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.
The more coaches and teammates see of two rookies – cornerback Kamari Lassiter and safety Calen Bullock – the more convinced they are that both will make impacts in their first season.
Lassiter and Bullock were drafted in the second and third rounds, 42nd and 78th overall, and both have been impressive in training camp and preseason. Lassiter was so impressive in the offseason program that he seized a starting job immediately. Bullock's talent, range and production have earned him more playing time, primarily as a deep safety.
With safety Jalen Pitre focusing on playing in the slot so he can make plays around the line of scrimmage as well as drop into coverage, there's a safety spot open for Bullock and veteran Eric Murray next to Jimmie Ward.
Bullock, who has flashed his 4.48 speed in the first three preseason games, should continue to get a lot of playing time in the last preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday at NRG Stadium. He's got an excellent opportunity to make a contribution when regular season begins at Indianapolis on Sept. 8.
"Calen has been steady," Head Coach DeMeco Ryans said Wednesday, the day before the joint practice with the Rams. "He's been making plays, and he's been consistent. He finds a way to get his hands on the ball every day, so I'm excited about his growth and development as a young safety in our system. I think he has a chance to be one of the better ones I've had a chance to work with."
Which is saying a lot considering the safeties has coached with the 49ers and Texans, including Pitre and Ward over the last two seasons. That shows how much Ryans and his coaches think of Lassiter and Bullock.
"Calen is similar to Kamari (in that) these guys have come in and been laser focused," Ryans said. "When you watch his tape at USC, he's a guy who attacked the football. Ball was in the air (and) he was going to get it. Same as what you see out here every day in practice. Like he's making a play on the football.
"I think everyone can appreciate the play when your free safety is able to have the elite range he has and is able to make a play on the sideline. It's impressive to watch Calen, and he'll continue to get better. I'm very excited to see him continue to flourish in our defense."
Unlike Bullock, Lassiter has already secured a starting job. He plays opposite Derek Stingley Jr., who's having an outstanding camp and preseason. Because Stingley is such a terrific cover corner, it stands to reason that opposing quarterbacks are going to test the rookie.
Lassiter is learning a lot watching Stingley every day. Asked about Stingley's ability to track the ball and show his exceptional hands, Lassiter said, "I haven't seen a defensive back have as good of ball skills as he has. It's just like a super power of his.
"He's able to snatch it up out of the air. It's something you really can't teach. You can't coach that. That's something God blessed him with, and he uses it all the time. It's just crazy to watch."
At some point during his rookie season, Lassiter could also be "crazy to watch" if he plays the way his coaches believe he's capable.
"You can tell he's built for this," Ryans said about Lassiter. "(He's) got that mental toughness that plays a lot into being a good player at this level. You've got to have that next-play mentality.
"At Georgia, (head coach) Kirby (Smart) has done a great job, and you can tell (he's) raising them the right way. Kirby's done a great job having his guys ready to go in the NFL. Those guys are plug-and-play players. You get a Georgia guy, and you know you're getting an NFL player."
Defensive coordinator Matt Burke closely watches Lassiter and Bullock every day. He's eager to see them in the joint practice with the Rams.
"Kamari's come in with this aggressive mentality we're looking for," Burke said. "He wants to work, and he's all business.
"As for (Bullock), his anticipation and timing of playing a deeper zone, a deeper post (and) playing off the corner. Obviously, the length and the speed play into that when he does get going. He's just real natural at reading quarterbacks, feeling routes, coming up and trying to anticipate breaks, so that kind of helps him get a jump on some things."
Lassiter and Bullock have mutual admiration. They're rookies in the secondary, and they'll play prominent roles for a team that's favored to repeat as AFC South champion.
"Coming in together, I already knew what kind of player and person he was," Lassiter said about Bullock. "Us being able play together and grow together at the same time (is) fun."
Because they're rookies playing a difficult schedule and competing against some of the best quarterbacks and receivers in the league, Lassiter and Bullock know they'll make mistakes. The key is to not make too many mental mistakes. When they get beat, they've got to put it behind them immediately, or they could be doomed to repeat that mistake on the next play.
"I feel like rookie is just a word, honestly," Lassiter said. "I was brought here to do a job. It's a balance. I know I'm going to make mistakes (but) I'm not going out there trying to walk on eggshells. I'm going to play fast. I'm going to play physical. I'm going to play my brand of football.
"At the same time, I want it to be right. I want it to be decent and in order. And I want it to match the standard of our organization. I understand it's my first year. It's going to be a lot of things I don't know, or (things) I could do better. I'm going to be playing confident and learning from mistakes."
And that's what the coaches want from Lassiter and Bullock, consistent improvement through their rookie seasons.
"They've got that relentless mindset we're looking for," Ryans said. "It's been exciting to see how hard they work and to watch them grow."
And perhaps that growth will solidify two of the Texans' needs in the secondary during a season in which they're predicted to win the division again and contend for the Super Bowl.
