Gary Kubiak Likes What He Sees

"The five-week period in which Texans coaches can work with players on the practice field ended Wednesday with the last day of minicamp.

Owner Bob McNair, general manager Rick Smith and coach Gary Kubiak left the Methodist Training Center knowing they have more talent than at any time in the team's eight-year history.

They also know fans have playoffs-or-bust expectations.

"The playoffs are why I came here," Kubiak said. "It's why I do what I do.

"We have high expectations. We're a better team than any time since I've been here. We're not going to be satisfied with another (8-8 record). I want more, a lot more. The players do, too.

"I'm looking forward to the journey because I like the guys I'm taking it with. We have tremendous character on this team."

When the Texans report for training camp July 30, their goals are to reduce turnovers and improve the red-zone offense and in all areas of defense. They've been 12-4 at home and 4-12 on the road over the last two years.

"The biggest progress we made last year was on offense (third in yards, 17th in scoring), but we still need to get better," Kubiak said. "This season, we have to get our defense caught up with our offense."

The Texans will have at least two new starters on defense in left end Antonio Smith and strong-side linebacker Brian Cushing, their first-round draft choice out of USC.

Cushing to start

"Rookies have to be big contributors to our team, but I don't imagine you're going to see three or four of them starting because we're a better team," Kubiak said. "Cushing has been a starter since the day he stepped off the bus. We're very happy with him.

"The (offseason program) went very well. The team's attitude is very positive. The young guys got more work than they ever have, and they made a lot of progress.

"The players worked real hard in the weight room. The leaders have taken charge. We have some great competition. I have to make sure, as a coach, that we get the reps evened out because we're going to have some tough decisions to make.""

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Nfl Broadcast Boot Camp Teaches Players Xs and Os

"Loading...Related NewsPhoto Gallery2009 Draft: Meet the new Jets and GiantsVideoFalse start! NFL boot camp bloopersJets lineman Damien Woody looked right at home. Hunched in the huddle with other players awaiting orders, Woody had done this a thousand times.

But the guy barking the orders was a broadcasting pro - not a quarterback - and when the huddle broke and the camera rolled, the mishaps began.

"Cut!" Woody yelled. "I messed up. Let's try it again."

So it went at the NFL Broadcast Boot Camp, a four-day crash-course in broadcasting the NFL and NFL Films ran last week in Mt. Laurel, N.J.

It was aimed at current and former NFL players who want to trade in their helmets and shoulder pads for a career in the booth.

The week consisted of intensive instruction in Broadcasting 101 - from sideline reporting, film editing, green room prep and wardrobe setup.

Woody was among 24 players in the boot camp, including Giants linebacker Danny Clark, ex-Giants wide receiver Joe Jurevicius, retired ex-Jets tight end Kyle Brady, and current stars Matt Light of the New England Patriots and Maurice Jones-Drew of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

More impressive than the lineup of players was the group of instructors, including CBS' James Brown, Fox's Curt Menefee, and ESPN's Ron (Jaws) Jaworski.

"They really put us through the ringer," said Brady, who retired in 2007 and has worked for NFL Europe. "It's been eye-opening."

Woody offered a similar take: "They really throw you into the fire here. Yesterday was longer than a two-a-day in training camp. It was a grind."

The grind has proven fruitful since the boot camps began in 2007.

Of the 40 players who took part in the program in its first two years, 21 have landed broadcasting jobs, including Tim Hasselbeck (ESPN) and Ross Tucker (Sirius Satellite Radio).

Vaughn Bryant, the NFL's manager of player development, said it's part of the effort to help players adapt to life after football.

"The goal is to give players a good glimpse of all the disciplines in broadcast media and give them some training and foundational pieces (to) launch a career," Bryant said. "It's all a learning experience; guys learn what type of professional they can be, what their expertise can be. Some guys are going to learn they don't have the disposition to do it."

The camp's nightly critique sessions were rough.

"There was kind of an 'American Idol' feel to it. We definitely got put on blast a little bit," Jurevicius said. "I got lambasted pretty good. But when guys like James (Brown) and Jaws are taking time to help you learn the business, if we don't soak it up, we've got some problems.""

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