Look Out for Reed Sheppard This December!

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
And Away week go welcome on in his space City
Saturday right here on Sports Talk seven to ninety, Cole
Thompson barrock with you for the next two hours.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Seven one three two one two five, seven ninety is
the number for you to dial on in your Texans
they take on the Indianapolis Colts for more than just
bragging rights in the AFC South. Your Rockets they play tomorrow,
and I'll be the first to say the Reed Shepherds superlative.
The propaganda. Yeah, I'm driving that, I'm conducting that train.
And Texas, it's gonna make it interesting for the College

(00:35):
Football Playoff Committee to keep them on the outside when
it comes to the twelve team postseason pitchers. Seven one
three two one two five seven ninety. All right, let's
start there. Texas last night twenty seven to seventeen win
in the lone Star Showdown over Texas A and M.
And before we go any further, I just would like
to say from the standpoint of somebody that grew up
in the state, somebody who remembers these games being played

(00:58):
every year on Thanksgiving. The hostility, the ambiance, the atmosphere,
all of it combined last night was a perfect epitomy
of saying that the college football playoffs expanding to twelve
teams has not killed the rivalry. It hasn't in the slightest.
These two teams hate each other with pure disgust, disdain,

(01:19):
a relentless, burning passion that you can only ignite when
you have to hear that you're the little brother of
the state, and that you had to hear that you're
not going to go to the college football playoff. That
was on full display last night, and somehow someway even
with an eleven to zero perfect season, knowing that they
are inches away from immortality in the world of college football,

(01:41):
Texas still owns Texas A and M. That's just the
bottom line. It doesn't matter what the records are, it
doesn't matter.

Speaker 3 (01:47):
What's at stake.

Speaker 2 (01:49):
They just have a way of beating the crap out
of Texas A and M. Texas A and M came
into this game as one of the most dynamic rushing
units in college football. They were held to one hundred
and fifty sven yards last Texas, meanwhile, has not been
able to run the football efficiently throughout the entire year.
They struggled in the Mississippi State game they struggled against Oklahoma,
they struggled against Ohio State. They put up to eighteen

(02:12):
in an average six point two yards of play Quinn
Travion Wisner. Somehow, Someway just constantly finds a way to
own the Aggies, whether it be at Kyle Field at
dkr arch Maning looked legit fantastic performance from him, had
a couple of lulls, but still very good.

Speaker 3 (02:29):
It was clear to see this identity of.

Speaker 2 (02:31):
The team step on up and defensively, I gotta give
a lot of credit. Texas's defense this season has been
very underwhelming at times. In my opinion, the secondary has
been so hit or miss it doesn't matter if you
have elite players or underwelming player. Somehow, some way, Texas
secondary has not been able to get the job done.
So instead you think going into last night with Casey

(02:52):
Againscepcion and Mario Craver and Merlin Aston and Ashton betha
Roman and they thrown Terry buzz, see, there's enough weapons
here to say, yeah, they're gonna.

Speaker 3 (03:02):
Win this game out right.

Speaker 2 (03:04):
They had two interceptions, both inside of Texas territory to
guarantee that they got to win any signature win, and
then afterwards you heard Steve Sarkisian say it would be
a travesty for the world of the college football landscape
to keep this Texas team out, and so I got
to thinking there is some truth to that. So seven one,

(03:25):
I want you to call on in and explain, if
you are a Longhorn fan, what is your case to
go to the college football Playoff? Or if you're not
a long Horn fan, what is your case to keep
Texas out of the college football Playoff.

Speaker 3 (03:38):
I'm just going to tell you as it is.

Speaker 2 (03:40):
I have no correlation to either program, So it is
not coming from the site of an aggie, is not
coming from the side of a Longhorn. We do have
long Horns right here on Sports Talk seven ninety and
potentially you could listen to them and their playoff run
depending on what happens over the next few hours, if
they are to make the playoffs when we actually have
the first game unveiled.

Speaker 3 (03:58):
Whoever that may be against.

Speaker 2 (04:00):
So let's look at the pros for Texas to make
the college football Playoff. Number One, they have given the
committee a reason to at least consider them as a contender.
Doesn't mean that they will, but they've given the committee
a reason. You go wait in four year out of
the conversation all entirely. But you're nine to three and
you have three wins over top ten teams. One was Vanderbilt,

(04:20):
who very well still could finished with a ten and
two season. One was Oklahoma, who very well co finished
with a ten and two season, and one was Texas
A and M that will go eleven to one and
not make it to the SEC championship. You have wins
over your two biggest rivals, and in both of them
you demolish them, like what's this called space bade, guys.
The Oklahoma game was a travesty for Sooner Nation. It

(04:41):
was a triumphant rise to the spotlight for Texas. And
then last night he kicked the crab ab a team
that was eleven and l and they're you're in state
rival and they start to live with the little brother
syndrome like all those things. That's what we saw last night.
You have a loss to Ohio State, and I am
one who will say I commend you for scheduling out
of conference games against quality opponents, and I do not

(05:03):
think Texas should be punched for that. Whatsoever you are
given the schedule that is thrust in front of you,
and to lose by seven on the road to the
number one team in the country that has not missed
a beat and you probably gave them their toughest test.

Speaker 3 (05:16):
That speaks volume.

Speaker 2 (05:18):
You've also lost to Georgia, and Georgia right now has
clinched its spot in the SEC title game. They were
in Atlanta yesterday. They'll probably go back home to Athens.
They don't really have to because they're gonna be right
back there a week from today. So all this being said,
there is a reason to believe that Texas who has
found its rhythm. They're ending the year with back back
quality wins over Arkansas and over Texas A and M,

(05:41):
and they had the ninth of a schedule in college football.

Speaker 3 (05:43):
They belong in the race.

Speaker 2 (05:44):
And I'm also somebody that does think that no matter
what you say and how you look on the field,
a win is a win, and the committee will look
at that and they will always say, Yep, we're gonna
look at that first and nothing else. So you have
wins of Kentucky, you have wins over Mississippi State, wins
over Vanderbilt, Oklahoma, UTEP, Sam Houston, San Jose State and
Texas A and M in Arkansas.

Speaker 3 (06:04):
Pretty good schedule. Now let's look at the cons this.

Speaker 2 (06:07):
The College Football Playoff Committee is never looking for opportunities
to give teams a reason to get into.

Speaker 3 (06:12):
The College Football Playoff.

Speaker 2 (06:13):
They're looking for reasons to keep them out, and there
are plenty of reasons to keep Texas out.

Speaker 3 (06:18):
Number one, you have three losses.

Speaker 2 (06:20):
That means that right now we would take out teams
that are currently fighting for a ten to two season,
teams that could be playing next week in the conference championship,
and if they were to.

Speaker 3 (06:30):
Somehow lose one game, now we're.

Speaker 2 (06:32):
Gonna say, because Texas didn't do its job in the
first time, we're going to reward them because of well,
they have three ranked wins against top ten teams.

Speaker 3 (06:40):
So that's number one.

Speaker 2 (06:42):
You would be putting a nine to three team over
teams that are ten and two, and they look at
the record and say ten is prettier than nine, it's
one more than nine.

Speaker 3 (06:49):
Therefore they're better on paper.

Speaker 2 (06:50):
That's not the way the game is played, but that's
the way the world works in the College Football Playoffs
selection Committee's ize just playing simple. Number two, you had
two opportunities to win on the biggest stage your conference,
in your conference, not Ohio State.

Speaker 3 (07:03):
I'll get to the Ohio State part in a second.

Speaker 2 (07:06):
You ended up looking disastrous against Florida on the road.
And I'd also add in this is a three and
eight Florida team. That was their last signature moment in
college football this year. They had one more win since then.
It was against Mississippi State.

Speaker 3 (07:20):
That was it.

Speaker 2 (07:21):
They're currently on a five game losing streak and they
very well could be on a six game losing streak
if they lose an against Florida State. So just throwing
that out there so everyone's on the same page. You
were out gained by over one hundred and fifty yards
seventeen minutes.

Speaker 3 (07:34):
Was the difference in time of possession.

Speaker 2 (07:35):
You were out rushed by Jadeen Bow and you had
two careless turnovers inside the red zone. You had three
total turnovers in that game.

Speaker 3 (07:43):
So not a good performance.

Speaker 2 (07:44):
But you know what, you can live with that if
you played up to the standard against Georgia. Well, you
crapped the bed against Georgia, and in my opinion, that's
the nail on the coffin.

Speaker 3 (07:54):
You're on national television.

Speaker 2 (07:55):
Everyone looks at the score and they say, well, it
was fourteen ten going into the fourth quarter. Guys, make
up whatever nonsensical analogy you want. The game was over,
Georgia was in full control, and then they took their
foot on the gas pedal and they floored it all
the way until they got to one hundred and fifteen
thousand miles per hour, something that Georgia players know emphatically.
And lo and behold, they get twenty one un answered

(08:17):
points and you lose by twenty five. You were held
to one point one yards rushing the football, and on
top of that, you weren't able to get anything moving
through the year outside of one pass off to DeAndre Moore.

Speaker 3 (08:27):
That's it. So you out all of that together.

Speaker 2 (08:30):
You add everything together, a lass to Ohio State, a
bad loss to Florida, and a terrible loss on national
television where we're comparing you to Georgia as two teams
that we view could maybe be in the running for
the college football playoff, and it looks drastically different on
either side. Sorry, that's enough for me to say the

(08:51):
committee is going to look at you and go, Nope,
you're flawed, You're fled.

Speaker 3 (08:55):
Now that's own the other curve on all this.

Speaker 2 (08:58):
You had close calls against Kentucky and Mississippi State. Kentucky
is a game away from being Bowl eligible. But if
they lose today to Louisville, well, now you're saying that
you had to go toe to toe with the thirteenth
ranked team in the SEC and need an extra quarter
to get the job done. And then Missisippi State lost

(09:18):
yesterday to Ole Miss and the Egg Bowl, so now
they are not gonna be Bowl eligible. You nearly lost
them in need a fourth quarter surge to go ahead
and guarantee your spot in the conversation for the College
Football Playoff. Oh and on top of that, you still
need overtime in that matchup two. So you add all
these things together. Too close calls against bottom dwellers in
the I mean in the SEC, which, by the way,

(09:41):
in any other conference they would be considered probably a favorite.
That's the difference between the SEC and every other conference
out there. Even the bad teams like Florida, like Mississippi State,
like Kentucky, they are good enough to beat you if
you do not have your first punch. That's just the
bottom line of the nature no questions asked. So you
have that again, three bat losses, and on top of

(10:03):
all of that, there are other teams who are ranked
ahead of you. The committee told you, guys on Monday
or Tuesday that you were going to be on the
outside looking in more than likely.

Speaker 3 (10:13):
And if you don't believe me, well look at what happened.

