Here’s everything Houston Texans special teams coordinator Frank Ross said following Saturday’s evening practice, including his thoughts on the punter battle, the kicking game and the emergence of rookie linebacker Wade Woodaz
Question: On the decision to have one punter on the roster
Frank Ross: “Every position on our roster, always and hopefully for as long as I’m here, always will be a strong competition. We moved on fromJack Stonehouse. It doesn’t matter who’s out there, we’re always there to prove ourselves every day. I just thought at this point in time, it’s always tough. It’s a tough business. It’s hard business and decisions are tough, but it’s important for continuity of our group to make sure that specialists are working together and we could really devote our attention to some specific people. I’m really thrilled and excited about the way practice went tonight and we have to grow, we have to take a step forward because field positions is everything in the game, as you know and we’ll go from there.”
Q: On what he specifically likes about P Kai Kroeger
Ross: “Big word, consistency. Our job in the operation is to be consistent every time we walk out on the field. He’s done a good job of taking strides forward from where we started with him. We just believe that time on task will only continue to improve that. Let’s play small ball. Let’s do the little things right before we open our game up. I think that’s been the message to him and I think he’s received it well. He’s executed well and I’m excited to see where he goes. Really thrilled about it so far.”
Q: On whether he is considering bringing in a second punter for more competition
Ross: “At this point, we’re working with those three. We’re always looking. It doesn’t matter what position you are. That’s the truth, we’re always working players out. We’re always looking to upgrade. That part of the game will never change, so it doesn’t really matter. But again, that word, continuity is super important this time of the year. We have a nice field goal operation. We have to improve it. I think having Kai here through the first few weeks here at camp, has been really good. He had another nice field goal set here tonight. He’s a big part of that operation. Anybody who’s handling the football for us will always be. I’m excited about ‘15’ [Ka’imi Fairbairn] doing his job as well.”
Q: On what went into the final decision to go with P Kai Kroeger
“I’ve always said to you, the players or cleats are on the grass. It’s important for the peers as well. I could just see the operation and cleanliness where it has been with Kai [Kroeger]. It did hit me and it passed the eye test. We have to keep growing it forward. But once it passed the eye test, you see him working with his teammates, meaning the snapper and kicker in a certain way, I felt good about that. We’ll keep it moving forward.”
Q: On who he has been impressed with on special teams so far
Ross: “I got a little blood on the shirt tonight. We were getting a little competitive in our kick return individual drill. That was a drill. That was one. Watching Wade Woodaz in the fire, the intensity, I try to make sure our players know at the very minimum, the personality, the identity of your coach is asking you to get in the fight, stay in the fight and be aggressive. I’m really excited to watch him. Now, he has room to grow. But watching Wade tonight, watching [DE] Solomon Byrd tonight, watching our young linebackers tonight, that was exciting. I’m really looking forward to letting those guys get out there and spin their wheels a little bit here in the preseason games to show when the real bullets are flying what they can do. I’m fired up about those guys.”
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything Texans ST Coordinator Frank Ross said following Day 9 of training camp
Reporting by Cole Thompson, Texans Wire / Texans Wire
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By Cole Thompson, Texans Wire | USA TODAY Network
