in the NFL, with stars like Will Anderson Jr. and Derek Stingley Jr. leading the way. The Texans also have plenty of depth and young talent capable of making an impact, giving defensive coordinator Matt Burke plenty of pieces to work with.
The most encouraging part, however, may have been that the defense was not satisfied with its performance. Despite generating sacks, forcing an interception and breaking up passes, Burke won't be satisfied until he gets perfection from his group.
That's an important mentality for a defense with legitimate aspirations of being among the best in the league.
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Bien-Aime reported that Burke said Houston is chasing perfection defensively. That standard is difficult to reach, particularly over the course of an entire NFL season, but the mindset behind it could be just as important as the results on the practice field.
The Texans know they are going to need their defense to carry a significant portion of the load as the offense continues to develop. If this unit can consistently create pressure, limit explosive plays and force turnovers, Houston could have one of the biggest strengths in the AFC.
Saturday night was only one practice, and there will inevitably be days when the defense does not look quite as dominant. Still, the combination of talent, depth and expectations makes it easy to understand why the Texans believe they can build something special on that side of the football.
The defense may have been satisfied with very little from Burke's perspective, but the early signs suggest Houston could have an elite group on its hands.
