Each Thursday throughout the 2007 season (except for Week 15), we will conduct interviews with players and stream them live on Texans TV. This week, we featured starting running back Ahman Green, a four-time Pro Bowl selection who has rushed for more than 8,500 career yards.
The best part about this series of live interviews is that fans can submit their own questions for the player by **clicking here**. Please include your name and where you're from.
Click on the window to the right to view the archived version of the Ahman Green interview. Below is a transcript of the interview.
1) David McGee (Houston, TX): Last week you said you were going to knock the rust off in practice. Did you feel like you did that when you played the Titans?
Ahman Green: For the most part, I did. I had to also get used to the timing with the offensive line and getting back into the live game action, which I had to do against the Titans- and you know running the ball, catching the ball and picking up the blitz.
Brooke Bentley (Texans TV): It's hard coming back when you have speed coming at you like you did from the Titans?
Ahman Green: It didn't take long to get used to it. I just had to figure out what they were doing and they were doing a lot of stunts with the defensive linemen. The linebackers didn't do too much blitzing. It was more with their big guys, trying to get our big guys confused.
2) Daryl Micham (Jal, NM):First, how are the injuries doing and would you say you're back to 100 percent now?
Ahman Green: I don't know about 100 percent, but they're getting better. It's something that's really going to take awhile to get better. It's really not gong to be 100 percent until I get off of it for a while, and that won't happen until the offseason.
3) Daryl Micham (Jal, NM): Second, the team has had to deal with a lot this week. There was the disappointing last-second loss to the Titans, getting ready to face a team like San Diego and then dealing with the west coast fires and not knowing were you are going to play. Are the mental issues affecting you and the team more difficult than the norm?
Ahman Green: For myself, I'm just taking it like any other week. Regardless of where we play, we have to play a game. I'm not really worried about it. Some of the guys have been asking where we're going to be playing at, but I'm just going out there, regardless of if we play here or San Diego or Dallas or the other possibilities. Just go out there and be ready to play no matter what.
4) Terry (Houston, TX): Where do you want the game against the Chargers to be?
Ahman Green: It doesn't really matter. It would be nice if it was here because we wouldn't have to travel. We're already here and San Diego would have to do the traveling. It doesn't really matter at all.
Brooke Bentley (Texans TV): For you and Matt Schaub, it might be nice to have that extra day for your injuries.
Ahman Green: Yeah, it would be good – an extra day to heal up, an extra day to rest and an extra day for our coaches to get ready for the Chargers because they've got a really good team. Even though they are 3-3, they're kind of where we are because they still have good players.
5) Rich (Houston, TX): How are you preparing to face Shawne Merriman?
Ahman Green: Be ready to know where he's at. I know his number. I know he's a big guy, so just know where he's at - at all times. When he blitzes, you've got to be prepared for whatever because he can do a lot. And he probably outweighs me by about 50 pounds, so I've got to be clever as to how I attack him.
Brooke Bentley (Texans TV): He's amassed 5.5 sacks this season, but so has Shaun Phillips so you have a double-edged sword there.
Ahman Green: Yeah, we've got to do a lot of what we call chip and helping with the offensive line and pass protection – just be weary about where they're at, as well as the other guys in the middle, the other d-linemen, because they've got a good front seven.
Brooke Bentley (Texans TV): How do you create a hole in that situation?
Ahman Green: You just run. I mean, you just know that the offensive linemen, as long they do their job, you do your job. That's it.
6) Frank (Houston, TX): What does the offense need to do to create holes for you?
Ahman Green: Just do their assignments. All the guys from center to tackles, just do their assignments. We know that we're dealing with a fast defense and physical, so just do our assignments and everything will fall in place.
6) Terry (Houston, TX): I heard you are a car guy. What are your favorite cars?
Ahman Green: I have a '67 Shelby Mustang. I love that car. I have a BMW 750. And I have the new Shelby 2007.
7) Brad Helms (San Antonio, TX): What's the best coaching advice you've ever received?
Ahman Green: I say the best and most simple is that, "Hard work pays off." My dad told me that because he coached and he told the kids and the players he coached. It's something he learned, and I'm passing it along to my family in whatever sport they play and with some of my teammates I play with here and in Green Bay. I just tell them, "Hard work always pays off."
Texans Live archive
- Owen Daniels (**Oct. 18, 2007**)
- Dunta Robinson (**Oct. 11, 2007**)
- DeMeco Ryans (**Oct. 4, 2007**)
- André Davis (**Sept. 27, 2007**)
- Amobi Okoye (**Sept. 20, 2007**)
- Mario Williams (**Sept. 13, 2007**)
- Jacoby Jones (**Sept. 6, 2007**)
