- 14 hours ago
Texans wide receiver Nico Collins joins the show immediately after practice to discuss Day 2 of camp, the offense, and expectations for the season.
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00:00This way as we speak, so Nico Collins is about to join us as well.
00:04Go ahead and rate Nico Collins and what he's got going.
00:07What did I just say?
00:08I already know what the first question is to Nico Collins, who is walking up to our table right now.
00:12He's walking up here. Swaggering is the only word that you use.
00:15This is one of the coolest dudes in the entirety of the situation that we've got going on here.
00:21Man, he's justifying everything I just said.
00:26As we were waiting for you, Nico.
00:28As we were waiting for you, I'm watching all the guys leave the field.
00:31And I'm like, you can tell which players have practiced in Houston before with one thing.
00:37By the time they get in front of us, they have their shoes off.
00:40Some of them are wearing slides.
00:42They got their helmets off.
00:43They got their jerseys off.
00:44They got their underpad off.
00:45I said, those guys have practiced here before.
00:47And lo and behold, Nico Collins walking.
00:50Those are some sweet slides.
00:51He's a Nike mom.
00:53Man.
00:54The new Nike.
00:54Yeah, look at that.
00:55And they're padded on the inside.
00:58They're padded.
00:58You know, look cushion.
00:59You got to take care of the feet now.
01:00Not your first rodeo.
01:01Not at all.
01:02Not your first rodeo.
01:04In fact, we were talking about this relatively recently.
01:06It seems like the slides thing has been, I mean, obviously a lot of dudes use slides.
01:09But it seems like it's gone up a lot in locker rooms in the NFL.
01:13Yeah.
01:13Is it just a comfort thing?
01:15Or is there a rehab element to this?
01:17Yes, sir.
01:17It's both.
01:18It's kind of everything.
01:18You know, you want your cleats all day.
01:19Your feet get tight.
01:20You know, you want your feet all day.
01:22You want to take care of your feet.
01:23Your toes and everything.
01:24You know, because your feet is really your foundation.
01:26That's where everything starts.
01:27And, you know, just rehab and take care of my body.
01:29I kind of learned over the years.
01:30Like, yeah, your feet, you got to take care of those.
01:32You know, you got to roll them out, stretch them, do like toe rehab and things like that.
01:35You know, but whenever you get off the field, man, you got to kick your feet up for a minute.
01:39We'll run things out, man.
01:40Take care of them.
01:41Are we going all the way pedicure?
01:42Because I don't know if you saw Dan Orlovsky was saying, hey, the pedicure is a bridge too far from
01:46him.
01:46Yeah, I'm straight on pedicure.
01:48I'm straight.
01:48I'm straight.
01:49I have to get a massage.
01:50I have to get a massage.
01:51I haven't done it.
01:52I respect it.
01:53All right.
01:55Like I said, the coolest dude on the team.
01:58But also, I mean, bona fide number one wide receiver in the league.
02:01One of the things I love watching with this team is that when you get an in-breaker, it's killer.
02:07And I was honestly surprised, even late in the season, that middle of the field close, that single high safety.
02:12The team still ran there out there, even though y'all would kill it.
02:15What is it about this offense?
02:17What is it about what y'all do that makes y'all so successful in that circumstance when it's just
02:21that single high safety?
02:22Man, it's really just commitment.
02:22You know, knowing that the safety is going to try to take it away, you got the one high, and
02:27you still got to get it across the middle, man.
02:29It's really just counting on your details, counting on your ability, just knowing that the guy right here is not
02:33about to stop me.
02:34You know, the ball in the air is yours.
02:35You know, you've got to have that mindset.
02:36You've got to have that mindset when you go line up, you know, and the rest is history, you know.
02:40So, the only way we get those reps is coming out here and competing against our defense every day.
02:44You know, going lining up against Kamari, Steen, man, entire secondary, Will.
02:48You've got Daniel coming off the edge, you know, Petrie, man, entire defense, man.
