Q. Juice, we know that you got to earn your spot, but Texans traded in the second round to get you. What kind of relationship are you building with Stroud on and off the field? How do you think you guys will grow together? What were your impressions of him in college?
JUICE SCRUGGS: Yeah, it's been really cool. We had some crazy battles with Ohio State. Just being able to meet him, how humble he is and passionate he is about this game, excited to work with him and just get to go know him. Like you said, just trying to build the relationship and get the chemistry going.
What I thought about him in college, I thought he was the best quarterback in the country for sure.
Q. In the first couple days, I know it's not a full practice, but just being out there, has there been anything that has surprised you?
JUICE SCRUGGS: I wouldn't say surprise. I would just say definitely the weather here is definitely different for me. Penn State, you know, we don't get hot that much, and I heard this ain't even hot.
Yeah, so that's definitely going to be the biggest challenge for me, I think.
Q. The NFL's competitive situation, how ready do you feel like if you do have to start as a rookie?
JUICE SCRUGGS: Yeah, definitely. That's why they brought me he. I'm just ready to compete. If my number gets called I'm going to be ready. I'm just here to compete, and that's what I'm here to do.
Q. From a technical standpoint, what are some things you think you can refine, work on, and any advice from people at Penn State?
JUICE SCRUGGS: Yeah, just coming out here, trying to learn the scheme, get in the playbook as much as possible, and really just taking Coach Strauss' coaching and just trying to implement his technique and fundamentals and just trying to really understand the basics and go from there.
Then the advice I got from Penn State, talked to Coach Franklin before I got here, and he said, handle business.
Q. You worked with other quarterbacks before. What is your mindset to build a relationship with CJ? CJ seems like a pretty fun guy.
JUICE SCRUGGS: Yeah.
Q. What are the key things about that approach?
JUICE SCRUGGS: Really just talking, like getting to know each other. Just talking about backgrounds, life. Really football, we don't really talk about football. Really like first time we met, just getting to know each other just like you see somebody on the street for real.
So just trying to talk to him, pick his brain a little bit. When we start talking football you just see why he was what, third, second? Whatever pick he was, you see why he was picked so high, because his knowledge is crazy.
Q. Juice, what's been your impression so far of Will Anderson?
JUICE SCRUGGS: Yeah, you could tell, a powerful guy, explosive. Just getting to know him, he's a funny guy, goofy guy. Always high spirit.
I'm just ready to get to work with him. Iron sharpens iron.
Q. Juice, for a while there has been a conversation between Big10 and SEC when it comes to, not talent. (Indiscernible) Do you think they produce better offensive linemen?
JUICE SCRUGGS: You said do I think Big10 has better...
Q. Offensive linemen.
JUICE SCRUGGS: I mean, I'm biased so I'm going to say yeah, but I think both conferences produce players all a across the board. Yeah, I'm biased, so, yeah, I'm going to say yeah, of course.
Q. When you have a quarterback like Sean Clifford who you worked with for three years, do you feel like that is something that most quarterbacks need to have to be successful early in their careers?
JUICE SCRUGGS: Yeah, most definitely. He was -- Cliff was a prime example, because no matter what the outcome was of the game or how he played, he came in and worked his butt off every day.
So I definitely -- that's any position though, not just quarterback. Consistency is the main thing.
Q. Getting drafted is obviously exciting. What is it like when you see a team trade up and you know you're going to be the guy that they pick? What was it like sitting around with the family? What was that process like?
JUICE SCRUGGS: Yeah, it was definitely like -- you know, the draft process is nerve-wracking as it is. Once I got the call and they said they were trading up, my heart was jumping, not going to lie. All I heard was my heartbeat when they said Houston Texans coming to get you. My heart was just jumping. It was crazy.
My brothers -- I really didn't think about it and then my brothers was like, they just traded up to get you. That's a really big deal. I was like, let's do it, man, I'm excited.
Q. Turn up the TV when they make the announcement?
JUICE SCRUGGS: Yeah, had to everybody be quiet, everybody be quiet, and then once I got off the phone, everybody just went crazy and all the emotions just came.
Q. Juice, in early interactions with Coach Ryans being the exact same as you had with James Franklin, seems like they're almost the same type of coach.
JUICE SCRUGGS: Yeah, you can definitely see it. They're definitely family oriented, always talk about putting the team first. I'm just excited to get to work with him because you can just tell he brings energy to any room he's in.
And when you got a head coach that brings the energy, it's easy to bring the energy. I'm just excited to play for him.
Q. Has there been any of the Houston Texans offensive linemen that have reached out to you?
JUICE SCRUGGS: Yeah, Laremy Tunsil, he hit me up soon as I got drafted. And Titus Howard hit me up, too. Both those guys, veterans in the room. They both hit me up and just said, congratulations. Let's get ready to work.
Q. Not to get off in your personal business, but what have the last couple weeks been like? You're moving to a new city; I imagine you start learning the playbook. What's it been like for you starting your dream?
JUICE SCRUGGS: Yeah, since that phone call been a lot of moving parts. It's definitely been nonstop moving. Just trying to really -- trying to block everything out and just focus on the playbook. Just learning that as quick as possible. Really just trying to soak everything in and enjoy the moment and be where my feet are.
Q. Juice, you were talking about you got drafted and got a chance to talk to you about (indiscernible). You said went through your head that you weren't going to let it be the end of your career. You're here now. How have you reflected on that?
JUICE SCRUGGS: Yeah, I just thank God. Thank Him for me just being here, being in this position. I'm just so happy I didn't quit.
Q. Juice, you just talk about the excitement from getting drafted. Now that you're here, how do you organize your days? Can you give us a sense of what your plans are outside of the team?
JUICE SCRUGGS: Can you repeat? I'm sorry.
Q. Can you just talk about how you go about your day, what you're thinking about beyond minicamp?
JUICE SCRUGGS: Yeah, just learning how to be a pro, like understand I got more time. Definitely the most time I've had since high school.
Just trying to figure out, trying to learn a routine for me, and really just trying to take care of my body. Ain't no more school, so I can just focus on football and that's what I wanted to do.
Q. Juice, when you look at guys on this offensive line, especially with (indiscernible) extension, they're here for the next three years. For you to be able to build that continuity and learn the nuances of where they really can harbor in on the skills, what does that do to the confidence of a unit offensively and also for a quarterback?
JUICE SCRUGGS: Yeah, definitely. Just having those two guys, two great vets just being in the room, you know, that's just not only for, like you just said, for the team and the quarterback, but also for the young guys like myself.
They can just show us the way and show us things that they did wrong their rookie year and learn from them. Really like you said, just those two vets, quarterback, you got to have a lot of confidence when you got guys like that.
So I just think it's going to help the team go to the next level.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports