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Here's everything Houston Texans Pro Bowl linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair said following Day 2 of minicamp, including his thoughts on the defense and play of Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Question: On the difference he sees in the offense compared to last season
Azeez Al-Shaair: “I think the biggest thing that just jumps out is when they’re breaking that huddle, they're getting moving, the communication, all those guys just being on the same page. Obviously, year two, same offensive coordinator, a majority of the same guys, even the guys that we brought in, just kind of fitting right in what we're trying to do. You can just see it, more confidence from everybody on that side of the ball, obviously, starting with C.J. [Stroud] just commanding it. I think that's probably been the biggest thing that you'll see.”
Q: On the current linebacker room, and if it’s the most competitive it has been
Al-Shaair: “I think every year it's been competitive rooms for us as a group, and I think this year is no different than the years prior, even from my first year with the guys that we had in to last year to now. Obviously, losing [LB] E.J. [Speed] was a big blow to us, but just in general, the guys that we have in there that they brought in from free agency, to the rookie class, to the guys that were already here in the past, I think just continuing to make each other better. That's something that I always took pride in because in San Francisco, that's what we did, me, Dre [Greenlaw], Fred [Warner]. I played with Kwon Alexander, Malcolm Smith, and it was all of us helping each other but pushing each other to be as great as we wanted to be.”
Q: On the addition of S Reed Blankenship
Al-Shaair: “I think the thing that I love about Reed, it feels like having just another linebacker on the field, and I say that in the way that he communicates, just urgency. You can tell he's obviously done it at an extremely high level, already has [a] Super Bowl to show for it and all the experience and stuff like that. I think the number one thing that I like is just seeing that his communication, even when he's not saying the right thing, me and him, we're talking and communicating back and forth, but he's echoing everything and talking to the defense, but there's been times where I might say a call and I was wrong, and he's yelling the right thing, whereas other times, maybe I'll say it and maybe somebody might not hear it or whatever. But, I just think the biggest thing that I've enjoyed about Reed being here is just that communication piece. Obviously, I know the ability and the talent that he has, which is why he's here in the first place, but I think that's something that I enjoy just about him, so far.”
Q: On what making big plays during practice in the offseason means for the team
Al-Shaair: “Obviously, OTAs are offseason training. It's that time of the year where you can show up and kind of just get by or you can actually try to push yourself to be better. For me, coming into the NFL every single day, you have got to show up and work, and that's all I know. That's how I got to where I'm at in the first place, so I think that's just the mentality of our team, and, obviously, as a leader, if you're not doing it, you know, nobody else is going to really want to follow you, so I think just trying to work my technique and keep getting better. It's been great competition all OTAs, and just excited for now putting an end to OTAs and now getting ready for the 40 days away and then come back for training camp and go at it again.”
Q: On LB E.J. Speed’s injury and how other linebackers will step up in his absence
Al-Shaair:“I think the biggest thing is, like, whether E.J. was healthy or not, it shouldn't change the mentality for any player. You’re preparing, you're treating yourself like a starter, because in the NFL, we want the best of the best. We don't want the ones to be at this level and then the drop-off to be drastic. The goal is that if I'm not playing, if [LB] Henry [To’oTo’o] is not playing, if whoever's not playing, that whoever goes in there can seamlessly pick it up and keep it moving.So, I don't think it changed anybody's mindset in our room. Obviously, just from the person that E.J. is and the player that he is, it sucks. He works extremely hard, and all summer, all offseason, staying here with all the guys, and we've just been training, really just excited for what it was going to look like playing with him year two in the same scheme and everything like that. Obviously, it sucks from that aspect but have full confidence in all the other guys to continue to work like they've been doing, and just whoever gets the opportunity is going to step up and make the plays.”
