Is Mike Burrows the Man?

Originally aired on February 28, 2026. On this episode, your sports talk therapist Cole Thompson speculates on the Texans drafting Jadarian Price, looks forward to today's Rockets game at Miami and says to watch Reed Sheppard. Lastly, Cole fields reports that he sounds like a Muppet™. The doctor is in, and his name is Cole Thompson.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
As we close out February, you better not have a
single thing on your to do list.

Speaker 2 (00:05):
Let's be wrong. I can wait till March anyway.

Speaker 1 (00:07):
Space City Saturday, rolling right along here on Sports Talk
seven ninety, Hello, everybody, it's up. Friends called Thompson Rockmanchew
for the next hour and a half. For those of
you who are paying attention, we are a bit earlier
today because we are jam packed throughout all.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
Of the iHeartRadio networks.

Speaker 1 (00:25):
At ten forty five, you want to go listen to
your University of Houston Cougar's take on Colorado.

Speaker 2 (00:29):
You can switch on over to nine fifty.

Speaker 1 (00:31):
At eleven fifty, the Astros take on Connor Griffin.

Speaker 2 (00:35):
We're gonna talk.

Speaker 1 (00:35):
About him in a minute, and the Pittsburgh Pirates right
here on Sports Talk seven ninety. At one thirty, flip
on over to seven forty KTRH for your Houston Rockets
tacking on the Miami Heat. You got Matt Thomas and
Adam Clanton on the call. And then at two thirty
you have the lone Star Showdown on KBMY nine fifty.
My apologies nine fifty am Texas versus Texas A and M.

(00:57):
But we are going to talk all things Cougar's going
to talk all things rockets.

Speaker 2 (01:01):
We are going to get into some.

Speaker 1 (01:02):
Draft conversations, and I have got to ask this question.
It has been burning inside of my head for probably
the last two years. But I think it's really important
that now I addressed this. Seven one three, two, one
two five seven ninety is the number to get in
on the guest line. But let's start off with the
news of yesterday. Astro's play against the Washington Nationals four
four time cool. No one really cares about how many

(01:24):
at bats everyone saw, what was the plate number? What'd
you see from you're reliever? Spencer Araghedty did not have
a good day. I will give him the past because
if it's Spencer Aarraghetty, he's coming off of dealing with
some injuries last year and everyone's allowed one mulligan. I
want to talk about Lance mccullor's junior nine pitches, three up,
three down, back to the bullpen, Joe spot. It says

(01:46):
afterwards that was the plan all along, get him through
one ending of work and then send him on his
merry way. The thing about Lance mccullors is, this is
a guy that is going to carry a lot of nostalgia.
And the thing that I've noticed working in this industry
is specifically in huge is that nostalgia carries a lot
of weight. I get told all the time for people
how they still talk about the Oilers. Now me, someone

(02:08):
who's in his thirties, was not born here, came to
Houston right after the oilers sat a high tailed on
up to Tennessee. I don't have those ties, but I
know that there's a lot of people here that still do.
They still have all the good feelings about what it
was like being in the Astrodome.

Speaker 2 (02:25):
I see a lot of people still talking about it.

Speaker 1 (02:26):
There ever, is an nhlseea to come back here, we
have to call it the Arrows.

Speaker 2 (02:30):
I'm not against that.

Speaker 1 (02:31):
I actually would love it, the fact they have all
the stuff so here it'd be great.

Speaker 2 (02:34):
But nostalgia plays a big role.

Speaker 1 (02:37):
And for me when it comes to Lance mccolors, part
of the reason why I think a lot of fans
are holding out hope that this will be a year
that we finally see him back at.

Speaker 2 (02:44):
Action is because nostalgia.

Speaker 1 (02:47):
What happened the last time that we saw Lance mcaullory's
at his peak while on the Astros won the World
Series in twenty twenty two. What happened the first time
that we saw Lance pclors reach his ultimate peak, the
one to where we all viewed yep, that can be
in a that's the guy in our clubhouse that we
need to rally behind, as was won of the World
Series in twenty seventeen. So when you have a version
of Lance mccullors looking the part of being a camp

(03:10):
miss player on the mound, even if it's for four
innings of war and against three strikeouts, a couple of
ground balls and gives up maybe one run so ostie
offense produces, you're gonna win the game. I think that
that's why yesterday's game was a sign of comfort if
you are an Astros fan that is hoping that Lance
mccullors has arrived or returned number one. He spent the

(03:31):
entire offseason getting better, because he finally had an offseason
where he was nearly one hundred percent healthy. Not saying
he was one hundred percent that'd be a lie because
if I think everyone deals with the injuries from time
to time, but he was finally back to the level
of what we envisioned when he signed that lucrative five
year contract four years ago. Number two, we got to
see him pitch for the first time really in two
years now. There were some moments that were really good.

(03:54):
There were some almost that really bad, like a lot
of them. Actually in the Chicago White Sox game, I
remember going there. First setting was phenomenal. Next to wednings,
not really much right, don't run, not much to write
home about. So you got to think that now, having
more time underneath his plate, looking at the film, seeing
what went right, what went wrong, you gotta believe that
he's at least figured out what will work for him

(04:15):
this year. And number three, it looked the part. Go
look at his strikeout raid, I mean, go look at
his strikes yesterday. Fastball was a little bit lower than
I liked. Ninety three miles per hour. You'll take that
for a guy who's been dealing with multiple arm issues
for the last two years. His slider really good, ninety
two miles, his sinker ninety three miles. His change up

(04:38):
dropped on in at roughly around eighty two miles per hour.

Speaker 2 (04:42):
Knuckle KRB my apologies.

Speaker 1 (04:44):
So you're seeing the velocity the whip and the torque
all be there, which means he's finding the plate, he's
not missing, he's not over analyzing, and he got three
outs that were really important. C. J. Abrams was an
all start last year, and I understand that we could
say all start don't really matter. Well for baseball, they
kind of do. They still have some validity to it.

(05:04):
Not all it's just fan botes, managers, players, they all
choose a player.

Speaker 2 (05:08):
CJ.

Speaker 1 (05:09):
Abrams was a representative for the Washington Nationals. Dylan Cruz
was the number two overall pick behind Paul Skeins just
three years ago, and Dylan Cruz won the Golden Spikes
Award at LSU. For those of you that don't know,
that's like winning the al MVP. Like he was what
we all envisioned. Alex Bregman was here when Kyle Tucker
was here, like that guy who was fighting for the

(05:30):
highest award in college baseball. Dylan Cruse won that and
he got him to swing at a high fastball, pop
it on up to second baseman.

Speaker 2 (05:37):
Hose Al tu Bank called a day one, two three inning.

Speaker 1 (05:40):
That's good right now because of who Lance mccullors is
and what he has meant to the organization.

Speaker 2 (05:46):
I have to assume he is not going to go
be a bullpen guy.

Speaker 1 (05:50):
Now, that does not mean you go into the season
believing he's gonna give you one hundred and thirty innings
of quality pitches. He's gonna be able to get one
hundred and fifty strikeouts, He's gonna have an er around
two point five to five like that. Like all that
is just like an added bonus. We can call that
what it is.

Speaker 2 (06:06):
But what I think is Lancemcolors with one.

Speaker 1 (06:09):
More start like this, even if it's only for two innings,
and the numbers will continue to produce, you will continue
to see him stack the plate, get a couple more
at bats, face off against some different hitters.

Speaker 2 (06:23):
All that. What you're gonna notice is I think that
he will be.

Speaker 1 (06:27):
Back to his near form of twenty twenty two to
a degree to where you can say he's earned his
spot in the rotation because right now there are six
spots that are available. Strike that there are six spots
that are gonna be there. There are like two spots
available because Tatua and Guy is gonna start. Hunter Browns
your ace, Mike Burrows, who goes today on the mound
against his former team is probably going to earn one

(06:48):
of those roles, and I think Christian Havier has got
the last one locked up. So they got two spots
with like six pitchers fighting for it. Lance probably gets
the nod at one of them because of the veteranship
in the experience, and then I would go with Spencer Arraghetty,
but not all a sentence stone. So that's gonna be
your six man rotation. You don't go into the season
believing that Lance is gonna stay fully healthy. You don't
go into the season believing that Lance is gonna be

(07:08):
that big of a difference maker. But you do believe
that the version we saw yesterday can last three innings
four innings, And then you go to your bullpen and
you say, hey, aj Bluebat, can you get us three
quality innings of work?

Speaker 2 (07:20):
That way we don't have to go to bray.

