Did the referees favor Ohio St over University of Texas? Or was the UT out played?

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Welcomeboard, Welcome to another Space City. Saturday on Sports Talk
seven ninety Dan Matthews Live and local h Town breakdown
of the world that matters to you, the Houston sports world.

Speaker 2 (00:21):
All these great Houston fans here.

Speaker 1 (00:23):
We love you all, So finish up on that to
do list. Flute up the cooler, because you can't drink
in talk sports all day if you don't start.

Speaker 3 (00:34):
Now, bear me the eight.

Speaker 1 (00:36):
This is Space City Saturday.

Speaker 2 (00:38):
It's insane.

Speaker 1 (00:40):
Here's seven nineties Dan Matthews. Everything our voice guy just
told you is true. It is Space City Saturday. And
that's Craig Ackerman just said, well, this weather is insane.
I think we can agree on that, and Craig probably
definitely agrees about that, because if you haven't heard, you know,
it's just a mention here to get us started.

Speaker 3 (01:01):
Here.

Speaker 4 (01:02):
By the way, if you didn't catch the boys, guy,
Dan Matthews, Space City Saturday right here on Sports Talk
seven ninety. No rockets this afternoon. We were supposed to
have the rockets in the Hawks in Atlanta, And let
me just go ahead and peel back the curtain here
for a second. Atlanta is a lot like Houston when
weather like this hits, you know, the snow, the ice,

(01:24):
the sleet, all those different things. And then of course
whenever we you know, have to shut down the city
either here, Dallas, Austin, anywhere like that around here in
the state. And then of course we get the Northeasterners,
the mid Atlantic curs, the Midwesterners, all of those different
errs from around the country who make fun of us for, oh,

(01:45):
you can't drive around two inches of snow. Well, it's
kind of like I was just talking with Doug Pike
about a few years ago being out in southern California
when they had an atmospheric river hit and that was
a lot of rain. And you know, whenever we get
a bit of like a severe storm or something here
rain wise, we're just kind of like, it's today, that ends,
and why just stay off the roads.

Speaker 2 (02:07):
You see standing.

Speaker 4 (02:08):
Water, don't drive through it, you know, just any of
those things that we're just used to, well for those
parts of the country, they're used to the sticky stuff
on the ground and the slippery stuff on the ground.

Speaker 2 (02:20):
We are not. So we try to do.

Speaker 4 (02:22):
As best we can with the knowledge that we have,
and sometimes when that happens, then you get shutdowns and
that's what's happening over there in the city that I
was for ten years. So Matt Thomas and Craig Ackerman,
Vanessa richardson the crew, the Rockets, they're gonna pack up soon,
come on back. So they'll get a couple of days
off and then they'll be back on the home floor

(02:44):
against the Grizzlies on Mondays. So it'll be back to
back games against Memphis, a team that you're fighting with
right now for seeding in the Western Conference playoff race.
And you know that's the thing. I mean, we've talked
about it before. You know, I've given you the benchmarks
for seasons of we talk about it in Major League
Baseball that once you get past Memorial Day, then you

(03:05):
can start looking at the standings and where you sit
in terms of you trying to get into the playoffs.
In the NBA, once you get north of Christmas Day,
you can absolutely do that. And that's where the Rockets
sit at the moment in the two spot in the
Western Conference. So, like I said, get a couple of
days off to be able to rest and recover and

(03:28):
hoping to be able to get everything going back on
Monday against Like I said, the Grizzlies for that one.
So we'll see if this one's going to be made up.
But as it stands right now, Rocket's still in front
in the Southwest Division, a game and a half in
front of Memphis, So looking to try to make that
two and a half on Monday here at Toyota Center.

(03:51):
But of course, what is the topic, djure, Well, it's
in about five and a half hours over at NRG Stadium.
Is the Texans season going to continue? The LA Chargers
are in town, so we will get into the Texans
and the Chargers wildcard round and whenever it's Wildcard weekend

(04:13):
and the Texans are involved, well, sure as you're born
three point thirty kickoff right out the gate, the first
game to get the playoff season going in the NFL,
you can probably count on the Texans being there, and
we've covered the reasons why that is the case. But
the Texans and the Chargers are going to be first
out the gates, and then later on tonight you're going

(04:35):
to get the Steelers and the Ravens coming your way.
But the Texans for this one coming into it's pretty healthy.
Shaq Mason is the only player who has been ruled
out for this game, and he hasn't played the last
few games. And we'll get into the offensive line and
that much more a little bit later on in the show.
A couple of guests we had yesterday on the A

(04:56):
team that I want to let y'all hear from. As so,
we had Aaron Wilson, of course our Sports Talk seven
to ninety insider for the Texans, and he's also with
KPRC two. So Aaron joined us, and then we will
also get the Chargers side of things, as Isaac Lohencron
from the from the Chargers radio network.

Speaker 2 (05:19):
He does their pre impost for the Chargers.

Speaker 4 (05:23):
He joined us yesterday on the A team, so he
will be joining us or actually we will hear that
visit from yesterday, so you have that to look forward
to also, as so we get you ready for the
Texans and the LA Chargers in the wildcard round. The Texans,
of course are a three point underdog at least last

(05:45):
I checked. I mean haven't seen if the sharp money's
come in one way or the other on anyone else,
So give you the update on that here in just
a little bit. But this is a Texans team that
if you listened to Miko Ryans listen to some of
the players feel good about where they are health wise
and just energy wise heading into this game. As I mean,
you know, this is a fight for survival. You get

(06:06):
to this time of the year. There is no margin
for air. You can't just go out there and have
a bad Saturday or Sunday whenever you play your game
and say get them next week, because there is no
next week. You lose that game, season's over, and then
you start to have questions of who's back and who
it necessarily you know still fits here, and you know
who could be added to this team. And that's when

(06:29):
all those questions start to happen. You get in the draft,
prep all of those other things that Nick Cassario and
his staff. The off season is the front office season
for teams, and Nick Cassario is hoping that front office
season is again here's that word again postponed, that they
are able to at least hold that off for another week.

(06:49):
So the Texans trying to at least give their chance
to We'll have to see how the rest of the
wildcard round goes, because say the Texans do win today,
I chalk holds, then the Texans will move on to
go take on the Chiefs next week in Kansas City.
But if they lose, obviously the season's over. But I mean,
you know, at least in these scenarios that we're breaking

(07:11):
down you're looking for, if they win, then you need
the Steelers and also the Broncos to lose their games.
Steelers and Broncos both are very heavy underdogs in their games.
I mean, I think yesterday when I last looked, it
was what Steelers eight and a half. I think at Baltimore.

(07:32):
Baltimore obviously playing really good football. The Steelers are not.
They've lost four straight so things have really sputtered out
of control for Mike Tomlin's team. And going into Baltimore
when you're a struggling football team.

Speaker 2 (07:46):
That's not good.

Speaker 4 (07:47):
But you know, it's also I mean, I think there's
power in the postseason in terms of everything else doesn't
matter to that point. I mean, you know, you can
try to make the necessary adjustments, you can try to
be able to take a little bit of a deep
breath as much as possible and then say, hey, we're here,
Like everything that got us here doesn't matter now because

(08:09):
we're here. We're you know, having just as much a
good a chance as anyone else that's out here for
a chance to be able to move on to the
next round of the playoffs.

Speaker 2 (08:17):
So that's what they're trying to do. That's what the
Broncos are trying to do.

Speaker 4 (08:20):
I think the Broncos were what like a nine and
a half eight and a half points underdog to Buffalo.
That was one that when I saw that, I was like,
I like Denver for that one, because Buffalo has been
impressive at times this season, but it's also too I
think that there is power in a team that played
all their guys the week before against a team that

(08:42):
didn't play all their guys because the Bills their seeding
was locked in. They were done. So you didn't see
Josh Allen last week. You didn't see very many of
the starters for Buffalo. They didn't necessarily care and they
got beat by New England. Of course, that allowed for
the Tennessee Titans to be able to find their way
to the number one pick overall in the upcoming draft,

(09:04):
and then of course they fire Ran Carthon. So they're
already into off season mode and trying to find somebody
that can be able to lead the off season mode
over there in Tennessee.

Speaker 2 (09:15):
That's their problem. That's Jacksonville's problem.

Speaker 4 (09:17):
Indianapolis keeping their leadership intact with Chris Ballard and also
with Shane Steiken as their head coach. So at least
two teams in the division don't have to worry about
those things, but two others have to be able to
make some adjustments to leadership over the off season.

Speaker 2 (09:36):
And we'll see too.

Speaker 4 (09:37):
I mean, like I said, off season mode is going
to happen, whether the Texans like it or not. I mean,
obviously you would love for you know, you'd have the
chance to get all the way to the end and
have the off season mode start a little bit later
than everyone else. But I mean, there are significant questions
about this Texans team, especially on the offensive line, and

(09:59):
they're facing against a really good team today that is
good upfront on the defense and is very advantageous in
the back end with Derwin James in that secondary for
the LA Chargers. So well, like I said, we will
hear from Isaac Glohencron, who does the pre and post
for the Chargers. That's coming your way bottom of this hour,

(10:19):
and then the end of the hour's going to have
our visit with Aaron Wilson as he joins all the
host of shows that we have here on Sports Talk
seven to ninety during the week being our Texans insider
here on seven ninety, and he joined us yesterday on
the A team.

Speaker 2 (10:35):
So I want to let you hear that visit.

Speaker 4 (10:37):
But you know, the Texans, I mean, this is a
game I think, if nothing else, it's also a chance
to do something that they haven't really done all season long,
and that's proved people wrong. I mean, I think it
finally got to a point where we saw a little
bit of a cycle of the season from not only
the Texans fan base, probably even from us here in
the local media, but also to the national media because

(10:59):
remember the high of highs coming into this season, the
Texans were that team that almost kind of are looked at,
like almost people look at college football teams all look
at all these returners. You have all these guys coming back,
Look at the additions they've made. Folks, buckle up. This
could be a super Bowl team. Then you had the
season start off the way that it did, where they

(11:20):
were two and zero, but the games weren't necessarily that impressive.
Then you go to Minnesota and you get absolutely just
smacked by the Minnesota Vikings in that one. That wasn't fun.
But you know, as the season goes along, you win games,
but you don't necessarily win them an incredibly impressive fashion.
And then you lost some games that maybe you should
have won. The Detroit game, the Tennessee game. I'm probably

(11:43):
forgetting some games here and there. I guess the Jets
on that Thursday night, same deal there where the offense
just looked terrible in the second half of that one.
I mean, there were those games that kind of had
people doubting this team. And I don't think that the
Texans have necessarily taken advantage of the opportunity in front
of them very much this season, and now this is
a chance for them to be able to try and

(12:05):
do that today against the Chargers.

Speaker 2 (12:07):
I mean, you had to love what you know. CJ.