Q: On how his life has changed since joining the Houston Texans
Al-Shaair: “I think, at the end of the day, nobody's paying you no money, nobody's giving you any accolades if you're not putting the work in and you're not getting the results either.I've been blessed to have a lot of great coaches that have poured into me throughout my years, from San Francisco to Tennessee to obviously coming here, Houston, and the work ethic that I've had and a lot of blessings from God to be able to put me in the right positions and everything just kind of coming together. I always try to humble myself because I know there's so many people in the world who work extremely hard that never get the results. I've just been blessed that the work that I've put in and the results have shown for it. I really couldn't even say much as if it was on me, but just did my part, trusted in God. My life has definitely changed for the better, but the mentality that I've had has really been consistent along the whole way.”
Q: On if there are younger players on the defense moving into more leadership roles in the locker room
Al-Shaair:“100%. I think the thing that's so funny is that I mess with those guys all the time. Will [Anderson Jr.], I already see Will, he’s like a little big brother, so we already have our back and forth all the time. But, I think what's funnier is Kamari [Lassiter] and Calen [Bullock] just obviously seeing them from the time they were rookies to now. They’re making fun of me all the time, calling me ‘Unc’ and all this stuff. I'm like, ‘Dude, like, I'm 28 years old,’ which in the NFL, like I said, clearly is old, I guess, but whatever. But just laughing at them because I'm like, that time is going to go faster than you think. Now you look at them going into now their third year and playing in this scheme and just seeing how confident they are, how comfortable they are, and even like today, Kamari breaking it down and just seeing the growth, it's been awesome to see and just continue to take that next step for them. Obviously, they made great accomplishments in their first two years in the league and just challenging them all the time like, ‘How far are you trying to go? How much better can you be? How far do you want to take your game? Not just on the field, but all the intangible stuff off the field.’ I think that's some of the stuff that I've been seeing from both of them, just with leading the younger guys, because now you become the vet to all these new rookies coming in. Next thing you know, they're going to start calling you ‘Unc,’ so I tell Kamari all the time, he can't be wearing them little tank top shirts with a belly button hanging out when you ‘Unc’ now, I guess. I told him he got to start dressing like a grown man now, so he can't be wearing them shirts.”
Q: On what excites him about the defense heading into the season
Al-Shaair: “I mean, I think just the same thing every year. The more time on task, the more cohesiveness, just like any relationship, any friendship, the more years that you get to spend around each other, the more you get to understand each other, the more you get to grow with each other. I'm just excited about that. Obviously, the challenge of it all is that no year is going to be the same. You can have the same roster, the same set of guys, and things are going to happen. For example, E.J. [Speed], that just came out of left field. So, there's going to be so many things that come up that you're saying on paper looks great, but it's real life, so there's going to be bumps along the way that if you just can lean on the foundation of who we are as a unit, as a team, we'll be able to weather those storms. I'm just excited about that. Excited for the storm, because I know it's coming, that's just life. I think that the more experience we've had together, just as a team, we're ready to weather those storms.”
Q: On how G Keylan Rutledge has been at practice and the new additions to the offensive line
Al-Shaair: “Yeah, I think what I like is just the mentality. It’s honestly been – I was talking to Coach [Rod] Wright about this, the best offensive linemen I know are like gnats. You blow them away, you get off the block, and then by the end of the play, you just feel somebody breathing on you like, ‘Man, get the hell away from me.’ I say that to say that's how it's been, for him specifically. There are times when I'm over there thinking about punching him, because he's just right there, just on you and I love that. I think those are the best players at that position that I've played against just won't stop. It doesn't matter. The technique is going to develop as you play more and get more experience. But the mindset, the attitude, is stuff that is hard to coach. It's hard to coach somebody to be physical. It's just either you got it or you don't. [With] Him coming from Conference USA, he went to Middle Tennessee [State]. We talked about that before he went to Georgia Tech and just that mentality that you got to have. We talked for a while, and he has the right mindset. Obviously, the guys that we brought in as well, talk about Wyatt [Teller], talk about Braden [Smith], those are guys that I've played against, and they, just like I said, the guys that you're like, ‘Damn, this dude won't leave me alone,’ the pest, and I think it just fits right in. It's going to be really good for us, and obviously, just that veteran presence for a young guy like him is going to be really good, too. I'm excited.”
On DE Will Anderson Jr.’s mentality after his contract extension
“He's just a completely different guy. No, I'm joking (laughs). No, he's the same dude. The thing is, you got to understand, you asked me the question earlier, how my life changed and the things that's happened. The consistency. I think when you talk about great people think about anybody that you just admire in your life. It might be your mother, your father, your grandfather. Probably the number one thing they had is they were consistent. Whether it was consistently showing up for you, consistently picking you up from school. So, it's no different than a player. For us, what makes Will who he is, [is] he's consistently the same guy showing up every single day from the first time he walked into the building, from the first time I met him. I think when you talk about the money, the money is a byproduct of consistent work and the results that come behind it. He really hasn't changed at all. I'm happy to just see all the success he's had.”
Q: On what the hardest thing to do to replicate a top defense is
Al-Shaair: “I mean, the toughest thing is no year is the same. You could play again with the same group of guys, but it's just every situation, every moment is so different. It's only one. I always try to explain to people, the same 24 hours that we get today are no different as a 28-year-old man, as an infant child, has the same 24 hours, but the experience, the mindset, the anxiety, the highs, the lows, that's what changes what feels like 24 hours. I say that to say when you talk about trying to replicate something that you've already been able to do or whatever, I think the hardest part is just understanding that even though it's the same amount of time, it's a completely different moment in your life. Different things can happen, different players that you play against. There's just so many smaller, finer details that go into that that really are sometimes out of your control. When you have the foundation that we've had and continuing to build off of that over the years, and you lean in on that, no matter what happens along the way, you can weather those storms to put yourself in the best position to try to be that number one defense again.”
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans: Everything LB Azeez Al-Shaair said following Day 2 of minicamp
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Question: On the difference he sees in the offense compared to last season
Azeez Al-Shaair: “I think the biggest thing that just jumps out is when they’re breaking that huddle, they're getting moving, the communication, all those guys just being on the same page. Obviously, year two, same offensive coordinator, a majority of the same guys, even the guys that we brought in, just kind of fitting right in what we're trying to do. You can just see it, more confidence from everybody on that side of the ball, obviously, starting with C.J. [Stroud] just commanding it. I think that's probably been the biggest thing that you'll see.”
Q: On the current linebacker room, and if it’s the most competitive it has been
Al-Shaair: “I think every year it's been competitive rooms for us as a group, and I think this year is no different than the years prior, even from my first year with the guys that we had in to last year to now. Obviously, losing [LB] E.J. [Speed] was a big blow to us, but just in general, the guys that we have in there that they brought in from free agency, to the rookie class, to the guys that were already here in the past, I think just continuing to make each other better. That's something that I always took pride in because in San Francisco, that's what we did, me, Dre [Greenlaw], Fred [Warner]. I played with Kwon Alexander, Malcolm Smith, and it was all of us helping each other but pushing each other to be as great as we wanted to be.”
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Q: On the addition of S Reed Blankenship
Al-Shaair: “I think the thing that I love about Reed, it feels like having just another linebacker on the field, and I say that in the way that he communicates, just urgency. You can tell he's obviously done it at an extremely high level, already has [a] Super Bowl to show for it and all the experience and stuff like that. I think the number one thing that I like is just seeing that his communication, even when he's not saying the right thing, me and him, we're talking and communicating back and forth, but he's echoing everything and talking to the defense, but there's been times where I might say a call and I was wrong, and he's yelling the right thing, whereas other times, maybe I'll say it and maybe somebody might not hear it or whatever. But, I just think the biggest thing that I've enjoyed about Reed being here is just that communication piece. Obviously, I know the ability and the talent that he has, which is why he's here in the first place, but I think that's something that I enjoy just about him, so far.”
