LIVE: The Houston Texans address the media

announce just your thoughts on what he’s meant to the team. And for us today, I mean, it’s tough putting Brevin on IR. We know he went down with a devastating injury. It’s really rough for a guy who just bounced back from a major injury. So, it’s uh it’s tough on Brevin right now. tough on our entire team, but you know that happens. That’s the game that we play. It happens. Injuries happen. Uh we have to continue to press forward while also being here to support Brev in any way that he needs us. Aziz said he emphasized working on coverage in the offse. Um is that like something that y’all came together and decided you needed to improve and are you seeing the improvements? It seems like they’re taking shape in camp. Aziz is true. He’s a true professional. So when it comes to things that he has to improve on and work on, like he critiques his game probably more than I do. So it’s uh he knows what he needs to work on and if coverage was the thing that he need he sees himself working on. Just a matter of him being on it every single snap. And that’s my challenge to him. Can he be detail every snap that he’s out there, not have one snap where there’s a miscue, but I need him to be on it every single time. And he’s been working that way throughout training camp. someone with someone who’s played the linebacker like Jamal Hill who learn what have you seen from him as far as his training camp practice and what he did? When it comes to Jamal’s progression, I think he’s done a good job, you know, being a former safety moving down to the linebacker position late in college. Still, the game happened faster when you’re in the box there. And he’s picking up on, you know, the nuances of getting off of blocks. That’s the main thing. When you’re a smaller linebacker, you play fast. I want our guys to just be fast. Don’t try to go in and take guys on. Try to play quick and violent on and off blocks. He’s done a great job. He made a nice play in the game uh this past Saturday uh play towards their sideline where he was able to punch off a block and get vertical utilizing his speed to make a play. Also on the special teams play. So Jamal, he’s a fast player and I want him to continue to play fast and the game is starting to slow down for him and you see him starting to make more plays because the game is slowing down for him. What steps have you seen JJ Taylor take? Say it again. What steps have you seen JJ Taylor take over? Oh, JJ, man, it’s always exciting to see JJ. The way he works, even back in the OTAAS, JJ was out here on these fields catching punts, you know, doing whatever it took for him to continue to improve his game. So JJ’s he’s a workhorse, right? And I’m excited to work with JJ because of his work ethic, his mindset, whatever he can do, whether that’s, you know, punt protection, catching the punch, catching kickoffs, he’s willing to do it all. Yakob on the team so far. Hey, Yakob has done a good job. He has some familiarity with uh with Kaylee and Pop being in New England, physical player when it comes to the run game. Uh, so he’s added some versatility to our offense when can get into more two back sets. Also being in the wing sets as tight end Damian’s had a nice progression. We wanted to take our time working him back in. I think our sports performance staff did a really nice job of progressing him in a smart manner of getting him back to where when he’s back, we want to keep him back. So Damen has worked hard on the side. him along with Christian Harris. They’ve been working together on the side. So, it’s good to finally see them out getting reps today for the first time and they’re able to get in and do those reps and not, you know, not overthink it because they’ve been working really hard on the side. So, credit to our staff for working with those guys. EJ has continued to grow. uh continued to be more on the assignments uh doing the techniques the way we asked him to do it. He’s he’s improved a lot and when you see the way he played in the game, it showed up like he was able to play fast, play free, he played physical, made a nice big hit there, attacked the football, really impressed, you know, with the way he’s transitioned and and stepped up and made the plays that we asked him to make. So, I I see him continue to progress. He’s constantly asking questions, constantly being inquiring about how he can get better. So when a guy has that mindset, he will get better. So very pleased with where EJ is. Either from offense or defense, anything stand out today. What stood out to me was just a a reminder of what a grind it is to play, you know, and practice in the environment that we have. This was a grind of a practice. Uh you get a chance to see how mentally tough guys are in this heat. It wears on you. So, I felt like our guys did a great job of of straining and pushing through mentally more so than the physical part, but mentally our guys pushed through really well. Proud of them for that. We had Carolina Panthers coming in this weekend, you know, with so many injuries, not only, you know, you all training camp, but other training camps around the league. What are some of the protocols that you all put in place