Speaker 4 (12:09):
Stroud said earlier in the week about you know, the
Rex Ryan comments, and he brought up a great point. Look,
we were talking the same way about this team last
year when they were taking on a Cleveland team that
there were a lot of people who said, well, you
didn't have c J. Stroud the first time around, But
it was also a Cleveland team that had the who
soon to be Coach of the Year defense playing incredibly well,

(12:32):
and you're saying yourself, man, if they're doing this with
Joe Flacco, I mean, you know, I imagine you know
how much of an advantage they have on their end.
It ended up not being that way because the Texans
put together probably their best performance of the season in
that one. So we're hoping they can tap into that
magic again today as they will be at NRG Stadium

(12:52):
trying for a chance to move on to the divisional round.
And I think too that the Texans look at this
as not only you know, you win this game, but
also too they want another crack at the Kansas City
Chiefs because I think that's another game that they look
at and say, hey, you know, we probably could have
come out of there with a win, and that's one

(13:13):
of those games that you come away from and you're
just kind of like, hey, give us another chance, and
we can absolutely take advantage of this this next time around.
So that's what the Texans are hoping for. So if
you're a Texans fan today and you want that matchup,
then you are Texans fans obviously, first and foremost, But
then you are Baltimore Ravens fans tonight and you are

(13:34):
also Buffalo Bills fans tomorrow.

Speaker 2 (13:38):
Although I mean, you know, it.

Speaker 4 (13:41):
Is also a chance for the Texans that if either
of those teams slip up and say you go to
Kansas City, well then who's to say that Denver doesn't
go and beat the Ravens next week.

Speaker 2 (13:53):
Or something like that.

Speaker 4 (13:53):
Then if that were the case, the Texans were able
to pull off the improbable AFC Championship game, would be
it nurg.

Speaker 2 (14:00):
So that's something to keep in mind.

Speaker 4 (14:02):
So that's something that is still in play for the Texans.
So whenever you start trying to talk playoff scenarios everything
of the sort, I mean, it can kind of be
a little bit of a jumbled mess. So I hope
that I laid it out as best as I possibly could,
and maybe even some of my facts weren't one hundred
percent on point there, But anyway, we'll see how it

(14:25):
all goes. Of course, have you even mentioned what happened
last night up in DFW the Texans or Texans Texas
falling to Ohio State twenty eight to fourteen. That was
a rough one, but Texas. I mean just the way
that the program is. I mean, a couple of guys
that I'm just not going to listen to. In terms

(14:46):
of people blaming them for how things went, I mean
I saw people giving blame the Steve Sarkisian, which for
those final two play calls of the game when the
game was still in the balance and it still mattered.

Speaker 2 (14:57):
I mean, were they the best play calls? No, they weren't.

Speaker 4 (15:00):
But is your program where it is without Steve Sarkisian
and without what he's been able to do in terms
of play calling, scheming, everything else of the sort, and
being able to have this team in position to play
for a national championship for the last couple of years.

Speaker 2 (15:14):
No, you're not.

Speaker 4 (15:15):
So if anybody out there, I mean there's always whenever
a situation like that happens, you're going to have people who, oh, man,
get rid of him, he sucks, get rid of these coaches,
all of those different things. You can't just get rid
of everyone whenever there's some sort of failure that happens,
whenever there's a little bit of adversity that hits your team,
that's just ridiculous. So no, Steve Sarkisian is still a

(15:39):
really good leader for this program, and the Texas Longhorns
are going to be back in those position again next
year and hopefully be able to take that next step.
I mean the last couple of years making it to
the semi finals the College Football Playoff. This time they
have to win a couple of games to get to
that point, but he's won.

Speaker 2 (15:59):
In the other Quinn Yours as well.

Speaker 4 (16:01):
I mean, I think that a lot of times, the
you know, the hardest jobs in sports are offensive coordinator
and quarterback. I think I've said that before on here,
But for yours, I mean, did he necessarily have a
great season, No, he did not. But if you're going
to try to say that you're in this position without

(16:21):
Quinn Yours, I think you're sadly mistaken. And that is
a lot of people who I think fall into the
trap that college football fans get into.

Speaker 2 (16:30):
Of the hot you.

Speaker 4 (16:32):
Know, backup quarterback that was a huge five star recruit.
You love them because you don't know about them. You
love them because they haven't played. And I mean there's
a reason why the best time of the year for
college football fans is recruiting season because you get a
huge you know, just top of the line rivals in
twenty four to seven says that you have the best

(16:52):
recruiting class in all of the country. Texas fans, may
I remind you that you've been through this before with
the whole recruiting thing. I mean, remember how everybody used
to say that, you know, Mac Brown, he was the
man for February. He wasn't the man for October, November, December,
in January when it really matters, until he wasn't anymore,
until he finally won, until he had them in position

(17:14):
to be able to play for national championships every year.
So you lose what they did last year in the
receiving corps, it's still I mean, it's it's an outstanding
season what Texas had.

Speaker 2 (17:26):
So we'll talk about that a little bit later on.

Speaker 4 (17:28):
I'm not even try to get Gordy on the phone
because he was at the game last night. Of course
you follow him on social media, you saw that. So
we'll get into all of that and up much more
as well. But coming out next the Texans in this
offensive line might something have been unlocked. We'll at least
let you hear from some in the building who believe
that that is the case, and hopefully they can put
that to work today against the LA Chargers. We'll talk

(17:50):
about that and much more on the other side. You
want a way in, you can do so someone three
two one two five seven ninety. Once again at someone
three two one two five seven nine zero.

Speaker 5 (18:00):
This is Space City Saturday on Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 2 (18:06):
For me, it's something like that.

Speaker 3 (18:07):
What does it do.

Speaker 2 (18:08):
Does it make you play harder?

Speaker 6 (18:10):
Because somebody said that, Does it change like we've played hard?

Speaker 2 (18:14):
Anyway?

Speaker 6 (18:14):
We're gonna bring our style of football, our brand of
football on Saturday, regardless, irregardless of what anyone talking head's
opinion is about us. Right, So it really doesn't drive
or doesn't change our approach one bit.

Speaker 4 (18:31):
Texans head coach Tamiko Ryans earlier this week talking about,
of course, the Rex Ryan comments that he made about
this Texans team having no chance in this game. As
a matter of fact, he said, well, the Chargers basically
have a bye week against the Texans, So the disrespect
from him, I mean last year, remember there was the
radio host up in Cleveland who was on a podcast

(18:55):
and was talking about just the absolute no chance the
Texans had in this game. And then Christian Harrison Company
said okay, yeah, hey, we'll see about that and ended
up being an absolute blowout the Texans fashion.

Speaker 2 (19:08):
I mean, look, that's the playoffs for you.

Speaker 4 (19:10):
I mean, you can come into a game and a
team looks like they are just dead men walking. I
mean they just have zero chance to be able to
win that game, and then they end up just pulling
off a hell.

Speaker 2 (19:21):
Of a win.

Speaker 4 (19:21):
I mean the Chiefs last year exactly that. They go
up to Buffalo and you're thinking, all right, they have
no chance to beat the Bills. They beat the Bills.
Then the following week, oh man, did you see the
way the Ravens looked against the Texans in the divisional round?
No chance the Ravens are going on to the super Bowl.
And the Chiefs said, okay, we'll see about that. And
the Chiefs were able to see about that and move on.

(19:43):
So that's the playoffs. I mean, there's a reason why
you're still moving on to the next round because you
earned it. And that's what Texans are trying to do today.
So we will see if they are able to do
that again. If you want to jump in on the
phone lines, you can do so. Someone three two one
two five seven ninety. Again that's seven one three two
one two five seven nine zero. As we were talking

(20:06):
about the offensive line and things that have started to
make things work for the Texans, one of the things
that seemingly has worked is the Texans moving at Titus
Howard inside over the left guard and also having Blake
Fisher over at right tackle and C. J. Stroud talking
about that earlier this week, the moves that precipitated the

(20:26):
Texans to have the offensive line formation that they have
at the moment.

Speaker 7 (20:30):
Yeah, you know, he's been able to do a great
job in there and holding his own you know, definitely
just being a just a comfort blanket, you know, I know,
I know he's gonna do his job every time and
just have that interior lockdown or you know, the interior
structure like it's kind of like a wall, you know,
the three interior guy. So you know, it's definitely helpful

(20:50):
having him in there. I'm just you know, happy that
you know, he's happy doing it, and you know, I'm
proud of him that he, you know, is that type
of guy for the teams to go in there, even
though he's his natural positions tackle. Who know, but to
go on their half success has been really awesome to want.

Speaker 2 (21:05):
So I mean CJ.

Speaker 4 (21:07):
Strouds liked it, and if the quarterback likes it, well,
then it seems like everybody else likes it to ye,
and that is what sections have had to this point.
Of course, you scrugs over there at the right guard spots.
I mean, it was one game, and yes, it was
against a decent enough defensive front, but also too, you
were playing against a team that it was more advantageous
for them to lose than it was for them to win.

(21:28):
I'm not saying that Tennessee was not putting forth the
effort in order to try and win that game last week,
but also, I mean, again, it's a game that didn't
necessarily matter to you, and it's a game that would
have been better for them to have lost. So today,
I think it's going to be the true test of
have these offensive line changes worked. I mean, we've heard
Bobby Slowik, We've heard Demiko Ryans and others talk about

(21:51):
how they've liked the way that things have looked and
that the offensive line has improved over the last few weeks.
But also, I mean, you've still seen a game that's
been pedestrian at best, and that might even be nice.
And today if you are able to get mixing going,
which I mean, here's the thing, if you're Bobby Slowick,
throw it all out today. I mean absolutely just dig

(22:13):
deep into that bag of tricks you've got, even into
the deck of cards. I mean, I know that I've
reeled against him with the trick plays of saying you
can't even do the basics right? What are you doing
with trick plays? But I mean switch some things up.
I'd like to see Joe Mixon use a little bit
more in the passing game today. What do we see
Steve Sarkisian do last night with that Texas offense where

(22:34):
he said, yeah, i'm our receivers. I mean Matthew Golden
being out that hurts, and I mean I'm trying to
be able to find any offense as possible. Oh yeah, hey,
we'll start using Jayden Blue in the passing game. And
the both touchdowns they had what was it, Jaden Blue
out of the backfield. So that's something that I think
if you're Bobby Slowick, I mean they you know, throw
all abandoned away and just absolutely just go for it

(22:56):
today because you've got nothing to lose at this point.

Speaker 2 (22:59):
You don't don't play well and you do.

Speaker 4 (23:01):
The same things you're doing offensively that have put you
in the position to lose seven games this year, well
then you're going home. But if you're able to put
together one of the best game plans you've had this season,
well then you get another chance to try to put
together another great game plan. And that's what the Texans
are trying to do, and they're hoping that the offensive
line is going to be a huge factor in them
being able to do so. Like I said, we were

(23:23):
gonna hear from a couple of our guests yesterday on
the A Team, and we will do that next. As yesterday,
we'll start with previewing the Chargers side of things because
Isaac Lohencron from the LA Chargers Radio Network, he does
the pre and post games for the Chargers Radio Network.

Speaker 2 (23:41):
He joined us on the.

