chron.com:CB Reeves key piece of puzzle in Texans secondary

[Wolf]

http://blogs.chron.com/gamedaytexans...secondary.html

Jacques Reeves wouldn't be considered a chatterbox. But in brief conversations, his attitude heading into this upcoming season is evident. He loves it in Houston.

The 25-year-old former Cowboy signed a five-year deal worth as much as $20 million with a $4 million signing bonus. Soon, he'll have to start showing why the Texans wanted him so much by trying to fill in until Dunta Robinson is healthy again.

The coaches are excited about what they've seen from him so far. They love his speed, which was the key reason why they signed him. But they've become more enamored with him since he joined the team for workouts.

"I really like his work habits," coach Gary Kubiak said. "He's worked extremely hard. He's very competitive. He brings an element of speed that our football team needs."

The Texans are a team that uses mostly man coverage. Reeves played mostly zone with the Cowboys last season, which doesn't play as well to his strengths. Reeves played in man much of his first three seasons with the Cowboys, so the adjustment has not been difficult.

"I feel comfortable," Reeves said. "I've been here learning the defense, learning the terminology. The guys have made me feel real comfortable. I'm loving it."

His main focus this offseason is to work on his vision on the field.

[76Texan]

The one spot I worry most about on the team is at CB.

The Cowboys front seven was more active than ours; sometimes they get there, but when they didn't, there's a gap in the middle.

In those instances, Reeves was terrible.
There was not enough communication with the safety.

If the opponent needs ten yards for a first down, he'll give thirteen. It gets old.

On the other hand, he played the bump and run pretty well. Probably his forte.

When he gets beat, it's usually by not much.
or because he has the speed and the agility that he can recover so it didn't look like he was beaten by much.

At any rate, he was lucky, the six games I reviewed. Pass was too long (without rush), or the receiver dropped the ball, or a fortuitious call from the referee...

The one good thing is he can tackle; well yeah, if you give all that cushion, you'd better have a good angle.

This a difficult one to read, yet intriguing.
I think the tools are there. But in the Cowboys scheme, he didn't look like no starter to me.

Perhaps, he'll like flying to the ball in our scheme.
I suspect that he will!

[Grid]

Perhaps Jon Hoke and Ray Rhodes can do a better job of teaching Reeves than they did in Dallas.

Personally im not gonna worry about anything that he did in Dallas. Ive seen too many "fringe" players leave a team and go to play for someone else, and suddenly they are a superstar.

[Silver Oak]

either we were really desperate to fill a hole, or our coaches saw something in film that they think Reeves can be a good player in our system vs the team from S. Oklahoma.

[Vinny]

Originally Posted by from link above

The Texans are a team that uses mostly man coverage. Reeves played mostly zone with the Cowboys last season, which doesn't play as well to his strengths. Reeves played in man much of his first three seasons with the Cowboys, so the adjustment has not been difficult.

looks like we will be in lots of man coverage. If we don't get the to the qb this season this secondary has the look of bread loaded in the toaster.

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by Vinny

looks like we will be in lots of man coverage. If we don't get the to the qb this season this secondary has the look of bread loaded in the toaster.

Sounds like a sea change on philosophy and they are confident of pressuring the QB and less worried about giving up the big play. Hope they are right or there will be some ugly Manning moments.

[badboy]

As a fan of man coverage by the cb, I am hopeful Reeves will be very satisfying to watch.

[Hardcore Texan]

Originally Posted by 76Texan

The one spot I worry most about on the team is at CB.

The Cowboys front seven was more active than ours; sometimes they get there, but when they didn't, there's a gap in the middle.

In those instances, Reeves was terrible.
There was not enough communication with the safety.

If the opponent needs ten yards for a first down, he'll give thirteen. It gets old.

On the other hand, he played the bump and run pretty well. Probably his forte.

When he gets beat, it's usually by not much.
or because he has the speed and the agility that he can recover so it didn't look like he was beaten by much.

At any rate, he was lucky, the six games I reviewed. Pass was too long (without rush), or the receiver dropped the ball, or a fortuitious call from the referee...

The one good thing is he can tackle; well yeah, if you give all that cushion, you'd better have a good angle.

This a difficult one to read, yet intriguing.
I think the tools are there. But in the Cowboys scheme, he didn't look like no starter to me.

Perhaps, he'll like flying to the ball in our scheme.
I suspect that he will!

This is exactly what I heard from this guy at work I have gotten to know a little bit, he is a huge cowpie fan but I don't hold it against him too much because he is really into the team and follows them very closely. So i picked his brain about Reeves, since I know absolutely zilch. You have pretty much confirmed it here, that he gets beat too much.

But everyone reacts different on a new team, a fresh start and a different scheme might be all he needs. Like Silveroak said, we have a gaping hole to fill either way. Hopefully Hoke and Rhodes + new scheme+ fresh start turns on the light switch for the young man. I gotta think Molden will see plenty of action this season starting from the nickel and working his way in from there.