LIVE: The Houston Texans address the media after the win over the 49ers

LIVE: The Houston Texans address the media after the win over the 49ers

let you not let them take the phone first. Man, they need to answer these questions for me. Oh, wow. No, really uh really thankful as always. It’s it’s not about us. Anytime I get this opportunity just make sure I give glory where it’s due and that’s to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for continuing to bless us over and over again. It’s nothing that we’ve done to to be blessed, but we we got it. We got We’re thankful for the grace and the love that we’re shown. Just thank I’m proud of all of our guys for the way they showed up and and played today. Just a truly complete game starting with the offense the way we ran the football, controlled the line of scrimmage. Thought our offensive line did a great job. We were able to, you know, control the ball for 41 minutes, which is huge for us and ran the ball well. CJ had an outstanding game just all around. You talk about really good offensive performance. Guys did a great job. Cam Fire Away. Um, how how did today come together right this week, Monday night, all week long, there’s just a lot of talk about all the things that weren’t happening with this team, right? And to pull it together and it just looked almost watching it kind of seamless. What was the big difference this week? Yeah, for this week, uh, Kim, the the main thing, our guys just went out and everybody was, I would say, locked in. Everybody had laser focus on their job, what we needed to do. Guys made the plays we were supposed to make. I thought CJ made great decisions with the football, uh, when it wasn’t there, checking the ball down to the backs. Our backs played well. Uh, we ran the ball for over 100 yards. It starts up front always and when our offensive line can do that, control the line of scrimmage, things will will go well for us. But overall, couldn’t be more proud defensively. They also did an outstanding job. Uh again, great team over there. Those guys made two really big plays on us. Uh KD and Jennis made some outstanding catches on us and that happens, but our guys were resilient. They continued to bounce back. They didn’t let one big play affect them. they were still able to come out and continue to press forward, play together, and finish the game. You guys didn’t have a plan until the fourth quarter, but how important was it to get an early start? Does he see the offense have success for you to sustain that throughout? Yeah, for me, what I’m what I’m most proud of is how we finish the game. Uh, we’ve had some good starts, but then we haven’t finished well in games, and that’s been the key for us is the second half and how we finish in the second half. That’s what I’m most proud of there. Uh, anytime you punt the football one time, that’s that’s controlling the game. So, it was a great job and when Tommy did punt, he had a good punt for us. Coach, uh, you guys did a very good job of limiting Christian McCaffrey today under 70 yards. What was the game plan throughout the week for yourself, Coach Matt Burke, and your defensive uh, coaching staff? Christian’s a great player, phenomenal player. Talked about it uh, all throughout the week, and we knew we had to we had to stop him. run game, passing game. We knew he would be their highest targeted guy and we were able to hold him. I don’t think he had got many yards today, but it was a collective effort from everyone like starting with the defensive line really disrupting the run game up front and then I think we tackled really well and he had a couple checkdowns there in the two-minute drive, but overall thought we tackled really well versus a really great player. How would you just overall describe how the pass protection looked today? CJ obviously had a great day, but He came a great deal off the O line. How would you describe that? Our O line did an outstanding job again like for us to stay upright the entire game. Uh when it wasn’t there, you know, CJ made again made great decisions of stepping up in the pocket, taking what was given, taking what was there for him. So proud of the way CJ played, proud of the way the O line played. Without Vico Collins, obviously you guys are relying on others to step up. What can you say about the job that the wide receiver room did the day? a lot of young guys stepped up and make plays. Uh null Higgins, Jared Wayne stepped up, Barry, all of our receivers, all those guys showed up and not just in the passing game, the way we ran the football, the receivers have to block. So, they did a great job of blocking as well. Coach McDaniels done a great job with those guys, having them prepared and that’s what I talk about. That’s what the league is about. It doesn’t matter who’s out there. If you do what you’re coached do, you do it the right way and you do it with an a relentless mindset. like we can go out and we can play well versus anyone. The receivers showed up big time today. Coach, you talk about