Here is everything Houston Texans rookie tight end Marlin Klein said following Houston’s preseason loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, including talking about his transition from college to the NFL, the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry and his relationship with quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Question: On his comfort level
Marlin Klein: "A lot more comfortable, to be honest with you. Being here for a couple months now and being in Training Camp and having those first two games under my belt, the first four weeks of Training Camp, it has been a blessing. I love it down here and I hope I stay here forever.”
Q: On if he’s used to the heat yet
Klein: "I don’t think you can get used to it. But, I played at Michigan so I’m kind of used to the cold right now but I’m adapting.”
Q: On if the weather is that different from Michigan to Germany
Klein: “It’s kind of the same. I think that’s why I chose Michigan [laughs].”
Q: On how much Offensive Coordinator Nick Caley has been able to help him as a former tight ends coach
Klein: "So much. I think that’s somebody… He’s kind of biased, he always says he’s not, but he is and that’s a good thing for us. The coach he is, you can just tell how much it means to him every single day, every single meeting, every time you talk to him it’s all about ball. He’s an awesome guy. He’s a leader. Being able to follow him, learn from him every single day, and him just giving you nuggets throughout practice and throughout meetings. It’s been a blessing.”
Q: On his transition from college to the professional level at the tight end position
Klein: “It’s been such a blessing. I’ve been so blessed to be around so many great guys. Being [at Michigan] with [Bears’ TE] Colston [Loveland], [Vikings’ FB] Max Bredeson and [Cowboys’ TE] Luke Schoonmaker going all the way back, [Seahawks’ TE] AJ Barner. All of those guys to now being here with [TE] Cade Stover, [TE] Foster [Moreau], [TE] Dalton [Schultz] and [TE] Brevin [Jordan], I’ve kind of been around the best of the best. People always ask me, ‘Who do you like to watch?’ I like to watch the guys that I’m with because I truly believe they are the best of the best, and I can learn so much stuff from them all day without them even speaking. Just being able to watch what they do on and off the field, it’s been a blessing.”
Q: On his run blocking ability
Klein: “I want to do whatever it takes to win. I don’t like losing; I hate losing. I did that enough my last year at Michigan, but in my career I have won a lot of games and it always started with running the ball, being a physical football team. All of the good teams I have been on, we have all been able to run the football on whoever it was in front of us. This offense shows what [Head] Coach DeMeco [Ryans] is trying to establish and what the front office has done a great job with. They are bringing guys in that are able to do that stuff. It’s been a blessing being here, being coached by those guys and I truly believe that whatever play they call, whatever they teach us is going to be the right thing at the end of the day.”
Q: On his relationship with fellow TE Cade Stover and the Michigan vs. Ohio State rivalry
Klein: “I can’t speak for both sides, but [QB] C.J. [Stroud] was over there [Ohio State] too, [WR] Nico [Collins] was on my side [Michigan]. I love those guys, I don’t know how they feel about me, have to ask them [laughs], but when they played [for Ohio State], I still hate that team down there, but I love those guys. They’re leaders of men, great guys, great teammates and being able to be around those guys every single in the locker room, on the field, I’ve learned so much from both of them.”
Q: On the rivalry between Michigan and Ohio State and what it means to him
Klein: “Look, I’m always going to root for Michigan. I’m never going to say anything good about the team down south. They might be able to do that, but I don’t play there anymore, I do have a winning record on them and I’m proud of that because Michigan means everything to me. It’s done so much for me. I truly take pride in it, but I know they do too. The last weekend of November there’s going to be some talks, maybe we’ll watch the game together, who knows, but I’m looking forward to it.”
Q: On his relationship with QB C.J. Stroud
Klein: “He’s gotten better every single day. I wasn’t here the last couple of years, and he played at a different school than me, so I don’t know how much his progression has been over these last couple of years, but being able to be here coming from a freshman quarterback last year of college to now be with a guy like C.J. The leadership that he has stood out to me day one, he’s a leader of men. He shows up every single day with the same energy. He’s ready to work every single day and he’s going to push you to be better because he wants this team to win and he’s going to make sure that we do.”
Q: On the tight end room
Klein: “All of us just continue to come in and work our tails off. Everybody is going to try to get the most catches and the most touchdowns, but I think what stood out to me is everybody pushes each other. The more we push each other, the more we’re going to get out of each other. There’s no complacency in that room. [Tight Ends] Coach [James] Ferentz, Coach Caley would never allow that stuff, so I think the more we push each other, you’re going to get the best out of each other. Whoever they’re going to put out there on Sundays, that’s the coaching staff’s decision. All I know is we’re going to work our tails off and put that in their corner.”
Q: On the funniest tight end
Klein: “Foster.”
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything Texans TE Marlin Klein said following Houston's preseason loss versus Raiders
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