Head Coach Gary Kubiak(on how practice went today) "We practiced good. We need to come back and focus. The best thing in this business is that when you get beat, you get back to work and we had a good practice today."
(on if there is anything new with the team today) "Nothing new other than (CB Karl) Paymah. He's out here and I think he'll be able to help us here on special teams right away. It's good to have him out here. We've got some nicks to work through in practice down at linebacker and receiver positions."
(on injuries at the linebacker position) "(LB) Kevin Bentley had surgery today. He came out of the game and was fine. His knee swelled up and we drained it. After we drained it he came back next morning and it swelled up again. We took him in and had a little issue that we had to take care of. He had surgery this morning and is going to be fine. He will be back. I can't give you a timetable on it right now. (LB Darryl) Sharpton did not practice. Obviously that get us in a little bit of a bind there from the standpoint of bodies, but we'll be okay. (LB David) Nixon has to step up."
(on LB Kevin Bentley's play) "He played good defensively the other day too. He went in early in the game and had a series or two and played well. He's our special team captain and we count on him. If it was at all possible, he would be here today, but we had to go ahead and take care of it. I would expect that if anybody would make back quicker than normal then it would be (LB) Kevin (Bentley)."
(on what has impressed him about Oakland the most) "First, they're one of only two teams that are in the top 10 both offensively and defensively right now. That tells you that they've got pretty good balance. They have a hell of a defense that's number two in the league. I think they're very well offensively with the new quarterback for the last two weeks. We've got to play as good as we could play down there, but we've got to clean our self up. We can't hurt ourselves as a team. That's our focus right now."
(on Raiders QB Bruce Gradkowski) "He's very mobile. They're good at running the ball and then they add his mobility and those types of things that make it very difficult to defend from that standpoint. They've been moving the ball very well throughout the season. They should be sitting here just like us at 2-1."
(on what kind of problems Raiders RB Darren McFadden poses for the Texans defense running and catching the ball) "He has homerun ability. So that's something you've got to respect. They can motion him out of the backfield and throw him the ball and just a lot of things from that standpoint. We understand that because we played against him before."
(on if there is any special intensity from the team coming off a loss) "First of all, our focus last week was good. I could see that our details are better today. If you're made of the right stuff then it should be. We had a couple of nice weeks and a lot of good things said about us, but it goes away real quick. So, we go to refocus and go on the road to see what each guy is made of and the team as a whole. It's a big test for us."
(on fixing problems with pass protecting) "All I could say is the bottom line is we've got too many sacks. So, how you fix it is by blocking better and calling the right plays and get help in certain places. Those are the things that we're going to continue to do. The best remedy for that is to stay committed to running the football."
(on what makes Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha so special) "They'll send him with one guy like you watched him against (Cardinals WR Larry) Fitzgerald last week. He'll just come out of the locker room, ask, "Where he's at?" He's got them all day. That's what he does. He's special and the best at what he does. Will they probably do that with (WR) Andre Johnson? I don't know. They have before and they have not at times. I know one thing, we got to beat all 11 of them not just one. We've got to play good across the board and not just up front."
(on the situation with DE Aaron Schobel) "I really want be remove from that type of stuff this time of the year because I'm so focused on what we're doing. The bottom line is I know there's been a lot of dialogue and it led up to a workout. Throughout the workout I know that (general manager) Rick (Smith) and his agent had some conversation. The bottom line is that he's maybe committed to staying retired. I'm sure there are two sides to what is going on. I got to trust Rick in what we're doing and how we're evaluating those guys because my focus is on those 53 guys and getting them ready to go play the next game. We're where we're at. We've got (DE) Ryan (Denney); we've got Wale (DE Adewale Ogunleye); we've got to get them going, getting ready to go play the next game."
(on the playing condition of DE Adewale Ogunleye) "You know what, he's better. He wasn't in the same condition (DE) Ryan (Denney) was in when we first got him but we think he's caught up. If he has a good week this week, you could very well see him."
(on WR Andre Johnson) "He didn't do anything (today), but he didn't do anything last Wednesday, too. So let's see where he's at tomorrow. I'm sure it will be a game-time decision and we'll probably know more tomorrow than anything, so let's see."
(on if WR Andre Johnson's ankle injury is any better or worse off than it was last week) "No, I think it's the same. He's sore and he's better today than he was yesterday. We got to see. I don't know. We're getting ready to go."