Speaker 2 (10:16):
Michigan, who currently is playing against Ohio State right now
to guarantee a ten win season, is ranked ahead of you.
There is no reason for them to jump Texas other
than the fact that they believe that right now, Texas
has the worst opportunity to get its way on in
and if they keep them at number sixteen, there would
have to be so much chaos in the world of
college football in rivalry weekend, which absolutely can happen to

(10:39):
guarantee that they're even in the conversation again, the conversation.

Speaker 3 (10:43):
That's it.

Speaker 2 (10:45):
So Texas this year can have a lot of things
to be proud of. Number One, you beat both your rivals,
You kick the crap out of both of them. You
looked awesome in those games. Number Two, arch mating is
as advertised. Finally, from what we have expected since the
start of the season, the way that he has performed
really in the last month and a half is the
version that I think that most people attended to see

(11:06):
of Arch going into Week one, and that will be
the version you see next season when he comes back
and plays in Austin for an opportunity to win the
Heisman Trophy and lead his team to the College Football Playoff.
You also are going to have an opportunity to finish
with ten wins in the bowl game. So another massive
victory in favor of Texas, another ten wins season underneath
Steve Sarkisian Number four. Texas is still Texas. They have

(11:28):
all the money in the world that you can ask for.
They are a primetime destination when it comes to transfer portal,
and people love to go play for that burnt orange logo.
So it's going to be no problem whatsoever trying to
find recruits, trying to find players that believe that the best.

Speaker 3 (11:44):
Fit for them is Texas.

Speaker 2 (11:46):
And also the transfer portal is going to be bounceful
for them, and they don't have to wait until after
the College Football Playoff to get some names that I
can tell you they were in on last season, but
they couldn't have conversations with them because their focus was
too much on winning the College Football National Championship. So
all those things added, Texas is in such a good spot.
The reality, though, is that you can't have bad performances

(12:07):
against SEC teams, horrendous performances on the national spotlight, and
then complain that you're being penalized for scheduling a game
against Ohio State. I will make this abundantly clear to
everybody who wants to chime on in and seven one three,
two point two, five seven ninety if you would like
to argue back, Texas scheduling Ohio State is the reason
why right now we are considering them in the college

(12:28):
Football playoff conversation.

Speaker 3 (12:30):
That's the reason. It's not because that.

Speaker 2 (12:32):
They have three ranked wins against top ten teams. It's
not because of they play in the SEC. It's not
because that.

Speaker 3 (12:37):
Burnt orange logo.

Speaker 2 (12:39):
It's because of they were willing to schedule a tougher
non conference game, and because of that, we're rewarding the
conversation to be alive that if there was a three
loss team to get on in, it would be the
Texas Longhorns. Especially after last night's performance on the flip side.
You can't show up and look dreadful against the three
and eight Florida team, and you can't crap the bed
in the fourth quarter against the Georgia roster. At some

(13:00):
point this year has shown its limitations. These are just facs,
lads and gentlemen. Whether or not you want to believe it,
that's on you. Go ahead and argue with me if
you believe Texas belongs in the College Football Playoff, or
better yet, if you're a Texas A and m Aggie,
argue with me that right now, Texas A and m
has not lost a little bit of discuss. So seven
one three, two one two five seven ninety take a
quick time out.

Speaker 3 (13:20):
When we come back, let's talk Texans.

Speaker 2 (13:23):
Now, I initially had a theory on who was facing
more pressure going into Sunday's game for the AFC title.

Speaker 3 (13:32):
Now I think it's changed a little bit.

Speaker 2 (13:33):
I'll explain why I'm leaning with the Texans being more
under scrutiny when we come back right here on Space
Day Saturday, Sports Talk seven ninety on four head well
Space City Saturday.

Speaker 3 (13:49):
Rolling right along here.

Speaker 2 (13:50):
On Sports Talk seven ninety is col Thompson period it
with you until one o'clock and then we go listen
to LSU versus Oklahoma out on the Palace on the
Prairie seven one thirty two one two five seven nine.

Speaker 3 (14:03):
If you want to chime on in, Longhorns.

Speaker 2 (14:05):
Make it interesting for the playoff committee with the win
over Texas A and M the Rockets headlined by the
Reed Shepherd propaganda and I am conducting that play against
the Utah Jazz tomorrow night and the Texans take on
the Colts for an opportunity to gain ground in the
AFC South seven one three two one two five seven ninety.
So if you listen to the Morning Drive earlier this week, which,

(14:27):
by the way, thank you all for making us your
number one listen every single morning right here on Sports
Talk seven ninety New show with Me and Dan Matthews.
You heard Dan and I arguing who is facing more
pressure going in to Saturday Sunday's game.

Speaker 3 (14:40):
Is it the Colts or is it the Texans?

Speaker 2 (14:43):
Now, Dan said it was the Colts, and I politely
agreed with him because there is a standpoint of you
come back down to reality, you end up having a
really hot start and then you kind of plateau, and
when you plateau, early on in the season, like how
we saw a few years ago. It happen with the
Pittsburgh Steelers in twenty twenty. They went eleven and zero,

(15:04):
got really really hot, and then they lost like four
of their last six games. They ended up losing the division,
and they lost the first round of the playoffs. It
shows that some teams aren't really built to go on
major runs, and right now that kind of feels like
it's the case when it comes to Indianapolis. Really hot
to start with the quarterback Daniel Jones revitalizing his career,

(15:26):
good offensive line, running back that probably should be in
the conversation for the MVP. Good defense, great and even
to my opinion, and then you lose a couple of
games to quality but still under roaming opponents. So I
think there is a lot of pressure on the Colts
to win this weekend to just guarantee that they remain

(15:46):
in the conversation as a favorite for the AFC South
and really AFC title.

Speaker 3 (15:53):
But I'm flipping the script over to the Texans.

Speaker 2 (15:55):
I think the Texans face far more pressure, and the
reason why is because of what happened on Thursday night.
Anybody tell me Frankie can you tell me seven one, three, two, two, five,
seven ninety I've been want to tell me Kansaity Chiefs
lost to the Dallas Cowboys. The Kancity Chiefs right now
are one game below five hundred. If I'm not mistaken.

(16:16):
Let me just make sure they double check on that one.
That why I'm not wrong by bad they're at five hundred,
they're six and six. You play next week against the Texans.
You are now six and seven. Now you're out of
the Rice. And now there's no marching for error because
the ten and seventeen in the AFC West, where Denver
is nine to two and Los Angeles very well could

(16:38):
be eight and four by the end of the week,
there's no room for you to gain ground on them
to win the division title. So that means that you're
gonna be a wild card team. That'd be a first
of Patrick Mahomes. It would be a first time that
you wouldn't be favored as the front runner to win
the division or win the AFC Crown. You probably would
not have a clear pathway to make it to the

(16:59):
AFC title game again, another first or Patrick Mahomes and company,
And it would show that there are necessary changes that
need to be made to the organization if you plan
on being right back in the contention category next season,
So all those things can happen. If the Texans are
able to win today, win tomorrow, and then win next
week in Arrowhead on Sunday Night football. If all that occurs,

(17:22):
then the Texans feel like that they would have the headhead.

Speaker 3 (17:24):
And that's what it all comes back to with the Texans.

Speaker 2 (17:27):
If they lose tomorrow, they now enter a winner take
all showdown for the seventh seed against Kansas City, because again,
both these teams could finish ten and seven. You look
at Houston's record and who they face off against next.
Let's say it they lose to Indianapolis this weekend, they
go to six and six. Then they face off against
Kansas City. Let's say they win that one. Now they're
seven and six, eight and six over the Arizona Cardinals,

(17:50):
nine and six over the Las Vegas Raiders, ten and
six over the Los Angeles Chargers, and then you lose
to Indianapolis. Or you can switch it and say you
lose to the Chargers and then beat indian so ten
to seven. Now look at Kansas City's resume and their
chance to go to the playoff, and what their record says.
They face off against Texans, they'd be six and seven.

(18:10):
You face off against the Chargers. Let's say you win
that one. Now you're seven and seven. The Titans seven
and eight, I mean eight and seven the Broncos. Let's
say you win that one at home, nine and seven,
Raiders ten and seven. Close out the year on a
high note. Four straight wins to Capitol Off. Well, now
that head to head is so important because of the
winner of that game. If there's only one playoff spot,

(18:31):
we'll get on ind because if they won against a
common opponent, that's it. The Colts can lose tomorrow and
then they can lose to Jacksonville and they would move
to They moved to eight and five. But if they
went on a winning spree to close things on out,
they'd still finished twelve and five, So they still would
win the division title, they still would be hosting a
playoff game. They still would feel like they're in the

(18:53):
driver's seat for their pathway toward the AFC Championship. So
all these things that you look for for the Colts
are are very much still in play. Even if they
were to lose the division. It feels like that's sitting
currently at eight and three. They can afford a loss
and still end up winning either the title or earning
a playoff pin Texans don't have that right now, and

(19:14):
neither does Kansas City. So because Kansas City lost, now,
it feels like this is a must win for Houston
because you want to have as much ground as possible
over a common opponent that would be over Kansas City.
And Kansas City also was able to come back in
the fourth quarter against the same Indianapolis Colts team and
get a win in overtime.

Speaker 3 (19:35):
So you need this one.

Speaker 2 (19:36):
If you're Houston, you also need this one of your
CJ strout. Let's just call it as is, guys. The
offense has been serviceable, But serviceable is not going to
win you.

Speaker 3 (19:45):
A Super Bowl title. It just isn't.

Speaker 2 (19:47):
Davis Mills did his drout three and zero as a starter,
looked the part, didn't put the ball in a harm's
way that often outside of one really about a interception
against Jacksonville. Was able to handle the pressure of playing
the role of QB one. There is a ceiling that
you have when you play with a guy in Davis

(20:08):
Mills there may not be a ceiling when it comes
to a guy in CJ shroud. There is more opportunities,
there is more upside, There is more highlights to be
able to be had with seven under center, and this
offensive line is now starting to turn the corner. It
actually looks promising. I won't say it looks great, but

(20:28):
I will say promising is a pretty good word. There's
enough to believe that if the offensive line is holding
the way that it is, and then you throw in
what you're seeing from the wide receivers and the growth
of guys like Jayden Higgins and Jaylen Nole, and then
trusting what you got with Dalton Schultz, and then trusting
which got with Christian Kirk, and then Nico Collins is
a surefire, go ahead, take it downfield, make a play
type of guy. You out all that together, there is

(20:51):
an opportunity for you to believe that this offense is
hitting its stride at the right time. And if it
does that well, then it should be able to go
toe to toe with anybody in the NFL, and it's
defense should be able to build them out of trouble.

Speaker 3 (21:03):
Again. It's the number one scoring defense in the NFL.

Speaker 2 (21:05):
It's the number one in total yards, it's top five
against the run, it's top five against the pass, and
it's top five and third down conversions.

Speaker 3 (21:11):
All little things that you want to see.

Speaker 2 (21:12):
Defense getting better and the getting back one of the
better run defenders in Jalen Peetrie going up against an
all pro and Jonathan Taylor. It's like all those things
are happening. The Texans face more pressure because of it.
You already have seen what's worked without CJ.

