T.J. Yates had to know everything in his playing days.
The former Houston Texans 2011 fifth-round pick spent his seven-year NFL career as a backup.
“In my career playing in the NFL, I was a backup obviously for the majority of the time,” Yates told reporters on Wednesday. “You don’t get a lot of reps on the field. You have to kind of stand in the back and do a lot of mental reps. You have to do a lot of coaching to the other players that are in the background and aren’t on the field.”
Yates’ backup experience enabled him to transition into coaching as he had to know all aspects of the offense.
“You don’t get all the reps in practice, so by the time you do get in a game you better be on your stuff,” said Yates, who was 4-6 in his career with the Texans. “That’s how I took my career and approached my career as a backup quarterback and I think that helped transition into coaching.”
The former North Carolina Tar Heel is now an assistant quarterbacks coach for the Texans. The 33-year-old will be helping second-year offensive coordinator Tim Kelly coach the quarterbacks.
“He’s going to do a really good job with working with the quarterbacks and their mechanics, all the different techniques that are involved with playing that position,” Kelly said. “T.J.’s obviously played the position here in the NFL for a number of years, so he’s very well-educated and very knowledgeable with what it takes to be successful at this level. He’s going to be working with the quarterbacks, strictly with their techniques and fundamentals.”
Deshaun Watson is entering his fourth season in the NFL. If Yates can help the two-time Pro Bowler take another step in his development, it could mean the difference in helping Houston reach the AFC Championship Game or further.
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