The Houston Texans’ joint practice last year against the Washington Redskins infamously made headlines because of the brawl that ended it, but don’t expect anything like that on Friday when the Texans travel to Santa Clara to practice against the San Francisco 49ers.
“We don’t ever want that,” O’Brien said. “Chip [Kelly] and I will talk to our teams. We’ve already spoken to each other about that. If you fight, you’re out of practice. We don’t want that. We don’t want that at all.”
The Texans haven’t had too many fights break out thus far in training camp, though on Monday receiver Keith Mumphery and cornerback Robert Nelson got into a scuffle while the Texans were practicing inside. A few punches to the helmet were thrown, but the fight was broken up quickly.
The Texans won’t draw up a detailed game plan for the practice against the 49ers, because the team is still in the “installation-type part of camp,” but O’Brien said they will prepare the team for the 49ers’ high-tempo offense. According to O'Brien, the Texans will have a call sheet with their plays and go from there.
O’Brien said the teams will practice against each other on Friday, and then Saturday will be a separate practice for both, when the Texans will likely hold a walkthrough before Sunday’s preseason game between the teams.
“You get a lot out of it,” O’Brien said of the joint practices. “You get to see a new team. You’ve been going against each other now since April, May, June, and then in camp for nine or 10 practices. Really, about 12 or 13 if you include early training camp. Now you get a new team, new schemes, different tempo, different vibe, you’re also able to see their roster, they’re able to see your roster.
“There’s 90 guys out there and not everybody can make the team, so that has a lot to do with it – evaluating both rosters. It’s just a good chance to get with another team and try to get better.”
Linebacker Brian Peters said he is excited to face another team after almost two weeks of practicing against quarterback Brock Osweiler and the Texans’ offense.
“It’s fun, it’s very exciting,” Peters said. “You get a little salty after hitting the same guys a few times. It’s nice to see how you stack up against another team and another competition. You get other skill sets, other different-size running backs and tight ends and guys that run routes differently, so it’s good to see how you stack up across the league.”
O’Brien also credited the trip with helping the team bond.
“It’s one of the better things that, since I’ve been in the league, teams that I’ve been with do,” O’Brien said of the preseason trip. “You’re able to go away now for four days to San Francisco, get in the hotel, get out of Houston for a few days, get together as a team, meet, eat, compete, do all those things together and just talk football. I think there’s a lot to that, there’s a lot to the word ‘chemistry,’ and I think that helps the chemistry of the football team.”
The Texans will also hold a joint practice with the Saints on Aug. 18 before the teams play on Aug. 20.