McCain, who re-signed with the Texans on March 20, hopes to be ready for the start of OTAs on May 20 after missing the end of last season with a foot injury. The 2009 sixth-round draft pick from Utah discusses his decision to re-sign; growing up with six siblings and two stepbrothers in Terrell, Texas; the nickname “Hot Sauce”; his speed; his height; being part of an undefeated team at Utah in 2008; Ed Reed; Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and defensive backs coach Vance Joseph; video games; his injury; and Jamie Foxx.

Thanks for listening. Link

OTWS archive

2012
Episode 1 (6/2): J.J. Watt, Wade Phillips
Episode 2 (6/9): Duane Brown, Paul Kuharsky
Episode 3 (6/18): Whitney Mercilus, Keith Gilmore
Episode 4 (6/23): Case Keenum, Jerrry Rhome
Episode 5 (6/30): Matt Schaub, Geoff Kaplan
Episode 6 (7/24): James Casey
Episode 7 (8/4): Connor Barwin, Marc Vandermeer
Episode 8 (8/10): Justin Forsett, Chick Harris
Episode 9 (8/17): Bradie James
Episode 10 (9/8): Andre Johnson
Episode 11 (9/15): T.J. Yates
Episode 12 (9/22): Derek Newton
Episode 13 (9/29): Antonio Smith (Video: Smith on start of career)
Episode 14 (10/20): Bryan Braman (Video: Braman on special teams)
Episode 15 (11/3): Owen Daniels (Video: Daniels on TD celebration)
Episode 16 (11/10): Danieal Manning
Episode 17 (12/10): Darryl Sharpton

2013
Episode 18 (1/4): Chris Myers
Episode 19 (4/8): Brice McCain (Video: McCain talks speed)

Fans dressed in costumes, masks and Texans jerseys appeared ready to show the world why they claim to be the best fans in the NFL.

Watch: LINK

“This today starts our run to New York City for Super Bowl LI!” the leader of the Battle Red Freaks said into a megaphone as the crowd cheered.

The participants had a blast while dancing to the techno tunes of Baauer and chanting “Houston Texans.”

I was in Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, but it’s nice to see the enthusiasm and spirit of Texans fans continue into the offseason.

Slideshow: LINK

Here they are, minus several regional pre-draft combines that the NFL listed in its email but were omitted for the purposes of this blog post.

March 9-11    –    Clubs are permitted to enter into contract negotiations with certified agents of players who will be Unrestricted Free Agents at the end of the current League Year.

March 12     –    Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must exercise options for 2013 on all players who have option clauses in their 2012 contracts.

March 12    –    Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must submit Qualifying Offers to their Restricted Free Agents with expiring contracts and to whom they desire to retain a Right of First Refusal/Compensation.

March 12     –    Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must submit a minimum salary offer to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2012 contracts and who have fewer than three seasons of free agency credit.

March 12     –    All 2012 player contracts will expire at 4:00 p.m., New York time.

March 12     –    Top-51 Begins. All clubs must be under the Salary Cap prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time.

March 12     –    The 2013 League Year and Free Agency period begin at 4:00 p.m., New York time.

March 12    –    Trading period begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time, for 2013 after expiration of all 2012 contracts.

April 25-27    –    NFL Draft, New York City, New York.

May 20-22    –    NFL Spring League Meeting, Hyatt-Harborside, Boston, Massachusetts.

September 5, 8-9    –    NFL Kickoff 2013

Watt’s season was covered in-depth in the press release linked to above. Here are a few more notes about his accomplishment:

-          At 23 years old, Watt is the second-youngest player ever to win the award. Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor was 22 when he won it with the New York Giants in 1981.

-          Watt is the first player to win the award in his second season in the NFL. Taylor is the only one who did it sooner, winning as a rookie in 1981. Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Lambert won the award after his third season in 1976.

-          Of the 34 players who won the award before Watt, 13 are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Ten of the other 21 previous winners are not yet eligible for induction (players must be retired for at least four years before being eligible for the Hall).

