Opening Comments:
"This Monday night outside PBS, there will be volunteers collecting for the annual Freestore canned food drive that benefits the Freestore Foodbank. We're asking all the fans to turn out and either bring canned foods to be donated, or cash donations. Each and every year this has grown larger and larger, so hopefully we have a great turnout."
"As we look to the Texans, this is a huge football game for us. They lost the first two, won one, lost two, and then they've gone and won lost and won the last three ballgames. They've settled in on the quarterback with (Brian) Hoyer. He's done a good job getting them in the right place offensively and delivering the ball in a timely fashion. He's been efficient with the ball and has very low interceptions. They have a great wideout in DeAndre Hopkins. He has had a great start to the season with both catches and touchdowns. Nate Washington is a veteran player who plays on the other side and has had a strong season and is a good player we've faced in the past.
"They like to run the ball, and their scheme is set up that way, with the play action and pass off of that. We have a great challenge defensively.
"When you flip it over to our offense, this is a team that's very well put together defensively. They added the big guy in the middle, and then you put (J.J.) Watt and Whitney Mercilus with (Jadeveon) Clowney, they've done a great job of the outside pressure. The secondary with Johnathan Joseph and the young corner is playing excellent football. It's a well put together group. They're leading the league in (defensive) third-down percentage. We have to continue to do the things that have been a part of our success, and that's taking care of the football, taking care of the quarterback, and making plays with the ball in our hands."
What impressed you about Brian Hoyer last year when you played him?
"He's very efficient and deliberate. He knows where he wants to go with the ball. You can tell he's a smart player."
What makes J.J. Watt so special?
"He's got great physical tools and length, and the flexibility to get edges and be explosive, with both vertical leap or penetrating. He does it both ways. He has a relentless motor; all the things you look at as positive traits for a good defensive lineman."
With DeAndre Hopkins' success, is it more him getting open or him getting looks?
"Its both. He's been a constant for them this season, where Nate (Washington) has been hurt. He's made a lot of contested catches, which is impressive. We have to do a great job against him."
What about Johnathan Joseph?
"I think he's been excellent throughout his career. He's continued to do a great job and is a great mentor for the young kid on the other side, because Johnathan has so much to offer that way, as coming in and playing as a young corner in the NFL. Johnathan's feel around the receiver has been so special, and this kid has those same traits."
How perfect does everything have to be to be 8-0 at this point?
"We don't need to talk about 8-0. It doesn't really matter, and we don't get anything for that. We've gotten to this point by taking care of each game one at a time, each opportunity, play-to-play. That's the most important thing. We have to put our head down and go forward."
Are you encouraged by the week-to-week progress and improvement of the team?
"We're encouraged how we've handled the opponent and what's important to do in order to be successful. We keep being repetitive with that; in order to win this football game, we need to do A-B-C-D. I think our guys understand that if we get most of that accomplished, we increase our probability to win. That has been the most impressive, them being able to handle those things."
