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ultimatetexans.com Danieal Manning Safety keeps the pressure on in his second season with Texans

DANIEAL MANNING’S TOP 10 NUMBERS 10 Career 2 Career sacks

55 Number 3 Interceptions of yards Manning as a Texan ran with an 76 Tackles return for a as a Texan against the 20 Starts Titans this as a Texan season 9 Passes 5 Career defensed as a Texan recovered Note: Statistics 7Career through Week 8 fumbles forced

213 Career interception- return yards

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KEYS TO SUCCESS FOR DANIEAL MANNING

JOHN LEADERSHIP. Defensive coordinator TOUGHNESS. When Manning su ered FOCUS. Manning is a serious student of the Wade Phillips calls Manning the a broken bone in his lower leg making an game who prepares meticulously. He rarely MCCLAIN unquestioned leader of the Texans’ “back interception against the Titans last fall, doctors busts a play and, when others do, he has a On the Texans end.” Aside from being the secondary’s said he would likely be sidelined for two months knack for stepping in to save the day. It “quarterback,” he’s a playmaker himself and could possibly miss the rest of the season. happened in Cincinnati last season when he because he anticipates so well and, He wound up being out for just three games and made a touchdown-saving tackle in what Phillips says, “he plays fast.” he regained his form in short order. became a 20-19 AFC South-clinching victory.

MOST IMPORTANT MOMENTS Ninth of 10 Rookie Yates delivers Texans safety Danieal vs. Falcons Manning celebrates Date: Dec. 4, 2011 after a Site: Reliant Stadium defensive stop Score: Texans 17, Atlanta 10 during the third quarter Without Matt Schaub of an AFC and Matt Leinart, both lost divisional to the season with injuries, playo game the Texans’ promising Jan. 15 in season seemed about to Baltimore. blow up. But coach insisted rookie T. Karen Warren / J. Yates was up to the task Houston Chronicle of keeping the team rolling toward playo s. In his starting debut, PLAYER SPOTLIGHT Yate proved Kubiak right. The Texans kept rolling with a 17-10 victory, a franchise-record sixth in Manning leaves nothing to chance a row to improve to a best- ever 9-3. HOUSTON CHRONICLE enough guys, been around the week that Manning will return “It’s a great win,” Kubiak JAN. 5, 2012 JEROME playo s enough — I’ve played in kicko s for the fi rst time since said, “because of everything SOLOMON the Super Bowl — so I know you he returned from his injury. this team has been Manning, who led the NFL This week is unlike any other. Commentary can’t concede anything. Not one through.” It is playo time. blink in practice. Nothing. That in return average in 2008, is Although the Falcons No time for games, no time stu could come back to haunt dangerous in that role. didn’t come in playing for jokes, no time for messing you.” Manning averaged 27.4 yards as well as expected, they around. A Corsicana native who played per return this season as the remained a top-drawer In fact, Texans safety Danieal at Abilene Christian, Manning, a Texans improved from 27th to team and a major test for Manning, who has played in second-round pick of the Bears in seventh in kicko runbacks. the fi fth-round draft choice more playo games than any 2006, signed with the Texans as Understandably, he is pining for Yates, the fi rst quarterback other Texans starter, says he a free agent to bring leadership, a shot at getting his hands on the from the University of will probably not be an attentive stability and a veteran presence to opening kicko . North Carolina to start an husband and father this week. the secondary. A sure tackler with “Whatever it takes,” he said. NFL game. But he threw His mind won’t let him think superb instincts, he has done just “I can’t allow myself to let these a touchdown pass, Arian of much more than the Texans’ 2011 . that. A near-miraculous recovery guys lose. As much as I can do to Foster did the heavy lifting game against Cincinnati on At the Texans’ fi rst playo from a broken leg (he missed contribute to this team, whether with 111 rushing yards Saturday. week practice, Manning went only three games) hasn’t hurt his it is being vocal or leading by and the defense thwarted Driving home, he isn’t at it like a rookie trying to make reputation with teammates either. example, just starting o in Atlanta quarterback Matt thinking about tra c. He is the team in training camp. He “Watching Danieal Manning the playo game, whether it is Ryan late, batting down two thinking about the game. returned every loose ball he got practice and watching him getting a big hit, even drawing a of his passes in the end zone At home, he won’t be thinking his hands on to the end zone, as if prepare — if you’re his teammate, fl ag, where I can get these guys in the fi nal seconds. about what’s for dinner. He’ll be being chased and the touchdown you know there was something to understand that you can’t Afterward, Yates thinking about the Bengals. counted. He treated every di erent about it,” Texans coach concede anything. insisted he felt “extremely He says it will even be hard to positive play he made as if it were Gary Kubiak said. “I have to because this comfortable” after concentrate when he sits down a game-winner. With 39 of the 53 players on organization hasn’t been in this “studying my butt o all position before. It is a special to read his Bible. So he will put Simply, he turned it up a the roster having never played in week long. It paid o .” down the Good Book and pick up notch. a postseason game, Manning’s week, and it is just football, He passed for 188 yards a playbook. “We have to take our practices, experience — he has played in but you don’t want to concede and didn’t throw an No TV, no movies for our intensity, our focus, two conference championship anything, because there is no interception. Manning, but he will watch a ton everything, to another level,” games — is invaluable. tomorrow. of fi lm. A reality show called the Manning said. “I’ve been around Kubiak announced this “It’s playo time, baby.”

DANIEAL MANNING’S  BEST GAMES WITH THE TEXANS

OCT. 2, 2011 OCT. 23, 2011 DEC. 11, 2011 JAN. 7, 2012 JAN. 15, 2012 SEPT. 9, 2012 SEPT. 16, 2012 SEPT. 30, 2012 OCT. 8, 2012 OCT. 21, 2012 VS. Pittsburgh VS. Tennessee VS. Cincinnati VS. Cincinnati VS. Baltimore VS. Miami VS. Jaguars VS. Tennessee VS. New VS. Baltimore In a 17-10 Manning made a In his third game Manning had Although the In the Texans’ Manning had Manning made York Jets Manning had victory over leaping inter- back after being one of the three Texans failed tone-setting three unassisted himself an Manning had a three unassisted the defending ception in the sidelined with picks Andy to advance 30-10 season- tackles and integral part of pair of tackles tackles and was AFC champion second quarter a broken leg, Dalton threw to the AFC opening victory, directed tra c in the Texans’ 38-14 and a knocked- spot-on with Steelers, to set up the Tex- Manning saved in what became Championship Manning had the secondary as rout of the Titans down pass as his calls in the Manning had ans’ fi rst touch- a TD with one of a 31-10 rout of Game, Manning four unassisted the Texans held with a 55-yard the Texans beat secondary as the fi ve unassisted down in what his eight tackles the Bengals at had eight tackles – one the Jaguars to 117 interception the Jets 23-17 for Texans throttled tackles and also became a 41-7 as the Texans Reliant Stadium, unassisted behind the line total yards and return for a their fi rst victory Joe Flacco blocked a fi eld- rout of the Titans nipped the giving the Texans tackles and of scrimmage nine fi rst downs touchdown over the Jets and and pounded goal attempt on in Nashville. But Bengals 20-19 to their fi rst playo knocked down a – and also in a 27-7 victory while making on the road in the Ravens the fi nal play of he would su er clinch their fi rst victory. pass as Houston recovered a in Jacksonville, fi ve unassisted primetime. 43-13, ending the fi rst half. a broken bone in AFC South title battled the . good for a 2-0 tackles and a six-game his lower leg on and playo berth. Ravens before start this season. batting away two losing streak to the play. losing 20-13. passes. Baltimore.