Learning from rookie mistakes is on the menu for DT Blacklock
If defensive tackle Ross Blacklock repeats the kind of rookie mistake he made this week, he may never get off the bench in his first season with the Texans.
J.J. Watt will make sure of it.
When Watt requests an order from one of his favorite restaurants,
“Kata Robata,” rookies better bring sushi and not donuts. That’s what happened when two rookies from Houston, Blacklock and nose tackle Auzoyah “Big Z” Alufohai, got their signals crossed and committed MEs — mental errors.
“We were supposed to order Kata Robata for the vets,” Blacklock said. “It was just miscommunication with the vets, and the rookies took the (loss), so we brought J.J. and them donuts the next morning trying to make it up.
“It was kind of like bringing your girlfriend flowers after you got into an argument. Unfortunately, we’re still going to have to get the food.”
Blacklock, a second-round pick from TCU, might try bringing Watt some flowers, too, just in case.
“That’s an interesting dude — interesting in a good way,” Blacklock said about Watt. “He’s a super vet, a workhorse. (I’m) trying to pick his brain (and) learn from him.”
This is Watt’s 10th season. The rookies don’t call him “Grandpa,” at least not to his face.
“He’s been in the league since I was a freshman in high school,” Blacklock said. “It’s crazy. I used
to watch his games. I would just watch his pass rush.”
Blacklock was a Texans fan growing up in Missouri City, and now he’s playing on the same defensive line as Watt.
“It’s an honor being able to play next to him and play with him,” Blacklock said. “I’m trying to learn as much as I can while I’m here and while he’s here. One day, hopefully, I can (earn) that status, but that’s down the road.”
Blacklock, who comes off the bench in passing situations, still can’t believe his good fortune to get drafted by his hometown team.
“It’s still surreal,” he said. “Being able to go home and see my mom after practice or being able to know this is home, it’s a blessing. It doesn’t happen to everybody, so I’m taking it in every day, being thankful I’m not somewhere far away. I’m right where I want to be. I can’t be more excited to play here.”
Like other rookies, Blacklock didn’t have the luxury of on-field coaching in the offseason program, minicamps, joint practices and preseason games because of the coronavirus pandemic. He had to learn virtually until the rookies reported the last week of July, and his head is still spinning.
“It’s definitely been a change,” he said. “The world is in a weird situation, but it’s all about adjusting to new things the rookies have been through. I think we’ve improved a lot as a group. I feel our rookies can help the team.
“It’s been a good process, and (I’m) never taking a day for granted.”
Coach Bill O’Brien has said numerous times that 2020 is going to be a “veterans season” because of restrictions caused by the pandemic. He repeated that thought Tuesday.
“It’s a tough year,” O’Brien said about rookies. “You had no offseason program. We have a good rookie development program that Jack (Easterby) runs, so we didn’t have that or all the practices post-draft and all the conditioning sessions. It’s not their fault.”
As for Blacklock’s development, O’Brien said, “He’s a good player, and he works hard. He’s improving, and he’s going to help us. We have high expectations for him. All those (rookies) — not just Ross — they’re a long way off. It’s a totally different ball game to accomplish.”
O’Brien pointed out defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s scheme is different from what Blacklock was required to do at TCU.
“My responsibility (was) kind of holding gaps for linebackers and safeties to flow and make tackles,” Blacklock said. “It’s essentially the same thing here, but at TCU, I was more lateral when I stepped, and we slanted so much. It’s not up the field, always side to side and lateral.
“Here, I can go up the field, get off the ball, penetrate, create more havoc than I did in college. I like this system a lot more because it takes more thinking out of it as a Dlineman.”
Weaver, who’s in his first season of calling the defenses, continues to coach the defensive line. Blacklock is determined to do whatever it takes to impress him and get on the field.
Rather than playing in the three-man front with Watt, nose tackle Brandon Dunn and right end Angelo Blackson on run downs, the transition should be smoother for Blacklock to play in passing situations and get after the quarterback.
“As a rookie, it’s like you’re a freshman in college again,” Blacklock said. “You’re starting from the ground up. You’ve got to earn your respect. You’ve got to gain the trust of the coaches and the players around you, so your eyes get real big (and) you don’t know what’s going on, and you’re trying to pick things up as they go.
“Once you get everything down, everything starts to slow down for you. As long as I’m staying on the right track, studying, asking questions, doing extra work, I think it’s a good way of staying ahead as a rookie.”
The Texans know Blacklock is loaded with talent or they wouldn’t have used the second-round pick they got from Arizona in the DeAndre Hopkins trade to draft him.
The coaches and players know he’ll get better, and once the season begins Sept. 10 at Kansas City, it’s only a matter of time before Blacklock starts to contribute the way they believe he can.
“You can never get too comfortable,” Blacklock said. “I’ve made plays, but it’s still not good enough. I want to be able to be at my best every time I play, continue to learn and soak up knowledge as much as I can.
“In practice, I’m trying to improve to put myself in a situation where I can play and help the team.”
And helping the team better start with going to the right restaurant and getting Watt’s order correct.