Q: On what making big plays during practice in the offseason means for the team
Al-Shaair: “Obviously, OTAs are offseason training. It's that time of the year where you can show up and kind of just get by or you can actually try to push yourself to be better. For me, coming into the NFL every single day, you have got to show up and work, and that's all I know. That's how I got to where I'm at in the first place, so I think that's just the mentality of our team, and, obviously, as a leader, if you're not doing it, you know, nobody else is going to really want to follow you, so I think just trying to work my technique and keep getting better. It's been great competition all OTAs, and just excited for now putting an end to OTAs and now getting ready for the 40 days away and then come back for training camp and go at it again.”
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Q: On LB E.J. Speed’s injury and how other linebackers will step up in his absence
Al-Shaair:“I think the biggest thing is, like, whether E.J. was healthy or not, it shouldn't change the mentality for any player. You’re preparing, you're treating yourself like a starter, because in the NFL, we want the best of the best. We don't want the ones to be at this level and then the drop-off to be drastic. The goal is that if I'm not playing, if [LB] Henry [To’oTo’o] is not playing, if whoever's not playing, that whoever goes in there can seamlessly pick it up and keep it moving.So, I don't think it changed anybody's mindset in our room. Obviously, just from the person that E.J. is and the player that he is, it sucks. He works extremely hard, and all summer, all offseason, staying here with all the guys, and we've just been training, really just excited for what it was going to look like playing with him year two in the same scheme and everything like that. Obviously, it sucks from that aspect but have full confidence in all the other guys to continue to work like they've been doing, and just whoever gets the opportunity is going to step up and make the plays.”
Q: On how his life has changed since joining the Houston Texans
Al-Shaair: “I think, at the end of the day, nobody's paying you no money, nobody's giving you any accolades if you're not putting the work in and you're not getting the results either.I've been blessed to have a lot of great coaches that have poured into me throughout my years, from San Francisco to Tennessee to obviously coming here, Houston, and the work ethic that I've had and a lot of blessings from God to be able to put me in the right positions and everything just kind of coming together. I always try to humble myself because I know there's so many people in the world who work extremely hard that never get the results. I've just been blessed that the work that I've put in and the results have shown for it. I really couldn't even say much as if it was on me, but just did my part, trusted in God. My life has definitely changed for the better, but the mentality that I've had has really been consistent along the whole way.”
Q: On if there are younger players on the defense moving into more leadership roles in the locker room
Al-Shaair:“100%. I think the thing that's so funny is that I mess with those guys all the time. Will [Anderson Jr.], I already see Will, he’s like a little big brother, so we already have our back and forth all the time. But, I think what's funnier is Kamari [Lassiter] and Calen [Bullock] just obviously seeing them from the time they were rookies to now. They’re making fun of me all the time, calling me ‘Unc’ and all this stuff. I'm like, ‘Dude, like, I'm 28 years old,’ which in the NFL, like I said, clearly is old, I guess, but whatever. But just laughing at them because I'm like, that time is going to go faster than you think. Now you look at them going into now their third year and playing in this scheme and just seeing how confident they are, how comfortable they are, and even like today, Kamari breaking it down and just seeing the growth, it's been awesome to see and just continue to take that next step for them. Obviously, they made great accomplishments in their first two years in the league and just challenging them all the time like, ‘How far are you trying to go? How much better can you be? How far do you want to take your game? Not just on the field, but all the intangible stuff off the field.’ I think that's some of the stuff that I've been seeing from both of them, just with leading the younger guys, because now you become the vet to all these new rookies coming in. Next thing you know, they're going to start calling you ‘Unc,’ so I tell Kamari all the time, he can't be wearing them little tank top shirts with a belly button hanging out when you ‘Unc’ now, I guess. I told him he got to start dressing like a grown man now, so he can't be wearing them shirts.”