each week you talk about trying to play clean football. I mean, obviously got had eight penalties today, but these penalties seem to be so dispersed and with your time of dominance on the offensive side of the line line of scrimmage. It didn’t seem like it really didn’t h really didn’t have any havoc in what y’all was consistently want to get done today. For sure. with the penalties. Uh we had a couple holding calls that I think we have to clean up like and O line did a good job, but we got to clean up some of the holding penalties that’s kind of knocking us back. But I think in the beginning of the year, we allow those penalties to kind of stall us out on the drive. Right now, nobody panicked. Everybody just continued to press forward knowing we can overcome any situation. So, no one got in a bad mood about a penalty. Like, let’s just keep playing forward. Penalties will happen. We want to clean them up, of course, playing with great technique. Uh what we can do a much better job of course uh defensively we had offsidize penalty that we cannot have on third down that allowed them to go down and drive. That’s the one right there that’s truly controllable that we cannot have. Um coach um coming into this game there was a lot of um criticism and noise about the way that the offense was ran and in particular the way that Nick Katy was called in place. How impressed were you by the way that he was able to call the game today and for you all to get off to such a fast start? Yeah, Kaylee Kaylee did a great job again today and and he’s he’s done a great job with, you know, what we’re asking him to do. He’s doing a great job. Uh he has the guys the guys have his back. Everybody’s in this together, right? From Kaylee, myself, the player, we’re all in this thing together. So, it really doesn’t matter about outside noise. And we hear a lot of that every time you lose. this everybody wants to come up with something of get rid of everybody, fire everybody, you lose a game, you go out, don’t play well. Well, it’s just the noise is just a lot of people who don’t know what they’re talking about because here in this room as a team, we stick together as a team and we know it’s only about us, right? And you never let that outside noise creep in and control who we are. We know who we are. We know what we’re about. We know the formula. We know what it takes to go win games. And we just understand that the outside noise is just noise. We would never go ask anybody who’s given the noise. We would never go ask them their opinion about how to game plan or how to play football. So we keep that in house and we go we press forward and we go out and play good football. That’s what it’s about. Well, to piggy back on that last question, Mico, I know it’s just one win, but how much pressure does this take off of you now that you played so well complimentary football in all three phases? And secondly, did it help the fact that you are so familiar with the 49ers and game planning this one? Yeah, I I don’t have any pressure on me. That’s it’s we’re in the NFL. Every week is a tough week. We’re going to celebrate this win because we got a win versus a gritty tough football team. The Niners are great. Even though they are missing a lot of top guys, still they found a way to pull it together, play a great game, and we knew that was going to be the case, right? didn’t fall into the trap of who they didn’t have. Those guys are prepared. Kyle has them prepared every single week and that’s our game plan was just to go out and execute the way we know how to execute and the guys did that and I’m proud of him for that. Hey, Tamiko. You um you talked earlier a little bit about um how everybody played really well, but can you talk about CJ and just kind of his maturity, the kind of, you know, the way the offense has looked so far this season for him to keep being able to keep pressing and have the kind of performance he had today? What does that say about him and and his leadership? Yeah, when CJ’s locked in, we know when the quarterback is playing well, right, and CJ plays well and he’s upbeat and everybody can see he’s going to the right spot with the football. He’s making great decisions, stepping up, escaping the pocket, converting some runs there, converting some third downs. I mean, you just see the entire the energy, the vibe of our entire sideline just changes, right? because everybody’s looking for the quarterback for that leadership and it’s just about nothing special or nothing grand. It’s just about him just remaining disciplined as a quarterback. Uh doing exactly what he’s supposed to do on every given play. And when he does that and he makes great decisions and with the O line working the way they work today, that’s what you see, man. One of his best games ever. All right. The way he operated today, it was very clean football and and I’m proud of where he is. We just have to continue to stay with this every every week. you all and and he did this without um your best offensive playmaker. So, what did you need from them to be able to do that in spite of it? Yeah, for us again I said, you know, we always want all of our best players out on the field, but again, it’s you don’t make excuses like the game goes on. whoever is up, whoever is out there, like we expect our guys just to execute, do what they’re supposed to do, and play to the best of their ability. I never ask anyone to go and be Nico Collins. Go and be someone you’re not. Everybody just play to the best of your ability, and we’ll be just fine. And that’s what the guys did today. We’ll close with John DJ. Coach, uh, on third down today, you guys were excellent. 