Speaker 4 (23:42):
A team and we will let you hear that visit
next as we preview the Texans and the Chargers Wildcard
Round over at NRG Stadium a little bit later on today,
I'm Dan Matthews here on your Home the Astros and
the Rockets Sports Talks seven to.

Speaker 5 (23:56):
Ninety City Saturday continues on Sports Talk seven ninety Alvin
Brown This weather outside it is definitely not what Jazzy
Jeff and Will everybody's singing about in this song, but
soon enough it will be.

Speaker 4 (24:17):
I mean, look, that's a funny thing whenever we have
cold weather. And by the way, we're gonna hear from
Isaac Glow and kron here in just a second. But
I mean it cracks me up of you know, living here,
of people, Oh you know it's seventy eighty degrees during
the wintertime. I'm like, that's awesome, Like I love that.
I mean, you're telling me that other parts of the
country are like in like the load to mid thirties,

(24:39):
high twenties, and we're down here able to wear shorts
and T shirts. Like, yeah, I'm about that. Let's let's
live that life, so we'll have it soon enough. I mean,
I made a joke with Charles Davis, who we had
on of course with the eighteen earlier this week. He
got in the town on Thursday and I was like, well, Charles,
how are you liking your taste of winter in Houston?

(25:01):
And he was like, I guess it's everywhere. And I
was like, yeah, well, you know, we get we get
a taste of it here. We get about a couple
of weeks where you step outside and you're like, woh o, man,
that gets you right down to the bones. Not often
then do we. So soon enough, don't worry. We'll get
back into the sixties, seventies, eighties, and then soon enough
we're gonna be in the nineties and then the triples.

(25:23):
So just patience, we'll get there. We'll get there. Trust me,
it'll warm up soon. But the Texans are hoping that
they can warm up against the LA Chargers. And speaking
of the LA Chargers, let's get a preview of that
side the matchup today because yesterday on the A team,
Isaac Lohencron from the Chargers Radio network joined Adam and Adam.

(25:43):
So sit back, relax, and let's enjoy that visit Texans
back in the Wildcard round.

Speaker 8 (25:47):
So naturally, it is a three point thirty kickoff. It's
the first game of the NFL wild Card Weekend that
runs through Monday night. The Chargers and Justin Herbert come to town,
and with that we have an opportunity to go and
check in on those Chargers. Isaac Lohan Kron of the
San Diego Chargers. See, I waited all week, it's Friday,
it's a final opportunity, and I actually did it on purpose,

(26:09):
just for a see, I love it. Los Angeles Chargers
Radio Network Isaac Lohan Kron to join us here.

Speaker 9 (26:16):
I guess I'll start on the injury front.

Speaker 8 (26:18):
Was there anything to be made of them activating a
wide receiver for this game or pulling him off of
IR because of Quentin Johnston's situation, just even from a
depth standpoint.

Speaker 10 (26:31):
Yeah, I'll get that to that in a minute. What's
this about Big City Wings in studio? Can you save
me some cool Ranch dry blend please?

Speaker 9 (26:38):
We can do that anytime.

Speaker 2 (26:40):
Look at this, I mean, you.

Speaker 10 (26:42):
Know, well, well we'll have to save it, but I'm
willing to do it.

Speaker 11 (26:45):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (26:45):
No.

Speaker 12 (26:45):
To answer your question, Simi Fajoco, who.

Speaker 10 (26:50):
They who they activated off of injured reserve? I don't
think that's related to Quentin Johnson's injury. My sense is
the Quentin Johnston will definitely play tomorrow.

Speaker 12 (27:03):
The question is will he be at one hundred percent?

Speaker 10 (27:06):
Because the reason is attributed to illness and a thigh injury. Obviously,
as you guys know, he's coming off the best game
of his career against the Raiders last week. So my
guess is he plays. I can't say for sure, how
whether it'll be one hundred percent effective. I'm not sure
the semi fojoco thing is one hundred percent related to that.

(27:31):
The other thing from an injury standpoint, you know, JK.
Dobbins was on the injury report this week because of
an ankle injury. He was limited in practice all week.
I'm certain he's going to play. The question with him
is going to be, you know, is he going to
be at one hundred percent effectiveness? They did elevate another
running back earlier today, but he's a guy who's played
on special teams this year. So I think both of

(27:53):
those guys will play. I think the question is will
they be at one hundred percent effectiveness?

Speaker 2 (27:58):
Isaac?

Speaker 13 (27:58):
What was what was the hyperbolic statement that you got
a bigger kick out of from Rex Ryan the fact
that this is a bye week for the Chargers, or
the fact that he's already putting Justin Herbert in the
Hall of Fame.

Speaker 10 (28:10):
Look, I am shocked that Rex Ryan is picking against
a team that as a player on its roster named
Henry too too, and they also have a guy on
their roster named Tommy Togi. I yet Rex Ryan is
picking against that team. It doesn't make sense to me,

(28:34):
knowing what we all know about Rex Ryan.

Speaker 12 (28:39):
That being said, I see.

Speaker 2 (28:40):
What you're doing there.

Speaker 9 (28:41):
We all know you're telling us that Rex Ryan put
his foot in his mouth.

Speaker 10 (28:44):
We get it, not the first time, not the last time.
But I just honestly didn't take that very seriously, and
most importantly, the Chargers didn't take it seriously because, as
you guys know, as we break down this matchup, and
Greg Roman, the Chargers offensive coordinator, said it yesterday, this

(29:07):
is the fastest defense that they played this season, and
they're a big play defenses, you guys know. I mean
second in the NFL and interceptions, fourth in sacks. They've
allowed the lowest completion percentage in the NFL. So you know,
my read on the game is the I think the
Chargers are going to win on paper. I think that
they're the better team on paper. But at the same time,

(29:31):
absolutely the Texans have a capability to win this game
for sure, and most importantly, the Chargers know that themselves
full well as well.

Speaker 8 (29:38):
What kind of play has the one postseason game for
Justin Herbert and how it went.

Speaker 9 (29:44):
What kind of play is that gotten?

Speaker 10 (29:45):
This week, it's been less about him, but more about
it from a team wide standpoint, because you know, he
had a really solid game against Jacksonville. He threw for
two seventy three, did not turn the ball over. But
the issue was more that it was a team wide failure.

(30:07):
I mean, Joey Bosa very memorably had two unsportsmanlike conduct
penalties in the second half of that game. As I recalled,
during Jacksonville's game winning drive, they allowed a long jet
sweep run on a fourth down play that got them
into position for a game winning field goal. Jacksonville, during

(30:28):
that comeback, pulled off a couple of successful two point conversions.
So I would say it's more of a team wide
narrative than it is a Justin Herbert narrative. Now, if Herbert,
you know, uncharacteristically, say, has a multi interception game tomorrow
and they wind up losing, and you know, he's done

(30:50):
literally a virtually historic job of limiting his interceptions this year.
But if he has, like a multiple interception game against
a Houston team that has shown a proclivity particularly you
know Derek Sningley and Kylen Bullock of coming up with
big plays and making interceptions, then I think he'll probably
be the target for the national narrative.

Speaker 8 (31:11):
Well, it's been quite some time since Herbert did that.
How about Week six or week seven of the twenty
three season, the last time he had a multi interception game.
How about what should be moving forward and probably is
even today his number one target. The ninth wide receiver
drafted in twenty twenty four was Lad McConkie, and you
could make an argument, a pretty good one, that he

(31:31):
had the most successful season of all of the wide
receivers drafted. All things considered, he probably played with the
best quarterback, But it did seem rather quick that they
got on the same page. The style of wide receiver
that mcconkee is might not have people comparing him to
neighbors or Brian Thomas Junior or things like that, but
the production, especially this back half of the season, it's

(31:54):
been up there with all of the veteran receivers.

Speaker 9 (31:57):
In the league.

Speaker 10 (31:58):
Absolutely, And going into this season, people were penciling in
the Chargers number one receiver as DJ Shark, who wound
up missing the first half of the season with a
groin injury and wound up with just four receptions all
season long. But mcconkee has been amazing from day one,
and there was there was a particular stretch during the

(32:20):
course of the season. I would say it was roughly
about two thirds of the way through the season when
for one reason or another, McConkie was essentially the only
dependable wide receiver that the Chargers had. So you knew
on a gotta have it play, particularly on third down

(32:42):
and medium, third down and long. You knew that the
ball was going to him. The defense knew the ball
was going to him, yet they still couldn't stop him,
and he still converted. That was I think the most
impressive part of an extremely impressive season, the fact that
there was a point in the season where, on God

(33:03):
to have a place the defense knew it was going
to Lad mcconkeye and they still couldn't stop him. And
as you guys know, what's fascinating tomorrow is he very
well could be matched up against his college teammate for
two national championships at Georgia and Kamari Lassiter.

Speaker 13 (33:20):
Jim Harbaugh this time last year was getting prepared to
win a National Championship right here in Houston. What has
Year one of the Jim Harbaugh experience been like there
in La Oh, It's.

Speaker 10 (33:33):
Been manna from heaven for Chargers fans, because from a
Chargers fans standpoint especially, there was no plan B.

Speaker 12 (33:43):
It was Jim Harbaugh or bust.

Speaker 10 (33:46):
And that was Charger fans put literally all their eggs
in Jim Harbaugh's basket. When they fired Brandon Staley and
Tom to LESCo towards the end of last season. I mean,
we had callers to our show. Was because they were
in town for the Rose Bowl and it was around
his birthday. I'm not sure how the timing lined up,

(34:07):
but we literally had callers calling in after you know,
Charger games last season singing Jim Harbaugh Happy Birthday.

Speaker 12 (34:14):
On the air.

Speaker 10 (34:15):
They had, you know, Chargers fans stalking. This too much
of a word, but I would say recruiting him when
Michigan had their team day at Disneyland before the Rose
Bowl last year, and in so many ways, tangibly and
just from just from an organizational soul standpoint, he's transformed

(34:37):
the Chargers. I mean from a statistical standpoint, you look
at the pass defense, thirtieth in the NFL last year seventh.
This year, scoring defense goes from twenty fourth to first.
But just as sort of a CEO and a leader
of this team, some of the moves he's made with
bringing in Jesse Minter as the defensive coordinator, Ben Herbert
as the lead strength and conditioning guy, even the rehab

(35:02):
from injuries seems to have gone quicker than it has
last season. Just at all aspects of the organization. The
results speak from themselves. Just as a thought exercise earlier today,
I went and looked at their schedule, and there are
five or six games that the Chargers won this season
that last year's team before Jim Harbaugh would have lost.

(35:23):
And you know, there hasn't been too significant of a
change in personnel between this year and last year's team.
In fact, from a personnel standpoint, you know, they lost
Austin Eckler, Mike Williams, and Keenan Allen. So you could
actually make the argument that maybe they were not as
good on paper going into this season as they were
last year.

Speaker 9 (35:40):
You probably could.