Speaker 1 (07:21):
You and Kaiwei Tang and Nate Pearson and whoever else
the hell that we have in the unit. You feel
pretty confident maybe there'll be a game where he gets
your four innings of work, one earn run, three strikeouts,
a couple of pop flies in a.

Speaker 2 (07:34):
Ground out or two.

Speaker 1 (07:35):
That feels like a pretty dang good day for a
guy who at this point in his career thirty two
years old, where you don't know what to expect, it
ends up meeting expectations.

Speaker 2 (07:45):
I don't know, Maybe.

Speaker 1 (07:46):
It's just me overreacting because it's spring training and I
can field baseball right around the corner, and it's exciting
to know that soon Dyke and Park is gonna be
filled and the Ashers are gonna be back. And you
and I both believe that this team, with the way
they are constructed right now, maybe not the favorites to
win the World Series out of the American League, but
still good enough to.

Speaker 2 (08:05):
Be a playoff team.

Speaker 1 (08:06):
I mean again, anybody who talks about the Astros and says, well,
you didn't make the playoff last year when they found
your way to screw him to other out guys, they
dealt with the most injuries ever in in regular season
for a baseball team. Yeah, you two would probably struggle
playing in October if you didn't have your left hand,
your right leg, your right ankle, your chess sternum, and

(08:31):
six rips. Like if you were missing all those body parts,
I don't think that I'd be calling you to go
get out of the office, like that's just kind of
the case.

Speaker 2 (08:37):
But I think that right now, looking.

Speaker 1 (08:39):
At lancemic Colors, you get the version that we saw yesterday.
Long term, you probably have a good six man rotation. Now,
I'm not gonna say that he will be out there
every single day. I won't even go so far to
say that he'll be out there figuring out ways to
be able to manipulate batters and then go through six innings,
Like if he gets your one sixth ending game, call
out a win on the year. I'm expecting him to

(09:01):
be a quality start guy at most get through five
and call it a day, Like that's what I'm expecting.
And that's like on a good day, on a normal day,
I would say probably three and a half inchings of work,
maybe four or fifty five pitches and then we're even Stephen.

Speaker 2 (09:14):
But he gets you anything more, that's a win. And
if it allows you to keep like an aj Blueba
to play.

Speaker 1 (09:19):
The Ryan Gusto role or Colton Gordon doesn't have to
be a part of your rotation. Ryan Wise and then
Kaywai Tang and then which guy with Nate Pearson and
Steven Oker, Brian King, any of those guys leading up
to Brian and Bray you and Josh hated her to
close things out.

Speaker 2 (09:34):
It's a win for the team. It's a massive win
for the team.

Speaker 1 (09:37):
So overall, I come away watching yesterday's performance from Lance
mccullors with a sense of optimism. Not to say that
I am buying all my stock in to him having
the Renaissance revival type year.

Speaker 2 (09:51):
Be great, be awesome to see.

Speaker 1 (09:54):
But I think if that's the version we get, you're
in a pretty good spot with the pitcher who is
trying to go out on his own terms. You know why,
do think he's earned the right at this point to
prove why he belongs a part of that conversation. But
seven one, three, two, two five, seven ninety, if you
want to join in, do you believe that Lance mccullors
has earned the right to be a part of that conversation?
Do you believe that the Astros right now kind of

(10:15):
have their six man rotation locked on up?

Speaker 2 (10:17):
I think of they do. I could be wrong, Maybe
one or two.

Speaker 1 (10:21):
Guys we could argue against it, but that's either here
nor there. Take a quick time out when we come
back Pittsburgh versus Houston today, There's a reason I want
to mention these two teams because Pittsburgh has an opportunity
to do something that would change the way that Actually,
I think a lot of teams would address this one issue,
and both of these rosters have something in common.

Speaker 2 (10:41):
I'll explain that next.

Speaker 1 (10:43):
It's a shortened show, but it still is a live show,
ticking your calls, taking your comments right here on a
space day Saturday, Sports Talk seven.

Speaker 2 (10:50):
Ninety Space a Saturday.

Speaker 1 (10:51):
Rolling right along here on Sports Talk seven ninety Cole
Thompson rocking with you until eleven thirty today to shorter
show for reasons that are very important. Number One, you
can listen to the Astros right here on Sports Suck
seven ninety paying the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Speaker 2 (11:07):
More on that in a moment.

Speaker 1 (11:08):
After that, you know, flip on over to seven forty
KTRH if you want to listen to the Rockets take
on the Miami Heat. They are looking to continue their
winning ways, currently one of three of their last four,
trying to make it four their last five. At two
thirty one, nine fifty you can listen to Texas versus
text A and M in the Hardwood and before that,
in ten forty five. Literally in the next thirty minutes,

(11:29):
flip on over to nine fifty to hear you of
h take on Colorado seven one three, two, one two
five seven ninety.

Speaker 2 (11:35):
Starting line is out today.

Speaker 1 (11:36):
This is what you can kind of expect, I think
for the Astros minus a few positions here. The outfield
is still up for grabs, so take that out. But
Jeremy Paying is leading off a shortstop eat such Peretti's
making his debut of the regular season. I mean the
spring training at DH big news, Carlos Carea at third base,
Christian Walker at first in the cleanup spot, Can Smith

(11:57):
and center field, playing in fifth, Taylor Schammel in right
field batting six, batting seven, Zach Descenzo and left second
basement is Bryce Matthew's batting eighth, and says our salads
are batting ninth with Mike Burrows on the mount. Okay,
So how many of you guys are paying attention to
what the Pittsburgh Pirates have right now? Pittsburgh's been a
very sneaky team, and I think they're gonna be one

(12:17):
of those teams that we talk about going into the
month of September that probably is not gonna make the
playoffs unless they finally spent at the deadline.

Speaker 2 (12:25):
But I think they could make some noise, good roster.

Speaker 1 (12:29):
Solid overall underrated names, and they got the next coming
of what I believe people believe. People think Gunnar Henderson's
supposed to be, what I think Bobby Witch supposed to be. Apparently,
this is the most legit prospect we've seen since Mike Trott.
He's going to P and C Park. It's Connor Griffin.
Connor Griffin's nineteen years old. He's a phenomenal glove at

(12:50):
the middle endfield spot both second and short. Crazy power
launch angle like no one's business, flies down the base pass.
He's five tool player. Of a five tool player, love
a five tool player, so he's like a fifteen tool player.

Speaker 2 (13:04):
Dude just does everything legit.

Speaker 1 (13:07):
And he's gonna be nineteen years old when camp breaks
and they go back to Pittsburgh, and he will be
on the opening day roster where he's he gonna play,
that's up for grabs, but still he is going to
be playing in the majors. Now, on top of that,
they have a Cy Young Award winner in Paul Skeens.
Paul Skeens is arguably the best pitcher in the National League,
and he's arguably the second best pitcher only behind Trek

(13:29):
School of the Detroit Tigers. Now School just got paid
a lot of money for a one year arbitration deal.

Speaker 2 (13:34):
He's earned it. He absolutely has. Anybody that wants to argue, hey.

Speaker 1 (13:38):
Tire schooble a pitcher thirty two million dollars seems like
a tall ploy just needs to go ahead and say, hey,
what kind of hardware do you have? Here's one plaque
that says al Cy Young Award Winner. Here's another one
just for good measure to show you how legit I am.

Speaker 2 (13:52):
Pay me my money. Like that's how it goes.

Speaker 1 (13:57):
Pittsburgh has an opportunity to do something that every other
team will follow, specifically in a new day and age
where we're probably gonna get a salary cap. So, for
those of you that don't remember, the Baseball MLBPA is
gonna deal with potentially a lockout this offseason because of
ownership has made it clear they want to add in

(14:17):
a salary cap more than anything. They want to add
in a salary floor. But to do that yet to
add in a salary cap, so long story short, we
may or may not have baseball at to start next season,
which could lead to a lot of downtime period, which
is great for me or terrible for me.

Speaker 2 (14:31):
I'm not really sure to shit, but still you're gonna
see teams having to spend money haven't spent a lot
of money.

Speaker 1 (14:40):
I think that the Pittsburgh Pirates make this move, not
only will their fan base forgive them for the last
decade plus of mediocrity in a city that cares about
baseball like Pittsburgh is actually one of those places where
football's awesome.

Speaker 2 (14:54):
The NHL is great.

Speaker 1 (14:55):
Sidney Crosby has multiple memories there for what he's been
able to accomplish on the ice, But it feels like
a baseball town like Pittsburgh is truly. PNC Park one
of the greatest atmospheres to go catch a ball game
during a Saturday afternoon in the summer.

