July 28, 2025 • 13 mins
Houston Chronicle's Houston Texans beat reporter hops on with AC and Wex to break down the first five days of training camp, the offsensive line stability, a revamped secondary and more!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Two lifelong Houston sports guys named Adam Talking Your Team.
Adam Clinton and Adam Wexler are the A Team.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
It is the A Team.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Sports Talk seven ninety Space City Home Network, straight at
four o'clock. As we are at the midway point on
a Monday edition of the show, a lot of Texans
conversation so far, and that's not going to change because
as promised, we are joined by Sam Warren of the
Houston Chronicle to talk a little bit about the Texans
and how camp is going, first day of pads and
(00:43):
all anybody wants to talk about, Sam is the fact
that Joe Mixon is not practicing and hasn't been out
there for a while. Oh and there is a walking
boot and everything else that goes into all of the
would you call it drama surrounding Dimico Ryans's comments earlier.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Today, of all, thanks for having me on, guys, really
appreciate it. But I don't know if I would qualified
as drama just from covering the team for the past
year plus now. I think Demiko has been very honest
about being perturbed about answering questions about injuries, and that's
(01:18):
just something that I doesn't really want to do so
all the stuff that he said today, he was a
little bit more upfront about it. But I don't think
this has really been anything somebody's been surprised about when
you were answering questions about injuries with Demiko Ryans, so
wouldn't necessarily say it's drama, but it's a little bit
more out in the open now.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
Yeah, I'm not sure how much drama will have during
the entire run of Demiico Ryans as head coach. He
certainly is somewhat averse to trying to create any but
the position itself. We doubt now have the team in
pads today, Sam, you were out there once again. Is
so Nick Chubb is obviously, so to speak, operating as
RB one as many snaps as might be available on
a first day in pads. But the group as a whole,
(01:58):
if in fact there are some and health issues that
bleed into the season, how do you feel about that
group they've put together, the addition of Marx bringing back
Darry obviously adding Nick Chubb Pierce's health situation just as
a you know, we got six guys on the field
each day now with Taylor on the off of the
pup list, how do you feel about that group?
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah, it's certainly not as strong without mixing. It's you know,
the Chubb.
Speaker 5 (02:23):
Says that he feels like he's back to himself, and
we really haven't seen much of that just yet because
with the first day I've had wasn't really a whole
ton of explosive runs.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Today. I think Demko said that he liked a couple
from Chubb, and then I think he'd liked Onet from
Jauwar Jordan. But it's definitely a light group without Mixing
leading it. We'll see what Chub can really do as
kind of this lead back, so to speak. But outside
of that, they have Dara, who can you know, function
as a third down back, and then they have a
(02:56):
lot of unproving guys and if you don't have Damian Pierce.
Those are the team's two top running backs. They're down
from last year. So it's definitely definitely pretty light. And
if the Texans kind of knew how severe mixing injury
was gonna be, only adding Shub in the offseason and
(03:17):
then having Woody I think says something either about their
faith and what he marks and what he can bring
to this team, or their faith and Nick Chubb or
you know, just didn't have the wherewithal on how severe
mixing injury could be.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Yeah, interesting how any of those things might play into
a decision about adding something to it. Offensive line is
the other area where the most discussion has happened. They
clearly felt badly about it last year, new online coach
new oc Three of the guys that started opening day
no longer with his team, and a whole lot of
turnover obviously because of it. A lot of players are
still people that have been here. But would you call
(03:55):
it safe to say with the work you've seen tay Ercerie,
their rookie second round pick get during offseason workouts and
now here in camp where he's working a lot with
the ones at right tackle, still getting work at left tackle,
and what you've heard from Demico Ryans about him, they're
at least giving him the opportunity to be a starter
when they play the Rams in September.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Absolutely, I think just from watching at camp so far,
I think they're giving him every opportunity to be that
starting right tackle. You know, he's still he's he's filled
in in that role pretty much with the ones during
if he hasn't started with the ones during a team period.
He's played the position with the ones during a team period,
(04:36):
so I think he's being given every opportunity to start
at that right tackle position. Demko has talked about him
being a swing tackle and being and playing kind of
on the left side. He's gotten a lot of rests
there along with Cam Robinson, but I think that's kind
of looking at him going forward as maybe a left
(04:57):
tackle of the future. But I think they're giving it
pretty much every opportunity to be that right tackle, and
I think that was exemplified today with the Erzuri getting
pretty much every first team rets at right tackle when
he's been splaying time with Blake Fischer there, and Blake
didn't get like any snatch with the first team at
(05:17):
right tackle today, So I think they're starting to become
a little bit of a pecking order, even though this
offensive line is definitely still in flux and they're going
to see a bunch of different combinations throughout this camp.
