Q. Do you find that beneficial in general and some of the things you do out here now?
MALIEK COLLINS: Everything I do is with BT. That's my guy.
Q. How much did 97 cost you?
MALIEK COLLINS: That's between me and Yo, man. He gave me what I needed, and I gave him his jersey number. I got more sacks than 96, so it was about time I get back to my roots.
Q. Do you feel like you were close on some plays last year, just right there on some of those plays and then maybe one step quicker this year?
MALIEK COLLINS: There's a saying, close but no cigar. I've got to finish them if I want them for real.
Q. What is it like having Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison out there, and what have you seen (indiscernible)?
MALIEK COLLINS: Great. Everybody really looking great. I was surprised by Rio's speed, just how he gets off the ball. And Jerry, he's Jerry, the same guy you watched on film for all these years. Man, JG coming back, he's leaner, he's more explosive, he's getting off the ball. He's having fun.
Q. When you're on the field what are the things that you're noticing that you recognize, okay, I'm in year two, I'm getting this?
MALIEK COLLINS: I mean, it's the same defense I always played in, same everything. I just try to get better at what I do.
Q. What do you like most about the competition?
MALIEK COLLINS: Man, it's just been fun. It's been a fun camp for me. I haven't really dreaded coming to practice or anything like that. I enjoy coming to work every day.
Q. Is that partly due to Lovie and his attitude?
MALIEK COLLINS: For sure. There's a new standard every day that we've got to keep reaching, keep getting better. You never get complacent, you just keep going.
Q. Going against guys like AJ (indiscernible)?
MALIEK COLLINS: I've been going against AJ for like the last four or five years, so I'm familiar with AJ. And then Cann, going against him every day, too.
Q. What do you see from him?
MALIEK COLLINS: I see he's got potential. He just keeps coming out here working. He pulls me to the side after practice and we get some work done, little things -- if I see some things I'll let him know, and things he picks up on me he'll let me know, so we just keep comparing notes and keep competing against each other every day.
Q. Do you see anything about Roy from last year to this year, second year in the league?
MALIEK COLLINS: Yeah, of course. He's more experienced. He's coming out here, he's a great guy.
Q. Can you appreciate it as a veteran to see he put in that much work in the off-season, to be able to come in in better shape and quicker?
MALIEK COLLINS: That doesn't impress me. That's your job.
Q. When you look at guys such at Rio and Jerry who have been in the playoffs, does that raise the standard of the defensive line a little bit?
MALIEK COLLINS: Sure, Beezy got a Super Bowl, too. Don't forget that, man.
Q. How long have those reminders been on your cleats?
MALIEK COLLINS: Have fun and be decisive? This is like three years in.
Q. What have you seen from (indiscernible)?
MALIEK COLLINS: I seen a lot of good things from Ross. He's just got coming out here and competing every day, against each other, too.
Q. Have you been able to keep the same cleats for three years?
MALIEK COLLINS: No, I rotate them out.
Q. Every single one of them has that?
MALIEK COLLINS: No, these just got these on there. Some of the ones may have different messages. Some of them --
Q. Have you been doing that for a long time in your career?
MALIEK COLLINS: I used to wear it on my tape when I used to have tape, but I don't wear tape no more, so I just wear them on my cleats.
Q. What's on your shoes?
MALIEK COLLINS: It says have fun and be decisive.
Q. Do you always do that?
MALIEK COLLINS: Always.
Q. (Indiscernible.)
MALIEK COLLINS: I mean, this is a whole new year. I don't really do too many comparisons. It's just all about being the best version for the 2022 Texans.
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