Speaker 3 (21:26):
Stroud? What will work with CJ. Stroud?

Speaker 2 (21:29):
What will be the things that separate Stroud and company
from everyone else?

Speaker 3 (21:33):
That is critical? I'm telling you this right now.

Speaker 2 (21:36):
It is something that you're going to see people scrutinize
and pay attention to beyond belief. And they have to
do that for a main reason, bottom line. Bottom line.
You gotta feel like that you get you have a
better chance of winning with seven than what you do
with ten. And so I think their faces a lot
of pressure. Colts know what they got in quarterback, Staniel Jones,

(21:56):
nobody else. So it's kind of like, hey, it's crap movie.
It's a very crappy movie, like Frankie, you know what,
movie like you've seen like a very crappy movie right before.

Speaker 3 (22:06):
Like sitting in the theater.

Speaker 2 (22:07):
All right, you already paid the price, right, Like you
already paid for the movie, right?

Speaker 3 (22:12):
Uh huh? Are you leaving the movie at that point?
Probably not.

Speaker 2 (22:15):
No, You're just gonna be sitting in there for two
hours watching a piece of crap like that's what it is.
That's kind of what you got with Indianapolis right now.
They're sitting inside of whatever theater they want across the country,
and that's their quarterback.

Speaker 3 (22:27):
They's got to accept it.

Speaker 2 (22:28):
The Texans could actually have a really good masterpiece movie
with what they were bringing back offensively, with what they
have now returning with CJ. Stroud, the way the offensive
line has looked, and how dominant the defense has been
as of late, that's a lot of pressure to live
up to. I think they can. I very much think
that they can. I think they will win tomorrow.

Speaker 3 (22:46):
I'll tell you right now.

Speaker 2 (22:47):
I do believe that the Texans will win tomorrow. But
now comes a lot more under scrutiny for what you
have with this Texans organization. Because if you have to
believe that something is trending upward to see growth, that
you can win against Kansas City, because that game may
end up deciding who ends up going to the playoff
or not. Seven one three, two, one two five, seven

(23:08):
ninety take quick time out.

Speaker 3 (23:09):
When we come back, let's talk about the Astros.

Speaker 2 (23:12):
There's something that needs to be done this offseason, and
it's because of two moves that were made earlier this week,
one of which the Astros were rumored to be in on.
Now where do you turn? With the Blue Jays landing
potentially your ace. We'll discuss that on Space Day Saturday
right here on Sports Talk seven ninety. Next Space A Saturday,

(23:36):
rolling right along here on Sports Talk seven ninety Cole
Thompson rocking with you until one o'clock, and then we
listened to LSU first of Oklahoma right here on kbm
ME seven one three two one two five seven ninety.
Rockets they take on the Jazz Tomorrow headline by Lurie Shepherd. Propaganda.

Speaker 3 (23:56):
Texans.

Speaker 2 (23:56):
They take on the Indianapolis Colts and Texas Longhorns. Well,
they're making it interesting for the College Football Playoff Committee
and their decision on who goes to the postseason. Seven
one two five, seven to ninety. Let's talk a little
Astros Baseball. This is a major move that kind of
shook up the entire American league earlier this week, and

(24:19):
it was right before Thanksgiving. So of course, when everyone
is trying to go on out have a good time,
you say, okay, Jeff Passing, let's stop a bomb real fast.
So Dylan Cees, arguably the best starting pitcher on the market,
has agreed to terms on a seven year, two hundred
and ten million dollar deal with the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto at their rotation. Basically, this is now saying that

(24:40):
he will get paid thirty million dollars annually to be
what they believe is probably the ace of the staff,
headlined by other guys like Kevin Gosman, Shane Bieber, Trey
Ya Savage, Jose Barrios, and now Dylan Sees out on
into the fold really really really solid rotation.

Speaker 3 (24:56):
Now, from an astro standpoint, let's start there.

Speaker 2 (24:58):
From a nasal standpoint, I could letely fine with this move.
I did not want Dylan Seas I had been adamant
from the get go, Even with the recent hiring of
Eric kratz Is now as part of the catching department,
I very much was content with not seeing Dylan Sees
become a part of the Houston Astros alignment. I don't
think number one, he is worth thirty million dollars a year.

(25:19):
Number two, and probably the more important thing, if you
were paying him thirty million dollars a year, you're basically
letting it be known to Scott Boris and his client's
I e. A. Hunter Brown, that that needs to be
the going rate if you want to stick around in
this city. And I would much rather have a younger,
more polished flamethrowing picture that I can trust they can
get me seven strong quality endings a night than the

(25:40):
guy who I know is going to give up four
runs in the first three frames and then give me
six innings at most. So I'm totally okay with that standpoint.
The Astros still need to make a move when it
comes to the rotation. They have to be able to
add somebody in some capacity, whether it be to that
number two spot or to that number five spot, or
better yet, to both spots if they want to get
Pete for an American League Division title.

Speaker 3 (26:02):
Just bottom line, that has to be it.

Speaker 2 (26:05):
Because now you look at the East, the American League
East has some of the best pitching that we will
see in baseball this year. And it's not just Toronto.
Toronto has an elite rotation. Let's just start there, guys,
Trey Savage and the performance that he put on in
the playoffs was phenomenal and it's a reason why when

(26:25):
you look at this team, you say, Okay, I can
see I can see a scenario where if they bring
back Boba Schet and maybe they upgrade one other position
and Anthony Santan Darstay is healthy, they're gonna make a
run of the playoff once again and they could be
the favorites to win the American League. Then you go
to New York and we hate the Yankees, and the
Yankees so long as Brian Cashman lives and breaths and

(26:46):
has any say on what that organization does, they're never
going to make it to the to make it of
the World Series.

Speaker 3 (26:52):
They aren't.

Speaker 2 (26:53):
And they also have to beat the Houston Astros to
guarantee their spot in because I truly do believe if
you ever want to win a title, you have to
beat up on your me on your biggest rival. Clearly,
in the eyes of the people in the Bronx, the
biggest rival for the Yankees is the Astros because they
can't stop talking about them for how much we own them.
But they have a damn good rotation. Garrett Cole will
be coming back from Tommy John surgery. Louis Heel is fantastic,

(27:16):
he was Rookie of the Year a few years ago.
They also have Max Freed, who again probably is the
number one pitcher. Wouldn't say he is an ace, but
you could have him be the top of your rotation.
Feel pretty good. They can throw on Carlos Rodon and
you got a bunch of young guys that also are
a part of this rotation that probably are going to
benefit by having the opportunity to be that number five guy.

Speaker 3 (27:34):
So two great rotations.

Speaker 2 (27:36):
Then we throw in the Boston Red Sox, and I
don't think enough people are paying attention to Boston. They
just traded for Sonny Gray. They give up two minor
league prospects. They switched his deal on over to a
one year, forty one million dollar contract with an opt
in for twenty twenty seven. So when you look at
it that way, it actually ends up really being a
good deal for the Astros to pass on. Because I
want I would not want to be paying forty one

(27:57):
million dollars to Sonny Gray. But for Sonny Gray now
the Red Sox have one of the best rotations with
Garret Cruschet Sonny Gray is now they're two Brian Bellow,
Connor Lay Early Hunter Dobbins. Oh, and that doesn't even
include some guys that they have in the miners that
may be called on up or they could easily add
in another guy, whether that be a zach Eflin or

(28:17):
would that be a Luis Lukashi Alito back in a
one year deal to better their rotation. So the Ale
East automatically has a leak pitching top to bottom in
a rotation. You now have to match that. If you
are the Astros now, I don't know how you do.
So do you overspend on a guy in free agency?
Is as simple as going after two veterans on one

(28:38):
year proven contracts.

Speaker 3 (28:39):
What is it? There's three scenarios that I could see here.

Speaker 2 (28:42):
Number one, the Astros make two signs this offseason. The
first is easy, it's justin Verlander. You bring them on back.
You hope that he can go ahead and reignite some
of that version of himself that we saw in twenty
twenty two before he left and really kind of hone
on in on him still being a quality number two,
number three option of your rotation and that what we
saw to close out twenty twenty five is more of

(29:04):
what we're going to get in twenty twenty six.

Speaker 3 (29:06):
Then you can bring in zach Eflin.

Speaker 2 (29:08):
And if you've listened to me at any point here
on sports Soox seven to ninety, you know how much
I want Zach Eflin on the Astros. This is priority
number one in my opinion of pitchers to go after.
I think he is at best a number three on
your rotation at warse'son number five and a damn good
number five, good fastball, good change up, really good three
pitch Arsenal. He had a slow start to close at

(29:30):
I mean he had a slow start to last season,
dealt with some injuries. He's probably gonna be wanting a
one year contract. That would be my stance on it.
Wants a one year deal to come in, reignite his
value in the open market, and probably get paid next offseason.
The good news is a team like the Astros, who
have so many injuries right now, to guys like Hayden Wiznski,

(29:51):
Runel Blanco. You now have Luis Garcia back on the
aisle countless others. You probably need to go after a
dude who you think it can be here for one season,
and if not, maybe at most too.

Speaker 3 (30:03):
So that's the first move that you can make.

Speaker 2 (30:04):
The second one is you still sign one of them
and then you trade for another name. Joe Ryan's an option,
Sandy Alcantra is an option. I think Pablo Lopez should
be an option, all of which are very team friendly
deals when you look at what the market is going
to go for for certain other players. When you add
that in, that's another reason to why you say, if
we want to swing, we go get ourselves a veteran

(30:27):
pitcher to put right in front of Christian Hoveyer. But
we aren't breaking the bank when it comes to major
free agent moves. We're still signing a free agent. Maybe
it is Justin Berlander, maybe it is Zach Eflin. But
then we're going out and we're picking up a contract
to where we think it's in our price range and
it elevates our pitching rotation. The third thing is you
make two big traits. Now this is where you're gonna

(30:48):
have to give up some pieces. I don't know if
that includes a Yanu Diaz. I don't know if that
includes a Christian Walker. I don't know if you're hearing
about Esik Peretis, if he's actually on the move. I
personally don't think that that's even a conversation starter. Like
if I'm Dana Brown, here'd be the conversation.

Speaker 3 (31:02):
Boooooo, hello, oh yeah, you.

Speaker 2 (31:05):
Want Eastip Parretes, click done deal. That would be how
I would handle that situation. But I'm not Dana Brown,
so I'm not gonna go ahead and criticize what he
decides to do. But you're probably gonna have to give
up some type of compensation to land two big names.
I think the two big names that you target would
be Sandial Contra and Pablo Lopez.

Speaker 3 (31:23):
Those would be you might too.

Speaker 2 (31:24):
I think Joe Ryan, you know there is a ceiling
with him and he will not sign long term here.
I think Pablo Lopez having him for two years pretty
good avenue to believe that there are things that you
can buy into where he is only going to get
better coming off of a very injury injury injury ridden season.

Speaker 3 (31:41):
He'll be able to figure it out.