-          Watt is the eighth active player with an NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, joining Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Brian Urlacher, James Harrison, Charles Woodson, Troy Polamalu and Terrell Suggs. Lewis has announced that he will retire after tomorrow’s Super Bowl, so Watt will likely be one of seven active Defensive Player of the Year winners in NFL next season.

QB Matt Schaub (2nd career Pro Bowl): 12-of-22 for 113 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions with a 46.2 rating. Sacked once. The 2009 Pro Bowl MVP, Schaub entered game for Peyton Manning at the 6:54 mark of the second quarter and was replaced by Andrew Luck at 3:52 in the third. Schaub’s touchdown pass was a four-yarder to Cleveland’s Josh Cribbs on third-and-goal in the third quarter. Schaub also had one carry for 11 yards, showing off some wheels as he picked up a first down.

RB Arian Foster (3rd Pro Bowl): Three carries, -2 yards. Foster started the game and didn’t see the field much, if at all, after the first quarter. The AFC trailed 31-14 at halftime and had just 15 rushing yards as a team, while the NFC had just 78 in a decidedly pass-happy game. Foster threw a few halfback passes during the week in practice, as he did during last year’s Pro Bowl practices, but didn’t get a chance to do so in Sunday’s game.

WR Andre Johnson (6th Pro Bowl): Three catches for 34 yards on five targets. Johnson started and played much of the first half. In the second half, he wore a red AFC hat as he stood on the sideline with folded arms and talked to former University of Miami teammate Reggie Wayne, Peyton Manning, Schaub and others. He caught one pass from Schaub, a 16-yard gain on third-and-15 in the second quarter.

TE Owen Daniels (2nd career Pro Bowl): Four catches for 45 yards on seven targets. Daniels had a long gain of 17, which he caught from Luck in the fourth quarter. He caught two passes from Schaub, including a 13-yarder in the second quarter.

LT Duane Brown (1st Pro Bowl), LG Wade Smith (1st), C Chris Myers (2nd): Brown and Smith both started. Myers, in his second consecutive Pro Bowl, played as a reserve. Brown played mostly right tackle, with Cleveland’s Joe Thomas seeing a bulk of time at left tackle when Brown was on the field. Smith also played some right guard; he and Brown ironically never played beside each other in the entire game.

DE J.J. Watt (1st Pro Bowl): Five tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss, one quarterback hit. Watt started in his Pro Bowl debut and made plays in the backfield along with a couple of other highlights – and a stomach-churning moment. The presumptive NFL Defensive Player of the Year lined up at wide receiver on the AFC’s first drive and had a pass thrown his way by Manning in the end zone. The pass was incomplete, and it also left Watt with a bloody finger that he showed off to NBC cameras on the sideline. Watt continued to play in the game and afterward said he’s fine and just needed a few stitches.

CB Johnathan Joseph (2nd Pro Bowl): Four tackles, including three in the first half. Joseph, making his second consecutive Pro Bowl appearance, started the game and was often on the field at the same time as Watt. He lined up against the likes of Larry Fitzgerald, Vincent Jackson and even Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten.

The Texans’ nine Pro Bowlers are not only a team record but the most of any team in the league this year. Defensive end J.J. Watt, cornerback Johnathan Joseph, running back Arian Foster, wide receiver Andre Johnson and left tackle Duane Brown all are representing the Texans as starters for the AFC. Quarterback Matt Schaub, center Chris Myers, left guard Wade Smith and tight end Owen Daniels made the squad as reserves.

The AFC and NFC teams practice separately each day. Practices started on Wednesday at Kapolei High School and will continue Thursday morning at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Check back with us tomorrow afternoon for updates from practice and afterward as we talk to Texans players and their NFL all-star peers. “Voice of the Texans” Marc Vandermeer is out here with me and will be contributing to our coverage for the week.

We’ll also check in at some point with Texans Cheerleader Vanessa, who already has been blogging her experiences for us on HoustonTexans.com.

THE TEXANS

·         Fell in the Divisional round of the AFC Playoffs for the second consecutive season.

