RUNNING BACK ARIAN FOSTER
(on how much the Texans have tapped into their offensive potential)
I feel like we could always get a lot better as football players and professional athletes. That's what we're striving to do.
(on if the team senses the buzz surrounding the Texans)
Kind of echoing my head coach's sentiment: it could go south really fast in this league. You just have to keep playing week in and week out.
(on if he's impressed about how the offensive line and the running game has performed so far)
Well we kind of knew that they were going to be OK, and they have been. Now we're looking for them to catch stride and really reach their full potential as professionals, and we're all looking forward to that.
(on why he thinks the zone running game has had so much success against the Titans recently)
I couldn't tell you. I think that we take a lot of pride in our run game. It's a division game, so we try harder. We play our opponents and try to be the best we can each day. I don't think it's just necessarily against the Titans. We try to 'beast out' every time we play.
(on what it says about quarterback Matt Schaub that he's happy with the run game taking the lead so far)
He's a team guy. I've never been on a team that has been this unselfish. We're all just after one goal, and we're all just trying to win.
(on how important it is for the run game to get going so the passing game can succeed as well)
Everything that we do is kind of predicated off of each other. The pass game feeds off of the run game, and vice versa. We understand that as offensive players, and we try to set up the other side as much as we can by doing our jobs.
(on if he's disappointed at all that the regular officials might be coming back)
I said drama is good for business, which is true. I wasn't taking a side, I was just stating a fact.
(on if he's expecting less drama if regular officials are back this weekend)
I'm not expecting anything. I'll take it as it comes.
(on if he's hoping the regular officials are back)
I mean yeah, who isn't.
(on whether or not games are being called differently with the replacement officials)
I don't really know, man, because I don't pay attention to all that, really. I know that the regular refs we used to have in the NFL, that's what they do. They've been doing it for a long time, and they've developed a certain demeanor about how they go about their business. The new refs, they're kind of new at this game, it's got to be different. But I don't pay attention to, 'Is this being called?' because you can't control it. You can't sit here and act like there aren't any bad calls regularly when the regular refs are here and vice versa. There's not much you can control about the situation, so I don't pay it any mind.
(on if he's surprised about Chris Johnson's performance so far)
I don't have any expectations for any people. I know Chris Johnson is one of the better backs in the NFL. I'm a big fan of his, and he knows that. He's a good back, and he knows he's a good back. Sometimes it takes a while to get going or whatever the case may be, but I have no doubt in my mind that he'll get back on track.
(on if he's ever had a stretch of a few games where he wasn't having success)
Myself, personally? Yeah. I think every now and then you can lose some confidence here and there. But those thoughts are short lived. You can't dwell on any negative thing.
(on what kind of challenge it is to get better in Year 2 after having a successful rookie year)
Well I think the second year after the first year of success is always harder because now you have a name, now people know who you are. The defense or offense, or whoever you're going against, they're expecting something from you, so they game plan for you. Then you get also additional outside attention for your play on the field. All of that can come into play, you just have to focus. I haven't spoken with J.J. (Watt). Obviously he's doing a wonderful job this year. We expect him to continue because he's a heck of a ball player.
(on if the Titans defense looks any different without Cortland Finnegan out there)
You know I haven't studied them in depth yet. We've looked at a little bit of cutups here and there. When I go into deeper film study, I can give you a more accurate reading.
(on if he thinks they'll be a little quieter without Cortland Finnegan out there)
He never talked much to me, so I can't call that one.
(on what Cortland Finnegan brought to the Titans on defense)
A little bit of feistiness.
(on how that feistiness showed up on the field)
In how he played the game.
(on if Cortland Finnegan talked to any of the other players in Houston)
Pretty sure he has, yeah.
(on how he expects the Titans defense to treat him)
I have no idea how they're going to treat me. Coach (Gary) Kubiak always tells us to not focus on any of that, just focus on your job and what you're supposed to do. That's what I try to do.
(on how the Titans defense impresses him on tape)
Like I said, I haven't been in depth in studying them yet. But I see a stout defense, a fast defense that likes to get after the quarterback.
