Well, CJ, first of all, great to see you. Always appreciate your time. Man, we’re kicking off training camp, year four for you. It feels like you’ve been in the league a lot longer than that. Has this time flown by, or does it feel like it’s been four years?
>> Uh good to see you, man. Appreciate you having me on the show, but uh it’s it’s been been quick. Yeah, it’s been a blessing. You know, I’m very grateful to go on to year four. It’s like yesterday I was a rookie, so um you know, it does seem like I’ve been in the league a lot longer, but um you know, still, you know, early in my career.
Um and I’ve been able to you know, have some meaningful years, but it has gone by fast. >> Biggest difference when you start a camp like today as opposed to year one and year two for you? >> Uh definitely just like the comfortability of um you know, just what to expect, especially you know, being on the the same team for this long and uh with the same head coach, and um I think, you know, he’s he’s done a good job of, you know, trying to make everything everybody one, you know, from offense, defense, special teams, and you know, making sure we’re competing at a high level, so um and then you know, just learning uh every day. I think, you know, just because I am getting it down better doesn’t mean I know everything, so I’m trying to learn every day. >> Specific to your offense, Nick Caley takes over offense coordinator last year.
Inevitable growing pains, you seem to figure it out towards the back end of the season, you guys go on that run. Where have you seen the growth in terms of the relationship you have and the command you have of this offense? >> Yeah, um you know, early on, you know, had some some things that I feel like we you know, we’re just figuring each other out on playing styles, on system, you know, trying to keep it in the system, but also make it tailored to the guys. Um and I think he’s done a great job. You know, me and him me and his relationship has grown.
Uh we talk a lot. We we try to communicate as much as we can. I’m in his office a bunch, so um it’s nice, man, to uh you know, have somebody who, you know, wants to see you succeed and you know, wants the best for you, so um you know, I think this year we’re taking another step, and you know, be better than we were last year. >> It feels like from the outside you have what most teams in this league hope for, continuity. Both sides of the ball.
And offensively, it’s more about sprinkling in things to tweak and improve. I want to start with the offensive line. It’s probably been a a conversation point you’ve had to answer over the first three years in this league. What do you like about the group that this front office put together for you this year? >> Yeah, I think they’re tough, you know.
I think, you know, uh you know, it starts with, you know, uh Cole, our O-line coach. He’s a tough guy, you know, definitely um you know, he’s very opinionated and lets you know how he feels and he’s going to be brutally honest with you. Um but also, you know, I think the guys you brought in, you know, like Wyatt. Um I thought, you know, he I think he’s very tough. He’s played a lot of meaningful ball in his career and, you know, he was wanting to get on a team where he can, you know, make a run.
So, I’m happy to have him. I think Keelan brings the edge. You know, he’s a dog, you know, a young guy, but, you know, takes command. Uh Braden has been doing great. Trent’s doing great.
Tay, you know, um Jake, Ed, you know, uh Ed got paid, but he’s working even harder now. So, super proud of that guy, but you know, I like where we’re going and I, you know, like the guys you brought in. >> I’m curious. What’s the process, if Keelan’s your center, to kind of developing that chemistry necessary to play such a key role? >> Um I think firstly, he has to be himself, you know, um I know it’s different it’s new for him, but he has to find, you know, things that that he’s comfortable with doing and I think, you know, uh but also pushing himself to, you know, try new things.
Um but I think most of all, he has to be himself like he got drafted in the first round for a reason, you know, and everything I’ve seen, you know, he’s he’s a first-round talent. He’s tough. Um he’s he reminds me of my guys that I had in college. He’s like doesn’t stop playing until he hears the whistle. Yeah, like he but just more than just talent, just like effort and, you know, trying to like, you know, play to the whistle.
Even if he’s wrong, he’s going 1,000% so, um you know, he’s a great guy, somebody who, you know, faith-based guy who relies on God. So, I think, you know, that definitely help him in in his rookie season and I’m here for him. >> And David Montgomery, a name in this league that that has so much respect that he brings here to Houston. How do you see him fitting in to the run game? >> Uh he’s going to be perfect for us.
I think you look at this system, you know, um you know, kind of we have a New England style {slash} Rams type of um running running game. So, um you look at the guys that have had success in those systems are guys like David Montgomery. So, I see nothing but success for him. I think he’s super tough, very quick feet, um you know, is a one one cut guy, uh but who also run through your face. So, you know, uh I’m a big fan of his since he was in Chicago.
>> And for you, it’s always fun talking to you at the beginning of a season, obviously throughout the year, just your growth both on and off the field. And in preparation for this, I saw a quote you had, “The beauty is in the struggle.” As a guy on the outside, it seems like you’ve had a lot of success. Where’s the struggle been for you that you’ve had to kind of navigate? >> You know, I think everybody, you know, and even myself, you think whenever I end a game, I don’t ever think about the good plays, I think about the bad.
And same thing, I don’t ever think about the good games, I think about the bad. So, but for me, I mean, I have had a lot of success, a lot of wins, and a lot of you know, playoff wins, which is I’m I’m grateful for, but I’m ready to take a step, you know, and and and and go even farther than that, you know, not only as um you know, as a team, but personally as well. So, um I think I put in the work for the off season. Now, it’s just, you know, doing it now. Um but yeah, I mean, I’m I’m grateful for, you know, the success I had.
So, I’m not, you know, um naive or, you know, dumb that I I I I don’t think I’m a bad football player, but you know, I definitely think I can I can take better steps. >> And it’s a reality of the job, but when you’re as highly touted as you are and productive as you are, people want to know, all right, when’s he going to be locked up for the long term in here in Houston? How do you manage that noise? And just what’s the human nature of wanting to know where you’re going to be beyond next year? >> Yeah, I mean, um you know, first, you know, my my my faith goes in God.
And you know, I’ve I’ve been brought to this great city of Houston, you know, when I was 20, 21 years old as a young kid wet behind the ears and this city has taught me how to be a man and you know, I’ve made plenty of mistakes, had a lot of successes, but they rooted me on, you know, and I just I really appreciate being here. So, right now I’m focused on football and letting my agent and and you know, our front office handle it, but you know, everything’s moving forward and you know, it seems like you know, everything’s moving moving up. So, we’re we’re I’m happy where I am and I want to be here, you know, as long as I can. >> And and lastly, CJ, what gives you confidence in yourself, but more importantly, the collective that this is the group that can push through, get past that divisional round and and reach the goals that not only you guys capable of, but but that I know you’re desperate for. >> Yeah, personally, I would say, you know, just the work that I’ve put in over the years, the adversity I’ve been through like I this isn’t new to me, you know, I’ve been through a bunch of my career from high school to, you know, playing at Ohio State, now playing here in the NFL and I’m used to adversity.
I’m used to, you know, you know, people not believing in me. So, you know, that’s kind of something that I’m used to, but you know, I also know that people do. So, you know, the work that I put in I’m I’m proud of myself on the off season I’ve had and the steps I’ve taken and then as a group, you know, the work we put in together. I think, you know, we’re a group that, you know, is seen what it looks like when we’re rolling and you know, those games where we’re like a little bit off is where, you know, we we drop some games. So, I think if we go back and we look at, you know, some of the games we had, a lot of one score games, we win those games, we you know, we could be on top of the AFC, maybe even the best team in the league.
So, that’s definitely in it’s capable for us. So, I believe, you know, the work that we put in there OTAs and now going into training camp, you know, we’ll be able to take that that step. >> Awesome, man. Always great seeing you. Appreciate your time.
See you week one, sir.
Read More: HoustonTexans Training Camp Day 2: This Offense Has A Chance
