Ryan Leaf on The A-Team: I Don't Have To Worry About (Stroud) Stepping Up

Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf joins The A-Team. He is going to be part of Westwood One's call of Texans-Ravens in Baltimore. He talks about how excited he is to watch CJ Stroud against Lamar Jackson. He also talks about how he sees the game going down on Saturday.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
As promised join right now by formerNFL quarterback, and of course he now
does work with Westwood One. Actuallywas listening to him on my hour and
ten minute drive home the other dayin the icy conditions of Houston, but
it allowed me to listen to RyanLeaf and the rest of the crew on
that first of the remaining two wildCard games on Monday, Ryan, welcome

(00:21):
into the program. Appreciate you takingthe time. And I know that it's
probably sexier to talk about Buffalo andKansas City with what their quarterbacks have done,
but I think we might have thesneaky best game of the weekend on
our hands here in Baltimore, justfor if no other reason than the guy
that plays the position you played that'sjust blowing everybody away right now might have

(00:41):
another chapter to write. And C. J. Stroud, well, I
would agree. I mean, whathe's been able to do this rookie year
has just been outstanding, and Iexpect him to show up like he's you
know, been around, like he'sbeen playing all year long. My biggest
year of course, and it justbecause it rears it's like we had is

(01:03):
the cold last time they really aregoing against the defense last time they really
did this at the Jets got beatdown. CJ went out with the injury,
but he wasn't faring very well beforethe injury happened something like that.
So that would be my only fear, you know. And you see some
of this this bounce back stuff whenlike this is divisional playoff football, right.

(01:23):
I think last year you saw theGiants going to Minnesota and you went,
whoa, Giants have a chance togo to Philly. Maybe give him
a shot? Eh No. Sothis is a big test for the young
players, the rookies in particular CJ. Stroud. But I don't have to
worry about him stepping up and doingthe thing that he's been doing all year
long. And it's gonna be funto see him in person. He was

(01:44):
my number one guy on my boarda year ago in the draft. So
happy to see the Houston Texans notlisten to anything else outside noise and make
sure they got their guy at numbertwo. Well, why don't we go
back to the start, as youbring it up, why was CJ.
Stroud number one on your board?Well, just because of his accuracy down
the field. For me, Idon't care how great the player is.

(02:07):
You're throwing to you still have tothrow it to him, and if you
put it in the best possible place, you're gonna make them good. You're
gonna make you good. I justthought he was the most well rounded quarterback.
I thought he was the most accurate. I thought that there was a
leadership quality to him that was justdifferent. Not that Bryce Young didn't have
that, but for me, thesize difference was a huge disparity, so

(02:30):
much so that you were trying tosay that they were even let's go with
the one that that, you know, the championship the year before, all
those things, he by far wasthe guy that did it for me.
And then it just pissed me offwhen when somebody leased a test score and
that was enough for people to startrunning for the hills, when you have

(02:53):
an alarming amount of film you couldjust have at your fingertips and you go,
no, that guy's why are youtalking about this nonsense about some kind
of test that a guy took thatdoesn't even revolve around playing football. I
just I'm really proud of him,and I'm really happy for him to see
that he's been able to be thisgood, play this well and enjoy all

(03:17):
the fruits of that labor, andthen also for the city of Houston.
You know, just to go throughall that nonsense with the Shawn Watson when
you thought you had a franchise quarterback, to turn around and find another who
is just you know, he's aguy that takes a ton of responsibility as
a ton of a character and integrity. It just it just it's the best

(03:40):
of both worlds. And I'm excitedto see him in person and tell him
that, yeah, kind of thestuff you're talking about. We got Ryan
Leaf here with us. We onthe radio call nationally for the game this
weekend Baltimore and Houston. Recognizing allthese things as you go through progression,
studying film with your OC and yourQBS and everything offensively, all these things
are why we hear from inside theorganization, from Bobby's log, from CG

(04:01):
and everybody else. He's so faradvanced. He's doing things you shouldn't be
doing it. He's doing things veteransfive and seven years down the road are
just getting to. Is that maybearea of his game, beyond maybe some
of the physical attributes, which areobviously great, is that the part of
it that maybe sets him apart tobe doing it now already. Well.

(04:21):
I also think that these players areso much more well prepared coming into the
league. I think there's an understandingof how to prepare your body to do
the things that is necessary. Andso that's why I think maybe, and
don't get me wrong, like everybodyhas the opportunity to do this. Everybody
does. Rock Perdy did, BrockPurdy came into the league just as a

(04:43):
focused and ready to go whenever thatopportunity came. CJ. Stroud is just
thrust into it a little bit soonerjust because of being drafted so high.
But I do think these players aremuch more prepared to come into the league.
They understand if they're willing to dothe things that can make them better
as fast as possible, and thatmeans leaving your ego at the door.

