September 18, 2023 • 23 mins
Stan Norfleet of "Next Up" joins the show for his weekly visit. He talks covering his first Texans game on Sunday, the play of CJ Stroud and how things could look the rest of the way for the home town NFL team.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Hi, you're right at Fusion footballfive o'clock. Some it's five o'clock football
Professional is a special game, allright. We have a jam packed five
o'clock hour, as we usually willon a Monday. We've got tickets to
(00:23):
give away at the bottom of thehour. You're not gonna want to miss.
But over the next couple of segments, we've got the man, the
myth, the legend. Look atstand Northfleet. He's got like copious notes
one, two, three writers willbe proud of me. Hey, you're
like, so WEX is like awalking sports almanac. Look at wexe'son pressed,
isn't he? But I sit nextweeks For those that don't know,
(00:44):
during the game, how did thatgo? Is this your first time to
see? Second time? Okay,second time? So the hundred percent of
the games he's been there with me, yeah, all two of them.
I think I talk enough for aWicks and I boat, So I'm kind
of taking your place. But like, just in that reasonable amount of times,
is annoyed with you as he doeswith me. I think he was
more annoyed with the team. Butthen I was trying to speak on behalf
(01:04):
of the team and he was nothaving to having so I said this at
the time, yeah for real,because they and they posted a video afterwards.
Well here's the deal, I saidat the top of the show.
They lost, but not for thereasons I thought they would lose, Okay.
I didn't think the defense was gonnabe something you would point to and
(01:26):
be like, you guys didn't showup. And I also didn't think that.
I mean, I thought that theoffensive line would struggle, which they
did. Yeah, but I thoughtthey would lose because CJ Stroud would struggle
because of the offensive line, whichhe got hit. He got sacked a
lot, but he put up monsternumbers too. So Friday, we'll wrap
up our show. I'm out runningair is just getting ready for Friday Night
(01:47):
whatever. And I hear the CJshoulder and Laramie Tonzo questionable at the same
time. And I heard Demiko earlytoday referenced Tounzel's knees quarrel. So we
may not be out of this justyet. Four fifths of your offensive line,
at least who you penciled in thatstarter is out, and your quarterback.
CJ told us after the game.He said his shoulder didn't start feeling
(02:12):
like he could play, and hethanked God. Of course until Saturday morning.
So then we're gonna go out thereand let him throw the ball forty
seven times, sum it up,getting it lubricated like you defensively, I
was miffed. It sounds like Demikowas miffed the effort, like just basic
stuff. Being where you're supposed tobe in the gap, you're supposed to
(02:35):
be there. I'm gonna pick onhim a little bit. Henry told too,
it's you, Anthony Richardson, andthere's a guard in front of you.
This is not Tusca Loosi. Youcan't go run around that. You
gotta go put your face on anothergrown man that outweighs you probably buy one
hundred pounds. That's the job,bro. So there were too many opportunities
like that from a defensive standpoint thatthey just didn't well. Anderson Junior said,
(02:58):
they just didn't have it. Theenergy wasn't there. Surprised they held
out of me guys, especially fora home opener. Yeah, I think
that's probably a little bit overblown.It's not the opener, but you've come
home. Yeah, you know,like he just wanted a little bit more
juice. I think they were surprisedwex I got on his nerves during the
game. I'm like, Wis,look at that. This is how they
(03:19):
feel about Demiko. I got herein February staying, we have to have
a quarterback in the draft. There'sno way you can go back out there
with Davis Mills and we don't wantto hear about Jon and all these other
players. It has to be aquarterback. Okay, you have one.
So you got a coach and aquarterback that we all like. Butts,
we're not in the sea. It'snot gonna change. And I try to
(03:39):
explain it too. I'm sure Christdid your listeners, did Thomas, and
now you've seen it for yourself.So it isn't gonna change unless they feel
like there's a reason for it tochange. And that's not here today.
That's not here in twenty twenty three. It's not coming in twenty twenty four.
They're not gonna win games, they'renot gonna be competitive for the postseason,
and it is not gonna It isgoing to be very evident, right.
(04:00):
I'm not trying to make it soundbad. I'm trying to tell you
what's going to happen. So here'swhy I pushed back a little bit respectively.
And again, you guys are Houstonthrough and through, So you know,
I stick my head around here fora few hours. A few years.
I've seen, for example, whatJacksonville did last year. Every year
we see somebody go worse the firstLook what Washington is doing right now right,
I'm just giving it as an exampleof they just popped into my head
(04:23):
the first place commies Magic Johnson's teamthe best. I'm I'm just acknowledging ship
boom. So why can't this Whycan't the Texans be Jacksonville last year?
Well, second year, you gotyour quarterback, you fill out the roster
some more. I'll take this onebecause, in my opinion, just because
(04:44):
we brought Jacksonville, they did havethe quarterback, and they did make a
significant change at coach, and thattheir coach is not Urban Meyer. But
I think that, you know,the canvas there in Jacksonville there's a lot
more painted when the new head coachgot there versus the talent level. No,
I'm not seeing Jacksonville was good.But Jacksonville, no, No,
(05:08):
I love you, you know that. No, they weren't they I'm not
saying they were good when he gotthere. You're saying the talent was more
robust in Jacksonville two years ago ora year ago than it I'm saying collectively
now with and look, this isCJ's first year, so I guess,
in fairness, I maybe should goback two years. But I just don't.
