Lawson sees himself as great fit in Houston
Edge rusher calls return to a 4-3 ‘perfect for me’
Shaq Lawson was relaxing for a few days during a trip to Colorado in March. His vacation was interrupted when his phone started ringing on a Sunday morning.
It was an important business call. Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores was on the line.
Lawson had been traded to the Texans in a deal cut between Flores and Texans general manager Nick Caserio, his former colleague with the New England Patriots.
Upon learning he was headed to Houston, Lawson’s emotions shifted from surprise to anticipation.
A veteran pass rusher and run-stopper, Lawson knows the type of defense he’s joining. When Lawson was in Buffalo, which had made him a first-round pick in 2016, he played for defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier in a scheme akin to new Texans defensive coordinator Lovie Smith’s signature 4-3 alignment.
“When I found out it was Houston, it was great to hear because I know what their scheme is, and that’s what coach Smith was bringing back: what I did in Buffalo,” Lawson said by phone from his home in South Florida. “It’s perfect for me, so it’s definitely a win-win. I’ll put my hand down in the dirt and play.”
That has been Lawson’s desire ever since he declared for the NFL draft after a consensus All-America junior season at Clemson in 2015. Cut him loose, and let him do his thing.
As a hybrid outside linebacker-defensive end, Lawson provides a blend of athleticism and power. Capable of bull-rushing offensive tackles or darting around blockers, Lawson, 26, is confident that he’s entering the prime of his career.
“They’re getting the best Shaq Lawson,” he said. “They’re getting the best, the best version of me. I’m going to work hard every day and take pride in everything I do. I’m a young player whose best ball is yet to come, a guy who’s going to bring the energy every day.”
With 140 career tackles, 20½ sacks and one touchdown on a fumble recovery, Lawson should fit in well as a key piece of an overhauled 30th-ranked defense transitioning from a 3-4 to a 4-3 and adjusting to the departure of defensive end J.J. Watt to Arizona and new leadership in Smith.
“Shaq is definitely a good player with the arrow pointing up,” an NFL executive said. “Shaq has some really good juice coming off the edge. He’s instinctive. He hustles. He finds the football fast and he’s tough. I know he’s played hurt before and he doesn’t let that stop him.
“This guy cares a lot about the game and his teammates. I like that move by Nick. Shaq gives the Texans someone they can count on for some production on the outside. I think Shaq can make them better.” Health is an important element surrounding Lawson. He underwent shoulder surgery as a rookie and missed the first six games of the season. Unlike previous seasons, Lawson said he’s completely healthy heading into this offseason.
“Yeah, I’m feeling great,” Lawson said.
With the Texans coming off a 4-12 season in which former coach and general manager Bill O’Brien was fired after an 0-4 start, Lawson arrives at a time of change in Houston.
The new regime led by Caserio and new coach David Culley has made significant changes to the defensive strategy and added a lot of new faces, including Lawson, defensive tackle Maliek Collins, linebackers Christian Kirksey, Kevin PierreLouis and Jordan Jenkins and cornerbacks Terrance Mitchell and Desmond King.
When Lawson came to Houston to take his physical, he met with Caserio and Culley.
“Coach Culley was in Buffalo with me, so he used to hear my mouth talking junk at practice,” Lawson said. “I’ve got a great relationship with those guys, man. I’m glad they wanted me to be here. I’m happy they did. We’ve just got to build trust and get to know each other. Everything is gonna work itself out. I’m not a guy to make predictions and stuff. You just gotta put your head down and work.
“This is another situation for me with a new coach, a new reveal. I experienced that in Buffalo and Miami because they brought in a lot of new guys. With new guys, you meet another new face and get to know new people. You will have your ups and downs together. Every team has adversity. It’s about how you overcome that adversity.”