Transcripts of Gary Kubiak's and Andre Johnson's conference calls with Jets reporters on Wednesday:
TEXANS HEAD COACH GARY KUBIAK
On the Andre Johnson-Darrelle Revis matchup…
It's two great players that have been at the top of their game in this league for a while. Obviously, it's a very strong matchup. I think the Jets defense is such, and so strong, that I think they can matchup a lot of ways. I don't know how they'll go about it, but they have a lot of excellent corners back there and have the ability to lock a lot of people down in this league. That's a very nice strength to have.
On the matchup between D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Mario Williams…
Once again, two very good players, very young players, that are going to be playing for a long, long time. I'm very impressed with D'Brickashaw and the job he does. I'll tell you, it was very hard coming out. We had him ranked and rated very, very high. Very athletic, just a guy that does just one heck of a job out there, but I think they're excellent across their front. Their offensive line's a very, very strong unit for them. As far as Mario for us, for us to be successful, we need him making plays. We ask him to do a lot. We move him around and this game won't be any different.
On what he has seen different from the Jets this season as opposed to last season…
I see a team that's improved a great deal. They're winning in all kinds of ways right now. Their defense has been excellent. They've always created a lot of turnovers and give you a lot of problems on their offensive side of the ball and how they can match up. I think, offensively, they're playing extremely well. They run the football as good as anybody in the game. They have some big-play receivers.
They have a young quarterback now who has enough starts under his belt that he's starting to do things that are exceptional from the standpoint that you win two overtime games on the road, the way he has played in crunch time. Just an excellent all-around team. Special teams will give you problems. You won't cut on any film in the National Football League and see a more talented group than this football team, so we have our work cut out for us.
On if he plans to attack early on the Jets…
I think that's a game plan in every game in this league. Everybody would love to be ahead early. We've kind of struggled in the first half ourselves and had some trouble. Last week we had to come back from the 17-3 deficit. I don't think you ever know how games are going to go when you play them. You've got to prepare to play them offensively, defensively, special teams. The key in this league is kind of whatever it takes each week, believing that you can get it done in crunch time and make the plays to get it done.
On Arian Foster…
He's a young player that's all of a sudden stepped up and become a heck of a player. He got a little bit of an opportunity last year, took advantage of that and then had a great offseason which has kind of escalated him into this year. He's been full speed ahead ever since he got his opportunity last year. He's [an undrafted] free agent and making the most out of his opportunity to play, playing very well for us, not only running the ball but he also catches the ball well for us and makes big plays in those areas.
On anything else he has seen different about the Jets this season compared to last year…
I see the same stuff as far as scheme-wise and what they do. Rex does a lot of things. It's very complicated for you as an offensive coach or coordinator to prepare for his system — a lot of interchangeable parts in what they do. A lot of people are playing various positions. They try to create some confusion for you on the offensive side of the ball. You have to have a good week of preparation and really be solid in what you're doing and sound in what you're trying to get done. They just present a lot of problems and it's very impressive, all the things he's able to get taught. They do a great deal defensively and they do it well.
On how he plans to defend the Jets receivers…
They've got enough people outside and they spread field a great deal to make big plays. We've struggled on the back end. We've got a young group that we went with this year and we've had our struggles, but we've also played well at times. We've just got to improve as a whole defensively and play better and not give up the big plays. It's a challenge for our football teams. We have to find a way to not to do that. The big challenge this week comes with how well you run the ball. You've got to get down there and stop the ball, and that creates a lot of matchups in 1-on-1's. Hopefully, you're squad is winning more of those one-on-ones than you're losing.
On if the Texans have put their tough loss at Jacksonville on Sunday behind them…
You have to. It's very difficult losing any time, but to lose a game like we did last week makes it very difficult. You've got to let it go. You've got to move on. Today's preparation is very important to our opportunity for success this weekend. That's part of this business. If today doesn't go good, you've got to let it go and move on. If it does go good, you've got to let it go and come do it again. That's something we face every week.
TEXANS WR ANDRE JOHNSON
On if he wants to go out and get the better of Darrelle Revis…
When you go out and play against anybody, you always want to get the best of them. Last year when we played against each other, they came out. They executed the game plan and they were very successful doing it. That's pretty much it. They took it to us. You definitely look forward to the challenge when you go against a player of Darrelle's caliber. Not just him. You look at Antonio [Cromartie]. He's a very talented guy also. Their whole defense is very talented, so you definitely look forward to playing against a team like that.
On what makes Revis so tough to play against…
He's very technique-sound as a defensive back. He's very patient. He can mix it up with you. He can be physical at times. At times he doesn't have to be physical. He has the all-around game. He's great at what he does.
On if it helps that he faced Revis last season…
When you're going against a person, you kind of get a feel for him, but at the same time, you train in the offseason and you learn new things. You just try to get a feel for him early in the game at what he's doing. If he's stabbing you or what not, you just try to get a feel for him early in the game and just go from there.
On if there is a concern that Matt Schaub won't be able to play this Sunday…
We're very concerned. He's our starting quarterback. Our group of guys didn't really know what was going on. A lot of the guys just found out about what was going on this morning, so we're very concerned. You never want to go out into a game without your starting quarterback. If Matt is not ready, then we have to go out there with Dan [Orlovsky]. We have a lot of confidence in Dan and we're going to go out there and try to win a football game.
On how important it is for him to have a good game in order for Houston to win…
I always put pressure on myself as far as me having to play well. I feel like when I do go out and play well, we tend to be very successful as a football team. One guy can't win the game by himself. Football is a team game, but we also have to have some other guys step up and make some plays. I definitely put pressure on myself to go out and play well. I feel like if I go out and play well, then we would be very successful.
On if the matchup with Revis feels personal…
I wouldn't say it gets personal. Me and Darrelle, we don't have any problems with each other or anything like that, so I wouldn't say it's personal. I think as far as the competition level, it's what's good for the game. I look forward to playing against him. He's the best cornerback in the game and people say that I'm the best wide receiver, so people look forward to matchups like that. When you play sports, you want to play against the best. I just look forward to the challenge.
On if he's friendly with Revis…
Yes. When we were at the Pro Bowl, we talked a lot and things like that. I see him down in Miami at times during the offseason. We just talk and we both have a respect for each other out on the football field and that's pretty much it.
On how tough the last few days have been for the team following a last second win by Jacksonville and Schaub's hospitalization…
It has been very frustrating looking at what happened in the game Sunday and even the game before that. The past couple weeks have been frustrating for us as a football team. Hearing about Matt this morning, it just kind of makes you think, "Man, when are we going to catch a break?"
At the same time in this game, you face a lot of obstacles. You have to find a way to overcome them. You look at the great football teams, the good football teams, they overcome obstacles. Going out and playing against a great team like the Jets, who are playing real good football right now, to go out and try to get a win against them, I'm pretty sure if we're able to go out and get a win it would wipe the bad taste out of our mouths. We know it's going to be a big challenge for us.
On the chance that Schaub will play on Sunday…
As far as we know right now, he has a knee infection. That's the only thing I've heard. I haven't heard anything else. I will give him a phonecall later on, find out what's going on. I didn't hear anything until this morning.
On what he knows about Schaub's injury…
We were just told that he had an infection because when we were in the team meeting, he wasn't there this morning. That was pretty much it. He had a knee infection. That's as much as I can tell you right now. I really don't know any details or anything like that.
On if he could call them back after he talks to Schaub…
I'll think about it [laughing].