I mean, to me, whatwas the first order of business that
(05:30):
you always talked about, WEX whenNickissario got to town, cleaning up the
roster that was doing what every generalmanager could do, and the salary cap,
which I will commend him all,both of those things much better.
And I don't mean to be ajerk, but I won't. I don't
commend him for that. No,and if the job, But what I'm
getting at is in so doing,I mean, you talk about a barren
(05:54):
cupboard. I don't think Jacksonville wasas in dire straits talent wise when Trevor
Lawrence got there. The Texans werewith CJ S. So let's do this.
Think about the fifty three man rosterat the forty six active game day.
Think about the twenty two dudes thatwent out there that had on white
and blue uniforms On Sunday, DenzelPerriman would start for Indianapolis. So would
(06:16):
rankings show with Malie Collins, Sowah, Will Anderson Jr. Soa Derek Stingley
granted he didn't play, so withDalton Schultz. Yeah so when you really
but they're just now getting players likethat as opposed to one year guys just
to phil roster spots because you're playersthat maybe they got the year before.
I mean, remember Jacksonville had thenumber one picking back to back years.
(06:38):
That's how bad they were. Andwhen they went out last year in the
off season, look at who Jacksonvillegave their offense, every player. If
I'm not mistaken that Trevor Lawrence isgiving the ball to join the team after
he got there, Travis Ettie andall of his targets, Ridley kirk Ingram,
all of them. Yes, thoseguys did from elsewhore not etn was
(07:00):
a second round pick the year afterhim, Yes, a couple of hours
an hour after him. Yes,So okay, so let's not get caught
in Jacksonville. And I'm gonna digressto say this, and I'm gonna use
an astros parallel here. Wasn't itfun watching it get built? Not those
hundred lost seasons. But like aswe're in the hundred lost seasons right now,
(07:23):
that's the problem. Maybe it's justmy type of fandom. I enjoy
watching get up close, like,okay, you get that guy, Will
Anderson Jui. So we brought thatup this morning on our show, Will
Anderson Junior. The type of dudehe is, what we're learning about CJ.
These are two character guys that knowhow to work from real programs.
Yeah, that just go put Likeyou meet those pieces, I want to
(07:46):
be around to like watch them goget next year's class. Petrie's one of
those guys, even though he's notone of like you start piece and those
dudes together. Damian Pierce is oneof those guys. But but and all
of that's true. And I agreewith you, they're not gonna win,
not yet. Why because they're justnot good enough yet they're young, Like
in the NFL, you can't dothis. There's a billion examples you've mentioned
(08:11):
the ones that they were watching.It happen. It absolutely can happen.
Free agency can help. There's noway I'm looking at this GM and this
team and this roster and anything elsethat goes with it and saying I believe
that's what I'm watching happen in shortorder twenty five guy. Yeah, well
I hope he's gone after this year. Yeah, we can say it again
(08:31):
every time he's gone. He's notthe guy you're making me do this.
Already had this in the holster,but you're making me send it out now.
Omar Khan was gonna be the GMof this team until stupid Jack eastern
Be got on that jet. Yourealize that the current GM of the Houston
Texans is the last remaining tie tothe Easter by disaster. That's a big
tie. It is like Demiko isthe exact opposite. But the guy giving
(08:54):
Demico the groceries was brought here becauseof it a pastor. He was running
a team. That's ridiculous. Itis, it is, And so that's
the dysfunction that we have put tobed, which is why you go get
another character guy like Demiko. He'sperfect, his charisma, we trust him,
he's genuine and sincere, and youplug him into this thing and you
(09:16):
can completely start to get away fromthat. And I get it whether you
keep Casario or not. But I'mgonna ask you this look out on the
other side of that field on Sunday. The Indianapolis Colts are in the same
situation that the Texans are in.Why did their operation, in other words,
cooking the meal, Why did itlook like their meal was served?
(09:37):
It was hotter, it was morefresh the ingredients. And they didn't even
have their Damian Pierce, who's muchbetter. They didn't have Jonathan Taylor.
Nelson is dealing with a toe.Shaquille Bert is not. Shaquillet Skill is
not the same player that he oncewas. Those are cobbon copies, rookie
head coach, Rookie Quarterback Division uponit. They're on the road. Oh,
(09:58):
by the way, he didn't eventhe whole game, because Gardner Minshew
is carving your defense. He playedeighteen snaps Andrew Richardson, well, two
of those he gave you. Yeah, So, I mean, look at
their drive chart, touchdown, touchdown, punt, punt, touchdown, touchdown.
They scored four tutties before we calledthe TV timeout. Not great's up
(10:18):
again, that's not Nick Caserio wasmy point. That ain't Nick, Well,
Nick put those players on the field, that we're allowing that to happen.
Pierramid is here. Demiko told mehimself and which you may have been
in the room at some point duringtraining camp. Demiko I asked the question
specifically about Piramid after the sack againstNew englenn first preseason game and essentially,
in our paraphrase, payramids here becauseI wanted him. That's that's my guy.
(10:43):
Okay, okay, So let's let'sgo down to roster. Who do
we think is over there playing that'srunning around that Demiko didn't want, Well,
we know who he did want itwith a third pick, you know,
does that happen if Demiko isn't here. That's a good question, I
think already. We'll ponder that duringthe break if you ever take one.
