Don DeSimone - Conroe, TX, US: Hi Amobi. I hope your trip to Nigeria will be a blessing to you and the people of Nigeria.Would it be save to say that the defensive line shoot for at least 40 sacks in 2010? How many would you like to get yourself? Thank you for your time.
Amobi Okoye (2:00:44PM):
Yo, it's Amobi Okoye (aka A.O.). Get at me!
Definitely, more than 40 sacks is our goal. For me, whatever I get, I get. I have come to learn in the NFL that it's not all necessarily about sacks. It's about rattling the quarterback.
John - League City, TX, US: What do you think about DeMeco Ryans and Brian Cushing?
Amobi Okoye (2:01:38PM): DeMeco is a leader and Brian is an up-and-coming megastar.
John - League City, TX, US: What more important 3 and outs or turnovers?
Amobi Okoye (2:02:18PM): Turnovers. It gives the offense an opportunity to score quickly.
Chris - san antonio, TX, US: who do you think the Texans will draft?
Amobi Okoye (2:03:16PM): Archie Manning. Just kidding. I'm not sure. I'm confident that the team will make the best decision - like they did with me.
Lisa Carter - Missouri City, TX, TX, US: What area do you plan on working to improve most during the offseason?
Amobi Okoye (2:05:08PM): I am planning to work on my physical pass rush the most. I have the finesse part down. Now it's time to perfect the physical pass rush - like the moves that John Randle and Reggie White perfected.
abraham gonzales - brownsville, TX, US: First of all,congratulations a great season. I have been a loyal fan since this club started.I feel you all were robbed of a playoff spot. Do you feel this year can be THE YEAR for houston?
Amobi Okoye (2:06:58PM): 20-10. 20-10. 20-10. That's all I've got to say.
jacoby jones - houston, TX, US: tell mobi stop eatting those cookies...we gota go back on the 29th of dis month...sincerely...your teammate..lol
Amobi Okoye (2:10:08PM): I'm on that Jacoby diet. Don't worry, I've been working out since the Pro Bowl. I'll see you on the 29th. How about you take those cookies and shove them down your throat because you need them to get your weight up:)
Nate P. - Wolcott, NY, US: As a 3 tech under tackle your job is mainly to get to the quarterback. Why was your sack production so low this year? Could it be Frank Bush's scheme of using all small linemen? In my opinion there needs to be a larger nose tackle to take a double team to make your job easier. Perhaps like a Shaun Rogers type. Thoughts???
Amobi Okoye (2:11:45PM): My thoughts are that I was in a scheme for two years, so it's going to take a year (which I just finished) to let that old scheme evaporate. Frank's scheme is perfect and please be patient. You won't be disappointed this year. 20-10. 20-10. 20-10.
Josiah Reeves - Huntsville, TN, US: HI! I am from Liberia Africa. My family I have now, are here in Tennesse, but my Dad is from Houston! So we all love the TEXANS. Being from Africa, I have taken a great interest in you. I understand you just got back from your country in Africa - how do you compare America to Nigeria? Have you ever been to Liberia? God bless, Josiah
Amobi Okoye (2:15:15PM): I haven't gone home yet. I leave next week and I'm very excited. I was given an opportunity to leave and better myself here in the States, and I love it here. So I love both countries. I haven't been to Liberia, but I plan on going on one of my CATE (Changing Africa Through Education) trips one of these years.
Roger - Louisville, KY, US: 'Mobi, we miss you up here!! My question, how has playing on the D-Line with Super Mario been impactful on your game so far, positive or negative?
Amobi Okoye (2:17:14PM): Every one of my teammates on the defensive line have been influential in my progress as a professional athlete, even the ones who were cut and let go. At this level, you have to absorb as much as you can from each individual and let go of what you know you won't use. So I have accumulated a lot from all my teammates.
Doug - Clear Lake City, TX, US: What is something that us Americans take for granted that the people of Nigeria struggle with? How often do you talk with Lebron James? Good luck this year.
Amobi Okoye (2:20:28PM):
To answer the first question, a lot of people in Nigeria don't have electricity on a 24-hour basis. That would be the biggest difference.
I'm quite busy in my schedule, and LeBron is about 10x busier. But we do text once in a blue moon and chat when I go to Cleveland or he comes to Houston to play.
Josiah Reeves - Huntsville, TN, US: Wow! I didn't think I would get through and really get an answer from you! This is so cool! Question: What about the Dunta Robinson free agency situation? Can we possibly keep him? ANd if he goes, how can he be replaced? God bless, Josiah
Amobi Okoye (2:23:04PM): I would love to keep Dunta because he's way more than a teammate. But in this crazy business, you have to move on despite all situations. If we do lose him, we have other cornerbacks that will step up collectively to fill his shoes. But I hope we don't lose him.
Steve P sec114 Row A - Cypress, TX, US: Amobi, how does it make you feel when you hear and see all the sports writers in print and on the radio saying that the Texans need interior D-line help? That some people call you a bust already. I'm not one of those fans. I understand your 22 going to be 23 this summer and there are some d-line that are coming out in this draft are just a year younger than you but you have 3 years of the NFL under your belt. This is your break out year!!
