Rice Football 2009: James Casey takes time to speak with the Thresher about blocking, bonding and his long-awaited television debut

By Yan Digilov     9/3/09 7:00pm

Ex-Rice football superhero James Casey was drafted in this past year's NFL draft and is currently competing for a spot on the Houston Texans. Sports Editor Yan Digilov spoke with Casey about his NFL experiences. The Rice Thresher: James, now that you have been through OTAs (organized team activities), minicamp and a few preseason matchups, what are some of the biggest adjustments you have noticed that you will have to make in order to be successful in the NFL?

James Casey: I think the biggest thing, besides the fact that people are bigger and faster, is that you are coming into a situation where you don't know anything about the offense, any of the plays or any of the terminology. So many of the guys have been here for many years, and they have been doing this year in and year out. They know everything about the offense.

But I have been through OTA and mini-camp, and I am getting more and more comfortable with everything. You can play faster when you know what's going on and you're confident. But now we are almost completely done with the preseason, and I feel really good about the offense.

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RT: The Texans seemingly picked Anthony Hill as a tight end before you for his blocking ability. One of the biggest criticisms we hear about you is that perhaps you don't have the blocking skills needed to play at the tight end spot. What have you been doing to get better at blocking and where are you in that process?

JC: Coming into it, a lot of people were saying that they don't know if I can block and they even said that I can't block. That was really frustrating, because I felt had done a good job blocking. In the spread offense, I was blocking on the perimeter, and I wasn't asked to be on the line of scrimmage. I felt that it wasn't that I couldn't block, it was just that I was never asked to do it. Coming in, I had never done it before, and it wasn't like I was terrible. ... I felt like in OTAs I was getting better at it, and I felt that I have improved, gotten better and better every day. Now, I feel really good at it.

In all the preseason games, I feel like I have done a great job. Of course, I still have a lot to learn - now I am doing fullback work also - but they said I couldn't block and now I am coming in here and playing fullback. I am trying to prove a lot of those people wrong.

RT: There have always been questions about where to put you on a football field. Where do you think you will end up making a difference? Where do you feel most comfortable?

JC: That is a good question, because I did a lot of different stuff at Rice. Coming to the Texans, I am still doing a lot of different stuff. I have been working at fullback and tight end, trying to learn both of those positions, and then I have been playing a lot of special teams - kick off, kick-off returns, punt returns, punts. I feel like I have been doing a great job on special teams.

As far as where I see myself, I think that if I am going to make this team, it is going to have to be by showing them that I can play special teams really well. But on top of that, maybe they can save a roster spot if I can be a tight end and also be a fullback.

RT: You did a lot of studying and playing football at Rice, but can you talk about how the daily grind of being an NFL football player is different?

JC: I think that Rice definitely prepared me. I think that you have to be pretty disciplined to go to Rice, play football and do all the schoolwork. Coming into the Texans, I was pretty disciplined already, but it is a grind. It is hot out here. You are out at practice every day, but I keep it in perspective. I am in the NFL right now. There is nothing I can really complain about. I am just honored to be here. It is not really a grind for me. I am just honored to be here.

RT: Tell me about that first time you got to step out on a football field during the preseason game in Kansas City.

JC: It was everything I have ever imagined. All the emotions, all the hard work that you had done to get to that point. You have been dreaming about doing that for so long. Since you were a little kid, you have been dreaming about being in the NFL. Even though it is a preseason game, just to step out on the field and be in an NFL game is unbelievable. The Kansas City fans made an electric atmosphere and it was definitely a moment that I will never forget.

RT: You certainly caught everyone's attention with that outstanding one-handed grab in your very first play. Are you as surprised as everyone else when you make insane catches like that or is it something you are coming to expect from yourself?

JC: I take the approach that I expect to make every play. As the old saying goes, if it hits the skin, bring it down. If it is anywhere around me, I feel like I should catch it. But you don't ever really plan to do those kinds of things. You go out there and run your route. When the ball is thrown you have to react to it. I don't really know what I am going to do but just to be able to come down with it was definitely awesome. The very first time they threw me the ball, it was on SportsCenter Top 10, so I can't complain.

RT: What feedback have you been getting from the coaches about your performance?

JC: They are saying I am doing a great job and to just keep working hard. They don't really give you any kind of progress reports about where you stand. They are trying to evaluate everybody and seeing who is going to help the team. Each team had 80 guys, now they have 75. They have to cut it down to 53 on Saturday. There are going to be 22 people that are going to go home. I am just going to hopefully be one of those guys that is going to get to stay.

RT: Can we expect to see you out at the Rice football games this year?

JC: You can expect that every chance I get I will be at every game I can be. I think we have to be in a hotel on Saturdays, but when I get any free time I will definitely be at Rice Stadium.

RT: Do you keep up with any of the guys you played with?

JC: I talked to Chase [Clement] a couple of times. I think he came to the Monday night game. I didn't get to see him, but I even keep in contact with the current players. I still know the guys. I am definitely one of their biggest fans now. I am hoping for the best for them. I am honestly just as thrilled to watch them play Saturday as I am my own game Friday.

RT: What is one of the most exciting opportunities you have had since you first put on the Texans' jersey?

JC: The coolest thing I have done is that I was featured on Hey Rookie! Welcome to the NFL Tuesday night on ESPN2. Just being able to sit there and watch a TV show like that and actually see myself on it and know it is a national broadcast. That is something I could have never imagined.

But on top of that is just being out at Reliant Stadium. I have driven by Reliant Stadium twice a day for the past two years, going to and from Rice, since my apartment is right next to here. I just never could have imagined I would be playing a football game here at Reliant, right here in Houston. I went to Rice, and now I get to stay right here in Houston. To still be able to keep in contact with all the people from Rice and also play football here is a great opportunity for me.

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