But we'll come right back. Standnorfully joining us here for a couple of
(11:05):
segments on the EIGHTEAM Sports Talk sevenninety. Hey, whether you like what
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(12:07):
s for Berkeley Ice Center. You'vegot more eighteen Adam Clinton and Adam Weke
Flur find Sports Talk seven ninety homefor your home teams. Sexans Football leaves
them like nearly all of the firstyear head coaches. Unfortunately, both of
(12:30):
them were at the game yesterday,so one of them add to win no
more ties. Shane Steike and theonly one of the first year head coaches
with a dub so far Sean Paytonand his awful quarterback are O and two
Bird Gang Guy and his quarterback JoshDobbs. He's actually not been awful,
but they can't win. They're ohand two, and I think later tonight
(12:50):
Frank Reich and his new quarterback BryceYoung will fall to oh and two probably,
But we haven't even gotten to thatconversation yet today, and it's gonna
be an ongoing one for multiple seasons. We haven't gotten a game two of
Stroud, and we've seen Richard ourgame two of Bryce. We've seen two
full games of c J, andwe've seen back to back games from Anthony
Richardson where he was not there atthe end of the game. He lasted
(13:13):
most of the first game and cameout late and minor injury that didn't even
keep him out from the next game, and then obviously he left this game
after less than twenty snaps. Hislast two plays were both touchdown, very
efficient, spectacular, honestly touchdown runsby Richardson. What would you call the
early returns on each three start withaar. I think we just had a
(13:35):
conversation off here. Anthony Richardson andsty like stylistically, that's just a beautiful
marriage. And it looks like theyare further along. Didn't that offense look
light years ahead of Stroud and Slowick? Well when you because they're coordinator is
not a rookie yep, chant Stykenis an offensive head coach who has called
(13:56):
plays before and is now doing itagain. And it looked like it.
You asked the question, and Iposed it to our audience this morning.
We should we got the right combination. Now why personally I'm taking Tomko ten
times out of ten, giving wherethe Texans work, I'm taking CJ.
Stroud. Even if Bryce was available, I'm still taking Stroud now that Anthony
(14:16):
Richardson. It makes you think becauseI'm a little jaded come from Carolina,
I've seen how dynamic a Cam Newtonbody can be for a ball club.
You can win an MVP and getto a super Bowl. Okay, But
overall, who checks the most boxesthat I was comfortable with? It's still
CJ. Stroud. Would you alldo the same thing again if you had
(14:37):
it to do again? Well?This, I mean, I'll tell you
what all these things we've talked abouton our show, Your show, and
at the game itself, and throughoutthe day here on Sports Talk seven ninety.
I still don't think enough of ithas been centered on the only thing
that's really truly important. Does thisteam have direction? Because their quarterback can
play and it's only two games,and I'm dying to say yes and just
be done with it because of whatI'm seeing from the moment he stepped on
(15:01):
the practice field, to the firstday of camp, to the last day
of camp, to the first preseasongame, to the last preseason game,
from game one against their opponent onthe road against Baltimore to what they did
yesterday. The improvement he makes insuch short order is exceptionally impressive. The
accuracy literal not did the guy youthrew the ball to catch it, but
(15:22):
where he's actually putting the ball onhis receivers so they can do something with
it, so the play doesn't succeed. Where he catches it for twelve yards
and immediately goes down. If hehas whoever he is, Nico Tank,
Robert Woods, if he has astep on his defender, he's going to
keep it because that's where CJ.Stroud is putting the ball. And this
is on a day where he wasunder a lot of pressure, when the
(15:43):
pocket was clean, when the pressurewasn't there. No matter how bad any
given day is, you're still gonnaget you drop back forty five times,
they're gonna be twenty times where youprobably had a decent pocket fifteen, eighteen,
twenty yesterday I believe was twenty sevenor twenty eight. So called good
pockets are not under pressure, andhe was exceptional. And it backs up
what everybody that I've seen or heardtalks about and they said it again yesterday
(16:07):
on the broadcast. What everybody saysabout c. J. Stroud is that
he's a film rat, like agym rat, only a film rat.
Is how they said it yesterday onthe broadcast, Like that's that, that's
showing, it's bearing itself out inother words, And so yeah, you
you know, you'd like to feelgood about thinking that you have the guy,
which I think I think we're allunanimous in here about that, even
(16:30):
though it was very strongly against it. See, I would have taken you
will he'll throw the ball to theother team at some point, maybe we'll
think he hasn't yet in his rookieyear. And and considering who he's played
against. And I'm not giving nearlythe credit to the Colts defense as I
am the Ravens defense, who lookedgood again yesterday, although they're playing a
guy with one leg or zero.You know, it's like that's that's an
(16:53):
accomplishment. Honestly in my opinion,that he hasn't turned the ball over.
Well, he has turned the ballover like that in both Fumble Bowl games.
But I understand what you mean.I think CJ of those three right,
we just said it. Anthony Richardsonhas Stiken at experienced play caller.
Bryce's with Frank Wright, a guythat's been to a Super Bowl calling plays
(17:15):
Slowik is figuring it out. Andso I asked the question this morning.
Think about the football we've now seenthrough two games for the pro football team
here in Houston. Tell me whatthey are. I know what I've heard
De Miko say he wants them tobe. But stylistically, give me.
Identity is the word that we usedas cliche. What is the identity of
(17:38):
the program? I hear swarm,I did not see swarm on Sunday.