02:52There's a lot of dogs out there, you know.
02:53So, everybody coming off the blitz, everybody, you know, competitive, and it's only right.
02:58We come out here and just working every day, you know, iron, sharp, and iron.
03:03So, one of the things I do, you know, we all do, but one of the things I write down
03:07before we come on the air is just kind of observations of everything we're seeing.
03:11Yes, sir.
03:11And he can vouch for this.
03:13You know, I go through it.
03:13They call them passing thoughts.
03:14Like, this is what's happened.
03:15This looks good.
03:16Yes, sir.
03:16And one of my passing thoughts today was, as good as Nico is, he just looks a cut above.
03:21Yes, sir.
03:21Like, you looked really, really sharp coming out of the...
03:23And I'm not trying to blow smoke.
03:25I'm just saying, it looked like...
03:28Really, thank you.
03:28You, you know, I think you've said man on a mission with CJ.
03:31Are you a man on a mission?
03:32Yeah, absolutely.
03:32I mean, what's the difference this year?
03:34Man, I just got a chip on my shoulder, man.
03:36I just feel like there's so much room for me to improve, so much room for me to make.
03:39And I feel like I'm just, I haven't reached my peak yet.
03:41You know, there's just so much more I need to, you know, be here, be available for the team, you
03:45know, and playoffs, you know, and just entire season, man.
03:48Just there's so much more on my plate that I want to achieve, man.
03:51And every day my mindset is just getting 1% better every day, no matter what it is.
03:54And that chip's still with that last game?
03:56Yeah, no matter what.
03:56Yeah, man.
03:57It has to eat at you.
03:57Yeah, it bothered me, man.
03:58I haven't played football since, so it feels good to come out here with the guys again, going lining up
04:03with CJ, running routes, man.
04:05Just getting that football feeling again, you know, is one great feeling.
04:07Sure.
04:08Can you give us some detail on that?
04:09Because, I mean, for some of our laymen, we're watching you and we're like, hey, man, he's good as hell.
04:13What else can you do?
04:15What are those details that you're looking to improve on somehow?
04:19Everything, man.
04:20I say just my releases at the line because I'm a big receiver.
04:22I'm 6'4".
04:23For corners, that's the ease.
04:25That's a good day.
04:25They get the hands in my chest.
04:26You know, for me, it's harder.
04:28I got to work on my pad level, stay in low phase, get the hands off me, continue to drive
04:32phase.
04:33Don't give indicators to the DB when I'm about to stop because, you know, they read the hips, you know,
04:37and I'm a bigger defender, so, you know, it's easy.
04:39When those hips stop dropping.
04:40Come on, now.
04:40You already know.
04:41So, for me, I got to drop the entire time.
04:43It's time for me to sink my hips, just drop, just clean feet at the top, man.
04:47And just things like that you can always work on.
04:49And then going against Kamari's thing every day, you got no choice but to get better.
04:53Man, work on your hands, compete, man.
04:54You know, every rep is a rep.
04:56And, man, it's no better feeling because I'm not here every day and the line gets done, man.
04:59You know, they make it on Sundays, they make it easier for me, for sure.
05:02I'm interested from, you know, as a veteran, your perspective, something that D'Amico said, I think it was either
05:07during OTAs or minicamp.
05:08I forget about, quote, unquote, maybe calling the dogs off a little bit so the offense could get some work.
05:13He was talking about Will Anderson.
05:14I'm sure you saw that.
05:15But from an offensive player's perspective, would you like that to be able to maybe get some work?
05:21Or do you think, nah, man, you know, where do you fall?
05:24I want a lot of bullets, man.
05:25I want a lot of bullets.
05:26You know, that's because on Sundays, there's a lot of bullets.
05:28You can't tell them dogs on the other hand they're coming down, you know.
05:31So I feel like, man, you've got to practice how you play.
05:33You know, when they come up the edge, you want everybody to read to react.
05:36You know, we've got to adapt to it.
05:37That's the only way we get better, man, like iron strike to iron, you know.
