HOUSTON, TX- OCTOBER 09: D.J. Swearinger #36 of the Houston Texans breaks up a pass intended for Reggie Wayne #87 of the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth quarter in a NFL game on October 9, 2014 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. Colts won 33 to 28. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Houston (CBS Houston) – Last Thursday’s performance wasn’t a great showing for D.J. Swearinger. He knew it. Viewers knew it. Grandma knew it.

“I got a lot from my family,” Swearinger said.

His mom, dad, sisters, and yes even grandma told Swearinger about his showing.

“Grandma said ‘you…you horrible! I don’t like that D.J.'”

“I knew it was bad during the game, it was just a horrible performance,” he said.

Swearinger said his technique needs to improve to avoid a repeat performance. His father joked with him that maybe he didn’t teach him how to tackle as a youngster.

“It was just bad technique, just something that I know that I can correct,” he said.

Putting up another bad performance probably won’t sit well with Swearinger or his family.

“It’s always if you are doing your job, do it to the best of your ability and if you’re half-stepping, that’s not accepted in my family,’ Swearinger said.

It isn’t just motivation he owes to his family and friends.

The owner of one of the more active mouths between the lines owes his trash talking beginnings to his enrironment growing up.

He said growing up with his older family members and friends he was always the subject of the trash talk, and so as he grew up, he emulated them.

“When I got to recreation ball, it was just natural,” Swearinger said.

Swearinger said he quickly learned he can’t let his talking take him out of the game. The talk is all part of his strategy to get into his opponent’s minds and get them thinking about him and not playing well.

He also knows he needs to back up the talk, with the walk, or else he might be hearing from grandma again.

“I can’t let grandma down again, that won’t happen.”

Stoots on Twitter – @Cody_Stoots

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