to try to ensure that when you have a joint practice, the main protocol is just keeping each other safe, understanding that we’re here to work together and make each other better. We’re not here to get in shoving contests or fights or anything like that’s unproductive. So, and my message to Dave and his team is just we want to come out and get good work in and make sure we’re getting productive work, making sure we’re staying up just like we practiced. So, and I think when we got teams and coaches that are that have the similar mindset, then you can get productive work. We’ve done it for the past two years with the Dolphins, with the Rams, and I I thought we got really productive work out of that. So, I expect it to be the same. What do you see from Daryl Taylor? Daryl Taylor, he brings a speed explosiveness off the edge. Uh it’s a little different. It’s a nice little change up from Will and Denil. So, he brings that that speed element and being able to utilize him, you know, in many different packages, not just on the edge. We’ll see where we can move him around and try to use some three in sets if we if possible. How do you like ability to play by the sideline and in coverage? Who EJ? EJ. Well, EJ again, that’s what I really like about him for us and our defensive scheme and and what I think sets us apart is that wheel linebacker is a very important piece and we have a fast, explosive, dynamic playmaker who can play sideline to sideline, can play really well in the space, make those tough tackles out in space. That’s what really gets our defense to have an edge. So, you know, with Christian, EJ, we got some really good guys at that wheel linebacker spot that can be that playmaker type for us. All right. Thank you guys. Oh, you good, brother? Go ahead, y’all. You all been together for a while now. How have you seen that chemistry going? No, I mean, we’ve been growing every single day. I think every day we have a great offense to go against. Um, and I think it’s just that that West Virginia trip that we had, we had a good opportunity for us to bond and grow closer and just work on our game together as a whole. So, um, man, we’re we’re growing and and it feels good because we’re grooving and and when when we when we make plays, that’s that’s when we get to talk in and we our confidence gets built. So, um, we’re super excited and I like where we’re going. You said that you wanted to see your dog. Yes, it was big, man. I I love having C out there and you could just see the difference that he makes, the big plays that the the speed, the athleticism that he brings to our team. Um, it’s good having C back out there. Um, I’ve seen the biggest smile that I ever seen, ever since he came back. So, having out there has been a blessing. It’s been huge for our team. Um, and he’s only gonna help us. You talked about bonding prior. What are some things you get to do as a team? Get to know each other. Yeah. I mean, we can’t go nowhere there. We ain’t got no family. Uh, we really just got each other. So, uh, we sat at the dinner table. I know me and Aziz and Christian, we all sat at the dinner table about 9:00 chopping it up. And it’s just sitting with like the tight ends and sitting with the O line, the people that we usually don’t sit with and conversate with and have those small little conversations that we have. Um, but then also going shoot and going golf and doing little stuff together that we would normally do with our families, but we do it together as a as a team. You said last year that you emphasized your body to Was there anything that you emphasized this season? Um, I think I kind of just maintain what I did last year. Um, it’s easy to cut weight, but the hardest thing is is uh maintaining it and and keeping it keeping it where you want to be. So, um, I think maintaining what I had last year. Um, obviously adding some more muscle, adding some more speed in areas that I that I can work on has been huge, but um, I think maintaining was a big thing for me this offseason. How competitive is the line? Y’all added a lot of pieces there. Man, it it only makes us better. It’s competitive, and I think that’s what that’s what we want. That’s what we like. um because it makes us better and we have a whole bunch of lot a lot of guys in there that played a lot of football that know a lot of football and no matter who steps on that field we know they’re going to give their best practice with the mentality mentality that you all play that are some of the protocols that you all put I mean we we going to play hard type of ball u I think we just know one way and that and that’s just swarm and that’s just how we are. Obviously, we got to, you know, protect our team, protect, you know, we don’t cross any lines or get anybody hurt on their side, but um I think every time we step on the field as a defense, it’s that swarm mentality. No matter if it’s practice, joint practice, if we line up against somebody, it’s that swarm mentality. Are you looking forward to game? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Of course. Have a dog. The 23 2023 pivotal for this program. when you look back at what you all done what I think of uh I think it it really doesn’t start with us. It starts with like Mo and the foundation that he’s built. Um and we just kind of just picked off where where he set that foundation when we were here when we first got here. Um and we kind of just built off of that. Obviously we have two great leaders in CJ and Will. Um but obviously there it’s a whole piece. It’s not just our class but that whole piece that plays. Um I I like what we’re building. All good. Appreciate y’all. question. What did it take to get to the point where you are now, you know, post the ACL, not really participating in the spring? Yeah. What did it take to get there? Um, a lot uh a lot of consistency. Um, you know, the these guys here, the return to field staff, uh, that whole training room is is incredible. The strength staff, um, and you know, we were five days a week. Uh, ever since I signed here, I signed whatever it was, the 14th, 16th, and then, uh, went home, grabbed some things, came back, and I’ I’ve been here, um, ever since. 5 days a week, we had July 4th week off, and that was it. So, a lot of consistency, um, a lot of work. What was the journey like? Was it what were the tough moments? Um there there were a lot um you know it’s very uh it’s very es and flows, right? It’s very up and down. You know, some days you feel good and you feel like you’re making progress and then others you’re you’re sore and you can’t do anything that day and you sit down and you’re like, man, like will I ever get back? And uh you know, it takes it takes a strong support system around you. Um and you know, just a lot of a lot of uh a lot of mental strain. um to tell yourself you’re going to come back. Tell yourself you will be. And um and you know, luckily it’s uh it’s it’s getting to the point where I’m I’m starting to feel like I am. Um you know, I don’t think I’m I’m back to 100% my myself, but I I feel good enough right now and I I know it’ll only continue to grow. With all that, when when you signed with the Texas, obviously from the point you signed to the draft and everything, the receiver room got more crowded. Yeah. What what is that like to just kind of observe the bodies being added as they’ve already brought you in? You might envision one role but maybe it changes. How do you think you fit in this round? Yeah, you know, I I think this is training camps where where roles, you know, get dealt where you go and and you earn jobs. Um, you know, being in year eight, you’ve seen you’ve seen just about it all at that point in time. Um, and I I think early in your career, you’re you’re more worried about that or you’re more uh looking at that and looking for signs and this and that, but you kind of learn not to play those mental gymnastics. And uh, you know, for me, you know, my my biggest thing obviously all spring was to get healthy, right? Like, you know, I I can’t do anything. I can’t compete for a role. I can’t help this offense. I can’t help the special teams. I can’t help this team if I’m not healthy. So, you know, that’s where all my effort, energy went. Um, up until, you know, my first day back was the first day of camp. So, you know, in in my head, I keep reminding myself that it’s whatever 13 14 practices in. Um, and like I said, there’s there’s still a lot to get there. But, yeah, I you you don’t you don’t look at that, you know, you you want competition. You know, it iron shop runs irons, obviously. It uh it breeds it breeds a good team. It breeds a better wide receiver room. So, I really don’t didn’t look towards that. And you know now just coming out here every day and focusing on what I have to do and you know being consistent making the plays when they come to me being dependable you know all the things that uh that you want to be as a receiver they’ve gotten to fans this weekend what are the things that they should look at special teams yeah you know um you know that’s that’s a that’s a fun battle right special teams is a fun fight and uh we have we have a lot of guys on this team who love that fight so you I I think flying around um you know and just being physical, you know, I think the special teams is going to tell you what kind of team um one is you turn on that special teams tape, you’re going to see how they build their team and what type of team they are. You know, are they finesse? Are they physical? Are they power? Um do they let stuff slide that they shouldn’t. So I I think there’s a lot of pride in our special teams room. What’s been your early impression of Nick Kay, his offense, how he slot? Yeah, I think it’s been awesome. Um, you know, obviously in the spring coming in, everything was new to everybody. So, learning the playbook, um, was the main focus there. And, you know, I think I think we’re very multiple um, all across the board. I think a lot of us can do a lot of different things. And, you know, it’s not necessarily outside routes or big guy routes or slot routes. I think we mix that up a good amount. And, um, you know, I think we have the versatility in the wide receiver room to do that. coming into the season, what was your impression of CJ Stride and how’s that relationship developed over time? Yeah, you know, obviously coming in um he’s he’s a gunslinger. You know, he can sling the rock. He’s been