[kravix]

Well I have seen the calls for intensity, fire, attitude, and a bit o nasty from our linemen on both sides. Looks like they may have heard the call and are stepping up.

http://houstontexans.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=4463

The Texans' intensity got the better of them Monday morning when the defensive and offensive lines got into it during practice. Head coach Gary Kubiak said likes the team to be physical, but the players must maintain their composure.

Head coach Gary Kubiak

(on what did you tell the guys with getting angry with each other) “This game’s about intensity and I felt that we needed to find another level of intensity. That was something we addressed as a team last night and we found it this morning, but we’re not going to lose our composure. That’s what football is all about. You’ve got to be able to play physical, play nasty but you’ve got to understand the team is number one. You can’t hurt your team, so it’s a good lesson for everybody. I like the enthusiasm and effort, but we’re not going to lose players because of lost composure.”

Kubes kinda liked it

(on the intensity of the defensive line) “Let me be the first one to say that I put them in a tough position really as a coach because I’m saying ‘You be aggressive, you knock the heck out of people, but stay off the ground’. That’s hard to do. It’s hard to play this game when you’re being very aggressive and keeping people up, but that’s what we have to do as a team. We have to keep the interest of the team intact as we practice and I understand that’s tough in what I’m asking them to do. But I thought we found another gear today, and that’s a big point of emphasis for our football team right now. And I thought we took a step forward today.”

ND Kalu liked it too.

(on defensive line setting the tone) “It all starts with the D-line. You want an honoree defensive line just to lead the defensive, but at the same time, we have to be smart. We can’t start fights, get ejected from games. I don’t know if you saw, but we did have a fight today at practice. It’s fun when you are young. I remember when I was young; I was the first one to start a fight just to prove that a Rice guy wasn’t too soft. But at the time, it is OK to fight out here, but don’t take that on Sunday because you will get ejected, get fined and you will probably get cut if you do to many times.”

(his take on the skirmish during practice today) “I thought it was good. I know that Coach Kubiak doesn’t like it. I think it is good to do it out here because there are no yellow flags or fines. We need to get a little more ornery on defensive, and the defensive linemen started that fight.”