Anatomy of an interception: Texans CB Tremon Smith talks about interception against the Packers

Houston Texans cornerback Tremon Smith closed out the game with an interception with 3:21 to go in the fourth quarter of the 26-7 preseason win over the Green Bay Packers Aug. 14 at Lambeau Field.

The interception was the third takeaway the Texans defense procured on the evening. Even though it was an exhibition game, it was a decent confidence boost for a unit that gathered only nine last year amid a 16-game season.

“That first game was real fun,” Smith said. “That’s what we’ve been waiting all comp to do is go out and compete against everybody else. Didn’t get tired of lining up against our receivers but it was fun seeing somebody else.”

Smith had made a mental note of the Packers’ route concepts throughout the game and decided to take a chance.

Said Smith: “On that interception, I felt the routes — was getting digs and overs the whole game and I kept that in the back of my mind and seen him take off and beat him to the spot.”

Tremon Smith’s interception pic.twitter.com/Mm8i8fyK5y

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Safety Justin Reid was pleased to see the takeaway, but was a little greedy and wished that Smith could have returned the interception for a touchdown.

“Oh, man, I wish he took that one to the crib, that one-to-one return he had, he was one player away from taking that to the house,” said Reid. “I thought his interception was excellent.”

Two plays prior, Smith had defensive pass interference called against him, which Reid didn’t think Smith had committed.

“The PI (pass interference) call that he had on him I didn’t think was a PI, maybe I’m biased but I thought it was great coverage,” said Reid. “He’s doing a great job. His man coverage is really good.”

Smith is part of a cornerback group that also includes Bradley Roby, Vernon Hargreaves, Cornell Armstrong, Terrance Mitchell, Desmond King, and Tavierre Thomas.