NFP rookie report: Bengals-Texans

In Saturday's Wild Card playoff game between Cincinnati and Houston we saw some excellent play from some very good rookies. Let’s take a look back at the performances.

T.J. Yates – Houston

Yates got the starting role in Houston after season-ending injuries to Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart. To use an old coaching cliché, Yates hasn’t been asked to win games but rather not lose them. To say that he has done what was asked is an understatement. Yates did an excellent job managing the game. He completed 11 of 20 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown. He did not turn the ball over. He came up with some big throws when they were needed, including a 40-yard touchdown pass to Andre Johnson late in the third quarter.

The thing that really stood out for me was his poise. He couldn’t afford to make mistakes and he didn’t. He didn’t allow himself to be forced into a bad play. Yates has shown steady improvement since he took over the quarterback position for the Texans and while there are rookie quarterbacks that have better physical traits than Yates, few have his intangibles. He gets an “A” for this game.

J.J. Watt – Houston

J.J. Watt has been one of the better defensive rookies in the entire NFL.

All season, Watt has been one of the better rookie defensive linemen in the league. His play Saturday was no different. Late in the first half Watt got his hands up on a bull rush to try and deflect a pass and ended up intercepting the ball and returning it for a touchdown. That one play turned that game around for Houston.

Watt plays the game with a lot of intensity. He goes all out every play. Saturday he finished the game with 2 tackles, a sack and a tackle for loss to go along with the interception. He consistently was able to get penetration and disrupt running plays. I feel it won’t be long before Watt is a Pro Bowl caliber player. Like Yates he earns an “A.”

Brooks Reed – Houston

Like Watt, Reed is a consistent all-out performer. Because of his relentless play and his pass rush skills, Reed is a perfect fit for Wade Phillips' pressure defense. Saturday Reed had 5 tackles and a sack. While the sack could be considered a “coverage” sack, Reed still never quit on the play and was able to get the sack when Dalton tried to step up in the pocket. He is a very steady run defender who plays with good instincts and seldom gets out of position.

Coming out of college a year ago, Reed’s forte was rushing the passer. He played down in college and has made the conversion to outside linebacker in a 3-4. He has shown steady improvement all year learning to play on his feet. While he isn’t a top coverage type he can and does do a great job rushing the passer. It’s not that he is that nifty and has a lot of moves, he just never quits! Reed is the type who will keep getting better as he gains experience and will be a very steady workmanlike player for Houston. He earns a B+ for the game.

Andy Dalton – Cincinnati

All year, I have been impressed with the play of Dalton. He has been a steady player and has shown a tremendous amount of poise throughout the year. He didn’t show those same qualities Saturday. While he showed his usual quick release and had some outstanding throws, he also forced some throws and couldn’t come up with the big play when needed. Houston was able to put consistent pressure on Dalton all game and he ended up completing 27 of 42 passes for 257 yards, no touchdowns and 3 interceptions. He also was sacked 4 times. In a very rare playoff game where both teams were quarterbacked by rookies, Dalton was outplayed by Houston’s Yates. Still I have no doubt that Dalton will be an excellent quarterback for the Bengals in the future, but in this game I have to give him a “C+.”

A.J. Green – Cincinnati

A.J. Green has shown consistency in his debut campaign.

Like some of the other players in this post, Green has been a consistent performer all year. Even though he is a rookie, defenses have to prepare for him. He is tall, plays fast, has excellent hands and gets yards after the catch. Things were no different in Saturday’s playoff game. He finished the game with 5 catches for 47 yards and no scores.

Houston did an excellent job taking Green out of the game in the second half. He was thrown to only twice and one of those passes was intercepted because Green was double covered. While Green has been consistently able to come up with big plays during the regular season he wasn’t in this game. That was a tribute to Houston’s defense. What stood out for me was that Green is becoming a more physical player when he has the ball in his hands. This bodes well for the future. Overall, Green is a great player who had an average game and gets a “B.”