Conley hopes to recover quickly, then cover
Texans cornerback Gareon Conley reflected Thursday afternoon on the watershed changes he has experienced this week.
Five days ago, the former firstround draft pick was part of a Raiders defense that got scorched for five touchdown passes by Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. It was one of the roughest games of his career, lowlighted by Conley taking an awkward pursuit angle that led to a 74-yard score.
One day later, the Raiders’ management team of coach Jon Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock traded Conley to the Texans in exchange for a third-round draft pick.
Conley will make his debut with his new team Sunday at NRG Stadium against the Las Vegasbound Raiders organization that gave up on him and envisions a bright future with rookie corners Trayvon Mullen and Isaiah Johnson instead of him.
Conley is being tasked with more than absorbing a playbook. The Ohio native has to harness his emotions, embrace a new environment and adapt to the sudden change of moving from the West Coast to Texas eight games into his third NFL season.
“It’s a challenge,” Conley said. “It’s going to be a lot of emotions everywhere, but I’m happy to face the challenge It just prepares you, mentally.
“I feel like it makes you mentally stronger. You can go in one way, complaining or go in a positive way. I feel like I’ve just got to take it more positive and just do whatever I can to learn the playbook and get a win.”
Drafted 24th overall out of Ohio State by Oakland, Conley has size, speed and press-coverage skills working in his favor.
At 6-foot and 195 pounds with 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash, Conley fits the NFL prototype.
Although Conley had his moments for Oakland, including four career interceptions, his time there was considered a disappointment because of injuries and inconsistency.
“I just woke up one day and he was gone,” said Raiders inside linebacker Dakota Allen, a Humble native. “He’s very quiet. I think he’s a hell of a player.”
Conley was acquired with the Texans’ secondary struggling with injuries, including Johnathan Joseph (neck, hamstring) and corner Bradley Roby (Grade 2 strained hamstring). Plus, Phillip Gaines was placed on injured reserve with a high-ankle sprain that required surgery.
Conley is leaning on Joseph, defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel and Roby, a fellow former Buckeye, to get acclimated.
“The more bodies, the better,” Joseph said. “He’s a good player. I don’t know about anyone else’s opinion of him is, but I think so.”
Conley joins a Texans defense with a strong pass rush headlined by defensive end J.J. Watt as he leaves one of the worst pass-rushing defenses in the league.
Conley isn’t known for his expertise in zone coverage. He has struggled mightily in that area over the past two years.
“Our DBs have obviously had a bit of injuries to deal with, so it’s all hands on deck,” Watt said. “From what I hear, he’s a man-toman guy, and man-to-man is covering your man. Hopefully, he can do that for us.”
Where Conley has shown promise is in press coverage, an area of the game where he can utilize his strength, speed and aggressiveness.
“He’s got coverage ability, and the amount of man-to-man that Houston plays, that’ll be right up his alley,” Gruden said. “It’ll be tough for our receivers against Conley. He’s a good one.”
Conley’s eyes lit up when asked what he likes about press coverage.
“That’s all I do,” he said. The Texans are expected to break in Conley that way, having him jam receivers at the line and turn and run with them downfield.
“I mean, I’m versatile,” Conley said. “I feel like I can be confident in any scheme. I’ve just got to learn it.
“I feel like, scheme-wise, I’m cool. Defense is kind of the same everywhere. It’s just learning the terminology when communicating with a new team, but I feel comfortable.”
The Texans plan to plug in Conley immediately. How much he will play is undetermined, but he figures heavily into their future plans.
“Good athlete, good size, has man-to-man ability,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “When you watch the tape, you see good athletic ability, the ability to flip his hips. He’s got good patience, so hopefully we see that here.
“He’s still a young player. He’s under contract for another couple of years. We’ve still got a young player there that’s developing and still improving.”
A two-year starter who dealt with a shin injury as a rookie, Conley has 67 career tackles and 18 passes defensed. A former second-team All-Big Ten Conference selection, Conley declared early for the draft after his junior season.
“He seems like a very nice kid,” Crennel said. “He’s got a good football background. He played at Ohio State and did a good job there. Of what I’ve seen so far, he looks like he feels comfortable being outside covering the receivers that he’s had to this week.”
Conley already has a few friends on the Texans’ roster, including former Ohio State players like Roby and running back Carlos Hyde.
Conley’s immediate job is to get up to speed in a hurry The bigger picture is for Conley to justify his value with the draft capital already expended on him by two franchises.
“I feel like it’s just a new vibe, new mentality,” Conley said. “Coming around new guys, just learning the system and contributing to a good defensive team.”