LOVIE SMITH: Just come to work every day, getting better. We're farther along. We've had a lot of our -- the things that we want to do, offense, defense, special teams installed. So I can't wait to go through training camp, start playing preseason games, get into the regular season and see where we are.
Q. As far as safety goes and the plan to ramp him up, is that the plan and did you expect him to be available Week 1?
LOVIE SMITH: Yes, I do, Week 1. Whenever a player is coming off of a major injury, there's ramp up here, that's what it's for. Ease him into it. You see him, healthy, running around doing a few plays. He's on schedule. But that's how we will treat all of our players coming off major injuries.
Q. What do you want to see change with --
LOVIE SMITH: That's pretty easy. Improvement. Everything we do, we video and we dissect it, and you just want to see improvement. That's all we ask our players to do. No one is game one ready right now. There's a time, we have a little bit of time to prepare before the coach come in to NRG Stadium. That's all we look for, daily improvement. The depth chart we'll start adjusting as we see players telling us different things.
Each year seems like it gets better and better. When I say everything that we do, we video, we dissect, it's just that. You look at our players, you talk about modern technology, we have an instant replay board. You see us, we get a chance to watch it, so little things like that, they all help. It's a game of inches. I feel like all these things you're talking about give us an advantage. We have a sports science group. You wouldn't believe the amount of people we have analyzing everything that we do. That should lead to better play.
Q. Inaudible.
LOVIE SMITH: This is what I'm looking for: To show up, coming out -- there's offense making some good plays. I'll tell you this the Texans won today. I'm going to feel pretty good one way or the other each play. But there's a lot of things, a lot of guys have been showing up, making plays. You try not to put too much into it, though.
Until we get on the pads, Monday, that's when things really start. Separation really begins then but we like where we are right now with what we've asked them to do.
Q. Spring to now, what's the excitement about the potential?
LOVIE SMITH: All our rookies, ramping up, showing how we do things but they are not game ready. The rookies are farther behind but no we are not disappointed in anyone. We feel like they are right on schedule and they have excellent coaches that are bringing them along each day.
Green is going to help us win a lot of games and going to get him into the mix as soon as we can.
Q. How much have you enjoyed mending fences this summer, new players, what's that experience been like?
LOVIE SMITH: I think all coaches would say new year, new things and getting the perfect match together, perfect combinations. Yeah, year one, you can't do everything you'd like. We are just picking out how to get to the facility a little bit year one.
But we're a lot further along in what we would like to do and we've got a little time. Eventually, hopefully, we'll put that on display.
Q. And Stingley --
LOVIE SMITH: What's this, day four, training camp? We got plenty of time. Stingley will eventually get there. You can look at the video, see that he's an elite athlete. All the skills you're looking for in a cornerback but his intellect, his brain, love where he is.
Q. You mentioned the fans; does it feel like the beginning?
LOVIE SMITH: It has to be. We talk about show up and for the fans to come in. We haven't had a good product for them to show up for. So it starts with that.
But in order for us to make this turnaround, it's got -- NRG Stadium, our traveling Texans, they have to be a part of this. The way we get them excited is, again, what we are putting on the field. We have play-makers on the offensive side and we are going to do some things defensively and special teams are a big part of what we're going to do also.
Q. There's a style of football, too, and intensity that builds where you might not have the biggest names in the world but you play football the right way and having intensity on the field and the fans can appreciate and buy into.
LOVIE SMITH: I think eventually, no one has a big name. Eventually come here and start making plays, eventually people will start seeing your jersey and calling your name. A part of the process is for that. The training camp, the product, those other things will come.
Q. Looking right now, time and formation -- where have you seen him improve?
LOVIE SMITH: He gives us flexibility. You can line him up outside. Of course he can in-line block a little bit but it's just not that. We talked about the fullback position, being a 22 team, being a 13 team. Were going to have multiple tight ends and multiple running backs. That should cause problems. We talk about what kind of personality we want to have. That's power football, too. All these things go into what we would like to do. Makes it a lot harder for the defense. Excited to see exactly what we'll be able to do with him this year.
Q. Bringing in the veteran pass rush, and seems like some of the interior has been streamlined. Are you looking to have a consistent two-deep?
LOVIE SMITH: We absolutely will be playing -- we will at least dress, at a minimum eight linemen. They will awe play. We are going to have a starter but everybody, fresh guys, playing hard. The veteran guys on the line that you talked about, yes. Jerry Hughes, Mario, I know Malik Collins has played a little bit. And then this is a big year for Jonathan, eight sacks whatever year, part-time, he is healthy now. In order for us to assess, I talk about playing better defense, it starts with our defensive line.
Q. You mentioned Mills being a leader, how does that --
LOVIE SMITH: Showing up, every time we open up the building he's been there. He leads everything. You see him first to do everything and then making plays, it's established who your leaders are on both sides of the ball. No doubt who ours is.
We are going to vote for our captains Monday of the week of the first game. I'm going to vote just like everybody, for one special teams, one offense, one defensive guy. Davis Mills is getting my vote for captain.
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