9 to 16 on third down led to winning the time of possession a lot to a little. Um, what does that say about this team when the offense plays and execute, which is something you mentioned a lot, executes and play the standard of football you guys have set for yourself? And also, how impactful was the 2025 draft class for today offensively? Yeah, for us, when you’re able to win third downs, which is always a a huge key to winning the game, it allows you to stay on the field. It allows you to sustain drives. and in games where we’ve done that, like we’re able to stay on the field and just continue to press forward and end drives with points. So, that’s that’s the importance of of third down. And for our young guys in this draft class, you know, they’re they’re continuing to get better. They’re growing. They’re stepping up, making big plays for us. Uh and Jaylen No, he’s jumping off the tape for the past couple weeks of making some some big time plays for us. the things you saw him do at Iowa State is showing up. The explosiveness, him down the field, like his return ability, just all across and you can tell they’re all getting more comfortable with what they’re asked to do and they’re really flourishing in their roles. How would you assess how secondary play um basically kind of seal the game? How would you just over overall assess how they did today? Yeah, overall thought again the defense as a whole the guys did a great job. It’s rushing, covering together. You know, the ball would come out quick. They hit us on a couple couple deep passes there on the sideline and it tried it again and Camaro was able to go up and make a play. And that’s what it’s about like when you have your OP. At the end of the day, everybody’s going to have a one-on-one in this in the back end and are you making a play or not? And we made plays today. Last one, coach. Um, I think you may have mentioned it a little bit earlier on, but just the way that your offensive line was able to protect CJ today, get going in the in the run game. I don’t think you all had any sacks and you, you know, kept, like I said, kept a lot of the pressure off of him. When you see that and them moving in unison like that, is that what not only the expectations, but what you know that they can do? Yeah, I know our offensive line can do it right. we when we do it and we do it at a high level and we’re we’re focused, we’re locked in, like that’s what it looks like. And so hopefully they see that and it’s something that continues to give them, you know, that confidence that when we are working in unison, guys are together, we’re on the same page communicating and we’re straining no matter what happens, we’re straining to finish to make sure the defense is staying off the quarterback. like there is a lot of things open for us down the field and we have a quarterback who can deliver the football wherever it needs to go. All right, thank you guys. Hi. You have so many guys that can make plays you get the ball to. How much does that help you and the team? Yeah, I think you know uh spreading the ball around is great for everybody. Um I love seeing my guys make plays and um shout out to Jared, you know, Jared Wayne for making two catches. his first two catches of his career. He’s somebody who I came in with that worked very hard to get where he’s at. Um and I’m just so proud of him, man. His his faith in the Lord and um just his continued faith in himself. Um but just the opportunity that he got, man, he took full advantage. So shout out, big shout out to him. Um Brax, you know, showed up big J uh Hig. Um we got, you know, a bunch of guys. Do I’m probably forgetting some, but everybody bald. Hey, um, how does it feel to have, you know, I want to say a complete game, but kind of, you know, to control the the clock for so much all three kind of. Yeah. Why kind of? Cuz I know nothing’s perfect, right? Yeah. I mean, but you got to it’s hard to win in the league, man. I’ll take it. Criticism. No. Yeah. I’m just saying. Yeah. But to have a perfect game then or whatever. Yeah. I don’t want to say perfect, but I would say we had a complete, you know, four quarters. And I think that was the goal, you know, was to, you know, control the line of scrimmage, you know, run the ball. Um, you know, then, you know, use play action pass and, you know, other things to kind of balance it off. So, thought we did a great job