HEAD COACH GARY KUBIAK, DEC. 10, 2008
(On Andre Johnson's successful season)
He's had a very good year. First off, he's been able to stay healthy. He had a little issue last year with his knee and missed most of training camp this year and got off to a little bit of a slow start early this season. He's played extremely well. He's a tireless worker, does a heck of a job and hopefully we can keep him going. So far so good. He's had a fine season.
(On if Johnson draws double teams most of the time)
We see a lot of different things with him, it just all depends on what people decide to do defensively against you that particular day. Whether they're really trying to take him away or keeping him honest from the standpoint of scheme-wise. We've seen it all, we've seen a little bit of everything. We move him around quite a bit. He's a very smart player so he allows you to move him all over the place.
(On how much the play of Kevin Walter has helped Johnson)
I think Kevin has benefitted from Andre because of some of the things we'll see. Sometimes Kevin gets his share of one-on-ones and those type of things but he's become a fine player. We were able to get him through restricted free agency and it ended up costing us a seventh-round pick which is probably about as good as a seventh-round pick as you can make. He's been a fine player. He plays in all phases of the game. He's willing to block, does a lot of dirty work for us. I think he's just scratched the surface to be honest with you. I think he's got a chance to be an even better player for a long, long time.
(On what it would mean to Walter to get to 1,000 yards receiving this year)
I don't know. I don't get caught up in those things. He's going to have the biggest year he's had in his career. Whether that ends up being 1,000 yards, I don't know, time will tell. Bottom line, he's become a fine starter in this league and a very unselfish player for this football team.
(On why the team has been so streaky this season)
Well, we're inconsistent, that's the bottom line. One of our biggest issues throughout this season has been the turnover margin. We haven't won the turnover battle in many football games. We turn it over way too much on offense, we haven't gotten enough of them on the defensive side of the ball. Usually if you aren't consistent doing that you're going to be an inconsistent football team. I think it starts with that.
(On if he feels like the team is close to turning the corner)
I don't know when you turn the corner in this business. We're all battling for the same thing here in Houston. We're trying to get this young franchise going. We've made some strides but yet there's many more that we have to make to be competitive and to compete with teams like you guys have right there in Tennessee. We have our work cut out for us, we just have to keep going one week at a time trying to get better.
(On if this season's rookie running backs are the best group he's seen)
Yeah, I think it's as good a group as far as their contributions to their football teams this year. They've been major factors. For us, it started with Ahman [Green] getting hurt once again and now Steve [Slaton] is going on his 12 th start so we've been very fortunate with him and the way he's held up. He's played like a pro, he's gotten better each week and he's handled more of the load than we ever thought he could. We're very fortunate to get him.
(On his take on Chris Johnson)
Well, you knew he was very capable of that coming out. He was the speed of the draft and the big-play guy of the draft and was very impressive [at the scouting combine] at Indianapolis in all phases. Not only in working out, but in meeting with him and those types of things and what football meant to him. I just think Dinger [Mike Heimerdinger] has done a hell of a job with him. He gets him in position to make plays, he does what he does best and the kid's responding.
(On how long he worked with Heimerdinger in Denver)
I couldn't tell you exactly but we were together for a few years there. Mike's a good friend and to me he's a hell of a coach. He's done a great job for the second time around right there in Tennessee and did a great job I know for myself and for Coach [Mike] Shanahan in Denver. He's very deserving of a chance to become a head coach in this league. I think he's done a hell of a job.
(On if he and Heimerdinger have similar offensive philosophies coming from the same system in Denver)
I don't know about that. You have to work with what you got from a standpoint of what type of philosophy do you incorporate with your personnel. Naturally, the zone-running scheme is something we have in common but I think everybody does something a little different. Mike has definitely put his touch on their offense. They've done a hell of a job. The job he's done with Kerry [Collins] and a young back and they're as good upfront as there is in this league. I'm just very impressed with what he's done and expected it to be honest with you. He's done a hell of a job as long as he's been in this league.
(On how much it affects a team when you have to change quarterbacks midseason)
I can't speak for them, they'd have to answer that question. For us, it's two years now that we've been through this same thing. We've lost Matt [Schaub] for a period of time in both seasons and Sage [Rosenfels] came in and he played very well last year. This year when he came in we weren't as consistent a football team but I think anytime you're bouncing around at the quarterback position it makes it difficult but at the same time that has kind of become a part of this league. Getting through a season with one is kind of unheard of these days. I know Mike's been very fortunate there with Kerry in Tennessee. Of course, we're fighting our own battles here but it's good to have Matt back.
(On if Mario Williams is still playing as well as he did last season)
Yeah, he's been very consistent. He's become a fine player, he's on the field all the time, never comes off the field. He's grown as a player from year one to now and that's what you're looking for. He's still very, very young so I think there's obviously another level for him to reach here in his career but he's been very consistent for us and has played very well this year.
(On what stands out to him about the Titans defense)
They're exceptional. The first thing that stands out is how physical they are as a group, all 11 of them. Whether it's upfront, linebackers, secondary, the way they tackle, the way they gang-tackle. They bring the physical aspect of the game to you as a football team. It's very impressive. If they get you in throw situations you're in trouble. They rush the passer extremely well. They play with a lot of passion and that's what you would expect from a Jeff Fisher football team and the job that they've done there defensively.
(On where he would attribute the success that the Texans have had playing in December)
I don't know. We're looking for some success across the board. We finished well last year, we finished well the first year. I don't know, players just keep plugging, keep battling. We're trying to move forward as an organization and a football team. I think our guys are very young, I think we've gotten better throughout the seasons all three years. There's still a lot of football yet to play this year but we got off to a good start last week in Green Bay.
(On the development of Owen Daniels)
I think the key to his development is that he's become a complete player. We've always known he's had the receiving abilities to make plays and those type of things, we're trying to get him better on the line of scrimmage. In this league usually tight ends have a specialty, it's either as a receiver or as a blocking guy and rarely do you find one that can do both. I think he's very capable of being a two-way guy for many, many years. You know, he's made a step forward as a player this year. He's played from day one since he got here so he's got a lot of snaps under his belt, he's learning this league and understanding the players he's playing against. I think his improvement in the run game has made him a better player.
(On if fans in Houston are still upset about the Oilers moving to Tennessee)
I don't know. You'd have to ask the fans down here. I know that there's history that goes back there and many people involved in that organization that were part of this one here. This is a new one that we're getting started here so I don't know if I'm the guy to answer that.
