Coleman named AFC Defensive Player of the Month

One more takeaway for Coleman
Texans cornerback wins AFC award by practicing what Capers preaches
By CARLTON THOMPSON
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle

Only two teams forced fewer turnovers last season than the Texans, a sad fact that chapped Dom Capers' hide more than bareback horse riding. When a team turns the football over more than it takes it away from the opposition, as the Texans did in 2002, that team is severely bucking the odds for success.

Through four games this season, the Texans are riding high in the saddle with 10 takeaways, just 11 shy of their total for the 2002 season. The Texans' 10 takeaways rank fifth in the NFL and second in the AFC behind Kansas City, which leads the league with 14. The biggest reason for the improvement is cornerback Marcus Coleman, who Wednesday became the first Texans player to be named AFC Defensive Player of the Month.

Coleman, 29, is tied for the NFL lead with four interceptions, and he also has forced a fumble. The veteran cornerback, whose steady play often is overlooked because he has played with Pro Bowl cornerback Aaron Glenn throughout his career, intercepted two passes in the season-opening upset victory at Miami and also had picks against Kansas City and Jacksonville.

Linebackers Kendrell Bell (Pittsburgh), Tedy Bruschi (New England), Andra Davis (Cleveland) and Ray Lewis (Baltimore) also were nominated for the award, the first such accolade of Coleman's eight-year career.

"It's an honor," said Coleman, whom the Texans acquired from the New York Jets in the 2002 expansion draft. "The only thing I have to do now is keep doing what I've been doing for the first quarter of the season. It means a lot to me. It means that I'm doing my job like I'm supposed to. I'm just trying to be consistent every week to help the team. It's an honor to know that everybody is recognizing that you're playing well."

Coleman, who led the NFL with 22 passes defended in 2002, has been a steady presence this season in a Texans defensive backfield that has battled injuries and an occasional breakdown in coverage. His two interceptions against Miami came on the Dolphins' final two possessions and sealed the 21-20 victory. Capers presented the former Texas Tech star a game ball for his performance.

"Marcus is off to a very good start, and he's been consistent through the first month of the season," Capers said. "He has played extremely well, and I'm happy that he's being recognized. He's a guy I have a lot of confidence in, because he realizes how important every week is. He has to perform for us every week, and he's done that."

Coleman joins three other Texans who have received weekly or monthly recognition by the NFL. Punter Chad Stanley and former return specialist Avion Black each won AFC Special Teams Player of the Week last season, and Glenn was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after the Texans upset Dallas to open their inaugural season.

Creating turnovers always have been a trademark of Capers' defenses. His units led the NFL in takeaways in 1992 and 1994 when he was the coordinator in Pittsburgh. When Capers was the coordinator in Jacksonville, his defense tied the team record with 30 takeaways in 1999 and matched that total the following season.

Capers and Texans defensive coordinator Vic Fangio are strong proponents of zone blitzes and disguised coverage packages that tend to coax a quarterback into mistakes. Putting players in positions to make plays is one thing, but actually making the plays is another. The Texans' defense, led by Coleman, has done a much better job through four games this season.

"I've always believed that in order to have a good defense, you have to have the ability to take the ball away," Capers said. "We've certainly done a better job of forcing turnovers, and that's something we'll continue to put an emphasis on.

"Every day in practice we have a ball protection drill for the offense and on another field we have a drill where we try to have our defensive players knock the ball out. If you can minimize your turnovers on offense and create some turnovers on defense, you're going to increase your chances to win a football game."


Way to go Coleman!