Speaker 2 (31:43):
You add all that that to me screams two moves
at the ASTs have to make. I think that both
could be made. And if you do, you gotta feel
pretty good about where your rotation is. With the one
through five. You got to feel pretty good about where
your bullpen is because you've got a lot of names
that are fighting right now for that number five spot
that are gonna be long term relievers at that standpoint.
And then the other thing that you got to look

(32:03):
at is you still have a pretty good overall ROTA,
overall bench and infield, and I guess I'll feel it
at this point on field play. So I think that
those are the things you have to look at. And
after what we saw on Wednesday with Kevin, I mean,
with a my apologies, Dylan Cee is getting moved over

(32:25):
to Toronto, I think at this point you better be
making some traits. The pitching staff has got to be
able to get better by adding in some proven names,
because right now, if you're looking at the Astros rotation
and you're looking at Toronto's rotation in a seven game stretch,
I think Toronto beat has you beat by multiple games.

(32:47):
You look at New York versus the Astros, and their rotation.
I think the Yankees on paper.

Speaker 3 (32:52):
Got you beat.

Speaker 2 (32:53):
You look at the Red Sox and their rotation. I
think the Red Sox have you beat. It's closer with
that one, but I still think the Red Sox have you beat.
So you gotta make some trades. You gotta make some moves.
Somebody's got to come on in here and be able
to deliver. I don't know who that is. I guarantee
you that there are certainly names that are being flowed
around for the Astros after seeing what happened with Dylan.
SE's where they are trying to guarantee that they fix

(33:15):
up their rotation before December comes to a close. Seven
one three two one two five seven ninety. Who would
you like to see the Astros trade for ahead of
the month of December. We only got three more days,
So who would you like to see seven one three
two one two five seven ninety Take quick time out.
Let's talk a little bit more about the Astros. There's
a name that needs to be brought up more in

(33:35):
conversation regarding trades. I'll tell you who that is when
we come back right here on Sports Talk seven ninety
space a Saturday Rolling right along here on Sports Talk
seven ninety Cole Thompson rock but You's seven one three
two one two five seven ninety. Texas makes the College
Football Playoff Committee have a second look at their resume.

Speaker 3 (33:57):
After a win over Texas A and M. You're Rockets.

Speaker 2 (34:00):
They take the court tomorrow night back back headers against
Utah where the Reed Shephard propaganda is alive and well,
and your Texans take on the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas
Oil Stadium noon kick tomorrow. Iron Eagle and JJ Watt
on the call. Seven one three two one two five
seven ninety. Okay, So, conversations have been going on about

(34:20):
where the Astros go when it comes to trades this offseason.
There are several that must be made, and I think
the partially they need to bring in a picture. I
think the other name they have to bring in is
some type of infielder. I don't believe that you can
play Azeo tou A at second base anymore. Now. I
understand there are some issues when it comes to him
defensively in the outfield, and that is probably a non

(34:40):
negotiable in its own right. I completely get that, but
at the same time, it's very hard for me to
look at how poorly.

Speaker 3 (34:47):
At times we've seen.

Speaker 2 (34:51):
Toes out to a play at second base defensively in
critical games because the ground balls issues and still come
up short. So I feel like that you have to
be able to go out and make a trade for
a long term second baseman, or you have to decide, hey,
we're gonna go out, we're gonna go bring in, we're
gonna move Zach Parades a second or Jeremy pang At
a second and the callers create a third, and then
Eesach Parade is a third. I mean to shorten the

(35:12):
Eesach Pree.

Speaker 3 (35:13):
Is a third. Whatever it is.

Speaker 2 (35:14):
Those are things that can be happening. But regardless, I
think that the days of having hoseal to but play
consistently at second base are over. I think that they're very,
very far over at this point. So where do the
Astros go next. One name that constantly is being brought
up is Brendan Donovan, and I understand. You trade away
Morgicio du Bond to Atlanta. You open up some salary
caut space. It feels like that feels like a smart
move to a team that is trying to have a

(35:36):
soft rebuild. You go ahead and bring in a quality,
do it all middle infielder that can play multiple positions
and have incredible success. I feel that completely. I don't
think that you're gonna have the trade pieces to go
after a guy like Brendan Donovan. I just don't think
that's gonna happen, mostly because it does feel like they

(35:57):
want prospects over proven talent. The prospect what the Astros have,
you probably have the package in a deal with proven talent.
So therefore, you not only hurt your team when it
comes to you not only hurt your team when it
comes to building for the long haul, but you also
hurt your team when it comes to building in the
farm system. So that probably takes you out of the
Brendan Donovan sweepstakes. Hopefully he doesn't go to Seattle or

(36:19):
in New York or Boston or any team that's competing
in the American League. Send him to the NL and
hopefully he'll have success stay over there. Brandon Law is
the name that I think that now you have to
pivot to. Thirty one years old, left handed bat, good
second baseman, solid defensively, good power, good ops, good on
base percentage, has a very low swing and misrate. Good

(36:42):
against left handers, great against right handers. Last season, he
had a two eighty batting average against against righty's, three
twenty five OPB, five to thirty eight slugging percentage, and
seven to thirty five ops really, really really solid numbers
all the way around. So this is a guy that
will be able to fill the hole at second base permanently.

Speaker 3 (37:02):
He's gonna bring power to the lineup.

Speaker 2 (37:04):
And you can probably put him anywhere on the field,
I mean in the batting order, and you feel pretty confident.
Let's say you want Jeremy Panning at number one, at
number two, you want estok Pared's number three. You want
to go ahead and have yard On Alvarez, four, Carlos Korea.
Five is where you put Brandon Lowell. Pretty good starting
five right there. Gotta feel pretty confident where you are.
Let's say Jose al too Vego's the five spot, Christian

(37:25):
Walker in the six spot, Brandon Lowe with the seven.
Brandon low at this point is the best number seven
hitter in baseball. He'll get you on base, so Hitbroy
Varson scoring position. He'll add volume when it comes to
extra base hits. He does a lot of the things
at a high end level. Now here's the other part
that I will say is really beneficial. When it comes
to this type of trade, a team like the Tampa

(37:45):
Bay Rays constantly, constantly are looking for prospects that they
can develop and turn into the next big name that
can be on the move three or four years down
the line. That's always been what Tampa Bay wants. They're
not usually in it for top tier market players. They're
not usually in it for names that are superstar prospects.

(38:06):
They're usually looking for the diamond dwellers, the diamonds in
the rough, the bottom of the heat barrel that they
believe that they can turn around and bring in even
better prospects to continue with their farm system and their
development of talent the Astros have at That's an area
to where it ends up being a benefit for the Astros.
You look at some of the names that currently are
in the miners that you feel like could be growing

(38:26):
walker Yannixon on the table. I don't think Zach Cole's
on the table. I don't think Jacob Meltain's.

Speaker 3 (38:30):
On the table.

Speaker 2 (38:31):
But because it like your ninth or tenth prospect, and
maybe you package them with like your fourteenth prospect and
a relief pitcher, whoever that may be. Now you have
a pretty good balance and a pretty good understanding of
this rotation. I mean about them coming together with a
deal that makes you feel pretty confident that they would bite.

(38:52):
And then you got to take on Brandon Laws contract,
which I'm personally okay with. I think it's very team friendly.
When you look at the numbers and you're rewarded with
a good contact, power hitting left handed bat, that is
going to add in more volume, more played appearances, and
more consistency. When it comes to the second base position,

(39:14):
another question is what do you do with Hoseel Tuba
and what do you do.

Speaker 3 (39:16):
With your on Alvarez.

Speaker 2 (39:18):
Probably you have to play a platoon at sometimes now
Brandon Lao if you want to. You can probably also
move him around if you want him to play third
base one day, maybe in left field one day that
as a hitter one day. Hoseel Tube could fill in
at that spot, or you can have hoseal to Bay
play left field. Then you go look at your on
Avaus he plays DH. Then you look at what you
have right now with Brandon Loo he plays second. Then

(39:39):
there are days where Esak Perees plays DH, Jose al
two A is off, you're on Avaz in left field,
Brandon Llow at second, and then there are days where
Brandon Lao is out, Hoseeo two AA at second Iszi
parees a DH, you're on a Navaz in left field
or Orchestra Walker at eh, and then of course you
throw Esac Preez at first base. Regardless, there's opportunities all
around for a team like Hue, I mean, like the

(40:00):
Astros to go make this move and feel like that
they're only getting better at the plate and there's more
consistency when it comes to their overall roster. Put it
all together, it feels pretty promising that you can look
at a team like the Astros and see a scenario
where they would have the compensation to go out and

(40:21):
bring in a name like a Brandon Law. Not give
up too much on the farm system, give up nothing
in terms of the actual active roster and the twenty
six man crew, and be right back in the conversation
to go make another trade for a proven player on
the mound and better your rotation. You kill two birds

(40:42):
of one stone. I would love to see Brandon Donovan
come to Houston. Personally, that would be the top move
of the entire offseason for me, and I would call
out a win.

Speaker 3 (40:50):
I don't think that that's going to.

Speaker 2 (40:51):
Happen because I think that when you look at Saint Louis,
they're looking for more. They want prospects, they want good prospects,
they want to build around their young COREB names, and
they probably I want some pitching. I don't know if
you have all of that that you're willing to give
on up and then realize that Brendan Donovan's contract is
still a little bit heavy. Brandon Low, I feel like,
is the name that you got to pivot to. And

(41:11):
it's not a downgrade whatsoever. In fact, in my opinion,
you get a left handed bath that has just the
same amount of power. The only difference is that with
one team you're playing guaranteed to have them be what's
the right word, Uh, You're playing one team that right
now is only going to be at second base, where
Brendan Donovan can play multiple positions. I mean, that's is

(41:32):
Kyle of the case like, that's really gonna be the trade.

Speaker 3 (41:34):
Off for you? I understand it.

Speaker 2 (41:36):
It stinks, but what are you guys saying seven one
thirty two two five seven ninety who would you rather
have Brandon law or Brendan Donovan take quick time out
when we come back. One hour down, one hour left, Texas, Texas.

Speaker 3 (41:47):
A and M.

Speaker 2 (41:48):
They delivered a game to remember on Saturday, I mean
on Friday night. So how does that change both narratives
for either side of the race to first place and
a college football playoff? Or we'll discuss that and much
much more one final hour lout here on Space City Saturday,
Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 3 (42:06):
Seven nineties Cole Thompson.

Speaker 2 (42:09):
One hour down, one to go right here on Space
City Saturday with Cole Thompson, rocket with you into one
o'clock before LSU takes on Oklahoma right here on Sports
Talk seven ninety seven one three two one.

Speaker 3 (42:22):
Two thive seven nine. If you want chime on in, whether.

Speaker 2 (42:24):
It be your Cougars who are closing out the regular
season against Baylor in Waco right now, whether it be
your astros, who is a movie that you would like
to see them trade for this offseason, or maybe it
is on your Texans take on the Indianapolis Colts this
weekend out at Lucas Oil Stadium. With the win, they're
a game closer to guaranteeing their spot as a favorite

(42:48):
in the AFC West seven one thirty two one two
five seven ninety.