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Q: On what excites him about the defense heading into the season
Al-Shaair: “I mean, I think just the same thing every year. The more time on task, the more cohesiveness, just like any relationship, any friendship, the more years that you get to spend around each other, the more you get to understand each other, the more you get to grow with each other. I'm just excited about that. Obviously, the challenge of it all is that no year is going to be the same. You can have the same roster, the same set of guys, and things are going to happen. For example, E.J. [Speed], that just came out of left field. So, there's going to be so many things that come up that you're saying on paper looks great, but it's real life, so there's going to be bumps along the way that if you just can lean on the foundation of who we are as a unit, as a team, we'll be able to weather those storms. I'm just excited about that. Excited for the storm, because I know it's coming, that's just life. I think that the more experience we've had together, just as a team, we're ready to weather those storms.”
Q: On how G Keylan Rutledge has been at practice and the new additions to the offensive line
Al-Shaair: “Yeah, I think what I like is just the mentality. It’s honestly been – I was talking to Coach [Rod] Wright about this, the best offensive linemen I know are like gnats. You blow them away, you get off the block, and then by the end of the play, you just feel somebody breathing on you like, ‘Man, get the hell away from me.’ I say that to say that's how it's been, for him specifically. There are times when I'm over there thinking about punching him, because he's just right there, just on you and I love that. I think those are the best players at that position that I've played against just won't stop. It doesn't matter. The technique is going to develop as you play more and get more experience. But the mindset, the attitude, is stuff that is hard to coach. It's hard to coach somebody to be physical. It's just either you got it or you don't. [With] Him coming from Conference USA, he went to Middle Tennessee [State]. We talked about that before he went to Georgia Tech and just that mentality that you got to have. We talked for a while, and he has the right mindset. Obviously, the guys that we brought in as well, talk about Wyatt [Teller], talk about Braden [Smith], those are guys that I've played against, and they, just like I said, the guys that you're like, ‘Damn, this dude won't leave me alone,’ the pest, and I think it just fits right in. It's going to be really good for us, and obviously, just that veteran presence for a young guy like him is going to be really good, too. I'm excited.”
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On DE Will Anderson Jr.’s mentality after his contract extension
“He's just a completely different guy. No, I'm joking (laughs). No, he's the same dude. The thing is, you got to understand, you asked me the question earlier, how my life changed and the things that's happened. The consistency. I think when you talk about great people think about anybody that you just admire in your life. It might be your mother, your father, your grandfather. Probably the number one thing they had is they were consistent. Whether it was consistently showing up for you, consistently picking you up from school. So, it's no different than a player. For us, what makes Will who he is, [is] he's consistently the same guy showing up every single day from the first time he walked into the building, from the first time I met him. I think when you talk about the money, the money is a byproduct of consistent work and the results that come behind it. He really hasn't changed at all. I'm happy to just see all the success he's had.”
Q: On what the hardest thing to do to replicate a top defense is
Al-Shaair: “I mean, the toughest thing is no year is the same. You could play again with the same group of guys, but it's just every situation, every moment is so different. It's only one. I always try to explain to people, the same 24 hours that we get today are no different as a 28-year-old man, as an infant child, has the same 24 hours, but the experience, the mindset, the anxiety, the highs, the lows, that's what changes what feels like 24 hours. I say that to say when you talk about trying to replicate something that you've already been able to do or whatever, I think the hardest part is just understanding that even though it's the same amount of time, it's a completely different moment in your life. Different things can happen, different players that you play against. There's just so many smaller, finer details that go into that that really are sometimes out of your control. When you have the foundation that we've had and continuing to build off of that over the years, and you lean in on that, no matter what happens along the way, you can weather those storms to put yourself in the best position to try to be that number one defense again.”
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans: Everything LB Azeez Al-Shaair said following Day 2 of minicamp
Continue reading...
