No aversion to new version
Texans star still enjoys chemistry of fellow defensive linemen even after his close friend signed with Bengals in offseason
Defensive end Charles Omenihu wants to improve in several areas.
Stout, powerful and quick, D.J. Reader was the anchor of the Texans’ front seven.
At 6-3, 347 pounds, Reader was a long day’s work for opposing blockers during his four years with the Texans.
Now that Reader is gone, having joined the Bengals as the highest-paid nose tackle in the game via a four-year, $53 million contract, the Texans are adapting to his loss.
Reader also built strong friendships and chemistry with the entire defensive line, including star defensive end J.J. Watt.
“It’s no secret I love D.J.” Watt said. “He’s one of my best friends. He’s a great guy. I’m certainly going to miss him both in the D-line room, on the field and off the field just as a friend, having him up there in Cincinnati. But I also at the same time, I can’t be mad at him. There’s a whole bunch of reasons that he’s in Cincinnati now.”
Losing Reader’s versatility and strength creates a hole in the defense. In 15 starts last season, he recorded a career-high 52 tackles and 2½ sacks. In 61 career games, he has 154 tackles and 6½ sacks.
The Texans drafted TCU defensive tackle and Elkins graduate Ross Blacklock in the second round, re-signed Brandon Dunn to a three-year, $12 million contract and return Angelo Blackson and Charles Omenihu.
“In terms of the D-line room now we have, I love the D-line room,” Watt said. “Brandon Dunn, a guy you mentioned, he’s one of my favorite teammates. He’s a guy who always keeps it light, fun. He’s got great energy, he works extremely hard on the field, he plays well.
“We’ve got Angelo Blackson who — same thing, he plays his butt off on the field, a great guy in the room. I love our room. I love the guys we have in our room.”
During the novel coronavirus pandemic, the defensive line room interactions are limited to Zoom meetings and other conversations. Watt looks forward to that time.
“I love these Zoom meetings every day,” Watt said. “We have the first 10 minutes of it before we get into the nitty-gritty of the football, we just — it’s like being on a FaceTime call with 10 of your best friends.
“We’re just shooting the breeze and talking to each other and we just really enjoy being around each other, and I think that makes the work that much better and that much more effective.”