Speaker 3 (42:51):
Let's talk a low college football.

Speaker 2 (42:52):
Last night, lone Star Showdown took place in Austin, and
by oh bye, my, oh my, once again Texas. They
may have the worst record, but they owned little brother
Texas A and M. Wasn't even a close game, was
never in jeopardy in the second half. After Texas A
and M got on the board and led by three
going in halftime, it went right in favor of the Longhorns.
They outgained Texas A and M won sixty eight to

(43:16):
thirty five. In the third quarter, I think they out
gained them two thirty two to sixty eight. Overall, just
so many things went in their favorite. They ran the
ball more efficiently. Arch Manning was more efficient when it
came to his third done conversions wide receivers weren't dropping balls. Defensively,
they were able to get after Marcel reed, they forced
two interceptions and now the Longhorns sit at nine to three,
and as Steve Sarkushan walked off the field while speaking

(43:38):
to Molly McGrath.

Speaker 3 (43:39):
You heard him say it would be a shame, it
would be a shame.

Speaker 2 (43:44):
A travesty for the world of college football not to
have Texas in the.

Speaker 3 (43:49):
College Football Playoff.

Speaker 2 (43:51):
So now comes the question, where does the College Football
Playoff Committee decide to put Texas in all of this shenanigans. Well,
it's very easy right now for two things. Number One,
if there is no chaos, let's just say it's a
whole hum Saturday, nothing happens, just a normal, normal afternoon.

(44:13):
Well in Texas is probably out of the college Football
Playoff conversation. If somehow everything goes chalk A and M
I mean Alabama wins against Auburn, Oklahoma wins against LSU,
BYU wins against UCF, Utah already won their game, Vanderbilt
wins against Tennessee, and Ohio State wins or loses, doesn't
really matter, but let's just say that they lose in

(44:35):
Michigan makes the jump on up as the Big Ten
runner up, and Oregon wins, there's no opportunity for Texas
to get on in.

Speaker 3 (44:41):
Now, let's talk about it.

Speaker 2 (44:42):
If there is chaos to happen and we have to
have the actual conversation of what do we do if
there is a reason to believe you could see an
upset or a reasonably that Texas did enough to guarantee
it'spout in the playoffs. Well, Number one, I believe of
all the three loss teams that currently exist in the
world of college football, the best argument is Texas they
are because they have something that nobody else in college

(45:03):
football has, and nobody has had since twenty nineteen when
Joe Burrow was running the show down in the Bayou
at Baton Rouge. They have three ranked wins against top
ten teams. They beat Vanderbilt, they beat Oklahoma in Red River,
and they beat Texas A and M, the number three
team in the country. Oh and by the way, two
of those teams were undefeated going into those matchups, so

(45:23):
they also gave them their first loss. And if you
want to take it a step further, two of them
are the rivals of the same school. So it's even
bigger because you have bragging rights for the next three
hundred and sixty five days over the Sooners regardless of
what happens to them in the playoff, and Texas A
and M regards what happens to them in the playoff.
That's something that is really important to me in the
world of college football today is that we keep rivalries

(45:44):
still being a factor and a major selling point because
there's a reason why these games matter. Nobody's talking about
who you yet the face off against in December when
you live out in Austin or where you live out
in Houston or Dallas or San Antonio.

Speaker 3 (45:57):
You know what they look at.

Speaker 2 (45:57):
They say to yourself, we beat up on X team
that we're supposed to beat up on. Therefore we own you.
We kick the crap out of you, and you got
to suffer and live with it for the next year.
That were better than you. So I'm glad that these
still things matter. But three ranked wins over top twenty
I mean over top ten teams automatically, that is a

(46:18):
win in itself and a pretty good resume booster. On
top of that, they scheduled a tough non conference game
to begin the season on the road at Ohio State.
So what does that mean, Well, you got to feel
pretty good about where the playoff can. New would say,
we're not penalizing you for losing to Ohio State. Fact,
for my money, the only reason why Texas right now

(46:38):
at nine to three is even in the conversation is
because of they did play a tough non conference game
against Ohio State. So that's argument number two. Argument number
three is that branding is going to play a big
deal in this Whether or not I believe the Texas
belongs in the College Football Playoff, branding is.

Speaker 3 (46:54):
A big deal.

Speaker 2 (46:55):
They want money, they want revenue share, they want to
see the pretty teams be able to punch their ticket
to the postseason, largely because of it's a bigger check
in their pockets when it comes to the distribution and
marketing and advertisement and all these other little things that
play a big time role in college football that don't
need to be playing a role in college football, but
they do. So the branding is going to be really

(47:16):
promising for Texas, unlike a team, say like BYU.

Speaker 3 (47:19):
It's definitely gonna help them out.

Speaker 2 (47:21):
The fourth thing, and probably the most important thing, Texas
in its biggest gains was able to deliver a performance.
To remember that the College Football playf Committee will have
to take into consideration. You play at red River coming
off the loss against Florida, you're responding.

Speaker 3 (47:36):
You dominated.

Speaker 2 (47:37):
You play it against Texas A and M. Coming off
the loss against Georgia, you didn't lay down and die
against Arkansas. You put together probably your best offensive performance
we have seen all year at home, and you were
able to dominate against the Texas A and M team
that was able to handle business against everybody this season.
So in the biggest games this year, Texas showed on up.

(47:59):
And that's going to play into the ice the committee
where they say we don't have to put them in.
But when we look at the numbers and we look
at who ranks where, and how many teams did what
on on rivalry Saturday, and how any teams hurt themselves
in the process, well, we got to feel pretty good
about at least Texas being in the conversation we do.

(48:22):
Now comes the other part for start des I do
not believe that Texas will be in the college football
playoff conversation because I don't think there will be enough chaos.
But the other thing that is really important here and
more specific to the point, Texas also had opportunities to
prove why they belonged outside of playing against teams like
Texas A and M, Oklahoma, Georgia and Alabama, I mean

(48:43):
and Ohio State, and I would throw on Vandergil because
Vanneril probably is gonna be ranked at the end of
the year even if they were to lose. Today, you
dropped a game to a three and eight Florida squad,
and I know what everyone's.

Speaker 3 (48:54):
Gonna say, but you can't scat, you can't help to
the schedule.

Speaker 2 (48:56):
Said this, guys, it's not the fact that you know
on any given Saturday and AC team can win, because
I can tell you right now absolutely an SEC team
can win.

Speaker 3 (49:03):
All the time. They can.

Speaker 2 (49:06):
You look at some of the worst teams in the conference,
they find a way to go toe to toe people Texas,
A and M was going down to the wire? Was
that South Carolina team that's struggling against an ACC Clemson
roster right now? We saw Kentucky and Mississippi State being
able to do damage against both Texas and Auburn, and
you could throw in.

Speaker 3 (49:28):
Testse other games.

Speaker 2 (49:30):
So again, the bottom dwars of the SEC really are
actually just coming together and making necessary adjustments to put
themselves in a good position.

Speaker 3 (49:38):
That's just kind of case, So you can't blame that.

Speaker 2 (49:43):
You also lost by twenty five points to Georgia on
National television, and sure, tell me whatever you want about
how the scheduling set X, Y and Z. I will
listen to it. But it doesn't matter because you were up.
It was only fourteen to ten. It never felt like
the game was in jeopardy.

Speaker 3 (49:58):
It just didn't. Texas, and I mean.

Speaker 2 (50:01):
Texas, they never were able to find any momentum offensively.
They found their right into the end zone on one
giant pass downfield of DeAndre Moore. Arch Manning was erratic
that day, not his fault, quite literally, not his fault,
but still and the defense did not show on up.
The defense that we saw last night was night and
day difference from what we saw three weeks ago in Athens, Georgia.

(50:21):
So you add all this together, what does that tell you?

Speaker 3 (50:26):
Well, I hate to be the guy.

Speaker 2 (50:30):
There's probably not a lot of room and a lot
of area areas for you to have that much success
or margin of error. So that's where it is kind
of where we are now. What do I think personally?
I think Texas if they were to be the three,
if they were to consider a three loss team, would
be the one that would get on in my stance
in the situation, that's just it. I don't think that

(50:50):
there's gonna be room. Here's the other thing though, that
I want to preface. I also don't think that Texas
should be sitting here and saying, well, now, we shouldn't
schedule tough games against opponents we don't believe in. We
just shouldn't, because that's also a wrong method of thinking.
I think number one, it's childish, and I think number two,
and this is where I'm really at, I think it's

(51:10):
a loser mentality. When you come out and you say
we're being punished for scheduling a game against Ohio State,
therefore we're out of the College Football Playoff.

Speaker 3 (51:18):
Guys, I'm sorry, but if.

Speaker 2 (51:19):
You know anything about the SEC, I'll make it abundantly clear.
You are going to have a tough game every single
Saturday if you not bring your fur a fastball. So
you could have easily lost Kentucky and this would have
been a moot point. You could have easily lost to
Missippi State and it would have been a moot point.
And in the eyes of the college football public, they
would say, no, the reason why you're not being pun
the reason why you're being punished, has nothing at all

(51:40):
to do with what you did against Ohio State. It
has everything to do with what you did against Vanderbilt
and what you did against Kentucky and what you did
agains Misissippi State. That's why we're penalizing. You hate to
be that guy. That's it, So move on with the
subject and move on with yourself. I do think that
Texas though again, it should be considered a successful season.
Now to many of you, you probably will say, no,

(52:01):
it's not. How can it be considered successful We didn't
go to the College Football Playoff. This is where I
hate this notion so much. On where we are in
the world of college football. I do, and I think
that most of you can understand what I'm saying here.
We live in a society where in the years past,
winning Red River and the Lone Star Showdown was considered

(52:21):
one of the biggest accomplishments that the state could offer,
because not only did you beat the breaks off of
your rival up North, you also beat the breaks off
of your rival down South, and you got to say
that you owned both of them. But now we live
in a world where it feels as if if you
don't go to the college football Playoff, it feels if
you don't make him move to be in the running

(52:43):
for the twelve team postseason.

Speaker 3 (52:45):
Everything that you did is kind of a moot point.
Why does it matter to beat Texas?

Speaker 2 (52:51):
I mean, why is it matter to be Texas A
and M if we're not gonna go to the playoff?
Why does it matter to beat Oklahoma if we're not
gonna go to the playoff? Because of its bragging rights?
More specifically, I'll go even I'll go even a step further.
It's not just bragging rights. It's the ability to go
ahead and smack them in the mouth and say we
own you. What if there's a kid that's sitting on
the sideline last night and he hasn't decided which way

(53:12):
he wants to go.

Speaker 3 (53:13):
He's looking at Texas thing.

Speaker 2 (53:14):
He's looking at Texas A and M, and he sees
the momentum for Texas and he sees very little success
for Texas A and M, and he flips because of.

