Improve special teams.
Get help in the secondary.
Add more high-character players.
The addition of Johnson Bademosi checked all three of those boxes for the Houston Texans this offseason. Head coach Bill O’Brien described the seven-year pro as a “fabric guy”, someone who helps improve the depth of the roster in a variety of ways.
He’s part of a secondary that added veteran free agents in corner Aaron Colvin and safety Tyrann Mathieu. The Texans also spent draft picks on safety Justin Reid and cornerback Jermaine Kelly. Add in a handful of rookie free agents, and defensive backs coach Anthony Midget has a lot of new faces in his meeting room. A cornerback and special teams standout since he entered the League in 2012 out of Stanford, Bademosi has enjoyed his time so far in Houston.
“It’s definitely been hot but it’s been exciting,” Bademosi said. “Getting the opportunity to play with these guys and be coached by Bill and Midget and some of the other coaches, I’m excited about everything.”
Last year with New England, Bademosi started three games for the AFC champs. A Texans defense with pass-rushers like J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus was an attractive selling point for Bademosi.
“Our edge rushers and our defensive line is very talented,” Bademosi said. “It all starts from there. When the pass rush is as good as it is here, then you’re going to have opportunities in the secondary. I think it’s going to be good.”
In five of his six NFL seasons, Bademosi’s recorded 10 or more special teams tackles, and he’s second in the NFL in that category since 2012.
“He was very, very productive on special teams,” O’Brien said. “We really liked that, so when he was out there, we felt like if we had a shot at him, he would be a guy that we would go after.”
In addition to praising Bademosi’s versatility, smarts, competitiveness, and approach to the game, O’Brien was also high on his speed, tackling ability and size.
Bademosi and the Texans start their veteran minicamp today at the Houston Methodist Training Center.
The Roster
The Houston Texans updated 53-man roster, in photos. (Updated 1/3/2019)
LB, Tyrell Adams, 50
TE, Jordan Akins, 88
DB, Johnson Bademosi, 23
DE, Angelo Blackson, 97
RB, Alfred Blue, 28
CB, Deante Burton, 39
WR, DeAndre Carter, 14
OLB, Jadeveon Clowney, 90
LB, Dylan Cole, 51
CB, Aaron Colvin, 22
WR, Keke Coutee, 16
DE, Christian Covington, 95
ILB, Zach Cunningham, 41
P, Trevor Daniel, 8
OL, Julién Davenport, 70
DE, Brandon Dunn, 92
DE, Duke Ejiofor, 53
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, 7
RB, D'Onta Foreman, 27
OL, Zach Fulton, 73
TE, Ryan Griffin, 84
S, Andre Hal, 29
DE, Joel Heath, 93
WR, DeAndre Hopkins, 10
S, A.J. Hendy, 37
CB, Kareem Jackson, 25
OL, Roderick Johnson, 63
CB, Johnathan Joseph, 24
OLB, Peter Kalambayi, 58
OL, Senio Kelemete, 64
LB, Josh Keyes, 49
OT, Kendall Lamm, 63
OL, Greg Mancz, 65
C, Nick Martin, 66
S, Tyrann Mathieu, 32
LB, Benardrick McKinney, 55
OLB, Whitney Mercilus, 59
RB, Lamar Miller, 26
WR, Steven Mitchell, Jr., 11
S, A.J. Moore, 33
OL, Martinas Rankin, 75
NT/DE, D.J. Reader, 98
S, Justin Reid, 20
WR, Vyncint Smith, 17
TE, Jordan Thomas, 83
DL, Carlos Watkins, 91
DL, Carlos Watkins, 91
DE, J.J. Watt, 99
DE, J.J. Watt, 99
QB, Joe Webb, III, 5
QB, Brandon Weeden, 5
LS, Jon Weeks, 46
CB, Shareece Wright, 43