SS Dominique Barber(on how comfortable he is communicating with SS Bernard Pollard on the field) "It's doesn't feel like I'm out there by myself. Obviously there are 10 other guys out there, but safeties we need to communicate with each other and be on the same page. With (SS) Bernard (Pollard), the way he talks, he makes it easier."
(on how significant an opportunity it is to start at safety) "My dad always says, 'You can't be surprised. You got to be ready.' This is an opportunity for me and I'm going to take it in full stride and go with it."
(on if he would be outspoken like SS Bernard Pollard or reserved like S Eugene Wilson) "I think I'm kind of in the middle. I have my days when I talk a lot too, but it is also day when I really don't want to talk much. I think I'm right in the middle. I think me and (SS) Bernard (Pollard) will be a good mix out there."
(on how he will adapt to his role as a starter) "I've been out where those younger guys have been. I'm just going to be out there and be just loose. With (SS) Bernard (Pollard) being out there, talkative, makes me loose. When I'm loose I can help other guys be loose. I'm excited for this and ready to go."
CB Kareem Jackson(on Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha saying it's great that Jackson gets to learn out on the field) "I think he's right. You live and you learn. The same applies to playing ball. You make mistakes, you learn from them and you go on and try to not make the same mistake twice. It makes you a better player."
(on what he knows about Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha) "I know he's one of the best corners in the game. He's a little taller than me. I watch him. I know he's a great cover corner and he plays a lot of man."
(on if it makes him feel good that Asomugha said he wishes he could've started like they are allowing Jackson to do as a rookie) "Yeah, it made me a feel a whole lot more confident in myself just to go out and work hard. I'm going to have to go through adversity sometimes and unfortunately, now is that time for me. I think I just need to go out this week and have a good weekend and just apply everything in practice to the game. I think I'll be able to bounce back."
(on if he'll try to get any advice from Asomugha after the game if he gets a chance) "Definitely."
(on CB Brice McCain saying their mistakes on film were very fixable) "Oh yeah. I think the main thing, if we can just see what we're doing on film and know the mistakes you've made. Guys are good, but when you know you're not getting beat just off perfect timing, then you know those mistakes are fixable. That's encouraging too."
WR Andre Johnson(on how his ankle feels this week) "It's pretty much a day-by-day thing. Last week, it was kind of feeling the same as it's feeling right now. I can say it may be a little bit more sore this week because I re-aggravated the injury, but it just all depends how it's feeling, how well the treatment is going, how it's responded to the treatment. So I'm just taking it day by day, and once I finish talking to you guys I'll be back in the training room."
(on if he doesn't know whether he'll play or not) "Yeah, that's a fair statement, but as far as me, I plan on playing. That's how I'm preparing, as if I'm going to be out there playing on Sunday."
(on what makes Oakland CB Nnamdi Asomugha so good) "He's long. He has very long arms. He doesn't have to be real close to you to put his hands on you. A lot of times, you look at some receivers and they like to grab defensive backs and pull themselves through when they're running routes, and against him it makes it a little bit tougher because his arms are so long and he can just touch you but you can't reach him. So that's one of the big things that stick out when we watch him on film."
(on whether Oakland CB Nnamdi Asomugha is better than New York Jets CB Darrelle Revis) "I think both of them are great cornerbacks and you can argue about who's better, but I definitely think that they're both the top guys at their position. It's going to be a big challenge for us on Sunday."
(on how he's played against Oakland CB Nnamdi Asomugha in the past) "I feel like I've done well with the opportunities that I've been given. That's pretty much it. When I'm given opportunities, I feel like I go out and make plays, A lot of times, people don't take many attempts at throwing the ball to his side, so that's another big factor that plays into it, but you just try to do your best when you get opportunities."
(on what it means knowing that he and Oakland CB Nnamdi Asomugha have great mutual respect for one another) "I have a lot of respect for everybody I play against, and like I said, he's one of the top guys at his position, so he hits me up in the offseason from time to time and we talk through text message or whatever, but he's a good person off the field. He's a great guy. But all that pretty much goes out the window when you're out on the field playing. But it's a great challenge. It just makes you bring your best game out when you get to play against somebody like that."
(on whether Oakland CB Nnamdi Asomugha covers him one on one) "At times, yeah. It all depends on the scheme. Sometimes he may cover you one on one, sometimes he may not. It just depends on the scheme that they're in."
(on cornerbacks saying they shut him down one on one) "If you can go out and hold a guy to no catches, whether you're covering him one on one or you're not, your defense has done a great job. I really don't get caught up into that one on one or if you're being double-teamed. That's part of the game. We just have to find ways around them and be able to make plays."