Speaker 3 (53:21):
That one moment, just that one. It's a big deal
to win this game.

Speaker 2 (53:26):
And that needs to still be the subject of conversation,
is that even though you're not gonna go to the
playoff this year, you still accomplish something that very few
people can ever say that they did so. Regardless of
what happened for Texas and their playoff hopes and idols
again they exist anymore. I think it's a successful season
for Texas to be able to win three top ten games,
to be able to beat both of your rivals, to

(53:49):
be able to now feel like that your quarterback has
hit his stride at the right time. And if that's
not enough, you also can say that you have a
lot of pieces that are gonna be back next season
that you think you can build a pawn with. How
are you not looking at this team and believing that
there is a vision to whereas you fix few things
this offseason, you're right back in the hunt for a

(54:09):
national championship. You're right back in the hunt for a
college football playoff bid. You're right back in the hunt
to win the SEC. And, by the way, as all
Longhorn fans, if you do believe that Texas belongs in
the college football playoff calling in seven ninety all Longhorn fans,
have got to remind yourself.

Speaker 3 (54:25):
Of this for a second, pretty big deal.

Speaker 2 (54:27):
In my opinion, you're the reason why Texas A and
M for the thirteenth year will not know what it's
like to be an SEC champion. You're the reason why
Texas A and M will never know what it's like
to play in Atlanta for an SEC title. And if
that does not give you pure giddy and eupk excitement,

(54:47):
I don't know what will like. Are you just dead inside?
Because I can tell you personally, I have no ties
to either program. But if I was to look at
this from the perspective of my school and we beat
the breaks off of that team that we can't stomach
in a game to where holy snikes, ladies and gentlemen,

(55:08):
they're not going to Atlanta. Their playoff hopes are definitely hindered.
The way that people view them is completely different. I
can sleep well at night knowing that they suck. I
could easily do that. That'suld be the way that Texas
fans should be feeling right now, because there's a lot
of people that look at Texas A and M going
into last night and said they were the most complete

(55:28):
team in the SEC, and Texas went.

Speaker 3 (55:30):
Knock, knock, who's there? Kick your ass?

Speaker 2 (55:34):
Newt Point, that's where you are. Seven one two five
seven ninety Take quick time out. Let's talk a little
about the lane kipping situation. I do have my thoughts
on that. I also want to get you caught up
on what you might have missed in the Houston game.
Because they're looking for a nine win season. Again, people
look so much outside of the world of actual college
football and say, well, that's not really fair.

Speaker 3 (55:54):
You know, we're not playing for the college football playoff.

Speaker 2 (55:56):
Willie Fritz is doing in year two is awesome, So
we need to discuss that much much more right here
on Space Day Saturday, Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 3 (56:09):
Space a Saturday.

Speaker 2 (56:10):
Rolling right along here on Sports Talk seven ninety Cole
Thomas and rockemants you until one o'clock and then you'll
be welcomed in to LSU versus Oklahoma with a college
football playoff spot on the line for the Sooners. But
they win over the Tigers, they will finish the year
ten and two seven one three two one two five
seven ninety. Let's get caught up around the world of

(56:31):
college football today. It's ten to six in the Big
House as number one Ohio State is looking to cap
off an undefeated season against Michigan, who's trying to backdoor
their way into the college football Playoff. Twenty eight nothing
for the Texas Tech Red Raiders, who will gain ground
in the standings after tech A and MS lost last night.
They lead going into the second quarter over West Virginia.

(56:52):
Miami just scored a touchdown with Malachai Toni to make
a ten to seven over pit on the road. Seventeen
to nothing Louisville over can Tucky. Kentucky needs to win
to guarantee their spot into a bowl game. Tied up
fourteen fourteen with two mites left in the second half,
I mean the second quarter between South Carolina and Clemson
and the Paul Metal Bowl. Fourteen to six, You're Houston

(57:13):
Couters with a Connor Wigman touchdown pass to Amari Thomas
take the lead over Baylor, who currently is risted at
five and six. Kansas State leads Colorado seven nothing. It's
ten to seven Iowa State over Oklahoma State, thirty five
to three for FA and for East Carolina over FAU
three nothings Central Michigan over Toledo, twenty eight ten Miami,

(57:34):
Ohio ball State and one two monitor here Ladies and Gentlemen.
UCF taking an early lead out in Provo, Utah over
number eleven BYU. If you are a Texas fan, you
certainly want to be cheering on the Golden Knights to
win this one UTEP seven seven with Delaware seven to seven,
Sam Houston State versus FIU, And we have a couple

(57:55):
more games coming on there tonight, including the Iron Bowl
out in Jordan Hare Stadium seven one three two two
seven ninety. Okay, So the lang Kiff situation, I won't
spend a lot of time on this, but I know
that we have a lot of LSU fans that live
in the city and are probably interested in hearing what
happens next for Lane. So there is an offer on
the table from LSU to make Lane one of the

(58:16):
highest paid coaches in college football after leading ole Miss
to its first eleven win regular season in program history,
and they've guaranteed a spot in the College Football Playoff. Now,
the hiccup in all of this is last night Texas
A and M losing to Texas creates an avenue to
where if ole Miss watched I mean if Oklahoma, if
Alabama loses tonight in the Iron Bowl, ole Miss will

(58:40):
go play in the.

Speaker 3 (58:41):
SEC title game. That's just the fact. And so now
you have to ask yourself.

Speaker 2 (58:46):
Keith Carter and company are sitting and trying to go
ahead and pressure Lane Kiffen into signing this deal so
he is locked in for the long haul as the
next head coach at ole Miss. Meanwhile, you have LSU
who is offering him the exact same deal, and they
maybe are willing to go ahead and say, eh, we're
gonna hold off a little bit. If you want to
go ahead and coach in this game, so be it.

(59:07):
We won't care totally. Fine in US, nobody's gonna complain.
I think Lane is in a really difficult position and
there is no winning. There is no winning for anybody here.
There's no winning for Ole Miss, there's no winning for Florida,
there's no winning for ls H.

Speaker 3 (59:21):
Shue, there's no winning for the fans.

Speaker 2 (59:23):
Because, let's look at it from the LSU perspective. LSU
is going to get Lane Kiffin, but they're gonna get
Lane Kiffin only because of certain addendums that really hurt them.
But let's say that Lane wants to stay and he
wants to coach in the SEC title game because if
he led his team there, well, how long are you
gonna hold out? Hope that Lane eventually won't change his mind.

(59:44):
So now you got to make a different move, and
let's say that move is to go get John Summer
off from tu Lane. Now, what I think about this
is that Lane Kifven is a great coach.

Speaker 3 (59:52):
John Somerrell is a good coach.

Speaker 2 (59:54):
In the eyes of the people down in Baton Rugs, Louisiana,
they will say that one is better than the other,
and we're settling for the other guy because if we
need him to be on campus now and we don't
want to wait until the end of December.

Speaker 3 (01:00:04):
That's just the way I feel about it.

Speaker 2 (01:00:05):
So if that were to be the case now, it
feels like LSU is settling for a guy who they
really didn't want. But the pretty girl that initially was
going to pick them how to go ahead and finish
up some other things. It's not a win for ole
Miss because let's just say this, if Olemis ends up
losing Lane Kiffen in a year where it felt like
that everything was going their way, you still realized you

(01:00:27):
probably can't win here at the highest level. You probably
have a ceiling going eleven to one this season, making
it to the college Football Playoff, probably playing in the
quarterfinals and then getting eliminated is all she wrote.

Speaker 3 (01:00:40):
And you can't win a national title out there.

Speaker 2 (01:00:42):
So when a standpoint from that vicinity, Lane basically is
telling you there's a ceiling here and I want to
get higher than that. But also, at the same time,
you get to be playing for an SEC title game
for the first time in program history, and your coach
isn't showing on up and now you got to look
for a different option.

Speaker 3 (01:01:00):
Now that's gonna be frustrating.

Speaker 2 (01:01:01):
And the other thing that's really important here is that
if you want Lane to stick around, it's hard to
justify keeping him around for the long term because let's
just say that you only have one coach in mind,
it is John summerl He's the one that you want
to go replace Lane. Well, he's get offers from multiple
SEC schools. Auburn is in the running, Florida is in
the running. You you also have LSU potentially in the running.

(01:01:24):
So while Lane is still trying to figure out what
he's doing, you can't just let him sit by and
hold your team hostage because if he got you here,
when the only candidates that you really want to promote,
they're all looking elsewhere. And they sat on the dotted
line before you even lose Lane to begin with. And
then he still leaves and goes to LSU and doesn't
pick you, and fans don't win in this standpoint because
so much focus and so much attentiveness is all on

(01:01:48):
what's going on between the off field incidents, like nobody
is talking about yesterday watching his illness, for the first
time in program history, was able to do the unthinkable,
finish eleven to one and guarantee a home playoff berth.
Nobody is talking about how Ole Miss could easily go

(01:02:08):
in at Lanta next week, win the conference title, get
a first round by, and be a top four team
in college football and their.

Speaker 3 (01:02:15):
Coach left them. Nobody's talk about that.

Speaker 2 (01:02:18):
Nobody's talking about how impressive this team was to be
able to have all of the momentum and all the
outside noise cascading down on them, and yet still they
didn't flinch against a rival because of the entire focuses
on Lane Kiffen, and fans are dealing with this too,
they are, so everyone loses in this scenario. Now, I'll
tell you what I think actually happens. I think that

(01:02:40):
Lane Kiffen is going to LSU. I want to believe
that he's going to stick around for ole Miss, But
I do believe that there is something to be said
about being the next head coach at a place where
there is proven concepts of being able to win national championships.
LSU is the top seven destination when it comes to
the recruiting aspect of things. Every kid that lives in
that state does not care about who is the head coach.

(01:03:01):
He does not care about what does the athletic complex
look like. He does not care about nil. It's a factor,
but it's not the only factor. They care about one thing.
They want to play at Death Valley. They want to
be a part of the Tiger culture and locked on
in for that school.

Speaker 3 (01:03:17):
Then you have lane that works.

Speaker 2 (01:03:18):
The transfer portal. Lane kills in the transfer portal yearning
year out. There a top three team at ole Miss
when it comes to transfer rankings, and the development of
talent is through the roof.

Speaker 3 (01:03:26):
So you add that into the mix as well.

Speaker 2 (01:03:29):
Well. Now you're looking at Texas, I mean, now you're
looking at LSU being probably the most profitable team when
it comes to recruiting and when it comes to the
transfer portal, guaranteed spot in the playoff almost every single
year if Lane coached the exact same way he did
at ole Miss. There are just some things that you
have right now that guarantee work at a place like

(01:03:49):
the place like LSU, that don't work anywhere else. And
I personally think that Lane at some point is going
to have that conversation and that may steer him away.
And I think that the decison is going to come
to And the reason I think the decision is gonna
come tonight is because of while everyone wants to throw
out the hey Kaylin de boor is he gonna go
play for the Penn States He's gonna be the next

(01:04:10):
ex coach at Penn State.

