LIVE: Houston Texans Coordinators address the media

challenges you see with the uh with the Rams that they present to you guys on the defensive side of the ball. Yeah, I mean good good players as starting point obviously quarterback’s uh really good, you know, spent some time around them. Um good receivers, good weapons. Uh but just schematically obviously just with uh all the distraction and the pre-shift uh pre- snap shifts motions uh snap points like they just do a really good job of of trying to keep you know on point like you can’t lose focus at any time during the snap because there’s always something going on something moving something changing. Uh so just uh they do a really good job has has for a long time probably at the forefront in terms of uh utilizing motions and and movement to to challenge uh defenses and to to make sure we keep our eyes clean. So, I think between the communication and just where our eyes are, being in the right spot is really going to be the big challenge that we face this weekend. Has been able to um has Nick been able to help you get ready and prepared for the Los Angeles Rams knowing, you know, from his time being? Yeah, I mean, a little bit. You know, we obviously always try to extrapolate any information we can and stuff, but you know, they got new people, new players and and obviously have some new ideas and things they’re doing. So, uh you know, they can do anything they want. You know, I mean, obviously there’s a long history uh with this front and this defense going against this offense. So, there’s like a lot of information there, too. But, you know, sometime we joke sometimes a little information overload, too. You know, with with the time we’ve had and and uh a long history with these two sort of schemes going against each other and with Nick and and people in the building. So, uh at the end of the day, we got to we got to go line up and snap one and and go play our system. But, um take any help we can get for sure. Every week there’s matchups and this week Adams and having Nua against your corners are rigged in their own right. What do you think that looks like just with those guys, all that talent on the field? Yeah, it’s cool. Exciting. I mean, exciting week one opponent and uh yeah, two really good receiver more. I mean, they have a lot of weapons. Um, we obviously feel good about our our corners in our secondary. And, uh, you know, we always talk about like the game comes down to to those matchups and those one-on- ones and who wins their one-on- ones and all across the board really. So, I think that’s going to be, uh, two pretty high level units competing against each other. Done it for a long time. He had some success against you guys last year. As a as a route runner, like what? Sorry, Dvonte. Oh, sure. Um, like what as a route runner, what challenge does he present for? Yeah, he’s got everything in his bag. So, I mean, that’s to me like uh you know, just from a route tree and just from a getting open standpoint. I mean, the big play he hit on us last year, they moved him inside and put him in the slot, you know what I mean? So, just he can run it from everywhere. Um, you know, probably just a little bit more like he he’s a really good isolated route runner. Like he’s a good one-on-one player. He’s a good just backside of things and let him just do work. So, um, which maybe is a little different element from some of the stuff they’ve had in their system in the past. So, uh, yeah, just he’s got everything in terms of the route tree, uh, what he can run, where he can line up, and how he gets open. So, uh, it’ll be a great challenge for us. Coach, you all have had, uh, you’ve had an opportunity to watch CJ Garner Johnson play on film, you got a chance to watch him practice, and then, you know, of course, he got hurt, he had didn’t get any preseason action, but when you all were pursuing him and wanting him for this team, how did you all know that he would fit so well into your system? Yeah, I mean just, you know, you watch the tape and, you know, he’s played in a lot of different systems and played in a lot of different spots in those systems against something that we value. He took the ball last year, which is obviously something that we preach a lot about. Um, and so he’s had a lot of success. We actually, you know, they played Philly twice last year. So there’s, you know, we’ve got him on tape actually last year going against, uh, going against this offense. So I think just, uh, from the versatility, from uh, you know, his mindset of attacking the ball, like he’s played back, he’s played up, and just over the course of his career, he’s done a lot. He’s played inside the formation, you know, just he’s moved around a lot, which is something that we value. So, uh, I think he’s he’s fit in pretty seamlessly. Heard about young quarterbacks struggling against defenses, you know, seeing things that they haven’t seen before at the next level. Are there things that defenses do to try to do that to young offensive linemen or