05:39So I like it.
05:41We're talking to Nico Collins here in the loop on Sports Radio 610.
05:44And Nico, I mean, the wide receiver position is going through a little bit of a change in general, right?
05:49Yeah, for sure.
05:49I noticed for you, even last year, it was a little bit more condensed stuff.
05:53Sometimes those little, you know, quick motions to get you leveraged.
05:56Do you like working from maybe a closer to the middle type situation, maybe even in the slot sometimes?
06:01Or do you kind of like being that big body X on the outside that's just chucking up there?
06:04I like to move around a lot because in the beginning of my career, I was always stationary.
06:08I was always in the boundary, big body X.
06:10You know, it feel good to, in year three, I started to move around a bit, just going to motion,
06:15things like that.
06:15But I definitely like to go in the slot, different mismatches, you know, line up, gets the safety, line up,
06:20gets the linebacker.
06:21You know, on the nickel, you know, if the corner want to come in and, you know, follow me in
06:25the slot.
06:25You know, we're on the island together.
06:27You got a lot of responsibility.
06:28You know, now I know I can do this, do that.
06:30And so I feel like, man, just I like to move around a lot, you know.
06:33So I feel like that's it.
06:34I value my game and I'm going to show you what I can do with the Rock.
06:37How much easier does it make your game when you get to play from the middle of the field versus
06:40on the outside?
06:41Oh, 1,000%.
06:41That additional boundary defender?
06:431,000%.
06:43Yeah, man, it makes the game 1,000 times easier, man, because on the boundary, if you're on a couple,
06:48you're only so many routes you can run out there, you know.
06:50But you can move around, could dance.
06:51You can open up your route tree a lot, you know.
06:53So it's a blessing, man, I can get to move around.
06:54Thanks to Kaylee for that, to give me the opportunity.
06:57And I've got to continue to make plays, continue to get better in the slot.
07:01If I make the opportunity, I'll show them boys I can get open, show them I can make a play,
07:05you know,
07:05so I can continue to get the opportunity.
07:07One other thing that has been making the rounds out here in the NFL, I'm talking about, in general,
07:13is I think Mike McCarthy was talking about, you know, he doesn't really want to see a lot of tackling
07:17to the ground
07:18during training camp.
07:19Yeah, for sure.
07:19What are your thoughts on that?
07:20Yeah, agreed.
07:21You agree?
07:22How come?
07:22That's what I'm saying.
07:23You've got to take care of your players, man.
07:23You've got to take your teammates, because at the end of the day, if we still want to get better,
07:26we still want to grind, but at the end of the day, we've got to get to the season.
07:29You know, we've still got to compete, still got to play the hands, but you've got to be a pro.
07:33You know, don't take your teammates to the ground, because we might need them, you know what I'm saying?
07:37We need them, you know?
07:38And they're still getting to the ball.
07:39Yeah, we're still playing physically.
07:41We're still, you know, shooting.
07:42You know, attacking the ball, just don't fall.
07:44You know, just hold the teammate up, you know, and just take care of them.
07:47Okay.
07:47That's it.
07:47Yeah.
07:47I was curious about that.
07:48Yeah.
07:48Yes, sir.
07:49That's it.
07:49I'm always real curious as well about the, you know, the interplay between wide receiver and defender,
07:55whether it's a cornerback, safety.
07:57Who are those guys out there that you enjoy going up against?
08:00Obviously, there's the guys that you have here, but who are the guys you enjoy?
08:04Man, really just the best of the best, man.
08:06Just anybody.
08:07I feel like any corner line up, it's a great matchup, man, because anybody that came in this league,
08:11they're here for a reason.
08:12You know, it's hard to get in this league.
08:13So, I feel like any opportunity I line up against, man, you've got to make the most of it.
08:18You know, and I feel like, of course, Sauce, you know, he's in our division now, so it's going to
08:22be fun, man.
08:23You know, he's a great defensive back.
08:26And, you know, it's going to be fun, man.
