Q. What do you think -- Lovie called it a change of scenery?
MARLON MACK: Definitely loving it, new coach, teammates, it's definitely a great feeling, refreshed. Feel like I'm back in college again, learning new guys again, getting close with guys. It's a great feeling.
Q. How tough to go from a thousand-yard rusher --
MARLON MACK: It wasn't tough. Just a cycle in the NFL, I'd say. You learn how to take your ups and downs and learn how to be grateful, and I always go a 110 percent and that's what I did. Learning to being a starter and being a bench guy and you have to adapt and learn and keep going because that's what it is.
Q. What can you bring to the table?
MARLON MACK: As a back, big plays, touchdowns and go out there and do what I do and hopefully help this team get a W, the most important thing.
Q. The struggles in the running game over the last couple years, do you take it as a challenge to come here and improve it?
MARLON MACK: As a team, I think we all do, especially every running back, everybody want to go out there and help the team. That's one thing as a running back you want to do, put that on your shoulders and go out and do that.
Q. Talk about the energy that Dameon Pierce brings?
MARLON MACK: Young guy, bring that college energy, fresh, don't know what to expect. But he's a young guy, he's learning, energetic, happy. Smile on the face every day, and that's one thing you need in your room and you're always going to enjoy.
Q. What went into the decision for you to come to Houston?
MARLON MACK: Decision-wise, getting a chance to play, knowing they are a great team, just put in the work and go win. I want to get out there on that field and help this team and I think I can do that.
Q. What did they tell you about your role?
MARLON MACK: Just go out there and do what you do. Training camp, go out there, everybody get a fresh chance, get a chance out there to go to work.
Q. Is it a competition now?
MARLON MACK: Most definitely. I don't think nothing is guaranteed nor anybody. Just got to go in there, work and improve.
Q. Seeing this organization from the other sideline the last few years, what's your impression of Lovie Smith and the offense?
MARLON MACK: Big plays, man. We going to go out there and do what we do. The offense is getting going, especially through the OTAs, you've definitely been seeing just chances, going out there, ripping it out there. Let guys make plays and do what we do. We are play-makers.
Q. Do you feel like you've got it back, like you're all the way back now?
MARLON MACK: Most definitely. I felt like that last year. Just didn't get a chance for me. Just got to go out there and do the work. Haven't done it yet. That's what I've got to go do.
Q. What was it like watching J.T. have that kind of season?
MARLON MACK: It was amazing. Got to be grateful and enjoy, legendary season, especially his second year. Great teammate, great room, great room to be a part of, especially with my running back coach there. It was just great to see. Always motivated. That's one thing about this game, you've just got to learn how to motivate yourself and watch the other guy DOS it and that help you out.
Q. What do you know about Smith?
MARLON MACK: Great professional, great guy. Quick. He's learning fast. Go get it, got to be there, got to be on your game with him and go out there and help each other.
Q. Do you see any similarities between him and another former Stanford quarterback you played with?
MARLON MACK: I mean, it's kind of different. He's still a younger guy. I seen Andrew later on in his career, so I definitely can't really tell because Andrew was later on but it definitely got that smartness to him. Quarterback, you got to be on your game, got to be on your point with everything.
Q. I know it's only been a couple weeks but what's your impression about the offensive line and the way they are able to create gaps?
MARLON MACK: It's a good impression. Definitely OTA camp, you can't really judge OTAs, no pads, but there's definitely big holes there and definitely a chance to hit it and get it. That's what's impressive about these guys, communicate well and that's a major key in the pass game, communicate and that's what we do.
Q. With the running backs in the running back room now, do you break them down and give your impressions of how it is?
MARLON MACK: Break the running backs down in the room? Running backs is the OGs, man. Got to do it -- I think about that room, though, I think everybody can do it all. Pass game, run game, we just kind of different size-wise. So everything look the same. I think we all got need. Some guys just got a little more power than others. But I think we kind of -- because everybody can run routes here. I think that's what I can see out of all us. Kind of shifty. We know how to hit it and get it would I say.
Q. Any similarities between this offense and Frank's offense?
MARLON MACK: I wouldn't say similar. I don't see none, I don't think.
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