Head Coach Gary Kubiak
(opening statement) "Guys that did not practice, two guys were excused today – Antonio (Smith) will be back this evening, had some personal business, but he'll be ready to go. He'll practice tomorrow. Matt Schaub was also excused for a personal situation this morning, could have made it in here, but it would have been at the end. I just told him, 'Don't worry about it.' (Jawanza) Starling did not practice. But everybody else was back out there. Kareem (Jackson) was better today. He looked better than yesterday. So I think we're heading toward Kareem having a good opportunity to play, so we'll see where we're at."
(on what he likes best about QB Case Keenum's development since he began starting) "That's a great question because you go back and you study him, and he's done a lot of good things. I was flipping through the season stats, and I think he's finally thrown enough passes to be involved. He was listed as, what, fourth in the AFC from a rating standpoint? I was like, 'Dang, that's pretty good.' He's done a lot of good things, but what happens, as you go on, things get harder. I've mentioned that to y'all. So I think that's what he going through, so the biggest growth for him is happening right now from that standpoint. But I think the thing I've been most impressed with is how he handled the group, how he's handled the team, how he's handled game plans. Week-to-week, being a starter, that's the biggest challenge and he's met that challenge. And not only met that challenge, but through some trying times. He's sitting here five games and we know how close the games were and we've lost. Things have been tough, but his smile and his work habits and the way he goes about his business never changed. That's a big positive for him moving forward in his career I think."
(on if QB Case Keenum has started over-thinking at all) "I think you may do that a little bit. Initially, when you jump out there, everything's reactionary. All of a sudden, the more you play, like the some of the timing, maybe gets a little bit different because you're worried about making a mistake here or there. But I think that at all is kind of a cycle and you go through it, and you start working your war through it. He still continues to make the reaction plays week-in and week-out. But it's just about consistency and doing things. The more he plays, I think the better he'll be."
(on having a 6-10 season in 2010 when expectations were high and what he learned from that year) "Well, it makes you appreciate the good ones. I can tell you that. I've been doing this a long time. Fortunately, for me, I haven't been through too many of these and don't want to go through too many more. This league's so tough and there's such a fine line between success and disappointment, and winning and losing week-in and week-out, just a few plays. I understand that. I just told the guys, hopefully, we all got better because we were a hell of a football team and had a hell of a year last year and we were all better people coming out of that. Somehow, we've all got to be better players and coaches coming out of this. Part of life. Part of our league. If you want to stay in this league and last a long time, you're probably going to get your chance at both ends of the stick. How you handle them, how you deal with it as a coach or a person, probably has a lot to do with how long you last. We'll handle this one. It's been tough, but we'll handle it."
(on if there is any further word on TE Owen Daniels) "He's just working with the trainers. I think we're probably working toward coming out of this game and seeing where he's at. He has been running on the Alter-G, so that's about it right now."
(on how much it helps having the current coordinators on the coaching staff here now who he's been with for a while) "Yeah, that's one thing. Players, I know how hard it is on players. Boy, these coaches, it's extremely difficult too. You almost have to tell the players, 'We feel the same way you do right now with what we're going through. We're no different.' We understand the expectations and of what's expected of our jobs. Those guys have worked their tail off and that's why people like Wade (Phillips) have coached for 30-some years, Rico (Rick Dennison) and Joe (Marciano), because they're strong people and they're good coaches and they're good people. They're good people that keep things in perspective and they keep going. That's not going to change."
(on the players giving back to the community, particularly G Wade Smith and WR Andre Johnson, and what that means) "They are special. You find out a lot about people with what's going on right now. I just walked off the practice field and watched Andre Johnson practice his tail off, and Wade Smith and J.J. (Watt). I could go on and on. I just don't want to name a few. That tells you what they're all about. That's why, to me, a guy like Andre is going to be in the Hall of Fame someday. Also, we need to give credit to this organization because this organization does a great job of getting our players involved in the community and teaching them the importance of giving back and being a part of it. I think those two things go hand-in-hand, and I think our organization does a great job."
(on how much it helps to have owner Bob McNair who hasn't been a person to over-react and take a long-term approach) "Bob's an amazing man, very successful man. I've enjoyed working with him, obviously. Just a very strong person. I could talk positive about him all day. Just a good man, good people."