(05:05):
You know, the money, onceyou get paid, you don't look at
it again until you're done with yourfirst contract. You just go and do
the work and you humble yourself.And hey, if the situation at the
draft didn't humble CJ. Stroud andput him in on a path to be
this dominant, I don't know whatcould have. I think he just took

(05:27):
exactly what was ripe for the takingthere, and it's just made it into
something incredibly special. We're talking toRyan Leaf here on Sports Talk seven ninety
and I think, you know,it's kind of a Texas two step when
you talk about this Houston franchises turnaround, because you don't get CJ. Stroud
without Demiko Ryans. And I don'tthink you get you know, Demiko Ryans
without ironically doing what you were talkingabout earlier. The organization not listening to

(05:54):
the outside noise. Kind of aneasy decision to make when the guy was
such a beloved player here in town. But if he can't coach, it
doesn't matter that the feel good storyis. The honeymoon's going to end right
away. What do you see,especially as a guy who played in the
league at the same time as Demiko, as the biggest reason why he is
able to kind of spearhead this turnaroundso quickly, Well, you just have

(06:18):
to look at where he was thedefensive coordinator that before, and all the
egos he had to juggle while hewas in San Francisco. I just I
think he walked in with a relationshipwith the organization, which I think is
huge and then the players in thatlocker room. You're seeing it more and
more happen where owners are taking chanceson former players. Not that former players

(06:41):
haven't been coaches before, but allof sudden, the stabs are starting to
be littered with former players. There'ssomething about being able to relate to your
coach while you're in that locker room. It just is We've seen guys that
I think make up the old guardof what coaches are in the NFL,
and I think that may be goingby the wayside. And Demiko Ens is
a perfect example of that. Imean, he has got guys believing,

(07:04):
and when you win, hey,you know, things change. You lose
the first two games of the season, I mean you're owing too, and
everybody's going, okay, well thequarterback played decent, so you know,
let's let's shape this up. Andthen they go to the Jags and dominate
that. That for me, wasthe difference maker. That was the catalyst
that said, Okay, we cando this. And then the Steelers come

(07:25):
to town, you're like and youjust destroy them, and you're just okay,
yeah, this is this is thisis who we are. And then
what he's been able to do withthe defense. I think the defense is
young. I think a lot ofpeople were looking at Jalen Petrie and Derek
Stingley junior is guys that have alot of talent but maybe haven't lived up
to it necessarily. And I thinkthey both had incredibly good seasons this year

(07:46):
and then they just get after thequarterback. Will Anderson was a great pick.
The decision to move up there atnumber three and grab him, I
think is a huge deal. Hewas one of the best edge rushers there
are in the draft, and he'sreally come along over the last few games,
you know, just really upped thatup to get to seven sacks by
the time the end of the yearhas happened. And how we played the

(08:09):
other day. So this this teamis right for an opportunity. I like
them. With the Packers going upagainst the both the one seeds, I
wouldn't rule it out at all thatthey win outright. Certainly, the nine
and a half points that I've continuouslyseen out there I think is maybe a
bit high. We had that verydiscussion right out of the gate, wondered

(08:30):
if well. I think we allfelt it was too high, and some
suggested it was disrespectful I wonder ifthat leaks into a locker room stuff like
that usually does. But at thispoint in time, you have confidence no
matter what because you've played and nowwon that first playoff game. We haven't
talked at all about the other sideand Lamar Jackson, and unfortunately, I
think the media for sure, butmaybe others will start to look at him

(08:50):
a little bit like Dallas and Dakand everything that happened to Cowboys against the
Packers was an all Dak's fault,clearly, but they've played a lot of
playoff games with him, and they'velost the lot of playoff games with him,
and Lamar Jackson is in a similarboat on the way there. I
don't think he's played badly in allfour of his previous playoff games, but
he certainly has not been on thewinning side. But once, do you

(09:11):
think that pressure is on his shoulders, on the Ravens shoulders, even as
heavy favorites and a one seed.Well, I don't. You can't deny
that, you know, I mean, that's what this is. You can't
deny it. But I've you know, I've been around Lamar this week and
dude's pretty light. I mean,the best way to talk about him right

(09:33):
now is he's having a blast playingfootball. You know, over the last
couple of years, the contract conversation, the injuries, it just it looked
like he was carrying an anchor withthem whatever was on his back and on
his shoulders. You add Todd Munkininto the deal, you had a couple
of skilled position players, and Zaiyand Odell Beckham and in the way Isaiah