·         Finished the season 13-5 overall, which is the best record in franchise history.

·         Won time of possession for the second time this postseason and the 14^th time overall this season, holding the ball for 31:24.

·         Gained more than 400 yards of net offense for the second consecutive playoff game, finishing with 425 total yards a week after gaining 420 yards vs. Cincinnati (1/5).

·         Scored first for the second consecutive postseason game and 11^th time this year overall when K Shayne Graham booted a 27-yard field goal to cap the opening drive of the game.

·         Trailed at the end of the first quarter for the first time this postseason and the seventh time overall this season. Houston finished the year 2-5 overall when trailing after the opening period.

·         Trailed at halftime for the first time this postseason and the sixth time overall this season. Houston finished the year 1-5 overall when trailing at halftime.

·         Trailed at the end of the third quarter for the first time this postseason and the sixth time this season overall. Houston finished the year 1-5 overall when trailing entering the fourth quarter.

HEAD COACH GARY KUBIAK

·         Successfully challenged a play in the fourth quarter, arguing that a play ruled incomplete on the field was a completed pass in the end zone. The call was overturned, resulting in a 25-yard touchdown for the Texans.

TE OWEN DANIELS

·         Caught a game-high nine passes for 81 yards and extended his streak of consecutive games with a reception to 87, including regular season and postseason games, with a 10-yard catch in the first quarter.

RB ARIAN FOSTER

·         Tied RB Terrell Davis for the most rushing yards by a player in his first four career playoff games with 515, gaining 90 yards on the ground in the game. Foster and Davis are the only two men in League history to rush for more than 500 yards in their first four playoff appearances.

MOST RUSHING YARDS, FIRST FOUR PLAYOFF GAMES OF CAREER                                  

Player                           Team                                     Postseason(s)   Yards

Arian Foster               Houston Texans               2011-12                515

Terrell Davis               Denver Broncos                1996-97                515

Fred Taylor                 Jacksonville Jaguars        1998-99                493

John Riggins               Washington Redskins     1976, 1982           474

Eric Dickerson            Los Angeles Rams            1983-85                470

Eddie George            Tennessee Titans             1999                       449

·         Moved into 43^rd on the NFL’s all-time postseason rushing list with 515 career yards.

·         Finished the game with 153 yards from scrimmage (90 rushing, 63 receiving) to raise his career total to 663. His career average of 165.8 scrimmage yards per game in the playoffs is the highest in NFL playoff history.

MOST SCRIMMAGE YARDS PER GAME, NFL POSTSEASON HISTORY                                 

                                                                                                                        Total      Tot. Yds

Player                                   G     Rush      Yards     Rec.       Yards     Yards     /Game

Arian Foster                       4      105         515         23           148         663         165.8

Terrell Davis                       8      204         1,140     19           131         1,271     158.9

Merril Hoge                        3      39           247         14           129         376         125.3

Larry Fitzgerald                 6      0              0              42           705         705         117.5

Marcus Allen                      16   267         1,347     53           530         1,877     117.3

·         Scored a touchdown in his fourth consecutive playoff game when he reached the end zone on a 1-yard scoring run in the second quarter.

CB BRANDON HARRIS

·         Made his first career postseason start when the Texans defense opened the game with six defensive backs on the field.

K SHAYNE GRAHAM

·         Kicked a career-long 55-yard field goal to end the first half, surpassing his previous career-high of 53-yards set in 2009.

FS SHILOH KEO

·         Made his first career postseason start when the Texans defense opened the game with six defensive backs on the field.

WR ANDRE JOHNSON

·         Finished the game with 95 receiving yards on eight catches, raising his postseason career total to 358 yards in four games. His average of 89.5 yards per game in the postseason is the sixth-highest in League playoff history.

