Houston prepares for Arizona’s passing attack

Discussion

October 7, 2009

Kristie Rieken The Huntsville Item Wed Oct 07, 2009, 07:20 PM CDT

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston’s ever-changing secondary looked great against Oakland’s NFL-worst offense last week.

The group has a much bigger challenge Sunday in trying to contain Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.

Houston has a pair of rookie cornerbacks in Glover Quin and Brice McCain who will play against the Cardinals, and veteran Jacques Reeves should make his 2009 debut after dealing with injuries.

“We’ve got a couple young guys that are fixing to go against some great players,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “We’ll have to have some young guys grow up real fast.”

They say they are up for the job and that facing Pro Bowler Andre Johnson in practice each day has helped prepare them for this week.

“I go against some of the best receivers every day,” said McCain, a sixth-round pick. “I’m blessed that I get to go against Andre and the rest of the guys every day. So with Fitzgerald, I can’t wait to see what he’s like.”

Johnson said he doesn’t cut the rookies any slack because he wants to help them.

“I try to do everything I can when I’m out there in practice when I go against those guys to give them my best because when they go out in games they’re going to get his best,” he said. “So I just try to go out and do what I can to help those guys while trying to get myself better.”

The Texans have not started the same four players in the secondary once this season because of injuries and inconsistency. Kubiak is still looking for the right combination and wouldn’t say if Reeves will return to his starting role this week or if he’ll stick with Quin.

Cornerback Dunta Robinson is slowly returning to form after missing all of camp in a contract holdout.

“I feel like I’ve been improving out there,” he said. “Every week I come in with better confidence.”

Reeves, who started each game last season, broke his leg early in camp and was set to return last week. Instead, he injured a finger in warmups for practice last week and had to sit out another game.

He’s itching to get back in a game and knows the difficulties of dealing with Arizona’s offense after facing the Cardinals when he played for the Cowboys.

“Barring any kind of disaster I’ll be there this week,” he said. “I understand what I’m getting myself into and I’ll be ready for it.”

It’s not just Fitzgerald and Boldin, who combined for 3,205 yards receiving last season, that the Texans have to worry about this week. Steve Breaston is averaging 14.8 yards a catch and running back Tim Hightower leads the team with 20 receptions.

“It’s probably as explosive of a group as we’ve seen, so it will be a big challenge for us,” Kubiak said. “They’re going to make some plays, we’ve just got to find a way to contain them and hopefully make a couple of big plays of our own.”

Reeves, a six-year veteran, isn’t worried about whether the rookies are ready to face Fitzgerald and Boldin and said nothing needs to be said to prepare them for the task.

“Who wouldn’t want to do it,” he said. “If you’re afraid or if you don’t step up to this challenge you shouldn’t be playing this game. The reason I like playing the game is to accept challenges. So it should be exciting.”

Text Only

National Sports Stories

No. 3 Texas wins a wild one, 49-39 over Texas A&M COLLEGE STATION — Colt McCoy threw four touchdown passes and No. 3 Texas overcame a huge game by Texas A&M quarterback Jerrod Johnson to wrap up an undefeated regular season with a 49-39 win over the Aggies on Thursday night.
November 26, 2009
Broncos end four-game skid with win over Giants DENVER (AP) — The Denver Broncos still have their troubles with the red zone and yellow flags. The dark cloud that hung over them during their month of misery, though, is gone.
November 26, 2009
Rodgers has 3 TDs in Packers’ 34-12 win vs. Lions DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Lions used to take a lot of pride in playing on Thanksgiving.
November 26, 2009
Holmes leads Texas A&M to upset of Clemson ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — B.J. Holmes and Texas A&M passed their first test.
November 26, 2009
Romo, Austin send Cowboys past Raiders 24-7 ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys had their way with the Oakland Raiders, piling up their most yards of the season and getting another solid performance from the defense.
November 26, 2009
McCoy, Bradford become friends despite rivalry When Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford injured his shoulder last month, one of the first people he heard from was Colt McCoy.

October 13, 2009
Cotton Bowl Stadium gets new postseason game Cotton Bowl Stadium has found a replacement for the namesake game that is moving to the new Cowboys Stadium.

October 13, 2009
Patterson not shocked by Frogs’ fall in poll TCU coach Gary Patterson isn’t surprised by his undefeated team’s drop in The Associated Press poll.

October 13, 2009
Ex-Kentucky coach, school settle suits for $2.9M Former men’s basketball coach Billy Gillispie and the University of Kentucky have settled their cases over his firing for nearly $3 million, the school said Tuesday.

October 13, 2009
US player Davies’ condition serious after accident U.S. national team forward Charlie Davies was in serious condition Tuesday evening following a one-vehicle accident in which another person was killed.

October 13, 2009
More National Sports Stories Headlines

National Sports Stories

Search Results

Discussion

Houston prepares for Arizona’s passing attack

Site Map

Contact Us