July 22, 2025 • 11 mins
SportsTalk790 and KPRC 2 Sports' Aaron Wilson joins the The A-Team to dicuss expectations for the Houston Texans entering the start of training camp. Is C.J. Stroud ready for a breakout season? Can the offensive line be the BIG selling point to fans by the end of camp? Who is the NAME to remember this upcoming summer?
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Four o'clock. Now we're underway here on the A team.
It's Sports Talk seven ninety Space City Home Network, wex
ac Cole Thompson with you, taking you until six o'clock tonight,
and as promised, joined by Aaron Wilson. Feels like we
are just hanging out a few hours ago, erin and
in light of what we were there for and what's
about to get underway tomorrow morning. No shortage of subplots
(00:22):
here in twenty twenty five. And I know that there
are a lot of things as training camp gets underway
that we get to but I feel like, you know,
even aside from CJ's year three and some sort of
bounce back, the offensive line will be the number one
story going into tomorrow's festivities. Agree or disagree, I.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Agree absolutely the offensive line, because that's what's going to
make the difference, in my opinion, between being a division
champion and a team that you know, gets maybe past
one playoff game and then losing the divisional round or
making a serious run. And it's a big ask, though,
when you trade your five time Pro Bowl left tackle,
you overhaul it all. You've changed the offensive line. Coach,
(01:05):
you only have two guys that started at the end
of last season returning to their starting lineup right now.
It's ront of the projections. Titus Howard, Blake Fisher so
a real agent of change. Cold Popovich and Tamiko Ryan
signaled all this. Remember when he said that the NFL
scouting combine a few of us local ports are there
on the side. He said, we're going to do a
reset of the offensive line. Matt it has been. It's
(01:29):
dramatic change, and now we're going to watch these guys
and evaluate them and see. So is it going to
be any better? I think if they can go from
really bad to solid with good coaching. The coaches were
not on the same page last year. If you have
a singular voice, and he said Dante Scarnekia one of
the best offensive line coaches, disciple, I could see some improvement.
(01:51):
But you know, talent, you know, people don't think they're
very talented. They're ranking them thirty seconds by Pro Football focused.
We'll see, you know that maybe a little extreme. I
think it could be. I don't think they're the worst
stuff into line in the NFL. That that's a to
me kind of a gross overstatement. But you know, the
tape's gonna tell us the truth.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Do you think there's any chance I brought this up earlier? Uh,
CJ strout, Do you think there's any chance he is
on any kind of throwing slash participation program as they
get into training camp because of just a general soreness
he had this offseason.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Right, Yeah, a lot of that was from some overtraining
issues with the connective tissues and the shoulder and went
to the peck and my understanding and I was just
with CJ that he's full go and he had a
summer without setback, so he should be normal if they
ramp him up at all, you know, maybe like on
(02:51):
they're counting the throws, maybe were not as privy to that.
It may be a little subtle to notice how much
he does. But I think he's going to be out
there as QB one throwing. I haven't heard anything different
to think about a throwing program. And but you know,
he said it, well, it's a matter of when not if.
(03:12):
As a throwing athlete, you're gonna eventually have something that's true.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
You know him better than I do, for sure. I'm
not going to speak for WEX, but I feel like
I wonder how much he even pays attention to and
if so, how much it has placed a chip on
his shoulder the coverage that he's gotten in light of
how last year went. Because I know that it wasn't
all the offensive line's fault, but it also wasn't all
(03:38):
CJ's fault that his numbers took a dip, his efficiency,
his completion percentage, all the kind of stuff you look
for to see that growth in year two from a
franchise quarterback. So has he spoken on that at all,
at least with you? Do you know where his mindset is?
Is it a chip on his shoulder? How is CJ's
mindset going into this year three?
Speaker 2 (03:57):
I think he's you know, obviously determined, and he's excited
about the ownership that they're granting him of the offense.
At the same time, in terms of, like outside the
way his criticism, he tends to be pretty blocked out
style and not super sensitive to this kind of discourse
of oh, well, this person says this about you. I
(04:20):
just don't think he gets that into that unless you're
in the arena, like you know, if a player was
to say something to him. He's not too prone to
reacting to a lot of media stuff. In terms of
behind the scenes, I think he's you know, he got
a lot of confidence and he's very sure of what
he's doing and the work he puts in. So he's
(04:40):
not one of these guys that's completely blinders on. But
he does kind of block some things out. You're not
always seeing him post a lot. There are workouts he
does that aren't on the internet, that aren't on Instagram.