(on whether he and Oakland CB Nnamdi Asomugha engage in any friendly trash talking) "He bothers me a lot because I don't speak to him when we play against each other, so he'll come to me after the game and be like, 'Oh, now you want to talk to me.' I'm not a guy who really talks much when I'm out on the field, so he may say something to me. If I give him a good move off of the line, he'll tell me, 'Hey man, that was a good move,' and I won't even respond to him. I'll just walk back to the huddle. So we've had a few of those conversations the few times that we've played against each other."
(on whether he gets more fired up going against a great cornerback) "I think it just brings more attention to the game, period. It's just something that everyone talks about. Do you get more up? I would probably say you do because you know that's something that everyone is going to be looking for. So you want to go out and try to give it your best because you know he's going to be doing the same thing."
(on what the team has worked on to improve in the red zone) "We work on the red zone pretty much every day in practice. The whole thing about it is just execution. We've been able to go down there and score points this year. This past game, we weren't able to, so that was bad on our part, but it's something that we remind ourselves of it pretty much every day when we're in meetings and when we're out on the practice field."
(on whether he is going to have to play through pain with his ankle injury) "Yeah, I have a high ankle sprain, so they're pretty nagging. It's something that's going to bother me until it gets fully healed. After I re-aggravated it last game, they told me that it hadn't gotten any worse; it was just that every time I take a hit on it or get tackled a certain way, I'm going to feel pain. The only thing I can do is just come out for a few plays and if I'm able to go out and keep playing, I can continue playing, so that's just pretty much how it's going to be until it fully heals."
(on whether he's thought about sitting out the game to rest his ankle) "It's something I've thought about. I haven't had the chance to – me and (Texans head) coach (Gary) Kubiak haven't talked about it or anything. It's something I've thought about, though. If I feel like I can play, I'm not really worried at all. If I'm able to go out and play, I'm not worried about resting it."
CB Brice McCain(on what took from the game last week and how will he go forward) "We have a lot corrections to make. I think we should make them. We have to come back tomorrow and practice like we did today. We had a very good day of practice. That's what we got to do, have a good practice every day this week."
(on what corrections need to be made) "It's just technique errors. That's all."
(on being "thrown in the fire" as a young cornerback) "If you're a corner, you have to go through it anyway. It's our job to be on an island by yourself. It's going to happen. It's the NFL. There are a lot of great players around you. You got to fight to win every week."
(on if the issues in secondary are mental or physical) "It's mental. It doesn't have anything to do with our physical abilities. We're young guys. We could run all day. It's all about the mental part now. All we got to do is come out and focus on what we got to do and make it happen."
SS Bernard Pollard(on the attitude of the team) "We know and understand that this is the game of football. You win some, you lose some. Obviously, last week we weren't on our game. That game put so many things in perspective for us and it takes something like that to kind of get us off that high. It was a great day of practice today. I thought we were good running around. I thought, speaking for the defense, we ran around; we flew around. The corners played good today. We're going to have a test Sunday, but I think we're ready to stand up for that and we're ready to kind of conquer that."
(on S Dominique Barber) "Well, Dominique's going to be ready. Dominique's going in; Dominique's going to be the starter. Dominique's exciting in centerfield. He really is. He plays at a high level. I'm excited to be next to him. We're ready to play. I think our biggest thing is to be able to show our fans and to be able to show the league that we can stop the pass. I think we did a great job as far as the run; that's something that we need to fix up on is the passing game, and we will do that."
(on how it felt watching the video of last Sunday's game vs. Dallas) "You know you screwed up on the field, but I think like I said, things like this put so many things into perspective watching them in front of your teammates, your peers, and for them to watch you screw up. I go back to New Orleans (in preseason, August 21), when we did this in New Orleans. We had MA's all over, missed tackles everywhere, and coach Kub (head coach Gary Kubiak) showed it to us and some people took it to heart. I think we need to take this passing game, we need to take that to heart because we can't win, we can't go where we want to go giving up the passing yards like we've been giving up. I think if we can contain the pass, I think we're doing a great job with the run, we've got to continue to get better week-in and week-out and we're ready to practice our butts off, so we can go ahead and do that."
