How ‘hard-nosed’ Texans corner Kamari Lassiter, ‘The Locksmith,’ put Chargers in deep freeze with ‘cold’ performance

HOUSTON – Shadowing imposing Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnson stride for stride, Texans standout rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter mirrored his deep route while reading the eyes of quarterback Justin Herbert.

And Lassiter, known as “The Locksmith,” for his ability to erase receivers as a viable option with his sticky coverage skills, delivered an acrobatic, game-changing leaping interception, one of four interceptions uncorked by Herbert, during the Texans’ 31-12 blowout victory over the Chargers in an AFC wild-card round playoff victory. He joined former NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt as the only two rookies in franchise history to intercept a pass in a playoff game.

Not only did Lassiter not allow a catch on two targets in his direction, an incompletion to go with the interception at NRG Stadium, but he also had a perfect, jolting form tackle on Chargers running back Derius Davis on a swing pass.

And the performance, which kept the game close when the Chargers opened up a 6-0 lead as he picked off Herbert at the Texans’ 10-yard line, included a zero passer rating for Herbert throwing in his direction. And it impressed Texans All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., who had a 93.6 grade from Pro Football Focus analytics as he intercepted Herbert twice for his sixth and seventh picks of the season.

“Cold,” Stingley said of the second-round draft pick’s game “I don’t even think he didn’t give up a catch? Nothing, nothing. He different. He is different. I’m proud of him.”

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Lassiter has recorded 58 tackles, 10 passes defensed and one safety, allowing 32 completions on 73 targets for 424 yards and four touchdowns for an opposing quarterback rating of 64.0 while lining up opposite Pro Bowl cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.

“Kamari has been consistent,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He’s a tough, hard-nosed player, old school. He’s a corner who loves to play physical, which is rare these days. Kamari likes to tackle, and he brings a different intensity out on the perimeter than most corners, because of his physicality, but also just his smarts intelligence and his playmaking ability.”

Lassiter has displayed a competitive mettle and ability to do it all as a physical corner who’s a willing and capable tackler with the cover skills to match.

After a stellar career for a national championship squad with the Georgia Bulldogs, Lassiter has made an immediate impact on the Texans’ defense.

“I feel like I was built for it since I was young,” Lassiter said. “There’s not much I haven’t seen. I play with the passion I’ve always had and play for the people who love me and even the people who hate me. Everything cranks up in the playoffs. It’s all on the line. It’s win or go home.”

Signed to a four-year, $9.014 million contract that included a $3.376 million signing bonus, Lassiter yielded only 136 passing yards and no touchdowns on 15 receptions off 37 targets in his final collegiate season to rank first in the NCAA among cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus analytics.

Lassiter has a special silver chain with an engraved lock with ‘K3′ stenciled in the middle.

“I call myself The Locksmith,’” Lassiter said. “I pride myself on having stuff on lock. I really wanted to get a lock with the name ‘Locksmith’ on there.”

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Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com