Speaker 8 (35:41):
But I think looking back at it now, noting what
they did do to try to accommodate those wide receiver losses. Clearly,
we have already talked about McConkey. You really mentioned. The
last thing I wanted to get to was probably what
he did with his defensive staff. They hadn't been in
the top twenty in points allowed defensively for four seasons, obviously,
none of the seasons with the pre head coach. I
am curious though they're number one in scoring defense obviously

(36:04):
number one and fewest points allowed. I do think the
offense probably plays a little bit of a role with
how few turnovers they had in field position and things
that go along with that. But in looking at some
of what they did, teams can and have moved the
ball against them, but they don't score.

Speaker 9 (36:20):
What is it that they're doing so well?

Speaker 10 (36:22):
It's just they're phenomenal in red zone and goal to
go situations. I mean they're first in the league in
red zone touchdown percentage and their third in goal to
go defense, and I think from a run stopping standpoint,
they're really good in short yardage goal line situations. I

(36:43):
think a big reason for that is Derwin James, who's
had a career year and really a career renaissance. I
think he's being used in a much more effective way.
I mean, he had a career high ten tackles for
loss this season. But at the same time, they have
ranked first and third in those categories. You know, as

(37:03):
you mentioned anecdotally, there have been stretches this year where
they have been susceptible to big plays. And oddly enough,
I look at a guy like Damian Pierson if I'm
a Chargers fan, and you know, no disrespect to Joe Mixon,
who's a Pro bowler and a thousand yard rusher, but
Damian Pierce is a guy who obviously, you know, ninety

(37:25):
two yard touchdown run against the Titans whatever. You know,
Tennessee was already out of it. But I remember very
well two years ago this guy ran for one thirty
one against the Chargers, including a seventy five yard touchdown
run in that game.

Speaker 12 (37:37):
So he's the.

Speaker 10 (37:38):
Guy who has big playability. So certainly, you know, their
numbers and their rankings defensively speak for themselves, but there
have been certain, you know, anecdotal moments throughout the season
where they have been vulnerable to big plays.

Speaker 8 (37:53):
Well, I'll take that and walk you out the door
with the numbers. Conversely, the Chargers, as you mentioned first
in red zone defense third in Gold to Go percentage defense,
the Texans twenty seventh and thirtieth defensively, respectively. Great defense,
it's exactly the opposite. They have not been good in
those situations where the Chargers have really good stuff.

Speaker 9 (38:15):
Very entertaining matchup.

Speaker 8 (38:16):
I think we're in store for and Isaac, we certainly
appreciate your time this afternoon.

Speaker 10 (38:20):
Thank you, and I can't wait to try that boneless
wing basket for Big City Wings.

Speaker 12 (38:25):
Appreciate your time, guys, thank you.

Speaker 13 (38:27):
I love this guy absolutely, and Big City Sam loves
him too.

Speaker 2 (38:30):
He does.

Speaker 4 (38:31):
Yeah, Well, Sam's probably hurting a little bit this morning. Sam,
if you're out there listening, I'm sorry, man Sam over
at Big City Wings, huge Texas guy and unfortunately, like
many Longhorns last night seeing the season come to an end.
But good stuff from Isac Glow and crawn esay on
the A team. If you missed any or all of that,
guess what I got good news for you. The brand

(38:52):
new iHeartRadio app is your friend and you can be
able to go on there, pull up that interview, check
it out, and another primer to get you ready for
today's game.

Speaker 2 (39:02):
All right, let's get back on the clock. We will
do that.

Speaker 4 (39:05):
Also to a new addition to the show, I mentioned
Gordy was at the Cotton Bowl last night. Top of
next hour, we'll get into a little bit of the Texas,
Ohio State and college football playoff conversation as we continue
to move along here on Space City Saturday, Dan Matthews
here with you until noon.

Speaker 1 (39:25):
It's Space City Saturday on Sports Talk seven night.

Speaker 11 (39:29):
Herealy, I never realized the Chargers Gotta Buy didn't qualify
for BIDE, but they did because they're playing Houston. This
team right here at number one in the National Football
League in scoring defense. And by the way, Quinn Johnson,
he actually could catch the ball. He was on thirteen catches.
Remember this is a kid that couldn't catch a cold,
like all of a sudden, now he's catching the ball.

Speaker 2 (39:51):
They're moving it.

Speaker 11 (39:51):
They can they can pound you with the run game.
They also realize they have a Hall of Fame quarterback.

Speaker 4 (39:57):
Turn Paul back up, Melvin, Come on, we got we
got to hear from Paul, especially after that dribble that
we just heard from Rex. Ryan Rex, worry about trying
to be a retread with the Jets. Okay, all of
the jokes and everything. Actually he didn't really have jokes.
I mean he actually had facts. But still, like I said,
the playoffs doesn't necessarily matter in that regard, and that's

(40:18):
what Texans are trying to do today as they get
the Chargers here in town for a chance to keep
their season alive. Dan Matthews here with you on Space
City Saturday. If you missed me saying it here in
about ten minutes, we're gonna hear from Chris Gordy. He's
gonna be calling into the show, so we'll talk a

(40:38):
little bit about the college football playoff because I did
want to make most of today about the Texans and
the Chargers. Of course, I mean, we don't know if
the next time we talk to you on Space City Saturday,
we're gonna be talking about a Texans game day. We
might at that point be talking about a Texans off
season that came a little bit earlier than people before
the season hoped that it would. But they're trying to

(41:01):
avoid that possibility at all costs. I mentioned at the
top of the show, if you haven't heard, this, afternoon's
rocket scheme has been postponed. The snow and the ice
there in the Atlanta area is not allowing for the
game to be played. I mean, I said it earlier
and I'll repeat it again. Atlanta is a lot like Houston.

(41:21):
When we get these types of weather in the area.
It's kind of like Californians with rain. You just don't
necessarily know how to deal with it. And I'm not
saying that, you know, blind to what's happening right now,
by the way, I don't want people to think that
I'm making a joke and it's like off hand.

Speaker 2 (41:36):
I mean, it's just it's a fact.

Speaker 4 (41:37):
I mean, you know, if you've ever been out in
California whenever they have their huge rainstorms that come through,
I mean, it's a lot like snow and ice is here.
I mean, you just don't necessarily know how to deal
with it, how to traverse it if you're trying to
get around wherever you live. And of course we do
think about what's happening out in the LA with the
fires and when the time is appropriate, if you can help,

(42:00):
either with clothing, food, money, donations, any of those things,
absolutely encourage you to do so, because it just looks
devastating out there right now, but that they are trying
to work on a rescheduling of this game. So when
we do have that information, we'll pass that along. So
the Rockets, we'll get over to the airport there in Atlanta,

(42:21):
fly on back here to Houston, and I'm sure that
probably Matt Thomas and the crew hoping that they get
back in time to be able to settle in and
watch this Texans playoff game a little bit later on today.
So that's what the Texans have. But I mean, you know,
we talked about it in something at Isaac Lowan Kron
mentioned in his visit. I want to talk about here
for a couple of seconds. I mean, you know, we're

(42:44):
hearing about the Texans last week and how they really
liked the way that the offensive line looked, and you
heard him bring up the name Damian Pierce in what
he was able to do in that game. And I'm
sure that probably a lot of you look at the
way that the O line played and said, all right,
how much can you really glean from that? And maybe
the same could be said for Damian Pierce. But what

(43:04):
if the Texans unlocked something there of being able to
take some of the pressure off of Joe Mixon where
he doesn't have to be the end all be all
of the run game of maybe you can go a
little bit of off pace here, of go Pierce for
a few plays and see what he's able to give
you in that category, and then you know that's something
else that the Texans can unlock. Because I think that

(43:24):
that's kind of the theme of this Texans offense this
year is we've just been looking for them to kind
of find that next step, and they seemingly never really
found that next step. I mean, it just kind of
seems like it's it's CJ, it's Nico Collins, it's Joe Mixon.
If it's neither of those guys, or either one of
those guys are off well, then the entire thing is

(43:47):
out of whack. And that's how the Texans season has
gone so far to this point. And I mean, you're
just hoping that you are able to get a few
guys that can step forward. I mean, you know, I've
talked about Dalton Schultz numerous times. Dalton Schultz is a
fine enough player. He's a good tight end. He's not great.
You're not going to win because of Dalton Schultz. You
can win with Dalton Schultz, and the same can be

(44:07):
said about John Metchi and Robert Woods and Xavier Xavier Worthy. Boy,
it'd be nice if you had Xavier Worthy, especially after
take Dell one down. But Xavier Hutchinson and some of
the other options that the Texans have on the offensive
side of the ball. I mean, that's what you know.
It always cracks me up whenever you lose your top receiver.
Oh who can you count on? Oh we can count
on these guys. You can't count on those guys. If

(44:29):
you could count on those guys, you would have already
been counting on them. I mean, it's just, you know,
I think you have to say it. You have to
say next man up, you have to do all those
different types of things. But in reality, I mean, you
don't want to let your opponent know we're pretty screwed
when it comes to the receiver corps. And I mean,
just without saying the quiet part out loud, at least

(44:51):
them saying it.

Speaker 2 (44:52):
I'll go ahead and say it for them. Yeah, you
don't have Nico.

Speaker 4 (44:54):
Collins factoring for you, then you don't have a passing
game because everybody else, you know, they can get you
some yards, but they can't necessarily be able to get
you the amount of offensive production that you need to
have and want to have, and that's what the Texans
are hoping can be a possibility for them today. So
we'll see if indeed that does become the case. But

(45:16):
the Texans come into this one as underdogs as I'm
looking at the guys on postseason NFL Countdown on the
Four Letter Network right now making their game picks, and
so far that's chalk they're going with the Chargers in
this one. So hopefully it can be one of those
of hey, everybody doubts us, and the Texans can be
able to pull ahead tonight. All right, We're gonna take

(45:37):
just a slight detour from the Texans conversation. We'll get
back into it here in the next hour, because I
do want to get into a little bit of the
college football playoff game we saw and even heard last
night right here on Sports Talk seven ninety as Chris
Gordy was in the building. We will talk at Texas
and Ohio State with Gordy coming up next right here.
Space City Saturday, Dan Matthews here with you for one

(45:58):
more hour.

Speaker 1 (46:07):
Welcome aboard, Welcome to another Space City Saturday on Sports
Talk seven ninety Dad Matthews Live and local h town
breakdown of the world that matters to you, the Houston
sports world.

Speaker 2 (46:21):
All these great Houston fans here.

Speaker 1 (46:23):
We love you all, So finish up on that to
do list. Flute up the cooler because you can't drink
in talk sports all day if you don't start.

Speaker 2 (46:34):
Now bear me the eight.

Speaker 12 (46:36):
This is Space City Saturday. That's insane.

Speaker 1 (46:40):
Here's seven nineties, Dad Matthews. Indeed, it is Space City Saturday.

Speaker 4 (46:46):
We continue to roll along here on your home of
the Astros and the Rockets. Not a ton of Astros
conversation today, just because it hasn't been a ton to
get into on that front. So I'm sure as shows
go along, I mean, as the days go by, we're
that much closer to pitchers and catchers reporting and the
season getting underway in earnest, so we'll have.