(on how hungry the secondary is to get an interception) "Oh, very hungry. I think we've dropped three in three games, and I think as a secondary guy, you want to get your hands on the ball. I think when we're playing the way we're playing, you really don't have an opportunity to get picks like you want to because, what, we're giving up almost 400 yards passing a game, all they've got to do is just back up and throw the ball right down the field. You've got a one-on-one with a cornerback, you've got to hope your free safety gets over the top or your strong safety if we're in Cover 2, so we've got to get better; we really do. We've got to get better. We understand what we've got to do and we're ready to do that."
(on what FS Dominique Barber brings to the defense) "Barb is a heated football player. He knows and understands that he's a starter in this league; he knows and understands what it takes to go out here and play at a high level, and I feed off that. I really do. I feed off that, and we're going to have a great time back there. We really are. It will be a difference this week. I promise you it will be a difference. So many people are panicking – fans, some people. Don't panic. This was the third game of the season. If you expected us to go undefeated, that's fine. That's high on your standards, but we know and understand that this is the NFL. We're excited to play football and we understand what it takes; we understand that we didn't play at a high level last week, but we have to get better and we will."
(on what he does to help the young cornerbacks) "It doesn't matter about how young they are. You're expected to play. Everybody else is saying how they should be doing and whatever, but you know what? Tell those young corners to give that money back; they're not going to give their money back, so we expect you to play good. We expect you to go break up a pass. We expect you to pick off passes, but like I said, it took a game like this to put things into perspective. We had a great day in practice today. We honestly did, and for (CB) Kareem (Jackson) and for (CB) Brice (McCain) and GQ (CB Glover Quin), we all had our best day today, I thought. We have to continue to get better. We're going to get the balls. They will come. We can't go out there trying to make plays, because if you do that, that's when you're going to really get burned deep. And in the back end, you can't mess up, you can't have MA's, you can't have missed tackles, because it's always a touchdown on the line there."
(on Oakland's wide receivers) "Oh, man. Speed. They have speed; they're really good receivers; their quarterback's going to get the ball up. He's going to let you go up and he's going to let you fight for that ball. Their guys are fast, they're hungry; they're a different Raider team. They really are. This is a different Raiders team, but we're ready. We're ready. As hungry as they are, we are hungrier and we want a win. We need a win. We need playoffs, but we're taking it one game at a time and this is going to be a good game."
LB DeMeco Ryans(on how much he is looking forward to LB Brian Cushing rejoining the team) "It's going to be great to get him back. He's been a good player for us, a good playmaker, so it's going to be good to get him back."
(on if the feeling this week is similar to that after the New Orleans preseason game) "No, I don't think so. It doesn't feel that way to me. We dropped one game. Of course, we're upset about it and can play better. Drop one, but we just move on to the next one."
(on how badly they want to force some more turnovers) "Yeah, we're all talking about turnovers. We were working hard at it today, trying to get the ball out. I think now, guys are more conscious of it during the week, so I feel like it will carryover on Sunday and I feel like we'll definitely get a couple out."
(on turnovers coming in bunches) "When turnovers start coming, like you said, they come in bunches. We're looking forward to that starting this week. That would be huge for us. It would just put our team in such a better position, once we get turnovers. If we give our offense a short field, it sets up so much better to take over a game."
(on if it is a coincidence that they are at a 'defensive crossroads' going into the Oakland game) "It's different issues. Last year, it was more so the running game. We let a lot of runs get out on us. I feel like we are still a lot further along as a defense than we were last year at this time."
QB Matt Schaub(on the Raiders defense) "They're a very talented group. Their front is very athletic and physical. In the back end, they have some really athletic guys with some speed. They have one of the best corners in the league."
(on Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugah) "He's a long rangy guy with a lot of speed. He could get his hands on you and affect the timing of routes. He's a smart player."
(on the Texans wide receivers could do to help avoid sacks) "It's just understanding the concepts and the coverages. That's something as a whole that we need to be better at. We're working on that in adjusting our routes and being more on the same page and on time."
(on if he had to think differently about the way WR Andre Johnson runs his routes now that he's not at full strength) "No, we just call our plays and have our progressions and go through our reads. There's nothing to really adjust. There might be something that he adjusts to. As far as myself, I still go through my reads and my steps. We really can't adjust in everything we do because of his ankle. If he's going to be out there we expect everyone to play at a high level."
(on refocusing and getting back on track after last week's loss) "That's what we do in this business. No matter if you win or lose. You come back and watch the film Monday and as soon as you walk out of this building Monday afternoon you're past it and you moved on to the next one. You can't let linger or else you're not getting ready and doing your job to be focus for the next week. We're on to Oakland. Last week is history. We're 2-1 going into this week and we're looking forward to getting our third win."