He organizes a lot of stuff. But I think he
answered the brougher question. I don't think that he he's
you know, feels like he's been pointing the finger at
(05:03):
in terms of last season. As much as hey, I
got sacked a lot, he's never once blamed the offensive
line or you know, pointed a finger. I think he's
always been smart enough to not create a controversy. You know,
what's the only thing last year what that he kind
of little broad Caleb Williams. I mean, he kind of
(05:23):
stays out of stuff. And he was obviously trying to
be nice to Caleb and say, hey, you know, hanging there,
I think you're really good, and Caleb, you know, wasn't
trying to hear it. He was upset they lost the game,
he got sacked at tons tilt, his butt kicked by
the Texan's very good defense. I just think he's good
at avoiding these things.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
He has been, and he was able to joke about
it with Caleb Williams not that long ago at the
Fanatics Fest. Aaron, I'm curious if you think these are
at the top of the list. They are for me
a position battle, a true position battle for who starts
when they get to the opener against the Rams, one
on defense, one on offense, on defense. I'm hopeful, and
you wrote a little bit about it yesterday. Christian Harris
(06:01):
is healthy enough to be in a real true battle
with Henry Toto if they believe is He's al Shaira
is on the field all the time, and one of
those two linebackers remains on the field with him for
most of those four to two five looks. And then
if you could also address what will undoubtedly be a
positioned battle at tackle, though it involves three players. Cam
(06:21):
Robinson probably starts at left tackle tomorrow, Blake Fisher probably
starts at right tackle tomorrow, but rookie tay Erseri certainly
fits in in one of those two spots from a
I'm battling for their job perspective. As they open camp,
start with defense and then hit us with that offensive league.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
If you if you tend to agree, yeah, you're right
on it. And the fact is at linebacker the incumbent
really is not Christian Harris anymore. It's Henry Tote. Henry
took control of the job. And they don't just reward
guys all of a sudden they have missed a ton
of time and hand them the job back. You have
to earn it back. And he has calf, He's made
(06:59):
major progress, he had a good summer. Henry Totol missed
some time. The only real X factor is do they
go to EJ. Speed If these guys can't stay healthy
and stay on the field. The preference is to go
with the younger player. But both those guys have missed
some time. Henry Moore recently just for minor stuff in
the spring. But Christian it's been chronics, the cast thing,
(07:21):
and it cost him last season. And then he heard
his ankle and he really wasn't in my opinion, one
hundred percent when he got back out there. So the
real injury factor is more so I mean Christian to
me is the most talented of the three and the
best athletes. Pure athlete. You want him out there, but
it's only if you can count as durability. So there
(07:42):
are some things there, some wrinkles on offense. First, is
the biggest guy other than Trent Brown, who was recently
medically cleared by the Dallas Cowboys team doctor the d
Surger as Pteller tendant. They'll eat him into camp because
he's missed a lot time. He's so big. He might
be the best right tackle they have, but any count
(08:02):
on him staying healthy probably not. Ersery is the future?
Is he also the president? And I think that could happen.
Blake Fisher to me is more vulnerable to losing his
starting job than anyone else on the offensive line. And
the performance last year in his first season as a
starter wasn't great. Especially in the playoff game. You have
three sacks. They could very easily turn the page and say,
(08:26):
you know what, we're starting fresh with Ursery. That could happen.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Talking to Aaron Wilson here on Sports Talk seven to ninety,
that's crazy when you talk about Fisher being one of
the new guys, one of Nick Cassario's draftees. Why is
it this is just a basic just tear all the
sugarcoating away. I think he's done a terrific job drafting
this roster, I really do. I think Nick Cassio's put
(08:52):
together a great roster except for the offensive line, and
I know that's the most important unit in all of football.
Why why has it been such a difficulty. Is it
just a matter of they just haven't been able to
hit on some of those picks the way he has,
especially on the defensive side of the football. Is it
as simple as that.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Well, it's been a hole in their game in terms
of the personnel department and coaching. His coach has to
develop the guys. But if you look at personal decisions
that haven't really panned out. They signed Titus Howard to
a second deal. It was very expensive, and you know,
he has been solid is probably the right way to
put it. Solid. Pretty above average. The Laramie Tuncile extensions. Ultimately, Laramie,
(09:34):
you know, traded and you had a nineteen tenby season,
got two scrugs. You draft him. He wanted to play
center at trouble with line calls. He's now a backup.