Speaker 2 (47:07):
That soon enough.

Speaker 4 (47:09):
But as promised, we head to the hot line and
we hear from Chris Gordy, especially after last night's Ohio
State Texas game, Ohio State winning. Moving on, they'll face
Notre Dame in the championship game. As Gordy, I mean,
first and foremost, I mean, it sounds like you're on
the road already. Do you make the BUCkies stopper? I guess,

(47:30):
so hold on here, I gotta do the Matt Thomas thing.
Do you make the Muckies stop in Ennis or do
you wait until Madisonville?

Speaker 3 (47:38):
Wait for Madisonville. That's kind of more of a what
more of a halfway point, I guess. But I was
shocked yesterday we stopped off there and I was shocked
how many Ohio State fans are there, and then pretty
shocked getting into the stadium last night and seeing it
was about fifty to fifty of Ohio State fans. I
know they travel well and then they got a big

(47:59):
fan base, but I just thow it being in you know,
Texas backyard in Dallas, that you know that it was
going to be close to seventy percent of Texas fans
and that was not the case last night.

Speaker 4 (48:09):
So let's start there with Texas. I mean, at least
on the field with the Longhorns. And I mean, you know,
I talked about the blame that Steve Sarkisian's getting, but
the blame that quinn Ewarts is getting.

Speaker 2 (48:20):
I mean, do you think it's valid?

Speaker 4 (48:21):
Do you do you think that it's necessarily a, Hey,
you should have just pulled a saban like he did
with Jalen Hurts and with Tuatongo Bai Looa and went
with two on the second half of that game. I mean,
did you necessarily feel like it was all on Quinn?

Speaker 3 (48:35):
No? I mean high Tights twenty twenty. I'll say this,
the right tackle is that Cam Williams whatever his name is.
He he had been he had been hurt, and you know,
he got hurt in the Clemson game, warmed up to
the Arizona State game, did not play in that one,
and then all signs were this week that he was
back at practice and he was ready to go. But

(48:56):
my god, he was bad. I mean, it was it was,
It was awful. And so you know that that that
pocket was just crumbling for Quinn uh many times throughout
that first half, and then even when he did have time, man,
he was sailing some balls. I mean it felt like
every pass he threw was high and guys were having
to jump up and grab it and it just was

(49:18):
not coming out right. And so I think the the
inclination was, after you havn't keep having these three and
outs and keep having these these drives stall I think
some people were calling for, look, is it time to
just put in arts just for our drive? And Stark
stunned a couple of times this year. Remember the Georgia game.
I mean, you know they needed to change of pace
and they put arts in there, and uh, you know

(49:41):
they were able to move the ball a little bit.
But I think that's what fans were asking for. So
that's kind of where I think the criticism comes from
from Quinn yours on that last you know, that the
big possession where they get to the goal line and
they don't score. You know, the fourth down play Jack
Sawyer just completely with the right tackle and and breaks free.

(50:01):
And I don't know, if you're quit Yours, what you
can really do at that point. I mean, I just
I hate it because on a fourth down, a fourth,
fourth and goal, you got to get the ball out right,
I mean you fumble in and then he takes it
back the other way. For sixth game, it's game over.
You know, in that scenario, even with pressure in your stace,
just throw it up. If it gets intercepted, it gets intercepted,

(50:23):
But you want to at least give yourself a chance
when you when you get sacked and fumble the ball,
you give your team no chance to win. So I get,
you know, there there is some blame to go on
Quinn yours, but he's not the main reason you'll ofst
last night. I mean I thought, I thought the play
calling from Stark, particularly that second that second downplay when
they got second in goal, you know where they try

(50:44):
to run with it like a toss out to the
left with with Trey Wiser. I mean, Trey Wiser is
not a speedy guy. He's a good running back, but
like that's that's something you run with like an Alvin
Kamara type back, like a guy who's just really and
it's gonna beat everybody the edge. Trey Weiser was not
going to beat everybody in the edge and galed down

(51:05):
write it perfectly. He busts right through the eight gaps
and I'm blowing this up and ends up what being
a six seven yard loss on second and goal and
now suddenly third and fourth goal. You're you're predictable, impredictable
passing down. So yeah, I think I think that coaching
staff at Texas is waking up this morning kind of
scratching her head, saying what if, what could have been?

(51:26):
I thought you know, first and goal from the one,
they run it, they get stuffed. It's second and goal
from the one. I wonder if that's a package, I
would have brought in arch Manning and put him under
center and say just just get us a yard, right,
you know, I just think there's just so many moments
in that game that you're gonna look at. But also
sucks for Vegas too. I mean, it's not seeing for

(51:48):
anybody who bet up that game. If Texas plus the
six points, you're feeling pretty good. Well, they're about to
go punch this thing in and tie it up twenty
one twenty one, and you know, send this thing to
overtime instead, and it's you know, it's a fumble six
the other way and it's twenty eight to fourteen that
you know, ohih State gets the cover.

Speaker 2 (52:07):
Yeah, I mean you touched on a little bit.

Speaker 4 (52:09):
And I mean, like you said your words, hidesight is
twenty twenty And we say that all the time whenever
we're talking about situations like this. But I mean, were
you necessarily kind of surprised that Sark looked at that
as this is the game instead of hey, let's kick
the field.

Speaker 14 (52:23):
Goals?

Speaker 4 (52:23):
Still got a couple of timeouts, still got the two
minute and be able to try to give the defense
a chance.

Speaker 3 (52:30):
Yeah, I think, like I've met several people bringing this
up to me. Dude, TARKIESI was hired at Texas because
he is an offensive guru, and yet so many times
in these big games he has had at Texas, the
defense shows up, but the offense is not. And that's
something that's got to be fixed. There is one exception,

(52:51):
when they went to Alabama last year, won in Tusco, lose.
The offense was very good. That's how they won the game.
But some of these other games, I mean the playoff
game again Washington last year, the two games against Georgia
this year, and then and then this game the you know,
this is supposed to be your forte. It's supposed to
be an electrifying offense. Instead it's it's a defense playing

(53:12):
there behind off and an offense that's trying to figure
it out, that can't that can't put together you know,
uh scoring drives and again to o High State's very good.
That's a really good defense that they went up against.
But they've got to figure this out moving forward. And
you know, all signs points to Quinn yours is moving
on and it's Archie Manning, and I think most of

(53:34):
us are e side. I'm an arch Truther. I think
I think he the sky's the limit for word archer
man it can become. But is it going to be
more of the same? Are there going to be losses
for Texas over the next two years where you know,
they playing some of these big, meaningful games and the
offense spots down that you know, that's that's just a
It's an interesting takeaway because there's been a hitful of

(53:54):
these games Undersea Sarkis in the last couple of years
where it just seems like the moment's too big for
him and his play calling.

Speaker 4 (54:01):
Well, I mean, look, I say it all the time, though,
Gordy with you know what you're saying. And by the way,
Chris Gordy joined us here Space City Saturday on his
way back from last night's Cotton Bowl. I mean, what
you just said right there is true until it isn't.
I mean, we're a game away from people saying Ryan
Day national Championship winning head coach, when less than a
month ago people wanted Ryan Day out after losing to

(54:23):
Michigan again. I mean, isn't that kind of the case
for Sark that he just has to get over that
hump and then people can say, all right, Sark can
handle these he can handle these moments.

Speaker 3 (54:34):
Yeah. But you know, there was a real opportunity for
him here. I mean, when you talk about the SEC
as a conference is taking it on the chin now,
because you know, post Nick Saban, with Kirby Smart Georgia
coming up short a second straight year, I think a
lot of people are looking around saying, who's the elite coaches?
You know, who's the dominant coaches? And I think there

(54:55):
was a real opportunity for Steve Sarkizy to grab the
bull by the horns here and send a message and
go win Texas's first championship since Fit Young. I mean,
my god, the Longhorn Network played the film Burned Up.
They replayed that the Young Long Longhorn Championship game so
many times. I mean, that's that's how long it's been,
you know, since they've achieved the ultimate glory, And he

(55:17):
had a real opportunity here to get this thing done
and get to a championship game where they would have
been heavy favor over there. Dame Nary came out for
Ohio State. They're sitting. I want to see them.

Speaker 4 (55:28):
I think we've lost Gordy here for a second. We'll
put them on hold, see if we can get him
back on. I mean, you know, driving there on the
North Freeway as you know, a little bits of a
dead spot there. But I mean, look, I mean for
everything that Gordy just talked about right there, I mean
with Steve Sarkisian and and with this Texas team of
just trying to get over that hurdle of getting back

(55:50):
to the National championship game. I mean, you know, Gordy,
as you were talking about, I mean, you know, just
with your with your thoughts off of Sark.

Speaker 2 (55:59):
Yeah, I got you, Yeah, Yeah, I got you.

Speaker 3 (56:01):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (56:01):
What we're saying, oh, just I mean what you were
saying about Sark and just I mean trying to be
able to get over the hurdle of getting back to
the National championship picture.

Speaker 3 (56:10):
Yeah. What the point I was trying to make was
like with Saban gone and like you know, it's sarking
a real opportunity to join the Elite Coaches Club here,
you know, because they would have been heavy favorites over
over Notre Dame had they gotten you know, had they
won this game and got to the championship game. So
I still think he's a very good coach, but you're
you're judged by what you do in the postseason. I mean,

(56:31):
you look at LSU and Brian Kelly, he is you
know that there's a lot of pressure on him to
at minimum make the playoff this year. You know, Lane
Kiffin and Ole this, they love him and he's won
in ten games a year, but you got to start
having some postseason success. And I think at Georgia they're
gonna start looking at Kirby smarting, hey man, two straight
years of you know, losing, you know, not winning the championship, Like,
what's going on here after if he won back to back?

(56:53):
You know, Clemson I think is starting to look at
it with Dabo saying, hey man, remember we will get
the championships. When's that gonna happen again? So you know
this some really good coaches out there, but you know,
Jim Harball ran off to the NFL. I mean it's
you start to look around at the WORLA College Football
and say, who is the elite coaches right now? Yeah?

Speaker 4 (57:11):
I mean it really is kind of a you know,
interesting discussion that can be had. I mean, for a
lot of people, they thought that was Kirby and then
the last couple of years they've come up shorts. And
you know, people don't necessarily look at Ryan Day that way.
I mean, maybe Marcus Freeman is somebody I mean, especially
if he's able to handle business on the twentieth that
could be said, get you out the door on this one.
I mean, you know, we hadn't talked a ton about

(57:33):
this Texas defense. You're gonna lose Andrew mccouba, You're gonna
lose Jaday Barron. I mean a lot of really good
players in that secondary. But I mean, you know you've
still got Colin Simmons is somebody that's gonna be counted
on going forward. I mean, you know, just how how
do you think they feel about that side of the
ball heading into next season.