Speaker 2 (15:10):
All that's great.

Speaker 1 (15:13):
I look at it and say, if they were to
go sign Connor Griffin and Paul Skens to a long
term deal, get them locked up on extensions right now
next ten years, the fan.

Speaker 2 (15:25):
Base will forgive them.

Speaker 1 (15:26):
But you probably ask yourself, Cole, why are you talking
about Pittsburgh and not about Houston. You live in Houston,
you talk about Houston sports. This should be your repertoire.
I'm so glad you asked.

Speaker 2 (15:33):
Ladies and gentlemen.

Speaker 1 (15:35):
Don't the Astros have a middle infielder that they want
to lock up long term? Don't they have an all
star pitcher who could be considered it the ace of
the American League that they need to get a deal
done with. Oh wait, I forgot they do. His name
is Jeremy Panyan. His name is Hunter Brown. If you
see Pittsburgh one of the more shallow, frugal, underwhelming franchises

(15:58):
with Ben Charrington as their GM, not willing to go
splurge in the open market to bring in promising players
around a young core, if you finally see him drop
a sack on the table and say here's a bunch
of money, go ahead and take it. If you finally
see that happen, what is your excuse here in Houston?

(16:20):
Because in Houston, you've gone out, You've made moves before
you've gone out, and you said, you know what we
need to upgrade at first base. Let's go get Jose
brayew all right? That playing damn workout. Let's go get
Christian Walker. Hey, we can get rid of a guy
like a Kyle Tucker, so long as we feel confident
on what we're.

Speaker 2 (16:36):
Walking away with.

Speaker 1 (16:37):
Hello, Eastside Perries, Welcome to Houston, Hayden was Nesky, Cam Smith,
I don't know if you can play a lot right field,
but we're gonna find out together.

Speaker 2 (16:45):
So you make it work.

Speaker 1 (16:46):
Houston's one of those teams that is aggressive enough to
go make moves in the offseason to better their roster.
Damn the price, because you have an owner that has
said on constant occasion, hey, as long as I am
living in breathing, that window is open. We believe a
Commissioner's trophy should be coming to Dyke and Park. You're
in and Ye're out as long as I'm running this team.

Speaker 2 (17:06):
Okay.

Speaker 1 (17:07):
So if you're watching ownership groups that constantly are letting
players walk, and they do this all the time, and
it's not just Pittsburgh, but Pittsburgh is one of these
teams that does it a lot. They let the premier names,
the guys that we believe are supposed to be difference makers,
just go willy nilly on the market and say here,
figure it out, it's all good. We'll we'll trade you

(17:29):
and we'll get draft compensation that will end.

Speaker 2 (17:31):
Up working for us.

Speaker 1 (17:32):
The Garrett Cole on their squad to begin his tenure,
pitching like an al, pitching like a sy Young Award winner,
can't miss high ninety five to five fastball, fifteen plus
wins year in a year out.

Speaker 2 (17:45):
And they said, here's Houston.

Speaker 1 (17:47):
Take him for Joe Musgroves and a bunch of we
don't know what.

Speaker 2 (17:50):
Just do that.

Speaker 1 (17:52):
If they're finally willing to say it's time to be
able to set our feet in motion and go after
this one guy that we know is a generational pitcher,
because that's what Paul Skins is. I don't like using
the term generational for a reason, but I'll tell you what.
You were not going to see a pitcher with that fastball,
that four pitch combination and that low of an er within.

Speaker 2 (18:14):
The next twenty years. You just aren't. There's one of one.
His name is Paul Skins. And guess what.

Speaker 1 (18:20):
The Pittsburgh Pirates lucked out and found him. He was
going to go to Air Force. He's at Air Force.
He was a two way player. Goes down to LSU
kills it there eventually becomes the number one overall pick.
He's already been a two time starter in the for
the NL team in the All Star Game, and he
is fresh off opening his first cy young in year two.

(18:41):
I promise you it's not gonna be the last. And
Connor Griffin, I'm not ready to go generational player, but
I will say a ten tool player that is going
to be able to lead the category in his position
in slugging, batting average, home runs, extra base, hits, ops,
opp f wour, all the categories that you look for
in terms of value. He is going to lead in

(19:04):
all of those at least ten times in the next
fifteen years. That's how talented of a player he is.
And if Pittsburgh locks them up, then for every team
out there, not just the Astros, but especially for the Astros.

Speaker 2 (19:16):
Here, what is your excuse?

Speaker 1 (19:19):
What is your excuse not to do whatever it's possible
If you believe that they are the difference makers.

Speaker 2 (19:25):
If you think Hunter.

Speaker 1 (19:25):
Brown is as good as Trek Scouble, or if you
believe he is a top five pitcher and he's irreplaceable,
You're not going to be able to develop a guy
that has his four pitch arsenal, that fastball, that two seamer,
that slighter. If you don't think that you're ever going
to be able to duplicate that, that means that you
have to pay the price, and you should. You should

(19:46):
so long as you're able to. And if you can't
afford him, figure out a way to afford him. Bottom line,
if you believe that Jeremy Pingit is about ready to
hit his peak at twenty eight years old, and we're
about to go into a range of where he is
exceptional Defensively, He's an incredible leadoff hitter. The power is there.
You're gonna watch him drive the ball into gaps. He's
not gonna make many mental mistakes. His durability is fine.

(20:09):
You pay him whatever he wants, and that's the way
that you go about it.

Speaker 2 (20:13):
So be it.

Speaker 1 (20:14):
But I think that you have to because if Pittsburgh
is willing to go make those type of moves, every
organization should. And that's why bad organizations stay bad because
they don't listen to that stuff. Tampa Bay every single
year will trade two or three names that end up
hitting that we're already hitting in their system because they
just don't want to pay now. Partially is it because

(20:36):
of the money that they don't have in place, Yes,
but is it more than just that. Absolutely, they love
going bargain bin shopping, developing prospects and then setting them
on their way before they reach their peak and then
the decline kicks on in. It's also why you can
see them be a playoff team, nothing more, nothing less.
They make it to the postseason. October is here, and
then they are the first team out every single offseason.

Speaker 2 (20:58):
That's just it. That's who they are.

Speaker 1 (21:00):
Cincinnati does this, I would say to a certain degree
up until about maybe last year. Oakland did this, or
Sacramento now at this point did this, or Las Vegas,
whatever you want to call them in the future. Cincinnati
does this, Miami does this. Baltimore used to do this
all the time before they had a young core in place.
Kansas City did this all the time before they had
a young core in place. Cleveland does this. And it's

(21:22):
infuriating because of somehow, some way, the fans are probably
annoyed that they should have won a title at this point,
but because if you trade away all the assets and
still developed good players, but not as the lead as
they once were, it costs you an opportunity, I'd be frustrated.
And so if I'm an Astros fan and I watch
as Connor Griffin and Paul Skins are signed to lucrative deals,

(21:45):
I'm asking Dana Brown to do the exact same thing
with my two irreplaceables.

Speaker 2 (21:49):
I just am. I think it should happen that way.

Speaker 1 (21:52):
I think that if you believe as an organization, you're
never gonna find another Hunter Brown who cares with the price,
He's gonna be worth it because of the value is
in what you believe. You guys understand that, right, The
value is.

Speaker 2 (22:07):
What you see him as.

Speaker 1 (22:09):
If I see him as a top five pitcher in
the game, guy who is going to be a part
of my organization for the next fifteen years, why would
I want to watch him go elsewhere? Why why do
I want to watch him go anywhere other than just
be a dik and Park. When I look at Jamy Pangin,
if I believe he can be a top five short
stop for the next six seasons, and then you know
you signed with a seven year deal, Okay, he ends

(22:31):
up starting to decline. Maybe he's not on a top
fifteen short stop and maybe I gotta move him over
to second base, or maybe he's only a designated hitter,
or I gotta take the Jose Al Tube approach and
try to move him into left field.

Speaker 2 (22:42):
I can take the risk, so my only thing I
want to do, but I can at least try.

Speaker 1 (22:46):
I can at least consider the ie the options on
the table.

Speaker 2 (22:50):
Sure.

Speaker 1 (22:52):
So I look right now and I say, this.

Speaker 2 (22:56):
Is a team.