offensive linemen haven’t played much? Uh, sure. I mean, you know, like we um we always just whe whether it’s young or not in terms of when we’re approaching an offensive line, like how how we structure our rush and where we line guys up and whether it’s a matchup or, you know, formationally like where we align guys pre- snap. Same thing that they’re trying to do to us on offense. So, um you know, as you study the tape, I would say you’re looking for two things like in terms of offensive line. you’re looking for a matchup that you like, maybe a one-on-one, and how you can get to that matchup. And um and then just schematically, how you can sort of try to like dictate, we always talk about dictating things in here, like how you can try to dictate protections and stuff. And I would say they’re one of the better teams at mixing up their protections, uh just from uh you know, crossing the center and bringing chips in on on situations. They’re not always you would expect and just um utilizing different people in in the protection. So they do a really good job of mixing it up. So, you know, our our challenge is to try to like combat that with with how we’re lining up and where we’re putting our guys and what spots we’re trying to get them into. Miko mentioned yesterday um with a vet like a veteran like Matthew, you can’t really confuse him. So, I’m I’m not asking for game plan, but good. I’m not giving you I’m more or less asking how much does that understood fact factor into how you game plan for a super veteran quarterback that’s seen it all? Yeah, I mean, you know, yeah, Matt’s done it for a long time. So, yeah, I think just there’s weeks where you’re trying to do more maybe more or less as a disguise. Like to do that, like, hey, we can maybe again, you know, a lot of times for us, um, you know, disguise isn’t necessarily like trying to confuse the quarterback. It’s maybe trying to buy a second for our front to get home, you know, for the rush to work or those sort of things. So, you know, with Matt like he’s seen a lot of stuff. He’s he can recognize things post snap, you know, that’s a lot of times like you can show something pre- snap, but like he’s really good at seeing rotations and seeing even if you’re holding pressures, like he’s really good against pressure, getting the ball out quick. So, you know, like that just factors into how you play everything. I mean, there’ll be situations. It’s not that we’re not going to pressure, I would say. Who knows? Maybe we are, but you know, you just got to pick your spots and when you’re doing that and like whether you’re trying to fool him or like what you’re trying to get accomplished with your pressures may be different week to week. So, or your disguises or whatever looks you’re trying to give. So, um, again, that’s that’s multiaceted in terms of whether we’re how we’re lining up front and just trying to disguise where we’re putting guys there or our coverage looks and those sort of things. So, but, uh, yeah, it’s just different when you’re going against Matt like he’s probably not you’re not going to fool him or trick him into a lot of stuff. So, uh, we’ll try. Said, coach, what is it like going up against offensive mind like a Shawn McVey? I know you’ve been, you know, match wits with a lot of coaches, but he’s considered one of, you know, the top minds in the NFL and the way that he’s able to do the in-game adjustments as well. What is it like going against him? Yeah, it’s cool. And again, like obviously we practiced against those guys last year um and had that same sort of back and forth I feel like and they’re just honestly I would say just a high level respect for that staff and for him and and how those guys uh operate and uh philosophically a little similar to like sort of how we play on defense in terms of just like we’re going to do what we do and try to be really good at it and have some change ups but um you know they have a handful of runs and handful of pass concepts but they’re going to doctor them up and disguise them and and try to get you off guard with all your stuff and he’s just they do a really good job at it. So, um, I think it’s just a it’s a really fun, like I said, I think it’s a great week one match up for us to to kind of measure ourselves up a little bit. Thank you. Thanks, coach. Coach, you do see your former team. What are some things that kind of will jump out? Things you’ll know and maybe things they might know about you. Do you think that’s an overrated aspect of it or do you think it’s part of it? Yeah, I mean every year is different obviously. I mean, you know, schemes change, players come and go and change. Uh, what I do know is they’re they’re well coached team. Um, they play really hard. They have great character in the locker room. Uh, you know, two great years there. Learned a ton of football from Shawn and the other coaches, but you know, they’re they they love football. They work really hard. You can expect that. you can expect their best every time they hit the field and so it’s a great