CAMP NOTES: An Optical Illusion

Before heading out to practice today, I asked via X what fans wanted me to focus on during practice. One of the things I was asked to do is report on the play of the guards. But when the players are dressed in shells, jerseys and shorts, it’s difficult to assess their progress.

The limited physical contact makes the assessment of performances in the trenches a challenge. Plus, as observers, we really don’t know the objective of each series, each play. The same goes for PFF grades. Coaches around the league chuckle at those grades for one very important reason. PFF doesn’t know the assignment given to each player on each play. Without that knowledge, how do you accurately assess performance?

The same could be said of training camp. And then while compiling my notes for this report, I saw this tweet from J.J. Watt.

Training Camp “stats” are insane and ridiculous.

Used to think it was always just people joking, but now seeing them seriously reported.

You have no idea what the purpose of that period is, what the goals are, what the context is, etc.

It could be a strictly 3rd & Long…

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) July 24, 2025

Makes sense, right?

So, without further ado, without a complete understanding of the goal of each snap on both sides of the football, let’s start with the assignments handed to me on X.

The Guards

Heading into camp, the guard position was unsettled. Patrick Mekari left via free agency and the team looked at Andrew Vorhees to step in and earn the job at left guard. After two days, things look pretty good for Vorhees but not until the pads come on, perhaps not until the preseason games, will we really understand the positive steps Vorhees’ game has taken.

As for Daniel Faalele, his physique is quite impressive, but he just doesn’t look athletic. He lumbers in space and his get off seems slow. Ben Cleveland might be a better solution at right guard but reading the tea leaves, the coaching staff appears to be comfortable with Faalele, and they know best even if my eyes see something different.

Malaki Starks

Not to put too much on Starks this early but watching him is like watching a student of the game. He surveys the offense, keeping everything in front of him. And then, when he diagnoses the play, he explodes to the ball whether in run support, recognizing screens or breaking on a ball to make play. On Thursday, Starks did all these things including an impressive PD to break up a pass intended for Charlie Kolar. Later in practice he picked off Lamar Jackson on a post corner route – an ill-advised pass from the outside looking in.

The Depth Behind Starks

Sanoussi Kane and Beau Brade are next in line behind Starks and Hamilton. Both seem to have taken a step forward and both are playing with confidence. Yet it would be interesting to see how they would compete against the No. 1 offense. Too soon to tell, but these two safeties seem to be progressing in Year 2.

Broderick Washington

Washington looks to be in great shape, and he’ll be called upon to take more snaps in 2025 given the retirement of Michael Pierce. He played better in 2024 than he did in 2023 and so far, there’s little evidence that suggests his ascent won’t continue this season.

Odafe Oweh

This is a big season for Odafe. Coming off a 10-sack season, he’ll look to at least match that total in 2025 so that he can attract potential suitors should he hit free agency next offseason. Oweh has added 20 pounds of muscle, and it doesn’t seem to have slowed his get off. He’s a terrific athlete and the added weight coupled with his developing array of pass rush moves could make Oweh a force in 2025. Emphasis on “could”. We need to see more.

Other Observations

• The early portion of Day 2 was devoted to individual drills and special teams sessions. Dayton Wade and LaJohntay Wester rotated on punt return duties. Wade is one of those guys who shows well during camp and even the preseason but disappears and eventually lands on the practice squad. My guess is the same will happen in 2025.
• Isaiah Likely makes big plays seemingly every day. Thursday was no exception when he hauled in a touch pass from Lamr with one hand and than added another 30 yards after the catch.
• Lamar tried to connect on a deep wheel route run by Justice Hill down the left sideline. The ball was perfectly placed and Hill got a hand on it but couldn’t finish the catch thanks to Roquan Smith who ran stride for stride with Hill and then raked Hill’s right arm to register the PD.
• I took some time to watch Chuck Smith work with the likes of Kyle Van Noy and Aeneas Peebles. KVN worked on some swim techniques while Peebles worked on a jump/spin move. Later during practice, Peebles had a nice pressure rep chasing Cooper Rush from the pocket, eventually forcing him to throw it away.
• Turnovers are the hot topic and the team’s defensive individual sessions are heavily focused on forcing mistakes.
• Tyler Loop had the day off as John Hoyland, the UDFA from Wyoming, assumed all kicking duties. Hoyland was 9 for 9 on the day, his longest from 43 yards out. On average Hoyland’s FGAs were from 36 yards out. It seemed strange that they didn’t try to test him a bit more.
• The play of the day was a 60-yard connection from Lamar Jackson to Rashod Bateman who beat Nate Wiggins and the converging Kyle Hamilton on the play. Lamar delivered a dime and hit Bateman right in stride.
  

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• Tez Walker hasn’t lit up either practice, but you can see the development. Today he got the best of Jaire Alexander on a go route during one-on-ones. The pair squared off later during the session and Alexander won the battle. That said, these one-on-ones are heavily slanted in the favor of the offense.
• There were three total INT’s during scrimmaging, two thrown by Lamar, the aforementioned pick by Starks along with another that Jackson sailed high towards Isaiah Likely. Likely tried to haul it in, but tipped the errant throw up in the air near the left hash mark and into the waiting arms of Trenton Simpson. The other by INT was delivered Devin Leary who was picked off by UDFA CB Reuben Lowery. It was a well-timed pick from the rookie and arguably the best defensive play of the afternoon.

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