(on how difficult it is to play in Oakland) "It's tough to play anywhere in this league, but that place is unusual in that regard. It's one of the tougher places to play from the moment you drive in to the moment you drive out. It's just something that we have to deal with. We've been in there before. We've played against this team every year since I've been here. I've been there twice so we know what type of environment we're going into."
(on the significance of going 3-1 for the first time in franchise history) "That doesn't matter to us. We just want to get our third win. We're looking forward in doing it this week. To go 3-1 to start the year in the first month of the season we'll be very excited about that. That's all what it's about right now is getting our third win."
(on avoiding sacks) "There's a few of those times it's on me. There are few times I could've thrown the ball away and just gotten rid of it to avoid one or two sacks. It's part of the game, we threw the ball a bunch against Washington with a team that run a ton of exotic blitzes. It's tough from that standpoint. We're getting it right we're going to be fine. It's not a big deal. Whatever it takes to win is fine with me. If we would have to come to Washington and I get sacked five times to get the win so be it. We are going to get it right."
(on if head coach Gary Kubiak's primary focus this week is protecting the quarterback) "It's nice to have the head coach in your side from that standpoint. He's played this position in this league. Obviously this is something we want to do every week. It allows us to find receivers and get to our playmakers down the field. They're a good group and don't blitz as much as some teams. Their front four is pretty solid as well."
(on the Texans red zone offense) "That's something that we definitely have to be better at. Last week we stubbed our toe and didn't execute down there the way we should the way we know how. We've talked about it and working on it. We just have to be detailed in our approach."
Oakland Raiders Head Coach Tom Cable Conference Call(on how much he believes his team outplayed the Cardinals last week despite losing the game) "Well, this is about results. We played well at times. We did a lot of good things, but left too much offense on the field. It is what it is in this league. You got to play till the end. Whatever it takes to win, you got to keep doing it.
(on how much the offense has improved since he made the quarterback switch from QB Jason Campbell to QB Bruce Gradkowski) "I think there are some things we're doing better. We're scoring more points. Really, we're leaving so much out there I don't know that who's playing quarterback has a lot to do with it right now. (Raiders QB) Bruce (Gradkowski) did a nice job. He could play better and was inconsistent, but he'll be the first to tell you that he could've made more plays."
(on things the team could improve on in red zone situations) "Just making the plays that are there for us to make. We don't have to force anything and push the envelope. We just have to make the plays that are there to make."
(on what has impressed him the most about RB Darren McFadden this year) "I think the fact that he's healthy. When he's been healthy in his first two years, he was very productive. He would be healthy for a game or a game and a half and then not be healthy for three or four weeks. I don't know if we got to truly see (Raiders RB) Darren (McFadden). This year he has been able to come out and put it together three times. Our guys are blocking for him. He's healthy and that's the bottom line."
(on the issues in the Texans pass defense from his standpoint) "I don't know about all that. I just know that we came down there last year and heard a lot of the same things and they got after us pretty good. Their front four is a dynamic group. I think it's the key at what they do. (Texans SS Bernard) Pollard has played well at the strong safety spot. The linebackers are very good players. (Texans LB DeMeco) Ryans is a special player, but the front four kind of changed the game on us last year. You watch them this year, they're doing a lot of the same things. They're like a lot of teams and just trying to find their way through it and put it all together."
(on what makes Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha a great player) "I think it's the preparation that he does. I think this is a guy, in a unique way, spends a lot of time, much like coaches do in preparing himself. He's obviously talented and can run. He's long and got all the physical attributes. What really separates him is preparation."
(on what it's like to have a player like Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha to put up against the opponent's best players) "I think first and foremost, the guy wants that challenge. I think he's open to that. He went and did it last week against a very good player in (Cardinals WR Larry) Fitzgerald. What it does to the rest of your team, I think it frees you up to help in other areas and do some different things."
(on the difference in preparation facing Arizona WR Larry Fitzgerald last week and Texans WR Andre Johnson this week) "The thing about Houston is that (Texans WR) Kevin Walter, WR Jacoby Jones and TE Owen Daniels are good players. They have a tremendous runner. I think it's the diversity of weapons that they have. You can't spend all your time on one guy with this team because those four other guys will beat you."
(on what the things he believes he has the advantage on in the matchup between the Raiders defensive line and the Texans offensive line) "I don't think you have an edge on anybody in this league. I think it's a matter of doing it on Sunday. You got to try and get after a quarterback. As I mentioned earlier, there are so many weapons in their lineup. You can't focus on one thing because the rest of it will get you."
