Tag: Secondary

Texans defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver on S Michael Thomas: ‘Can’t have enough smart guys’

Houston Texans defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver is pleased to have another talented, smart safety in the secondary in Michael Thomas.

The Houston Texans signed safety Michael Thomas in the offseason to provide support on special teams, but they also acquired the rights to a defensive back who uses his brain as much as his brawn.

First-year defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver is pleased with the addition of Thomas, who he can pair up with another former Stanford safety, Justin Reid.

“It’s awesome,” Weaver said. “You can’t have enough smart guys, particularly back there in that secondary. There’s so many adjustments they have to make throughout the game whether it’s formationally, two by two, three by one, is it a condensed formation? Are they stacked? There’s just so much communication that goes on so that you can get all of those guys on the same page.”

Part of what the safeties have to do is retain the information that was presented to them and transmit the information exactly how it was given. There can’t be anything lost in translation.

Said Weaver: “I always compare it a lot to the telephone game when you’re younger. You start off, you say one thing to somebody, by the time it gets to the guy across the other side of the field, who knows what they said? So, we’re trying to do our best to master the telephone game.”

Thomas and Reid aren’t the only smart defensive backs on the roster; Weaver mentioned cornerback Bradley Roby and safety Eric Murray, who also joined the Texans in the offseason.

“It obviously makes that communication, that cohesion, a lot more cleaner,” said Weaver.

If the Texans have a secondary that can use its collective intellect to support the pass rush and shut down opposing receiving corps, then it should help them retain their AFC South title in a competitive division with threats from A.J. Brown, D.J. Chark, and T.Y. Hilton.

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Texans CB John Reid says adapting to playbook is the most challenging part of the NFL

Houston Texans rookie cornerback John Reid says adapting to the playbook is the most challenging aspect of transitioning to the NFL.

Houston Texans rookie cornerback John Reid may be one of the more mature newcomers in the entire NFL, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t facing challenges when transitioning to the pro game.

According to the fourth-round pick from Penn State, the one aspect of the NFL that is a hurdle to overcome is the playbook.

“Definitely just the playbook, obviously, was a lot, but you learn that and then you rep it,” Reid said. “We had a lot of time before the veterans came in where we could kind of get our reps in and stuff like that. Then when the veterans came here, just getting their input on it.”

The 5-10, 181-pound cornerback has his own concept of how a particular play is to be played, but consults with veterans on the intentions of the play and what techniques need to be used within that play.

“That’s definitely been a change, and then just the pace and the control that everybody plays with here,” said Reid. “It’s not always 100 miles an hour right now, right now. It’s like the receivers, they change pace, their tempo. Their release will go from slow, fast to controlled, and then they’ll snap a route off quick. It’s a different pace of the game, but it’s been fun because every day has been a new challenge for me. I really enjoy that because it allows you to grow as a player.”

Reid has grown substantially over the course of training camp, even earning praise from coach and general manager Bill O’Brien, who has held the belief since April that rookies would have an even harder time adjusting to life in the NFL due to the effects from the COVID-19 pandemic. If Reid can be a contributing part of the secondary, the Texans will have a young cornerback with both inside and outside abilities.

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Cowboys 4th round pick Reggie Robinson moved to safety

CB Reggie Robinson has spent a lot of time in training camp at cornerback. Is a full-time position switch coming?

Noticeable during the second week of Cowboys training camp was the amount of time 2020 fourth rounder Reggie Robinson reportedly spent at safety. Is a full-time position switch forthcoming for the rookie, or does this reflect the overall philosophy of the new defensive coaching staff?

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Robinson played cornerback at Tulsa, but the Cowboys think his skillset also translates. Robinson did spend time there in high school, and the zone-heavy scheme Tulsa ran gave Robinson a lot of time to look into the opponent’s backfield. Dallas is relatively deep at CB, with 2019 starter Chidobe Awuzie alongside rookie second rounder Trevon Diggs, and veterans Anthony Brown, Jourdan Lewis, Daryl Worley and special teamer C.J. Goodwin. Their listed safeties are Xavier Woods, HaHa Clinton-Dix, Darian Thompson and Donovan Wilson.