Speaker 1 (22:58):
That has all the opportunities to set the barrier for
the future of baseball. Pittsburgh gets this deal done, New
York has to follow the same pathway, and Houston has
to follow the same pathway, and Seattle has to do it,
and all the teams that are trying to prove that
they are here to win now are going to follow
that approach. I'm gonna tell you guys today, when you
watch as Connor Griffin is in the box against Mike Burrows,

(23:21):
because he's gonna be in the plate a lot, I
think that they're doing everything possible to get him acclamand
to MLB pitching because they know he is going to
be out there week one. They know when they leave
Florida and head I'm back up to Pittsburgh. He is
on that flight he is on that charter getting ready
for opening day. You're gonna see a player that has

(23:41):
all the intangibles that you salimate over if you're trying
to scout, you are, and if you feel any way
remotely close to that about any player on your staff.
And I say right now, jer M Pangham, and I
say right now, Hunter Brown, because those are the top
two names that both bores climb Ay. It's they're trying
to get deals done. If you see them on the staff,

(24:05):
it's gonna be really hard for me not to believe
that watching a team like Pittsburgh get these lucrative extensions done,
you as Dana Brown, you as Jim Crane, you as
Jo Spota or not trying to do the exact same thing.

Speaker 2 (24:18):
And you should because I can promise you this.

Speaker 1 (24:21):
Once you have that player, it's almost impossible to replace them,
especially on the pitching side. You see teams all the
time think that we can do better at quarterback and
then they have buyer's remorse. Instantaneously, they just go back
and realize, Nope, we had it good, we had it
way too good, and now we're the Cleveland Browns. Don't
be the Cleveland Browns, get a deal done, lock the

(24:42):
two up, call it a day, especially if Pittsburgh does
the exact same thing seven point three two one two five,
seven to nine. If you want Jordan on in, take
another quick time out when we come back. The NFL
Combin's really interesting because of their players that we constantly
are hearing about right now as options. I'm gonna tell
you who who is the one name that I think
the Texans are going to draft. I don't know where,

(25:04):
but I just have this gut intuition after everything that
has been reported in the last forty eight hours, there's
no shot in hell he is not playing an energy stadium.
That more coming up on a space say Saturday, Sports
Talks seven ninety next Space Day, Saturday, rolling right along
here on Sports Talks seven ninety.

Speaker 2 (25:20):
Hang on, Frankie Good a minute. Thank you guys. Every
once in a while, you need to go ahead and
wet your whistle.

Speaker 1 (25:29):
Cal Johnson Rockman's you until eleven thirty seven, one thirty two,
two five seven ninety two. Wuch time on in your
astros taking on the Pittsburgh Pirates. That's why we are
earlier today getting to be played right here on KB
and me. If you're listening to US now, you can
also listen to Adam Clinton and Matt Thomas on the
call for Rockets versus Heat on nine forty. You can

(25:50):
also listen on nine seven, nine fifteen. In roughly about
ten minutes, you can hear the Houston Cougars take on
the Colorado Buffalos, and then at two thirty the game
flips on over two Texas at Texas A and M
seven pet thirty two one two five seven ninety is
the number you want to chi him on.

Speaker 2 (26:06):
In Texans combine.

Speaker 1 (26:09):
I have one takeaway right now, and maybe it's because
of the way that I've just constantly seen the smoke
which makes me believe the fire is not that far behind.
Notre Dame running back j Darien Price is going to
be in a Houston Texans uniform next year. I have
just kind of locked that on in now. Do I
believe the Texans should take him with their first round

(26:29):
pick at number twenty eight, No, I do not. I
believe there is one running back in the NFL draft
this year worthy of a top fifteen selection and a
first round selection, and he does wear the Golden Dome,
but it is not one Jenarian Price.

Speaker 2 (26:42):
It is Jeremiah Love.

Speaker 1 (26:44):
I think he is a top five player in this
year's draft, and if the Texans are willing to give
up massive draft compensation to get to the top ten
to draft him, by all means, go ahead and do it.
I think it's malpracticed because of where your holes are
on the team, but still, if you want to go
ahead and do that and draft a running back in
day one, and that's the one I would go after.
But I'm starting to believe that there is more and

(27:04):
more and more to the story of Jadarian Price in
Houston building a harmonious relationship for the long term. Let's
start out with number one. Every mock draft has Jadarian
Price going.

Speaker 2 (27:13):
To the Texans.

Speaker 1 (27:14):
I want you to find me a mock draft right now,
and they got it. Mock drafterer stupid. It's February twenty eighth.
Free agency hasn't even kicked on in the window to
still franchise tag players is open, so everything can change
in about three weeks. Like three weeks from now, Rico
Dado could be a Texan and they could have added
in tai Al Jear and now they got three running
backs that are all quality starters and low and behold,

(27:37):
they don't go after your Jendarian Price. But right now,
find me a mock draft that does not feature JDP
as a member of the Texans. You can't whether it
be a pick number fifty nine, whether it be a
pick number twenty eight. Mel Kiper's an idiot for going
that high, but he still does pick thirty eight. Jendarian
Price is in a Texans uniform. So everybody is saying

(27:59):
that from a scheme fit for Nick Kayley, what is
missing with that home run caliber speed pairing alongside with
Woody Marks, that just is a matchmate in heaven.

Speaker 2 (28:09):
He is gonna be playing an energy stadium.

Speaker 1 (28:11):
Okay, So that's sign number one that I believe the
Jenerian Prize is gonna be a Texan number two, there's
a need for running back.

Speaker 2 (28:19):
Joe Mixon's done in a Texans uniform.

Speaker 1 (28:21):
Like we can sit here and argue about what was
the thing that happened to him and why Nick Cassario
is being all tongue in cheek giving answers to the
media like it's just like a mystery of who's done it.
But it's clear as day that they're fed up with him.
He's not fully healthy. He missed all of last season
because of something that was so severe that now we
are wondering about the rest of his career. And the

(28:42):
Texas can save eight million dollars by letting.

Speaker 2 (28:44):
Him walk in free agency.

Speaker 1 (28:46):
So automatically, with all of that, you know you need
a running back. Woody Marks is a fine player. I
like Woody Marks.

Speaker 2 (28:53):
I thought he was a good pick.

Speaker 1 (28:55):
I hated that you had to give up a third
round pick to go get him on Day three of
the draft. But sometimes beggers came choosers. You want to
add in talent, you got to give up some collateral.
That's what they did. I think it's a good fit,
but I don't think that he is a legit number
one runner. Like if you told me that he got
seven hundred rushing yards as a number two, I would say,
you have a top five rushing attack in the NFL. Hell, yeah,

(29:17):
I want that Nick Kayley's offense continue to take the
ball away from CJ.

Speaker 2 (29:21):
Stroud.

Speaker 1 (29:21):
That's what we want, Frankie, that's what we want, ladies
and gentlemen. But I don't want him being my leading rusher.
So the Texans need a running back because Nick Chubb
is leaving in free agency. You don't have Joe Mixon
and Daragumbwalle. Thanks for kicking a field goal one time
or a point after attempting to kick off return. We'll
call it even Steven. Your memory will not be forgotten here.
You need a running back, you just do number three.

(29:44):
Darien Price spoke to the media yesterday out in Indianapolis
before testing at the Combine, and he said, verbatim, one
of the best meetings.

Speaker 2 (29:53):
That I had.

Speaker 1 (29:54):
One of my favorite things that I did this past
week was meet with the Texans organization and it was
a formal interview. Ah, there it is. Everybody is on
the same page. Texans need a running back. Mock drafts
have a running back going to the Texans from South Bend, Indiana.
The South Bend Indiana product has met with the organization,

(30:16):
and he said it was one of the best experiences.
Sometimes it just makes too much sense, you know, when
you realize you're in a relationship with somebody and you've
been with them for three years, it's just like, all right,
I just flop the ring on at this point because
if I know that this is the best I'm gonna
get you realize.

Speaker 2 (30:31):
It just works out that way. That's just life. That's
where you are with the Texans.

Speaker 1 (30:36):
They need a running back, and everybody says, this guy
fits your criteria, this guy is a good piece to
pair alongside of what you currently got inside the building,
and he's probably gonna be made available to you when
you're selecting. It just adds on up, like there's always a.

Speaker 2 (30:53):
Pick or two that you just say it makes too
much sense.

Speaker 1 (30:56):
I remember in twenty twenty three, yeah, twenty two, Yes,
twenty twenty three. B Jean Robinson came out of the
draft University of Texas. I said, he's gonna be a Falcon.
The Atlanta Falcons are not going.

Speaker 2 (31:08):
To pass on him.