Speaker 3 (01:04:12):
No, he is not. I think he sticks around even
if they were to lose Night.

Speaker 2 (01:04:17):
So that just means that lank given has won two options,
stick around at ole Miss or head on over to
Baton Ruge Louisiana. I believe he's had on over to
Baton Ruge Louisiana. And it pains me to say that
because if I think the Ole Miss is a story
that deserves a lot more credit, and unfortunately the reality
of the situation is that it won't get its national

(01:04:37):
spotlight because of what we are seeing right now with
the coaching search. But that is just the nature of
the business. And now you have to have the harsh
reality conversation.

Speaker 3 (01:04:47):
Hey, you know what.

Speaker 2 (01:04:49):
I wants us the better job, and that's why he's
taking it. Seven one, seven ninety. Where do you think
link given ends up?

Speaker 3 (01:04:54):
Next?

Speaker 2 (01:04:54):
Where do you think Texas lands in the college football
playoff rankings?

Speaker 3 (01:04:58):
Next week? Take quick time mount and we come back
to Texans.

Speaker 2 (01:05:02):
Getting a little of the extra bonus added to the
team because guess what, guys, somebody else now showed up
on the injury report. That is massive in favor of
slowing down the Colts. Explain who next? Right here on
Space A Saturday, Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 3 (01:05:17):
Photograph Space A Saturday.

Speaker 2 (01:05:20):
Rolling right along here on Sports Talk seven to ninety,
Cole Tonser rock with you until one o'clock seven one three,
two one two five, seven ninety.

Speaker 3 (01:05:27):
If you want to.

Speaker 2 (01:05:28):
Listen to the LSU Oklahoma game, you do so right
here Space Sports Talk seven ninety kbm E. And also
if you want to listen to what's going on between
the Baylor Bears and Houston Cougars as the Cougars lead
going into halftime ten to six. You can listen to
our sister station kp RC nine point fifty Astros looking

(01:05:50):
to make some moves before the deadline. Texas makes it
more challenging for the College Football PLAF commitee to leave
them out. After a win over Texas A and M,
and the Texans take on the Indianapolis Colts, That's where
we start the story. There is now another name that
has popped up on the injury report for the Indianapolis
Colts that should hurt their chances of winning tomorrow and

(01:06:11):
now dropping to one game in the division lead over
both the Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Tyler Warren is
dealing with an illness. He is expected to be questionable
going in tomorrow's game. I believe that even if he
is sick, he is going to playing, but there's gonna
be some limitations to him. And the crazy part is
when you look at the numbers and when you look
at the success of Tyler Warren this year, he is

(01:06:33):
not being talked about enough to be a contender for
a spot in the roogue of your rankings. And I
understand why, because if you have quarterback playing. You have
wide receivers making plays left and right, and you have
a couple of other names that have really been impressive.
But Tyler Warren has been the bell kal of the
chain mover in the passing attack for the Indianapolis Colts.
Currently leads the team in receptions, leads team in targets,

(01:06:54):
leads the team in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns actually
number two and receiving touch behind Michael pennockx cheen, I
mean Michael Pittman Junior.

Speaker 3 (01:07:03):
My apologies on that one.

Speaker 2 (01:07:04):
He also is the most first down for thirty seven,
So big, big, big factor.

Speaker 3 (01:07:09):
Texans are getting out the at the right time.

Speaker 2 (01:07:10):
C J. Stroud is coming back, so is Jaln Petrie.
And I think that most of you can understand when
I look at these two names, there is a clear
separation and indication that both of them are really important
to their team. But I do believe one is more
important than the other. I believe that right now CJ.
Stroud is, but still Jalen Petrie one of the best
run defenders in the NFL, one of the more consistent playmakers,
one of the people who certainly I think stirs the

(01:07:34):
entire defense puts them in a better spot now. Coming
on back in critical for this game because you're going
toe to toe with again the leaders of the AFC Salt,
but also the best running back in the NFL. You
got to slow down Johathan Taylor John the Taylor. The
season has been on point. He is one of two
running backs that, entering Week thirteen, has already over eleven

(01:07:55):
hundred rushing yards.

Speaker 3 (01:07:56):
He also has fifteen touchdowns.

Speaker 2 (01:07:58):
This season, he has games of over one hundred rushing yards,
including a two one hundred and forty four yard contest
three touchdown day against the Atlanta Falcons in overtime. He
also has three games where he has three rushing touchdowns,
two of which going up against the Tennessee Titans and
the Las Vegas.

Speaker 3 (01:08:15):
Raiders last week.

Speaker 2 (01:08:17):
The ability to slow down jt by Kansas City was
the X factor in helping the Chiefs fight their way
back in to guarantee a win against Indianapolis. God feel
pretty good about that one, I would say so. And
I also think y'all feel pretty good about not having
Daniel Jones. Because Daniel Jones right now, if you forced
him to have to beat you I think that you're

(01:08:37):
in a pretty decent spot. Daniel Jones is coming off
of not only again one of his worst starts of
the season, where he only had two pounding touchdowns for
one hundred and eighty one yards, but the offensive line
is starting to interiorate. Last week against Kansas City, they
didn't a law of sack. In the month of November.
This season, they have given up the most sacks so far.

(01:09:00):
They given up twelve this month. In the two months
before that, September and October, they only.

Speaker 3 (01:09:05):
Give up nine combined.

Speaker 2 (01:09:07):
So the best part of your team, which is your
front seven being able to get after a quarterback is
currently a week point for Indianapolis. And on the flip side,
the best part of being the worst part of their
team is probably gonna be the only way they can
win because if your run defense can slow down Jonathan
Taylor now with Jalen Peachi back, you gotta feel pretty good.

(01:09:30):
I brought this up earlier on the Morning Drive this
past week. I think it's really important to mention this year.
We said that the Texans are facing the least amount
of pressure in this game and all the pressures on
the Colts because the Colts have dropped two games in
the last three matchups. They look horrendous against Pittsburgh, and
Pittsburgh does not look like a team that is actually
gonna be making a run in the playoff this year.
And they have a quarterback situation that feels like that

(01:09:52):
it's buyer's remorse. Oh and down top of all that,
Jonathan Taylor is is quite literally the X factor for
the team. I changed my mind, and I say the
pressures on Texans at this point because the Texans, how
well they've been playing with out CJ. Stroud, shows you
how good of a team they actually can be. I
view them as a legit threat to now go on

(01:10:12):
a run and claim the division title. And depending on
who they face off against in the first round, they
probably could win that game because they have the last
two years. And as long as they do not hit
the face off against the number one seed and play
on the road, you gotta feel pretty confident that with
this defense they'll be able to deliver a performance to
remember you do. But the main thing is is that
after Kansas City lost to Dallas on Thursday, part of Thanksgiving,

(01:10:38):
they're now sitting at five hundred. You win you're sitting
at seven and five, so you're in a pretty good
spot right now to be able to go into Arrowhead
and hurt them even more to make them below five hundred.
And then let's say that you end up winning against
the Cardinals, you end up winning against the Raiders, you
lose to the Chargers, and then you win against the

(01:10:59):
Indianapolis and Indy still is twelve and five, so they
get the division title, but you're now sitting with the
wild card spot. And let's just say Kansas City they
lose that game, but then they went out, Well, now
they're eleven and six. If you're eleven and six and
they're eleven and six, they will come it down to
head heads. The head to head has got to matter
at some point. I think it does matter in this

(01:11:21):
specific option. If there's only one playoff spot left, the
team that wins that game in Arrowhead is going to
go to the playoff, and the team that isn't they're
probably done.

Speaker 3 (01:11:32):
That's just my opinion.

Speaker 2 (01:11:33):
I look right now and I'm seeing where the Texans are.
If they were to win that game, and they were
to win against Indianapolis, what if somehow, for some reason,
Jacksonville ends up running its way on up and they
put themselves in the hot spot for the AFC South rankings,
which would be weird because if that just means once
again they were able to avoid all chaos as per

(01:11:54):
usual and they didn't craft the bad like they should
or how they've been doing recently, well, then you might
have they had to head over Indianapolis, and you would
have a head to head over Kansas City, and if
there's only one playoff spot left, that belongs to you.
So the reason why I keep talking so much about
why it's critical for the Texans is because of this

(01:12:14):
defense is elite. This defense itself belongs in the college.
It belongs in the postseason. It'd be malpracticed not to
have a team that plays this intense to be out
of the conversation.

Speaker 3 (01:12:25):
It would. So I think that's number one. Number two.

Speaker 2 (01:12:30):
I think that right now, the way that your team
is trending offensively, at least everywhere outside of the quarterback position,
you gotta give a lot of credit. The line looked
great on Thursday night against Buffalo. It didn't look terrible
against Tennessee. It started to find its rhythm in the
second half against Jacksonville, so you add all of that together,
you feel pretty confident on where this team is. You

(01:12:54):
feel pretty confident about where this team is, and you
just don't want to see them find a way to
mess it on up. And that is kind of the
case in my opinion. I think right now, the reason
why I put more pressure on the Texans that I
do on any other team is because you know what
the expectations are. And that's another thing that we always
got to look at some people every single year decided

(01:13:15):
to change what the narrative is.

Speaker 3 (01:13:16):
I look at currently.

Speaker 2 (01:13:19):
Preseason expectations because there were people who will say, well,
the Texans, you know, they didn't win the play I mean,
they didn't win the AFC South, but they still made
the playoffs, so it's a good year, right. No, I
don't think so, because here's the reason Texas. The Texans
were supposed to be considered the favorites in this division.

Speaker 3 (01:13:36):
On top of that, they also.

Speaker 2 (01:13:38):
Were considered to be the front runners for this division
with nobody in sight, nobody but believe that Daniel Jones
is going to get the job done. I heard him
more let's fire Chris Ballard and Shane Steiken than I
had give him a contract extension. It was year one
for a new coaching staff out in Jacksonville, and TATSY
was a dumpster fire run by an incompetent owner. So
you were supposed to be winning this division and now

(01:14:00):
you're fighting with two teams and your defense has done
its job, like at some point the damn breaks for everybody,
and you're gonna have a bad performance. That's just nature,
ladies and gentlemen, whether or not you want to believe it,
that's the bottom line. So I see the defense delivering
the offense hasn't been up to par.

Speaker 3 (01:14:17):
It's starting to get there.