of that. But, you know, really starts up front with the O line. K did a great job. Our tight ends did amazing. U So, I mean, those are, you know, ways you can possibly have a complete game. But, yes, there’s always things you can clean up. See, you all did it, of course, without Nico, and you had talked about it like right after the game that that maybe you wanted a little bit more on your shoulders, but what was the process like? What was the mindset like kind coming into this week knowing that you wouldn’t have him and that everybody else would have to step up? Yeah, it’s really hard, you know, having just a dominant force like him, you know, being out, but um I thought, you know, we practiced really good. Um and I think, you know, that’s that’s the key like practicing good and then you give yourself a chance to play good. Um but yeah, you can’t replace Nico Collins. you know, he’s a top five guy in this league. You know, I think he’s, you know, one of the best. Um, and even when he comes back, we got to find new ways to get him the rock. So, I mean, that’s my job, you know, to, you know, give it to him. And, um, I think, you know, um, when he comes back, his his, you know, force will be felt, but, um, you know, I thought everybody really stepped up really big and thought, especially in the run game. Titus said last week that uh when you all come out and and play fast, you know, to start the game, that that usually sets and dictates the way that you all are going to play for the rest of the game. What went into it this week as far as picking up the pace? I just think, you know, it’s always good to get a little motivation. You know, we didn’t have our best outing, you know, against Seattle. Um and I think, you know, that was just motivation to, you know, do the right thing. And I think I always got to find motivation every week, regardless if we do good or bad. So, um, I think, you know, that was kind of like the, you know, one of the keys. And I think every time you, you simplify it to, you know, one play at a time, everybody doing their job, you know, it kind of makes the game a little easier and you don’t have to focus on winning instead of just winning every play, then that ultimately gets you the win. So, it’s how we did that in that first drive and kept that going as we kept going. Mer said that today’s one of your best games. How would you overall categorize how you played today? Yeah, I thought I played solid, you know, um thought I distribute the ball well, you know, in pressure situations, getting it out of my hand. Uh I don’t think we had any sacks today, so um I think, you know, just me get on the getting the ball in my hand on on time definitely helped. Um moving the pocket, you know, um but yeah, I would say I play solid, always things to clean up. Um, but you know, I’m I’m you know, happy with, you know, how I played and I’m always, you know, going to stay confident and even when I lack confidence, like I was telling him outside, like I got God confidence. You know, I don’t I’m not always going to be perfect. I’m not always going to be the best, but I I will die on that field if I have to. I love playing the this game. Um, I respect this game, my preparation. I take it serious every week. And sometimes you just go lay an egg. So, well, I’m going to leave the pass in the past, but I know what I can do. I know I’m a top guy in this league when I’m rolling. So, um, but you know, I just got to keep that going. CJ, did it this week. It seemed like the messaging from De Mo was kind of a challenge to the players to just, hey, we’ve got the game plan. Trust us, trust what the game plan is. Did you get a sense sometime this week that everybody was kind of locked in on exactly what you guys wanted to to do this week? Yeah, I think we’re locked in every week. I thought even against Seattle, we were locked in, you know, and I just thought we just didn’t play good. And then you look at Baltimore, Tennessee, we were locked in. against Tampa Bay. I mean, yeah, against Tampa Bay, we were locked in. It’s like you give yourself a chance when you’re locked in, practicing great. Now, you got to go the Everybody probably does that in NFL. Um, but the teams who win are the ones who can execute on Sundays. So, I think that’s that’s the key or at least especially offensively, defensively of course, and and special teams. We can take it up to another notch is just taking because I do think we’re a focused group. I do think we have a a miss a crazy amount of effort. You can see how hard we play everybody. Um, now it’s just the execution from X’s and O’s wise and, uh, trusting what the coaches are doing and putting the positions we’re in. So, um, I definitely think that that is where we need to take the next step and did that today. Well, CJ, obviously you all have to block out the outside noise and you do that great. Every NFL team does, but how much confidence does it give you now to get over the hump and really start putting things together after the solid competitive game