John McClain, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, is in his 48th year of covering the NFL in Houston, including 45 seasons at the Houston Chronicle.
When Head Coach DeMeco Ryans is preparing for the draft, one of his favorite ways to evaluate a prospect is to talk to other players about him. He likes to pick their brains during the Senior Bowl, combine and when the Texans bring in 30 players for visits to NRG Stadium.
Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter was a prospect Ryans liked leading up to this year's draft. The more tape Ryans watched, the more impressed he was. Ryans could see the tangibles – Lassiter's natural talent, work ethic and performance in games. But he wanted to dig deeper, much deeper. Ryans spoke with Lassiter's teammates. He also spoke with opponents.
And what kind of scouting reports did Lassiter's teammates and opponents provide Ryans?
"Glowing, just glowing," Ryans said, glowing.
Armed with those glowing reports, Ryans found another Lassiter fan in Executive Vice President/General Manager Nick Caserio. Then defensive coordinator Matt Burke climbed on board. Finally, the Texans had to watch while 41 players, including five cornerbacks, were selected. When Lassiter was still available at 42, he quickly became a Texan. And Lassiter certainly hasn't disappointed.
"Everything has been positive with Kamari," Ryans said during training camp. "He's exactly the guy we saw from the Georgia film. (He's) dialed in, and a lot of people call him a 'dog.' He is a dog. Just remember the Georgia tape and how physical he was when it came to tackling. Encouraged with where he is. Starting out such a young career and where he is right now in training camp. I think he'll continue to ascend and get better."
The coaches love Lassiter's intangibles – competitiveness, intelligence, physicality and instincts. He's a hard worker who wants to learn. He's a winner who came from the best college program in the country.
"You see that (dog) mentality in his eyes and in his demeanor," Ryans said. "In the meeting room, he's locked in. You can see he's truly taking in what you're giving him when it comes to coaching points or directions. When he comes on the field, it's the same thing. He's not a loud guy by words, but he's a loud guy by his actions.
"He's focused and intense. You don't notice him much because he's always doing his job. He's always where he should be. He's always in position. He's always doing what we ask him to do, and as a rookie, that says a lot. If it's in meetings or on the field, he's always locked in."
Which is one reason his nickname is the "Locksmith." It's a nickname he takes a lot of pride in because he earned it the hard way by covering receivers as if they were locked together.
"That's just me," Lassiter said. "That's who I am. I feel like I came in and showed who I am, and that's the kind of person I am – I'm the Locksmith. I want to lock stuff down wherever I am.
"I feel to get to the point I really want to be, I have a long way to go. I have a lot to learn and a lot to work on. I want to be a lot better. The first thing you want to do as a young player, as a rookie coming into a new organization (and) a new atmosphere, you have to prove (yourself) and earn the respect of your teammates and coaches. That's something I really focus on. I want to earn the respect of everyone in the building before it's time to play. I want to be a student of the game."
Lassiter has earned Stingley's respect.
"I can't even remember a (ball) caught on him in a long time," Stingley said. "It's the reason he's here and locked on that side of the field."
When Lassiter arrived at NRG Stadium after the draft, he started to learn what it's like to be a pro. Some adapt quicker than others. Lassiter has proven to be a quick study.
"In college, you don't have a lot of time," he said. "In the NFL, you don't have anything but football. It's finding something productive to do with your time, finding time to work on my body, figuring out what my body likes, what my body doesn't like, how to make sure I'm prepared for practice, how to make sure I'm mentally prepared every day -- just finding a good routine for myself."
A key part of that routine is going against wide receivers like Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins and Tank Dell every day in practice. They're helping Lassiter develop mentally and physically.
"Every day, I learn something new from them," he said. "I'm trying to soak up knowledge from them. Every day, after practice, I'm getting game from them, talking about our reps, what I can do better, what they're thinking in the middle of a rep. Going against vets like that, guys who are really good at what they do, it's just making me a lot better."
Diggs likes to do a lot of trash talking. Lassiter is game for anything, but it won't distract him from doing his job.
"Diggs is a guy who loves the game, is really passionate about what he does and he lets it be known," Lassiter said. "I like that because I'm the same way. When I make a play, I'm going to let you know, and he's the same way. Whenever he makes a play, I give him credit, but I'm like, 'Ok, yeah, next time, it's going to be different.'"
Diggs has gone against a lot of cornerbacks during his career. He's been impressed with what he's seen from Lassiter.
"Lassiter is, as they say, 'Bringing in a guy that's ready,'" Diggs said. "He's a guy that takes it day-by-day -- technique sound, seeking knowledge and wanting to compete at a high level. He isn't running from it.
"I'm talking my junk to him a little, just to kind of get him going. And he's right there, he's standing 10 toes down, (and that's) something you like to see in young players, that confidence."
Before the draft, there were experts who predicted Lassiter would be more productive playing inside than outside. Obviously, the Texans believe he's better on the boundary, but they know he can do both.
"It doesn't matter," he said. "I can play D-line -- it wouldn't matter -- as long as I'm on the field."
And Lassiter will stay on the field as long as he continues to impress his coaches.
"He's been great," Burke said. "Very competitive, always around the ball. He's taken to the techniques we're trying to play. We're excited for him to keep developing (the way) he is."
A good example of why the Texans were so high on Lassiter can be found in his decision to play in the Orange Bowl. Georgia had lost to Alabama and wasn't in the championship game. They were playing Florida State. The coaches told Lassiter they wouldn't hold it against him if he opted out as so many players elect to do at the end of their college careers.
"I had the opportunity to play in the game with my teammates, and I was healthy, so it was a no-brainer," he said. "I eat, sleep and breathe football. Football has been the love of my life since I was 3 years old. Why would I not play? Other guys chose to make other decisions, and I respect their decision because everyone has to make a decision for themselves, their families and their brotherhood. But my decision was to play football."
That decision helped Georgia blow out Florida State 63-3 and finish 13-1. And that kind of "dog" attitude is a big reason Lassiter is a Texan and making them look good for drafting him.
