Justin Reid may not have graduated with his engineering degree from Stanford – he still has a few years left – but he definitely excelled in his rookie campaign.
Now entering his second season, Reid hopes to build on his 2018 success.
"It's a totally different feeling," Reid said Tuesday. "There's like a comfort level – not a comfort level as in I'm satisfied, like I'm taking it easy or anything like that, but a comfort in knowing where I am, knowing the playbook, knowing my teammates better and that sort of deal. It just feels like I get to use last year as a springboard into going into this season. Instead of starting down here, now I get to start here and keep trying to build up and raise from there."
Reid compiled 81 tackles, three interceptions, 10 passes defensed, one quarterback hit, two tackles for loss, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and seven special teams tackles in 16 games with 12 starts last year. With a solid grasp of the playbook and the speed of the game, Reid wants to focus on other areas of improving his craft, especially with organized team activities (OTAs) underway.
"Just the little things, the details, continuing to do my technique," Reid said. "Eye control is one of the big things that I want to keep focusing on. I want to have a couple more PBUs, a couple more interceptions. I know that I had three last year but I dropped three, so I want to turn those three into six. Those are things I'm looking forward to doing."
Check out some of the best shots from Week 1 of Texans OTAs.