HOUSTON-- Jacoby Jones was such a big Saints fan growing up in New Orleans that his favorite thing to wear as a 3-year-old was his Archie Manning replica uniform.

The Texans are hoping receiver Jacoby Jones can stretch defenses.

Twenty years later the rookie receiver has traded in that gear for a Houston Texans uniform. And though the Texans are less than a week into camp, he's already looking ahead to Nov. 18 when they host the Saints for the first time in franchise history.

But don't think for a second that Jones will have any mixed emotions when that day comes.

"I'm a Texan now, don't get confused on that," he said. "I take that game as a chip on the shoulder. We're going to play football."

Jones is so excited about the game that he's already planned to rent a bus to bring his family and friends from New Orleans to the game.

"Really there's so many of them they might need two buses," he said only half-jokingly.

The Texans picked Jones in the third round of this year's draft out of Division II Lane College. The former track star is only the second player from Lane College to be drafted after defensive tackle Ernest Bonwell was picked by Dallas in the 11th round in 1971.

The tall and lanky receiver had 68 receptions for 822 yards and six touchdowns in 2006 to earn Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference player of the year honors. He's expected to contribute on special teams after finishing with more than 1,100 yards and three touchdowns on kick and punt returns combined last season.

He didn't start playing football until his junior year of high school and got a track scholarship to Southeastern Louisiana before transferring to Lane.

Jones said the speed of the NFL has been a difficult adjustment after playing at such a small school.

"It is a totally different step," he said. "Two-a-days everyday right now, just getting used to putting those pads back on. The practices are much smoother and faster, so it is pretty different."

The Texans love his size and speed, but haven't been happy with the number of passes he's dropped in the early days of camp.

"The thing that's been disappointing with him is he's not clean catching the ball all the time, and we've got to clean that up," coach Gary Kubiak said. "If he does, there's no doubt that there's a player there that can help our team as a returner and a receiver."

Jones said the jump to the NFL has been made easier because of the guidance he's received from veterans like Andre Johnson and recently signed Keenan McCardell.

McCardell, who at 37 is 14 years older than Jones, took a particular interest in the rookie. "When Keenan first walked in the door, he sat next to me and said, 'I'm taking care of you,"' Jones said. "He teaches me little things like the game is more mental. A guy his age you can tell it's mind over matter."

Kubiak likes Jones' self-assured nature, he's just waiting for his skills to catch up to his attitude.

"He's got a lot of confidence in what he can do -- what he thinks he can do," Kubiak said. "But he's got to do it at this level."

Jones is hoping to get some work opposite Johnson as the second receiver as well as time at returner this season. But he's not picky about how he gets on the field.

"I'll be a role player," he said. "Whatever I got to do to help the team win and be a team player. If it's special teams, returning kicks, holding kicks it doesn't matter. I'm willing to do whatever."

Notes:@ RB Patrick Pass, who signed on Sunday, practiced with the Texans for the first time on Monday morning. The Texans like Pass, who spent his entire seven-year career with the Patriots, because he can play tailback and fullback. The only fullback on Houston's roster is Vonta Leach after Jameel Cook was placed on thephysically-unable-to-perform list on Saturday. "I don't label myself as any position on the team," Pass said. "I just say I'm a football player because I can go out there and pretty much do a lot of the things they ask me to do, whether it's lining up at receiver or playing fullback or tailback." ... Rookie free agent receiver Terry Richardson has left the team. "He just really came in there one morning and said 'I'm not really sure I want to do this,"' Kubiak said.