He's not we're not even talking about him competing really
for the starting job. We think Titus Howard, Lincoln, Tomlins,
they're going to be the guards. So then Shaq Mason,
who was a great player for the Patriots but declined
(09:56):
with the Buccaneers and you signed to an extension and
you traded for him, and now Shack has been cut
and doesn't have a current NFL job. So that's just
kind of the shorthand of it. And then Blake Fisher.
You drafted him last year and he hasn't solidified himself
just yet. He's you know, working on it. I think
he did make some improvements. To be fair, Blake has
(10:18):
had a pretty good offseason, but you know, is it
going to be better than what you think you have
the potential of ersery, that's the question they have to answer.
I don't think it's like, oh, he can't avue it
offensive lineman, because he was part of the Patriots with
Logan Mankins and Nate Soldier and Sebastian Folmer and a
lot of really really good offensive linemen. But it just
(10:39):
for whatever reason here it hasn't come together. It's not
to say that they can't draft offensive lineman. I think
they can. It's just I think with Ersery, he's clearly
a really talented guy, and I think maybe they finally
got the guy they want. But sometimes you miss, and
you can miss in other positions too. That happens. You
know John Mitchie the third, you know, some of it
his health, but also he got healthy, hasn't really played
(11:02):
the way he did Alabama. That happens. I think everybody
misses all the good drafting teams that covered the Ravens
for a long time. Did you know they once drafted
Matt e Limb in the first round and then Arthur
Brown in the second round consecutive picks. Ozzie news To
have also drafted Jonathan Agaden and Ray Lewis with the
first two picks he ever made, So he hit two
Hall of Famers in nineteen ninety six with the first
(11:22):
picks he ever put in. So yeah, I mean it's
a mixed bag drafting. But for some reason offensive line
they just even had good luck, or they have the
right evaluations. I think they've nailed the nursery pick. What
we're going to say, we.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Will find out shortly. We'll see you out there tomorrow morning.
Appreciate all your input. Here on Sports Talk seven ninety
and also over at KPRC two is the Texans insider
Aaron Wilson joining us here on the show. Aaron appreciate
the time as always.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Thanks great talking to you guys. The A team one
Sports Talk seven ninety ninety four.
Four o'clock. Now we're underway here on the A team.
It's Sports Talk seven ninety Space City Home Network, wex
ac Cole Thompson with you, taking you until six o'clock tonight,
and as promised, joined by Aaron Wilson. Feels like we
are just hanging out a few hours ago, erin and
in light of what we were there for and what's
about to get underway tomorrow morning. No shortage of subplots
(00:22):
here in twenty twenty five. And I know that there
are a lot of things as training camp gets underway
that we get to but I feel like, you know,
even aside from CJ's year three and some sort of
bounce back, the offensive line will be the number one
story going into tomorrow's festivities. Agree or disagree, I.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Agree absolutely the offensive line, because that's what's going to
make the difference, in my opinion, between being a division
champion and a team that you know, gets maybe past
one playoff game and then losing the divisional round or
making a serious run. And it's a big ask, though,
when you trade your five time Pro Bowl left tackle,
you overhaul it all. You've changed the offensive line. Coach,
(01:05):
you only have two guys that started at the end
of last season returning to their starting lineup right now.
It's ront of the projections. Titus Howard, Blake Fisher so
a real agent of change. Cold Popovich and Tamiko Ryan
signaled all this. Remember when he said that the NFL
scouting combine a few of us local ports are there
on the side. He said, we're going to do a
reset of the offensive line. Matt it has been. It's
(01:29):
dramatic change, and now we're going to watch these guys
and evaluate them and see. So is it going to
be any better? I think if they can go from
really bad to solid with good coaching. The coaches were
not on the same page last year. If you have
a singular voice, and he said Dante Scarnekia one of
the best offensive line coaches, disciple, I could see some improvement.
(01:51):
But you know, talent, you know, people don't think they're
very talented. They're ranking them thirty seconds by Pro Football focused.