08:27You know, I've been watching him for years, you know, so it's going to be a great, great matchup, man.
08:31So, can't wait.
08:32I'm going to ask you something you've probably been asked 175 times.
08:36Yeah.
08:36But you have two practices in camp now under your belt.
08:39Kaylee's offense, year two, you know, just what you're seeing, how you're feeling it, you know,
08:44just from the offense's perspective, you know, coming out.
08:47Yeah, feeling great, man.
08:48Like you said, you're two under the belt.
08:50You know, coming out here, we humming, taking care of details, small details, staying on task.
08:54Getting our pre-snap reads in.
08:57And we're just taking one play at a time.
08:59We're seeing it.
09:00Day two right now.
09:01And I feel like we had a great practice, man.
09:02We've got to continue to build, continue to stack.
09:04And so on Sundays, it's easier, you know.
09:06Well, during install and individuals, I was mentioning earlier, I don't think this is a small thing.
09:11I think it's a big thing.
09:12I never saw the ball hit the ground.
09:14That's huge.
09:15That's huge.
09:16That's huge, man.
09:16The ball should have hit the ground.
09:17Yeah.
09:18You know, we've got to take care of the ball, you know.
09:19Especially our defense.
09:20They're shooting for the ball.
09:21They want the ball on the ground.
09:22And for the offense, man, we've got to take care of it, you know.
09:24So that's our main focus, man.
09:26Take care of the ball, pre-snap, and just stay on task, man.
09:30Stay above the sticks, you know.
09:32Getting backtracked, man.
09:33So I feel like that was kind of set back a couple times throughout the year.
09:36But now we've got to stay on track and get ready for third down, blitzes, things like that, man.
09:40So I can't wait for this year.
09:42I don't know if you see that big dude over there walking right past you, Jaden Higgins.
09:47He's playing opposite side you.
09:48It's funny because, you know, 6'4", same kind of profile as you.
09:51Like, if you were to tell us, like, if you were just telling somebody that didn't know who Jaden Higgins
09:55was,
09:55like, what would you tell them to help them understand what his game is for this Texas team right now?
10:00Yeah, dog.
10:02Imagine.
10:03Oh, let me see.
10:04Sure.
10:05We're the same.
10:06We're the same, man.
10:07Just younger, fresher.
10:09You know what I'm saying?
10:09I feel like we're all the same, man.
10:11We all got the same body tight, same dog about us.
10:14You know, we can drop our hips coming out the break.
10:17You know, we can make releases, things like that, man.
10:19But Higgins, man, he got it all.
10:20He got the vision, man.
10:21He got all the tools in the world, you know.
10:24He can really take this lead to another step, and he can really be the face of this lead, for
10:27sure.
10:27One more thing I want to ask you.
10:30I don't know if J-Lo's got one more as well.
10:32I was listening to Julian Edelman, obviously played in the Patriot system, and this is a similar offense to it.
10:38Talk about, like, how much more intensive the wide receiver position is in this offense.
10:42You've played in different ones.
10:43Can you speak to that?
10:45Like, what is it that makes working in this offense a little bit more difficult from that position?
10:49I feel like, man, because it's a lot going on.
10:51You know, you got pre-snouts, reads.
10:53Like, you got the hots, safeties.
10:54You know, when you're a single receiver, you know, say the safety blitzing on my side, the back can't pick
11:00him up.
11:00I got to have a quick hot for CJ.
11:02You know what I'm saying?
11:02So, it's things like that.
11:04It's a lot of quick routes, a lot of hot routes going on, and a lot of pre-snout reads,
11:07like I was saying.
11:08So, a lot of that's going on.
11:09So, it's taxing, especially for the slot.
11:11You know, Seven needs you right here.
11:13They coming off the edge.
11:15He might need you to change a route.
11:16You know, so it's things like that.
11:16And that's on you to pick up, right?
11:18Yeah, that's on us, everybody.
11:19It's a wide out.
