(on what the rookies need to do to improve from the first day) They have to, you know, its interesting that you ask that question. Last night in our offensive meeting, we put up the script for day ones practice with all the plays and then the script for day two, todays practice with all the plays, and then the script for what will probably be the first practice of OTAs, and then the script for what will be the first practice of training camp. It just keeps piling on. That was one of the messages this morning, was that you really have to stay ahead. You get the information sent to you on an iPad the night before in preparation for your meeting the next morning, so you really have to do a good job of staying ahead and thats kind of what today will be about too.
(on his biggest takeaway from day one) We have a lack of conditioning, so these guys need to get in better shape as a whole. Again, Ill say this, thats not entirely their fault. Like I said yesterday, theyve been training for the combine, you know, the 40-yard dash, the broad jump, the shuttle runs, all those different drills that they have to do. That doesnt equate to football shape, especially in Houston. Some of those guys thought it was hot out there yesterday. Like, you know as well as I do, well, much better than I do, me being raised in Boston, you know way better than me that they aint seen nothing yet. I think we got to get in better shape but I do like the effort and the attention to detail in the meetings. Now they have to really work to get in better conditioning.
(on if the lack of conditioning is similar to last year) Yeah, I would say yes. I think really, I cant think of a year that Ive been involved with this where it hasnt been that way to be honest with you. To think that a group of rookies is going to come in and understand the shape they need to be in at this level, at the NFL level, is hard. Some of the guys were in shape. There were some guys that were in decent shape for the start, but as a whole, we got a ways to go.
(on what he tells the players about taking to the media) I dont know what you guys are talking about. Ill tell you this, one thing that I tell them is that we have great respect for the media and that we understand that the media has a job to do, especially as it relates to the people that are here every day, our in-house media, obviously, and the Houston media. We have great respect for the media, but its also important to understand that youre a part of a team. Its also important to understand that you havent done anything yet in the NFL, and you really, through no fault of your own, have any clue about the NFL. You might think you do from watching ESPN and NFL Network and all those things, and thats great. But at the end of the day, youve got to figure out what it means to be a Houston Texan and make sure that you know that its all about being a good teammate, being coachable, working hard, and trying to find a role on the team. But Ill tell you, the first thing we talk about is the respect that we do have for the media.
(on how he teaches rookies to be a team) I think you give them examples. You talk to them all the time about teamwork. You know, one of the first things I say to them sounds simple, but this is the greatest team sport in the world. Its so difficult to get 11 guys on the same page, doing the right thing on every single play in a football game. Its so difficult. It rarely ever happens. If you go to any football game that youve ever covered, how many times can you say that when you watched a play, 11 guys were doing the right thing on every single play in a game? Never, you can never say that. It starts there. It starts with understanding your role on the team, what your job is within that role that you have. Its about doing your job and its about being consistent. One of the things we talk about is having a daily approach. What time are you getting up? What time are you eating breakfast? What time are you going to start watching film or getting some extra treatment on your hamstring or your quad or whatever requires treatment? What is your approach on a daily basis? Thats kind of where it starts.
(on the injury to DE James Rouse yesterday in practice) Yeah, thats a tough deal. What a great kid. I just met him, but nice kid. I think when those things happen, these days guys come back from that. Here we have a great example, I told him last night on our team, of Cody (White). Cody has an Achilles and comes back. Hes out here taking part in our offseason program and he worked hard to rehab. Life does not end when you blow your Achilles out. Its a tough blow, but I told him, Hey, when you wake up this morning, you got to figure out how youre going to rehab it and get going here. (on if DE James Rouses injury will get him cut) Well, we have to decide that as a staff. Obviously, Rick (Smith) and I have to sit down. Not ready to answer that yet, but yeah, I mean at the end of the day whether he gets a chance or not, he seems like a really good kid. Whether its here or somewhere else, I think hell get another chance.
(on if he is confirming DE James Rouse tore his Achilles) Yeah. I mean, somebody tweeted that already, right? Not you, but it was a tweet-fest yesterday, I thought. I dont know. Whatever. Now you do. Tweet away.
(on the benefit of starting practices with rookies early) Yeah, I think that its important for these guys to get off to a good start. Now, a lot of what were doing this weekend will be repeated when we get to our first OTA. So hopefully, they learn a lot schematically, how we do things meeting-wise, walkthrough-wise, and practice-wise, so that when we take the field at the end of May with the full team in a practice setting, not a coaching session, but an actual practice, these guys will be a little bit ahead in knowledge of how we do things, but thats completely up to them. Thats part of the message this weekend, theres so many things that they have to do on their own to get to that point. Its not just about sitting in the meetings, and listening to the coach, and taking a few notes. They have to figure out how we do things on a daily basis and the faster they can figure that out, the farther ahead they will be when we start practice at the end of May.