Whispers about a position change for someone among Cowboys secondary group have surrounded the team for most of the offseason. As camp progresses, those rumors appear to be coming to fruition, with both Worley and Robinson taking reps at safety.

Of the two players, Robinson’s change is being reported as more permanent.

From a logistical standpoint, the move makes sense. But is committing Robinson to safety the best investment, given his ultimate upside at cornerback? Also unknown is just how Dallas is planning on using their additional safeties – or defensive backs, according to coach Maurice Lingusit.

Recently, Linguist clarified how the Cowboys view their secondary, in that they’re all defensive backs. Versatility has been a running offseason theme for the entire defense, with players capable of “being multiple” at each level. The same is true for the secondary, as players are seemingly expected to play both CB and safety. Said Linguist:

“By no means are you just one position for us. You play defensive back . . . If I know exactly where the safety is and I’m a corner, well that’s going to help me better understand what my technique is at corner. If I know exactly what a corner is doing at the safety position, it can help me move six inches to the left or six inches to the right and be successful.”

Whether Robinson’s time at safety is more permanent or situational remains to be seen, but having an interchangeable secondary should benefit the team in 2020. Having players capable of playing multiple positions helps protect against injury, as well as ensures the best group of players is on the field at once. Dallas can utilize additional DBs as slot corners, hybrid linebackers, or additional back-end support, helping Linguist and DC Mike Nolan combat modern NFL offenses and schemes.

However Robinson will be deployed this season, it bodes well that he seems to be in their immediate defensive plans. Given that Darian Thompson somewhat surprisingly seems to have the inside track to a starting safety spot, perhaps more roles are up for grabs than previously thought. For a young player like Robinson, this training camp is crucial toward determining the player he ultimately is at the NFL level.

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Texans safety Justin Reid balances personal goals with team goals

Safety Justin Reid is balancing personal goals with team goals of helping the Houston Texans win a championship in 2020.

Houston Texans safety Justin Reid has two sets of goals he wants to meet in 2020.

The first set is comprised of personal goals, and the second group consists of team goals.

“I try not to have my goals stick to, per se ‘I want three picks,’” Reid said. “You never know how many opportunities you’re going to get. The goal that I set for myself is, ‘I don’t want to drop any picks.’ Every opportunity that I get the chance to put my hands on the ball, I want to catch every single one of them.”

Reid collected two interceptions in 2019, down from three in his rookie season. The former 2018 third-round pick knocked away five passes, down from 10, but managed to collect 78 tackles, including a tackle for loss, and recovered a fumble.

The former Stanford product earned the 2019 Ed Block Courage Award, which is voted on by the players themselves. Reid is a strong candidate to earn his first career Pro Bowl selection in 2020.

However, Reid wants to be a part of a winner. The Texans have never escaped the divisional round of the playoffs, and the city of Houston hasn’t seen their NFL franchise, previously the Houston Oilers, play in an AFC Championship game since 1978.

“Obviously, I have individual goals, being All-Pro, Pro Bowl and all of that, but more than that it’s just a team goal,” said Reid. “Winning in general. We want to do more than what we did last year. We want to start winning championships in Houston.

“When you win on the team side of things and you accomplish team goals, then the individual accolades will just come along with that. The big focus for me is doing what I can to help my teammates, better them and also learn from them to better myself.”

With 31 games under his belt, Reid is one of the more veteran players in the secondary, even if he is only two seasons into his pro career. Should Reid have a big year, there is a good chance it will help the Texans go further in January than they ever have in franchise history.

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Safety Justin Reid says continuity in Texans’ secondary is ‘huge’

The Houston Texans have continuity in their secondary, and it is a valuable part of the defense, according to safety Justin Reid.

Much has been made about the Houston Texans’ offensive line carrying continuity from last year into 2020. However, the offensive line isn’t the only unit to benefit from the same faces returning from a year ago.

The Texans’ secondary is returning cornerbacks Bradley Roby, Gareon Conley, Lonnie Johnson, Keion Crossen, Vernon Hargreaves, and Phillip Gaines along with safeties Justin Reid and A.J. Moore.