(09:54):
likely stepped up when Mark Andrews wentdown. I mean, he's he's enjoying
every single of it. And it'seasy to do that when you got a
play caller doing what he's doing anda defense that is unbelievable, right the
best pass rushing defense in all offootball. And they get out of the
quarterback, they get sacks, theygot linebackers that are flying around and making
plays. I mean, they madewho at the time I thought was Brock

(10:16):
Purdy was probably the front runner forthe MVP. They made him look average
and Rock Perty's not average. Heis an elite quarterback in this league.
And they made him look like thaton that Sunday night football game. So
you know, Houston's got everything infront of My biggest thing in this is
that this game is down to thevery wire or it's a blowout. There's

(10:39):
no in between. There's not alike, you know, Houston hangs in
there and gets beat by six orsomething like that. It's a last second
field goal by one of these teamsto win, or the Ravens absolutely,
you know, Boat races them likethey did against Detroit and Seattle and San
Francisco. That's that's my only fearfor the Houston Texans in this one.
We're talking to Ryan Leave here onSports seven ninety right before we let you

(11:01):
go, and I'll kind of putyou on the spot, but just looking
forward and being a guy that playedquarterback in the NFL, if you're the
Texans and you've had undoubtedly a successfulseason regardless of what happens this weekend and
potentially beyond, what's the number onething you are looking to do to add
to this team for twenty twenty fourand take the next step with with Damiko

(11:24):
Ryans and CJ. Stroud. Well, I think that you figure out who
you want at running back, right, I mean, I mean Damian Pierce
was such a force the year before. I know there's been some injuries and
things like that, but he reallyhasn't been the focal point, and I
think you shot up the offensive line, which I thought was pretty strong at
the beginning of the year. It'sjust been so up and down. And

(11:45):
then I think you go find anelite tight end in the draft. You
look around the league, the likesof Dalton, Kincaid and Laporta and Musgrave,
and you know, you go findone of the Dalton Schultz has been
a welcome right five touchdowns this season, but I still think you need to
go out and find an elite one, a guy that can catch a hundred
balls for CD STRO I think that'swhat brings and takes him just to the

(12:09):
next level. If that's even possible, go find that guy. I think
Nico Collins has stepped up and showneverybody that he can be a wide receiver.
One Tank Dell proved he is inthe mix. He's had so many
injuries out on the perimeter that it'smade it very difficult for him to lock
into the one guy week in andweek out. I think that's where you

(12:30):
go. You go find an elitetight end and shore up that offensive line.
I think it's an easy question.I'll let you go with Are you
at all fired up to be onthe call for this game? I am,
I'm really fired up. I wasin Buffalo last week and I was
fired up to that. You know, if you'd have told me ten years
ago that I was going to becalling NFL playoff games, I would have

(12:52):
told you you're absolutely crazy. Thatwould never happen in my lifetime. After
everything that I had gone through,anything I got so yeah. I mean
every single opportunity like this, Ijust pinch myself and go, you know,
I cannot believe what this life continuesto give me. And I'll work
my tail off Forard. I'm excitedfor it. I'm prepared, I'm ready

(13:13):
to go. And uh, Imean, come on. If I called
up the commissioner and I wasn't workingthe game and said, hey, commission
can I get a sideline pass soI can watch these two unbelievable quarterbacks play
at an elite level from the sideline, you go, no, Ryan,
you can't guess what I am.But I'm excited by the way. Ryan.

(13:35):
You're good at it, and we'renot blowing smoke. I was listening.
You're good at what you do.You've done a very good job.
Well, I appreciate it. Iput a lot of time and effort to
do it. And I tell youwhat, you know, this is the
national broadcast. This is Westwood One, This is they have every NFL game
like these broadcasts. These these youknow, you know, talent observers and

(13:56):
stuff that we're putting people on theair. I'm sure how Denneroff, who
is a god to me, didn'tjust go you know what, I think
Ryan needs a break. You know, let's just let's just throw them out
there. You better be good atwhat you do, especially when I when
you carry the baggage like I do, or You're not going to be out
there. So I'm gonna work mytail off so I don't make a fool
of anybody. Love it, reallyappreciate your time, looking forward to it,

(14:18):
and obviously we like everybody here inHouston and Baltimore, looking forward to
the game itself. Hope to catchup with you again real soon and appreciate
your time. You bet. I'llbe down there in the middle of March
doing some work with the Meninger Clinic, you know, giving back to the
community of Houston. They've been sogreat to me in that facility, so
maybe we can get together. Givenit sounds great, we would love that.

(14:39):
Absolutely. Ryan leave here on SportsTalk at seven to ninety