That's the problem is that you wouldtie the identity, if you will,
to the defensive side of the ball, just naturally, because the same thing
we're talking about with the Colts inan offensive mind, but if they're not
doing that, you know, Andagain I think in both other cases,
I'd rather describe it this way.The Colts identity is Anthony Richardson on the
(18:02):
way he plays. The Texans identityshould be the same. He just doesn't
run the ball. It's c J. Stroud. The identity of this team
is they've got a guy who canthrow the football. They are a passing
team. They're gonna win with passing. They're gonna move the ball with passing,
and they're gonna be They're gonna matterin this league because he can play.
How quickly can they draft that widereceiver next year? Like, will
it be any time in between thepicks? Yeah, it's whatever they prioritize.
(18:26):
I'm not so sure that it's widereceiver with the number one pick.
This Bow's kid at Georgia at thetight end. I get real comfortable about
him. He's george kid. No, he's Kelsey esque. Watch your back,
Dalton Schultz. Oh wait, he'swell, I'm if they draft him.
I'm kind of hoping that Cleveland hasa decent year. Because if Cleveland
(18:47):
has a terrible year and the pickthat they give Houston is a very good
pick and they draft a tight end, oh my god, you don't want
to see that stand. Okay,Lo's better Kyle Pitts at Florida or brock
Bowers at Georgia. Brock Bowers hastechnically been better. Cow cow Pits is
clearly a better athlete. Who's dumberArthur Smith or nobody. You can't draft
(19:11):
a tight end where you draft himif you're going to use him like that.
He's a very single coach that draftsthese tight ends early, keeps using
them like that, like they're nobody, like they don't matter, like they
can't help you win. When whydo they do that? When the week
one cow Pits didn't have any targetsor he didn't have any receptions, they
may have targeted him too or threetimes or something. Andy Reid has shown
(19:33):
the blueprint and so many times beforenobody else is reading it well, meaning
you meaning get the tight ends laterif you have an all world talent.
I think that's what he Who's thebest receiver on the Chiefs. It's not
even a question. You don't hesitateit's Travis Kelsey, but you got yes,
what you gotta dude to my homesas different. So think about it
(19:55):
like, if CJ can be good, let's be clear, I don't know
that he's gonna beat my homes.So if we're going to downgrade at the
quarterback position, that means we mustupgrade at all the other things. So
maybe it's it's a combination of draftand or free agency. I come back
to Bobby Slock and just go,Okay, Bobby, we have a problem
here. You're down four of yourfive starting offensive linemen. So Damian Pierce
(20:18):
running the football. I know that'swhat we want to do. It's what
I'd like to do. But thatsomething unless you design it to be on
the perimeter and we're just gonna throwsome runs out there, throw some balls
out there, and let Tank Daleand those guys go jitterbug and try and
create offense out there. I don'tknow how we're going to run the ball.
Bobby Slock is not sleeping well rightnow, and quite frankly, I
(20:40):
don't know it's going to get betteruntil Titus comes back, Larmy comes back.
It's a big reason why the questionI asked was basically unfair grading out
CJ. Or ain't really any ofthese guys. It's not fair two games
and it really doesn't even matter whatwe can grade out what they're doing.
But for the precise reason that yousaid that Shane Steiken is going to have
(21:00):
Anthony Richardson in a better position earlierin his career than Bobby Slowick is with
CJ. Straw, that's just afact. It's just gonna happen. And
I'm willing to be paying should addsome of the other things that are also
working against him, and you justlaid him out the running game, the
offensive line. So in year two, in year three with Slowik, presumably,
is there really now any difference betweenShane Steike and in year two and
three with Anthony Richardon. That gapis wide today, It was wide on
(21:22):
Sunday and on display for everybody yesterdayat NRG Stadium. It's only going to
get smaller and smaller the more he'sworked. But you have to acknowledge the
Texans chose this path. We drafta quarterback and we want to do everything
we can to make him succeed.It sounds nice, but they chose things
that aren't necessarily initially going to makethat happen. Rookie head coach, who's
(21:45):
defensive minded, rookie coordinator, who'sgoing to be calling plays for the first
time. They don't all really gotogether. I know what they want to
do, but that's not really what'shappening. But I'm here for the game
plan training camp day one. Stayand look at that line. There's Tightest,
There's Tounzel. They're Shack Mason,who's a legitimate starting guard in this
league. Okay, Kenyan Green's KenyanGreen. And then center. We thought
(22:10):
we had Jews. We know Questenburywent out early. Stand there's Damian Pierce.
There's Devin Singletary. We brought overfrom Buffalo. Mike Boone comes over
from San Francisco. He knows whatwe want to do. Dalton Schultz is
gonna start at tight end. Ican look out there on the field with
all of those said bodies and go. They should be able to compete in
this league. That's a legitimate offense. Even with a rookie quarterback and a
(22:30):
rookie play caller. They give youa shot scoring twenty points and having two
drives, touchdown opportunities in the redzone killed by penalties turned into field goal
opportunities with a line they had yesterday, I don't find that to be a
bad afternoon. All things considered asstupid, dumb, blankety bleak block,
curse word, moral victory nonsense iswhat it sounds like I'm saying. But
(22:52):
that's literally what they were trying todo out there. It wasn't it's not
awful. They just didn't do anything. They just didn't put any points on
the board and they were down fourteennothing in the blink of an eye.
Why do your segments always go byso fast? Because we have a good
time always. Yeah, all right, I appreciate you, know, no,
we appreciate you coming in stan norfully. You can catch him on Next
Up every single day here on SportsTalk seven ninety ten am to noon alongside
(23:15):
Chris Gordy.
Hi, you're right at Fusion footballfive o'clock. Some it's five o'clock football
Professional is a special game, allright. We have a jam packed five
o'clock hour, as we usually willon a Monday. We've got tickets to
(00:23):
give away at the bottom of thehour. You're not gonna want to miss.
But over the next couple of segments, we've got the man, the
myth, the legend. Look atstand Northfleet. He's got like copious notes
one, two, three writers willbe proud of me. Hey, you're
like, so WEX is like awalking sports almanac. Look at wexe'son pressed,
isn't he? But I sit nextweeks For those that don't know,
(00:44):
during the game, how did thatgo? Is this your first time to
see? Second time? Okay,second time? So the hundred percent of
the games he's been there with me, yeah, all two of them.
I think I talk enough for aWicks and I boat, So I'm kind
of taking your place. But like, just in that reasonable amount of times,
is annoyed with you as he doeswith me. I think he was
more annoyed with the team. Butthen I was trying to speak on behalf
(01:04):
of the team and he was nothaving to having so I said this at
the time, yeah for real,because they and they posted a video afterwards.
Well here's the deal, I saidat the top of the show.
They lost, but not for thereasons I thought they would lose, Okay.
I didn't think the defense was gonnabe something you would point to and
(01:26):
be like, you guys didn't showup. And I also didn't think that.
I mean, I thought that theoffensive line would struggle, which they
did. Yeah, but I thoughtthey would lose because CJ Stroud would struggle
because of the offensive line, whichhe got hit. He got sacked a
lot, but he put up monsternumbers too. So Friday, we'll wrap
up our show. I'm out runningair is just getting ready for Friday Night
(01:47):
whatever. And I hear the CJshoulder and Laramie Tonzo questionable at the same
time. And I heard Demiko earlytoday referenced Tounzel's knees quarrel. So we
may not be out of this justyet. Four fifths of your offensive line,
at least who you penciled in thatstarter is out, and your quarterback.
CJ told us after the game.He said his shoulder didn't start feeling
(02:12):
like he could play, and hethanked God. Of course until Saturday morning.
So then we're gonna go out thereand let him throw the ball forty
seven times, sum it up,getting it lubricated like you defensively, I
was miffed. It sounds like Demikowas miffed the effort, like just basic
stuff. Being where you're supposed tobe in the gap, you're supposed to
(02:35):
be there. I'm gonna pick onhim a little bit. Henry told too,
it's you, Anthony Richardson, andthere's a guard in front of you.
This is not Tusca Loosi. Youcan't go run around that. You
gotta go put your face on anothergrown man that outweighs you probably buy one
hundred pounds. That's the job,bro. So there were too many opportunities
like that from a defensive standpoint thatthey just didn't well. Anderson Junior said,
(02:58):
they just didn't have it. Theenergy wasn't there. Surprised they held
out of me guys, especially fora home opener. Yeah, I think
that's probably a little bit overblown.It's not the opener, but you've come
home. Yeah, you know,like he just wanted a little bit more
juice. I think they were surprisedwex I got on his nerves during the
game. I'm like, Wis,look at that. This is how they
(03:19):
feel about Demiko. I got herein February staying, we have to have
a quarterback in the draft. There'sno way you can go back out there
with Davis Mills and we don't wantto hear about Jon and all these other
players. It has to be aquarterback. Okay, you have one.
So you got a coach and aquarterback that we all like. Butts,
we're not in the sea. It'snot gonna change. And I try to
(03:39):
explain it too. I'm sure Christdid your listeners, did Thomas, and
now you've seen it for yourself.So it isn't gonna change unless they feel
like there's a reason for it tochange. And that's not here today.
That's not here in twenty twenty three. It's not coming in twenty twenty four.
They're not gonna win games, they'renot gonna be competitive for the postseason,
and it is not gonna It isgoing to be very evident, right.
(04:00):
I'm not trying to make it soundbad. I'm trying to tell you
what's going to happen. So here'swhy I pushed back a little bit respectively.
And again, you guys are Houstonthrough and through, So you know,
I stick my head around here fora few hours. A few years.
I've seen, for example, whatJacksonville did last year. Every year
we see somebody go worse the firstLook what Washington is doing right now right,
I'm just giving it as an exampleof they just popped into my head
(04:23):
the first place commies Magic Johnson's teamthe best. I'm I'm just acknowledging ship
boom. So why can't this Whycan't the Texans be Jacksonville last year?
Well, second year, you gotyour quarterback, you fill out the roster
some more. I'll take this onebecause, in my opinion, just because
(04:44):
we brought Jacksonville, they did havethe quarterback, and they did make a
significant change at coach, and thattheir coach is not Urban Meyer. But
I think that, you know,the canvas there in Jacksonville there's a lot
more painted when the new head coachgot there versus the talent level. No,
I'm not seeing Jacksonville was good.But Jacksonville, no, No,
(05:08):
I love you, you know that. No, they weren't they I'm not
saying they were good when he gotthere. You're saying the talent was more
robust in Jacksonville two years ago ora year ago than it I'm saying collectively
now with and look, this isCJ's first year, so I guess,
in fairness, I maybe should goback two years. But I just don't.
I mean, to me, whatwas the first order of business that
(05:30):
you always talked about, WEX whenNickissario got to town, cleaning up the
roster that was doing what every generalmanager could do, and the salary cap,
which I will commend him all,both of those things much better.