Speaker 3 (57:51):
Yeah, at Anthony Hill too, I mean that they're they're
recruiting at a high level. I mean, I think Texa
is gonna be fine. You schedule, they had the easiest
schedule in the SEC this year in terms of their
first season in the conference, and they keep the same opponents.
It's just homing away flips, So you know, I do

(58:12):
think it. You know, going to Georgia is going to
be very difficult again. You know, we'll see if Kirby
Smart gets yet another one over over Start. But the
big one that nobody's really talking about, and they will
as we get closer, is going to Florida next year
is going to be very difficult. DJ Lagway the excuston
Kidd up from from Willis. I was talking to somebody

(58:32):
last night who's in the know, who said that kid
is top ten pick all over him, you know two
years from now when he is expected to go out.
So that's going to be one to keep an eye on.
And so those are those are two games right off
the bat where you know walkouts very well could be
road underdogs next year. And you know, you consider I
believe I want to say they're they're opening game. Don't

(58:53):
they play at Ohio State or in their opener? I mean,
it's a it's a pretty brutal schedule next year. So
just the soon them Longhorns will just take care of business.
They'll be right back back in this thing next year.
It's not it's not an automatic assumption. But you know,
if arch manon lives up to the hype. They'll they'll
have a great chance.

Speaker 4 (59:10):
Well, gord To, you're the best appreciate it's the Southwest
Trail mix there at Muky's is fantastic if you feel inclined.
Of course, the brisket sandwiches. You can never go wrong.
You can really never go wrong with many things. Right
there at the great spot with the beaver on the sign,
so safe.

Speaker 2 (59:28):
Drive back.

Speaker 3 (59:29):
Yeah, I'm gonna scoop it up. Let me give you
a quick texting thought real quick, since that's coming up.
I I understand there they're underdogs, but man like, okay
to meet going company. You were ahead of schedule last year.
You want a home playoff game, and then you went
lost in the second round in Baltimore. We get that,
but it was a successful season. Everybody who's expecting this

(59:50):
team to take the next step this year. And I
understand the injuries. You lost Bak Dell, you lost Steph Diggs,
but you're playing a whole playoff game. This was this
was the goal. You cannot lose to the Chargers. I mean,
if you lose your first round playoff game, it's a
big black eye on Tomico and the hope and the
optimism for this organization I think starts the flounder a

(01:00:12):
little bit. So I don't care how they do it, Dan,
I don't care if they win nine to eight. You know,
find a way to find a way to win today,
whatever it takes. They cannot lose this game. If you
lose this game, man, there's gonna be a lot of
downtrodden fans wondering, you know, is this Are we heading
in the right direction here? So find a way?

Speaker 4 (01:00:29):
A lot of Texans fans asking that same question, no
doubt about it. Chris Gordy again on his way back
from the Cotton Bowl last night. Gordy, you're the best
drive safe and we'll catch up with you soon.

Speaker 3 (01:00:39):
I bet you all right.

Speaker 4 (01:00:40):
See you a buddy, Chris Gordy again, And yeah, he's
not wrong about the Texans, but also too, I mean
with Texas, I mean a lot of what could have
beens again, I mean, you were in the same situation
last year against Washington and you're wondering to yourself, Man,
if Ady Mitchell catches that football, are we, you know,
talking about a Texas team that has a chance. You

(01:01:00):
probably give Michigan a much better game than Washington gave them,
but you weren't there and this year too. It's kind
of just the next step that I've talked about before
that college and just you know, coaches in general have
to be able to try to go through and Demika Ryans,
I think, in some form of fashion, is kind of
going through the same thing as head coach of the Texans.

Speaker 2 (01:01:21):
So we can.

Speaker 4 (01:01:21):
Continue that thought on the other side as well as
something that happened in college football and it's starting to
make people wonder if indeed this is the case. We'll
discuss that as we continue the college football conversation with
the Texas and Ohio State game happening last night, of
course Texas losing twenty eight to fourteen. We'll do that
on the other side right here on your home of

(01:01:43):
the Astros and the Rockets and Texas Long Horns football
and men's basketball here in Houston Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 5 (01:01:52):
Space City Saturday on Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 4 (01:01:56):
Sports Talk seven ninety Space City Saturday, Dan Matthews with
you as getting into a little bit of the Texas
Longhornet conversation last night, falling Ohio State twenty eight to fourteen.
I want to get into a couple of things on
that front here in this segment, but I want to
hear from some of you too as well. It's someone
three two one two five seven ninety one. It's gonna

(01:02:19):
someone three two one two five seven nine zero. Let's
head out to Clin. Let's hear from James here on
Sports Talk seven ninety James, what's going on?

Speaker 15 (01:02:28):
Yeah, that crew last night that was officiating the game.
This is the first time I've ever seen a Texas
Longhorn game where they didn't get the calls they were
supposed to get. I mean, I don't know if that's
a big ten crew, it would, but there was that
secondary of Ohio State was doing whatever they wanted to do.
They were polling them, they were hitting them, and there.

Speaker 3 (01:02:45):
Were no flags.

Speaker 2 (01:02:46):
I don't understand it all. What that officiating crew was
looking at you, did you have the same feeling? Well,
I mean it was an acc crew.

Speaker 4 (01:02:53):
I mean, look, James, I've gotten to the point in
my life where I'm not going to blame referees for
a way the game went. I think, if anything, Ohio
State was a better football team, and Ohio State didn't
do themselves very many favors with some of the penalties
that they had and some of the mistakes that they
made on their end to allow Texas to stay in
this game.

Speaker 2 (01:03:14):
I mean, I think it was for a reason.

Speaker 4 (01:03:15):
Appreciate the call, by the way, I think there was
a reason why Ohio State was favored the way that
they were in this game. Because quarterback wise, I mean,
let's just go ahead and do the tail of to
tape here really quick, and I'll do it as quickly
as possible. Taylor the tape, you'd probably say that Will
Howard better quarterback than Quinn Ewers, at least with what
he has on his side. Because receivers, it's not even close.

(01:03:37):
I mean, one thing that I didn't have a chance
to bring up with Gordy. Just look at these stats
last night on the receiving end for Texas. Their top
two receivers in terms of catches, Trey Wisner six catches,
Jayden Blue five catches.

Speaker 2 (01:03:51):
Everybody else had two to two.

Speaker 4 (01:03:54):
You had DeAndre Moore who had four, but then you
had one from Silas Bolden, one from Ryan wingo from
Isaiah Bond. I mean, I get it. Jeremiah Smith was
only able to help you with one catch for three yards.
But you don't have an amcag Book on your side.
You don't have a Carneal Tait on your side. I mean,
and you even had the running back Trevon Henderson helping

(01:04:15):
out in that regard. So Ohio State's offense wasn't even
really able to operate the way that they wanted to
last night, because if they did, especially Smith, he would
have absolutely had a hell of a game, and he didn't.
I mean, he was only hurt from once he was
targeted I believe three times in that game, but only
came down with one catch. So great job by Pete

(01:04:37):
Quitkowski and that Texas defensive staff, and this is a
good Texas defense. I heard some people throw out that
this group was elite. Last year's group I think was
a lot better than this group. I mean, when you
lose guys like Devandre Sweat and Byron Murphy, that's not
easy to replace. But you had an outstanding secondary and
you're gonna have to replace some of those guys.

Speaker 2 (01:04:58):
John A.

Speaker 4 (01:04:59):
Barron as well as Andrew mccuba, two guys that have
played a lot of meaningful college football, and I mean
especially too at positions on the field. That are so meaningful.
You have to really experience safeties back there. It makes
a difference for the rest of the defense. And that's
not going to be easy to try to have a
couple of guys step in and try to replace what

(01:05:20):
that production you got out of those guys last year. So,
I mean, you know, it comes to referees. You know,
I saw too in Georgia fans. By the way, Texas
fans are joining you on Twitter with the Jack Sawyer
scoop and score that there were other personnel not named
Ryan Day in the white of the sideline. They probably

(01:05:40):
should have gotten the sideline warning. But James, I just
I hate to tell you, referees were not the reason
that Texas lost that game last night. They lost the
game because well, frankly, they just weren't as good as
Ohio State, and that's how it broke down. Let's continue
the conversation. Chris and Sugarland was to weigh in here
on Sports Talk to seven ninety. Chris, what's going on.

Speaker 16 (01:06:00):
All year long years?

Speaker 17 (01:06:01):
Yours always throws a high ball. I mean he threw
he threw four or five last last night that that were,
you know, too high for the receiver. To catch or
they might have caught it, but that they had a
difficult time doing it. However, moving forward, I can't wait
to see Manning and get rid of yours. Everybody I
know has said the same thing, and I'm ready for

(01:06:22):
the for the Manning train to start.

Speaker 2 (01:06:24):
Yeah, I appreciate the call, Chris.

Speaker 4 (01:06:26):
I mean it does sound like that is going to
be a reality, and I think a lot of people
were preparing themselves for that. I mean, you know, there's
questions of will Quinn go to the NFL or will
Quinn go somewhere else? I mean, look, you know, I
mean there are programs out there that feel like they're
a quarterback away from having a chance to be able
to take the next step forward as a program. And

(01:06:46):
I mean with Manning, I think, you know, Texas looks
at it as it's it's his time. I mean, you know,
he's waited patiently. I think that a lot of people
wondered if this would be the year that he would
finally get in. And I think that Steve sarkiz And
looked at a lot like a lot of coaches do, of.

Speaker 2 (01:07:02):
I've got my guy.

Speaker 4 (01:07:04):
If I start switching things up here, then that signals
a little bit of unrest from the top to the
rest of the team, and it kind of sends it
in the chaos. And you know, it's one of those
things that I mean, I was talking about it.

Speaker 2 (01:07:16):
I can't remember what two players.

Speaker 4 (01:07:18):
I think it was the A and M situation where
people were wondering why not go back to Connor Wegman
against Texas in that game, And I said at the time,
I think that Mike Elko looks at it as if
I take the quarterback out at this point and I
go back to Connor Wegman, then I could possibly lose
two guys as opposed to I'm probably going to lose Wegman.

(01:07:39):
I can deal with that. I can't lose two scholarship
quarterbacks that I've got to try to replace in the
portal or trying to bring in a high school kid,
either of those things that just can't happen. And I mean,
at this point with Manning, I'm sure that probably it's
just been you know, decided of Hey, you've waited patiently,
you've paid your dues, you've gotten some playing time.

Speaker 2 (01:07:59):
Now it's your chance to run this team.

Speaker 4 (01:08:01):
And I mean, the thing that's not going to change
next season for you Texas fans is if you don't
improve that receiver room. And I understand too, you had
a lot of really good NFL talent leave the door
last year. Go out the door last year. Jordan Whittington
is an NFL receiver, Xavier Worthy we could see it,
an NFL receiver, ad Mitchell Again, you got through the

(01:08:24):
transfer portal and JT Sanders a really good tight end too.
So a lot of really good talent went out the door,
and trying to replace that is pretty tough. And that
was something with this Texas team coming into this season
that for all the National championship talk, I was like, Hm,
I mean, Matthew Golden a nice player, but is he
somebody that can really be able to propel you into

(01:08:45):
that national championship conversation? Isaiah Bond, same deal there. So talent,
I mean, there is good talent, but it wasn't to
the quality of what you had the year before. And
I don't think anybody can dispute that. Let's close it out.
It's on the long Horn Convererce Station with long Lawn
Scott who wants to weigh in here? On Sports Talk
seven to ninety longlarn Scott, what's up?

