Hal regains top form at safety
Overthinking led to uneven season, but starter says he learned from mistakes.
Free safety Andre Hal came to a tough realization last season during a frustrating time when he was missing tackles he normally makes and taking poor angles in pass coverage.
After briefly losing his starting job with the Houston Texans to Corey Moore late in the season, Hal analyzed what was happening and realized he was overthinking and not playing with his usual confidence and instincts.
It all led to Hal’s questioning his style of play and not having as big an impact as he did the previous season, when he intercepted a careerhigh and team-high four passes.
Hal ultimately climbed back atop the depth chart in time for the play
and enters the Texans’ training camp next week in West Virginia as a starter for the NFL’s topranked defense.
“It’s a learning experience,” Hal said. “I learned
The months that followed Jordan’s death were the hardest for Ivie, but he found healing in football and faith.
Ivie’s spirituality is something he literally wears on his sleeve: A tattoo reading “Crucified with Christ” spans his chest and lies on top of an angel wing that extends to his elbow. He wears scripture that he says helped carry him through the tragedy. Now more than two years since the accident, Ivie can’t help but smile when he talks about his little sis.
“I remember she was planning on going on a big vacation with a friend for the weekend, but she was like, ‘No, I can’t go. I’ve got to get to my brother’s game.’ She loved to watch me play,” Ivie said.
She loved it so much that she planned on graduating high school early so she could join Ivie at Florida in time for her big brother’s senior year. He battled injuries his final two seasons with the Gators, but quietly put together a solid senior campaign with 26 tackles, 2.5 sacks, a blocked field goal and a forced fumble.
He wasn’t invited to the NFL combine, but his per- formance at his pro day was good enough to catch the eye of defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. On draft day, the coach couldn’t contain his excitement. A video shows a giddy Marinelli pumping his fists as Cowboys owner Jerry Jones welcomed the 6-foot-3, 300-pound lineman to the organization.
Wearing Hall of Famer Bob Lilly’s No. 74, Ivie knows it will take a lot of work to fill the shoes of Mr. Cowboy, and it shows in practice.
“You’ll see him coming out of his stance just sprinting to the ball. You appreciate that coming out of Joey,” second-year defensive tackle Maliek Collins said. “That’s hard to do coming out here with practice being so tough and coach constantly on you. For him to come out here and do that, that’s impressive. He works hard.”
Ivie’s knows that being drafted would make his sister proud. Making the team would be another.
“It’s a big opportunity to do some great things and chase a dream I’ve been chasing for the last eight or nine years,” Ivie said. “I started playing football in high school, and I realized that God gave me an ability. I want to be able to completely take advantage of that …” tal