The Texans practiced Saturday morning at the Methodist Training Center. Afterward, head coach Gary Kubiak, wide receiver Andre Johnson and other players met with the media. The following is a transcript of their respective interviews.
Head Coach Gary Kubiak RB Chris Henry CB Kareem Jackson WR Andre Johnson
Head coach Gary Kubiak
(on the overall health of the team during training camp) "We had 14 practices in basically nine days. We've been getting after it really good. I knew we needed to hit this morning. We held up very good as a team. We've got 72 healthy bodies right now. That's pretty darn good for the practices that we had. Really, two of our players have been out since day one. I feel really good about where we're at. Now we get to go and start playing somebody."
(on if he's happy with the overall performance of the team during training camp) "I think there's a lot of good things going on. Obviously, you're looking for consistency. I like the way our team worked. I think it's very competitive. Our offense would win a period and then our defense would win a period. That's when you realize things are starting to get balanced."
(on if wearing pads today helped him in evaluating the team better) "You evaluate them all the time. Obviously, when we're in full gear, there is a different level in which they are playing at and banging around. I don't like the idea of tackling live our own guys. As long as we can practice fast, stay up and be physical, then I'll feel good about it."
(on if he has a timeline to work players in at LB Brian Cushing's starting position during practice) "Well, they're working there. It's not like they're not working there. They're not necessarily going with the first group. From that standpoint, I'm not concerned about that right now. I'm more concerned with trying to decide who we think is the best guy to go there. X (LB Xavier Adibi) is going to be out for a while. I think right now it's about continuing the continuity of our defense, then finding that player that we think is going to replace him."
(on LB Danny Clark taking Cushing's spot in the starting lineup in the first four games) "Well, he's played there a bunch before and (linebackers coach) Johnny (Holland) gives him reps out there at that position. So, I don't see that as drastic for him as it is for him stepping (in) and starting at will linebacker. There's so much football left to play and so many things that will probably happen between now and then. So we better just stay focused right now on taking a look at everybody."
(on if there is anything different that he could gauge right now with this team compared to past teams) "There's two things that jump at me right now. I like the way we're running the ball on offense. I like some of the things that we're doing. (offensive line coach) John (Benton) and (offensive coordinator) Rick (Dennison) are doing some of the things that we added. I like the fact that we've got a few backs that make some big plays. The biggest thing, and you'll probably see every day, is to see that the defense is so much improved every day. They're making plays every day. There's no highs and lows. They're very consistent at what they're doing and that's very pleasing."
(on CB Kareem Jackson's run support ability against T Eric Winston) "Yeah, that was kind of tough. We know he'll (CB Kareem Jackson) hit you. We saw him do it at Alabama. If you play for (defensive backs coach) David (Gibbs) and you're a corner, then you're going to tackle. I think he does a great job with all those young kids."
(on if he thinks that the run support from the secondary is strength of the defense) "Well, I think that and I don't think there's a 'me' guy in the group. It's about the group. You can tell that by the way they play and see how they put the pressure on each other. I think that tends to create a very unselfish group that I think has a chance to be very good."
(on TE Garrett Graham) "He's been up and down, but the good thing is he's been here every day. He has not missed a day of offseason workouts. He has not missed a day of training camp. He's getting a ton of reps. He's a tweener as a size-wise guy, but he's done a good job. The fact that he's upright each and every day has him making this league, in my opinion."
RB Chris Henry
(on where he fits in with the running back packages) "I think we're still trying to find exactly where we all fit in as a puzzle, you could say. Week by week we'll find out more and more who fits where. "
(on how beneficial it is that he runs hard on every rep at practice) "It's definitely important, that's the way we all play our game in the backfield, and I think that's why we're going to be a productive backfield. We all push each other, and as hard as one person works, the other person tries to work that much harder."
(on whether or not it motivates him that everyone is talking about RB Steve Slaton, RB Arian Foster and RB Ben Tate) "I don't really even understand 'odd man out.' On the football team, everybody plays their part. That's not even something I think about."
(on whether or not he has to prove the Tennessee Titans wrong) "I don't have to show them anything, I just need to prove to my teammates that I can play football and that I can be a productive running back and a special teams player for this team."
(on the difference between having a full offseason, OTAs, and training camp versus coming in late last year) "I think it's just growth. Every year,you go through another year in the league, you get better as a running back. I've gotten more and more comfortable with every carry that I have gotten, especially over here; they've been so patient with me and worked with me up to this point. That's why I run hard every play, that's why I go all out on every play. "
(on whether he can see a difference in QB Matt Schaub) "Yeah definitely, (QB) Matt (Schaub) is a stand-up guy, and he is able to somewhat control guys in the way he speaks and the way he leads our team. He's definitely a guy that steps up every time. "
CB Kareem Jackson
(on his first week at camp) "I'm just working to get better in a lot of different areas. The heat is kind of wearing on me. I'm still adjusting to the heat. Overall, I think I had a pretty good week, but like I said, I'm just trying to get better."
(on going up against WR Andre Johnson) "It helps me out a whole lot. There's not too many receivers, if there are any receivers like Andre Johnson in the NFL. Going against him, I'm learning different things that receivers do and just what to look for and stuff. It'll help me out a whole lot come game time."
(on going up against WR Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals next week) "It will definitely be a challenge for me. It's getting me ready for the regular season coming out here every day and seeing a receiver like Andre Johnson. It will help me for that game against Larry (Fitzgerald)."
WR Andre Johnson
(on experience with CB Kareem Jackson) "It's been going good. When I see (CB) Kareem (Jackson) walking around, I just go and ask him if he's alright. You can kind of tell that he has a lot of information coming at him. A lot of installs and stuff goes on during training camp, all the offense and all of the defense. For me, being a veteran, I pretty much know the offense, so I don't have to think as much when I'm out there, but he does. I just try to talk to him and keep his spirits up. You can tell his mind is wandering a little bit when you see him walking around the locker room, so I always ask him if he's alright or if he has a question or anything. I talk to him about it and I just let him know I am going to work him every day and I told him he is going to make me better. By us going at each other every day, it's going to make us both better. I'm going to try to do everything I can do to make sure he is ready and be his coach."
(on being a teacher for CB Kareem Jackson) "When I go out there, I am going to try to beat him up every day. That's my approach and the way I approach every other defensive team. I give them everything I've got and they're going to do the same for me. It only makes us all better as a football team. We just go out and compete and when we go inside we talk about some of the things that happened and some of the moves we give them and some of the looks they give us so when we get on the field we can know what to expect."
(on what he wants to accomplish during the first preseason game against Arizona) "I think the biggest thing for our football team is to establish consistency. That's the biggest thing. I think if we do that and get our running game going we'll be fine. I think that's the biggest thing I'll want to see. Just being consistent and making plays."
