The man in the middle
The run defense has held up without J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus, thanks in no small part to nose tackle D.J. Reader
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Surrounded by large, flailing bodies at the line of scrimmage, nose tackle D.J. Reader deals with unusual rigors in his job to provide a stout presence in the middle of the Texans’ defense. • It’s up to Reader to stonewall centers and offensive guards and penetrate the backfield. He’s also tasked with occupying blockers so inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney can flow freely to the football. • Built low to the ground, Reader is well-equipped for the position. He regularly shoves blockers backward and is quick with polished enough moves to chase down quarterbacks. • There’s a dangerous element to what amounts to a meat-grinder position that tends to eliminate anyone who doesn’t embrace the roughneck aspect of being a nose tackle. Reader has to protect his knees from double-teams and chop blocks that put his knees at risk.
“It’s definitely different,” Reader said. “It’s definitely a position with a lot of bodies in there, a lot of banging going on. It’s real physical. I like the physicality of it and the nature of the position. I just thrive on it.”
Durable and tough, Reader has started every game for the NFL’s seventh-ranked run defense heading into a Sunday road game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium.
At 6-3, 325 pounds, the native of Greensboro, N.C., has ably held down the fort as the replacement for five-time Pro Bowl nose tackle Vince Wilfork. He’s a major reason why the Texans, despite losing J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus, are only allowing only 96.3 rushing yards per game.
“He’s physical in there,” Texans defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel said. “He’s stout. He’s good against the run. He plays tough and that’s what you need. I think if you’re going to play good run defense, you got to be strong up the middle and you got to set the edges. D.J. does that. I like his toughness and I like the way he plays. It’s an unsung position, but it’s an important one.”
Mentored by Wilfork
The importance of Reader, a former fifth-round draft pick from Clemson, has become amplified since Wilfork retired.
A two-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, Wilfork was a massive interior defensive lineman who mentored and befriended Reader during his rookie season last year.
Wilfork and Reader have kept the conversation going ever since the Texans drafted Reader.
“We don’t talk much about football,” Reader said. “We talk more about life. We talk about fishing.
“He taught me a lot about recognizing things, film study. It was a good year to have with him. I wish I’d had more time to pick his brain about how to be a pro.”
Another in-house way that Reader has continued to improve is through his daily grappling sessions with young standout center Nick Martin.
In Reader and Martin, the Texans are strong in the middle on both sides of the football.
“I play against a great center every day in practice,” Reader said. “He’s the best center I’ve played all year. We try to help each other. We compete against each other.
“It’s real good having somebody my same age to work against.”
Reader has started every game and has recorded 36 tackles, three for losses and one sack.
In 11 starts, Reader has established himself as one of the better young interior defensive linemen in the NFL. He has recorded a career-high 41 tackles, five quarterback hits, three tackles for losses and one sack.
Kudos from O’Brien
Reader recently launched an informal campaign on social media asking fans to vote for him in the annual Pro Bowl balloting.
“He does a great job,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “He’s very tough to move on the inside. Great teammate. He’s one of the leaders of the team.
“Gives us some juice on the inside in pass rush. He does a lot of things well. He’s one of the better defensive tackles in the league.”
The Texans will need Reader’s hard-nosed presence against a Titans running game led by running backs DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry.
“You always got to love a game like this one,” Reader said. “They play downhill football and have an aggressive offensive line. It’s going to be fun.”
Although disappointed by the Texans’ 4-7 record after winning AFC South division titles the previous two seasons, Reader is keeping things in perspective.
“I’m doing all right,” he said. “The season hasn’t turned out the way we wanted it to, but it’s a good year in some ways. I’m trying to stay positive and still get better.”