Seattle Seahawks head coach Jim Mora and linebacker Aaron Curry spoke to the Houston media via conference call on Wednesday.
Seahawks head coach Jim Mora
(on if he is surprised that the Texans are 5-7) "Well, they are a very talented team and they've got a lot of playmakers on that offense and some players on defense that we really respect a lot. I don't know. This is a tough league. Things happen."
(on the development of QB Matt Schaub since he was with him with the Falcons) "We had him for three years there. I really think he's become a very good player, which we knew he would. He always had the qualities and the physical attributes that you look for in a quarterback. He's big. He's strong. He's physical. He's extremely smart and a good decision-maker. Accurate. Can throw deep. Can throw short. Can stay alive in the pocket. Good leadership skills. I'm not surprised at all that he's developed into what he's developed."
(on LB Aaron Curry) "Aaron is a very good football player. We're really happy with him. We like the way that he's improving on a weekly basis. He's an impact player. We're happy he's on our team."
(on what specifically makes him as good as he is) "He's got great physical attributes. He's big. He's strong. He's fast. He's quick. He's explosive. He's sudden. He can overpower guys in pass rush if you get him on a back. He can cover most tight ends because of his speed. He continues to get better every week. It's tough being a rookie linebacker in this league. There are just a lot of things that you have to learn. There's a process you have to go through. He's making his way through it just fine."
(on LB Brian Cushing) "I really like him. We liked him coming out and watching him on film, that hasn't changed. I think he's a very, very good player."
(on if he is surprised that Cushing has made an impact so quickly) "He's a smart kid. You got that feeling when you went through the interview process with him at the combine. He's got a great work ethic. He's very driven. No, I'm not surprised. I'm not surprised at all to see him playing the way he's playing."
(on if Curry has contributed a large part to the success of his defense the last two weeks) "He is a part of it. Yeah. The last two weeks, he's played well. He had a couple games there where he struggled, but then he's come on strong a little bit the last couple weeks. He seems very focused in practice and meetings. I think he's excited about getting better."
(on how frustrating it has been not being successful running the ball) "Yeah, it is frustrating. It's something we're working hard on. It's a new system for these guys and we had a bunch of different lineups up front early in the season. So it's been hard for us to get consistency. As of the last few weeks, we're actually running the ball a little bit better so we've got to continue to make improvements there."
(on if the rumors of Mike Holmgren returning to the Seahawks is distracting) "No, not at all."
(on how they've been able to focus on just football) "That's our job. That's what we focus on."
Seahawks LB Aaron Curry(on what the key has been to the success of his rookie season) "Just trusting the coaching from the coaches and really sticking to playing with all the fundamentals that we've been taught as rookies."
(on if the adjustment has been very difficult) "No, I wouldn't say it's been difficult. It's definitely had its ups and downs. It hasn't been the smoothest ride I've ever taken, but I wouldn't say it was difficult. I've had a lot of fun playing so far."
(on if he has gotten better as the season progressed) "Oh yeah, definitely. There were definitely some ups and downs, but our defensive coordinator and Coach Mora did a great job of making things easier on our defense and less complicated and allowing me to do less thinking and just playing, which has helped me elevate my game."
(on if he has he hit the rookie wall) "Well, a few weeks back, they claimed that I had hit the wall when I wasn't on the up – I was more on the down or just too leveled out. So, there have been some rough times in my season, like any other rookie. We've all had rough times in our seasons, and the key is just to figure out how to bounce back from it and really bust through the wall and just get better."
(on if he is tired mentally or physically) "Right now, I'm actually feeling rather fresh. I feel re-energized. I feel like I got my second wind."
(on what he thinks about LB Brian Cushing) "I think he's an amazing, athletic linebacker. He's playing very well for the Texans, and I just hope he continues to play with that same fire and relentlessness that you see in him on film."
(on if being the first and second linebackers taken in the draft creates competition between he and Cushing) "No, I wouldn't say between the two of us. There's definitely going to be some competition between our two teams come Sunday, but I wouldn't necessarily say that I'm going out every Sunday just to play or be better than Brian Cushing. He's not going out every Sunday just to play or be better than Aaron Curry. We're both going out to play the game that we love playing and do whatever it takes to help our team win."
(on the pressure that comes with being drafted so high) "I mean, I wouldn't necessarily say it's a bunch of pressure. I know what I got myself into as far as being the first 'backer taken and being drafted so high, but I kind of ignore all that and just put myself in the shoes of an Average Joe and get back to what I know best, and that's just hard work and being very focused on being successful."
(on spending time with Cushing before the draft in New York and if they have kept in touch) "No, I haven't really been able to keep in touch with him during the season. We kind of lost touch after the draft; I never really got his contacts or whatever. But it always just feels good to see him on film playing well and doing such a good job for that defense."