Speaker 1 (31:09):
And it wasn't because I didn't like what they were doing.
I just said, Arthur Smith's offense, you went last season,
you brought in a tight end who not really a
big fan of but still beggars can'ping choosers. You go
ahead and get the stude, he'll be fine. I just
kind of knew it was gonna work, and long behold,
b Jeon Robinson has become one of the best running backs,

(31:31):
if not the premier running back in the NFL. You
just knew, just like a matchmate in Heaven, I figured
that when you got aman Ross Saint Brown into an
offense that would allow him to work inside the slot,
it would be a steal Lombhold. He's become one of
the best wide receivers in the NFL.

Speaker 2 (31:48):
Just fit.

Speaker 1 (31:48):
Sometimes the Texans need a speed threat, somebody that can
go ahead and win yards after contact in space, turn
up field and make plays.

Speaker 2 (31:59):
That's Darian Price.

Speaker 1 (32:00):
He was the game changer and he would put defenses
on their keysters trying to make plays against him in space.

Speaker 2 (32:06):
Opposite of what Jeremiah Love did.

Speaker 1 (32:09):
You add that in with what Woody Marx does with
the physical hard yards after contact and the ability to
catch balls out of the backfield and the ability to
win in pass protection, that's probably the compliment that you want.

Speaker 2 (32:22):
And in today's NFL.

Speaker 1 (32:23):
Yet, it's nice to have a legit number one weapon
like Derrick Henry. If you have a Derek Henry available,
best of luck is stopping him.

Speaker 2 (32:30):
Guys.

Speaker 1 (32:30):
It's almost impossible because the dude is built like mack
Truck and he just colobbers everything in his pathway. But
for most teams you need two running backs, even the
Falcons with what they have with Jon Robinson, even what
you have in terms of the Detroit Lions, one of
the best one to two combinations in the NFL.

Speaker 2 (32:48):
They're a split backfield.

Speaker 1 (32:50):
Ty Al Jeer and David Montgomery work because of they
play the counterpart of Jon Robinson and Jamier Gibbs. So
maybe that's Woody Mark's and Ngendarian price. But when there's
so much all adding up together, it just makes too
much sense now.

Speaker 2 (33:05):
I think the Texans have a couple of options on
their mind.

Speaker 1 (33:07):
I have said on multiple occasions during the morning Drive
with Dan and Colfron's Sports, Soox have a ninety right
here from six to ten am. If you're taking a
running back at pick number twenty eight, you're foolish.

Speaker 2 (33:17):
You better be praying to.

Speaker 1 (33:18):
God that somehow, some way, Jeremiah Love did an idiotic
Glamie Tunzel type thing to where he falls down draft
barging and like, yeah, I'll move up to go get him,
Like that's the only way I would take a running
back in realm one, That's the only way. But outside
of that, when you trade back, I wouldn't been I
wouldn't hate it. I think the Texans seem to stay

(33:38):
at twenty eight personally, that's just my two cents. If
they don't, okay, you're moving back. At that point we
can have the Jgerian Price conversation. But you have three
picks inside the top sixty, depending on how Price tests today, which,
by the way, if you've been paying tention to the combine,
there have been some studs, I mean, like some legit

(33:59):
home runs stud to this point. How they test today,
it'll tell you where.

Speaker 2 (34:05):
He will fall.

Speaker 1 (34:07):
I believe with one of those three picks twenty eight
thirty eight fifty nine, one of them will be for
Jendarian Price. The Texans will add in a running back
that they believe is going to be a game changer.

Speaker 2 (34:19):
And maybe he will.

Speaker 1 (34:21):
Maybe he'll split carries with Woody Marks, maybe he'll be
the bellcal Bruiser, maybe he'll be everything that we envisioned
him more. But I do believe that Woody Marx is
going to have a running mate who is a younger option,
and it will be the kid from Stop in Indiana
who fits extremely well in a one to two.

Speaker 2 (34:36):
Backfield because guess what, he killed it the last two.

Speaker 1 (34:39):
Years, pairing alongside with Jeremiah Love seven one three two
one two five, seven ninety is the number to get
it on the guest line. Frankie, Ladies and gentlemen, I
have a question to ask you. This has been bothering me.
It has been brought to my attention, and now we
have to go investigate.

Speaker 2 (34:54):
What is the answer to this question.

Speaker 1 (34:56):
I'll explain that more when we come back right here
on Sports Talk seven ninety Space Saturday. Rolling right along
here on Sports TX seven ninety Hello, e scept friends,
Puld Thomason rock with you until eleven thirty Tip Bob
officially underway between the Cougars and the Colorado Buffaloes.

Speaker 2 (35:14):
You want to listen to that, you can go tune
on over to nine fifty AM.

Speaker 1 (35:17):
At eleven fifty so sort of Astros versus Pirates. Mike
Burrows on the mound today for the Strows. Houston Rockets
take on the Miami Heat at one thirty. Listen to
that game over on seven forty KTRH and at two
thirty following the conclusion of Cougars and Buffs, you can
listen to the Lone Star showdown at Kyle I mean
in Colin Station, Texas A and m plays host to

(35:39):
Texas right there on nine fifty seven one thirty two
one two five seven ninety Frankie, I have a question
to ask you.

Speaker 2 (35:46):
What's up? Do you hate the sound of my voice?

Speaker 1 (35:51):
No?

Speaker 2 (35:51):
I like it?

Speaker 1 (35:52):
Thank you, thank you, Because apparently there's people out there
that have brought to my attention how I sound, Ladies
and Joe, and I'll be the first person to tell.

Speaker 2 (36:00):
You I know how I sound.

Speaker 1 (36:02):
I am the first person to grow criticize the out
of my own voice.

Speaker 2 (36:06):
I get it. You asked me to add in more
bas added more libity. Go ahead and get now low
and bring it on up this way, Frankie, would you
like me tuggling? This is the rest of this show,
Sharia fun day da get Frankie? How could you get that? Deep?

Speaker 3 (36:19):
Dude?

Speaker 1 (36:20):
Oh my god, it's awesome. Now I get it. I've
been called many things in this industry. It does not
bother me because I look myself in the mirror every
single day and go, hey, you know what, that's just
who you are. The one that I get the most
that is now starting to annoy the crap out of
me because of I just I can't figure out what
it is Johnny Cotton yesterday decides to call me out

(36:41):
and say you're terrible because of you and I quote
sound like a helium infused muppet. And this is now
the ninth time I have been called a muppet. So
here's my question, ladies and gentlemen, see I take it
as a compliment. I'm want to let you know right now,
the Puppets are awesome. I love the Muppets. Muppets Christmas

(37:03):
Carrol is the greatest Christmas movie of all time. You
can argue with the brick wall on that one if
you do not fall in love with the appearance of
Tim Curry as long John Silver. And if you're not screaming,
we got cabin fieb we got cabin fi.

Speaker 2 (37:17):
If you're not doing that.

Speaker 1 (37:18):
You are not an American and nobody wants to be
around you at parties. Muppet Treasure island Rocks, and the
Muppet Show is great. So I love the fact that
you're comparing me to a muppet. Here's the question, what
Muppet do I sound like? I'm genuinely pondering which.

Speaker 2 (37:34):
One is it.

Speaker 1 (37:35):
And I've been sitting here for the last ninety hours.
I've been sitting here for the last nine hours. Last night,
I was trying to drift off to sleep, and I
was like, is it Fozzy? Is it Gonzo? It's not Rizzo.
I know it's not Rizzo. I know it's not Kerman.
I know it's not as Piggy. I don't know who
it is. I'm trying to figure it out. I'm genuinely
wondering which one is it. You guys listen to me

(37:58):
every single day from six to ten Monday day, Friday,
and then for two hours on Saturday.

Speaker 2 (38:03):
I know for a fact you can tell me which
one it is. It's not Samdy Eagle. I know that.

Speaker 1 (38:09):
I know it is not anyone from Sesame Street, which,
by the way, they also are muppets. I know they are,
so over the next thirty minutes for the show ends,
I want to know which person isn't Frankie, Do you
have a guess of who?

Speaker 2 (38:21):
I sound like I was gonna say Fozzy? Really, so
you think Fozzy that's the only one I can think of. Okay,
but that's not even close.

Speaker 1 (38:31):
See, that's the thing, because I can't do that walk.
I'll walk out like I don't. I don't do that stuff.
It's it's not my character.

Speaker 2 (38:37):
But I'm mostly not tellingly Creoy thief funk heritt that
that's a little bit too hard on me.

Speaker 1 (38:41):
So it's like I can't do that one. So it's
like I think that like the goal would be Gonzo,
because a Gonzo is my favorite. Gonzo is, in my opinion,
the best written character of all the Muppets.

Speaker 2 (38:53):
I will stand on business on that one.

