Mathieu says defenders will have to adjust to new rule
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Texans safety Tyrann Mathieu has built a hardhitting reputation around the NFL as an aggressive tackler.
He always has been known as a clean player and never a cheap-shot artist.
The new helmet rule that allows for fines and ejections if a player makes illegal contact with his head does have Mathieu a bit concerned about how it may impact the game.
“Obviously, I don’t want to be slowed down, and I’m sure a lot of guys around the league, they don’t want to be slowed down,” Mathieu said. “So, it’s going to take some time, and hopefully it doesn’t take too much money from us.”
Mathieu emphasized that he is not necessarily worried about himself. Some of his buddies might be in jeopardy if they don’t alter their style of play.
“I’m always trying to go for the ball anyway, so I’m not really one of those guys that’s really trying to head-hunt guys,” Mathieu said. “For the most part, I just want to get them on the ground. So, I’ve never really — actually, I’ve never been fined for a hit like that — but I am worried about some of my friends around the league.”
This is a watershed moment in NFL circles. The league is serious about this safety measure, and players will have to adapt or pay the price.
“I mean, obviously it’s going to be tough (as) defenders,” Mathieu said. “Most of the guys in this league right now, we’ve grown up watching football being played one way, which was really violent, very physical, very aggressive.
“So, obviously, the league is taking the standards — and we understand it for the safety of the game and different things like that — but, obviously, we’re going to have to go around it and kind of work different techniques. Our coaches are going to help us out with that a lot.”
Sidelined Foreman making progress
Texans running back
D’Onta Foreman remains on the physically-unable-to-perform list, and it is unclear if he will be ready for the start of the regular season.
The former University of Texas consensus AllAmerican and Doak Walker Award winner is making strides in his recovery from a ruptured Achilles tendon. Foreman was injured in late November against Arizona while scoring a touchdown. With the severity of the injury, this is a normal amount of recovery time.
“I think he’s progressing well,” Texans coach
Bill O’Brien said. “I think he’s doing well. He’s on the right track, and we’ll see. We’ll see how it goes, but I think he’s headed in the right direction.”
One-handed catch not for everyone
Texans All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is the master of the one-handed catch, routinely making the extremely difficult snag. It is an art form that not all of his teammates should attempt regularly.
That isn’t to say catching with one hand is the exclusive domain of Hopkins, but wide receiver
Braxton Miller provided a reminder that it is not an easy task,
Miller dropped a potential touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone Saturday when he tried to make a one-handed catch.
“I think DeAndre Hopkins — one of his great traits is his hands,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “He’s got great hands. But I think for some other guys, I think it’s important to really try to catch it with two hands. For DeAndre, at times, he can suction it with one hand, and that’s just one of his big-time strengths.”
Brazile receives O’Brien salute
The induction of former Oilers outside linebacker Robert Brazile into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday prompted heavy praise from Texans coach Bill
Brazile, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and a five-time All-Pro, finished his career with 1,281 career tackles and, unofficially, 48 sacks.
“Robert’s a great guy,” O’Brien said. “I’ve gotten to know him in the years that I’ve been here.
“I saw this quote during the Bears-Ravens game from Lawrence
Taylor that said that Robert Brazile was the Lawrence Taylor before Lawrence Taylor. I think that says it all about Dr. Doom.”