Amobi Okoye (2:25:38PM): Well, you're going to get all sorts of criticism no matter what you do. A great friend and mentor of mine once told me it's not all about the situation, it's how you respond to it. I see myself as a three-year veteran who still has a lot to gain and learn. It's a crazy league and you just have to adapt.
Justin - Robstown, TX, US: Amobi, Looking foward to great thing's next season!!!!!! How would u feel about adding a player like L.T or Thomas jones to the team to add to he running game. Also my little brother is a d-Lineman as well what and has high expectation's going in to his next high school season what advice would you give him going into next season?
Amobi Okoye (2:28:30PM): For one, I think my boy Steve Slaton just had a rough year, especially with his injuries. He's going to bounce back in 2010 and return to the phenomenal running back that he is.
Tell your brother to watch the ball and get off on the snap. In high school, that's the first and foremost thing that will get you attention - showing people that you have the get-off.
John - League City, TX, US: Mobi Mobi Mobi, Could you please explain all the different types of DTs? There are all kinds of techniques and what not so I'm confused. Thanks so much man. Love what you guys did against the run last year! Keep it up!
Amobi Okoye (2:32:00PM):
First of all, there are two types of defenses - a 4-3 and a 3-4. The defensive tackles in the 3-4 are different than the defensive tackles in a 4-3. A 3-4 defensive tackle is normally bigger and slower, whereas a 4-3 defensive tackle is quicker and (the majority of the time) smaller. A 3-technique defensive tackle faces a guard and a tackle most of the time. A 1-technique defensive tackle faces the center and the other guard most of the time. I'm a 3-technique.
mike - McAllen, TX, US: What approach are you taking this year to get to the QB a little more? Also how much weight have you lost since joining the Texans? you look like you've dropped some pounds.
Amobi Okoye (2:36:19PM): Since joining the Texans, my weight has fluctuated. The most I've weighed is 312 pounds. My lowest playing weight was 290 pounds. I think I play the best at 290 pounds because I feel quicker. To get to the QB more, I'm training my brain to do things on the field that it doesn't want to do. As a defensive lineman, your body and mind have to make awkward moves and decisions. For example, sometimes you have to move your right arm at the same time as your right leg, which is unnatural.
Evan - small town, TX, US: Hey Amobi, hows the off-season going? I was wondering what kind of workouts you do that help you become a better DT?
Amobi Okoye (2:38:34PM):
Right now, there is so much time before the actual regular season starts, so in the first two months of the offseason you kind of want to focus on any lingering injury issues you had. As a pro athlete, you have to treat your body like a corporation.
Ross Kelsey - Dickinson, TX, US: Amobi, first off let me congratulate you on all of your success so far in life. Explain the difficulty of being the youngest player ever drafted in NFL history. Thanks for your time and best of luck in 2010.
Amobi Okoye (2:42:07PM):
There wasn't much difficulty because I didn't see anything extraordinary in what I was doing at the time. I got drafted. I've always felt that I was on track time-wise since I was little, because I've always been around people way older than me. The hardest thing was just accepting that the majority of my teammates were married with kids and had families of their own. That was surprising to me when I came in.
Josiah Reeves - Huntsville, TN, US: My Dad now is a Pastor, and we were wondering about C.A.T.E. Is this your own project? How can someone help? God bless, Josiah
Amobi Okoye (2:46:35PM):
C.A.T.E. is an idea I thought about on my way to Arizona in 2008 for the Super Bowl. I was already organizing a trip to Africa with my friends - Adewale Ogunleye, Osi Umenyiora and Israel Idonije - to sponsor a youth soccer group with Nike equipment. Adewale was building water wells and bore holes in his village. We started a scholarship fund called C.A.T.E. that all four of us and other athletes we knew could donate to. It helps the children of Africa. You can find out more information on my Foundation's website: www.AmobiOkoyeFoundation.org.
Joey Bald - Harlingen, TX, US: Mobi, i think the Texans linebacking core is one of the most underated in the league what sets them apart from other linebackers in the NFL?
Amobi Okoye (2:49:09PM):
I agree with you. They are very underrated. As a teammate, when you see those guys play with as much heart as they do, you would expect them to get more respect - especially Zac Diles. But I think that's what separates them - their heart. I can only speak on this from being a teammate.
Jeremy Dajao - Stafford, TX, US: Dear Amobi, Since I've been seeing a lot of this on TV lately from many athletes I was wondering what kind of music do you put on your Ipod? Is it one genre or do you like a little bit or everything. Sincerely Jeremy Dajao (Stafford TX)
Amobi Okoye (2:51:43PM): Quite honestly, since I got drafted in 2007, I have started to diversify my musical tastes. Right now, I have everything on my iPod from rap to R&B to rock to techno and even country music. I like Carrie Underwood and I know a bunch of other country songs from my teammates and friends.
James Spencer - Houston, TX, US: What do you feel was your wakest aspect of last season
Amobi Okoye (2:54:16PM):
This is my last question for today. I'm going to try to do one of these live chats while I'm in Nigeria, so stay tuned.
I feel my weakest aspect was my physical pass rush - or rather, mixing it up between my physical pass rush moves and my edge rushing.