Speaker 1 (38:55):
So, whoever it is seven ninety or at me, mister
gold Thompson, I would love to hear from you, which
is it that I sound like I'm not gonna be mad.
I'm actually just curious at this point. So that way,
I can either take it as a compliment or an insult.
There's like two muppets that if you threw out there,
I'd probably pissed that. Martin Engleton, what's up my friend?

Speaker 3 (39:15):
Hey, carle Man, before I get to the Texas. Hey, man,
you sound just fine. You you do you and you'll
do great.

Speaker 2 (39:21):
Man.

Speaker 3 (39:21):
You're doing great to me, Martin.

Speaker 1 (39:24):
I like it. I love it, dude. I actually take
it as a compliment. It's not a negative.

Speaker 3 (39:30):
People who have a problem with it, the hell with him. Hey,
But the the Texas, this defensive tackle from University of Florida.
The Banks, Yes, the six to sixth guy. Now I'm
concerned about he broke it. He broke his foot right
or an ankle? Yeah about this type of thing. Uh,

(39:52):
we don't need damage goods. I mean what kind of
injury past does this Banks have? He broke his foot right?

Speaker 2 (40:00):
Yeah, he was out with the foot injury last year.

Speaker 3 (40:02):
Well he broke it right?

Speaker 2 (40:03):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (40:05):
And did he need any surgery for it? Do you know?

Speaker 2 (40:08):
Yeah? He did? But he's fine now.

Speaker 1 (40:10):
I mean I I remember watching him when he was
at Florida, back when he was a junior sophomore, and
he was awesome. Like I've spoken to people who are
way smarter than I am in this industry, and every
single one of them have told me if he would
have played this year, you're talking about a top fifteen talent,
like he would have been well out of.

Speaker 2 (40:27):
The Texans reach.

Speaker 1 (40:28):
I picked number twenty eight, and because of how well
he tested, he still might be out of the Texans
range of pick number twenty eight.

Speaker 3 (40:35):
Yeah. Yeah, I but this this foot surgery, how how
serious one? I mean did they have to put tens
in or shrews in or do you know?

Speaker 1 (40:47):
I don't have the actual information on that one, Martin,
I don't. I'm from what I've gathered, it's not going
to be a lingering problem at the next level from.

Speaker 2 (40:54):
What I've heard.

Speaker 3 (40:56):
Okay, Okay, that's it. Thanks Cole.

Speaker 2 (40:59):
Appreciate him.

Speaker 1 (41:01):
I actually want Kleb Banks, like if you run out
of options, Like, Okay, we just were talking about Jenarian Price.
I would much rather Caleb Banks at picked number twenty
eight and then trade back into round one if need
be to go get Jenarium Price.

Speaker 2 (41:16):
I'd much rather that. I still think he will be
available at pick number thirty eight. I do. I just
don't see the value of running backs. Frankie cast a
side to piss me off.

Speaker 1 (41:26):
He said that he said the one character that I
didn't want to sound like what Beaker?

Speaker 2 (41:30):
I don't sound like Beaker. Meybe me. If you at
least you.

Speaker 1 (41:35):
Can go with buns in Honey Duke, that would at
LEAs would have made my day. Bunson's fine. Beeker's is annoying.
Everyone knows that. I think even the audience knows that
Beeker's supposed to be annoying, which is why he is
a terrified person now animal that's a different one.

Speaker 2 (41:49):
I actually like Animal. I think Animal is actually one
of the.

Speaker 1 (41:52):
Best written characters on the show, because if he is
a maniac seven one, two five, seven ninety. More muppets talk,
more astros talk or rockets talk. I'm gonna turn an animal, Wigo,
call my brains out. We'll be back in like five seconds.
Right here on Sports Suck seven ninety, good news to
everyone besides mister Joe Cotton. My voice is now back.
Get used to it, Suck it, don't care s facing Saturday,

(42:15):
rolling right or wrong? Right here on Sports Talk seven ninety,
It's up friends, Cole Thomas, I'm rocking with you for
thirty more minutes. Then we're gonna flip you on over
to national programming. Before at eleven fifty you can hear
your astros take on the Pittsburgh Pirates Mike Burrows on
the mound. Oh guys, I'm telling you. I'm telling you, Frankie.

(42:36):
Can you feel it? Can you intensified? Can you sense it?

Speaker 2 (42:40):
Burrows? Is that dude?

Speaker 1 (42:42):
Man?

Speaker 2 (42:42):
I'm telling you. Listen and I get it.

Speaker 1 (42:44):
I understand. Tatsuo em I still here. You still have
Christian Javier Hunter Brown is the ace I know I know,
I know, I just got a feeling that's gonna be
the guy that we're talking about the most of the
end of the season, and we're not talking about him,
we're talking about your rockets. They tip off at two thirty.
You can listen to the I're over on nine point fifty.

Speaker 2 (43:01):
You could also listen to I Mean on seven forty
on nine to fifty.

Speaker 1 (43:04):
Right now you're Houston Kruger's taking on the Colorado Buffaloes.
And then at two point thirty you can stay there
to listen to the lone Star showtout on the hardwood
between Texas A and M and Texas Number to call
in seven one three two one two five seven ninety.

Speaker 2 (43:19):
Let's talk some more Texans, all right.

Speaker 1 (43:22):
The draft is really interesting because right now everything is
just like a crap shoot. Like you understand that, right
until we figure out what's going on with free agency,
who's gonna be here or who's not, you're kind of
going in with blind years. Like this is why mock
drafts and I understand where Matt Thomas comes from. Whay
brings this up. Mock drafts are dumb because of you
think that you know what's gonna happen, and then lo
and behold, they fix it in free agency and you

(43:44):
go a completely different pathway.

Speaker 2 (43:46):
So, like, think about a guy.

Speaker 1 (43:48):
Who's a good one Cardneal Tate. There we go, wide
receiver from Ohio State. He's got like top ten buzz
right now. Okay, the teams that are interested in him
are the New York Giants, potentially, the Tasty Titans, and
the New Orleans Saints, all top ten picks. Great, well,
what if every single one of those teams goes out
and they add in a high profile, prolific pass catcher

(44:11):
that is going to elevate the offense that's the longer
a top priority, so he could fall down draft boards.

Speaker 2 (44:17):
I get that that happens more often than not.

Speaker 1 (44:19):
So I'm gonna tell you the five means right now
for the Texans, not in any particular order, but I
think that they need to be addressed via the draft as.

Speaker 2 (44:27):
Of this point.

Speaker 1 (44:28):
And I'm going to specifically say the draft because of
I look at free agency numbers and look at all
the pieces that are available, all these things that I
think could help the Texans improve with veteran experience, and
I still don't know if it's enough so you already
know that offensive line is gonna be in need. The
Texans are going to go after an offensive lineman and
free agency. I do not think it's Tyler Linderbaum. I

(44:49):
do not think it's Kate Mace. So get those two
out of your head. I don't care what any insider
or fake insider or the Twitter people that love to
go ahead and lie on the app because if they
can are telling you they're not going to go get
that guy, it's.

Speaker 2 (45:03):
Just not happening.

Speaker 1 (45:05):
That being said, it's also not enough to say you
feel confident in your offensive line. Nick Cassario has got
to at least bring in one, if not two, offensive linemen.

Speaker 3 (45:12):
Now.

Speaker 1 (45:12):
It could be a pick number twenty eight, could be
two second round selections, could be a third round pick,
could be a late find that you believe, with proper
coaching underneath Cole Popovich and company, he'll end up becoming
a star. But I need to know that you were
walking away with two offensive linemen. Here's the caveat in
all of that. I also need to know what you're
gonna do with Titus Howard. It's awesome that you have

(45:33):
tyas Howard wanted to play multiple positions. I love that,
like I love the fact that there could be a
Saturday to where you find out, hey, Arianta Ursrie is sick,
We're going to have to play somebody out left tackle. Cool,
We're gonna shift Titus On into the outside. We'll throw
a Jerry Parson on the inside.

Speaker 2 (45:50):
It works. I'm cool with that. I think it's fine.
I'm also kind of done with it.

Speaker 1 (45:56):
I want him to be playing one position because, on
one hand, the value of his contract and how you
can either extend him or restructure his deal is going
to be beneficial based off of where he plays.

Speaker 2 (46:06):
Tackles make more money than guards. They just do.

Speaker 1 (46:09):
So if you're trying to restructure a deal to where
you can go ahead and save some cap space, maybe
playing him at guard opens up more money for you
to afford somebody on the market. If you blame a tackle,
you can extend him do the exact same thing either way.