(on his first impression of WR Jaelen Strong) I would say that he needs to get in better condition, which I would say that about just about every guy out there, so not just him. I would say that about virtually every guy out there, needs to work on their conditioning level.
(on what the adjustment is from college practice to NFL practice) Yeah, its the pace. Again, youre competing with guys that are just as good as you. All these guys were stars on their college team. Its another level, its another level of football. Youre running a lot, especially at the skill positions. For receivers and defensive backs, both Kevin Johnson and Jaelen Strong, they need to get in better shape. They got off to a good start, but they know that their conditioning level has to improve. Theyre running all the time, so they got a taste of that yesterday and theyll get another taste of it today.
(on QB Kevin Rodgers) I thought for coming in here for the first day and having been in the shotgun his whole career at Henderson State, I thought he did a fine job. So we see there that hes a smart kid and hes able to process information pretty well, so we added to his plate this morning. We added a lot of stuff. Now, well wristband it because some of our play calls early on here are speeches, so he can read the play call off the wristband in the huddle, but he did a good job of that yesterday.
(on if he has been pleased with the Texans veterans this offseason) As we sit here today, no question about it. I believe that we have a hard working football team, Im talking about the guys that have been here. I think when you look at this team right now, where we are right now, Im not talking about the season or anything other than the beginning of May, I like where were at right now. These guys have really worked hard in the three weeks. Now we add the rookies to the mix and I think weve got a good foundation that the rookies can really get in line and learn from the veterans instead of just listening to me and the coaches. They can now watch the guys in front of them. I believe we have a very hard-working football team, which is good.
(on if there is any player who was in good shape) I would say that the long snapper was in good shape. He looked to be in pretty good shape.
(on if his snaps had good velocity) Yeah, he snapped a lot of footballs and he did a good job.
(on not having time to prep the rookies) No, thats why I said its not their fault. With all due respect to them, I always tell them, Look, its not your fault. Heres your baseline, heres where youre starting from. Some of you guys, a lot of you guys, with the exception of a couple, really have a long way to go when it comes to conditioning. You have six weeks, so you have six weeks starting yesterday to get yourself into condition. Then we take a little break then we bring you back for training camp and you have to pass a conditioning test when you come back for training camp, so theyve got time. But they know how far they need to go.
(on coaches building relationships among the players) Thats a good question. I think about that a lot. Thats one of the things about coaching that I really enjoy, is the relationship with the players. Just personally, Ill just speak for myself. When you guys talk to assistants or whatever, you can ask them. I try to get down there for breakfast. I try to be available. I have an office in the locker room. Im down in the locker room a lot, whether its with these guys or the veterans, and in the training room. So yeah, I think its important to, right off the bat, try to establish at least a handshake and a name, and then begin to talk to the guys. Some of these guys we know a little bit better than others because we dealt with them in the draft. Some of the other guys we dont know really well, but I think its part of the process. It takes time, but we enjoy doing that. I enjoy doing that.
(on the difference between this years rookie minicamp and last years) I think that the coaches know the tempo that we want to practice at. Something as simple as knowing where to go from drill to drill. This is what field we are on, this is the team drill, this is 7-on-7, this is where we are going to do one-on-ones. All those little things that really add to the tempo of practice really help. I would say the other thing is, as an overall group, I like this group. I think our process, just kind of like Rick (Smith) and I spoke about after the draft, our process was better this year. The communication was better, so we were able to bring in a pretty good group of players, so well see how it shakes out over the next couple of days.
(on how rookie minicamp helps the players who are in year two) That are in this weekend? Well, Ill tell you what, I think its a benefit first of all for these rookies to see these guys. Ill take the three receivers, just use them as an example. EZ (Nwachukwu), Jace (Davis), and (Travis) Labhart, these guys are in way better shape than the other guys, so thats good for the rookies to see that. Theyre like, Whoa, these guys have been here, theyve been working out. I can say for those guys, theyve been here on their own quite a bit throughout the offseason, let alone the offseason program. Theyre in really good shape as an example. I think thats good for setting that example of what these guys need to know, what type of shape they need to be in and then I think its good for them to get more on film and be evaluated. Its really good.
