Cato June, who enters his seventh year in the league, signed with the Texans to provide depth at linebacker. He has played at both the strongside and weakside positions and says he will line up wherever the Texans need him next season.
Brooke Bentley (Texans TV): What drew you to the Texans?
Cato June: It's very exciting to be a part of something that is up-and-coming. These guys looked very promising last year. For them, it's just about getting over the next hump and getting to the next level and turning into a playoff team. I am very excited to be a part of this growing process.
Brooke Bentley: How have offseason workouts been going for you here?
Cato June: They have been going good. We really have been getting after it. You see guys in here at 12 or 1 o'clock; a lot of time times you don't see that at other places. I've been at other places where guys come in and out, but we are very hungry and ready to get after it and take this team to the next level.
{QUOTE}Brooke Bentley: You have started having meetings with position coaches. How have things been with linebackers coach Johnny Holland?
Cato June: Very good. Johnny is a high-intensity guy. He played the game; he knows the game. He just wants the best out of this group and he's probably going to work us the hardest out of anybody on that field. As linebackers, we are prepared for that. We want that pressure that we have to go out and perform at the highest level of any group.
Brooke Bentley: Defensive coordinator Frank Bush is bringing in a new defensive scheme where he wants the defense to be more aggressive. What do you think of his defensive philosophy?
Cato June: Aggression is good. You want to get after a blitz. You want to be able to attack and not sit back and allow the offenses to dictate what they are going to do. With that aggressive mentality, it allows defenses to do a lot of things. At the same time, we are going to do a lot of things that are very simplistic and we can just go out there and play football. We have a lot of young, athletic guys and we are going to go out there and showcase that talent.
Brooke Bentley: You have played both on the strongside and the weakside. Where do you see yourself fitting into this defense?
Cato June: It will be interesting to see. Like you said, I've played both. Depending on what defensive scheme it is, they will call for different things. I'm prepared to play either side. Whatever the team needs at that given time; hopefully, I'll be able to come in and showcase my talents and go out and just play football like I have been doing my whole career.
Brooke Bentley: You also have a lot of veteran leadership. You have been to a Super Bowl and a Pro Bowl. How does that veteran leadership help guide this linebacking unit?
Cato June: It's all about the knowhow. Going to a Super Bowl and playing 20 games, that's a lot of football. That's a lot of consistency as well. Playing at a high level and going to a Pro Bowl, that's all about playing at a high level over a period of time. I think that's what I bring to this team – the ability to play high-level football. The ability to be able to go out there and make big plays game-changing plays. That's what it's really about when you talk about being a playmaker, being a guy that's going to change a defensive team and a guy that's going to contribute.
Brooke Bentley: You will be playing next to DeMeco Ryans. What do you know about him as a player?
Cato June: He's a great young player. He's got a lot of promise to come. I've watched him over the years; I've watched him since he was a rookie, being in Indianapolis and playing against him. And, of course, I've watched him on film. Like I said, he has a knack for the football. He just makes plays, and that's what it's really all about, going out there, making plays and getting to the football and being a game changer week in and week out.
Brooke Bentley: You, of course, went to the Super Bowl with the Colts. Do you bring any insights on how to beat them?
Cato June: I would like to think so. I think I played against them two years ago in Tampa; you know what they are going to do. It's not about them tricking you or fooling you. That's not the type of offense they have. They definitely are the offense that gets it done. They are going to out-execute you. That's what they look to do. It's really about execution, getting to the ball and disrupting their pattern and then making plays on the football.
