The Houston Texans defense is far from ideal, and the secondary is another unit that has had to face each challenges on a weekly basis.
According to secondary coach D’Anton Lynn, a utility player they have been able to count on to meet the challenges has been safety Eric Murray.
“So, we knew he was a versatile player when we got him,” Lynn said. “We’ve used him just about every spot so far this year. He’s played safety for us. He’s played star. He’s played money. He’s blitzed. He’s been in coverage. He’s done just about everything.”
Murray has collected 38 combined tackles, a pass breakup, a forced fumble, and two quarterback hits in all seven of his starts for the Texans. The former Kansas City Chief and Cleveland Brown has had just seven missed tackles among his 477 defensive snaps and one special teams snap. The Texnas have sent him on a blitz 16 times and he has had one hurry and one quarterback knockdown.
“It’s been nice to have a utility guy like that that’s a veteran, that’s played in games, that’s smart, that can just kind of fill all those holes we have each week,” Lynn said.
The holes will persist for Houston, even as they get back to work against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9 at TIAA Bank Field. The Texans will still be leaning on Murray to do his part and fill in.