The Houston Texans offense has been the focus of most of the attention so far this season. Through the highs, like rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud producing leaps and bounds more than other rookie passers, to the lows like Week 8’s loss to the Carolina Panthers, it’s been hard to direct eyes away from the guys moving the football.
However, this Houston defense has some exciting pieces in its own right, and after a 15-point performance, head coach DeMeco Ryans wasn’t shy about praising his pieces on the back end.
One such player is safety Jalen Pitre. The second-year Baylor product has been all over the place across the five games he’s played this season, featuring incredible athleticism and strong processing skills. He’s well-rounded enough to get his hands dirty and make plays on the ball, and Ryans has taken full advantage.
He spoke about his safety on “Coffee With Coach.”
“Jalen’s a very instinctive player,” Ryans said. “Really like the ability to be able to move him around … I really like the way he blitzes, instinctive blitzer. Some guys, you call their number to blitz, and they just never get home, never affect the quarterback at all.”
Pitre, who has earned the right to join edge rushers Will Anderson and Jonathan Greenard in rushing the passer, has five pressures in 2023. He also has a batted pass to his name.
The safety has found his way into the stat sheet in a multitude of ways. He had five interceptions as a rookie and, despite not having any this season, has been able to generate 22 tackles, a pass breakup, and two forced fumbles.
“Jalen seems like every time I’ve called his number this year, he’s always able to cause pressure, TFL, forced fumble,” Ryans continued. “He causes havoc when we do send him on pressure.”
Pitre has done all of that while remaining an asset in coverage, lining up over tight ends, covering the deep middle of the field, and hovering in intermediate zones as Ryans sees fit. Having a dynamic playmaker headlining the back seven makes life easier, and with standout corner Derek Stingley Jr. on track to return this season, the Texans' defense should only improve.
Houston is at its best when it's playing complementary football, and while that wasn’t accomplished in Week 8, Pitre is one of the many reasons why fans can be confident in additional strong showings moving forward. On Sunday, he’ll lead the Texans into battle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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