But I think they are giving Ariata every single opportunity
that he can to to win this job.
Speaker 6 (05:35):
Sam Warren of the Houston Chronicle joining us and being
very diplomatic calling the offensive line in flux right now.
It's very polite of you, but it's a perfect segue
to my next question because I and you know this
is where WEX and I might differ a little bit
among other ways. But I've been like vehement all off
season long about how I thought that that CJ got
(05:59):
a little bit of an unfair rap as far as
the amount of criticism. I'm not saying that he had
a perfect sophomore campaign, but I've been seeing a lot
of especially the national types, you know, when they put
these these power rankings of quarterbacks together and whatnot, and
just talking about how year two was for him. Do
you think he got, you know, an inordinate amount of
the blame, a fair amount of the blame or too
(06:19):
much of the blame when it comes to the quality
of the play of the offensive line last season? And
then how do you think that goes into year three
for a guy like CJ.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Yeah, I think it's the NFL, right, So I think
the quarterback is the most facy person outside of probably
the head coach. Probably in this situation with the texanshis
a little bit more of the figurehead than the miko,
I would say, of this franchise. So the figurehead as
always can get the blame right, So I think CJ
was too blamed. Oh did get probably more blame than
(06:53):
he could have for the situation that happened last year.
I think that was kind of a three part IFU
that had been with why the offense stagnated. I think
did play worse than he did his rookie year. I
think that as some of that came from the hits
that he was taking from the offensive line and particularly
the interior of the offensive line, and the pressure that
(07:16):
was coming from inside. Uh, you know, he really struggled
with not being able to step up in the pocket
and rushers coming in from that interior, the offensive line
not being able to function with stunts, and just kind
of the pocket collapsing in on him, not from only
the edges like a you know most most pockets collapsed
(07:38):
in there, but from the inside really getting no time.
And then I also think the relationship with Bobby Slowick
really deteriorated over the year. You know, things weren't being fixed.
There weren't upgrades being made to the game plan, there
weren't adjustments being made. So I think that definitely caused
some risks and some some poor play from CJ as well,
(08:00):
But I think you know, I don't think you can
say that he didn't play worse than his rookie year,
but I think there were definitely some extraneous factors that
made him look worse and probably put more blame on
him than he actually could have gotten.
Speaker 4 (08:16):
We've seen five days of practice this year, and I'm
not going to ask you to evaluate c J. Stroud
just yet. We'll get you on again when it's more
appropriate further down the line, further into their pad work
and they're more eleven on eleven work. But I'll ask
you about this group instead, and I have my own answer,
but of course i'll ask for yours first.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
CJ.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
Gardner, Johnson, Jalen Petree, Kayln Bullock, Kamari Lassiter, and Derek
Stingley Junior will be the best secondary in the NFL.
Who are you most excited to see play for the
Texans in twenty twenty five?
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Of those five, I think, I mean, it's hard not
to say Stingley, right. We're not gonna see much of
Stingley during this camp because the Texans know how good
he is and they're not going to throw the ball
in his way. I think we saw that today with
CE they was in a scramble drill and I believe
he tried to target Xavier Hutchinson down the side, but
(09:07):
Stingley was kind of in lockstep with him and broke
up a comeback round. So I think see gets drout
is more more in tune though to not to not
throw Derek Stingley's way, And I mean his ball skills
whenever he does get targeted are insane. I mean, we
saw the the Miami intersection that he had, We saw
(09:28):
his performance against the Chargers. It's He's really really fun
to watch, not because of how good he is in coverage,
but the spectacular intersections that he can make. And then
also I think just adding c Gardner Johnson to this
the secondary, it's gonna be really fun. I think a
lot of those guys has, you know, between Kamari and
(09:51):
Kaylin and c J, they all kind of have that
that dog swarm mentality that the Texans talk about. So
I think he's just gonna only add some leadership and
and so you know, some more more shatter from that
secondary uh to this this team. So really looking forward
to to seeing Derek improve on an All Pro season
(10:12):
and seeing what se Ka can add.