Speaker 2 (46:22):
I gotta know that you have.

Speaker 1 (46:23):
Once position set in motion. Afterwards, go ahead and fix
it now. I don't think that you can not. I
think you could bring back like a Trent Brown on
a one year deal for like the vet minimum of
two point two million. Nobody would bat an eye probably
would actually be a smart move while you get the
next guy winning in line. It could be the Utah
kid Caleb Lomu, It could be the Oregon kid e
Manuel Pregnon. Any one of those guys would make a

(46:45):
lot of sense. To pick number twenty eight, pick number
thirty eight, you can do the exact same thing. Or
at pick number fifty to fifty nine you can do
it too. But either way, two offensive linemen need to
becoming to Houston in the draft. That is a non
negotiable no matter what they do in free agency. Number
two is defensive tackle. And the reason why I have
defensive tackle over every other position because I know what

(47:06):
a lot of people are going to say, Well.

Speaker 2 (47:08):
Yeah, I get it.

Speaker 1 (47:10):
You want to go bring back Sheldon Rankins. You can
just go bring back Tim Settle. You're right, you could,
and I think that you probably will. At least Sheldon Rankins.
I don't see him playing in another uniform. So long
as Demiko Ryans as the head coach, he will be
at Texan until he is out of the league, which
probably still is like two years, three years, four maybe
depending on how well he continues to play. But you're

(47:31):
at a point of where you constantly are doing this
thing called bargain bin shopping. And the bargain bin shopping
is you're willing to spend top dollar on a defensive end.
You're willing to go out and bring in a high
profile linebacker. You're willing to go out and fix your
offensive line. You're willing to go try target an offensive
an offensive weapon, running back, tight end, wide receiver, and

(47:51):
you go bring in these tread on the tires order
guys who are looking just to reignite the career on
like a one year, three million dollar deal, and it works,
it has.

Speaker 2 (48:01):
Sheldon Rankins was a fine. Tim Settle was a fine Mario.

Speaker 1 (48:05):
Edwards was a fine Tommy TOGIAI is the definition of
a straight up steal. Like that is the definition of
a bargain bin that worked on out. He is going
to be a part of your defense next year in
a pretty significant role. But you come to a level
of I can't afford everybody, and eventually I'm going to
have to make some tough calls.

Speaker 2 (48:25):
Here's the best way to make an easy call.

Speaker 1 (48:27):
Have a better I mean, have a young, up and
coming defensive tackle that you think is going to be
a difference maker. It could be Lee Hunter, the kid
at of Texas Tech. It could be Caleb Banks, just
like we talked about from Florida, really good playmakers. The
other thing is is that I think you have to
go big early because there is a drop off at
defensive tackle. I'm not saying that there isn't a good

(48:47):
defensive tackle class. I'm just saying that right now, there
are names that you look at, like a Peter Woods
from Clemson, and then maybe if you really wanted to,
you could talk yourself into like a Tim Keenan from
Alabama and go, hey, these guys really worked for us.

Speaker 2 (49:01):
And then everyone else is a project.

Speaker 1 (49:03):
And if you're a team that is competing for Lombardi
Trophies and making it to your first ever conference title game,
you don't go after the projects. No, you go target
the name that is going to be a plug and
play addition to your team right now. And I think
that you need to do that for the long term
because wouldn't it be nice to know you no longer
have Danil Hunter. Oh but look at that Lee Hunter

(49:23):
the other one. But the Hunter name is still Hunting.
It's just from going on the outside corner. He's working
the interior of your offensive line. So that's number two.
Number three is running back. I would love to see
them go after Kenneth Walker. I don't think they're gonna
land Kenneth Walker. I think it'd be cool to see
them go after a ty Ale Jear. I don't think
they're gonna land the tile Jeer. I don't even know
if they're gonna land at rico'donnell, Like I believe rico'donnell

(49:46):
would be the best bang for buck value selection that
would fit this offense to a tee. I also know
that there are gonna be teams that are gonna be
aggressively going after running back, so you're gonna need a
running back in this class. We've already talked about Jerem
Jendarian Price, the running back from Notre Dame. He makes
a lot of sense to pick number thirty eight. He
makes a lot of sense of pick number fifty nine.

(50:07):
There's a couple of other ones, so you can look
at Emmett Johnson from Nebraska.

Speaker 2 (50:10):
As a guy.

Speaker 1 (50:10):
I think that Jonah Coleman from Washington is one that
would fit the bill like a glove. It'd be perfect.
But you need a running back.

Speaker 2 (50:19):
If you tell me going into next season, we added
in two guys that are just names from other rosters,
and Woody Marx, we're gonna trust us to run the football.
I'm gonna tell you that you're.

Speaker 1 (50:28):
Looking for a new offensive coordinator in twenty twenty seven,
that's just it.

Speaker 2 (50:32):
You need a difference maker.

Speaker 1 (50:33):
You need somebody who cannot only take pressure off of
a guy in C. J. Stroud, but also Woody Marks
because Mark's, in my opinion, is not a lead back.
That's not an insult. That's not me saying that he
can't be good for your team. That's not even me
saying that I don't believe he could be a really
quality player long term. I'm just saying right now he
is not a do it all back, and he's not

(50:54):
somebody that I want to see total the rock twenty
three times a game. I want him getting fifteen touches.
So you need running back to pair alongside with him.
Number four is safety. A lot of people forget about
the safety position right now, and for good reason, because
when you look at the secondary, it's elite.

Speaker 2 (51:10):
I mean top to bottom.

Speaker 1 (51:12):
Can you find me five nickel defenders better than Jaylen Petree,
I'll spare you the trouble the answers. No, you can
bare me find me three Like I think Jalen Petrie
since moving down to the box has been awesome, like
a superstar stud and worth the forty two million dollars
essentially just gone outside cornerback play of Kamari Laster and

(51:32):
Derek Singley maybe the best in the NFL. And then
you throw in what you got with Kaylen Bilock over
the top. But that other safety spot is the one
week point and you're trying to replace it, and you've
been doing it for a while. Jimmy Ward was supposed
to play that position, it didn't work out. Then you
go out and you bring in Eric Murray, it didn't
work out. Then you have CJ. Gardner Johnson twelve quarters later,

(51:52):
he's now playing with the Chicago Bears.

Speaker 2 (51:54):
And then you have an MJ.

Speaker 1 (51:56):
Stewart that has been a backup for most of his
career seeing meaningful and it's fine because of your able
to masquerade the issue. But then he suffers an injury
and now you're paleling upstream with styrofoam pats or has
beens or who's its that do not belong on the
active playing field. So you need a safety, and I
don't know if you're gonna go big in the class,

(52:16):
especially when you look at the names that are available
in this draft cycle, Like the free agent class has
some safety talent. Kevin Bayard makes a lot of sense,
Jakwan Brisker from Chicago and make a lot of sense,
like these are guys that are going to get paid
by somebody.

Speaker 2 (52:31):
But you also look at like a.

Speaker 1 (52:32):
Caleb Downs from Ohio State, who's gonna be a top
ten pick and he probably is the second best overall
player in this year's draft. And then like Dylan Fielerman,
the Oregon safety, you had like a four to three
four like time yesterday. Kamari Ramsey from usc makes a
lot of sense. There's a bunch of other guys that
are like late additions to where they can compete alongside

(52:54):
with Jalen Reid for that spot.

Speaker 2 (52:56):
But I think that safety is a position that you
have to address.

Speaker 1 (52:59):
And number five is tight end, but a specific tight
end blocking. I gotta get somebody to run twall personnel
that's gonna be able to hold his body weight. I
just do you have too many dudes on this roster
right now, they're getting ragged all around like they're just
a piece of styrofoaming. You're just like, here go fetch.
It's like playing frisbee with your dog. Here go fetch.

(53:21):
But instead of playing for a plastic you know, plastic disc,
you're seeing a two thirty pound dude get shucked out
of the way.

Speaker 2 (53:28):
Like that's what's happening, guys. So you need a blocking
tight end.

Speaker 1 (53:32):
I don't know if it's as simple as just going
after Kingan Sadiq, the Oregon Kid, because let's just call
it as is. You run a four to thretey nine forty,
you talk yourself into being a top fifteen pick.

Speaker 2 (53:41):
But there are some good tight ends in this class.