Speaker 18 (01:09:05):
Yeah, I mean, ultimately, at the end of the day,
you know, I think we live in a world where
people believe that someone you know, is everything's black and white,
like OHR Quen Years is either amazing or he's terrible,
And I think the reality is somewhere in the middle,
but it's a lot closer to being very good.

Speaker 16 (01:09:21):
And so when you look at a game like last night,
when you have a right tackle and don't I don't
agree with a lot of what Gordy says, but he
nailed that part. When your right tackle plays the kind
of game that he did and we don't pull him
out and put in Trevor Gooseby, that is one of
the biggest reasons why you lose a game like that,
and you're not protecting a guy like quin yours and

(01:09:42):
the idea, did he have some passes that weren't right
on the money? Yeah, But you have a guy like
Isaiah Bond who jumps up in the air to catch
a ball that was at his chest. Why are you jumping? Secondly,
you see a play that's a freakish play right before
the half where they score a touchdown where your defense
just can completely poohs a bed in a way that

(01:10:02):
they haven't all year long, and you're in it. You know,
to me, it's the right tackle, it's the deep pitch
suite down there by the goal line at the end,
and finally it's that abysmal effort right before the halftime.
But the notion that somehow Ohio State was like head

(01:10:22):
and shoulders better than Texas, I never bought that.

Speaker 3 (01:10:24):
To begin with.

Speaker 16 (01:10:26):
Ultimately they won the game. Texas made mistakes, but yeah
and yeah, the wide receiver room is fined. So you know, look,
at the end of the day, you don't aspire to
lose games. You aspire to win them all. And in
year four, looking where Kirby Smart was in Yere for
he was having hell getting over on saving it took
him a while to get there. So it with all

(01:10:48):
due respect to anyone that wants to bash quinn Ewers,
that guy had a big part with getting Texas back
to winning twenty five games over the last two years.
And finally, in a year four of sark as a
guy that has been to live only miss twelve home
games in Austin since nineteen ninety one, as the guy
that's done that and seen a lot of stuff. I'm
closing personal I'm quite pleased with where Sharkegan has this

(01:11:11):
program and very very optimistic and yeah, I think ultimately
arch Manning is going to wind up being better than yours.
But it's his turn. We'll see and if probably you
Aggie's out there.

Speaker 3 (01:11:23):
Suck it.

Speaker 16 (01:11:24):
We're going to put seventy eight on you next year,
number seventy eight.

Speaker 2 (01:11:27):
There you go.

Speaker 4 (01:11:29):
Appreciate appreciate the call Lohrd Scott's you know, I mean
the first party that you brought up about Quinn you wers,
I mean, welcome to life of being a quarterback.

Speaker 2 (01:11:38):
I mean we're doing it here in Houston A CJ. Stroud.

Speaker 4 (01:11:40):
I mean, after the season he had last season, and
you know, some of the mistakes that he's made this year,
some of them have been out of its control and
some of them have been in his control. But with
quarterback pretty much, unless you're perfect throwing four touchdowns a
game and no interceptions, then you're going to have your detractors.
That's that's going to happen. But in terms of the

(01:12:01):
difference between Ohio State and Texas, I mean, I will
agree with you and I and I don't believe I
said head and shoulders. I don't think you were saying
I did. But I mean the Vegas line would tell
you there was a sizeable difference between the two because
if it was closer, I mean, let's just take, for example,
the Penn State Notre Dame game. I mean, you had
at times where Notre Dame was a one and a

(01:12:22):
half point favorite, and then you had right before the
game where the sharp money was coming in on Penn
State and Penn State became a one point favorite. I mean,
if it was a little bit closer in that gap
between the two, then you would have seen Ohio State
be a two and a half three point favorite, you know,
kind of like I mean the Texans example.

Speaker 2 (01:12:39):
Again, they're three point dolls.

Speaker 4 (01:12:41):
Today, So I mean that's that kind of signifies that
the two teams are closer than expected. But I mean,
as I said, personnel wise, across the board, Ohio State,
you don't have a Caleb Downs on your So actually,
now that's a bad example because John A. Barn I
think was the Thorpe Award winner, so it's to say
that for him. But I mean, offensive line wise, you're

(01:13:03):
probably better than they were. But defensively across the board,
I would say Ohio State at all three levels probably
better than this Texas defense.

Speaker 2 (01:13:12):
And I mean.

Speaker 4 (01:13:13):
Receiver wise, definitely they get the advantage on that because
Texas is not having the mechag Buca. They don't have
a Carnal Tait, they don't have a Jeremiah Smith on
their roster. They had those guys last year, but they
didn't have them this year, so that was a difference
in the game. And I mean, you had an experienced
quarterback in Will Howard, which his job basically for the

(01:13:34):
most part is don't make mistakes. With this offensive crew.
You don't make mistakes, we win ball games. And that's
what Ohio States was able to do. They made some mistakes,
penalties and also the interception from Howard earlier in the game,
but all in all, it was a team that I
think was able to just grind down Texas last night
and beat them, and that's how it all shook out.

(01:13:55):
I know that I said we're gonna hear from Aaron
Wilson a little bit earlier. We're gonna get back into
the Texans conversation next because he joined us yesterday on
the A team. He had some good stuff as the
Texans wrapped up their preparation for this game. So we'll
hear that next as we continue to get you ready
for the three point thirty kick over at NRG Stadium.
Dan Matthews here, Space City Saturday Sports Stock seven ninety.

Speaker 5 (01:14:18):
Now return to Space City Saturday Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 14 (01:14:23):
You know what, we.

Speaker 4 (01:14:24):
Don't need to stick around. We don't need sinus issues
to stick around. So I'm sure a lot of you
probably dealing with that right now. By the way, I
mean yesterday, I'm sure you probably heard me when joined
Adam and Adam for Stone Cold Locks. I mean the
voice was a lot deeper still is. But I mean

(01:14:44):
I seriously had so much sinus pressure yesterday that I
felt like I probably looked like mister Mackie from South Park.
I mean, it felt like there was a balloon in
my face yesterday. So anyway, battling through it, doing the
best we can. A couple of things for we hear
from Aaron Wilson. Number one, So I didn't know that
the Texans do a first kick kind of like the Rockets.

(01:15:07):
Do you know the first shot for charity before games?
You have somebody go to the free throw line and
try to knock down a free throw for X amount
of dollars for charity. Well, I guess the Texans do
a first kick and it worked out well for the
Mets this year. And Toro has invited the Grimace, who
of course threw out the first ball for the Mets

(01:15:27):
and they started to get hot as a team last season.
So maybe the Grimace can bring some good vibes to
the Texans today. So we'll see if that's the case.
But speaking of the Texans, definitely do want to let
you hear right now from Aaron Wilson, who joined us
yesterday on the A team to preview today's game.

Speaker 8 (01:15:47):
Why didn't the Texans look at this alignment more? Why
wasn't their competition at center between Scrugs and Patterson? Why
was their competition at guard between Kenyon Green and anybody
at the beginning of the season or off season?

Speaker 14 (01:16:01):
Great questions. Yeah, they instead of having competitions, they active
as if these guys were established pros when none of
them were, with the exception of the Titus Howard's and
Larmie Tumpsons and Jack Mason's. So when you don't have
any competition, you just hand guy's jobs. I would say,
you create a situation where you know guys aren't really

(01:16:23):
on their game. I didn't since that Kenyon. He lost
all the weight, but he lost a lot of strength
and power too, and so he didn't look even as
good as he did when he was heavier. I thought,
if anything, he got worse as a player with Juice Scruggs,
you know, he's incomplete. He's not a great communicator when
it comes to the line calls, and it took them

(01:16:45):
a while to figure that out. It took the Green
Bay game before they finally you made that decision to
get Patterson out there. You know, you look at everything
they've done and it should have taken this long to
figure it out. You've got a lame duck offensive line
coaching Chris Strausser. You've got a team that's given up
way too many sacks, and I don't think they they

(01:17:07):
mush to have a falseness of security. Just to the
Titans game, it looked okay, but it wasn't like you're
getting the A game from Jeffrey Simmons, pardon the pun
and channel year guys name for you have. You know,
it wasn't like Jeffrey Simmons. De minors don't really bring
it in. So, yeah, it's a great question. I don't
know why they did that, but probably the foster confidence

(01:17:29):
in young players that they hoped high draft picks would
win jobs. First round pick Kenyon Green fifteenth overall selection,
second round pick. She scrugs. And it's not as if
the talent behind them and soul of a whelming Ultimately,
it's all kind of marginal, a lot of half measures.
Nothing's the perfect solution. This is the best five they

(01:17:50):
can go out there that's healthy right now, and they
got to hope it's good enough, and it might not be.

Speaker 3 (01:17:54):
It may be a.

Speaker 14 (01:17:55):
Very tall order for Blake Fisher to block kind of
personnel it's going to be attacking him small well.

Speaker 13 (01:18:02):
And we know the names for all of these pass
rushing tandems across the playoffs. But I guess maybe the
question could be which one of these teams pass rushing
tandems get gets after the quarterback better? And that might
actually be determine who wins this football game?

Speaker 3 (01:18:20):
Would it not?

Speaker 11 (01:18:21):
Right?

Speaker 14 (01:18:22):
I think it will be decided in the trenches. We
look at the Chargers and all the talented personnel they
have head my majority both say Khalil Mack. But it's
not just those guys. There's Bud Dupree, there's others. And
the Texans have as good a you know, book in
rushing tandem as there's the NFL. But Rashaun Slater and all,

(01:18:43):
that's a really good tackles tandem. So you know, that's
kind of the prime time one. The other one, Yeah,
we expect the Chargers to get pressure, but can the
Texans get after the quarterback? And they do that, it's
really big accomplishment because of how good the Chargers pass
protection been and how a loose of Justin Herbert can
be for a big guy. He can run, he can

(01:19:04):
do a lot of things. He can get after he
had a forty one yard run and you look at
the you know, a line of scrimmage. I think that's
for a lot of the best action for me.

Speaker 8 (01:19:13):
A couple of things about the injury side of things
as expected, at least to me and I'm sure probably
to you. Even more so, taking Toriana will not make
it back for this game. They won't activate him, so
he's obviously out the three questionable players we already know
Christian Harris is going to play. How does the John
Metchi situation impact maybe usage Deontay Johnson in the game tomorrow,

(01:19:34):
And how much can Denico Autrey give this team. I
would assume they would have him active and maybe not
have Jerry Hughes active.

Speaker 14 (01:19:43):
Right the plan is to have them all active. Deniko's
knee has improved a bid through rest, and it's been lingering.
He might even need you a scopes in the offseason,
but he's dealt with it all season long, and we've
seen him when he has had rest to the bell
and played pretty well. John mentioned the third again active,

(01:20:04):
but you know, how good is this shoulder going to feel.
I think he's gonna play through, you know, some pain.
They have a package of plays for Deontay Johnson. I
think it could be a little more usage. But we're
not talking about just by what they're saying, you like,
is he gonna get six targets? No, we're talking about
a couple of catches probably maybe at best. So it's

(01:20:25):
kind of I don't think it's gonna be a giant
impact on the game. I think it's gonna be an
Eco Collins show. And then you know, you look at
them not activating clue Toreano. He didn't get any snaps
with the offense, so it was kind of already understood
that he wouldn't play. But he's healthy enough to play.
They just didn't need it. They don't have any injuries
at tight end right now, except for Brevon Jordan already

(01:20:48):
being ruled out earlier in the season with the torn
acl so they just didn't have a need for him.

Speaker 8 (01:20:53):
How do you think Harris and al Shay are playing
together for the first time impacts how the linebackers will
be used. Obviously, Hendry till it Soa had a remarkably productive, helpful,
excellent season. They have the issue with what they want
to do on the slot because of the absence of
Petrian Ward, and then obviously how it relates to what
they're up against what the Chargers like to do offensively.

(01:21:14):
How do you think that those players are how they'll
deploy that defense.

Speaker 14 (01:21:18):
Right the lately it's been three linebackers sets, but this
is the first time because Harris was inactive they wanted
to rest his ankle, that they're going to have an
oportion to just go without Shaier at Harris. I still
think to whatso they're not going to take a look
the field that much. And there's another reason for that.
They don't have a Jalen teachers Iman Ward available at nickel.

(01:21:40):
They have to play Miles Bryant, so they'd rather play
the three linebackers and try to stop the run for JK.
Dobbins and Guss Edwards. I think they need that extra
linebacker because you don't have a hitter of the caliber
of a Jimmy Ward or a Jalen Petrie in the
lineup right now. When you have Bryant out, there's a
smaller knick and I think that's why you'll still see

(01:22:02):
the three linebacker alignment.

Speaker 13 (01:22:04):
Maybe the most oversimplified statement about the twenty twenty four
Houston Texans is that when Joe Mixon has a good game,
they win, and when he doesn't, well, it's it feels
like they lost because he doesn't in a lot of times.

Speaker 2 (01:22:17):
Is it as simple as that in some respects.

Speaker 13 (01:22:19):
I know we just got done talking about the defense,
but you mentioned the trenches, and I just feel like
whenever he goes off, the Texans are in great shape.

Speaker 14 (01:22:28):
Right Like the first game of the season, we had
one hundred and fifty yards like the Dallas game. There's
games like that where no Jacksonville he imposes really takes over.
And I don't think there's gonna be any game plan
where he's not involved. He's going to have to touch
the ball unless they fall behind, and then they always
abandoned the run. If the game is close, I expect
him to be involved. And it's really been out a

(01:22:51):
necessity when they've taken the ball out of his hands,
or it's just completely ineffective and they build such a wall,
there's no cutback lanes. There's nothing like one of the
Titans games that they had. They started something. You know,
whether Tennessee tried that hard, I don't know, but they
ran the ball well. I think they got to keep
that going. I'll be you know, with Damian Pierce, and

(01:23:13):
they'll be Joe Mixon with THEO touches this time. I
think they got to keep that going. Make things easier
for CJ. Drought set up the play action. He doesn't
have that many targets down the field right now. They
don't need to be so pass happy. And I think
that's been an emphasis in recent weeks that throw it less.
The more you throw, the more opportunities you have with

(01:23:35):
all these dropbacks to get CJ. Stroud hit, maybe even hurt.
I think, yeah, you've got to have Joe Mixon heavily involved.
There's a reason he's in the Pro Bowl. He's told
a lot of touchdowns. He's a really, really good running back.
He's very tough, he has a lot of playoff experience.
He's been to the Super Bowl before, where he's played
in two AFC Championship games in the ball I think

(01:23:56):
that would really help things all around to have a
running game.

Speaker 8 (01:24:00):
All right, all right, Eron, I was with you earlier
this week on Monday and we gave a prediction on
the game over on Channel two on the KPRC two plus.

Speaker 9 (01:24:08):
Now we're at the end of the week. Your prediction change,
tell us what it is.

Speaker 14 (01:24:13):
I'm gonna stick with my prediction, and that's the Texans
by field goal where its spies.

Speaker 17 (01:24:18):
With the lose.

Speaker 14 (01:24:19):
No, but go with my gut and I think they're
going to play a little bit better and then they
have the chance to advance. We'll see. Maybe I'm going
to want to be wrong, but yeah, that's my pick.
I'm going to go with it. The Texans win.

Speaker 8 (01:24:32):
My field goal won't be long from now here, Aaron,
we'll give our stone cold locks and we'll make our
own prediction on the Texans games. We'll hold on to
those for our listeners for now, but really appreciate your
coverage all throughout the year and hope.

Speaker 9 (01:24:43):
There's another wheeler of it in season.

Speaker 8 (01:24:46):
I know there will be there for you regardless, especially
with potential coaching changes, not only head coaches elsewhere in
the league, but certainly on long these staff here in
Houston KPRC two plus the insider for the Texans there
and of course here at Sportstalks ninety. Aaron, really appreciate
the time as always.

Speaker 14 (01:25:03):
Thanks guys, have a great show, and.

Speaker 2 (01:25:05):
We did, Aaron, I appreciate you saying that.

Speaker 4 (01:25:07):
But Aaron Wilson joined us yesterday just I told you
earlier after we heard from Isaac Lowencron the new iHeartRadio app.
It is your friend, It is free and it is glorious,
so download it if you have not done so already.
All right, coming up next a part of the Texans
team that must be there for them today we will

(01:25:29):
discuss that.

Speaker 2 (01:25:30):
Also be able to put a.

Speaker 4 (01:25:32):
Bow on the college football playoff Cotton Bowl last night,
and anything else you want to get into to close
out this edition of Space City Saturday, We'll do that
on the other side right here on your home of
the Astros and the Rockets.

Speaker 2 (01:25:45):
Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 5 (01:25:49):
Space City Saturday continues fine Sports Talk seven ninety.

Speaker 4 (01:25:56):
Sports Stocks seven ninety. Dean Matthews here with you for
another few minutes before we step aside. I head on
over to NRG Stadium for the Texans and the Chargers
in the Wildcard round of the playoffs. Texans Today, the

(01:26:16):
key is gonna be you got to get after Justin Herbert.
You've got to be able to put pressure on him.
You've got to be able to frustrate him into making
some throws that maybe he doesn't have to make, and
be able to allow for Derek Stingley Junior to live
up to that All Pro status, which, by the way,
we've gone almost two hours of this show hadn't even

(01:26:37):
mentioned Derek Steley once, but congratulations to him. Believe, the
first Texans All Pro since DeAndre Hopkins back in what
twenty fifteen or somewhere like that. But it's been a
while since the Texans have found their way to that
type of accolade from the league.

Speaker 2 (01:26:54):
And you've got a good one.

Speaker 4 (01:26:55):
I mean, you know, for the longest time it was
how man should have you know, should have gone and
gotten Sauce Gardner instead of Derek Stingley Junior. But Stingley
Junior quickly picking up where people thought that he could
possibly be, and he's been really good for this team.
So that's somebody that has a factor. I mean, Kylen Bullock,

(01:27:16):
how good he's been all season long, is somebody else
that could really help you out. And I think that's
the other part that you know, we just hadn't had
a chance to see all season long. I mean last
week was the first time we actually got a chance
to see Aziz al share in Christian Harris with each
other on the field like that is something that even
though Henry Totoo has been fantastic for you, even though

(01:27:38):
Neville Hewitt has stepped in and done some good things.
Devin White since you picked him up in the middle
of the season, another guy that's been able to help
you out. I mean, these are parts of this Texans
team that we were counting on this year and you
were not able to see so injuries everything of the sorts.
I mean, it does sound like the only player that
is for sure out today is going to be Shack Mason.

(01:28:00):
But I mean I think the Texans were also getting
to the point with Shaq Mason of we might have
better options at right guard than this guy. And I
think that it's the reason why you've kind of seen
slow and steady is the race with guys like him
and Kenyan Green, because I mean the Texans look at
Blake Fisher, for example, over at right tackle and say, yeah,

(01:28:20):
let's see what we've got with this guy. I mean,
they feel like they know what they have with with
Shaq Mason. It's not they think they know they know
what they have with Shaq Mason. They think they know
what they have as well as Kenyon Green, and it's
not what they want to have on the offensive line
because he's not been productive for them on the offensive line.
So I mean, we'll see if they are able to

(01:28:42):
run the football all today. You heard Rex Ryan mentioned
earlier about this Chargers defense. I mean, you know, just
like I was talking about the Texans trying to be advantageous. Well,
that's what you're hoping the Texans can be today. On
the defensive side of the football. A couple of notes
before I head out the door. By the way, do
you know what today is the thirty three year anniversary

(01:29:03):
of For the wrestling fans out there, it is the
infamous Shawn Michaels to Marty Jeannetti Sweet Chin music, and
then Jeannette trying to jump through a window like the
coward that he is.

Speaker 2 (01:29:13):
I mean, of course that's not the way that it went.

Speaker 3 (01:29:15):
Are you blind?

Speaker 2 (01:29:16):
Are you blind?

Speaker 4 (01:29:17):
Bobby the brain heenan, Wasn't he so good? But that
is the thirty three year anniversary of that. And Patrick
Everson of the Vegas Insider, he's a senior reporter for them,
also contributes on Fox Sports, so I'm sure you probably
hear him here on Fox Sports Radio throwing out twelve
hours ago that he just received a text that there

(01:29:39):
was a one point five million dollar championship futures bet
placed on the Texas Longhorns last night through Caesar's Sports,
And then he got a subsequent text it was me.
You know who that was, Jim McInville. Mattress Mack, So, Mattress, Mack.
I gotta believe that probably you will have another promotion
next year if the long Horns indeed are in position

(01:30:02):
to play for a national championship again. You better believe
that it's a chance for you to go get you
a nice mattress. And who knows, maybe if Steve Sarkisi
and the crew pulled off next year, then you can
be able to take home.

Speaker 2 (01:30:14):
A nice mattress.

Speaker 4 (01:30:16):
So anyway, that's probably coming down the pike here sooner
rather than later.

Speaker 2 (01:30:20):
I want to thank Melvin Brown for his great work
as he always does. Want to thank Chris Gordy.

Speaker 4 (01:30:25):
Also to thanks this week to Isaac Low and Cron
and also Aaron Wilson for joining us on the A team.
Appreciate all of you who tuned in, called in, did
all of the above as we will step aside and
come back to you next week, but until then, enjoy
the Texans game and hopefully on Monday on the Sean
Salisbury Show at six am, we're talking to Texans win.

(01:30:46):
We'll talk about that and much more right here as
we continue here on Sports Talk seven to ninety

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