Defensive Exorcism

The end of the Kareem Jackson nightmare? Struggling starter gets Wally Pipped byJason Allen

Jason Allen has plucked a starting spot out of Kareem Jackson's hands.
Kareem Jackson

Jason Allen didn't just separate Hines Ward from the football on a crucial third-down play against the Steelers last week. He may have separated the Houston Texans from the long-running Kareem Jackson nightmare.

Allen's taken Jackson's starting job — the one Texans' fans often wondered how the first-round draft pick draft held onto. For the second straight week, Allen started in place of Jackson Sunday and this time Jackson was healthy and active for the game. Making what Texans coach Gary Kubiak called the biggest play of the game, in a game that Texans owner Bob McNair painted in terms of being the biggest in franchise history, can do that for you.

In truth though, it wasn't just Allen's man-from-ball parting hit on third down and his interception to end the Steelers' last chance that vaulted him over Jackson on the depth chart. Allen played Jackson to a virtual standstill throughout the preseason and easily could have won the starting job then.

J ackson may not have had one of the worst rookie seasons in NFL history. That's probably a little much. But it sure felt that way to Texans' fans.

Not that the former wavier claim (the Dolphins cut Allen last season) is celebrating.

"We're a family back there in the secondary," Allen told CultureMap after the Steelers game. "When I'm in there, Kareem's pulling for me and when Kareem's in there, I'm pulling for him. And a lot of times we'll be out there together. We only wish the best for each other.

"We're a unit. It's about what we do as a defense. That's what counts."

Still, not having Jackson starting in Wade Phillips' revamped defense carries some symbolic value for a unit that's crafting a new identity.

Jackson may not have had one of the worst rookie seasons in NFL history. That's probably a little much.

But it sure felt that way to Texans' fans.

Seeing No. 25 get beat, burned and blistered in every way possible served as one of the enduring images of a 6-10 nightmare. Now, he won't be back there quite as much. That doesn't mean that the Texans will not get burned. Allen was beat badly on a flea flicker play early in the first quarter Sunday. But Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell overthrew the wide-open receiver by 10 yards.

Maybe, Houston's luck is changing.

For once Oakland pulled within 7-6 in the second quarter, despite no semblance of offense whatsoever, Allen picked off a long Campbell pass for Jacoby Ford, completely flipping the game's momentum. The Texans scored on their very next play — a 56-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Joel Dreessen — to go up 14-6.

"Jason's a fighter," said Johnathan Joseph, the Texans' $50 million free-agent cornerback, a talent that changes a lot. "He's going to compete. He's been doing that since the first day of training camp."

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rock on

Native Houstonian brings Austin-based climbing gym to the East End

Photo courtesy of Crux Climbing Center

One of the many climbing walls at Crux.

Crux Climbing Center, one of Austin's best indoor bouldering and climbing gyms, opened its first Houston location in September and is hosting a grand opening celebration this weekend.

"As a native Houstonian, bringing Crux to the Bayou City has always been a part of the long-term vision," said native Houstonian, CEO, and co-founder Kevin Goradia. "Crux is a community-oriented climbing gym, and our decision to open our first out-of-market location at The Plant was largely inspired by Concept Neighborhood’s plans to create a walkable neighborhood that truly integrates the local community.”

Goradia — the son of Houston petrochemical billionaire Vijay Goradia — co-founded the first Crux in South Austin in 2016 after being dissatisfied with the offerings at other climbing gyms. Crux has almost everything a climber could want, including bouldering, training boards, a spray wall, strength training, fitness and yoga classes, saunas, locker rooms, a Kids Cave, lounge space and a retail shop.

The gym flourished in the post-COVID physical activity boom as more people looked for both exercise and social interaction following the lockdowns. The community aspect of Crux is very important to Goradia. When he was diagnosed with cancer in January 2023, he credits the support he had through the climbing scene in Austin as a major factor in his eventual recovery.

Now, he's bringing that to Houston, a city where indoor-climbing is booming. The exceptional flat city has few natural climbing spots, which would be arduous even if they existed thanks to the heat. Instead, the last twenty years have seen an explosion of massive, indoor facilities like inSPIRE, Momentum, and now Crux.

The grand opening event will take place at the 21,000-square-foot gym space located at The Plant (3100 Canal St.) on Saturday, October 10 from 2-8 pm. This is more than just a few grab bags and a chance to do some climbing. Native Houstonian, CEO, and co-founder, Kevin Goradia is pulling out all the stops with a full vendor fair offering art, jewelry, and vintage items.

The climbing will be a great way to work off the calories from some of the food partners. Cheaters Creamery and Sinfull Bakery will both be handing out treats, and Miguelitos Grill will be serving fresh-off-the-grill quesadillas that can be washed down with beer from St. Arnold's Brewery for the 21-and-up crowd. There will even be free tattoos from 13 Goats.

And, of course, there will be climbing. Throughout the event Crux is offering BOGO deals and raffles. The event itself is free, so this is a great opportunity to get a look at what made Crux stand out in Austin.