The Texans are signing veteran linebacker E.J. Speed to a one-year, $5 million deal. Texans fans should be familiar with Speed from his days with the Indianapolis Colts. Seth Payne and Sean Pendergast react to the signing here.
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00:00Yeah, there you go.
00:01EJ Speed, going into his seventh season, kind of a unique signing, and the EJ Speed, as
00:06a Texans fan, you've noticed, wow, this guy shows up a lot, especially in the run, makes
00:11a lot of big plays, had seven tackles for a loss last year.
00:14His first four seasons, he only played situationally as a linebacker, and he was really good in
00:19those instances.
00:20The last two years, he's had opportunities to be the full-time starter, and he just has
00:25not been a complete and total full-time three-down linebacker.
00:29He's not really as good in pass coverage as his athleticism would suggest.
00:33So this is a guy that I'm hoping you see a glow-up from D'Amico Ryans.
00:37He's on a one-year, $5 million deal.
00:40It's a prove-it contract.
00:41And I know a lot of people have wondered whether he's going to start or not.
00:46The track record would tell you he'll be a situation.
00:50Chris Jarris and Henry Totoa are still in position of competing for a job, so I think
00:55he's in the mix.
00:56I think it's going to be a really fierce competition to be that other starting linebacker.
01:00They usually only play with two linebackers.
01:01I'm all of a sudden super intrigued by that competition.
01:06You got four bodies for a team that's really only played two linebackers for most of the
01:10year last year.
01:11Well, in a lot of ways, he's kind of like Devin White.
01:13Remember Devin White last year?
01:14Same thing.
01:15Really athletic, makes flash plays, but he's not consistent.
01:18I think the difference with EJ Speed is he's proven that as a situational player, he can
01:23be consistent.
01:24It's just that he hasn't shown that he can be a consistent three-down linebacker.
01:28But you know who's been his position coach the last three years, Sean?
01:31Richard Smith.
01:34Former Texans defensive coordinator.
01:35One of the worst defensive coordinators in the history of the NFL, at least while he
01:39was with Houston.
01:41So from what you've said, what I can deduce is, by definition, that he's going to another
01:46human being to coach him.
01:47He's going to get better coaching this year.
01:49I think he will.
01:50Yeah.
01:51Yeah, good.
01:52Good.
01:53I like the signing, man.
01:54That's what this offseason's been about, tweaking depth.