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Texans training camp: How Jimmie Ward continues to help Houston’s young secondary

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Earlier this month, Jimmie Ward celebrated his 33rd birthday.

With age comes experience in the NFL and it’s certainly needed in Houston’s defensive backfield come this fall.

Following Denico Autry’s six-game PED suspension, Ward is the oldest projected Week 1 starter on the Texans’ defense and has multiple youngsters to watch in the secondary.

“Yeah, out of all the snaps and the days, years I have had in the game some days are going to start a little bit slow and then pick up later,” Ward said following Monday’s practice about his responsibility to keep the defense on track. “I try to rally the guys up, so does a lot of other guys on defense but when you watch film it’s never as good and it is never as bad.”

Ward arrived last offseason on a two-year, $13 million deal, following head coach DeMeco Ryans to Houston. The safety added a knowledge of the scheme and reliable backend play, totaling 50 tackles, three pass deflections and an interception in 10 games while helping Houston punch its ticket back to the postseason.

Expectations have drastically changed for Houston, who aggressively acquired talent to maximize quarterback C.J. Stroud’s Super Bowl window while on his rookie contract.

Last season. Ward, Dalton Schultz and Sheldon Rankins were considered among the “bigger” signings for the Texans. This offseason, Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon entered the fold via trade while four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter inked a two-year deal.

That’s not all. The Texans added a pair of defensive backs in Georgia corner Kamari Lassiter and USC safety Calen Bullock with two of their first three picks.

Ward’s been impressed, especially with Lassiter’s maturation as a young defensive back.

He is ‘Lockdown,’ he’s got the chain it was cool,” Ward said of Lassiter. “He has been making a lot of plays, its crazy,”

Lassiter, a former second-team All-SEC defensive back, has been working as the No. 2 corner opposite of Derek Stingley Jr. He’s impressed several players on both sides, including receiver Noah Brown, who called Lassiter the best rookie defensive back he’s seen.

 

The depth chart pegged Bullock, one of the top coverage safeties in the class, as the No. 2 safety behind Jalen Pitre, while Eric Murray has been taking first-team reps alongside Ward in camp.

Until Monday’s practice, Pitre’s reps had come at the nickel. The move back to safety came with a shift to a base 4-3 defense.

Ward understands the duality of playing in both the nickel and at safety. He began his career as a slot corner before settling as a free safety. When Ryans took over as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, he deployed Ward all over the field. After Tashaun Gipson showed progress early on in 2022, Ward shifted back to the slot for the first time in three years.

Something that helps Pitre thrive in both spots, according to Ward, is his lateral quickness to disect plays before they unfold.

“Jalen’s feet are crazy, he is quick. He is like an energized bunny,” Ward said of Pitre. “That is the reason they put him, and then you watch Jalen over there at Baylor. Back in college that is what he played, he made a lot of plays at it so it is just putting him at something that he is familiar with. He rotates at safety, too.”  “Obviously, there are only a handful of guys who can do both and be successful at it and I feel like Jalen is one of those guys.”

Gearing up for 11th NFL season, young players can learn plenty from Ward. They’ll have to on the fly should Houston hope to be back in the postseason picture.