Houston Texans safety Justin Reid hasn’t picked off a pass through his first seven games of the season, but interim coach Romeo Crennel is not concerned.
What Crennel wants most from his third-year safety is his ability to do his job well first and foremost, and then worried about the takeaways.
“I think that everybody wants to get interceptions and make plays and things like that,” Crennel said. “But they don’t come to everybody at the same time, so make the plays that you’re supposed to make. Do your job first and then you can help out. If that leads to more interceptions, great. If it leads to more tackles, great.”
Reid has provided the defense with 44 tackles and two pass breakups as the Texans have posted a 1-6 record.
“I mean, maybe it doesn’t lead to anything on a particular game because maybe they’re not throwing your way and you’ve got to accept that,” Crennel said. “Rather than trying to make a play and give up yardage, do your job and then help out.
“Now, by saying that, I’m not saying that he’s not doing his job because he’s a good player and he does a good job. But that mentality, you have to control that mentality.”
In 2019, Reid did not get his first interception of the year until Week 9 when the Texans played the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London. In 2020, the Texans play the Jaguars again in Week 9, this Sunday at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, and perhaps history will rhyme with Reid getting his first takeaway of the season.