We'll see, you know that maybe a little extreme. I
think it could be. I don't think they're the worst
stuff into line in the NFL. That that's a to
me kind of a gross overstatement. But you know, the
tape's gonna tell us the truth.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Do you think there's any chance I brought this up earlier? Uh,
CJ strout, Do you think there's any chance he is
on any kind of throwing slash participation program as they
get into training camp because of just a general soreness
he had this offseason.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Right, Yeah, a lot of that was from some overtraining
issues with the connective tissues and the shoulder and went
to the peck and my understanding and I was just
with CJ that he's full go and he had a
summer without setback, so he should be normal if they
ramp him up at all, you know, maybe like on
(02:51):
they're counting the throws, maybe were not as privy to that.
It may be a little subtle to notice how much
he does. But I think he's going to be out
there as QB one throwing. I haven't heard anything different
to think about a throwing program. And but you know,
he said it, well, it's a matter of when not if.
(03:12):
As a throwing athlete, you're gonna eventually have something that's true.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
You know him better than I do, for sure. I'm
not going to speak for WEX, but I feel like
I wonder how much he even pays attention to and
if so, how much it has placed a chip on
his shoulder the coverage that he's gotten in light of
how last year went. Because I know that it wasn't
all the offensive line's fault, but it also wasn't all
(03:38):
CJ's fault that his numbers took a dip, his efficiency,
his completion percentage, all the kind of stuff you look
for to see that growth in year two from a
franchise quarterback. So has he spoken on that at all,
at least with you? Do you know where his mindset is?
Is it a chip on his shoulder? How is CJ's
mindset going into this year three?
Speaker 2 (03:57):
I think he's you know, obviously determined, and he's excited
about the ownership that they're granting him of the offense.
At the same time, in terms of, like outside the
way his criticism, he tends to be pretty blocked out
style and not super sensitive to this kind of discourse
of oh, well, this person says this about you. I
(04:20):
just don't think he gets that into that unless you're
in the arena, like you know, if a player was
to say something to him. He's not too prone to
reacting to a lot of media stuff. In terms of
behind the scenes, I think he's you know, he got
a lot of confidence and he's very sure of what
he's doing and the work he puts in. So he's
(04:40):
not one of these guys that's completely blinders on. But
he does kind of block some things out. You're not
always seeing him post a lot. There are workouts he
does that aren't on the internet, that aren't on Instagram.
He organizes a lot of stuff. But I think he
answered the brougher question. I don't think that he he's
you know, feels like he's been pointing the finger at
(05:03):
in terms of last season. As much as hey, I
got sacked a lot, he's never once blamed the offensive
line or you know, pointed a finger. I think he's
always been smart enough to not create a controversy. You know,
what's the only thing last year what that he kind
of little broad Caleb Williams. I mean, he kind of
(05:23):
stays out of stuff. And he was obviously trying to
be nice to Caleb and say, hey, you know, hanging there,
I think you're really good, and Caleb, you know, wasn't
trying to hear it. He was upset they lost the game,
he got sacked at tons tilt, his butt kicked by
the Texan's very good defense. I just think he's good
at avoiding these things.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
He has been, and he was able to joke about
it with Caleb Williams not that long ago at the
Fanatics Fest. Aaron, I'm curious if you think these are
at the top of the list. They are for me
a position battle, a true position battle for who starts
when they get to the opener against the Rams, one
on defense, one on offense, on defense. I'm hopeful, and
you wrote a little bit about it yesterday. Christian Harris
(06:01):
is healthy enough to be in a real true battle
with Henry Toto if they believe is He's al Shaira
is on the field all the time, and one of
those two linebackers remains on the field with him for
most of those four to two five looks. And then
if you could also address what will undoubtedly be a
positioned battle at tackle, though it involves three players. Cam
(06:21):
Robinson probably starts at left tackle tomorrow, Blake Fisher probably
starts at right tackle tomorrow, but rookie tay Erseri certainly
fits in in one of those two spots from a
I'm battling for their job perspective. As they open camp,
start with defense and then hit us with that offensive league.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
If you if you tend to agree, yeah, you're right
on it. And the fact is at linebacker the incumbent
really is not Christian Harris anymore. It's Henry Tote. Henry
took control of the job. And they don't just reward
guys all of a sudden they have missed a ton
of time and hand them the job back. You have
to earn it back. And he has calf, He's made
(06:59):
major progress, he had a good summer. Henry Totol missed
some time. The only real X factor is do they
go to EJ. Speed If these guys can't stay healthy
and stay on the field. The preference is to go
with the younger player. But both those guys have missed
some time. Henry Moore recently just for minor stuff in
the spring. But Christian it's been chronics, the cast thing,
(07:21):
and it cost him last season. And then he heard
his ankle and he really wasn't in my opinion, one
hundred percent when he got back out there. So the
real injury factor is more so I mean Christian to
me is the most talented of the three and the
best athletes. Pure athlete. You want him out there, but
it's only if you can count as durability. So there
(07:42):
are some things there, some wrinkles on offense. First, is
the biggest guy other than Trent Brown, who was recently
medically cleared by the Dallas Cowboys team doctor the d
Surger as Pteller tendant. They'll eat him into camp because
he's missed a lot time. He's so big. He might
be the best right tackle they have, but any count
(08:02):
on him staying healthy probably not. Ersery is the future?
