Everything Texans CB Kamari Lassiter said after Day 4 of training camp

Here is everything Texans CB Kamari Lassiter said following Saturday's practice, including his thoughts on C.J. Gardner-Johnson and the pick-sixes during practices.

Question: On the defense’s performance at Saturday’s practice

Kamari Lassiter: “Today? Man, it was fun to be out there today. Seeing guys attack the ball, having fun. Then we had what, about three picks today. I know ‘Zeez’ caught one, Myles [Bryant] caught one. I think both of them were pick sixes and then I think we had one more. So just seeing the guys excited, seeing some of the young guys make plays. I seen ‘J-Rock’ [Jaylin Smith] make about three plays today on the ball. It's exciting for him and it's fun being out there competing against the best.”

On the biggest difference between himself now and last year

“I would say the biggest difference between myself now and last year is last year, I was just more wide eyed. I didn't really know what to expect. I was just coming out here trying to prove myself. And I'm not saying that I'm proving myself, but I'm still proving myself. But, I understand what's going on. I have a better idea of what's the task at hand today. I have a better process. I'm a better player than I was last year. So, when I come in, I understand what I need to do. My morning routine is better. My afternoon routine is better. My sleep schedule is better. Everything is starting to just come in the flow. The game is slowing down for me. Everything is moving a little bit slower. I'm able to move faster. I'm able to understand the nuances of the defense that we're running. So, everything is starting to progress.”

Q: On whether the work he did in the offseason has helped him in training camp

Lassiter: "I really think that my offseason really helped me. I don't think I've ever stopped working. From the day that we lost, I probably took a couple days off because they made me and then I got right back on the field. I've been itching to get back on the field. So, it's just like all that training and all the work that I've been putting in, in the offseason and last season, really my whole life. I'm trying to start out on the field every day.”

Q: On what he’s seen from WR Christian Kirk and if he remembers him from playing the Jaguars

Lassiter: “I’ve been watching Christian Kirk since he was at [Texas] A&M and he's been elite this entire time and I know that's a long time ago. Just playing against him last year, obviously I didn't get to guard him much because he was more of an inside guy, but just seeing how he works every day, he's a real pro. And it shows why he's been so good for so long. Just seeing his work ethic, seeing how he approaches every day, his routes, his attention to detail, that makes me better whenever I get to go up against him and then that makes whoever's going up on the inside also better.”

Q: On rookie CB Jaylin Smith

Lassiter: “’J-Rock’ , I mean, he's just like us. Young, hungry, loves the game, and just wants to soak up knowledge. So it's just like, I mean, really, we're all the same, to be honest, in the DB room. We all just want to play ball and play at a high level. And we love playing with each other. But it's just like, just seeing him grow every day, just making plays on the ball. And then me getting excited for him, because I saw myself doing that last year. It's just really fun.”

Q: On how S C.J. Gardner-Johnson has added another level of attitude to the defense

Lassiter: “Obviously, for one, he's a great football player. He's been playing ball for a long time and just his mentality, the way he, also, he loves the game. You can say what you want to say about C.J., but he really loves the game of football, and it shows every day. You can see how he attacks the plays, how he wants to know, how he's asking questions, how whenever we're on the field, he's communicating. He's excited for guys whenever we're making plays. I'm excited for him whenever he's making plays. It's just like, just adding another dog, like you said to the back end. That's never a bad thing.”

Q: On what it meant to see LB Azeez Al-Shaair join the DBs for offseason workouts 

Lassiter: “Man, that means a lot. I mean, but Azeez has been a great leader from the day that I met him. Azeez has been really like a one-on-one leader. We call him ‘Unc’, because all he do is talk. Every time he sees Azeez, he's giving somebody game. I mean, whenever me and ‘CB’ first got here, he just talked to us and just gave us a lot of different nuances and he's always just trying to pass something on to someone else and whenever he came to Puerto Rico, it was a chance for us to kind of pass some of the stuff that we know coverage-wise on to him. I'm not saying that he doesn't know how to cover, because obviously he does. He's a very elite linebacker. But it's just like, we soak up game from him. And he was able to, a good leader can also listen, you know what I'm saying? So him being able to soak up game from us, that also meant a lot.”

Q: On the potential he sees for the defense this season 

Lassiter: “I don't believe in potential, to be honest. It's either you do it or you don't. So, we don't really think about the potential. We don't think about what it could be. We focus on working every day, focusing on our technique, getting better with each other, grinding with each other and making sure that the product that we put on the field on Sundays is what it's supposed to be.”

This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything Texans CB Kamari Lassiter said after Day 4 of training camp