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(on if this is a last-stand game for both the Titans and the Texans with both teams needing to end their current losing streaks)
The division is all bunched up and we're all starting to play each other here down the stretch. (We're) Starting to run out of weeks, so it's a very big football game, and I can only speak for us but we're trying to dig ourselves out of a four-game losing streak. We had a couple of really tough losses; I should say three tough losses in a row. It's been difficult, so we're trying to battle our way out of it and trying to find a way to play better.
(on how challenging is it to not only lose a game, but to lose at the end of the game)
It's tough anytime you lose. It's hard to explain to people, but if you get beat, you get beat. When you're in position to win games late in the fourth quarter and you don't close the deal, I mean this league is so much about closing the deal whenever you're in these tight games, so it's very, very frustrating. At the same time, you can't feel sorry for yourself, you have to get your butt back up and go get ready to play again next week so I'm sure we'll be in another close one this weekend.
(on the Titans having to turn to their third-string quarterback Rusty Smith)
I don't really know that much about everything that's went on and the injuries and stuff. I mean everybody has injuries this time of year. It's like us dealing without DeMeco (Ryans) here for now six weeks, the captain of our defense. That's part of it, you just work through it. I know Jeff (Fisher) has a hell of a football team, and a very physical (team), if you don't match them physically as a football team you're in trouble. Everything they do starts with running the ball, and they have one of the great backs in the league. Defensively, they are as aggressive as you could possibly be, and special teams they give you fits because they do a lot of things. We'll have to play as good as we can play to find a way to get a win against this group; they do a great job there.
(on what he knows about Rusty Smith)
Other than the preseason guys, that's all I've seen. It's the preseason and of course the few snaps he played last week, but I have a lot of respect for the guy that coaches him (Mike Heimerdinger). I know he does a hell of a job, and he'll put him in the best possible position to be successful and I think the kid will do a great job.
(on who has the advantage when you're playing a player that is kind of a mystery because of lack of NFL experience)
I don't know, at this point in the NFL season talking about advantages, disadvantages, I think there is just adversity throughout this league week-in and week-out. We have the adversity of handling some tough, tough losses and how do we react to stuff like that. We have the adversity of injuries, everybody has that. Every week is a new week and trying to figure out a way to get a 'W' and both of us are trying to do that right now.
(on what are some general strategies when facing a rookie quarterback)
I'm not avoiding the question, but I'm starting with us. We have all the problems we could possibly have on the defensive side of the ball. We've struggled to be consistent stopping anybody and right now our concentration is on trying to get our stuff fixed and the mistakes that we've been making that aren't giving us a chance to win on Sunday. Like I said, I don't see Jeff's (Fisher) football team changing much at all. It's the same football team, very aggressive, very well coached and that's what we have to prepare for.
(on how Arian Foster has become a star running back in the NFL)
He took advantage of an opportunity last year, he did some good stuff at the end of the year, and what he did is he transferred that to the offseason. He had a great offseason, he got better throughout the offseason, he didn't come back and start over. A lot of credit to him, he's done a good job, he's always had a lot of ability, he's grown up a lot as a person and a pro and that's shown in his consistency as a player.
(on what some of the reasons are as to why the Texans defense has given up so many plays and if there is anything in particular he would like to see change)
No, like I said we come out of a game last week where I thought we improved defensively. I thought we went down there and played pretty good, but the last 49 seconds we kind of threw it all away; threw a day's work away. We've been struggling with consistency, struggling with giving up big plays. We're young on the back end, but that's a decision we made as a team back in training camp. We have to find a way to make it work, and find a way to do it better.
(on the Titans defense)
They're just so aggressive. They play as hard as anybody you'll play in this league and always great effort to the quarterback. Their back ends tackles well; they give you a lot of problems from a pressure standpoint. It's always a very physical, physical matchup when you play them, and it always starts with protecting your quarterback. They do a good job of getting to the quarterback and pushing him around before the day is said and done, so we have to protect ours.
(on the public backlash to his support of Texans defensive coordinator Frank Bush)
That's part of the business. Hell, when you're not winning people don't say many good things. I've been doing it a long time, and it's a battle right now in that area but we have to stay positive and support each other and work through it and find a way to make it work, but that's all part of the game.
(on if Frank Bush will remain the Texans defensive coordinator)
No doubt.
(on if the Texans looked at Rusty Smith much before the 2010 NFL Draft)
Yeah we studied him. I remember briefly taking a look at him last year, but like I said, time passes you're in the middle of the season, so all we really have to go on is his preseason work and the little bit he played last week. Like I said Dinger (Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger) does a great job, he's as fine a coach as there is in this league. He'll have him ready to play.
(on if they adjusted their schedule this week due to Thanksgiving)
Oh yeah, we've got to give everybody a chance to go home and be with their family on Thanksgiving, but we've got to get our work done. Come on down here and join us, we'll be in here at about 5:00 in the morning tomorrow.
(on if he's surprised that Randy Moss has only one reception in his first two games with the Titans)
I don't know. I don't have an opinion one way or another on it. He's a great player and is capable of beating you on any given day, but at the same time I understand what Tennessee has offensively. They have one of the premier backs (Chris Johnson) in the game, and has had him. You understand what they are offensively, and what Jeff's (Fisher) football team is all about. It's all about being physical and that's something they're going to do week-in and week-out.