And I don't mean to be ajerk, but I won't. I don't
commend him for that. No,and if the job, But what I'm
getting at is in so doing,I mean, you talk about a barren
(05:54):
cupboard. I don't think Jacksonville wasas in dire straits talent wise when Trevor
Lawrence got there. The Texans werewith CJ S. So let's do this.
Think about the fifty three man rosterat the forty six active game day.
Think about the twenty two dudes thatwent out there that had on white
and blue uniforms On Sunday, DenzelPerriman would start for Indianapolis. So would
(06:16):
rankings show with Malie Collins, Sowah, Will Anderson Jr. Soa Derek Stingley
granted he didn't play, so withDalton Schultz. Yeah so when you really
but they're just now getting players likethat as opposed to one year guys just
to phil roster spots because you're playersthat maybe they got the year before.
I mean, remember Jacksonville had thenumber one picking back to back years.
(06:38):
That's how bad they were. Andwhen they went out last year in the
off season, look at who Jacksonvillegave their offense, every player. If
I'm not mistaken that Trevor Lawrence isgiving the ball to join the team after
he got there, Travis Ettie andall of his targets, Ridley kirk Ingram,
all of them. Yes, thoseguys did from elsewhore not etn was
(07:00):
a second round pick the year afterhim, Yes, a couple of hours
an hour after him. Yes,So okay, so let's not get caught
in Jacksonville. And I'm gonna digressto say this, and I'm gonna use
an astros parallel here. Wasn't itfun watching it get built? Not those
hundred lost seasons. But like aswe're in the hundred lost seasons right now,
(07:23):
that's the problem. Maybe it's justmy type of fandom. I enjoy
watching get up close, like,okay, you get that guy, Will
Anderson Jui. So we brought thatup this morning on our show, Will
Anderson Junior. The type of dudehe is, what we're learning about CJ.
These are two character guys that knowhow to work from real programs.
Yeah, that just go put Likeyou meet those pieces, I want to
(07:46):
be around to like watch them goget next year's class. Petrie's one of
those guys, even though he's notone of like you start piece and those
dudes together. Damian Pierce is oneof those guys. But but and all
of that's true. And I agreewith you, they're not gonna win,
not yet. Why because they're justnot good enough yet they're young, Like
in the NFL, you can't dothis. There's a billion examples you've mentioned
(08:11):
the ones that they were watching.It happen. It absolutely can happen.
Free agency can help. There's noway I'm looking at this GM and this
team and this roster and anything elsethat goes with it and saying I believe
that's what I'm watching happen in shortorder twenty five guy. Yeah, well
I hope he's gone after this year. Yeah, we can say it again
(08:31):
every time he's gone. He's notthe guy you're making me do this.
Already had this in the holster,but you're making me send it out now.
Omar Khan was gonna be the GMof this team until stupid Jack eastern
Be got on that jet. Yourealize that the current GM of the Houston
Texans is the last remaining tie tothe Easter by disaster. That's a big
tie. It is like Demiko isthe exact opposite. But the guy giving
(08:54):
Demico the groceries was brought here becauseof it a pastor. He was running
a team. That's ridiculous. Itis, it is, And so that's
the dysfunction that we have put tobed, which is why you go get
another character guy like Demiko. He'sperfect, his charisma, we trust him,
he's genuine and sincere, and youplug him into this thing and you
(09:16):
can completely start to get away fromthat. And I get it whether you
keep Casario or not. But I'mgonna ask you this look out on the
other side of that field on Sunday. The Indianapolis Colts are in the same
situation that the Texans are in.Why did their operation, in other words,
cooking the meal, Why did itlook like their meal was served?
(09:37):
It was hotter, it was morefresh the ingredients. And they didn't even
have their Damian Pierce, who's muchbetter. They didn't have Jonathan Taylor.
Nelson is dealing with a toe.Shaquille Bert is not. Shaquillet Skill is
not the same player that he oncewas. Those are cobbon copies, rookie
head coach, Rookie Quarterback Division uponit. They're on the road. Oh,
(09:58):
by the way, he didn't eventhe whole game, because Gardner Minshew
is carving your defense. He playedeighteen snaps Andrew Richardson, well, two
of those he gave you. Yeah, So, I mean, look at
their drive chart, touchdown, touchdown, punt, punt, touchdown, touchdown.
They scored four tutties before we calledthe TV timeout. Not great's up
(10:18):
again, that's not Nick Caserio wasmy point. That ain't Nick, Well,
Nick put those players on the field, that we're allowing that to happen.
Pierramid is here. Demiko told mehimself and which you may have been
in the room at some point duringtraining camp. Demiko I asked the question
specifically about Piramid after the sack againstNew englenn first preseason game and essentially,
in our paraphrase, payramids here becauseI wanted him. That's that's my guy.
(10:43):
Okay, okay, So let's let'sgo down to roster. Who do
we think is over there playing that'srunning around that Demiko didn't want, Well,
we know who he did want itwith a third pick, you know,
does that happen if Demiko isn't here. That's a good question, I
think already. We'll ponder that duringthe break if you ever take one.
