Anthony Weaver – Page 9 – Syndication Server

Is safety an area of strength for the Texans defense?

Houston Texans defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver is optimistic about the talent in the safety positions, including third-year starter Justin Reid.

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The Houston Texans may have inconspicuously upgraded their safety position in the offseason.

First-year defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver told reporters on a video conference on May 13 that he is pleased with the free agent acquisitions of Eric Murray and Michael Thomas.

“We’re extremely excited about Eric Murray and Michael Thomas,” said Weaver. “They’re both proven veterans, phenomenal human beings that know how to play the game and how to win.”

Murray comes over from a one-season stint with the Cleveland Browns, where he recorded 24 tackles, 1.0 sack, three tackles for loss, and had a pass breakup in nine games.

Thomas spent the last two seasons with the New York Giants, earning his first career Pro Bowl in 2018 for collecting 59 tackles, 1.0 sack, two interceptions, six pass breakups, and forcing a fumble in 16 games.

While the Texans are hopeful to get that level of production out of either Thomas or Murray, Weaver knows they still have a young weapon on the back end: Justin Reid.

“I think Justin Reid is a heck of a football player, and now that he’s going into year three, it was amazing to see some of the things that he did last year particularly when he was nursing really two shoulder injuries the entire year,” Weaver said. “So, when he comes back this year and he’s healthy, 100 percent healthy, I could see him taking a huge jump as well.”

Reid has been a fixture for the Texans secondary since the club took him in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft from Stanford. The mature 23-year-old is losing the label of being Pro Bowler Eric Reid’s little brother and becoming one of the more complete safeties in the league.

“I have the utmost confidence in our safety position with just the professionalism we have in there and obviously the ability as well,” Weaver said.

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Texans DC Anthony Weaver knows he is now a decision maker on the team

Anthony Weaver knows that his promotion as a defensive coordinator now means he is a decision maker for the Houston Texans.

Anthony Weaver always knew he wanted to be a defensive coordinator and the responsibility that entails.

Weaver’s first break after spending 2002-08 as a defensive lineman in the NFL was as a graduate assistant with the Florida Gators in 2010. It helped that the head football coach at the time, Urban Meyer, was a receivers coach at Notre Dame from 1996-2000, where Weaver played his college ball.

When Weaver got the news he was going to be promoted from defensive line coach to defensive coordinator with the Houston Texans, one of the first people he met with was Meyer.

“When he found out I had gotten this role he said, ‘Weave, you’re out of the suggestion business and you’re into the decision business,'” Weaver told Houston reporters on a video conference on May 13.

For years as an defensive line coach for the New York Jets in 2012, and a defensive line coach for the Buffalo Bills in 2013 and Cleveland Browns from 2014-15 before landing in Houston in 2016 in the same capacity, Weaver knew he wanted to know more about the back seven of the defense and all of the intricacies of the defensive side of the ball.

When Meyer told Weaver that he was now a decision maker, it carried “a lot of weight” for Weaver.

Said Weaver: “That’s probably been the biggest transition. I just know that I have the final say and I’m always going to try to do what’s best for the team.”

Having experience as an NFL player also gives him the ability to relate to his players, which helps be more of a “player’s coach.”

“The other thing I think I can relate to is I’ve been in those seats,” said Weaver. “So, I know those days when they’re beat up and they’re stressed out. I feel like I know when to push and I know when pull and I think that gives me an advantage over some coaches that probably haven’t played.”

The Texans had Romeo Crennel, who will stay on as an assistant head coach, as defensive coordinator for the past two seasons. Houston is hopeful Weaver can bring an infusion of new ideas into the group.

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Is Texans OLB Jonathan Greenard the prototype for Anthony Weaver’s defense?

Houston Texans defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver likes rookie OLB Jonathan Greenard’s position flexibility. Is this the prototype for new defense?

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First year Houston Texans defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver draws influence from former New York Jets and Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan, who was known for his exotic schemes. Similarly, Weaver wants the Texans defense to be more exotic in 2020.