challenge for us and uh you it’s great great opportunity for us to go and and go compete on Sunday follow what can people expect from you this is your you know this is your first time you know kind of running the show a real game um doing all that yeah you know we want to go out and compete we want to play physical we want to play tough we want to play clean football we want to play a fundamentally sound football so that’s the expectation it’s been the expectation since we got here uh you know in February and our guys have been working hard and trying to get better every single You’ve uh mentioned a couple times now core axioms when talking about the offense. What how does that is that like an overall theme of the offense. Is it a position by position thing? Can can you talk about core axioms specifically? Yeah, I would say specifically it’s playing smart football, not beating yourself. You can’t win till you keep from losing. Okay, that’s the first thing. So, no pre- snap penalties, not turning over the football. That that transcends every single position to me on offense. Okay, the second thing that I would say is playing fundamentally sound. Okay, there’s great players in this league. We’re going to go against plenty of them this week and every single week from here on out. So, if you don’t play with good fundamentals, you don’t really give yourself the best chance to play. I believe in that to a core. That’s how I was raised in this in this business. The staff believes in that. And so, I believe in that for every single position. There’s certain techniques that, you know, the line does that may not carry over to receivers, but they both block, okay? They both have to get a line. They both have to play with a level of urgency, and those are the things that we believe in. And then obviously being a dependable teammate and coming through and having guys trust you next to you and that carries over into whether it’s assignments, whether it’s being able to be out there every single day and practicing and giving yourself a chance to get better. So those are the core axioms. I think you have to start there to have a foundation and then you build it from there. Develop those. Where did you develop those? Did those did those something that you get up you become an offensive coordinator and you find that or is there somewhere along the way where you develop those? Yeah, I mean that’s been the case when I coached, you know, almost a decade on defense, too. I think that for me that that’s a belief that I’ve had since I was a young kid. I’ve obviously evolved and learned uh through the years. College stops, New England, Shawn, uh a lot of great coaches that have had a fortunate opportunity to Miko right there front and center right now. So, those are things that we believe in. Um that’s where we that’s the starting point for us and we want to go play hard and we want to play a clean game and play physical with technique and fundamentals and start there. you had an opportunity to uh see Jared Verse firsthand. Yeah. Last season. What are some of the things that that makes him who he is and what are some of the tips that you can offer a young rookie offensive line like Arante going against him? Yeah, he’s got a a competitive spirit, an energy about him that is that is extremely rare. Um he plays every single day. I have nothing but the utmost respect for him. by those guys, they got a great coach and Joe Kigglio had a lot of battles against Joe over the years and uh you know he’s he’s a he’s an extremely talented player, but he works hard. There’s it’s no secret to why he’s had success that he’s had so early in his career. You talked about learning from this Ram staff and and while you were there, what do you think you learned from them? Like the biggest thing you learned from them that’s prepared you for this moment to play call plays for the first time? Yeah, I think there’s there’s a balance in having a great level of urgency in terms of how you approach your day every single day as a teacher, as a as a developer of fundamentals, and I think that there’s an element of also engaging and relating to players. And I think Sean and that staff, when I went to to Los Angeles, I had a great experience in New England, learned a lot there. when I went to Los Angeles, um I, you know, I saw a connected team uh that started with Shawn and how he treated the people in the building that how he treated his coaching staff and that transcended from the from him to the coaches to the players and from the players back the other direction. So, uh there was a great energy uh high level football fundamental, you know, fundamentals and u you know that’s there’s there’s a great energy in that building and that’s what I felt uh instantaneously when I went there. talking to the to some of the players, they’ve always raved about how you really cater to their skill set. What is it about uh Nico specifically that is unique that you could do with him that maybe others just in general you wouldn’t be able to