Texans Camp Notebook: Nico Collins Raves About Bobby Slowik Offense

Nico Collins has been a consistent playmaker since the start of training camp, and the third-year wideout for the Houston Texans has credited his mental enhancements.

HOUSTON — Nico Collins believes the Houston Texans' offense under offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik is designed to make plays. 

And Eight days into training camp at the Houston Methodist Training Center, Collins has been a consistent playmaker.

"I love Bobby, he's a dawg," Collins said. "He is aggressive. He wants to get out there and take shots — I am all for it. He is putting everybody in position to make plays."

Collins took to the field alongside quarterback C.J. Stroud during the first set of 11-on-11 play Friday morning. He blew past cornerback Shaquill Griffin on a fade route and completed a touchdown pass from Stroud.

The scoring drive marked the second consecutive day Stroud connected with Collins in the end zone. But by winning his one-on-one battle against the former Pro Bowl cornerback, Collins' play is a testament to the work he has put in throughout the off-season.

He has worked on every aspect of his game. But as Collins enters his third season, he believes the mental side of the game has been his most significant improvement.

Collins has improved his ability to read defensive coverages. And with the game slowing down, he has a better knowledge of how to make plays for the offense when reflecting on his first two seasons.

"I feel like you’ve really got to slow the game down," Collins said. "When you go out there, you are not really thinking, and that could really end up bad. Once you slow it down, understand what the coverage of the defense is doing, the game is going to come to you, and I feel like that’s what I’m continuing to climb and continuing to chase every day."

Collins believes every moment of camp is a chance to stack days and be better than the previous practice. The 6-foot-4 wideout has made plays against several defensive backs since the start of camp, which included a touchdown reception over the top of Derek Stingley Jr. 24 hours before his highlight against Griffin.

The defense added two more takeaways during camp: The offense had its moments during Day 8 of training camp, but the defense continued to be the superior side. During team activities, several players made impressive stops. 

The defensive line created pressure up front while the second and third levels made plays on the ball. Despite an offensive lineman recovering the ball, Will Anderson Jr. recorded a strip sack on Stroud.

Linebacker Denzel Perryman and safety M.J. Stewart recorded an interception from Stroud and Davis Mills. The defense has now recorded nine takeaways. Coach DeMeco Ryans said that takeaways are a significant sample of his defensive scheme.

"This is a new system for everyone, so you have to buy in," Perryman said. "It's DeMeco's approach to teaching. The same energy that he shows [at the podium] is the same energy he has on the field. I love it and the guys on the field appreciate it." 

Juice Scruggs remains Scott Quessenberry's replacement: The Texans went through their first full day of practice after Scott Quessenberry went down with a devastating knee injury. Juice Scruggs remained Quessenberry's replacement, playing center with the first team.

The rookie offensive lineman from Penn State had a solid day. But it appeared that the offensive line has slightly declined, given the experience the position group has lost due to Quessenberry's injury.

"We are all praying for Scott and hoping for a healthy recovery," Ryans said. "It was hard to see him go down yesterday. We hate to lose anyone like that on the practice field.

"When it comes to replacing guys, it is a part of the game. We expect you to step up and play at some point. No one knows what could happen. You always have to be ready."

QUICK HITS

• Laremy Tunsil was absent due to rest, and Killian Zierer filled in the void at left tackle. Zierer had a solid day receiving first-team reps. He held his own on several occasions, which included a presser stop on Jonathan Greenard.

• After missing three consecutive days of camp, tight end Dalton Schultz returned to the practice field. A brutal hit by safety Jimmy Ward during 11-on-11 play Sunday morning left Schultz sidelined and nursing an injury. 

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