Is rookie outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard the prototype for Weaver’s new exotic schemes? The Texans’ defensive line coach since 2016 spoke with reporters on a video conference on Wednesday and stated he liked the third-round pick’s versatility.

“Jon Greenard was a guy that you could see doing a bunch of things for us, and I think position flexibility, particularly in the defense we’re trying to institute, adds a tremendous amount of value,” Weaver said. “He’s a guy that can rush off the edge, can rush inside, can drop into coverage, and when you can wear that many hats, that poses a lot of potential problems for an offense.”

According to a 2005 Baltimore Ravens playbook Power Point obtained by FootballX&O’s, Ryan’s defense liked the 3-4 defense because of its ability to create pass rush mismatches and the fact the offense has to account for seven potential immediate pass rushers. Additionally, blitzing defensive backs can be replaced by a dropping linebacker. If Greenard has the ability to cover well, then it allows Weaver to employ more blitzes from the secondary.

Coach Bill O’Brien indicated in his presser at the end of day of the 2020 NFL Draft on April 24 that Greenard has the ability to roam about in pre-snap.

Said O’Brien: “If we are in an odd front, or an event front, where could he be? Could he be standing up? Could he be walking around? I think at his core he’s an outside linebacker, but I do think he can do a lot of different things.”

If Greenard can be successful at “a lot of different things” Weaver has in store for him, then the Texans defense could rebound in 2020.

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How will Anthony Weaver get the Texans defense off the field on third downs?

The Houston Texans defense had the second-highest third down conversion rate in the NFL at 48.5%. How does Anthony Weaver intend to fix it?

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The Houston Texans defense had the second-highest third down conversion rate in the NFL at 48.5%. Only Washington had a higher conversion rate at 48.9%.

In fact, the Texans were the only playoff team in the top-10 of this ignominious statistic. The next closest playoff team was Minnesota at 39.7%, placing 14th overall.

Anthony Weaver enters his first season as the Texans’ defensive coordinator, and this difficulty getting off the field is one of his top priorities in 2020.

“I think on third down, we obviously have players,” Weaver told the Houston media on a video conference on Wednesday. “We have some really good players that can affect the quarterback. We have coverage guys. We have all the pieces to be more successful on third down.”

Houston has proven pass rushers in defensive end J.J. Watt and outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus. They may need a little more boost from their complementary edge defenders in defensive end Charles Omenihu, who enters his second season, and rookie outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard. An interior pass rush from defensive tackles Timmy Jernigan and Brandon Dunn could also help the Texans pressure opposing quarterbacks.

As far as coverage, the Texans have talent in the secondary with cornerbacks Bradley Roby, Gareon Conley, and Lonnie Johnson alongside safeties Justin Reid, Eric Murray, and Jaylen Watkins.

Weaver intends to draw on his Rex Ryan influences now that he takes over for Romeo Crennel as defensive coordinator.

Said Weaver: “I think schematically we’ll probably be a little bit more exotic, which potentially will allow our guys to have more success so that offenses can’t pinpoint exactly where players are going to be. So, we’re just, again, through scheme, just trying to create more opportunities for our guys.”

If the Texans defense can get off the field on third downs and create more possessions, it should help an offense that has question marks of its own following the trade of receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

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How have the Texans worked in the virtual offseason?

The Houston Texans have used a bevy of virtual tools to stay engaged in the virtual offseason.

The COVID-19 pandemic has most everyone working from home, even the Houston Texans, who seek to add a third straight season possessing the AFC South title.

Working virtually per the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s mandates has been a hurdle for first-year defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, who takes over after Romeo Crennel held the job for the past two seasons.

“We’ve tried to operate as best we could to keep things as we would if we were in the stadium,” Weaver told reporters on Wednesday. “So, early on all of us, the position coaches, had individual meetings with our players, and then right away we decided to teach some of the changes we made from a terminology standpoint and then get right into the install.”