Is he also the president? And I think that could happen.
Blake Fisher to me is more vulnerable to losing his
starting job than anyone else on the offensive line. And
the performance last year in his first season as a
starter wasn't great. Especially in the playoff game. You have
three sacks. They could very easily turn the page and say,
(08:26):
you know what, we're starting fresh with Ursery. That could happen.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Talking to Aaron Wilson here on Sports Talk seven to ninety,
that's crazy when you talk about Fisher being one of
the new guys, one of Nick Cassario's draftees. Why is
it this is just a basic just tear all the
sugarcoating away. I think he's done a terrific job drafting
this roster, I really do. I think Nick Cassio's put
(08:52):
together a great roster except for the offensive line, and
I know that's the most important unit in all of football.
Why why has it been such a difficulty. Is it
just a matter of they just haven't been able to
hit on some of those picks the way he has,
especially on the defensive side of the football. Is it
as simple as that.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Well, it's been a hole in their game in terms
of the personnel department and coaching. His coach has to
develop the guys. But if you look at personal decisions
that haven't really panned out. They signed Titus Howard to
a second deal. It was very expensive, and you know,
he has been solid is probably the right way to
put it. Solid. Pretty above average. The Laramie Tuncile extensions. Ultimately, Laramie,
(09:34):
you know, traded and you had a nineteen tenby season,
got two scrugs. You draft him. He wanted to play
center at trouble with line calls. He's now a backup.
He's not we're not even talking about him competing really
for the starting job. We think Titus Howard, Lincoln, Tomlins,
they're going to be the guards. So then Shaq Mason,
who was a great player for the Patriots but declined
(09:56):
with the Buccaneers and you signed to an extension and
you traded for him, and now Shack has been cut
and doesn't have a current NFL job. So that's just
kind of the shorthand of it. And then Blake Fisher.
You drafted him last year and he hasn't solidified himself
just yet. He's you know, working on it. I think
he did make some improvements. To be fair, Blake has
(10:18):
had a pretty good offseason, but you know, is it
going to be better than what you think you have
the potential of ersery, that's the question they have to answer.
I don't think it's like, oh, he can't avue it
offensive lineman, because he was part of the Patriots with
Logan Mankins and Nate Soldier and Sebastian Folmer and a
lot of really really good offensive linemen. But it just
(10:39):
for whatever reason here it hasn't come together. It's not
to say that they can't draft offensive lineman. I think
they can. It's just I think with Ersery, he's clearly
a really talented guy, and I think maybe they finally
got the guy they want. But sometimes you miss, and
you can miss in other positions too. That happens. You
know John Mitchie the third, you know, some of it
his health, but also he got healthy, hasn't really played
(11:02):
the way he did Alabama. That happens. I think everybody
misses all the good drafting teams that covered the Ravens
for a long time. Did you know they once drafted
Matt e Limb in the first round and then Arthur
Brown in the second round consecutive picks. Ozzie news To
have also drafted Jonathan Agaden and Ray Lewis with the
first two picks he ever made, So he hit two
Hall of Famers in nineteen ninety six with the first
(11:22):
picks he ever put in. So yeah, I mean it's
a mixed bag drafting. But for some reason offensive line
they just even had good luck, or they have the
right evaluations. I think they've nailed the nursery pick. What
we're going to say, we.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Will find out shortly. We'll see you out there tomorrow morning.
Appreciate all your input. Here on Sports Talk seven ninety
and also over at KPRC two is the Texans insider
Aaron Wilson joining us here on the show. Aaron appreciate
the time as always.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Thanks great talking to you guys. The A team one
Sports Talk seven ninety ninety four.
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