Speaker 6 (10:15):
The Texans tight end situation is in one word, fill
in the blank, I would say in.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
One word, I'd say, uh, I think that's a tough
one because I'm I'm blanking on on what I really
want to say.
Speaker 7 (10:40):
With just one word, I'll give you a tough all
words if you need them, right, I think you know,
im prove like they need to prove themselves, is the
is the thing.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
I think Dalton Schultz in twenty twenty three had a
solid year coming over from Dallas, and then they really,
you know, took a back seat to Nico Collins and
the receiving corps and didn't Not only did they not
excel in the past game last year, but they kind
(11:16):
of really struggled blocking and you saw that in the
Chiefs playoff game where I mean Schultz led up I
think two sacks in that game that contributed to the
eighth thatj took. So obviously the offensive line had issues,
but also the tight ends had issues in blocking. So
I think Scholtz really needs to prove himself this year.
(11:38):
I think Kate Stover from all that we've seen and
all that we've heard from the coaching staff has been
one of the most improved players on this Titans roster
year over year, so I think they're very excited about him.
But still, you know, he has that built in connection
with CFA from college. But I think there's still, you know,
some desire to see what he can do as a catcher.
(12:01):
There is questions about you know, Brevic Jordan. Brevan Jordan
said today that he feels better than he's than he's
ever felt. That's obviously, uh what any player coming off
at ACL surgery is gonna is gonna say. But you know,
he did look good so far in these in these
few practices. He definitely provides the receiving threat. But you know,
it's it's a group that they feel like they're under
(12:24):
undervalued and they're underappreciated, but they kind of have to
put stuff out there to say that they are. I
don't think they've proven that yet, so they definitely have
to go out there and put some good performances together
in the first few weeks of the season. Here.
Speaker 4 (12:38):
Unproven, undervalued, unappreciated sound like all would have been appropriate words,
and used many of them in your description. Sam. We
appreciate some time and we'll check in with you again
over the course of camping throughout the season. Appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Yeah, absolutely, thanks for having me. Guys.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
Sam Warren, Houston Chronicle covering your Houston Texans will react
to one thing in particular specific to the secondary we
just discussed when we can them back
Speaker 1 (13:02):
The ad on Sports Talk seven ninety
Two lifelong Houston sports guys named Adam Talking Your Team.
Adam Clinton and Adam Wexler are the A Team.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
It is the A Team.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Sports Talk seven ninety Space City Home Network, straight at
four o'clock. As we are at the midway point on
a Monday edition of the show, a lot of Texans
conversation so far, and that's not going to change because
as promised, we are joined by Sam Warren of the
Houston Chronicle to talk a little bit about the Texans
and how camp is going, first day of pads and
(00:43):
all anybody wants to talk about, Sam is the fact
that Joe Mixon is not practicing and hasn't been out
there for a while. Oh and there is a walking
boot and everything else that goes into all of the
would you call it drama surrounding Dimico Ryans's comments earlier.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Today, of all, thanks for having me on, guys, really
appreciate it. But I don't know if I would qualified
as drama just from covering the team for the past
year plus now. I think Demiko has been very honest
about being perturbed about answering questions about injuries, and that's
(01:18):
just something that I doesn't really want to do so
all the stuff that he said today, he was a
little bit more upfront about it. But I don't think
this has really been anything somebody's been surprised about when
you were answering questions about injuries with Demiko Ryans, so
wouldn't necessarily say it's drama, but it's a little bit
more out in the open now.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
Yeah, I'm not sure how much drama will have during
the entire run of Demiico Ryans as head coach. He
certainly is somewhat averse to trying to create any but
the position itself. We doubt now have the team in
pads today, Sam, you were out there once again. Is
so Nick Chubb is obviously, so to speak, operating as
RB one as many snaps as might be available on
a first day in pads. But the group as a whole,
(01:58):
if in fact there are some and health issues that
bleed into the season, how do you feel about that
group they've put together, the addition of Marx bringing back
Darry obviously adding Nick Chubb Pierce's health situation just as
a you know, we got six guys on the field
each day now with Taylor on the off of the
pup list, how do you feel about that group?
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah, it's certainly not as strong without mixing. It's you know,
the Chubb.
