Q. How do you feel?
ROSS BLACKLOCK: I'm a lot more comfortable, a lot of growth. Just keep try to stacking days, stacking just personal goals and team goals for myself as far as getting better and being a better player, what I need to do on and off the field to be the best version of myself. I see it growing, just got to keep stacking.
Q. Ross, what about yourself have you seen that's grown?
ROSS BLACKLOCK: Just being a lot more faceted, more detailed with my key, stuff like that, and just being like hard on myself again and just being more detailed and stuff so it shows up on the field. Just every rep I take, I want to have a purpose to it. So that's kind of the approach I'm taking towards this year.
Q. How much -- inaudible.
ROSS BLACKLOCK: Like I said just trying to be the best version of myself and the coaches, giving them a reason to play me obviously. Just trying to be the best version of me. So that's all going to take time and I know it's going to come when it comes so just got to be -- remain what I'm doing and stay humble with what I'm doing.
Q. What do Jerry and Mario bring to the defensive line?
ROSS BLACKLOCK: Jerry and Mario been great. I didn't do to TC when Jerry was there -- guys always talked about how much of a leader he was and having those two guys in the room helping us, you learn a lot from your teammates and sometimes more than coaches. Our coach, Jacques, has been great, taught us a lot of stuff but you learn with the guys, too, that you play with, they teach you things that you may not see, that a coach may not see. It's great having them in the room, leadership and stuff like that.
Q. Feels like Jared (ph) -- inaudible -- would be able to help you.
ROSS BLACKLOCK: Like I say he's been helping me with little stuff, telling me stuff in the meeting rooms, on the field, ways to take on different blocks and scheme-wise how to do things differently. It's been a big help.
Q. With the NFL prospects, you typically hear that the third year is the breakout year. Do you feel like you're ready for that breakout year this year?
ROSS BLACKLOCK: I'm praying for it. Only time will tell. I know the Man upstairs, He got a plan for me, so I'm just going with that. Like I said, I just got to come out here every day, put in the work and be the best version of me and just do whatever I can to make this team, this organization better.
Q. What's something you're working on?
ROSS BLACKLOCK: Routine-wise, coming out here earlier, working on my foot steps, violence, trying out things in individual periods, trying new moves and learning and dissecting the offensive line, stuff like that. Same stuff just more detailed, you know.
Q. When it comes to Roy, what do you see that you like --
ROSS BLACKLOCK: What do I like? Oh, man, I love seeing Roy grow. He came in here, he got thrown in the fire his rookie year and he did, he did awesome. He is going to be a staple of this defense. He's our staple and he's our nose guard and I know he's going to do amazing things, and I'm just excited to see where his career goes and I want to be here every step of the way to grow with him.
Q. What have you noticed about the running game --
ROSS BLACKLOCK: We are definitely are running about it a lot more. We always want to stop the run but it's good seeing our offense want to be more physical. We want to put the ball on the ground and make opponents, stop the run and make them put the ball in the air and making them one-dimensional.
You have to have kind of a little bit of both. So it's good seeing more running this year, and just the offensive line being a lot more dominant, a lot more physical. So it's going to be a sight to see. We have got a lot of good running backs, so guys are going to store a lot of touchdowns.
Q. I see you a lot with Kenyon Green in training camp, is that the Houston connection or you taking a rookie under your wing helping him get better?
ROSS BLACKLOCK: A little bit of both. Kenyon asked me what he can get better as far as what I see in one-on-ones and certain tendencies he does. I try to give him the best knowledge I can as far as what I see. Like I say he's going to be a big impact of this group as well. We expect a lot from him his first year. We want him to be his best at the end of the day.
Q. What is it the biggest this particular group --
ROSS BLACKLOCK: I would say chemistry, when like new guys came in here, we brought everybody in with open arms and everybody kind of felt the love first day in when they was here. Some guys didn't know anybody, but we made everybody feel like family and just growing from OTAs and going into camp right now, but the growth has been a lot better. Guys are a lot closer and guys are understanding what we need to do as a team, and they are buying in to Coach Lovie's system. As long as you get that, we got someone we're working with.
Q. What stuck out about the way Coach Lovie Smith has coached?
ROSS BLACKLOCK: Just leadership, doing your job, trusting your teammate, really, and just coming out every day with a purpose and intent just to be better. We all want to get a ring one day. We all want to win championships. That's the end goal for every team. So we are just trying to build this organization back up to where it should be and probably know it can be.
Q. What have you seen from Thomas Booker?
ROSS BLACKLOCK: He's a good player, mean like me my rookie year, just eyes big everywhere and just trying to stand out. He's doing really good. He's grown. I told him this two days ago, he's gotten a lot better with everything he's doing, with steps, just going in there and not being as hesitant with everything. He's going to be a really good player for us and I'm excited to see him grow and play, really, all the rookies, they are doing a great job.
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