do? Well, I mean, he he’s obviously he’s first of all, he’s a great person. You see the spirit he has every single guy never has a bad day. So, he has the right approach when he hits the practice field. He’s very talented obviously. Uh you know, great competitor, great hands, um catch skills, all those things. Uh the ability to get open, he’s a team first guy. So, there’s a lot of qualities that you sit there and go, “Man, this guy’s this guy checks every single box and he’s he’s a lot of fun to be around. All he got a smile on his face, competes, you never hear him complaining about anything. He just goes to work and I have a high level of appreciation for that.” And to that point, how much does it help that as you come to this team that Nico and CJ already have a great connection and how much does it help you and what you might be looking to do? Yeah, I think it’s I think it’s been great. Um, you know, I learn a lot from players too, you know, and and you’re around these guys and and again, it’s this from day one. It’s not about us, you know, imposing what we want on the players. This is a this is really a partnership. It’s a collective effort where we’re all trying to get better. We’re all trying to work through things, improve every single day, coaches and players. And and we, you know, there’s a vulnerability where we can be honest with each other about those things and tell each other the truth and and go out and work hard and and no one’s getting their feelings hurt about it because all we’re trying to do is be the best that we can be every single day. And that’s what we’ve tried to do since uh we started here in spring. a slot receiver with Jaylen Null. What do you see from him in terms of the skill set, the ability to play quickly, and obviously Kirk and Barios are not practicing as it goes right now? Yeah, Jay Jaylen’s been steady ever since he got here. Um, him and Jaden and those guys, it’s a really consistent group. Come to work every day. I think I’ve talked about very mature. Um, obviously he’s talented. I mean, he had his opportunity to play in the National Football League and we’re really excited to have him, but he’s been working. He’s been developing. been very pleased with him and he and he cares and he loves football. I mean, can’t can’t beat that. You’ve talked a lot to us about, you know, building a relationship with CJ. Where are you guys? How would you describe that? Your comfort level with knowing what he wants and his with you, knowing what you want, you’re looking for on game day and this first game. Sure. Yeah. No, doing well, getting better every single day. And we have a great relationship, have a working relationship. We have fun. We engage in conversation and I think we spend a lot of time on the front end really truly genuinely trying to get to know one another. and uh I have a lot of respect for him. He’s fun to be around. He loves football. He’s a great great player, great competitor. So, I enjoy going to work every day and working with him. Last two. Oh, go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead. From your perspective, obviously, you’ve been around a lot of staffs. Um how beneficial or advantageous can it be for you knowing that this is the first time you call in place and people don’t necessarily have an idea of what you would run schematically? How much of that how much of an advantage can that be for you going into a week one? Yeah, I think a lot of that’s overblown. I mean, we don’t necessarily know what they’re going to do either. I mean, it’s it’s the first game of the year. So, I think you rely on, you know, following your rules, playing with fundamentals, and taking it one play at a time and playing clean football and playing really hard. That’s that’s the goal. So, I think that gets overblown a lot. Um, you know, I think every year, even if there is continuity from team to team, some of these staffs, you know, that have been together for a decade plus, etc., you know, those guys evolve every single year. People aren’t just copying and pasting the same offense, the same defense, the same special team schemes from year in and year out. So, I think there’s always an evolution and usually, you know, early in the season, you know, that’ll dictate what you, you know, you’ll see when you get out there and it’ll it’ll uh unfold. Said he’s seen a lot of improvement with the blocking from the tight end position. How much of that can be assisted with the scheme, the positions you put those guys in, and then how much of that is just up to the individual to go out there and and win their assignment? Yeah, I think you got to give credit to the players for putting in the work too, first and foremost. Um, they’ve done a great job. Jake does a great job with those guys. Um, said that from from the get-go and I’ve got an affinity for that position, obviously. Um, and then I think what you do as coaches, we all do, is we try to put those guys in position. We ask them to do things that they can have success and everybody’s got