Houston Texans Transcripts
Head Coach Gary Kubiak
Organized Team Activity Session #1 May 20, 2013
(Transcribed by Zac Emmons and Charles Hampton)
Head Coach Gary Kubiak
WR Andre Johnson
OLB Brooks Reed
QB Matt Schaub
DE J.J. Watt
Head Coach Gary Kubiak
(on the status of OLB Brooks Reed) Hes fine. Brooks has been fine for two-and-a-half, three months, so hes doing good.
(on the status of ILB Darryl Sharpton) Sharptons good. Hes back to work today. Were kind of going to be a little protective with him, keep him out of some special teams drills and stuff, but hes back to work. (CB) Brice (McCain) is back to work on kind of a temporary basis. Other than that, those other guys are still out. Yall know who they are, Cush (ILB Brian Cushing) and those guys.
(on the status of ILB Brian Cushing) Hes fine. Hes doing great. Hell be ready to go. Our goal has been training camp the whole time. If it was up to Cush, hed be out here today, but weve got to do it right.
(on the status of S Ed Reed) Hes doing really well. The expectations are for him to leave Colorado at some point this week, from a rehab standpoint, but yeah, its going good.
(on how he plans to handle the roster and depth chart at inside linebacker) I think the most important thing right now is that we get these young guys in position to rep. (OLB) Brooks (Reed) is repping inside right now, so that lets (OLB) Sam (Montgomery) and (OLB) Trevardo (Williams) rep with the first and second groups and (OLB Bryan) Braman rep with the first group, so I think right the key is that we just get them all going. We can settle them down. Brooks can always move, but we wanted to make sure these young guys stayed in one spot so we could really evaluate them.
(on whether OLB Brooks Reed and ILB Darryl Sharpton are practicing at the same inside linebacker position) Theyre opposite inside, as of today. Its going to change from day to day, but we know that Brooks can line up outside and play tomorrow if we opened the season, so were very concerned about getting him his reps inside from that standpoint.
(on OLB Brooks Reed) Hes fine. Hes a really sharp player, and hes got a bunch of it from phase two of the (offseason) program, he got a bunch of reps in there, so we just think its best that if hes going to get a ton of reps in the OTAs (Organized Team Activities), so to speak, its better off for him getting them somewhere he hasnt played, because we always know he can go back.
(on the importance of having QB Matt Schaub during Organized Team Activities this year after not having him in 2012) I nearly forgot about last year, that he had missed the whole thing. Hes got a good season under his belt totally healthy, and obviously he comes back out here, hes had a good offseason. Hes getting pushed by (QB) T.J. (Yates) and (QB) Case (Keenum), and thats a good thing. Having him work full-time with the team, thats important. There are going to be certain guys that are going to get some breaks; youre going to see me sit some older guys as we go through this thing, but its good to have him back full-speed.
(on the importance of having QB Matt Schaub throwing to the young receivers on the team) Well, first off for the young buck, for (WR) DeAndre (Hopkins), we put him with the first group. Thats tough duty, but what happens is hes not only getting coached by us; hes getting coached by Matt in the huddle, hes getting coached by (WR) Andre (Johnson) in the huddle, so thats the best thing for a young player like that. Put him in an environment where hes getting help from players as well as coaches, so its been a step in the right direction.
(on how WR DeAndre Hopkins looked in his first practice with the full team) I thought he was fine. I think first off he was better, mentally. Hes been through it a couple times, and just the speed of these guys like today, they just watch how our guys work and how fast they practice, how they talk, how theyre so much into what theyre doing. So its a big shock for these young guys, but the key is for the next 10 days to get them all comfortable with their teammates and what were doing so that they can compete come summertime.
(on what steps they have taken to improve the teams special teams units) Well, we got (Special Teams Coordinator) Joe (Marciano) some help, which I think was important. In this business, it seems like theres a coach and an assistant for every dang position nowadays, and Joes been doing it by himself for a long, long time. So we had an opportunity to get Lig (Assistant Special Teams Coach Bob Ligashesky) in here and help Joe out, so I think thats a big plus. Obviously, we think our teams getting more athletic with some of these young guys that can run, so any time you get faster as a football team or special teams, you get better.
(on the progress of the rookie defensive linemen on the team) (NT Chris) Jones is doing fine. He struggled a little bit that weekend that we got together. It was a little bit different for him being in a 3-4 type situation and us playing him in a couple of different spots. He looked a little better to me today. (DE) Delano (Johnson), Im thinking of him being a young player, hes been very impressive this offseason. There will be plenty of reps to go around; Ill rest (DE) Antonio (Smith) some, (DE) J.J. (Watt) some throughout this course, and weve got plenty to look at.
(on the rookie offensive linemen) First off, the number three (T Brennan Williams) is a little behind. Hes got a little issue with his knee. Were trying to get him healthy and get his physical conditioning up with the rest of the team. Quiz (T David Quessenberry) is really very impressive right now. Hes smart, played all over the place in (rookie) mini-camp and handled it. Hes going to get a ton of reps at right tackle now with (RT Derek) Newton and the Williams situation.
(on the status WR DeVier Posey) Hes doing good. Hes doing really good. I think hes ahead of schedule, whatever that schedule is. I think the big key to him will be when we go to (training) camp, is he a PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) guy or is he somebody that looks like hes going to be ready early in the season. I dont know. Right now hes doing good, though.
(on what are realistic expectations for WR DeVier Posey at this point) I dont really know. I know his goal is to make it hard on us to put him on PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) once camp starts, so thats a good thing. Hes working hard.