MOST RECEIVING YARDS PER GAME, NFL PLAYOFF HISTORY

Player                           G             Rec         Yds         Avg        Lg            TD           Yds/G

Larry Fitzgerald         6              42           705         16.8        64t          9              117.5

Hakeem Nicks           4              28           444         15.9        72t          4              111.0

Tom Fears                   6              30           587         19.6        -              5              97.8

Steve Smith                8              47           782         16.6        70           7              97.8

Charlie Brown            7              31           643         20.7        *60         3              91.9

Andre Johnson         4              25           358         14.3        40t          1              89.5

·         Extended his franchise-record streak of consecutive games with a reception to 106, including regular season and postseason games, with an 11-yard catch in the first quarter.

·         Scored the first two-point conversion in Texans postseason history when he leapt to haul in a throw from QB Matt Schaub in the fourth quarter.

SS DANIEAL MANNING

·         Returned the opening kickoff 94 yards to the New England 12-yard line to set up a 27-yard field goal by K Shayne Graham. It was the longest kickoff return of his career in both regular season and postseason play and was the longest in Texans postseason history. His previous longs were 83 yards vs. New Orleans on 12/11/08 as a Chicago Bear and 60 yards in the 2011 AFC Divisional Playoff at Baltimore on 1/15/12. That return was also on the opening kick of the game.

·         Set an AFC Divisional Playoff record with 216 kickoff return yards in the game, bettering the previous mark of 208 yards by Dante Hall of Kansas City vs. Indianapolis on 1.11.04. It was the third-most kick return yards in NFL postseason history.

MOST KICKOFF RETURN YARDS, GAME, POSTSEASON HISTORY

Player                           Date                Tm      Opp   KR     Yds     Avg    Lg        TD

Andre Coleman        1/29/1995      SD       SF       8        244     30.5    98t      1

Ellis Hobbs                   1/21/2007      NE      Ind     6        220     36.7    80       0

Danieal Manning     1/13/2013      Hou   NE      4        216     54.0    94       0

Tim Dwight                 1/31/1999      Atl      Den    5        210     42.0    94t      1

Dante Hall                   1/11/2004      KC       Ind     7        208     29.7    92t      1

·         Averaged 54.0 yards per kickoff return, gaining 216 yards on four returns. That was the second-highest return average in NFL playoff history behind only Speedy Duncan’s 56.7-yard average (3-170) for Washington vs. San Francisco on 12/26/71.

HIGHEST KICKOFF RETURN AVERAGE, GAME, POSTSEASON HISTORY

Player                           Date                Tm      Opp   KR     Yds     Avg    Lg        TD

Speedy Duncan        12/26/1971   Was   SF       3        170     56.7    -          0

Danieal Manning     1/13/2013      Hou   NE      4        216     54.0    94       0

Trindon Holliday       1/12/2013      Den    Bal      3        158     52.7    104t   1

Ed Podolak                  12/25/1971   KC       Mia    3        154     51.3    -          0

Speedy Duncan        12/26/1964   SD       Buf     3        147     49.0    -          0

Fulton Walker            1/30/1983      Mia    Was   4        190     47.5    98t      1

WR DeVIER POSEY

·         Made his first career reception in postseason play when he hauled in a 24-yard pass in the second quarter.

·         Caught his first career touchdown pass when he dove to haul in a 25-yard scoring throw from QB Matt Schaub in the fourth quarter.

OLB BROOKS REED

·         Teamed with DE J.J. Watt to sack New England QB Tom Brady for a 9-yard loss in the first quarter, extending his streak of consecutive playoff games with a sack to four. Reed and Watt are tied for the most sacks in team playoff history with 5.0 apiece.

QB MATT SCHAUB

·         Threw for 343 yards in the game, giving him the first 300-yard passing game in Texans postseason history, and finished the game with a passer rating of 90.6, completing 34-of-51 passes for 343 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

·         Threw his first career touchdown pass in postseason play when he hit WR DeVier Posey for a 25-yard score in the fourth quarter.

