The Houston Texans signed former Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed to bolster their secondary. His play has been criticized by Texans fans who say that he isn’t living up to the play that they expected when he was signed. He is coming off an injury, but he doesn’t think he is declining. He thinks he can still make plays like he did with the Ravens.
“I’m still focused,” Reed told the Houston Chronicle. “I’m still able to do the things that I know I can do, that I’ve been doing. It’s just a matter of getting opportunities and taking advantage of those opportunities. I can’t be lackadaisical when it’s time for me to make any play, whether it’s a tackle, fumble recovery, anything that it might be. [You] definitely will see a change.”
Reed has a reason to explain why he hasn’t had many opportunities to make plays.
“I’m not getting the ball thrown my way, so it tends to be, ‘Where’s Ed? Where’s Ed?’ ” Reed said.
His coach agrees.
“Obviously, his strength is being a middle-of-the-field defender,” Texans secondary coach Vance Joseph said. “There is a combination of things happening. His being back there with his reputation for picking off balls in the middle – and us being behind a lot – has kept the opportunities down.”
A strong second half from Ed Reed could do wonders in turning around the Texans’ season.