(on if windy conditions are the best challenge he can give to punt returners) You must have been watching. It wasnt very good today. Its tough, and Lech (P Shane Lechler) kicks a tough ball to catch, especially down there inside the 50 where he was kicking, so well keep working a lot of people, but today was about as tough as it gets.
WR Andre Johnson
(on his thoughts on WR DeAndre Hopkins after his first practice) He did good. You could kind of tell that hes thinking a lot when hes playing, but thats part of being a rookie. Hes picking up everything pretty well. He went and made some plays today and thats a good thing. I think day-by-day, hell continue to get better and better.
(on if he is looking forward to playing with WR DeAndre Hopkins) Definitely. We have a lot of talent at the wide receiver position. All of the young guys are very talented. I think theyre going to help us out a whole lot.
(on if he provided any advice to WR DeAndre Hopkins today) Well go in and watch the practice and stuff. Ill talk to him from there. He sits next to me in the meeting room. Ill tell him what I see.
(on how he felt to be back on the field for Organized Team Activities) I wasnt really looking forward to it, but football is back. It just seems like the offseason goes by so fast and then youre right back at it. It was a lot of fun and it was great to be back out here.
(on having QB Matt Schaub on the field for Organized Team Activities compared to a season ago) Its great to have everyone healthy. I couldnt tell you the last time I did OTAs, so Im happy just to be back out here with my teammates and everything is feeling good.
OLB Brooks Reed
(on whether he is moving to inside linebacker) Im not 100 percent switching positions, but Im trying to learn another position. Its coming along. Ive been in the playbook a lot, picking up little things. Cush (ILB Brian Cushing) played the position, so Im always asking him things, but Ill get the hang of it.
(on what he picked up when he played inside linebacker briefly in 2012) Just to be patient. As the SAM (strongside) linebacker when I was playing the first couple of years, youre full-tilt, youre going, but in the middle positions youve got to be more patient because youve got to shuffle in between players more.
(on whether there is more thinking involved playing on the inside) A little bit. Your eyes have got to be better, and that just takes discipline and repetition.
(on how ILB Darryl Sharpton looked in practice) He was good. By the end of the year, everyone is beat up. He knows what to do, hes a smart guy, and obviously physical, so hell do a great job.
(on how he feels about playing inside linebacker) I like it, and I hope they keep me there, but it doesnt really matter where they put me at SAM (strongside) or middle Ill do both to the best of my ability.
(on whether the coaches have told him whether he will be playing inside or outside) Be prepared for either way, and it all kind of depends on what these new draftees do, so well see. Its just a matter of time.
(on whether he can make it a moot point by playing great at inside linebacker) I expect myself to be the best out there, but at the end of the day its their decision to keep the best 11 on the field.
QB Matt Schaub
(on working with rookie WR DeAndre Hopkins) Its great. Hes been out here now since rookie minicamp for a week now, so just a great attitude, great work ethic. Hes just absorbing the whole offense. Hes getting thrown in there with us in the first group, and you can just see the talent and the ability that he brings to the table, so were definitely excited and its been good to start working with him.
(on how much WR DeAndre Hopkins can help the offense) Hes such a dynamic player and the run after the catch, the ability to go up and get the ball; hes just going to bring an added dimension to our offense.
(on taking motivation from the way the 2012 season ended) Whenever youre not the last team standing at the end of the day, thats motivation to get back at what youve been doing and start working toward next season. Last year is in the past, and this is the time to get better individually and as a group, and if we all get better by a little bit, well be right where we want to.
(on the offense becoming more dynamic as young players begin to step up) We definitely will be. When you add in a lot of young talent that brings a lot of ability, youre excited for what they can do. And going into year two and year three, thats when you see a lot of guys make the most progress and the biggest jump, so definitely excited to see those guys come out here and get back to work.
(on whether he has changed anything in his preparation for this season) Well, Ill say this year not having to rehab like I was last year with my foot injury is a big plus, because I can get started right after the season getting ready for this year. Its motivation to be the last team standing this coming year, so it was obviously a disappointment the way we ended, but its fuel to the fire.
(on how he feels) I feel great.
(on practicing with WRs Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins) Its great. Ive been working with Andre now for going on seven years, so its like riding a bike when it comes to our relationship and how we operate on the field, but with DeAndres ability and what he brings to the table and how hard hes working to just immerse himself into the playbook, you can just see that once he gets it and once hes in there and doesnt have to think and can just play, its just going to be a big help to us.
(on what he expects WR DeAndre Hopkins learning curve to be) Well, theres obviously a learning curve, but when you get right in there and youre with the first group from day one, and all the meeting time were going to have and all the extra time on the field, hes going to be ready. Weve got four months til we play, so weve got a lot of time.
(on the importance of WR DeAndre Hopkins practicing with the first team) I think so. Hes in there, hes proving himself to all the veterans. In our offensive huddle, we have guys who have been together now five, six, seven years and weve been in a lot of battles together. When you have a young guy that comes in and he just jumps in there and starts making plays and shows that he belongs, thats the ultimate sign of respect for him and older guys notice that. So hes got a ways to go, but were looking forward to his work and what he can do for us.
(on whether WR DeAndre Hopkins did anything to impress him in the first practice) Its only day one out here, but you see that hes not got the deer in the headlights look. Hes ready to go and is very positive and just works hard.
(on how RB Arian Foster looked) Its ahrd to tell on the first day, but he looks fine. Hes Arian hes a hard worker and hes going to be ready to go, but he takes care of himself well.
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