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Texans’ Bill O’Brien not happy with Jaelen Strong’s conditioning

By Nathaniel Reeves

Feb 20, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Arizona State wide receiver Jaelen Strong speaks to the media at the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 20, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Arizona State wide receiver Jaelen Strong speaks to the media at the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Houston Texans coach wants to see more out of the team’s third-round draft pick.

Jaelen Strong’s fall to the Houston Texans at No. 70 overall was one of the biggest mysterious of the 2015 NFL draft. During the first day of Texans’ rookie minicamp on Friday, Strong’s new head coach provided some insight as to why that might have happened.

Bill O’Brien was less than thrilled with Strong’s conditioning level, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. 

McClain adds that O’Brien noted that the 88-degree heat in Houston will only get worse, and that many of the rookies seemed to have been training for the combine rather than game action.

Of course, conditioning is something that can be fixed by a good coach like O’Brien, and he said that Strong was far from the only rookie that needed to get into better shape. Still, it seems like Strong didn’t make a great first impression.

Strong was seen as a late second or early first round pick as one of the top wide receivers available. His slide had nothing to do with production, as Strong totaled 157 catches for 2,287 yards and 17 touchdowns in two years at Arizona State.

At 6-4, 205 pounds with fantastic hands, Strong certainly has the physical ability to cut it in the NFL. Strong isn’t blowing anybody away with the athleticism of a Kevin White or polish of Amari Cooper, but acquitted himself well enough at the combine with a 4.44 40-yard dash and 42-inch vertical.

That led many fans and pundits to wonder if a wrist injury was the force behind Strong’s free fall. Being in poor shape or displaying a lack of conditioning would also do the trick.

Despite a poor first showing, Strong still has plenty of time to get up to speed. With Strong’s skill set, the Texans have a chance at the steal of the draft.

Strong will wear No. 11 this year as a reminder of the ten wide receivers who were drafted ahead of him. It seems he could use the extra motivation to get into better shape.

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