[viccerb]

DENVER (AP) -Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan and his son, Kyle, the Houston Texans' wide receivers coach, were careful not to say too much to each other on the eve of their preseason matchup.

The younger Shanahan said his dad was too sneaky and would undoubtedly pry something out of him, so he wasn't willing to say much more than "Hey, Dad. See you Sunday night."

The elder Shanahan said it was his son who was the spy in the family.

"He's pretty good at stealing information. I think he might be getting some information from his mom, so I'm not bringing my playbook home this week," Mike Shanahan said. "I'm not really sure who she's rooting for, either."

The game at Invesco Field is a homecoming in more ways than one.

The Texans' first-year coach, Gary Kubiak, spent nearly two decades in Denver, first as John Elway's backup and then as offensive coordinator, helping the Broncos win back-to-back Super Bowls in the 1990s.

Kubiak took five members of the coaching staff with him to Houston, and they were soon joined by general manager Rick Smith, who had been an assistant GM in Denver.

Plus, the Texans signed tight end Jeb Putzier, who had been cut by the Broncos in a salary cap purge over the winter, along with former Broncos tight end Patrick Hape and tackle Ephraim Salaam.

Mike Shanahan said he's eager to see his old friend on the opposite sideline for once.

"Gary was a great player here, obviously a great coach. I knew whoever got him was going to be very, very lucky. He's just a heck of a football coach and a heck of a person," Shanahan said.

One man who isn't eager to see Kubiak on the other side of the field is Denver defensive coordinator Larry Coyer: "No, no, he's very bright. I don't look forward to it. He's going to have them very well-schooled, very well-coached up. He's learned his ways from coach Shanahan."

With all the familiar faces, both offensives might find moving the ball more of a struggle than usual, even though both teams will implement a game plan rather than just calling plays like they did in the first two exhibitions.

"I know how that organization approaches the third preseason game and how important it is to them," Kubiak said. "They treat it like a regular-season game. Preparation, everything they do and our team needs to go see that. We will do it the same way. We are going to a tough place that is loud.

"There is an excellent football team there that's trying to earmark that game as getting ready for their season. It is a great opportunity for us to go in there and find out where we are at."

Kubiak will also get to see his family in Denver, where his wife and two of his sons are still living. His eldest son, Klint, is a defensive back at Colorado State, who will also be at the game.

"I have not seen my wife and kids in a month. It will be nice to see them," Kubiak said. "We have to find out as a football team where we are headed. It will get down to business once we get started."

Houston quarterback David Carr compared the emotion to a regular-season showdown.

"With coach Kubiak coaching for the first time back in Denver, it's going to be important for us to go out there and play well for him," Carr said.

Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer credits Kubiak with spearheading the turnaround he's enjoyed in Denver, which he led to the cusp of the Super Bowl last season.

"I'm excited for Kubs. He's well deserving of being a head coach, and it will be fun to see him on the sideline being the head man, being in charge," Plummer said.

The players are eager to see their old pal Putzier, too, although he shouldn't expect a big welcome-home hug from everybody.

"Jeb was a good guy," Denver defensive end Demetrin Veal said. "I'd like to see him a little bit and maybe hit him a few times."

[naught33]

ya should be interesting, im not sure houston has enough to hang in this game tho, i expect a big denver win, although shanny might call of the dogs late w his son and kubiak coaching in houston