11:20You got to see the shell coming out.
11:21That's why they on us head.
11:22Like, get out the hole to get lined up so you can see the shell.
11:25In case you need to make adjustments, talk to Seven, and make a play, man.
11:29So, yeah, it's really taxing, man.
11:32So, it's really got to stay in that book and really got to stay on tabs, man, especially our hurry
11:36-up offense.
11:37Like, our two-minute drill.
11:38You know, we on the ball.
11:39We go, we go.
11:39So, it's things like that.
11:41It's taxing, man.
11:41We change sides like that.
11:43Yeah.
11:43Yes, sir.
11:44So, I was listening to Vandermeer this morning, and he said something that kind of made me laugh.
11:47He said, Davis Mills, second-longest-tenured Texan behind Kaimi Fairbairn.
11:52And I'm sitting there going, hell, Nico was drafted 45 minutes later.
11:57Does that make you the third-longest?
11:59I mean, you're the second-longest, too.
12:0245 minutes made a difference.
12:04But it made me think about what I wanted to ask you.
12:06Yes, sir.
12:06Everybody talking about culture with this team, you've seen the gamut.
12:10You've seen what the culture was and what the culture is.
12:14It's kind of a weird question to ask, but can you just kind of take us through that whole development?
12:19Man, I feel like my first, I keep it short, my first two years, maybe the worst team in the
12:24league.
12:24Third year, we got D'Amico, got CJ Will, great draft class.
12:28Man, they came in, changed the whole program around.
12:31Went to the playoffs, played Cleveland.
12:34Went to Baltimore.
12:35Played there.
12:36We lost, though, but I feel like, man, that year was just a whole flip in the whole transition, I
12:40mean, in the facility and the organization, man.
12:43And we really needed that.
12:44We needed the playmakers.
12:45It was just a whole clean slate, man.
12:47And, yeah, I feel like me, Davis, and Brad, yeah, we've been here through the mud, man.
12:51We've seen the worst of the worst and highs are the highs now, you know.
12:55So we know what it feel like to appreciate the wins, appreciate the grind, you know.
13:00We know how to feel to be the worst team in the league, you know.
13:03We know how to feel.
13:03So, man, that's why we just appreciate and be grateful for every opportunity we got and going out here and
13:09tell you every dub, you know, the further we go and just be grateful for everything.
13:12And you are the second-longest tenured ever.
13:14That's right.
13:15It's a tie.
13:15Come on now.
13:16Nico, he mentioned culture, and I remember one more thing.
13:19Aziz said something last year that we latched on to as a show.
13:23He said, y'all do White Boy Wednesdays?
13:24When y'all live.
13:25Oh, you sound like this is news to you.
13:28This sounds like it's news to you.
13:29White Boy Wednesday.
13:31When y'all are working out.
13:32Okay, I mean, they might change the tunes up.
13:34Yeah, yeah, yeah.
13:35They change the tunes up.
13:37So, okay, so you don't notice it.
13:38You just pump an iron.
13:39It don't matter.
13:39It's a work day.
13:41You're like, whatever the music is, quiet, it don't matter.
13:43Get it.
13:44Nah, you know.
13:44It is.
13:45You know.
13:46You can tell us.
13:47You know.
13:48You just don't want to say it.
13:49I want to say it.
13:51So, okay, maybe Nico not the biggest fan of the White Boy Wednesday.
13:54Okay, no problem.
13:55I just want the part.
13:56I respect it.
13:57Look, all work, all business.
13:59And that's why you're one of the best receivers in the league.
14:02We appreciate you having.
14:03No, thanks for stopping by with us.
14:05Nico Collins.
14:05Soon to be the best wide receiver in the league, right?
14:08Yes, sir.
14:08Come on, man.
14:08I appreciate you.
14:09Got to manifest it.
14:09There he is.
14:10Thank y'all so much.
14:11The wide receiver one for your Houston, Texas.
14:12Nico Collins joins us here on SportsRail.
14:14We'll see you next time.
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