The Houston Texans have a proven coach in defensive coordinator Lovie Smith. However, new linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis doesn’t see the former Chicago Bears coach as just that.
The 29-year-old, who has been in the NFL since 2014, views Smith more as a mentor than as a coach.
“You don’t really view him as a coach, just somewhat of a mentor, a person to look up to, a person to really think of and listen to,” Pierre-Louis said. “The fact that I get the opportunity to play under him is something I won’t take for granted, for sure.”
Pierre-Louis’ first interaction with Smith was in 2014 when he was entering the NFL draft. The former Boston College product eventually went to the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round, but Pierre-Louis did have a visit with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who were coached at the time by Smith.
“The first time I met him was one of my visits coming out in 2014,” said Pierre-Louis. “A guy that has sort of like an aura around him. You just trust him right away.”
Pierre-Louis and the rest of the defense will have to trust in Smith’s schemes as the Texans seek to improve their defense, specifically in the takeaway department where Houston procured just nine throughout all of 2020, the absolute worst in the league.