Speaker 5 (02:23):
Says that he feels like he's back to himself, and
we really haven't seen much of that just yet because
with the first day I've had wasn't really a whole
ton of explosive runs.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Today. I think Demko said that he liked a couple
from Chubb, and then I think he'd liked Onet from
Jauwar Jordan. But it's definitely a light group without Mixing
leading it. We'll see what Chub can really do as
kind of this lead back, so to speak. But outside
of that, they have Dara, who can you know, function
as a third down back, and then they have a
(02:56):
lot of unproving guys and if you don't have Damian Pierce.
Those are the team's two top running backs. They're down
from last year. So it's definitely definitely pretty light. And
if the Texans kind of knew how severe mixing injury
was gonna be, only adding Shub in the offseason and
(03:17):
then having Woody I think says something either about their
faith and what he marks and what he can bring
to this team, or their faith and Nick Chubb or
you know, just didn't have the wherewithal on how severe
mixing injury could be.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Yeah, interesting how any of those things might play into
a decision about adding something to it. Offensive line is
the other area where the most discussion has happened. They
clearly felt badly about it last year, new online coach
new oc Three of the guys that started opening day
no longer with his team, and a whole lot of
turnover obviously because of it. A lot of players are
still people that have been here. But would you call
(03:55):
it safe to say with the work you've seen tay Ercerie,
their rookie second round pick get during offseason workouts and
now here in camp where he's working a lot with
the ones at right tackle, still getting work at left tackle,
and what you've heard from Demico Ryans about him, they're
at least giving him the opportunity to be a starter
when they play the Rams in September.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Absolutely, I think just from watching at camp so far,
I think they're giving him every opportunity to be that
starting right tackle. You know, he's still he's he's filled
in in that role pretty much with the ones during
if he hasn't started with the ones during a team period.
He's played the position with the ones during a team period,
(04:36):
so I think he's being given every opportunity to start
at that right tackle position. Demko has talked about him
being a swing tackle and being and playing kind of
on the left side. He's gotten a lot of rests
there along with Cam Robinson, but I think that's kind
of looking at him going forward as maybe a left
(04:57):
tackle of the future. But I think they're giving it
pretty much every opportunity to be that right tackle, and
I think that was exemplified today with the Erzuri getting
pretty much every first team rets at right tackle when
he's been splaying time with Blake Fischer there, and Blake
didn't get like any snatch with the first team at
(05:17):
right tackle today, So I think they're starting to become
a little bit of a pecking order, even though this
offensive line is definitely still in flux and they're going
to see a bunch of different combinations throughout this camp.
But I think they are giving Ariata every single opportunity
that he can to to win this job.
Speaker 6 (05:35):
Sam Warren of the Houston Chronicle joining us and being
very diplomatic calling the offensive line in flux right now.
It's very polite of you, but it's a perfect segue
to my next question because I and you know this
is where WEX and I might differ a little bit
among other ways. But I've been like vehement all off
season long about how I thought that that CJ got
(05:59):
a little bit of an unfair rap as far as
the amount of criticism. I'm not saying that he had
a perfect sophomore campaign, but I've been seeing a lot
of especially the national types, you know, when they put
these these power rankings of quarterbacks together and whatnot, and
just talking about how year two was for him. Do
you think he got, you know, an inordinate amount of
the blame, a fair amount of the blame or too
(06:19):
much of the blame when it comes to the quality
of the play of the offensive line last season? And
then how do you think that goes into year three
for a guy like CJ.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Yeah, I think it's the NFL, right, So I think
the quarterback is the most facy person outside of probably
the head coach. Probably in this situation with the texanshis
a little bit more of the figurehead than the miko,
I would say, of this franchise. So the figurehead as
always can get the blame right, So I think CJ
was too blamed. Oh did get probably more blame than
(06:53):
he could have for the situation that happened last year.
I think that was kind of a three part IFU
that had been with why the offense stagnated. I think
did play worse than he did his rookie year. I
think that as some of that came from the hits
that he was taking from the offensive line and particularly
the interior of the offensive line, and the pressure that
(07:16):
was coming from inside. Uh, you know, he really struggled
with not being able to step up in the pocket
and rushers coming in from that interior, the offensive line
not being able to function with stunts, and just kind
of the pocket collapsing in on him, not from only
the edges like a you know most most pockets collapsed
(07:38):
in there, but from the inside really getting no time.
And then I also think the relationship with Bobby Slowick
really deteriorated over the year. You know, things weren't being fixed.
