The Texans practiced Thursday at the Methodist Training Center. After, head coach Gary Kubiaka and some of the players answered questions from the media. The following is a transcript of their respective interviews.
Head Coach Gary KubiakTE Owen DanielsRB Arian FosterWR Andre JohnsonWR Jacoby Jones
Head Coach Gary Kubiak(on the key to winning in the season finale against the Jaguars) "Normally when teams get to this point they are kind of beat up and both of our football teams are. We probably are going to have some new faces step up. We just got to go out there and play with the same effort we've been playing with and we got to find a way to make a few more plays. They are a very physical football team. Every time we get together with them it's very physical. Our focus is good today."
(on taking personal satisfaction in possibility QB Matt Schaub becoming the fifth player in NFL history to throw for at least 9,000 yards in a two-year period and RB Arian Foster becoming the sixth player in history to have 1,500 yards rushing and 600 yards receiving) "Well that's great for the football team. We talk about having balance as an offense and we haven't had that, but this year when you look at having a receiver in the top three or whatever (WR) Andre (Johnson) is and (RB) Arian (Foster) where he's at tells you that we went out there got some of those things accomplished. It says about the job that has been done by a lot of people, but the credit needs to go to those guys upfront they've done a hell of a job."
(on any injury updates) "(K Neil) Rackers did not practice today. That's been going on. Obviously (WR) Andre (Johnson) didn't and we'll see where he's at tomorrow and (CB Sherrick) McManis is out. Other than that, everybody went today. We're good."
(on if LB Darryl Sharpton had surgery today) "No he has not, but I'll let you guys know. I'm not quite sure when it is."
(on what backups will he be looking to have more playing time this week) "What I'm saying is there are a lot of guys going out on the field. (LB) Kevin Bentley goes back to the Mike (middle) linebacker. He did not play there last week. So he's got to go back and lead the defense from that standpoint. Other than that it's going to be the same guys that we had. My point is everybody is missing some players. (WR) Jacoby (Jones) stepped up last week and we need him to come back and play well. So we'll see how it goes."
(on if there has been problems where he saw players down emotionally or quit) "Have there been problems emotionally? You're damn right there has been. It's been tough, but has there been any problem with effort or detail? No, it's impressive. The way we practiced today it's impressive. These guys are working hard. I've told ya'll that all the time. I've been around some situations when it gets tough and it's hard to get people going and motivated and get them going, but these guys push themselves and handle themselves the right way. We need to get a win for them."
(on Jaguars QB Trent Edwards) "I just studied him coming out of college. He's got a very good arm and moves very well. So he fits what they do. So I imagine that we'll see the same stuff they do with (Jaguars QB) David (Garrard)."
(on if RB Arian Foster can handle 40 carries this week in order to capture the NFL rushing title) "(RB) Arian (Foster) can handle it. I don't k now if it will happen, but he can handle it. He's carried it 30-something times before and held up. He'll be alright."
(on if it is important to him for RB Arian Foster to capture the NFL rushing title) "I think it's important to the team. I think it's important to the offense. Not me personally, but I think it's something that's hard to get in this league and to have the opportunity to get it. Like I said, we are not going into the game and say that we are just going to give it to (RB) Arian (Foster) and see if he'll win the rushing title. We want to win the game, but I think that it's important to everybody that it gets done."
TE Owen Daniels (on how hard head coach Gary Kubiak worked to get his team ready this season) "He's worked as hard as any other season. Probably even harder just because what was expected out of us and what we expected out of each other. It's a team game, you know. Everybody has to help each other out and we didn't help each other out this year as much as we could. That includes not helping Kub (head coach Gary Kubiak) too. He's the head man, so all the blame could end up on him, but if you ask the guys in here, he had us focused all year we just haven't been able to finish games and that's no fault to him."
(on having a losing record other players on other team would not be behind their coach) "He's treated us great. It's like a broken record of how he prepares us and how much work he's put in not in just this year, but over the past years to get us to a point where a ton is expected out of us. It just didn't work out this year."
(on having head coach Gary Kubiak's back after Kubiak had the players' back all season) "That's the type of coach he is. That's why we respect him so much."
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RB Arian Foster(on what he would expect for the fans' reaction this weekend) "You never know. Hopefully they'll support us because we are going to go out there and play as hard as we can. We've been doing that all season. We just haven't caught a few back here and there. You never know."
(on what has been the highlight for him this season) "Obviously, just the success I've been able to have this year. It's kind of bittersweet and it's my first year to start a full season and I had a lot of success. It been a good year for me individually, but we didn't accomplish what we wanted to as a team."
(on if he captured the NFL rushing title, would his experience be less sweet because of the team's performance) "Yes absolutely. You always want to produce, but if your production isn't helping the team win then it's kind of void in a way. I'm glad that we have been productive in the run game than we have this year, but haven't been able to get wins."
*WR Andre Johnson *(on the status of his ankle) "I'm just doing the same thing that I've been doing in the past however many weeks. I'm just trying to do everything I can to see if I can play on Sunday."
(on if he's going to any chances on his ankle to add to his statistics this evening) "I'm not really worried about that. I would rather see this team in a different situation than to be worried about some stats. That's pretty much it."
(on if he's going to follow the advice of doctors to determine to play this weekend or follow his gut) "It will be a little bit of both, but I have the final say-so and we'll go from there."
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*WR Jacoby Jones *(on if he's seen anything different from the Jaguars as compared to the last time they met) "No, they're the Jacksonville Jaguars. They are a competitive team. They got great players and they are going to come to work."
(on if the best statement for the team to make to keep head coach Gary Kubiak is to go out and win Sunday) "We love (head) coach (Gary Kubiak). He's a great coach. He's one of the best coaches I ever had. If that's what it takes, we are going to go out and bust our behinds and get this W."