(on why the Texans offensive line has been struggling from his perspective) "I know this, their offensive line know how to run the zone play as good as anybody I've seen in a long time. To say that they're struggling, that's not for me to say."
Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha(on what type of matchup problems Texans WR Andre Johnson poses to the Raiders defense) "He poses matchup problems to any defense in the NFL. This is a guy that's fearless. He's a big time competitor. If he's not the top, then he's right up there with the best in the league. Any defense has to be aware of where he is."
(on if there's anybody else that can read defenses better than Texans QB Matt Schaub and Colts QB Peyton Manning) "(Texans QB) Matt (Schaub) is definitely up there as one of the top as far as reading coverages and those types of things. Whatever his background is, you can tell he was guy that was taught well because he is very decisive with the ball. That helps him out a lot."
(on how much, percentage-wise, did he cover Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald last week) "If we had 65 plays, I'm sure I was in man (coverage) on him for about 62."
(on how he get mentally prepared every week knowing that he will be covering his opponent's top receiver) "I'm just mentally ready. I'm just mentally prepared so I don't have to start over every week and try to get into the zone. I just go really hard in the film room and on the practice field so that game day can be a little easier."
(on how does Texans WR Andre Johnson compare to Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald) "They're very similar as far as size and ability. They both could go up for the ball and they're both competitors when the ball is in the air. They're both physical guys. Both guys could stretch the field. So, they are pretty similar and they're both rare talents for their size."
(on does he get extra motivated when he faces the NFL's elite wide receivers) "No, I try to treat every week the same so that I don't sell myself short some weeks. Every week, I try to prepare for the battle like it's the greatest battle I ever played in. Now obviously, that's not always going to be the case because there are different calibers of receivers. Mentally, that's the way I prepare going against (Texans WR) Ander (Johnson) or (Cardinals) Larry (Fitzgerald) or whether I'm going against a guy that doesn't really have a name yet."
(on how do he stays sharp knowing that the ball is not thrown his direction that much) "I don't know that the ball is coming at me every play. Every play I go in there thinking that the ball is coming. It's been something that has helped me to stay as sharp as possible. Today in this league and the way they're calling it, you're not going to perfect every snap, but I always go in believing that the ball is coming my way. So I have to be as close to perfect as possible. I think that's what actually keeps me in the game. It's not until the end of the game that I realized that I didn't have any ball had one or two balls.
(on if there is a receiver that gives him trouble) "There are plenty of receivers that can give me trouble in certain routes or if I'm not focused. Throughout the game I prepare in a way that I won't get into positions where I'm in trouble like that."
(on what routes give him the most trouble) "It's not the routes. It's my focus. I've seen just about all the routes a team could throw. I just have to be focused on every single snap."
(on how does Dolphins WR Brandon Marshall compare to the other elite receivers in the NFL) "(Dolphins WR) Brandon (Marshall) is a similar guy when you talk about the bigger guys in the league that could make plays and you have to be conscious of where they are on every snap. He is another guy that is big and in that upper echelon of wide receivers in the league."
(on what impresses him on film about Texans WRs Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones) "Those guys are great. I've seen them on film. I've played against (Texans WR) Kevin (Walter) for three years now and I've always respected him. We'll always say a word or two at the end of the game. The way that both of those guys compete and the talent that they have. I know especially with Kevin, that's a guy that is another fearless guy. He wants to compete and he wants to make plays. It shows up on film. I have a lot respect for their entire receiving corps as a whole."
(on what advice would he have for Texans rookie CB Kareem Jackson) "That's good for him. I think that's wonderful. Obviously he's going to feel terrible about it because he wants to be perfect and he wants to be a great player. I think it's wonderful. I think you have to be thrown in the fire and you have to have those rough plays because those are the plays you learn from. If he sticks with and continues to work hard he'll start to see it turn around at some point because it always does. It's just a matter of being patient."
(on what's it like to be considered the best at his position) "It makes you want to bring your best at every snap. It's one of those things that you don't want to curtail. You don't want to come up behind. It just makes you want to work that much harder when people respect you in that way."
(on if he went through any struggles when he was a rookie) "As a rookie, I didn't play much. I played special teams. In my second year I played safety. I went through those rough patches, but I have more rough patches in my third year because that's when I really started to play corner. This guy (Texans CB Kareem Jackson) has the benefit of playing corner as a rookie. He's going to be able to improve a lot sooner than I was able to."