But we'll come right back. Standnorfully joining us here for a couple of
(11:05):
segments on the EIGHTEAM Sports Talk sevenninety. Hey, whether you like what
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(11:26):
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(12:07):
s for Berkeley Ice Center. You'vegot more eighteen Adam Clinton and Adam Weke
Flur find Sports Talk seven ninety homefor your home teams. Sexans Football leaves
them like nearly all of the firstyear head coaches. Unfortunately, both of
(12:30):
them were at the game yesterday,so one of them add to win no
more ties. Shane Steike and theonly one of the first year head coaches
with a dub so far Sean Paytonand his awful quarterback are O and two
Bird Gang Guy and his quarterback JoshDobbs. He's actually not been awful,
but they can't win. They're ohand two, and I think later tonight
(12:50):
Frank Reich and his new quarterback BryceYoung will fall to oh and two probably,
But we haven't even gotten to thatconversation yet today, and it's gonna
be an ongoing one for multiple seasons. We haven't gotten a game two of
Stroud, and we've seen Richard ourgame two of Bryce. We've seen two
full games of c J, andwe've seen back to back games from Anthony
Richardson where he was not there atthe end of the game. He lasted
(13:13):
most of the first game and cameout late and minor injury that didn't even
keep him out from the next game, and then obviously he left this game
after less than twenty snaps. Hislast two plays were both touchdown, very
efficient, spectacular, honestly touchdown runsby Richardson. What would you call the
early returns on each three start withaar. I think we just had a
(13:35):
conversation off here. Anthony Richardson andsty like stylistically, that's just a beautiful
marriage. And it looks like theyare further along. Didn't that offense look
light years ahead of Stroud and Slowick? Well when you because they're coordinator is
not a rookie yep, chant Stykenis an offensive head coach who has called
(13:56):
plays before and is now doing itagain. And it looked like it.
You asked the question, and Iposed it to our audience this morning.
We should we got the right combination. Now why personally I'm taking Tomko ten
times out of ten, giving wherethe Texans work, I'm taking CJ.
Stroud. Even if Bryce was available, I'm still taking Stroud now that Anthony
(14:16):
Richardson. It makes you think becauseI'm a little jaded come from Carolina,
I've seen how dynamic a Cam Newtonbody can be for a ball club.
You can win an MVP and getto a super Bowl. Okay, But
overall, who checks the most boxesthat I was comfortable with? It's still
CJ. Stroud. Would you alldo the same thing again if you had
(14:37):
it to do again? Well?This, I mean, I'll tell you
what all these things we've talked abouton our show, Your show, and
at the game itself, and throughoutthe day here on Sports Talk seven ninety.
I still don't think enough of ithas been centered on the only thing
that's really truly important. Does thisteam have direction? Because their quarterback can
play and it's only two games,and I'm dying to say yes and just
be done with it because of whatI'm seeing from the moment he stepped on
(15:01):
the practice field, to the firstday of camp, to the last day
of camp, to the first preseasongame, to the last preseason game,
from game one against their opponent onthe road against Baltimore to what they did
yesterday. The improvement he makes insuch short order is exceptionally impressive. The
accuracy literal not did the guy youthrew the ball to catch it, but
(15:22):
where he's actually putting the ball onhis receivers so they can do something with
it, so the play doesn't succeed. Where he catches it for twelve yards
and immediately goes down. If hehas whoever he is, Nico Tank,
Robert Woods, if he has astep on his defender, he's going to
keep it because that's where CJ.Stroud is putting the ball. And this
is on a day where he wasunder a lot of pressure, when the
(15:43):
pocket was clean, when the pressurewasn't there. No matter how bad any
given day is, you're still gonnaget you drop back forty five times,
they're gonna be twenty times where youprobably had a decent pocket fifteen, eighteen,
twenty yesterday I believe was twenty sevenor twenty eight. So called good
pockets are not under pressure, andhe was exceptional. And it backs up
what everybody that I've seen or heardtalks about and they said it again yesterday
(16:07):
on the broadcast. What everybody saysabout c. J. Stroud is that
he's a film rat, like agym rat, only a film rat.
Is how they said it yesterday onthe broadcast, Like that's that, that's
showing, it's bearing itself out inother words, And so yeah, you
you know, you'd like to feelgood about thinking that you have the guy,
which I think I think we're allunanimous in here about that, even
(16:30):
though it was very strongly against it. See, I would have taken you
will he'll throw the ball to theother team at some point, maybe we'll
think he hasn't yet in his rookieyear. And and considering who he's played
against. And I'm not giving nearlythe credit to the Colts defense as I
am the Ravens defense, who lookedgood again yesterday, although they're playing a
guy with one leg or zero.You know, it's like that's that's an
(16:53):
accomplishment. Honestly in my opinion,that he hasn't turned the ball over.
Well, he has turned the ballover like that in both Fumble Bowl games.
But I understand what you mean.I think CJ of those three right,
we just said it. Anthony Richardsonhas Stiken at experienced play caller.
Bryce's with Frank Wright, a guythat's been to a Super Bowl calling plays
(17:15):
Slowik is figuring it out. Andso I asked the question this morning.
Think about the football we've now seenthrough two games for the pro football team
here in Houston. Tell me whatthey are. I know what I've heard
De Miko say he wants them tobe. But stylistically, give me.
Identity is the word that we usedas cliche. What is the identity of
(17:38):
the program? I hear swarm,I did not see swarm on Sunday.
