Can the Houston Texans overcome defensive questions in 2024?

While the Cowboys get all of the attention in the state of Texas, it might be the Houston Texans who are primed for a better run in 2024. Craig and Cam look at the additions, especially on defense, as CJ Stroud and Demeco Ryans look to build off of 2023.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
As we continue here on this Tuesdayafternoon, and it's a Texa Tuesday,
so there was some Seals and Croftsthere. We may never pass this way
again. So the way I understandit, a member of that group was
a guy who came from a splitfamily, divorced mom and dad. Similarly

(00:27):
your situation game where you had viganomom in one state and the other states
that that sort of think. Andhe was a huge, huge Beatles fan.
He like emulated the songs and thisand the styles and all that other
kind of stuff. Meanwhile, hehooks up with another guy and they talk

(00:49):
about growing up in Midland and inWest Texas. You may be familiar with
the song Summer of course, okaythat that song was written in reference to
the getting that summer breeze in thereout in Midlands, Texas by one of

(01:11):
the members who would ultimately form thisgroup. And he emulated the Beatles so
much, so much so that hisfriends started calling him England Dan, which
you also know from England Dan andjohn Ford Coley. And now you know

(01:32):
the rest of the story with regardlessof Seals and Crofts were a Texas product
as well. Speaking of Texas products, Houston Texans are already underweg in training
camp because they play the first profootball game in nine days, the Hall
of Fame game, Pro Football Hallof Fame game, by the way,

(01:52):
and this is going to be frommy pet peeve department, and you know
whatever, think about stuff way toomuch. But when somebody tells you and
identifies someone who played professional football andthey're in the Hall of Fame, and
they say they're in the NFL Hallof Fame, that's incorrect. They're in

(02:13):
the Pro Football Hall of Fame.Because the Pro Football Hall of Fame encompasses
more than just a National Football League. It's the old All American Football Conference,
the AFL. Before the merger ofthe NFL, there were a couple
of other incarnations of pro football backin the twenties and thirties, and there
are guys from those leagues who arein the Pro Football Hall of Fame in
Kenton, Ohio. In fact,one of my favorite duties as a reporter

(02:38):
and broadcaster all the years was toget to cover the Hall of Fame induction
ceremonies in successive years of Tom Landryand then also of Tech Shram and Randy
White going into the Hall of Fame. Wonderful event, great event, and
it's grown over time obviously, butit's the Pro Football Hall of Fame in
Kanton, Ohio. That's where thePro Football Hall of Fame Game will take

(03:00):
place a week from this Thursday,the Texans against the Bears. The biggest
question about the Texans, and wetalked about the Cowboys earlier cam seems to
be about the defense. Could theybe better under Demiko Ryans in season two?
Because as was written, you know, barring any major injuries, your

(03:20):
offense that starts with CJ. Stroudat quarterback, Army Tunswell, left tackle,
Nico Collins, TANKDLL and Stefan Diggs, receiver Joe Mixon in the backfield
they think can be effective there.But and the defense added Daniel Hunter and
linebacker Rees Alshaher. But there arequestions at defensive tackle and corner, and

(03:42):
the corner will have a lot ofcompetition Derek Stingley Junior, Jeff Okudah,
CJ. Henderson, Kamari Lassiter,so all of those there, I guess
that's the biggest question with it.How improved can they get that uptick on
the defense this year? Coming offa Division title on a playoff victory a
year ago. Yeah, you justmentioned those three guys, Acuda, Henderson,

(04:02):
Laster all guys they added in theoffseason. Akudah from Atlanta, Henderson
from Carolina, and then last yeara second round draft pick. So the
defensive issue. Last season struggled againstBaltimore in the second half of that playoff
game, so a big focus willbe on their ability. As you mentioned
the cohesiveness to Jill. How willthey look together. They're also replacing some

(04:27):
guys on the defensive line as well. I think they lost a couple of
starters from last season, so that'llbe a big area of focus. But
I think the one thing Texas fansaren't worried about is their offense. I
mean, c J. Stroud hissecond year, he was already incredible as
just a rookie. Will he makea leap in the second year. Well,
they'll be a sophomore slump, butnearly also brought in Joe Mixon,

(04:48):
the former Bengals running back. Howwill he look next to Stroud? I
mean, obviously Tank Dell returning froman injury. We hope he will be
close to one hundred percent, Butoffensively, you expect it to be there
defensively, I think is where mostpeople are are questioned. But DMKO,
Ryan's great coach. They have Ithink made the moves to be better defensively

(05:12):
in this second season. All Right, we'll be back to wrap up today's
edition of the program, coming upon sports Radio AM thirteen under the zone
of the iHeartRadio app.