Second time around
8 interceptions in last 2 seasons illustrate safety’s nose for the ball
Safety Quintin Demps is glad to be back with the Texans after two seasons elsewhere.
Since Quintin Demps last played for the Texans three seasons ago, he has intercepted eight passes, four as a Kansas City Chief in 2013 and four more as a New York Giant last fall. None of the teammates he was reunited with at Wednesday’s practice, his first after signing a oneyear contract, has managed more than three picks in either of the two years since he left or more than five total.
But Demps brings more than ballhawking skills to the mix. He’s an effective kick returner and, better still, a good karma guy who calls the Texans “by far my favorite team.” The only two complete seasons the now 30-year-old, eight-year veteran spent in Houston — 2011 and 2012 — happen to be the only two seasons the NFL’s youngest franchise has made the playoffs.
“That first Cincinnati (playoff) game we won (in January 2012) is my best memory of Houston,” said Demps, who grew up in San Antonio and played college ball at UTEP. “It was special to have been here and be a part of that.
“I’m glad to be back. I’m from Texas, you know. And I’m a 3-4 (defense) safety. I like this system. It’s a better fit for me than what I was doing with the Giants.” ‘Like brothers’
Of course, Demps played under Wade Phillips his final two seasons as a Texan. Current defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel’s 3-4 scheme is different. The head coach is different, and so are many of the players. But Demps saw plenty of familiar faces, too, such as cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph and Kareem Jackson and safety Eddie Pleasant. When he swooped in to make an impressive interception early in practice, they chased him down for a group hug.
“J-Jo was the first one there. We’re like brothers,” Demps said. “Him, Kareem, Eddie P — they’re family.”
Said Jackson: “We were all happy to see Quintin when he came in. For him to be out here on the field with us again is definitely a lot of fun. We’re excited for him. We’re happy to have him back, and we’re going to embrace him with open arms. We know the type of guy he is, the type of worker he is. He brings some versatility.”
Demps averaged 33.8 yards on his five kickoff returns with the Texans in 2011. As a rookie for Philadelphia in 2008, he ran one back the length of the field for a touchdown. Asked if he’ll be getting a look as a return man, he replied, “Hopefully.” Coach Bill O’Brien suggested that would happen, perhaps as soon as Saturday when the Denver Broncos visit NRG Stadium.
“Quintin’s done it in the past,” O’Brien said. “You could see out there today he’s got a little knack for it. It was good to get him in the building and get him going. Like I told him this morning (during stretching), ‘Hey, good to have you here. Now show it to me on the field.’ That’s what we expect out of all these guys.”
O’Brien delivered the same message to another new Texan, defensive end Fili Moala, the former Indianapolis Colt who also signed a one-year deal. Moala, the Colts’ secondround pick out of USC in 2010 — he and Brian Cushing, who knows plenty about torn ACLs himself, were Trojans teammates for four seasons and have stayed friends — started all 30 games he played in for the Colts in 2010-11. Moala a rival no more
But Moala subsequently tore the ACL in his right knee twice, most recently when he collided with a teammate during OTAs in June 2014, and never returned last season.
“It’s good to have Fili back playing,” O’Brien said. “I think he’s doing better. He’s got to work his way into football shape, but we’re happy to have him here. We hear great things about him. We know he’s a tough guy. He’s got good size (6-4, 308), so hopefully he can work his way back into football shape pretty quickly.”
To make room for Demps and Moala, also 30, the Texans made two moves. Rookie free-agent defensive end Jasper Coleman was released, and another undrafted rookie, tight end Mike McFarland, was waived injured.
Moala admitted putting on Texans colors after being a Colt for six seasons “was a little bit different. (Indianapolis) was my home for six years. At the same time, I’m just a footballer. It’s a breath of fresh air (to be a Texan), to have a job for the time being. I’m coming out here trying to make the team, trying to be an asset. I just have to keep my head down and grind. I feel like I’m in great shape, but football shape? Those are two different things.”