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Head Coach Bill O'Brien** RB Arian Foster
Head Coach Bill O'Brien
(on the status of WR Andre Johnson) "Day-to-day. No, I would say that he's questionable for the game."
(on the status of OLB Whitney Mercilus) "Whitney I would say will probably not play in the game."
(on the status of TE Garrett Graham) "Probably not play in the game."
(on what he learned in his first matchup with Chuck Pagano) "You know, I do think that in some ways the teams are different than they were back in October, but they're definitely, obviously, some things that we can take from that game. Offensively, Indianapolis' offense plays at a very good tempo. We've got to be ready for that tempo. Defensively, when we look at their defense, we have to realize that they're a fast, tough, athletic defense and they're a defense that brings pressure. We've got to be ready for that pressure. Special teams wise, we've got to play a lot better. We've got to be more alert. Indianapolis is an aggressive special teams unit. We have to be a lot more on top of our game in this game."
(on the Colts tight ends causing problems) "I think (Coby) Fleener had—I think he was targeted like 10 times against Cleveland. You're right. I mean, Fleener has done a really good job as a blocker and obviously in the passing game, so that's a big matchup. They've got good players at all the positions, so it's not like you can just focus on one guy. Of course, T.Y. Hilton is one of the best receivers we have gone against, but at the same time, you know obviously they've got Reggie Wayne, (Donte) Moncrief, backs in the back that are playing well for them, and Fleener. Those type of guys. It's a big challenge for our defense."
(on if Andre Johnson is still in concussion protocol) "Yes."
(on if that means Andre Johnson hasn't cleared concussion protocol yet) "That's right. That's right."
(on if OLB John Simon will start instead of Whitney Mercilus) "It depends on what package we would start in, but John Simon will play a lot in this football game."
(on OLB John Simon's transition into running a 3-4 defense after running a 4-3 in college) "That's part of scouting. When we went and we looked at John, he was in Baltimore at the time. We had experience playing against him when I was at Penn State. You're right, he was a 4-3 defensive end, but we felt like, especially with Mike Vrabel's knowledge of him, that we had a guy there that was athletic enough, smart enough, and instinctive enough to go out there and learn how to play outside backer because sometimes he will put his hand on the ground in a four down type front. Other times he will play the SAM or the outside backer spot, so we felt like he was a guy that could make that transition. It's not always the easiest transition, but he had done it a little bit in Baltimore, so we felt like we had a guy who could do that."
(on if his team has been extra energized this week) "There's been good energy this week. I mean, these guys understand the importance of the game. You know, obviously a division rival and a very good football team. There's been a lot of good energy out there. I think we've practiced pretty well. There are some things we need to clean up from today: red zone, third down, first and second down. But I think overall these guys have been flying around at practice, which is good to see."
RB Arian Foster
(on the significance of the game and what it would mean to win in Indianapolis for the first time ever) "(It's a) very important game. It's a must win game for us. The rest of them are."
(on having said that he wants to win a game in Indianapolis) "I mean, yeah. It's like it's kind of hanging over our heads, those of us who have been here for a while. Even when we were dominating the division, we still couldn't get it done over there. We just feel like it's one of those things you've got to get it done. You've got to get the monkey off your back."
(on helping WR Andre Johnson get his first win in Indianapolis) "You don't have to say it like that, but yeah man it would be–there are a lot of things I want to help Andre do, but, you know, one game at a time."
(on if he played one or two plays against Indianapolis) "Two."
(on if that's why he was charged with having played in that game) "Yeah."
(on the Texans trying to maintain playoff hopes) "It's a must-win game, so you've got to win it."
(on the keys against the Colts defense) "They like to play man-to-man a lot, so it's obviously beating man-to-man. They switch it up, but it's sustaining drives. You've got to keep their offense off the field. That's how you got to beat any team with like a high octane offense and a quarterback that's pretty damn good. You've got to keep him off the field. Anytime we've had success against any kind of quarterback like that, it's because, obviously, our defense plays well but your offense has to help them with keeping them off the field."