Reid described the continuity as “huge” when speaking with reporters Thursday.

“Because now it’s not a whole bunch of new faces,” Reid explained.

The Texans do have newcomers in safeties Eric Murray, Michael Thomas, and Jaylen Watkins, but the majority of the secondary is comprised of players who were consistent starters and contributors for Houston last season.

“We already know that camaraderie, that chemistry with each other, the matchups that we’re going to be looking for,” Reid said. “The communication is probably the biggest thing in the sense that we already know those trigger terms that we use with each other communicating in the backfield whenever we work together. Just that veteran presence that you feel in the defense and the secondary.”

Reid is one of the veteran presences in the secondary, even though he is entering his third season in the league. However, Reid has played 31 games for Houston in the defensive backfield. Only Moore can boast more games played among Houston’s safeties, but Reid’s 1,823 defensive snaps to Moore’s 20 bring much more seniority to the secondary.

“We have a lot of guys that have played a lot of ball and bring a lot of different experiences and we’re able to feed off each other with that and really grow,” said Reid. “The backfield has been really strong. The communication has been good and it’s just exciting just to bring all the experience into one room.”

The Texans have a new secondary coach in D’Anton Lynn and a new defensive coordinator in Anthony Weaver, and both will benefit from coaching a group that has played so many games together.

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Texans are expecting A.J. Moore to step up at safety

The Houston Texans have expectations for safety A.J. Moore to take another step in his third NFL season.

The theme for the 2020 Houston Texans roster is DTS: dependable, tough, smart. Coach and general manager Bill O’Brien has formed the roster with that concept in mind.

One player who embodies the DTS playing style is safety A.J. Moore.

“A.J. Moore is when we describe ‘DTS’ – dependable, tough, smart – that’s what he is,” O’Brien said. “He embraces his role. He loves football. He loves being on the team. It’s just a really good guy.”

Moore, a former 2018 undrafted free agent who caught on with the New England Patriots until the end of his rookie preseason, has played 32 games for Houston. The former Ole Miss product has collected 25 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a fumble recovery for the Texans.

The 24-year-old didn’t see a single defensive snap in his rookie year, playing 344 for the Texans. However, last year, Moore, while still logging 327 special teams snaps, played 20 defensive snaps for Houston.

Free agent safety Eric Murray sees the energy Moore brings on defense, and calls it “infectious.” Murray also sees Moore ready to take the next step in his development.

“He’s been doing a good job getting the defense down,” said Murray. “From what I know, he was a standout special teams player last year, so it looks like he’s ready to take on a little bit of a different role — still contribute on special teams but also contribute on defense and stuff like that too.”

The Texans have a solid defensive backfield with Justin Reid leading the charge along with Murray slated to be the starter and Jaylen Watkins and Moore in support roles.

Moore’s dependable play on special teams has warranted him more action on the defensive side, and it could pay off for all parties involved in 2020.

“He’s a really good player,” said O’Brien. “He does a lot for us on special teams. He fills in on defense. He’s got leadership qualities. Awesome guy.”

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Texans have a smart pair of safeties in Eric Murray, Justin Reid

The Houston Texans have two safeties with high football intelligence in Eric Murray and Justin Reid.

The Houston Texans signed former Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns safety Eric Murray to a three-year contract in free agency.

With Justin Reid entering his third season, the Texans anticipate having a safety duo with high football IQ on the back end.

“They’re both very smart players, good pros,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “Eric works hard, smart, played a lot of football in this league. He fills a lot of different roles for us. He’s involved in special teams. He’s involved in different parts of the defense. He’s been a real good addition to our team.”

Murray played three seasons with the Chiefs after going in Round 4 of the 2016 NFL Draft. The 5-11, 199-pound safety played nine games for the Browns last season, starting in four of them, and collecting 24 tackles, three tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, and a pass breakup.

The former Minnesota Gopher looks forward to teaming up with Reid and confusing opposing offenses.