a very very successful QB and obviously, you know, it’s it’s early in his career. Um so very impressed with him from an outside perspective and honestly on the inside even more impressive now. Um just how he handles himself, how he commands the offense. Obviously his his arms his arm, you know, he’s he has a a special talent and you know he sees the field really well. So, I’ve been extremely impressed and he’s he’s been uh he’s been a a very good leader for this offense. You’ve been in a handful of camps. Texans do things a little different or is it about the same as most camps? Uh, you know, I think everybody has their little differences and nuances here or there, but I think at the end of the day, it’s it’s training camp. It’s it’s it’s hot and uh it’s hot. It’s it’s it’s hard to do. And, you know, these these guys uh we kind of, you know, come together and make it a little bit easier for each other. You grow up. I did not. I did not. I know I’m from North Carolina, but I did not grow up a Panthers fan. Thank you guys. Okay. Charlotte, how you feeling on this point in the improvements and what you think you’re looking for. Yeah. Uh so far in camp I feel like it’s been going good. Um the game starting to slow down, hearing things out of the huddle, getting the line correctly. Um just being at the right depths uh within my route. Um feel I can continue to work on my hands within the within the route to shed defenders. Um get them off of me, not just trying to use my feet. Um and yeah, using the heat yet. Yeah. Yeah. Uh, I mean, going to West Virginia kind of tricked us a little bit and then being back out here, but uh, it’s good for us. It’s only going to make us better. Who’s the better official? Me. Yeah. Yeah, it’s me. I know he said him. That’s just an ongoing thing with him. He thinks he’s a better fisherman, but it’s definitely me. What about your trip to Gston? I mean, how was that fishing? How did that caught the most fish on that trip? He got me that day. He got me that. I never had been on saltwater, so he had the advantage. You know, he’s from Miami. I’m landlocked, uh, being from Kansas City, so um, once I get the hang of it, he he won’t stand a chance. When you look back off, what characteristics about that offense like made you a better receiver? Um, just them um, getting the ball in the playmakaker hands, allowing me to work with the ball in my hands quick, but also the decisions I had to make within my routes. A lot of similarities here, having to make decisions based on coverages. So, they did a great job preparing me there. Yeah, that was going to be my followup. How do you feel like it’s kind of translated now to the outdoor? Uh, yeah, it’s helped a lot. Like I said, just making decisions within the route, having to think quick, um, and, um, just just having an IQ within the game, knowing what I have to do before the balls even snapped. How would you describe how you put one word on each? Yeah, I would say you said one word on each. Um, yeah, I’ll just use multiple ones kind of hard, but I’d say obviously he’s a bigger body receiver. Um, great at the line of scrimmage with uh, um, a lot of different releases and then being able to go up and get the ball. Uh, I feel like I’m savvy um, in space as well as he is, but um, I feel like I’m savvy in space and um, a deep threat that could take top off the defense. What’s your relationship like with Hudson? Obviously, he was at Iowa State. Is it similar like where he’s kind of letting you know how things go here? Yeah. Yeah, that’s my brother. Um the the connection we made while I was there while I was there with him the first two years, my first two years and his last two years. Um it’s really carried over to here. He’s he’s let me know um some things how how things are going out here and then and just our communication on the field. Um it’s definitely a chemistry there. What you picked up from Christian so far? Real savvy savvy player. high IQ, knowing um what what moves to use within the route to create separation in a defense and he’s just allound great player honestly whether that’s be having a high IQ within the game, great route runner, great at the catch point, great after the catch. So anything I can learn from that guy with him being um a vet in this league um is going to help me a lot. Y’all went to Toronto. What did you feel like you were able to learn from there? whether those about your teammates or anything. Yeah, it was just a time for us to connect, get on the field, kind of build chemistry um and just just work out certain things within routes, what what we were thinking in the route and what CJ’s thinking um when he’s throwing the ball. So, just giving us time to uh get connected and learn more about each other. What did you learn that you didn’t know about some of your team? Um, everybody has a goofy side to them. Everybody’s uh really cool. Um, but uh, for the most part, everybody loves the game of football, wants to get better each day, and everybody’s curiosity within the game um, really pushes everybody within the receiver room, tight end room, really the whole offense to keep, uh, working. All right, thank you guys.

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