you had today and result? Uh yeah, I think you know uh we get we give ourselves a chance each week. We keep winning. So um this is a long le um it’s a marathon. You know it’s not a sprint and if we keep stacking you know who who knows we can do whatever we we you know put on the field. So um I think you know today was a step in that right direction. Now you know I’m gonna go home relax you know get a little get a little bit away from the game and then tomorrow I’m back at it rolling and you know back with my preparation. So, you got to be able to enjoy wins, but also, you know, uh take the momentum, take the rhythm, and keep rolling with that. How do you build on this win? Like, what elements from today do you want to carry over or incorporate into next week against Denver? Yeah, I think practicing, you know, that’s key. You know, got to practice great and I think we’ve been doing that for the last couple weeks. Um, and then, you know, taking it from the practice and putting it on the field like kind of like I was saying, just execution. But um yeah, I think that’s what it what it starts with your preparation film being on the same page with the coordinators and with you know your position coaches and having conversation about you know if this happens I’m going to do this that happens with with your teammates. So that’ll be key for you know this next game against a good Denver defense. And CJ, you got the trade deadline coming up. Is there if there was one thing that you could add on this team to kind of make your job easier down the road, what would it be? Yeah, it’s not my job. My job is just to play, you know, um, and I’ll do that. Um, if, you know, my opinion is asked from, you know, our front office, then so be it. But I trust Nick, I trust Mo. I trust our front office to do what we need to do, you know, to get this team because I think we are really talented, you know. So, um, but whatever that is, I know I trust what they’re going to do. Two questions. At what point did you know that you all were really in a rhythm at one point during the game and then second, do you feel like using your legs more really helped get you going offensively? Uh yeah, I feel like I mean I kind of wake up in the morning every day feeling like it’s going to be my day. I don’t ever, you know, think opposite. Um I think because my preparation is, you know, at a high level um and I think I can tell you really a play. I just think every play I kind of try to individualize it to did I do my job this play? Did I do my job this play? Um and the pre- snap, you know, doing the little things right, post snap, taking care of my eye discipline, my footwork, you uh my ball placement, of course, and I didn’t ace that I miss in some areas, but um I think, you know, the rhythm thing is like, are you just stacking play, stack completion, stacking opportunities, get your playmakers the ball? And I think maybe the first drive we did that, maybe the second um I don’t really know. I’m kind of just focused on every play. Um, what was the second part? Do you feel like using Oh, my legs. Yeah, I think, you know, if I can do it, I think cool. Um, I think I I don’t know how many yards I ran for today, but I think I ran for a good amount. Um, and yeah, I think it’s fun to me. Like, I like doing it. Learn how to slide uh this off seasonason. Uh, shout out Clint. Um, so I thought I had a good slide today. Obviously, my head taken off, but uh got down uh clean and yeah uh I like losing my legs. I think it’s fun. So, last one. Hi S, a couple of questions. Uh, what do you think this win says about where the team is headed this season? Yeah, I think our our destinies in front of us. Um, and you know, whatever, you know, whatever we do week in and week out is going to be, you know, what what we it really is what we can control. We control we control. That’s preparation, practice, hard work, dedication, relentless effort, swarming, and I think, you know, as we continue to do that, we’ll be able to get some more dubs. Last question. What message do you have for Texas fans tonight? appreciate the support, appreciate the love. Um, you know, I just want to, you know, be able to, you know, give my all every week. Um, and sometimes I do it, sometimes, you know, it doesn’t look as great, but I appreciate everybody, you know, and their love and, um, I love I love Houston. I love living in the city. Um, I love, you know, just the camaraderie and the community that I’m in. Um, and I’m just so grateful to be here and u, be in this position. And I think, you know, our fans, you know, uh, you know, they’re they’re showing up and they’re doing their thing. And I appreciate that cuz that really does help. Even in Seattle like they were they were all out there then today thought we were loud and that always helps. So shout out you know Ace Town and the Texans. You have a good one. appreciate.

The Houston Texans coordinators address the media ahead of MNF vs Seattle Seahawks.

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