Receiver Always Prepared to Make a Big Play for Texans
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CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF TEXANS FOOTBALL TENTH IN A SERIES OF TEN EXTRA SPONSORED BY ultimatetexans.com Kevin Walter Receiver always prepared to make a big play for Texans KEVIN WALTER’S TOP 10 NUMBERS 65 Career high 8 Touchdown 160 Single- for catches in a passes caught in game high for season, in 2007 2008, a career high receiving yards, against Jackson- 2 Two-touch- 6.3 Average ville in 2007 down catch games gain on his 13 ca- for the Texans, reer running plays 3 Career 100- both in 2008 yard games 304 Recep- 2 Times he has tions in his fi rst 100 3 Games missed caught at least 11 games as a Texan because of injury passes in a game in seven Texans seasons 4-0 Record against Cincinnati, where he played for three seasons before the Texans signed him Note: Statistics through Week 8 Karen Warren and Brett Coomer Photography / Houston Chronicle For the ultimate Texans coverage, visit ultimatetexans.com and the new chron.com. Also, see the best photos of the Texans at our special section on the Chronicle iPad app. KEYS TO SUCCESS FOR KEVIN WALTER DILIGENT PREPARATION. Walter takes video HEALTHY HABITS. At 31, Walter knows how KNOWS HIS ROLE. In an o ense that includes JOHN study to the geek level. Come kicko , nothing importance body maintenance is to extending Andre Johnson and Arian Foster, plus former Pro MCCLAIN the opponent can do will surprise him. He might his career. He’s fastidious in his dietary habits, Bowl tight end Owen Daniels, Walter knows he’s not make a play, but it won’t be because he he never gets out of shape and, to enhance not the go-to guy, but that’s perfectly OK with On the Texans got caught in the wrong place or missed an recovery from the carnage that his job infl icts, he him. He’s always lurking, waiting for the defense assignment. Also, he works as hard on honing spends plenty of down time in his own personal to forget about him, which does happen on his blocking skills as he does on running precise hyperbaric chamber. occasion. That’s why he has so many big plays routes. on his resume. PLAYER SPOTLIGHT MOST IMPORTANT MOMENTS Walter draws high praise from peers Tenth of 10 HOUSTON CHRONICLE AUG. 12, 2011 Texans Imagine what Andre Johnson would accomplish if he were shadowed by a single defender. rout Better yet, imagine what might happen if there were another Ravens target lined up on the opposite side so potent that he, too, Date: Oct. 21, 2012 required double attention. Site: Reliant Stadium This is the common refrain Score: Texans 43, Ravens 13 for some Texans fans, and the cry has reached a critical set Safety Glover Quin of ears. had observed following “They’ve been saying that the Texans’ fi rst defeat for years,” Kevin Walter said. of the 2012 season, a “But if Andre Johnson was humbling 42-24 loss to cloned, and they put him on Green Bay at home in the other side of Andre Johnson primetime, that “great as the No. 2 receiver, you’d still teams can lose a game, have to double-cover the original Andre. but great teams don’t “It doesn’t matter. We all have lose two in a row.” our roles.” They answered their Fortunately, Walter is neither biggest challenge of a biologist nor a geneticist. their most promising What he is, however, is the best season to date, ending wide receiver on the Texans’ Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle an 0-6 run against the roster who doesn’t wear No. 80, Texans receiver Kevin Walter beats Broncos cornerback Tracy Porter for a 52-yard touchdown Baltimore Ravens with a and there’s no shame in that. reception from quarterback Matt Schaub during the second quarter Sept. 23, 2012, at Sports Authority resounding 43-13 victory, To some, though, an upgrade Field in Denver. good for a 6-1 record that for Johnson’s sidekick is long overdue. had them sitting atop Larry Kirksey, Texans wide control much,” Walter said. “You from his teammates,” Texans three seasons with Cincinnati, the AFC standings going receivers coach, isn’t one of those can control your work ethic, and coach Gary Kubiak said. “He’s there was a sense within the into their o week. people. that’s about it. I take a lot of pride just a warrior. He goes all day Bengals’ organization of how The 43 points set a “People are always going in the way I go about things, the long. … Our defensive backs special and unique