(on the nose tackle position in the 3-4 defense) To play the 3-4 defense, you have to be good down the middle. That starts with the nose. Hopefully you can get a guy that commands double teams because if he commands double teams, then someone is going to be free. We tell them that you have to command the double team and then beat the double team at the line of scrimmage to get somebody free because if you get double teamed and get knocked five yards back, chances are someone is not going to be free and there is going to be a big hole in the defense. Nose is critical. He has to be able to win one-on-one, force the double team and then not get killed on the double team. Then that allows the linebackers behind him to be good. It allows the free safety down the middle of the field to be good. Therefore, it allows you to be good down the middle. Because of the way we play the technique, generally weve had bigger guys to be along that front. Then we try to put the more athletic guys on the edge of the defense to let them make plays there.
(on what hes seen from Jadeveon Clowney) I think he is coming along fine. He is studious. He is studying and hes trying to learn the system. He is making that transition a little bit, but it doesnt seem to slow him down or hinder him. Hes still a rookie and I tell everyone, rookies are making rookie mistakes. That is what they do. Until he can get settled and feel confident in all of his assignments, and then he can become reactive, then I think he will show better at that time. Right now his head is spinning just like all of the rookies. Their heads are spinning because weve thrown a lot at them. They are working at it and they make their mistakes and learn. They come back the next day, try to improve and dont make the same mistakes again.
(on a timetable for Jadeveon Clowneys development) There is no real timetable. Everyone learns differently. Everyone goes at a different rate. Were going to teach him as hard as we can and if he studies as hard as he can, then it will be sooner rather than later. We all know that we are going to play games in the fall, so we would like for him to be ready by then for sure. Well just keep working with him and hes making progress.
(on Brian Cushing and his missing time while recovering from injury) He seems to be pretty sharp at picking things up. Hes been in the meetings. Hes got some terminology and he can make some calls and things like that. I dont think the meetings can replace being on the field and getting it first-hand. Things happen pretty quick out there on the field. You have to be able to get used to the tempo of the field. When youre not out there, you cant get used to that tempo. Hes going to pick it up, I can tell already. Weve got to get him out there so he can see and react already.
(on returning to the game) Like I said, when you look at the defense, the organization and you look at the people, I think with myself that I am at the stage in my career where people are important. We all want to win, but if youve got good people and you can work with good people, that make the job easier in my mind. I just felt that this situation was a good situation. I felt that the people were good people and that would enjoy working with them. That made it easier for me to come and give it a shot.
(on position battles at right end and safety) I feel pretty decent about them. Weve got competitive guys. One, Ive got Kendrick Lewis that I had in Kansas City, so I know what he is about. Weve got Chris Clemmons, who we picked up. Hes a good guy and has good experience. Hes been playing in this league. I kind of value experience a little bit. So those two guys help me at that spot. As far as the line goes, I really didnt know about the line because we lost guys in free agency. The guys that have been here havent played that much. So far, Im impressed with what I see and I think they are going to be pretty competitive.
(on what hes seen from Louis Nix III) Well, he got himself banged up early and so his knee was an issue. He hasnt as much of an opportunity. I can tell he is a sharp guy and a guy with wits about him. His head is spinning as well. I think as soon as that knee gets well -hes a big, strong, physical player and he has played the nose position, and so he knows how to play it- I think that will all bode well for him.
(on using J.J. Watt in the current defensive system) I see putting J.J. on the field and letting him make the plays that hes been making because I have not seen a defense yet that did not use playmakers. If youve got a playmaker, youre going to use the playmaker. J.J. is a playmaker. Youll find out that you have to be flexible and you have to adapt in the NFL from game to game, week to week and sometimes day to day. Well do what we need to do to put the best football players on the field and to play with them.
(on building the defense starting with the line) Sure, I still believe that. Like I say, youve got to have those big, strong and physical guys on the inside to make the inside of the defense good and then you can put those athletic guys on the edge and let them flash a little bit. Theyre not allowed if the guys inside dont do their jobs. Weve got to be good on the inside.
(on what he has seen from D.J. Swearinger) I like D.J. Hes a competitive guy. I like the fact that he is competitive. I like the fact that he can cover tight ends. Everyone once in a while well throw him on a wide receiver. He covers backs out of the backfield. It looks like he is pretty aggressive and wants to mix it up as far as being in the box sometimes. I think he brings a lot to the able.
(on whether he sees Brooks Reed as primarily an inside linebacker) Not totally. Were giving him a look on the inside. I think what that does is that increases our flexibility that if you can go inside and get it done inside, I know that he can get it done outside because he played outside last year. Now I feel like I can put him at either spot depending on what the needs are. Hes a value to us.
(on what hes seen from Whitney Mercilus) Hes playing at the outside linebacker spot right now. Im one of those guys that I feel that guys have to earn their position. (Jadeveon) Clowney, I know he is the number one (pick), but he has to earn his spot in my eyes. He is trying to learn and if he learns, then chances are he will get playing time. If he doesnt learn, then he probably wont get as much playing time. That is where Mercilus, hes going to be there and hes going to play. If its Brooks (Reed), Brooks is going to play. I still feel like I can go out there and line up. Now with Clowney and his ability, if he comes along, then Brooks having the ability to go inside just makes us better I believe.
(on Jadeveon Clowney playing primarily at outside linebacker) I think at this point that is what we are looking at, a transition of a rush end trying to become a linebacker. Only time will tell if he can make that transition or not. One, he has really good athletic ability. He has size, speed and I think he has deceptive strength. Hes got the tools. Now the thing is the dropping in pass coverage, the route recognition and all of those kind of things that you know, you just dont learn them overnight. Youve got to get reps at them.
(on his previous relationship with Bill OBrien) I really didnt have a relationship with him. I didnt know him at all. That is why I wanted to sit down and talk to him. After talking to him, I felt that he was a football guy. Football was important to him and winning was important to him. That is where he was going to put his efforts. I think that is what I was looking for, someone where football was important and he is going to give everything hes got to the team. I felt that I wanted to be a part of it.
(on how he has changed as a coach from his early years) I dont yell and scream as much as I used to. When I was younger, I yelled and screamed more.