Speaker 1 (53:43):
I don't think Eli Stower is the guy from Vanderbilt
makes sense because basically that's his Dalton Schultz on steroids.
And I mean that in the most positive way of steroids,
Like he's a souped up receiving threat, that's all he is.
You need a blocking tight end late round pick, somebody
that you know is gonna be able to hold his
body weight, make plays, be effective in the run game,

(54:04):
and take more pressure off of CJ. Stroud those are
five positions that you need to address in free agency
and in the draft, and I really say the draft
because of the other positions you should get in free agency.
You gotta go after offensive lineman, you gotta go after
defensive tackle. You gotta bring in a running back, you
gotta get some safety help, and you need a blocking
tight end. You know, you do those five things, you

(54:24):
are gonna be just fine. Seven one three, two, one
two five seven ninety Take a quick time out. Rockets
play today against the Miami Heat.

Speaker 2 (54:31):
One player.

Speaker 1 (54:32):
I am focusing in on because if I may have
to eat cro come Monday morning, to the chagrin.

Speaker 2 (54:37):
Of Dan Matthews, I don't want to do that.

Speaker 1 (54:39):
But we'll talk about that much much more coming up
on space, say Saturday, next right here on Sports Talk
seven ninety, I will give you one dollar right now, Frank,
if you can tell me another sign.

Speaker 2 (54:47):
By Kansas, You're gonna have to keep that dollar.

Speaker 1 (54:51):
Dustin the Win is the only other one I know,
all right, Kengy and Sadik is not gonna be a
Texan by the way, guys, by the way it is.

Speaker 2 (54:58):
It's Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 1 (54:59):
Cole Thompson, rock with you on a space, say Saturday,
right here, you can listen to the Astros game in
less than one hour. If you want to turn on
over two nine fifty you can hear the Cougars they
are currently taking on the Colorado Buffalo score.

Speaker 2 (55:14):
God, why is it so ugly?

Speaker 1 (55:15):
Eighteen to sixteen, thirteen minutes left in the first quarter,
I mean the first half Rockets play today against the
Miami Heat. You can listen to that on seven forty
k TRH and then at two point thirty you can
hear the lone Star showdown happening in college station between
Texas A and M and the University of Texas. Seven
one three two one two five seven ninety is the
number to get in on the guest line.

Speaker 2 (55:33):
Yeah, Kenyanzindika exactly a Texan.

Speaker 1 (55:35):
By the way, I don't know if you guys saw this,
but he ran a four to three nine forty yesterday.
So for those of you that want to know just
how talented of a player this guy is, he ran
a faster forty time than Odell Beckham junior.

Speaker 2 (55:47):
That guy went twalt overall.

Speaker 1 (55:49):
He ran a tasher ten yard split one five to
four than Deshaun Jackson, one of the guys who is
known as a human speed threat. He also had a
vertical jump of forty three point five that's over five
inches more than Julio Jones, one of the greatest fifty
to fifty ball catchers in the NFL.

Speaker 2 (56:08):
He went sixth overall.

Speaker 1 (56:09):
Oh and by the way, king In Zadik's eleven foot
one at broad jump is one inch more than Houston
Texan Hall of famer Andre Johnson, the number three overall pick.

Speaker 2 (56:20):
So anybody out there that's still saying we need to
go out and not in a tight end, E ain't
in him. He is not gonna be on too.

Speaker 1 (56:27):
Like do the magic Johnson mean, I'm not gonna be
here because he is not gonna be available at pick
number twenty eight and out of the I don't see
the Texans trading on up.

Speaker 2 (56:36):
Neither should you, because they never do.

Speaker 1 (56:38):
They only trade on back unless it's for a generational
There it is again that word an all pro caliber,
can't miss, top prospect defensive end of Will Anderson, who
probably should have been the pick of number two.

Speaker 2 (56:49):
All right now, I'm off of my rant with that reach.

Speaker 1 (56:51):
Shepherd is who I'm paying attest to today is the
Rockets take on the Miami Heat, you will not have
Jabari Smith Junior dealing with an ankle injury. He is
our He been rolled out for this game, expected back
no later than next week, could be back as soon
as the Wizard's game on Monday, but right now he
is not expected to play in this matchup. So Read
Shepherd and Tari Easton are going to have bigger roles.

(57:14):
I think you're also gonna see A'ma Thompson have a
big role. The reason why I say reach Shepherd potentially
starting because if you can move Tari back to his
natural position as a three, move a'm and Thompson over
to the number two, and at the very top, you
can have Reed Shepherd. So Dan Matthews and I continue
to argue in bicker like an old married couple about
what you should do with Reed Shepherd. I'm the proponent
that Read Shepherd is your best option coming off of

(57:36):
the bench. He plays thirty plus minutes and he kills
those thirty plus minutes, and he's been doing.

Speaker 2 (57:41):
That for really the last month. He has come into form.

Speaker 1 (57:45):
The twenty one year old since the month of February
started is averaging fourteen point seven points per game. He
is shooting thirty two percent from downtown I mean forty
two percent downtown, forty five point five percent for the field. Now,
since the All Star Break, he has been even better
seventeen point two points per game, fifty percent for the field,
forty eight point eight percent from downtown. The steals, the assists,

(58:07):
the blocks, they're all there. He is living up to
expectations and he's been averaging about twenty four man's faction.
It's gonna be really hard for me to continue to
go on the stands that he belongs off of the
bench as a six man rather than a starter over
Amen Thompson. If Thompson now gets to play his natural
position as a two, Reid has to be out of
position out of three and I meant out of one,

(58:29):
and he continues to look better, it's gonna be hard
to defend because of I think.

Speaker 2 (58:33):
That Jabari and to further notice, has to be in
your starting lineup. He's been too dang good. He's been
too consistent.

Speaker 1 (58:39):
I know he had thirteen points in a win over
the Orlando Magic. It was really the Reed Shepherd and
the KD Show. It feels like most sides is the
KD Show. But again, Jabbari's been killing it in a
month of February. We're closing out the month with him
averaging over sixteen points per game.

Speaker 2 (58:54):
That's what we're gonna do.

Speaker 1 (58:56):
That's a good number to have as a number three
a'm and Thompson, and it's not doing that.

Speaker 2 (59:00):
Amen.

Speaker 1 (59:01):
Thompson has actually taken a step back this month compared
to everybody else on the roster. Amen's averaging seventeen point
three points per game over the last I mean, over
the last fifty two games.

Speaker 2 (59:11):
In the month of.

Speaker 1 (59:12):
February, He's averaging twelve points. It's a season low for him.
His field goal percentage has slightly gone up, but not
by much. Also, he's only played in four games. His
three point percentage has immediately dropped, it's twenty percent. His
rebounds have gone down, his assists have gone down, his
blocks have gone down, his minutes still stay active. Now,

(59:35):
I personally believe what should be the plan moving forward
for the Rockets. If Reed is as hot as he
is on back to backs, Tarry Easton comes off of
the bench, Ahmen moves to the two, Reid goes to
the one. That'd be my plan, but Amend's also got
to show me today, where you don't have a fully
healthy Miami roster, you can take on the role of

(59:56):
where you are best suited as a two. And if
Reede continues to stay hot, he continues to be proactive,
he starts winning a pit, a lot of pick and rolls,
He's setting up some screens. He's being able to drive
and facilitate the way that you expect him to, even
though he's not a natural point guard. That probably means
you need him in the lineup more.

Speaker 2 (01:00:14):
This is my two cents.

Speaker 1 (01:00:15):
I think right now the best course of action is
seeing how he performs today. I'm watching Amen Thompson for
all the wrong reasons. I want to see him prove
that he can get back to the level of consistency
he was start of the season, the way he was
pre All Star Break. I'm looking at reed Shephard now

(01:00:36):
playing more minutes, now rotating him with the starting lineup,
now being a full time starter, or at least for today,
that it is going to become a problem. That's what
I'm looking at. And I could be wrong, and I
hope I am wrong. Actually I hope I'm right. Oh
damn Mathews is wrong because I like being right. It's
a lot of fun for me. Rockets are gonna win
a day, and they're gonna win by seven. I think,

(01:00:58):
Amen Thompson's a good enough game to where don't have
to have this argument, at least I hope not. And
I also know that Mike Burrows most passed a bunch
of pirate players in Rochester's first.

Speaker 2 (01:01:07):
Win is Nastro. But that does it for us here
on space a Saturday.

Speaker 1 (01:01:10):
Don't go anywhere twenty minutes away from Astros taking on pirates,
and I will talk to you all on Monday when
we see the Astros win and.

Speaker 2 (01:01:19):
The Rockets win.

Speaker 1 (01:01:20):
For Frankie Western Moreland, I'm Cole Thompson. Have a good
the rest of your weekend.

Speaker 2 (01:01:24):
Peace,