Brock Osweiler knows exactly what coach Bill O'Brien and offensive coordinator George Godsey are demanding from the Texans' new starting quarterback. He must provide leadership, make good decisions at the line of scrimmage and in the pocket, protect the ball and be accurate with his throws.

"They refer to Tom Brady a lot," Osweiler said about the New England quarterback. "With all due respect to coach O'Brien and coach Godsey, I've told them I'm going to be me. I'm not here to be a puppet, if you will. I'm going to be who I am and believe in what I bring to the table every day."

O'Brien and Godsey worked with Brady at New England. They don't expect Osweiler to be Brady, of course. But some of the traits that made Brady one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history can be used as teaching tools - beginning with leadership, which, like respect and credibility, must be earned.

"I believe in my leadership style," Osweiler said, leaning forward in his chair to make a point. "As the leader, there's a time and place to be the rah-rah guy - grab the defibrillators and light the fire, so to speak.

Back to Gallery Brock Osweiler itching to assume full control of Texans'... 9 1 of 9 Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff 2 of 9 Photo: Mark Mulligan, Staff 3 of 9 Photo: Melissa Phillip, Staff 4 of 9 Photo: Melissa Phillip, Staff 5 of 9 Photo: Melissa Phillip, Staff 6 of 9 Photo: Steve Gonzales 7 of 9 Photo: Jon Shapley, Staff 8 of 9 Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff 9 of 9 Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff

















"At times, that will mean standing up and directing the (quarterbacks) meeting and making sure everyone's on the same page."

After practicing with the rookies last week, Osweiler was excited for the start of camp Sunday when the Texans begin their third season under O'Brien.

While the Texans were finishing 9-7 and winning the AFC South before being blown out of the playoffs by Kansas City, Osweiler was helping the Broncos win the Super Bowl.

Osweiler isn't making any predictions on the team's record, but he doesn't try to masquerade his enthusiasm about what the Texans are capable of accomplishing.

"When I look back at this season, I want to know that I had no regrets, that I didn't leave any bullet in the chamber," he said. "I want to know that I was a great teammate to every guy in the locker room and a great player for every coach on this staff.

"I want to do my job to the best of my ability and give this team a chance to win every week. If I can do my job at a high level, protect the ball and play my role in this system, I think we'll look back and be happy with how things went."

Seven-game stint

In his fourth season, Osweiler was 5-2 as a starter before being benched in the last regular-season game so Peyton Manning could return to the lineup. Manning helped Denver win two playoff games and then beat Carolina in the Super Bowl.

"Probably the biggest thing I learned from Peyton was how to approach this job as a pro every day," Osweiler said. "By watching Peyton every day for four years, he showed me how to do the job the right way.

"This job is your life. It consumes you."

In the 41/2 months since he signed with the Texans, Osweiler's new job has consumed him. He has done everything he can to establish himself on the practice field and in the locker room.

Osweiler knows he's under tremendous pressure to produce. After the Texans employed nine quarterbacks in O'Brien's first two seasons and started four last year, he's expected to be productive and consistent.

"I'm not worried about that," he said about being under the microscope. "I have a mentality of not worrying about what people say about me, good or bad. That's not what I'm putting my energy into.

"There are too many positive things I can focus on. My mentality is that no matter how good or bad the previous play was, move on to the next one. I'm always going to try to win with a positive mindset."

Osweiler is still learning the Texans' system. The coaches praise his hard work. O'Brien's system is tough on a quarterback because it puts a lot on him mentally, especially at the line of scrimmage.

Denver coach Gary Kubiak has a quarterback-friendly offense that takes pressure off at the line of scrimmage.

"I'm very excited to play in this system," Osweiler said. "It reminds me a little of almost playing backward football. In this system, it's almost like you're a point guard on the basketball court. You're reading and reacting and trying to make plays."

Ideally, Osweiler will be the first Texans quarterback to start 16 games since Matt Schaub in 2012 when the Texans went 12-4.

"I'm focused on doing my job at a high level and doing the things we need to do to win," he said. "Being a great leader and playing with confidence and swagger and bringing this team together."

After he signed his four-year $72 million contract, including $37 million guaranteed, Osweiler took the quarterbacks and receivers to Arizona State for a week of practice and bonding. During the Copa America soccer tournament at NRG Stadium, he hosted 60 teammates and their wives for a match involving Mexico. When he went home to Idaho during the players' five weeks of vacation, he invited quarterbacks Tom Savage and Brandon Weeden and their wives to join him for golf and more bonding.

Leadership is important to him.

"I've always been a leader," Osweiler said. "If someone was getting picked on in school, I'd try to deflate that situation by inviting that kid to eat lunch with me.

"I've always had an open-door policy. If someone wants to come over to the house, come on over. The more the merrier. I've always tried to be a uniter."

No matter what happens on or off the field, Osweiler wants to avoid the peaks and valleys that can have a negative impact on a quarterback's performance.

"You know, every quarterback has a different approach as to how they lead the team," he said. "I think it's important to stay level-headed. If you get too high or too low, your thoughts won't be focused on what they need to be.

"I'm a pretty laid-back guy away from the field. But I believe once I come to this building and once I step on the field, as a quarterback and leader, you must have laser-sharp focus."

About an hour after his introductory news conference with the Texans, Osweiler was leaving NRG Stadium with his wife, Erin, and his parents. They stopped before they exited the stadium into the Budweiser Plaza and had an emotional group hug.

"I remember a couple of times after that press conference having moments like that with my wife and parents," he said. "There were so many things I'd done that culminated in that moment. There was so much hard work that went into me coming to Houston and having this amazing opportunity.

"For it to come together and sign the paperwork right before the press conference and have that press conference as the starting quarterback for the Houston Texans - it was special when we walked out, to say the least."

For the first time since Denver drafted him in the second round in 2012, Osweiler had a team of his own. All his hard work finally paid off.

"People saw the seven starts I had last year," he said. "They saw how I handled the situation when I was benched, Peyton taking back the starting role, and how supportive I was.

"But people didn't see 31/2 years of basically going home every night, studying my plays and watching film just like I was the starter. Nobody saw me getting to the facility before any other player, getting in that extra tape and trying to be prepared in case something happened to Peyton."

Benching saga shot down

There have been many reports that Osweiler didn't return to Denver because he was angry for being benched in the San Diego game in Week 17. He's denied it every time he has been asked. He got more money and a new start with the Texans, a situation that he said just felt right.

"I didn't know what was going to happen, but I assumed (Manning) probably would (return to the lineup)," Osweiler said. "I only worry about things I can control, so when I was playing, I was trying to lead the team and play to the best of my ability and win games.

"When Peyton went into the game and led us to the playoffs, the only thing I could control was my preparation in case something happened to him and being a great teammate.

"For people to say that's why I left, they're just searching for reasons. Has anyone who says that had a conversation with me to get that information? No, they haven't. They're pulling it out of thin air.

"People say they have a source, but it's not me. I know my reasons for coming here, and that's been (said) throughout the spring and summer."

Osweiler was attending the soccer match at NRG Stadium with teammates when the Broncos received their Super Bowl rings. His was shipped to him.

"Obviously, that Super Bowl ring means so much to me that it's beyond special," he said. "That's a culmination of years and years of hard work.

"That was such a special team last year. Now that camp is starting, though, the ring's in a safe place, and it's time to go to work as a Texan."