That's the problem is that you wouldtie the identity, if you will,
to the defensive side of the ball, just naturally, because the same thing
we're talking about with the Colts inan offensive mind, but if they're not
doing that, you know, Andagain I think in both other cases,
I'd rather describe it this way.The Colts identity is Anthony Richardson on the
(18:02):
way he plays. The Texans identityshould be the same. He just doesn't
run the ball. It's c J. Stroud. The identity of this team
is they've got a guy who canthrow the football. They are a passing
team. They're gonna win with passing. They're gonna move the ball with passing,
and they're gonna be They're gonna matterin this league because he can play.
How quickly can they draft that widereceiver next year? Like, will
it be any time in between thepicks? Yeah, it's whatever they prioritize.
(18:26):
I'm not so sure that it's widereceiver with the number one pick.
This Bow's kid at Georgia at thetight end. I get real comfortable about
him. He's george kid. No, he's Kelsey esque. Watch your back,
Dalton Schultz. Oh wait, he'swell, I'm if they draft him.
I'm kind of hoping that Cleveland hasa decent year. Because if Cleveland
(18:47):
has a terrible year and the pickthat they give Houston is a very good
pick and they draft a tight end, oh my god, you don't want
to see that stand. Okay,Lo's better Kyle Pitts at Florida or brock
Bowers at Georgia. Brock Bowers hastechnically been better. Cow cow Pits is
clearly a better athlete. Who's dumberArthur Smith or nobody. You can't draft
(19:11):
a tight end where you draft himif you're going to use him like that.
He's a very single coach that draftsthese tight ends early, keeps using
them like that, like they're nobody, like they don't matter, like they
can't help you win. When whydo they do that? When the week
one cow Pits didn't have any targetsor he didn't have any receptions, they
may have targeted him too or threetimes or something. Andy Reid has shown
(19:33):
the blueprint and so many times beforenobody else is reading it well, meaning
you meaning get the tight ends laterif you have an all world talent.
I think that's what he Who's thebest receiver on the Chiefs. It's not
even a question. You don't hesitateit's Travis Kelsey, but you got yes,
what you gotta dude to my homesas different. So think about it
(19:55):
like, if CJ can be good, let's be clear, I don't know
that he's gonna beat my homes.So if we're going to downgrade at the
quarterback position, that means we mustupgrade at all the other things. So
maybe it's it's a combination of draftand or free agency. I come back
to Bobby Slock and just go,Okay, Bobby, we have a problem
here. You're down four of yourfive starting offensive linemen. So Damian Pierce
(20:18):
running the football. I know that'swhat we want to do. It's what
I'd like to do. But thatsomething unless you design it to be on
the perimeter and we're just gonna throwsome runs out there, throw some balls
out there, and let Tank Daleand those guys go jitterbug and try and
create offense out there. I don'tknow how we're going to run the ball.
Bobby Slock is not sleeping well rightnow, and quite frankly, I
(20:40):
don't know it's going to get betteruntil Titus comes back, Larmy comes back.
It's a big reason why the questionI asked was basically unfair grading out
CJ. Or ain't really any ofthese guys. It's not fair two games
and it really doesn't even matter whatwe can grade out what they're doing.
But for the precise reason that yousaid that Shane Steiken is going to have
(21:00):
Anthony Richardson in a better position earlierin his career than Bobby Slowick is with
CJ. Straw, that's just afact. It's just gonna happen. And
I'm willing to be paying should addsome of the other things that are also
working against him, and you justlaid him out the running game, the
offensive line. So in year two, in year three with Slowik, presumably,
is there really now any difference betweenShane Steike and in year two and
three with Anthony Richardon. That gapis wide today, It was wide on
(21:22):
Sunday and on display for everybody yesterdayat NRG Stadium. It's only going to
get smaller and smaller the more he'sworked. But you have to acknowledge the
Texans chose this path. We drafta quarterback and we want to do everything
we can to make him succeed.It sounds nice, but they chose things
that aren't necessarily initially going to makethat happen. Rookie head coach, who's
(21:45):
defensive minded, rookie coordinator, who'sgoing to be calling plays for the first
time. They don't all really gotogether. I know what they want to
do, but that's not really what'shappening. But I'm here for the game
plan training camp day one. Stayand look at that line. There's Tightest,
There's Tounzel. They're Shack Mason,who's a legitimate starting guard in this
league. Okay, Kenyan Green's KenyanGreen. And then center. We thought
(22:10):
we had Jews. We know Questenburywent out early. Stand there's Damian Pierce.
There's Devin Singletary. We brought overfrom Buffalo. Mike Boone comes over
from San Francisco. He knows whatwe want to do. Dalton Schultz is
gonna start at tight end. Ican look out there on the field with
all of those said bodies and go. They should be able to compete in
this league. That's a legitimate offense. Even with a rookie quarterback and a
(22:30):
rookie play caller. They give youa shot scoring twenty points and having two
drives, touchdown opportunities in the redzone killed by penalties turned into field goal
opportunities with a line they had yesterday, I don't find that to be a
bad afternoon. All things considered asstupid, dumb, blankety bleak block,
curse word, moral victory nonsense iswhat it sounds like I'm saying. But
(22:52):
that's literally what they were trying todo out there. It wasn't it's not
awful. They just didn't do anything. They just didn't put any points on
the board and they were down fourteennothing in the blink of an eye.
Why do your segments always go byso fast? Because we have a good
time always. Yeah, all right, I appreciate you, know, no,
we appreciate you coming in stan norfully. You can catch him on Next
Up every single day here on SportsTalk seven ninety ten am to noon alongside
(23:15):
Chris Gordy.
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