Walter is. franchise record, and to say he’s not a No. 2, but he’s way I work out in the o season, coach, I stood back there by Cornerback Johnathan Joseph, the 30-point spread was an outstanding No. 2 for us,” how I run routes, block in the Vance (Joseph) during practice. the Texans’ key free-agent the second largest in the Kirksey said. “He’s going to do running game - that’s what you It was interesting. He said to acquisition, arrived in Cincinnati team’s history. Although all of the dirty work. He’s going have to do.” me a couple of times, ‘Boy, that just as Walter was departing for Baltimore has long had to make all of the tough catches. Also, add in regular guy’s an impressive football the Texans, but he heard plenty one of the NFL’s most He’s going to block on the chiropractic sessions, massages player.’ about him. respected defenses, it perimeter, and he’s going to make and hours upon hours logged in “It’s just what he stands for “The coaches in Cincinnati plays. a hyperbaric chamber at home. all of the time. You get your raved about Kevin, my position was the Texans’ “D” that “When we need a play to be The rationale? money’s worth out of Kevin coach (Kevin Coyle) specifi cally,” ruled the day, holding made, Kevin makes the play. “Your body is your work,” said Walter every day.” Joseph said. “He talked about Ravens quarterback Joe … We can’t go into this season Walter, who just turned 30 but That’s important to Walter, how he wanted to keep a guy Flacco to 147 passing without Kevin Walter.” says he feels younger, convinced who admits it’s a point of like Kevin around in Cincinnati yards and intercepting His value isn’t refl ected in this could be his best season - emphasis to prove to his peers because he came to work every him twice. The Ravens statistics, although his numbers even though he can’t be certain he belongs. Kirksey says Walter day. And when I put on fi lm managed only 176 total since joining the Texans - of how many footballs might be works as hard as Johnson, the before we played the Texans, yards and 12 fi rst downs. averaging 49 receptions for 618 fl ung his way. standard for such comparisons, I saw a guy that runs hard every The Texans led 29-3 yards and four touchdowns per That’s fi ne, he said. He’ll on and o the fi eld, labeling the play, blocks, catches the ball by halftime and easily season - have been solid. Maybe just take advantage of the Eastern Michigan product a when it’s thrown to him — and not on the level of Johnson or opportunities that present perfectionist. now I’m seeing the same thing coasted home against the tight end Owen Daniels, but what themselves, which is an example Some of those same traits were with the Texans, day in and day team that had knocked Walter (6-3, 218) has produced of why he is treasured by his exhibited earlier in his career. out, in practice. them out of the playo s has been respectable. teammates and coaches alike. Despite totaling 30 catches for “You want a guy like Kevin in January. “In this league, you can’t “I guarantee he gets respect 296 yards and one touchdown in around at all times.” KEVIN WALTER’S BEST GAMES WITH THE TEXANS OCT. 21, 2012 SEPT. 23, 2012 DEC. 1, 2011 OCT. 9, 2011 SEPT. 19, 2010 DEC. 7, 2008 OCT. 26, 2008 SEPT. 28, 2008 OCT. 21, 2007 OCT. 1, 2007 VS. Ravens VS. Broncos VS. Bengals VS. Raiders VS. Redskins VS. Packers VS. Bengals VS. Jaguars VS. Titans VS. Jaguars In a 43-13 rout, The Texans Walter caught T. The Texans fell Walter had a Walter got the In his fi rst game Walter caught Walter’s six Although the ending Houston’s defeated Peyton J. Yates’ six-yard 25-20 to Oak- huge game at Texans on the against Cincin- touchdown catches averaged Texans got 0-6 drought Manning on his pass for the land at home, Washington, scoreboard fi rst nati, where passes of fi ve 16.2 yards and pounded 37-17 against Balti- home turf for the winning touch- but Walter had catching all 11 with a career- he played his and eight yards helped keep the at Jacksonville, more, Walter fi rst time down with two fi ve catches balls thrown his long 58-yard fi rst three NFL for back-to-back Texans in the Water delivered caught four as Walter con- seconds left and for 81 yards and way for 144 touchdown seasons after scores as the game, launching the biggest game passes for 74 tributed three had fi ve other a long gain of yards, and his catch and he the Bengals took Texans rallied to a fourth-quarter statistically of his yards.