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| Lamarr Houston |
This NFL Draft installment (thanks to the
Inn at Irving Place, part of the Small Luxury Hotels of The World brand) comes from New York, Radio City Music Hall - The Oakland Raiders made Texas Defensive Tackle Lamarr Houston the 44th pick and the 12th in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft. Lamarr Houston made a name for himself with his quickness against Big 12 opponents.
While listed at 6-2, 300 pounds, Lamarr Houston actually doesn't seem like he's a 300 lineman in person. In fact, he's more like your friend down the street or the guy you have a beer with. From appearances, he's an even keel young man with the always welcome "Southern" way of being: respectful, kind, and friendly. I enjoyed talking with him, which was easy to do because there weren't as many media people there by the time Houston was picked.
Q. Have you been to the Coliseum before?
LAMARR HOUSTON: I used to live in San Francisco and see Candlestick Park. I haven't actually been to the Raiders facilities yet but I grew up, my brother‑in‑law is a huge Raiders fan, so I've been watching them all the time and I'm very excited and happy to be a part of the organization and make a change right away.
Q. You said the other day you had an idea where you were going to go; is this it?
LAMARR HOUSTON: Yeah, this is where me and my agent talked about going, somewhere in the top half of the second round. I'm very happy and very blessed. I just thank God for everything He's done for me and just want to give Him the praise.
Q. How did you find out?
LAMARR HOUSTON: Coach Cable called me and asked me if I was ready to come in and work and change this organization around and to be a player.
Q. When he said "change the organization around," what have you heard? What's wrong with the Raiders?
LAMARR HOUSTON: The run defense wasn't very good last year. They are looking to be in the playoffs this year and not want to be in the playoffs five years from now or two years from now. They want to do it this year.
I think they are very capable of doing that with some of the picks they have got and playing next to Richard Seymour and some of my old teammates. I'm very excited about the defense and I'm very excited about being a Raider.
Q. How different is it going to an organization that has not had that winning history lately? Obviously when you went to Texas, they had that streak of success. This is a little different for you.
LAMARR HOUSTON: I feel like it's a challenge, and I love a challenge, and I feel like I want to step up to the plate and answer it and I'm bringing my winning tradition with me.
Q. How long has it been since you've played on a losing team?
LAMARR HOUSTON: High school.
Q. You had a losing record in high school?
LAMARR HOUSTON: Yeah.
Q. Your senior season?
LAMARR HOUSTON: Yeah. Whole time I was there, basically.
Q. Do you know any Raider players currently?
LAMARR HOUSTON: I met a couple of guys at the National Championship game, and I met Rolando (McClain), but that's about it.
Q. How cool was it that Sergio (Kindle) went and you go?
LAMARR HOUSTON: Yeah, that was a good feeling and I'm actually good friends with Brian Price and he went a couple of picks before that, and then Sergio went and then I went and it's just, you know, it's shock after shock and it's getting better.
Q. What do you think about Oklahoma, the first four picks?
LAMARR HOUSTON: You know, I think it's time for respect to be given to the Big 12. We have so many guys getting drafted this year and we have had so many guys get drafted in the top 10 this year and I think that's our statement that we are a good conference.
Q. What have the past 21 hours been like for you?
LAMARR HOUSTON: It was a real decision that I would probably go in the second round, but everybody always wants to go in the first round. But it's been fun, I've been enjoying my family, enjoying New York, sightseeing, seeing the Empire State Building, taking pictures on top of Radio City Music Hall and doing things the NFL set up for us and I've just been relaxing and enjoying and taking it all in.
Q. How long did you stay here yesterday?
LAMARR HOUSTON: I stayed and watched the whole thing. I would have watched it at home so I just enjoyed it firsthand.
Q. As a real quick physical defensive lineman, the Raiders, once upon a time, that was their personality, hard‑hitting defense. Talk about how you want to bring that attitude back to the Raiders, even though you're a rookie, and how you might be able to lead even in your first year?
LAMARR HOUSTON: I'm going to come in and get under the vets and try to get under the wings of people like Richard Seymour and use my talents and strengths and work with Coach Wauffle, he's coming from the Giants and what he's done in the last six years and been to the Super Bowl.
I think this organization is headed in the right direction, and adding guys like me in the lineup who are athletic, big, physical guys who can fight at the point of attack and get on that run game I was talking about earlier is a good thing.
Q. You went up to the top of the Empire State Building today. How was that experience for you today?
LAMARR HOUSTON: They say everybody doesn't get to do that. You can't even pay to get to where we were, so that was exciting. That was a blessing and they are going to put us on a little wall there and I'm very excited about that.
Q. What were you thinking about while you were looking over New York?
LAMARR HOUSTON: It's a very small place for a lot of people.
Q. In terms of technique, what's your favorite move?
LAMARR HOUSTON: I was working with Keith Millard, a Raiders coach, this past spring and working on a jab ‑‑ so I'm going to get with Coach Wauffle and just use all my strengths that I can use and bring them out to the surface.
Q. Are you ready for the black hole?
LAMARR HOUSTON: I am.
Q. Are you going to jump in it?
LAMARR HOUSTON: I'm ready for Raider nation.
Q. Are you surprised that Colt (McCoy) hasn't gone yet?
LAMARR HOUSTON: I'm very surprised. He's a tough competitor. Whoever gets him is going to get a guy who is on fire and ready to roll. Anybody who gets a University of Texas player is going to be having somebody who is a competitor and will do what it takes to win and all he knows is winning. So that's what we are going to do.
Q. Coach Brown just landed a couple hours ago, have you talked to him yet?
LAMARR HOUSTON: He's texted me and told me congratulations and I'm going to meet with him after this shortly.
Q. It's to some extent a running division, and you talk about increasing the potency of the Raiders running defense. Talk about going up against some of those guys, and who are you really looking forward to looking horns with?
LAMARR HOUSTON: Actually Ryan Matthews is one of my good friends and I'm looking forward to playing against him. I trained with him this spring and got to know him. He's a really good guy. Being able to play against a rookie like that and know someone out there on the field is what the NFL is all about, building friendships and competing.
So with different guys like that, different running backs, different versatile ties, we'll see what their offensive coordinators put together. I know we are on the West Coast, so things are not as, you know, they don't run the ball as much as they would if you were in Green Bay or something like that or Chicago.
Q. Which leads to Tim Tebow, are you looking forward to hitting him?
LAMARR HOUSTON: If I get a chance to hit Tim Tebow, I'll be excited.
How effective Lamarr Houston will be depends on how Oakland Raiders coaches use him. He's not really a nose tackle; more a fast 4-3 tackle. But that said he doesn't have the imposing size of Oklahoma's Gerald McCoy; Houston will have to add more muscle to go up against the centers and guards he's about to face, but he assures Raider fans he's more than up to the challenge and the defensive tackle the Raiders have been looking for.
Rock the Casbah!
