Lord tries to improve as safety in NFL

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Jammal Lord is learning the West Coast offense, the East Coast offense and all other kinds of offense in between.

Although he ran Nebraska's option-multiple set offense the past four years, including the last two as the starting quarterback, Lord knows more about offense now than he ever did.

"I have to know everything about all the offenses," said Lord, now a safety with the Houston Texans. "It helps to have played quarterback so you know something about what the defense is doing. But I am really concentrating on the techniques of playing defense almost every hour of every day that I can."

There is no standing still in the NFL.

Houston Texans coach Dom Capers believes either you are moving forward or moving back.

He said that Lord is of the forward category.

The surprise sixth-round draft pick has gone from "Whaaat?" to "What if?" after spring and summer workouts and two preseason games with the Texans. Lord has two tackles on the special teams and an interception. He's been playing extensively in the third and fourth quarters and all the special teams for Houston.

"It's a living and it's a business," Lord said. "It's a lot like football at Nebraska for the business part. But I'm getting money here and that's a difference."

Lord signed for $75,000 and a possible three-year contract worth more than $900,000. Of course, to get the $900,000-plus he has to make the team.

As Lord says, "Hit or Miss?"

Texans coaches say Lord is a project since he does not have much experience in the secondary. He plays alongside other third-stringers and tries to add to his knowledge and improve his techniques daily.

"It is a lot more fun to hit people than to be hit and my tackling abilities are not bad," Lord said. "I can't say I'm there but I am getting better every day."

Lord declined to talk about Nebraska football of the recent past or of its immediate future.

"I've talked with a couple of guys back there and they seem to be enjoying themselves," Lord said. "That's good. I'm gone. I don't have the faintest idea of what's going on there. I'm pretty busy with my life right now."

Lord always has been busy. He started at quarterback in 27 consecutive games. He was the quarterback for the 7-7 team in 2002 and the 10-3 team last season.

He was booed, cheered, criticized, blamed, defended, blasted and boasted as much, if not more, than any Nebraska quarterback in recent history.

Lord struggled at times as the Husker quarterback, but there were reasons beyond his control.

Tommie Frazier, the most popular Husker quarterback ever, had great offensive lines at Nebraska and a backfield that included Ahman Green, Lawrence Phillips, Damon Benning and Joel Makovicka, not to mention the best defenses in Nebraska history to get him the ball.

In 1996, Scott Frost suffered through the same kind of fan response Lord received. But he bounced back to lead Nebraska to a national title in 1997. In the backfield were Green, Correll Buckhalter and Makovicka. Matt Davison, Bobby Newcombe, Sheldon Jackson, Kenny Cheatham and Shevin Wiggins were his main receivers. The offensive line was strong and there was a great defense of Grant Wistrom, Jason Peter, Mike Brown, Ralph Brown and Terrell Farley, and the inspiration of playing for Tom Osborne's last team.

Eric Crouch didn't win a national title, but played in one and won the Heisman Trophy. He had the benefit of a pretty good offensive line, strong backs and a solid defense.

In two years, Lord had one offensive lineman make all-Big 12 helping protect him. No all-conference backs and the defense set records for big losses. Lord started for two teams that produced a total of eight NFL draft picks - one second-round pick, two fourth-round picks, two sixth-round picks and four seventh-round picks - the worst back-to-back pro drafts for Nebraska since 1969-1970.

"I don't worry about college," Lord said. "I did my best. I am trying to do my best here in Houston. If I make it, I'll be here with a couple of other Nebraska guys and we can talk about old times some other time."

The Texan roster includes sixth-year kicker Kris Brown, 10-year offensive lineman Zach Wiegert, second-year defensive tackle Jeremy Slechta and sixth-year linebacker Jay Foreman. All four of those former Huskers are expected to make the team this fall.

The question for Lord remains: "Hit or Miss?"

Reach Ken Hambleton at 473-7313 or khambleton@;journalstar.com.