HOUSTON (CBS HOUSTON) – “I’m feeling more comfortable out there.”

He looks that way too. Andre Hal has come a long way from being a late round cornerback last year to the team’s starting safety right now.

Bill O’Brien even went as far to call him one of the team’s “young leaders.”

That wasn’t the only praise for his safety that the head coach had.

“He’s smart. Competitive. Type of guy we’re looking for as far as a teammate. Really understands his role. Can play corner. Can play safety. Special teams guy.”

A do it all type player so far for the Texans. No easy task for Hal and his fellow safeties. The top three players from the depth chart last season either don’t play football anymore or have new teams that they call home.

Rahim Moore will likely be cemented at one safety spot, one of the team’s free agent additions in the offseason.

Hal though, has held off all challengers to this point, including but not limited to veteran Stevie Brown and camp surprise Eddie Pleasant.

Now with one game in his pocket Hal knows what is on the docket this week as far as improving.

“I think I played pretty good out there,” he said. “I’m feeling more comfortable out there.”

He noted he played “rough” and made the tackles he wanted to make. Quickness is his focus this week as he tries to get up an make plays faster for the defense.

Not to worry, he said the coaching staff told him that would come with more reps. And more reps are surely headed Hal’s way should he continue to make his home at safety.

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