EDITOR'S NOTE: Cornerback Antwaun Molden a third-round draft choice at No. 79 overall out of Eastern Kentucky, is providing fans with a periodic diary entry throughout his rookie season on HoustonTexans.com.
To all my fans –
I loved practicing against the Saints last week. It was good to see different faces instead of going against the same opponent, and it was a great changeup to go down there to see where we matchup as a team.
It was definitely competitive – high intensity. A couple of fights broke out, but that was just from going hard, you know? Nothing personal out there.
When the game came around, I was just antsy to get on the field. But you know, I tell you what: I wasn't even nervous. I was just excited to get on the field for the first time as an NFL player. I feed off the crowd; I feed off the energy of the crowd. I think that's one of my strong points.
I had a little tightness in my groin before the Denver game, but it felt good on Saturday. I think little tweaks like that are very irritating because you want to get back on the field. But you have to do whatever you can – ice it, any kind of rehab, whatever it takes.
I didn't really get any of the gumbo or the Cajun food in New Orleans, but I would definitely have to say the best thing I ate while I was there was the filet mignon at the team hotel. That was good.
Actually, that was my first trip to New Orleans. It's a fast city. You definitely can't stay there for long because it's a party city – you know, Bourbon Street, the casinos. We had a good time in our time off, but we kept it clean, kept it short. We kept it efficient, because we were focused on our task at hand and that was competing against the Saints and becoming a better football team.
{QUOTE}There are some technique areas that I had in the game that I could've done better on. I'm just ready and I can't wait to fix them and get back to the second game.
This next one is going to be another great opportunity. I know one thing – that you can't get caught up in the hype. Even though we'll be playing the Dallas Cowboys in Texas Stadium and there's a lot of tradition there, you just have to go out there and focus on what you prepared yourself to do in the classroom, out of the classroom, on the field.
You just have to stay focused and be consistent, and you just have to know your game plan. They are a good team, but you can't get focused and caught up in the hype.
If I get to cover T.O. at all, put it like this: I'm prepared for it. I think that how well I prepare myself will determine everything. I'm not sure if I'll have a chance to play with the first team at all on Friday, but again, I'm going to work hard. Whatever the coaches decide, I'll be ready for it.
I've watched a couple of episodes of the Cowboys on that HBO show "Hard Knocks." I think it's a great show. It shows all the fans what goes on in training camp. The intensity part, it's everything that we go through in practice: the seven-on-sevens, the one-on-ones, etc. They do a good job portraying that like it really is.
Anyway, thanks for your support. You guys motivate me to be here. Take care, and God bless.
- Antwaun
ANTWAUN MOLDEN DIARY ARCHIVE
**8/8** - Excited for my first game; rookie hazing
**8/2** - Training camp - tiring, but not overwhelming
**7/27**;/1218232188794/) - Life as a rookie in a new city
Questions for Antwaun that you'd like to see answered in his next diary entry? Post a comment, or send an e-mail to the editor at **nscurfield@houstontexans.com*.*