There weren't upgrades being made to the game plan, there
weren't adjustments being made. So I think that definitely caused
some risks and some some poor play from CJ as well,
(08:00):
But I think you know, I don't think you can
say that he didn't play worse than his rookie year,
but I think there were definitely some extraneous factors that
made him look worse and probably put more blame on
him than he actually could have gotten.
Speaker 4 (08:16):
We've seen five days of practice this year, and I'm
not going to ask you to evaluate c J. Stroud
just yet. We'll get you on again when it's more
appropriate further down the line, further into their pad work
and they're more eleven on eleven work. But I'll ask
you about this group instead, and I have my own answer,
but of course i'll ask for yours first.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
CJ.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
Gardner, Johnson, Jalen Petree, Kayln Bullock, Kamari Lassiter, and Derek
Stingley Junior will be the best secondary in the NFL.
Who are you most excited to see play for the
Texans in twenty twenty five?
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Of those five, I think, I mean, it's hard not
to say Stingley, right. We're not gonna see much of
Stingley during this camp because the Texans know how good
he is and they're not going to throw the ball
in his way. I think we saw that today with
CE they was in a scramble drill and I believe
he tried to target Xavier Hutchinson down the side, but
(09:07):
Stingley was kind of in lockstep with him and broke
up a comeback round. So I think see gets drout
is more more in tune though to not to not
throw Derek Stingley's way, And I mean his ball skills
whenever he does get targeted are insane. I mean, we
saw the the Miami intersection that he had, We saw
(09:28):
his performance against the Chargers. It's He's really really fun
to watch, not because of how good he is in coverage,
but the spectacular intersections that he can make. And then
also I think just adding c Gardner Johnson to this
the secondary, it's gonna be really fun. I think a
lot of those guys has, you know, between Kamari and
(09:51):
Kaylin and c J, they all kind of have that
that dog swarm mentality that the Texans talk about. So
I think he's just gonna only add some leadership and
and so you know, some more more shatter from that
secondary uh to this this team. So really looking forward
to to seeing Derek improve on an All Pro season
(10:12):
and seeing what se Ka can add.
Speaker 6 (10:15):
The Texans tight end situation is in one word, fill
in the blank, I would say in.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
One word, I'd say, uh, I think that's a tough
one because I'm I'm blanking on on what I really
want to say.
Speaker 7 (10:40):
With just one word, I'll give you a tough all
words if you need them, right, I think you know,
im prove like they need to prove themselves, is the
is the thing.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
I think Dalton Schultz in twenty twenty three had a
solid year coming over from Dallas, and then they really,
you know, took a back seat to Nico Collins and
the receiving corps and didn't Not only did they not
excel in the past game last year, but they kind
(11:16):
of really struggled blocking and you saw that in the
Chiefs playoff game where I mean Schultz led up I
think two sacks in that game that contributed to the
eighth thatj took. So obviously the offensive line had issues,
but also the tight ends had issues in blocking. So
I think Scholtz really needs to prove himself this year.
(11:38):
I think Kate Stover from all that we've seen and
all that we've heard from the coaching staff has been
one of the most improved players on this Titans roster
year over year, so I think they're very excited about him.
But still, you know, he has that built in connection
with CFA from college. But I think there's still, you know,
some desire to see what he can do as a catcher.
(12:01):
There is questions about you know, Brevic Jordan. Brevan Jordan
said today that he feels better than he's than he's
ever felt. That's obviously, uh what any player coming off
at ACL surgery is gonna is gonna say. But you know,
he did look good so far in these in these
few practices. He definitely provides the receiving threat. But you know,
it's it's a group that they feel like they're under
(12:24):
undervalued and they're underappreciated, but they kind of have to
put stuff out there to say that they are. I
don't think they've proven that yet, so they definitely have
to go out there and put some good performances together
in the first few weeks of the season. Here.
Speaker 4 (12:38):
Unproven, undervalued, unappreciated sound like all would have been appropriate words,
and used many of them in your description. Sam. We
appreciate some time and we'll check in with you again
over the course of camping throughout the season. Appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Yeah, absolutely, thanks for having me. Guys.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
Sam Warren, Houston Chronicle covering your Houston Texans will react
to one thing in particular specific to the secondary we
just discussed when we can them back
Speaker 1 (13:02):
The ad on Sports Talk seven ninety
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.