According to coach Bill O’Brien on April 16, the Texans coaches were planning to have meetings using Zoom, a video conferencing service, and go over film with players using Discord, an application mostly used by video gamers.

What Weaver appreciates the most about the virtual offseason is it is sort of a state of suspended animation; there are only putative time constraints, which affords coaches to go over more in-depth material with players.

Said Weaver: “The one thing about this format is we can get into some graduate level details where we’re not under the gun, we’re not in a rush.”

The virtual offseason will continue through May 29, according to an addendum to Goodell’s mandate, and that only gives Weaver more time to go over “graduate level stuff” with the players.

“Obviously the Commissioner extended the virtual program [Wednesday], which I kind of guessed that was probably going to happen,” said Weaver. “So, we’re being able to teach some graduate level stuff that probably you would skim over otherwise.”

Weaver was previously the defensive line coach for the Texans from 2016-20, and will continue to double up in that role even as he takes over as defensive coordinator.

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Anthony Weaver says Texans have talented pass rushers on the roster

First year defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver likes the cupboard of pass rushers on the Houston Texans roster.

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Houston Texans defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver will be helped along by talented, proven edge rushers in his first year in defensive end J.J. Watt and outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus.

However, Weaver, who has been the team’s defensive line coach since 2016, is well aware of the other edge defenders who may not be household names, and how they can impact the rest of the unit.

“We have a bunch of talented rushers on the roster,” Weaver told Houston reporters on a video conference Wednesday. “The beauty for me is that I’ve got to find ways to put them in the best place to be successful.”

What Weaver has seen in practice and also reviewing film in the offseason is that the Texans have pass rushers who can win one-on-one battles with blockers.

“We have guys that can win one-on-ones,” said Weaver. “Now we’ve just got to put the pieces in the right spots.”

The Texans finished with 31 sacks in 2019, tied with the Cincinnati Bengals for the sixth-fewest in the NFL. Mercilus led the team with 7.5.

However, it won’t just be Mercilus and Watt, who missed eight games with a torn pectoral, that have to return to high levels of production. Younger players such as defensive end Charles Omenihu, who enters his second season, third-year outside linebacker Jacob Martin, and outside linebacker Duke Ejiofor have to find ways to continue their development. These pieces will be helped along by veteran contributors such as Brennan Scarlett and rookies like third-rounder Jonathan Greenard.

“We’ve got guys that can get to the quarterback and it’s all about what we can do schematically to help present those matchups so they can be successful,” Weaver said.

A formidable pass rush also helps in generating turnovers. The Texans defense created 22 takeaways last season, tied with Washington for the 15th-most in the NFL.

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3 Rex Ryan traits Anthony Weaver will add as Texans defensive coordinator

First-year defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver has been with the Houston Texans since 2016, but one of his bigger coaching influences was Rex Ryan.

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Houston Texans defensive coordinator Rex Ryan has been with the AFC South club since 2016 as a defensive line coach, a position and team he has been with the most in his NFL career.

However, one of Weaver’s larger influences on his career was former New York Jets and Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan. From 2002-05, Weaver played defensive end for the Ravens, and Ryan was his position coach for the first three seasons until taking over as defensive coordinator in 2005.

Here are three ways Ryan influenced Weaver.

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Texans DC Anthony Weaver shoots down idea of moving Lonnie Johnson to safety

First year Houston Texans defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver says that Lonnie Johnson is a cornerback, and expects him to make a jump in year two.

Former Houston Texans second-round pick Lonnie Johnson is playing cornerback, but his 6-2, 213-pound frame suggests that he might be a better fit at safety in his second season.

When approached with the idea of moving Johnson to safety, first-year defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver told Houston reporters on a conference call on Wednesday that the 24-year-old will be staying where he is on the outside.

“In terms of Lonnie moving to safety, I think Lonnie’s a corner,” Weaver said. “I think Lonnie’s a corner. I think he has press ability, he has length, he has speed. We’ve got to get his confidence right, and I don’t think he lacks in that area either.”

