When the Texans drafted hard-hitting Baylor safety Jalen Pitre in the second round, he immediately emphasized that he models his game after veteran safeties Tyrann Mathieu and Budda Baker.
Those are good role models to emulate for Pitre, who's signed to a four-year, $8.95 million contract and was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year last season.
During the Texans' organized team activities, Pitre has been a standout as he's displayed range, speed and instincts.
"Pitre, for one, he's been outstanding," Texans coach Lovie Smith said. "Knack for the football. Has done a lot of good things."
A first-team All-American last season Pitre led Baylor with 18 tackles for losses and had three sacks and finished with 76 total tackles, intercepting two passes, breaking up seven more and had three fumble recoveries. He had 60 tackles as a junior and was an All-Big 12 selection with 60 tackles, 13 for losses, two interceptions, returning both for touchdowns and 2 1/2 sacks.
Pitre lined up as a hybrid linebacker-safety in a position called the Star in a 4-2-5 defense under Baylor coach Dave Aranda after Matt Rhule was hired by the Carolina Panthers.
"Tyrann Mathieu is definitely No. 1 on my list of players I try to model my game after," Pitre said. "I try to take different things from his game to add to mine. His versatility, his knack for being around the ball, his instincts, they're all things I try to add to my game. I try to mix in some Budda Baker as well. You hit it on the head with the two players I try to model my game after."
The Texans like Pitre's aggressive, fired-up style of play and his versatility. He has played free safety, strong safety and nickel.
"He plays with his hair on fire," Texans general manager Nick Caserio said. "Versatile player. They used him a little bit inside in the slot. He played safety, so he has some position versatility. I think he might have a role in the kicking game. Tough, instinctive football player, loves playing football. His energy was infectious when he was in the building.
"I would say Jalen falls in the category of embodying the types of people and players that we want to have in this building. Kind of their vigor and joy playing football. You see it in the way that he plays."
The secondary made some strides Tuesday as Pitre knocked away a pass intended for second-year tight end Brevin Jordan. Safety Grayland Arnold and cornerback Kendall Sheffield also made some big plays and showed a nose for the football.
“They are getting better," Smith said. "You had different guys making plays. Defensively, you have to show up. It's just not about covering and tackling. It's about taking the ball away.
"We're able to get the ball away through there and punching the ball out quite a few times today. That's good, in my defensive coordinator role. In my head football coach's role, it's not a good thing. It's about ball protection, security, all of those things.”
Meanwhile, retired All-Pro wide receiver and Hall of Fame candidate Andre Johnson visited practice Tuesday morning along with several other former players.
Johnson is encouraged by the Texans' rookie class, including first-round cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.
"I got a chance to talk to Stingley and I was just telling him about how their rookie class can do something special and change the organization because of what's happened here the last couple of years," said Johnson, who was joined at practice by fellow retired Texans players Chester Pitts, Fred Weary, Wade Smith, Jonathan Wells and Kailee Wong. "It's just on him, putting in that hard work holding each other accountable. It's kind of like when I came here the second year of the team and it was a challenge I took and I wanted to help this organization get to the playoffs. I took the challenge and made it happen."
Rookie wide receiver John Metchie III, a former Alabama standout who's making steady progress in his recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in the Southeastern Conference title game, is a talented young player that Johnson watched in college.
"I got a chance to talk to him after practice," Johnson said. "I watched him a lot in college. I was super excited when they drafted him. He's a great player, great route runner. He had a great season at Alabama. Those guys run great routes, fast. I think he'll fit in well."
Does watching practice make Johnson miss playing football at age 40?
"Hell no," Johnson said with a laugh. "I love watching it. I gave the game everything I had.”
The Texans are taking a cautious approach with Stingley Jr., the third overall pick of the draft.
Stingley dealt with a Lisfranc foot injury last year, so the Texans are holding him out of full-team drills. Stingley has been working on the side after conducting individual drills. The goal is for him to play a full season and not have any medical setbacks.
"Great guy, very talented, hence why he got drafted where he got drafted," veteran corner Steven Nelson said. "I think he's going to do some great things here whenever he gets rolling."
A former starter with the Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs, Nelson is one of the most experienced players on the defense. He has eight career interceptions.
Coming to a team that has gone 8-25 the past two seasons, Nelson hopes to impart knowledge and help establish a winning culture.
"It's going really well right now," Nelson said. "Leadership, experience, just being a guy that's been there, been out there on playoff teams and just being in that atmosphere. As you know, we have a lot of young talent on the team, so just kind of being able to be there and lead by example as much as I can."
"I think I can show my leadership and just try to show my professionalism as what that looks like, what it takes to reach that level. So, whatever I can do to help, you know what I mean."
Aaron Wilson is a Pro Football Network reporter and analyst and a contributor to Sports Talk 790.
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