Speaker 2 (01:14:19):
I would love to be able to say that this
Texans team figured out all of its faults at the
right time before it became an issue and it cost
them an opportunity to make a run of the playoff.
By the way, just for all of you paying attention
at home, if the Texans weren't to miss the playoff
this year, this would be the first time that the
number one scoring defense has missed the playoffs since I

(01:14:43):
believe two thousand and three, if I'm not mistaken. On
top of that, this defense is as polished as the
twenty thirteen lesion of Boom. It is on pace to
have given up fewer yards, fewer points, and caused more
turnovers than the great this defense that has ever existed
in the world of the NFL, the nineteen eighty five

(01:15:03):
Chicago Bears, and they could be left out of the playoff.
I think it's an insult. So the Texans, in my opinion,
face way more pressure in this game. And now with
the injury, Now with the onus of Tyler Warren, now
with the questions when it comes to Daniel Jones and
the fibula injury, Now when it comes to the offensive
line giving up fourteen sacks this month, all things added
on in, it feels like the Texans are hitting their

(01:15:27):
stride at the right time to be able to pounce
on a division leader. If they don't tomorrow, you got
to ask yourself what needs to change before we face
off against them again, and at that point will be
too late. But yeah, one needs to change in the
next seven days before we take on Kansas City on
Sunday night football seven one three two one two five
seven nine. If you want time on in, take quick

(01:15:47):
time out. Will close out SPACECA Saturday. After this, I'm
going to tell you why. Read Shepherd is the name
that you need to be paying attention to going into
the month of December, because he's gonna kill.

Speaker 3 (01:16:00):
He's gonna crust the end of November.

Speaker 2 (01:16:02):
He can sing his this in December, guys, we could
be talking about a different type of player that is
actually a better fit than we ever imagine for the Rockets.

Speaker 3 (01:16:09):
All that more on Space A Saturday. Next the line,
Space A Saturday.

Speaker 2 (01:16:17):
Rolling right along here on Sports Talk seven ninety Cole
toms a rock with two for a few more minutes.
See if you want to shime on in you're astros.
We're gonna make some trades before the start of November.
Your Texans looking to improve in the division. What they
win tomorrow over at the Indianapolis Colts and the Rockets

(01:16:38):
very much in the driver's seat to be a contender
in the Western Conference. They have backback games against the
Utah Jazz starting tomorrow night where you can listen right
here on Sports Talk seven ninety seven one three two
one two five seven ninety And as I talked about
Reed Shepherd.

Speaker 3 (01:16:53):
My god, dude is on fire right now.

Speaker 2 (01:16:56):
Anybody watched that game against Golden State, I mean I'm
kind of up that we did not get to go
ahead and do a show the next day afterwards, because
of I would have been completely, utterly, direly unbearable to
all of the haters out there who said, oh.

Speaker 3 (01:17:10):
You need to try to really reach out to bring
in a problem and off season stupid, take dummies. Kids awesome.

Speaker 2 (01:17:19):
And I understand that there are some limitations right now
to where you got to see him do it for
longer than just say fifteen game period or let me
phrase that a sixteen game period right now, But these
sixteen games have proven on so many different avenues.

Speaker 3 (01:17:32):
This kid has lived up to the billing and should
be a.

Speaker 2 (01:17:34):
Focal point of your team as the number three overall
pick from just two seasons ago. Because what was the
biggest argument that we had in the offseason, Well, where
does he fit in the rotation? How is he going
to get more involved in the passing? Where do we
play him in certain spots? Is there a spot that
we can utilize him better? Where is his minut's gonna
come from? Can he actually be better offensively Kenny scorings
out of the paint? Is he only gonna be known

(01:17:55):
as a three point shooter. What is this defense? Like
all of these questions and commons and concerns that we
did have answers to that we're.

Speaker 3 (01:18:03):
Slowly starting to figure on out. Reed.

Speaker 2 (01:18:05):
Shepherd was awesome on Wednesday against Golden State, thirty seven
minutes after having a career high twenty seven points on
Friday against Denver, he succeeded that with a thirty one
point game against Golden State, including shooting forty eight percent
from the field and thirty three point three percent from downtown.
He was four to twelve and the three point range.
He also had nine rebounds, five or six. He had

(01:18:27):
two blocks, two steals, and he only had one personal foul.
The game before against Phoenix, he showed me a lot
defensively and how to be a good facilitator of the ball.
Perfect point guard scenario where you pay, you read the room,
you see the openings, and then you drive toward the rim,
you hand out the ball to somebody else in the
corner waiting for three. He showed me during these last

(01:18:51):
three games against Denver, against Phoenix, and against Golden State,
all of which who right now are playoff teams. I
might also add in he can be effective when it
comes to offense, he can shoot, he can be consistent,
he can put the bomb play, and he can make
a lot of shots from anywhere across the court. Number two,

(01:19:11):
he is a good facilitator. He can play the natural
point guard spot and be able to set up offensive
drives that now allow you to play with that jumbo
package down low. Get the bond to Steven Adams hand,
Get the bond to Approshing Goon's hands. Go make some
plays with Kevin Durant, pass out to Aman Thompson, make
sure that Barsmith's drive him down low.

Speaker 3 (01:19:27):
A lot of things that you want to see. He's
gonna get the assist.

Speaker 2 (01:19:30):
He also is pesky defensively, and one of the things
that I really didn't like about trading away Dylan Brooks
was that pesky defensive prowess that really was able to
kind of help Huston at times inside of the paint.

Speaker 3 (01:19:41):
He's not the biggest guy in the world. He's six
foot two.

Speaker 2 (01:19:44):
I guarantee you he's probably six foot three on a
good day.

Speaker 3 (01:19:47):
On a bad day, six foot one.

Speaker 2 (01:19:49):
Regardless, He's forcing opportunities to make plays and get point
guards to be frustrated to where they passed the ball
too early, and it allows a defense like Houston to
be able to corral the player, get a turnover, box
them out, get the rebound, and be able to drive
it the other way. The final thing that's really been
impressive about everything with reach Shepherd, he's common able to

(01:20:10):
take on that leadership role. Go look at his numbers
the last three games, whether that be on the offensive side,
the defensive side, or the facilitating side.

Speaker 3 (01:20:19):
He has shown you the maturity of what you want
in a leader.

Speaker 2 (01:20:23):
And now it feels like he is a part of
that five man group that you say, who do you
want to take the shot? Because every team has this,
every team has the one dude that if he's available,
you want him firing it down the field, no questions asked.
You want him to be the one with the ball
in his hands as the time expires, the shot clock
goes off and he's training to three for the Rockets,

(01:20:44):
it's it's probably Kevin Durant that's number one. Number two
I would probably say right now is aupren Chinngo. Number
three is a wide open race. Least in my opinion,
I think you can trust on Men Thompson. He's been
playing better as of late, he's showing you more of
what he offers offensively being able to play up top.
I think you can also look at definitely read Shepherd
because guess what, not only is he shooting forty eight

(01:21:06):
from downtown, he's also shooting forty two from the field,
So you gotta feel pretty good about where you are
with him. I think Jabari Smith belongs to that conversation.
I think you gotta also throw in potentially Stephen Alam
sound low, so again there's opportunities to where now reach.
Shepherd very much could be that number three guy, and
when he's your number three, that means you gotta play

(01:21:26):
more mets. Right now, I believe the Rockets have done
such a good job. I'm playing without Kevin Durant and
seeing where their roster is. This is what we have
to do, and this is what we have to accomplish,
this is how we can play. At times, I feel
like they've done such a good job that it feels
like they're gonna go away from the big packages and

(01:21:46):
they're gonna start looking more so towards getting mints to
read Shepherd starting minutes, he's no longer coming off of
the bench. What does he look like in the month
of December, because let me just read you off his
numbers for the month of November, just so you can
understand how good of a month he's had. He's averaged
more minutes. His field goal percentage went up from thirty

(01:22:07):
five percent to fifty three percent. His three point percentage
went up from thirty six percent to forty eight percent.
His three three percent went up from eighty percent to
eighty eight point six percent. His rebound percentage went up
from three point three to three point eight. His assists
percentage went from three point five to three point three.
His block percentage went to point five to point nine,

(01:22:27):
his steel percentage went from one point three to one
point eight, his personal fouls went up slightly, and his
points went from ten to fifteen point seven to where
now he's averaging fourteen point two. What if this is
just the beginning, Like what if as we've seen and
we got talking about with Amen Thompson, Amen Thompson starts
off slow, but once you start getting him in a
groove and he has back back really solid games. This

(01:22:49):
is the version of Amen that we're going to see
moving forward throughout the rest of the season. Pasky defensively
really good offensively. What if each Shepherd's the exact same way,
but it's by month. So instead of going from ten
to fifteen, maybe now he's averaging eighteen point six points
per game.

Speaker 3 (01:23:03):
Maybe instead it's nineteen point two points per game.

Speaker 2 (01:23:05):
What if his minutes go from playing twenty five to
now twenty eight. What if his field goal percentage goes
from fifty three to fifty six. What if his three
point range goes from thirty I mean to from forty
eight to fifty two. You're talking about not only a
great player, You're talking about an elite one that does
things at such a high end level. It's so hard
to envision a world where they aren't kicking the crap

(01:23:28):
out of everybody, and I believe that they will right now.

Speaker 3 (01:23:31):
The way that we are.

Speaker 2 (01:23:32):
Looking at this rocket seane, it is very hard for
me not to believe that you need to give Read
Shepherd as much minutes as possible, because if he's earned
the right to now start. And on top of all
of that, I think that when you look at what
you have with Reed Shepherd, his ability to open up

(01:23:53):
the court creates so much miscommunication and under an understandment
for other teams to have to prepare for that. It
then opens up avenues for you to get your other
role players involved, like having to read Shepherd out. There
is a benefit I think not only for Kevin Durant
and Opportune Good. I think it's also a benefit for

(01:24:14):
Aman Thompson Jabari Smith and with those three as being
your young core, plus Outpe being your veteran, and then
you have KD being like the goat here now it
feels like that you put yourself in a good conversation,
be right alongside Denver, right alongside Oklahoma City as a
favorite in.

Speaker 3 (01:24:28):
The Western Conference.

Speaker 2 (01:24:29):
Right now, if the season where to end a day,
Rockets would be five gains back from Oklahoma City, they
would be four games back from Los Angeles. And I
do believe that the Lakers at some point are gonna
come back down to reality. Meanwhile, the Nuggets will work
their way back into the conversation with the healthy Aaron Gordon.
They've been playing better on the road. There's seven and two.
They've been playing better in division there's six, and I

(01:24:49):
mean they're out there two and one, and their point
differential they're.

Speaker 3 (01:24:52):
Ten point seven.

Speaker 2 (01:24:53):
That is the second highest in the Western Conference only
behind Oklahoma City. Having reached Shepherd play the way that
he has, if he continues it moving into this weekend
against Utah and then of course afterwards against Utah and
then when they come on home for their home series,
I believe that we will be talking about Reed Shepherd
in the month of December as the gift that keeps

(01:25:14):
on giving, which is of course killing it on the hard.

Speaker 3 (01:25:18):
Run, that is the first Place City Saturday.

Speaker 2 (01:25:20):
I will talk to you guys on Monday on the
Morning Drive with Dan Matthews nine. If you want to
chey him on in he is Frankie Western Moorland. We
have got you coming right up here, lsu versus Oklahoma
for a college football playoff Berth on the line. Enjoy
your rivalry Saturday, ladies and gentlemen. We will talk to
you on Monday. Have a great weekend. See you soon.

Speaker 3 (01:25:43):
PCE

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