As a rookie from Kentucky, Johnson produced 41 tackles and seven pass breakups in 14 games, seven of which he started. Just as rookies tend to blossom later in their initial year due to increased playing time, Johnson had a boost on confidence in the divisional playoffs when he returned a 10-yard blocked punt for a touchdown early in the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Weaver was impressed with the way Johnson was able to have success as a rookie, especially in a position where being burned by receivers is commonplace.

Said Weaver: “The cornerback position, particularly for rookies, is a difficult one. To come in and have success early at corner is not easy. Those guys, they’re out there on those islands, they’re all by themselves and sometimes they’re just not being put in the best positions. We’ve got to help them. I’ve got the utmost faith in our DB room.”

Johnson is part of a revamped cornerback group that has Bradley Roby, Keion Crossen, Cornell Armstrong, Phillip Gaines, Gareon Conley, and Vernon Hargreaves returning. The club also drafted a cornerback in Round 4 of the 2020 NFL Draft with John Reid from Penn State.

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Texans select TCU DL Ross Blacklock in Round 2 of 2020 NFL Draft

The Houston Texans have selected former TCU Horned Frog defensive tackle Ross Blacklock in Round 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft.

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The Houston Texans have found someone to replace D.J. Reader.

The AFC South champions picked former TCU Horned Frog defensive tackle Ross Blacklock in Round 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft Friday.

Blacklock, a 6-4, 305 pound defensive tackle, has the ability to play at the three technique and also zero technique.

Blacklock went to high school at nearby Missouri City Elkins.

“Teams and fans are going to get a leader,” Blacklock said at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in February. “I’m a natural-born leader as a player. It’s something that just grew a part of me as an athlete. A guy that’s going to be accountable at all times, holds people to high standards, like myself.

“I want people to hold me to a high standard just like I will hold them to a higher standard as well. A guy who just wants to be great. I see people in the NFL, some of the greatest athletes in the world, and I just want to be in the same topic. I don’t do it for money. Of course you get paid a lot of money, but I just do it for the passion of football.”

The Texans still have six picks remaining in the draft. Their next selection is at 90th overall in the third round to conclude day two. On day three, Houston has a fourth-rounder, fifth-round, and three seventh-round picks.

OLB Jacob Martin optimistic about second season with Texans

Outside linebacker Jacob Martin is positive and upbeat about beginning his second season with the Houston Texans.

Jacob Martin is beginning his second season with the Houston Texans, and the outside linebacker is optimistic about it.

The former 2018 sixth-round pick from Temple was part of the trade with the Seattle Seahawks that sent edge defender Jadeveon Clowney to the NFC West. The trade was executed on Aug. 31, and the 23-year-old had a week to get ready for the Texans’ season opener at the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football.

One of the reasons Martin is hopeful about 2020 is the promotion of defensive line coach Anthony Weaver to defensive coordinator.

“I learned a lot from him this year working with some of the other guys up front,” Martin told Drew Dougherty of Texans TV. “He’s a young dude. He’s played the game. He understands the game. He brings a lot of energy. He’s just a good guy to be around. He’s a super-smart guy you can lean on.”

Martin collected 11 tackles, three tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, seven quarterback hits, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in his 14 games for Houston. The 6-2, 242-pound edge defender did not register a start as he was mostly a special teams contributor.

While Martin intends to help the team in whatever capacity is asked of him, the goal is always improvement. As COVID-19 has brought the entire world to gridlock, Martin continues to work on his strength and conditioning. The outside linebacker has consulted with strength and conditioning coach Mike Eubank on creating a home gym that will help him train for 2020.

“I’m excited to be back another year with the guys, to grow and to learn within the system and to play for Weave and the new members of the staff that they added,” said Martin. “I’m very optimistic about the things that we’re capable of and the things that we’ll achieve from a defensive standpoint and a team standpoint this year.”

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