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Head Coach Gary Kubiak**
(opening statement) "Guys that did not practice, two guys were excused today – Antonio (Smith) will be back this evening, had some personal business, but he'll be ready to go. He'll practice tomorrow. Matt Schaub was also excused for a personal situation this morning, could have made it in here, but it would have been at the end. I just told him, 'Don't worry about it.' (Jawanza) Starling did not practice. But everybody else was back out there. Kareem (Jackson) was better today. He looked better than yesterday. So I think we're heading toward Kareem having a good opportunity to play, so we'll see where we're at."
(on what he likes best about QB Case Keenum's development since he began starting) "That's a great question because you go back and you study him, and he's done a lot of good things. I was flipping through the season stats, and I think he's finally thrown enough passes to be involved. He was listed as, what, fourth in the AFC from a rating standpoint? I was like, 'Dang, that's pretty good.' He's done a lot of good things, but what happens, as you go on, things get harder. I've mentioned that to y'all. So I think that's what he going through, so the biggest growth for him is happening right now from that standpoint. But I think the thing I've been most impressed with is how he handled the group, how he's handled the team, how he's handled game plans. Week-to-week, being a starter, that's the biggest challenge and he's met that challenge. And not only met that challenge, but through some trying times. He's sitting here five games and we know how close the games were and we've lost. Things have been tough, but his smile and his work habits and the way he goes about his business never changed. That's a big positive for him moving forward in his career I think."
(on if QB Case Keenum has started over-thinking at all) "I think you may do that a little bit. Initially, when you jump out there, everything's reactionary. All of a sudden, the more you play, like the some of the timing, maybe gets a little bit different because you're worried about making a mistake here or there. But I think that at all is kind of a cycle and you go through it, and you start working your war through it. He still continues to make the reaction plays week-in and week-out. But it's just about consistency and doing things. The more he plays, I think the better he'll be."
(on having a 6-10 season in 2010 when expectations were high and what he learned from that year) "Well, it makes you appreciate the good ones. I can tell you that. I've been doing this a long time. Fortunately, for me, I haven't been through too many of these and don't want to go through too many more. This league's so tough and there's such a fine line between success and disappointment, and winning and losing week-in and week-out, just a few plays. I understand that. I just told the guys, hopefully, we all got better because we were a hell of a football team and had a hell of a year last year and we were all better people coming out of that. Somehow, we've all got to be better players and coaches coming out of this. Part of life. Part of our league. If you want to stay in this league and last a long time, you're probably going to get your chance at both ends of the stick. How you handle them, how you deal with it as a coach or a person, probably has a lot to do with how long you last. We'll handle this one. It's been tough, but we'll handle it."
(on if there is any further word on TE Owen Daniels) "He's just working with the trainers. I think we're probably working toward coming out of this game and seeing where he's at. He has been running on the Alter-G, so that's about it right now."
(on how much it helps having the current coordinators on the coaching staff here now who he's been with for a while) "Yeah, that's one thing. Players, I know how hard it is on players. Boy, these coaches, it's extremely difficult too. You almost have to tell the players, 'We feel the same way you do right now with what we're going through. We're no different.' We understand the expectations and of what's expected of our jobs. Those guys have worked their tail off and that's why people like Wade (Phillips) have coached for 30-some years, Rico (Rick Dennison) and Joe (Marciano), because they're strong people and they're good coaches and they're good people. They're good people that keep things in perspective and they keep going. That's not going to change."
(on the players giving back to the community, particularly G Wade Smith and WR Andre Johnson, and what that means) "They are special. You find out a lot about people with what's going on right now. I just walked off the practice field and watched Andre Johnson practice his tail off, and Wade Smith and J.J. (Watt). I could go on and on. I just don't want to name a few. That tells you what they're all about. That's why, to me, a guy like Andre is going to be in the Hall of Fame someday. Also, we need to give credit to this organization because this organization does a great job of getting our players involved in the community and teaching them the importance of giving back and being a part of it. I think those two things go hand-in-hand, and I think our organization does a great job."
(on how much it helps to have owner Bob McNair who hasn't been a person to over-react and take a long-term approach) "Bob's an amazing man, very successful man. I've enjoyed working with him, obviously. Just a very strong person. I could talk positive about him all day. Just a good man, good people."
