Reid, Coutee on road to stardom
The two most likely candidates for breakout seasons of the Texans players participating in the first practice of training camp Thursday are safety Justin Reid and receiver Keke Coutee.
Players usually make their biggest improvement between their first and second seasons. As rookies, they learn what it takes to become professionals after taking the step up from college football.
Reid (third round) and Coutee (fourth) were drafted last year. Both are 22.
Before their rookie seasons, Reid and Coutee impressed the coaches during the offseason program. This offseason, they were even better, according to some coaches and teammates.
Reid, 6-1 and 203 pounds, has everything it takes to become a Pro Bowl safety — talent, instincts, intelligence, toughness, leadership and work ethic.
Reid started 13 of 17 games, including the playoff loss to Indianapolis. He finished with 80 tackles and three interceptions, returning one for a 101yard touchdown in the victory at Washington.
Reid is a hard worker who’s eager to learn and improve — a “good teammate,” as coach Bill O’Brien likes to say. He’s a quick study who watches a lot of tape, isn’t afraid to offer an opinion to his coaches and takes what he’s learned in meeting rooms to the field for a smooth transition.
After a season of learning what it’s like to be a pro — something he got a head start on
because of his close relationship with his older brother, Carolina safety Eric Reid — Reid is a lot more confident in the defense. He knows what he’s supposed to be doing, and he knows what he’s capable of doing.
So does defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel. It’s not difficult to imagine Crennel increasing Reid’s responsibilities this season to take advantage of his ability and his year of experience in the system. Reid can cover receivers, and he can play the run. Because of his speed, instincts and smarts, he can cover a lot of territory.
At this early stage of his career, Reid has everything it takes to become a star.
On the other side of the ball, Coutee has everything it takes to become a terrific weapon as a slot receiver. He’s just got to stay healthy.
Coutee’s coaches and teammates are keeping their fingers crossed because he had no injury issues during an offseason program in which he excelled on a daily basis.
Before his rookie season, Coutee caught their attention because of how quickly he developed as an inside receiver. He showed amazing quickness and excellent hands — a knack for a position O’Brien has been desperate to fill.
Then Coutee suffered a hamstring injury in training camp. His hamstring problems have been welldocumented. The injury sidelined him for 10 games.
In March, new Arizona coach Kliff Kingsbury, who coached Coutee at Texas Tech, said he was surprised the receiver was injured so much as a rookie.
Kingsbury said Coutee didn’t miss a practice with the Red Raiders. Kingsbury said he was certain Coutee would do whatever the Texans demanded in the offseason to help him stay healthy, and that he was confident the second-year player would bounce back, be able to stay on the field and make a lot of big plays.
When he was healthy last season, Coutee flashed the kind of talent that had been missing at inside receiver. He finished with only 28 catches for 287 yards and a touchdown. But taking a closer look at what Coutee accomplished, he collaborated with quarterback Deshaun Watson for his three-best regular-season games in close victories.
Coutee had 11 catches for 109 yards in a 37-34 overtime victory at Indianapolis. He followed that performance with six receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown in the 19-16 overtime victory over Dallas. The Texans won 23-21 at Washington, where Coutee had five catches for 77 yards.
After missing the last six games of the season, Coutee returned in the playoff loss to the Colts and caught 11 passes for 110 yards.
O’Brien calls the plays, and he and Watson have confidence in Coutee to get off the line of scrimmage, work the middle of the field and use his versatility as a runner and receiver to become a big-time weapon.
If he stays on the field, of course.
Beginning Thursday, Coutee and Reid are going to be interesting to watch in training camp, where they’ll start to transform from wide-eyed rookies to confident veterans in what the Texans hope become breakout seasons.