Here’s everything new Houston Texans defensive back Reed Blankenship said at his introductory press conference with the local media on Wednesday afternoon, including on why he chose the Texans, his thoughts on DeMeco Ryans’ defense and an update on his award-winning podcast with former teammate Cooper DeJean.
Question: On what ways the Houston Texans showed that they wanted to sign him
Reed Blankenship: “Obviously, this is my first time going through free agency, so I really didn’t know how it worked. But my agent was giving me live updates and it seemed like Houston was always the top team keeping in contact with my agent. I guess it’s this new thing now where teams have the ability to call five players during the free agency period. I got a call from DeMeco and hearing what he had to say, I could tell that he wanted me, and I could tell that he really liked me as a player. Obviously, we haven’t met truly in person, but I feel like he knows what my character is and what my personality is. You could tell that he really wanted me and really liked me. After we hung up, I was with my wife and I’m like, ‘I really feel like Houston really wants me.’ That honestly felt like the first time in my whole NFL career that somebody really wanted me as a player and as a person to come and perform for them.”
Q: On what the gist of Head Coach DeMeco Ryans message was to him when they shared a phone call
Blankenship: “He was just being real. Obviously, just being your authentic self. He was just telling me about the building, about the place, what they’re building. I was already bought in, honestly, and I really loved everything he had to say. I don’t need a lot of peer pressure or anything like that, but it was really cool to hear what he had to say. Obviously, I feel like I landed in a great spot.”
Q: On what he’s seen from Houston’s defense from a distance and how he can add to the defense
Blankenship: “From the outside looking in, especially playing in Philly [Philadelphia], I was fortunate enough to be on a few really good defenses. Sitting back and watching Houston fly around at times, I’m like, ‘Dang, this defense is legit.’ Fast forward to being able to play for [Houston] now, it’s crazy that a team like that wants me to come in and to perform at a high level. It speaks volumes. I feel like with me coming into this defense, I feel like I can give everybody a sense of calmness. That’s part of my game. I want to be the communicator out there. I don’t want to step on anybody’s toes at all, but I want everybody just to play free. Play free, have fun and at the end of the day, just go and hit dudes. That’s just part of defense. I’ve always been coached like an old-school type coach. I’ve been born and raised to go run and hit dudes for a living. I feel like this is a great fit. I know there’s a bunch of dawgs in the secondary, linebackers, defensive line, everywhere. I’m super, super excited, super stoked for this. I’m just ready to build that relationship between all the levels, for sure.”
On how excited he is to play next to S Calen Bullock
“I’m super excited. I’ve played with a lot of young guys, obviously, in Philly. Knowing their work ethic and their want to and I’m sure that he’s in the meetings asking all these questions, wanting to learn. That’s how I was when I was a young guy. I’ve always wanted to learn from the vets [veterans]. ‘Slay’ Darius Slay [Jr.], he just retired. He was one of the big, most impactful guys that I’ve played with. Being able to sit back and watch him do his thing, but still be in the league for years, it speaks volumes. I’m super excited to be in a room like that.”
On if he plans to continue his podcast with Philadelphia Eagles CB Cooper DeJean
“I don’t think it’s ended yet. We’re going to figure it out. I feel like it would be pretty cool to combine two different fan bases and have two different sides of the bridge, especially two different divisions going at it. I think we’re going to continue that, but we’ll just have to see.”
Q: On giving pregame speeches and his attitude on gameday
Blankenship: “Honestly, I’ve never been the big rah-rah guy. But when I got voted captain, I believe that was sort of my job and opportunity to get these guys going, especially for a guy who’s been in that room for longer than, I guess, a lot of the dudes that are in there. They want to hear a voice. Like I said, I’m not the rah-rah guy, but when I step on the field, it’s this different type of emotion. My adrenaline starts going and I just flip a switch. My wife can definitely tell you all, probably in detail, that during gameday, I rarely even talk to her. I’m just locked in. There’s a certain time when I just can’t talk to anybody. I dedicate the whole day to going out and trying to get a W.”
Q: On his viewpoint of the Houston Texans secondary
Blankenship: “As you said, they’re already a really talented group. I want to come in and contribute as much as I can. But there shouldn’t be any fall off. That’s my mindset. There should not be any fall off. If anything, like I said before, there should be a sense of calmness. There’s going to be another communicator in the back end. I feel like the sky’s the limit for this secondary, for sure. I know all these guys are bought in. Why wouldn’t you want to be? They all want to win. We have a winning mindset. I can already feel that in the building. I’m super excited to get to work with these guys and really start to build relationships with them.”
Q: On if there was anything in particular he was looking for during the free agency process
Blankenship: “Honestly, I just wanted a team to want me. I was undrafted. I felt like as an undrafted guy, no team really wants you. You’re just put on a team, and then if you make it, you make it. If you don’t, you’re just another statistic. But, like I said, I really think that Houston wanted me and had this sense of calmness with it. I don’t know. I just feel really different about this place. It’s a different sort of edge to my career. I feel like I’m going to have a lot of fun down in Houston.”
Q: On if he’s been to Houston before
Blankenship: “I did fly out to Houston for only a couple days, but I didn’t realize the [Houston Livestock Show &] Rodeo was down there. I didn’t know that it was a whole month ordeal and they shared the stadium. Obviously, I’m from the South. I’d love to go to a rodeo. I think I’ll do that next time I’m down there. But the only other time I’ve been to Houston was when I played in Rice in college, but I didn’t obviously get to experience the city itself. But hopefully, I’ll be able to.”
Q: On adding championship experience to the Texans
Blankenship: “I feel like the game plan or the blueprint to winning a championship is not just being in a defensive mindset or an offensive mindset, this is a full group. You have to be married at every position, every level possible. I got to be able to go up to an offensive lineman or to C.J. [Stroud] or whoever and have the exact same conversation I would have if I was sitting right next to my guys in the safeties room. We need to be one big family. Everybody needs to laugh, cut up, go hang out, whatever, because you’re with the same dudes for a long period of time during the year. If you don’t, and I’ve always heard this, if you don’t really like the dudes you’re working with, you’re going to hate work. In the past few years, I love going to work. I feel like I’m going to bring that sort of attitude, that mindset to the locker room and, like I said, be me, be my authentic self and vibe with everybody, see what everybody’s doing and we’ll go from there.”
Q: On if he had a chance to go to the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
Blankenship: “No, not really. I just went in there, and obviously, they had all the commotion, and I’m like, ‘Well, I probably won’t get to see a whole lot.’ But I’m super excited to see everything else when I go back.”
Q: On if he has pairs of cowboy boots
Blankenship: “I have like three or four. I’m vetted.”
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: What did DB Reed Blankenship say in his introductory press conference?
Reporting by Cole Thompson, Texans Wire / Texans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
