Ed Reed doesn’t sound pleased with the Texans’ coaching staff right now.
Reed, who said last week that he wasn’t happy with his declining playing time, said after Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals that he thought the Texans were too predictable, and, “Certain situations, we just got out-played and out-coached.”
“I’m just doing what I’m told for the most part,” Reed told ESPN.com. “At the same time, I know a lot of football. I know a lot about football. I know a lot about this game. I’m not just watching it blind. The stuff I do know, I can’t say to you guys because it is a team sport and I do look at it from a coaching perspective as well. There’s lots of soul searching, top to bottom, that needs to be done as coaches and as players.”
During one stretch of Sunday’s game, the Texans’ offense had five consecutive drives that totaled 10 yards. Reed indicated that it’s hard to play defense when the offense can’t sustain long drives.
“If you’re watching the game, it’s not no-brainers,” Reed said. “Certain situations we have to get off the field. We need three-and-out. You have to also come out as an offense and move the ball. We can’t go three-and-out and put your defense on the field that quick. That drive that they had, I’m looking at it like guys are a little fatigued because I know if you don’t control the ball as much, offensively and defensively, you’re going to get fatigued. They’re going to get plays. Eventually, they’re going to figure out what you’re doing if you’re doing the same old things.”
The Texans are currently being led by defensive coordinator Wade Phillips while head coach Gary Kubiak recuperates after collapsing on the field last week, but Reed’s “out-coached” comment didn’t seem to be a shot at Phillips, or at any coach in particular. Reed’s comments seem more about a general unhappiness that things aren’t going well in his first year in Houston. He sounds like a man who wishes he were back in Baltimore.