“I think we complement each other just by the mental part of the game, just being able to be on the same page so we can fool [offenses] into whatever look we have going on there,” said Murray. “I think in ways that we’re different, he’s more of an enforcer type. I think for me personally, I’m more of a covering type. I can still bring some physicality too, but I think that’s what separates us.”

Murray will be the third different free agent safety to start opposite of Reid. In 2018, Tyrann Mathieu played alongside Reid before departing in free agency, and Tashaun Gipson was the safety opposite of Reid last year.

“I think whatever possibilities we have, I think it’s really limitless,” Murary said. “We’re just learning new stuff and really getting a feel for each other. I feel like once we really click and get our camaraderie down as a group, it’ll be real good.”

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Daryl Worley adds versatility, size for Cowboys in crafty late FA signing

The Dallas Cowboys added valuable CB Daryl Worley this offseason, who has the size and versatility they crave at CB.

There was a lot of work the Dallas Cowboys needed do this offseason to rebuild the cornerback position. After Byron Jones departed via free agency, it left just two accomplished corners on the roster. Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis and a few nondescript names remained on the ledger.

The team went to work, re-signing slot man Anthony Brown, signing Maurice Canady (who has since opted out), Saivion Smith and then adding two cornerbacks in the draft. Apparently they weren’t done compiling talent at CB. The day after the draft concluded, Dallas also signed former Oakland Raiders cornerback Daryl Worley to continue to shore up the secondary.

Worley is a former 2016 third-round pick of the Carolina Panthers and is just 25 years old, but the Cowboys will be his fourth team in five years.

He was traded from the Panthers to the Philadelphia Eagles in March of 2018, but Worley’s arrest for a DUI in April of that year got him released before he played a game for the team. The Raiders swooped in and signed Worley, who was suspended for four games as a result of the arrest.

Worley played his college ball at West Virginia, where he played in 11 games and started in five as a freshman and he continued to get better as his career progressed. He had three interceptions as sophomore, but it was in his junior season when Worley’s stock rose. Worley earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors and picked off six passes in his last season with the Mountaineers, which tied for fourth in the nation.

In his first two years with the Panthers, Worley intercepted three passes and broke up 19, playing primarily as their starting RCB before he was traded to the Eagles.

Worley has been a member of the Raiders for the past two seasons and has played admirably, mostly on the left side. Last season, the veteran CB had eight passes defended, a tackle for a loss, and an interception in 15 games. Worley has five career interceptions, with at least one in each of his four seasons.

If the Cowboys were looking to create more turnovers, Worley does get his hands on a lot of passes.

The biggest reason the Cowboys signed Worley was because of his size. Listed at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, he fits the prototypical mold of CB the Cowboys are targeting.

Vice President of Player Personnel Will McClay mentioned in an interview after the draft about how the team wants “big, long corners.” Worley fits that bill.

Worley was already an intriguing name to remember for the defense, but since Canady has opted-out, he’ll get even more of an opportunity now.

Dallas does seem to have significant depth at CB and Worley is going to have value as a veteran presence as the team works in two rookie corners in Trevon Diggs and Reggie Robinson. He’ll be battling for the third or fourth spot in the rotation and his experience early in the season, especially since there’s been no real offseason practices, could turn out to be a difference maker.

The CB crunch ultimately might not be an issue as there are still rumors the Cowboys might convert one of their corners to a safety moving forward. Awuzie appears to be the most likely player to change positions, but don’t discount Worley as an option for snaps at safety either. He lined up at safety for the Panthers in 2017 and the Raiders used him there in spot duty as well, so Worley does make some sense.

If Awuzie does move, Worley will be counted on to play a bigger role in the secondary. Of course it could be Worley taking on multiple roles himself.

Head coach Mike McCarthy was asked specifically about Worley in Saturday’s press conference after the Cowboys first practice of the season.

The Cowboys were diligent in adding talent to the secondary this offseason and Worley was a nice pickup. He can line up on either side of the field, has some experience at safety and should be a core piece of the special teams units. Dallas can use him as a valuable jack-of-all-trades player who can help anywhere he’s needed.

