Texans cornerbacks feeling the pressure

[Wolf]

HOUSTON -- Raiders All-Pro cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha thinks Houston rookie Kareem Jackson is on the fast track to a successful career—once he overcomes the growing pains.

The Texans, after all, have the NFL’s worst pass defense headed into Sunday’s game at Oakland.

Jackson has become the poster child for the problems largely based on one play—Roy Williams’ 63-yard touchdown in Houston’s 27-13 loss to Dallas last week. After Jackson stumbled at the line, Williams caught an easy slant pass from Tony Romo and sprinted to the end zone.

"I’m going to have to go through adversity sometimes and unfortunately, now is that time for me," said Jackson, Houston’s first-round pick from Alabama. "I think I just need to go out this week and have a good weekend and just apply everything in practice to the game. I think I’ll be able to bounce back."

Houston coach Gary Kubiak knew the risks when he named Jackson the starter in training camp over a group of more seasoned veterans. Asomugha thinks Kubiak is doing the right thing because Jackson needs game experience more than practice.

"Obviously, he’s going to feel terrible about it because he wants to be perfect and he wants to be a great player," Asomugha said. "I think you have to be thrown in the fire and you have to have those rough plays, because those are the plays you learn from. If he sticks with and continues to work hard, he’ll start to see it turn around at some point because it always does. It’s just a matter of being patient."

Jackson wants to seek out Asomugha after Sunday’s game and ask for advice. Like Jackson, Asomugha was a first-round pick (in 2003), but he didn’t become a full-time cornerback until his third season.

"This guy has the benefit of playing corner as a rookie," Asomugha said. "He’s going to be able to improve a lot sooner than I was able to."

Jackson can’t bear all the blame for Houston’s problems in pass coverage

http://www.khou.com/sports/Texans-co...104118619.html

[Texan_Bill]

HOUSTON -- Raiders All-Pro cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha thinks Houston rookie Kareem Jackson is on the fast track to a successful career—once he overcomes the growing pains.

I am as critical of our secondary as anyone. That said, I believe exactly what ASO thinks about KJ. It's gonna be tough to watch at times, but I think KJ can be good, maybe even real good. Until then, we are ALL going to have to accept the "growing pains"......

[DBCooper]

I wish KJ would seek his advice BEFORE the game.

[BigBull17]

Originally Posted by DBCooper

I wish KJ would seek his advice BEFORE the game.

Haha. I wish we would trade for him after the game.

[kiwitexansfan]

too bad opposition QBs aren't.

[gtexan02]

Pretty sad when your rookies have to seek out veterans on other teams for mentorship and advice. I guess thats what happens when your veteran cornerbacks are in their 2nd year.

Going young with loads of potential is a big risk. You lose all the veteran guidance/leadership

[El Tejano]

Lets get an INT this week.

[barrett]

the CB's are feeling the pressure because last week Tony Romo wasn't. The Cowboys beat us using max-protect schemes and it left the CB's exposed 1 on 1 with a bunch of LB's sitting in the middle of the field watching it go up in flames.

Loosing 2 of our 3 best pass rushers (Barwin & Cushing) has been a very difficult challenge. Getting Brian Cushing back in a week is going to really help the secondary.

Cushing, like Barwin, is a very dynamic player who can do many things. This free's up the defense to be more creative and should allow for more pressure.

[Dwade]

Originally Posted by kiwitexansfan

too bad opposition QBs aren't.

[Rey]

It's funny that ASO says that, because Gradkowski said the same thing...

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by gtexan02

Pretty sad when your rookies have to seek out veterans on other teams for mentorship and advice. I guess thats what happens when your veteran cornerbacks are in their 2nd year.

Going young with loads of potential is a big risk. You lose all the veteran guidance/leadership

You don't need to be a cornerback to provide guidance & leadership.

[Rey]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

You don't need to be a cornerback to provide guidance & leadership.

It helps though.

Having someone there who has been through situations similar to yours can be beneficial.

[badboy]

KJ stumbled? BWHAHAHAHA! He got schooled by a vet WR. It happens but call it like it is.

[Ryan]

So we don't get pressure on a QB during one game and it becomes the norm? Never heard of such.

[awtysst]

Originally Posted by gtexan02

Pretty sad when your rookies have to seek out veterans on other teams for mentorship and advice. I guess thats what happens when your veteran cornerbacks are in their 2nd year.

Going young with loads of potential is a big risk. You lose all the veteran guidance/leadership

True, but you want positive leadership. i would rather not have DR mentoring anyone. Bennett cannot be a mentor either. Perhaps Reeves could have been decent as a mentor.

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by awtysst

True, but you want positive leadership. i would rather not have DR mentoring anyone. Bennett cannot be a mentor either. Perhaps Reeves could have been decent as a mentor.

Yup, people act like any vet can and will provide valuable veteran leadership but it just isn't true. Aaron Glenn is the kind of guy you might keep an extra year or two for veteran leadership. Dunta Robinson is not.

[beerlover]

Kareem can mentor under Nnamdi Asomugha on the sidelines in Oakland Sunday

[hradhak]

KJ's learning curve is going to be that much steeper because there's no one to mentor him. He still has the tools to be good, so I'm not worried. If Aso wants to come over here and tutor KJ indefinitely, I'm not opposed to that either :-)

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by hradhak

KJ's learning curve is going to be that much steeper because there's no one to mentor him. He still has the tools to be good, so I'm not worried. If Aso wants to come over here and tutor KJ indefinitely, I'm not opposed to that either :-)

Arian Foster is doing just fine looking to guys like AJ, Matt, Winston, Vonta, OD, etc... Anderson...

There is no reason to believe KJ can't learn to be a pro by following the lead of guys like Pollard, Wilson, Demeco, Diles, Mario, Antonio, etc...

He does have a coach to teach him the minutia about being a DB. Someone to help him become a better Corner.

The main thing he has to learn, is to bring his A game everyday, including practice. This is a game, they should have fun, but it's a job. He has a responsibility to his team-mates and the fans.

I'm sure he's going to develop just fine.

[TheIronDuke]

Originally Posted by hradhak

KJ's learning curve is going to be that much steeper because there's no one to mentor him. He still has the tools to be good, so I'm not worried. If Aso wants to come over here and tutor KJ indefinitely, I'm not opposed to that either :-)

Does the guy need a freaking binky too? You've got coaching, game experience, and a collegiate career behind you. Don't know why he'd need some grizzled vet teaching him the ropes. Welcome to the NFL, hope you get better Kareem because you have been getting smoked.