We've all heard of Senator John McCain's "straight talk" express . Well, Texans head coach Gary Kubiak also takes pride in telling it like it is . Kubiak wants his players to always know where they stand , and that was true this morning as the team opened a 3-day weekend mini-camp.

During the first of two workouts on Friday, Texans Media Coordinator Zac Emmons asked me if I noticed anything different about the team's number 1 offensive. As I took a closer look it was clear as a bell. Number 76, the Texans no. 1 draft pick Duane Brown was in the starting lineup at left tackle. So much for bringing the rook along slowly.
When I asked coach K. about the move he said, "we have to see how far we can bring this kid in the next month, so we put him right in there with the first group today."
Brown working with the no. 1 group had to be a blow to last year's starter Ephraim Salaam. But Kubiak thought it was
important to let Salaam and the rest of the team know what's going on. "I know it was very tough on Ephraim, I have a
great deal of respect for him, but I explained to him that I have to see how far I can bring this young man," Kubiak said. Gary went on to add ," I know Ephraim will do his job and we are expecting good things from him but we felt like we had to put this kid to work right away."
Heading into training camp Brown will be number one on the depth chart at left tackle . When I asked quarterback Matt Schaub about the rookie he told me , "he's a smart guy who can play lots different positions." Schaub added ,
"I told him after he was drafted that we would be connected here for awhile , so I told him you got my back and I got yours."

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