At just 25 years of age, Worley’s best football is still in front of him. Worley could be one of the unsung heroes for the Cowboys as they enter the 2020 season.

People often mention glue guys and under the radar players that help teams win games, Worley fits that bill for the Cowboys.

You can chat with or follow Ben on twitter @BenGrimaldi.

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Texans coach Bill O’Brien pleased with first training camp practice with pads

Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien was content with the way the first padded training camp practice turned out for the defending AFC South champions.

The Houston Texans held their first padded practice of training camp Friday at Houston Methodist Training Center at NRG Park.

Coach and general manager Bill O’Brien was pleased with the way the first padded practice transpired.

“It was good,” O’Brien said. “It was a start. We’ve got a good bunch of guys. We’ve got a good football team. Any time you put pads on or the first time, it’s always an adjustment cause these guys haven’t been in pads since January.”

The Texans’ rookie class earned favorable reviews from O’Brien, including second-round defensive tackle Ross Blacklock and third-round outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard.

“I mean, Blacklock looks like he’s picking it up,” O’Brien said. “Greenard had a couple of good plays today. [Cornerback] John Reid’s a smart guy. But some of them — the speed of the game, it’s how fast it moves, plus all of the assignments you have to know, how important special teams is. Some of them are working hard, but they’re a little bit behind.”

However, it isn’t just the rookies who are behind. The veterans, who have not been in pads since the Texans’ 51-31 playoff loss at the Kansas City Chiefs, similarly have to get up to speed.

Said O’Brien: “They have to learn, even a veteran player has to learn, ‘how do I learn to play in shoulder pads?’ Sometimes we end up on the ground a little bit too much, I didn’t see too much of that today. It was good.”

If the Texans can continue to build on the momentum from their first padded practice, it should help them start strong out of the gate against a challenging three-game slate to start the year that includes facing the last two NFL MVPs in back-to-back seasons.

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DBs in heavy rotation on first day of camp as Cowboys coaches preach takeaways

Returning veterans, newly-signed free agents, and a fresh-faced rookie all got reps in the Cowboys secondary as training camp opened.

Perhaps no position group on the entire Dallas roster has been more of a sore spot in recent years than the defensive backs. A brutal interception drought, letting Byron Jones leave, and the failed courtship of several name-brand safeties has left many Cowboys fans feeling like maybe the coaching staff views the secondary as, well, a secondary concern.

But now there’s a new sheriff in town. And in the McCarthy era, everybody gets in on the action. Or at least they did on the first day of full-team practice.

It was a revolving door at cornerback on Friday at The Star in Frisco, with the depth chart apparently “wide open,” according to David Helman of the team website.

“Chidobe Awuzie and Daryl Worley split reps on the left side,” Helman writes, “while Anthony Brown and Trevon Diggs split reps on the right side. Jourdan Lewis and Brown split time as the slot cornerback.”

Behind them, Helman notes, “Xavier Woods and HaHa Clinton-Dix were the initial starting safeties, but both Darian Thompson and Donovan Wilson got a chance to work with the starters.”

Clinton-Dix brings six seasons of NFL experience with him to his first year in Dallas. With the better part of five seasons coming under the watchful eye of McCarthy in Green Bay, he had a good idea of what to expect from Day One of the coach’s 2020 camp.

The veteran also had good things to say about the Cowboys’ second-round rookie cornerback and fellow Crimson Tide alum.

While that pair of fresh faces look to bring a new ballhawking mentality to the Dallas DB room, another guy who flew under the radar may find himself getting a new lease on life under the new regime.

Safety Donovan Wilson got into 11 games in his rookie campaign last year; Friday he started his sophomore season on a strong note.

“The coaching staff gave Wilson an opportunity to work with the first-team defense,” Helman explains of Friday’s opening practice, “and he definitely made the most of it. Wilson read Dak Prescott looking to make a near-side throw outside the numbers, and he darted in front of the ball for a nifty interception. It was the first takeaway of training camp for a defense that is stressing the importance of generating turnovers.”

It seems the new-look Cowboys secondary has a primary objective for 2020.

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