*Watch **Texans TV* on HoustonTexans.com today at 2:30 p.m. CT to watch the introductory press conference with DE J.J. Watt.*
Texans first-round draft pick J.J. Watt spoke to the Houston media via conference call after he was drafted at No. 11 overall.
Texans DE J.J. Watt(on his initial thoughts of selection by Texans) "It's a great day to be a Texan. I can't wait to get down to Houston and start getting to work."
(on whether he had any inclination that the Texans were going to pick him) "I didn't know exactly. I knew it was one of the teams that might pick me. At the end of the day, I was waiting for a phone call and was extremely excited when it came from Houston."
(on the Texans' defense) "I know (DE) Mario Williams is a great defensive end. I can't wait to play on the same defensive line as him because he makes everyone around him look good. Hopefully I am there to take some blocks off him, as well. (Defensive coordinator) Wade Phillips has a great defense. I am ready to get to work."
(on meetings with defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and head coach Gary Kubiak) "They are great coaches. They want guys who are going to work hard and give them everything they have. I really like that they push their guys to the limit and I am going to give them 100%."
(on his abilities as a transitional offensive player aiding the Texans' defense) "I have good athleticism. When you have a guy like (DE) Mario Williams on the other side, he's a great athlete as well. I am excited to come in, learn the defensive, and give them everything I got."
(on his work ethic) "I got that from my parents and coaches growing up. One thing my parents always told me, 'If you are going to do something, do it 100%.' That is what I have tried to do on the football field. I would be disrespecting the game if I didn't give it 100% all the time. That's what the Texans are going to get, a guy that comes to work every single day and give them everything I got."
(on moving inside in certain situations) "That's fine by me. I'm more than happy to move inside in certain situations. I feel very comfortable playing anywhere along the defensive line. The goal is to sack (Indianapolis QB) Peyton Manning; that's what everyone around here is saying. That's my job."
(on his ability to deflect passes) "That is something I learned over my career. I was never really taught about it. I figured it's one great way to limit the QB's throwing range is to put your hands up. It's something I have tried to work in over my career and it's worked great for me."
(on expectations to perform as a first-round selection) "I think it's expected to be a first-round draft pick that you come in and perform. No one has higher expectations for me than I do. I am going to come in and give it everything I have, and at the end of the day, I hope it helps the team win football games because, that is what it's all about."
(on speaking with Texans TEs Owen Daniels and Garrett Graham) "I have talked to them a little bit. I talked to Garrett a couple weeks ago and they love it down there. They say nothing but great things about the Houston area and the Texans' fans. I can't wait to experience it for myself."
(on whether he expected to be drafted by the Texans) "I really didn't. It's been a crazy process. I had no idea where I would end up in the draft. I was taking it as it comes but I'm extremely excited to be a Texan."
(on hoping to sack the league's premier quarterbacks) "That's definitely the goal of a defensive end is to sack quarterbacks. To me it doesn't matter what number or jersey they are wearing, I want to get them all. That should be the mentality of all defensive ends - that you want to sack every quarterback you play. That is the goal."
(on his biggest strength) "My biggest strength is my work ethic. I am going to put a ton of time in the film room, weight room, and on the field. Like I said, I am going to give you every single thing I have, every single play, and at the end of the day we're going to win football games because of it."
(on Big Ten football) "The thing about the Big Ten is that we play smash mouth football. We run it down your throat every play. It makes you tougher as a player, and in practice every single day I saw the best offensive line in the country in college. It's definitely helped prepare me as a player."
(on envisioning the NFL while in community college) "That was always the goal and the dream. I worked every single day towards it, but the feeling I had today I could have never imagined. It's an unbelievable feeling and words can't express how I feel."