strengths and weaknesses. Um, so you try to you try to build upon the weaknesses, enhance the strengths and and play to people’s strengths. So that’s what we’re trying to do with really everybody. Um, and there’s a variety of ways that you can use those guys, especially at the tight end position, really at all positions, but you know, schematically, on the ball, off the ball, out extended, etc. So, you know, it’s a fun group to work with. I’ve been very pleased uh with the job and the progress that they’ve made, and um, you know, just excited to continue to to build, you know, in that direction. Since you were hired in the offseason, a lot of the questions has always been about your time in New England and your time in Los Angeles. How how are I mean how much are you ready to just put all of that behind you and start the Nick Kaye offensive coordinator uh era? Yeah. No, I mean I try to stay present in the moment every single day to be honest with you. I think we’re all a product of our experiences, all of us. So, you know, that’s your background, right? But you evolve every single day. I’ve learned a lot since I’ve been here from this building. We have great people in this building. A lot of guys that have been here long before I I was here. So, uh, you evolve, you grow, and you just try to be the best version that you can be of yourself and and live in the moment and and try to try to continue to improve. And that’s that’s all we’re all trying to do. I’ll speak for myself. That’s what I’m trying to do, obviously. What do you think is going to be your biggest challenge as you call plays in an NFL game for the first time? You know, biggest ch I think just continuing to stay present, you know, and I I think I’ve tried to train myself through the offseason in a lot of a ton of unscripted periods that we’ve had. Um, but again, there’s going to be experiences that come up for the first time. you assess it, you you you know, you move on, you adjust, you fix things, and and you know, you obviously rely on people that are with you, too. And we got a good staff of people. So, um just staying in the present, staying convicted in our process and and being processoriented, and that’s what I try to continue to, you know, do day in and day out. With those with those tests, are there any like specific whether it’s between drive, halftime adjustments that you anticipate are going to be tests for you as a first- time play caller that you can’t necessarily prepare for? I think every game can be like that for an experienced uh coach, you know, a first-time coordinator, a first-time position coach, a new player, rookie to a tenure player. Things come up and things evolve and it’s how you adjust and adapt that’s going to be, you know, key and critical for for everybody. So, um there’s no different, you know, just a different role maybe, but you’re always doing that as a coach. I can say that adjustments, whether it’s the first quarter, whether it’s halftime throughout the game, you lose guys, you got to be able to adjust with different personnel and and do some different things schematically. So, I think as coaches, we’re always trying to train ourselves that way. Um, and you know, that’s what I would say. You know, staying staying focused on that is, you know, what I intend to do. Thank you guys. Have a good one. Uh I think we are I’m um I’m excited for um getting the things started. Um finally like there’s no depth charts like the kickoff unit is the kickoff unit, the punt unit is the punt unit and so on and so forth. Of course, we got to go out there with our best, play ball, try and find a way to um um start our football season by maximizing our offensive field position, minimizing their offensive field position when we’re in coverage units. um to the Rams, you know, uh got a lot and and I mean a lot of respect for Chase Blackburn from his the way he came up in his playing career to the way um he takes over the Rams unit and makes a simplistic unit, not only functional, but impact at the most opportune times. So, um 24 versus the Niners, a couple minutes to go in the game or less than a minute to go in the game and they juice a punt return. They come up with a blocked field goal. They come up with a blocked punt um against the best competition in the league. So, these guys uh do things the right way and they play hard. We’ve got to make sure we’re ready to go week one. And I’m very excited for our guys to get to do that. So, uh taking questions and uh other than that, it’s just week one. You know, we got to put it uh we got to put it on the table and see what uh what we’re made of. So, with Braxton Barios and Christian Kirk’s injuries with returns, especially with Barios, how much do you feel like Jaylen is is ready for this? He’s obviously had a lot of practice with you guys in the preseason. Yeah, I’m definitely happy with where Jaylen Null is and it’ll be a stable of guys working on both phases. And for me, uh it doesn’t matter who it is. It does not matter which Texan in uniform is returning