Football in December is tough.  It’s when the aches and pains start to set in and you see everyone begin to break down.  Still, the great players know how to compete and that’s what I have to do for the rest of the season.

Two weeks ago vs. the Giants the conditions were horrendous.  Playing in that stadium is difficult, especially in the final weeks of the season.  The wind is always blowing in your face and you find it hard to breathe.

When conditions are extremely hard, I sometimes need to use an oxygen mask on the sideline to recover faster.  I don’t depend on oxygen after every series if we hold an offense to a three-and-out, but will use it sometimes after a long drive.  It is there for a reason and usually it makes me feel great afterwards.

At this part of the season, I have to pay even closer attention to my body to stay fresh and prevent injuries.  I receive massages regularly and will go to the training room from time to time to take care of any chiropractic issues.  In addition, I’ll also spend time in the ice tub and the hot tub at least once a week at the team’s facility.

This year, I’m doing a better job of handling the end of the season.  Coming out of college last year, I didn’t know how to deal with the grueling, longer schedule.  By the final few games, I started to hit a wall.  This time, I’m better prepared and feel like I have more energy.

For the season as a whole, I’ve been happy with my play.  Entering this week I had 8.5 sacks, two more than my total of 6.5 from last year at this time.  My awareness of opposing offenses has been better and my ability to rush the passer has improved.

After last year’s Pro Bowl season, teams have focused more on me this year.  I’m just looking to continue to improve every day and to do all I can to help to help the team.  Though we are now 5-8 and likely out of playoff contention, we still need to play hard for the rest of the season.

If we can end the year by winning a couple games in a row, it will give us momentum heading into next year.  At the very least, we want to finish the season 8-8.  We would also like to spoil the playoff chances for some teams like the Jaguars and the Giants.  We want to be the “Grinch on Christmas” and ruin their parties. 

All three developed the moves and skill set that are needed to create constant pass pressure.  I remember watching the Hall of Famers on Sunday afternoons and using their moves to pattern my own on Friday nights.  It was an honor to learn the craft of becoming a pass rusher by trying to emulate my game after theirs.

Of the aforementioned legends, LT has earned my utmost admiration.  He paved the way for me by revolutionizing the role of a pass rusher.  The Giants linebacker would do anything necessary to get to the quarterback - with a bull or speed rush, swim, rip or club.  He did whatever it took.

That’s how my game is, too.  I don’t really have a designated set of moves heading into a game.  The pace of a game and my opponent’s strengths and weaknesses usually dictates how I’ll approach a situation.  Much like LT, I will use an array of moves in order to defeat pass protection.

Today, there are several rushers I hold in high regard.  They include: Osi Umeniyora, DeMarcus Ware and Jason Taylor.  I have watched film on each of them and have studied them intently.  During my rookie season, it helped to watch Umeniyora and Ware as down rushers.  This season, after we switched to a 3-4 formation, I have tried to replicate Taylor’s role as an outside linebacker.

It’s fun to talk with guys like Osi and DeMarcus before games.  We will compare notes on what it’s like to be double-teamed or chipped by an opposing receiver.  We will also engage in playful trash-talking.  It’s nothing more than saying “I’ll have more sacks than you by the end of the season or I’ll see you in the Pro Bowl.”  We are in a special fraternity - we all have a tremendous amount of respect for each other.

This week, I had the chance to go home to Houston to spend some time with friends and family.  At some point, I also drove up Austin to visit my old teammates and coaches at the University of Texas.  I did this last year during the bye week, too.

Unfortunately, the Horns are struggling too.  With a .500 record at 4-4, Texas is having its worst season in close to 15 years.  The coaches, players and fans in Austin don’t take losing well.  I wanted to see the guys to motivate them a little before this week’s game vs. Kansas State.

A couple weeks ago, we lost to Iowa State at home.  It was a major blow to the team, we don’t lose games like that at Texas.  Last week, we followed it up with another loss to Baylor.  In total, Texas has lost four of five games.  The mood of the team is not good right now.

One Longhorn, though, All-Big12 defensive end Sam Acho is having a great season.  I’m very close to Sam and have tried to taken him under my wing.  He’s the leader of the team and the rest of the defense depends on him.  Hopefully, the Horns can turn things around and have a strong end to their season.

That is something we hope to accomplish in Washington, as well.  It will be good to get some rest and return to the team fresh next week.  We have a huge game on Monday night at home vs. Philadelphia.  With a win, we can sweep the Eagles on the season and be back in the thick of the NFC East race.