·         Tossed his second touchdown pass of the game when he hit RB Arian Foster for a 1-yard touchdown

DE J.J. WATT

·         Teamed with OLB Brooks Reed to sack New England QB Tom Brady for a 9-yard loss in the first quarter, extending his streak of consecutive playoff games with a sack to four. Watt and Reed are tied for the most sacks in team playoff history with 5.0 apiece.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

·         FB Tyler Clutts and WR Lestar Jean made their playoff debuts in the game

·         Inactive players for the Texans were G Antoine Caldwell, CB Roc Carmichael, ILB Cameron Collins, T Andrew Gardner, NT Terrell McClain, CB Stanford Routt and G Cody White.

·         Captains for the Texans were WR Andre Johnson, FS Shiloh Keo, C Chris Myers, QB Matt Schaub, DE Antonio Smith and DE J.J. Watt. Schaub, Johnson and Smith went to midfield for the pregame coin toss.

·         The Texans won the toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff.

THE TEXANS

·         Trailed at the end of the third quarter for the first time this postseason and the sixth time this season overall. Houston was 1-4 when trailing at halftime in the regular season.

RB ARIAN FOSTER

·         Became just the second man in NFL history to rush for 500 or more yards in his first four career playoff games, joining Denver RB Terrell Davis (515). He reached the milestone on his 17^th carry of the game, a 1-yard gain late in the fourth quarter.

THE TEXANS

·         Trailed at halftime for the first time this postseason and the sixth time overall this season. Houston was 1-4 when trailing at halftime in the regular season.

RB ARIAN FOSTER

·         Scored a touchdown in his fourth consecutive playoff game when he reached the end zone on a 1-yard scoring run in the second quarter.

K SHAYNE GRAHAM

·         Kicked a career-long 55-yard field goal to end the first half, surpassing his previous career-high of 53-yards set in 2009.

THE TEXANS

·         Scored first for the second consecutive game when K Shayne Graham booted a 27-yard field goal to cap the opening drive of the game.

·         Trailed at the end of the first quarter for the first time this postseason and the seventh time overall this season. Houston was 2-4 when trailing after the opening period during the regular season.

TE OWEN DANIELS

·         Extended his streak of consecutive games with a reception to 87, including regular season and postseason games, with a 10-yard catch in the first quarter.

CB BRANDON HARRIS

·         Made his first career postseason start when the Texans defense opened the game with six defensive backs on the field.

FS SHILOH KEO

·         Made his first career postseason start when the Texans defense opened the game with six defensive backs on the field.

WR ANDRE JOHNSON

·         Extended his franchise-record streak of consecutive games with a reception to 106, including regular season and postseason games, with an 11-yard catch in the first quarter.

SS DANIEAL MANNING

·         Returned the opening kickoff 94 yards to the New England 12-yard line to set up a 27-yard field goal by K Shayne Graham. It was the longest kickoff return of his career in both regular season and postseason play and was the longest in Texans postseason history. His previous longs were 83 yards vs. New Orleans on 12/11/08 as a Chicago Bear and 60 yards in the 2011 AFC Divisional Playoff at Baltimore on 1/15/12. That return was also on the opening kick of the game.

OLB BROOKS REED

·         Teamed with DE J.J. Watt to sack New England QB Tom Brady for a 9-yard loss in the first quarter, extending his streak of consecutive playoff games with a sack to four. Reed and Watt are tied for the most sacks in team playoff history with 5.0 apiece.

DE J.J. WATT

·         Teamed with OLB Brooks Reed to sack New England QB Tom Brady for a 9-yard loss in the first quarter, extending his streak of consecutive playoff games with a sack to four. Watt and Reed are tied for the most sacks in team playoff history with 5.0 apiece.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

·         FB Tyler Clutts and WR Lestar Jean made their playoff debuts in the game

·         Inactive players for the Texans were G Antoine Caldwell, CB Roc Carmichael, ILB Cameron Collins, T Andrew Gardner, NT Terrell McClain, CB Stanford Routt and G Cody White.

·         Captains for the Texans were WR Andre Johnson, FS Shiloh Keo, C Chris Myers, QB Matt Schaub, DE Antonio Smith and DE J.J. Watt. Schaub, Johnson and Smith went to midfield for the pregame coin toss.

·         The Texans won the toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff.