In Ed They Trust

Am I missing something? I mean, the Houston Texans are starting a rookie QB today, right? If so, young Mr. Yates had better keep one eye on his offensive weapons(Johnson, Foster, etc.) and the other eye on #20, Ed Reed. It’s just my humble opinion, but I think Reed will dictate whether or not the Texans have much, if any, success through the air today. More so than the Texans own QB.

Yes, we will hear how the monster of a man, Haloti Ngata will dominate in the trenches. He is that good. Of course we’ll hear about the great Ray Lewis. 52 standing in the middle of the Baltimore defense as a menacing presence & staring into Houston’s backfield, hoping to rattle every bone in the opposition’s body. Lewis will certainly leave his mark on the game, but I have this sneaking suspicion that his good friend Ed Reed will do the same, and in a more dramatic fashion.

You see, Ed Reed doesn’t want to just make a great tackle or defend a long passing play. No, Ed Reed wants to make sure that you know the real estate he roams —about 20 yards in every direction from wherever he may be at any given moment— is his, not yours. You had better not throw a pass up for grabs to your best WR, even if he is Andre Johnson, thinking, “It’s okay, Reed is on the other side of the field.”, because that would be foolish. Not only will Reed pick it off, but he will take it. To. The. House. He plays mind games with QB’s. He does so because he is a student of the game. Priding himself on knowing more about what’s going on than any of the other 21 guys on the field with him every play.

He doesn’t just try to out smart you. Oh, no. He will also lay a lick on a WR & do it within the constraints of the new NFL flag football rules. He will side swipe a RB like a car speeding through a red light. He is a tiger on the prowl for his next prey. Hungry for his next meal of 6 points.

He is one of the best players you will ever watch play defense.

He is Ed Reed, Baltimore’s field general.

(w.W.)