the football. The number one thing is that football. So when we’re over there, we got to protect that thing. So uh uh to what you alluded to um securing it, he’s done a great job um of of training and developing to this point and hopefully use his speed to our advantage when he gets the gets the rock in his hands. We got to protect him by doing great with our blocking technique early, stopping the the efficient gunners that they have. You know, they got two wide receivers playing Gunner. Um Xavier uh uh Smith and and Jordan Whittington, and it’s not every day that you know, your second level, their wings are offensive players. Uh running back has been a PP in the years past. So like they their whole second level has been offensive players that know how to cover. So we’ve got to neutralize them. We got to make sure whoever’s got that football is protecting and getting ourselves in offensive field position. It feels like y’all are kind of like that, too. You have three running backs I would say that you trust on special teams. Typically we think of like safeties and linebackers. Is that just a skill set thing or is that have to do with the new rules? Yeah, I don’t think it’s the new rules. I think it’s the type of players you have whether that’s British Dar. I mean Woody Marks again we I think I can’t remember who asked the question in training camp about Woody’s development but like guys making you know offensive touchdowns at USC and developing uh zero special team skill during that time. So everything to this point has been him training and developing for uh when he steps into our roles in our room. So um I think it’s a it’s a uh tribute to where our program is and just guys that everybody on the roster is a football player first. Um it just so happens in 2025 we’ve got some skilled players on offense that happen to be special teams coverage players for us. Um it’s a it’s it’s provides a special teams coach a lot of flexibility since we don’t know uh what’s happening behind the scenes every day with Dar Just ask. I’ll tell you. Yeah, that’s with Dar being named as a team captain. Is there something that you can uh to spec specifically point to that like kind of represents why he earned the team captain role the way he did? Yeah, man. Uh yeah, that when coach announced that, man, that just brought a it brought a tear to my eye. Dar is a a special person and he’s a great worker. You use the word earned to earn, you know, from your peers, the top of the the the top honor you can get is being named captain is because you show up every day. You bring joy to your work. It’s not a job. You just it’s right if it’s your career, but you don’t have to go to work. Like that’s the best life to lead. He operates that way in everything he does. He speaks. He takes the coaching. He takes ownership when at fault or needs to get something corrected and other guys following that is the definition of what a leader should be. So to me he has earned that and clearly just stacking that day from day, year from year, month, game to game. He’s done that here and we’re a better football team and special teams unit because of it. And um happy for our guys that they are following the right people and hopefully the more that go that direction uh the better we’ll be overall. So um yeah, there’s no secret secret sauce or formula. show up, work hard, enjoy what you do, care about what you do, impact others around you by leading the right way, and he’s done that. Along those same lines, um, because we know that Dar is he could be a returner, he could be a blocker, he could be a kicker. U, what are some of the the the the personal conversations that you’ve had with him as far as him being able to not only do all those things, but to also be able to help some of the younger players who are also trying to take his spot. That’s right. And I think that’s where the the the special piece lies where you ask a guy to do anything and it is no questions asked. But because he hasn’t been training specifically uh returner or this week training specifically blocker or this week’s training specifically wing on the punt team or right wing or left wing, but he’s listening when I’m coaching you and then he’s now got to step into your role and then when he’s here and I’m coaching you, he now has that is how you play football. you’ve got to be ready to do. It’s a football player first. So, it might not be directed towards him, but he is one of those persons that knows I’m speaking to him during that teaching point for one of his teammates. And that’s why he’s able to be so versatile. You don’t have to coach him again on something because I coached another player at that time. So, um again, that’s the versatility of the room. Um we have to doesn’t matter who’s out there doing what job. We know our scheme. We’ve got to go execute that at a high level. He’s done a great job with that. I’m excited to see him play in 2025. Okay, guys. Good. All right, let’s get started.

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