Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is the morning Drive with Dad and Cole.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Texans still off from the practice field. Because Cole, if
you watched Jamiico Ryant's speech, that's what I had everybody
dancing in the locker room where he said, I'll see
you on Wednesday. So yesterday today Texans players. Nice little
off days.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
That's nice. I don't know what a Wednesday is? You don't.
You don't know what a Wednesday is? No, I know
what that is on the show.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Oh yeah, I'm not even gonna remotely open that show
out of curiosity.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
What's a Wednesday? Nona is also? No, no, no, don't
yep yep? What is it? Two against one? Buddy walking
to the show. Great? I mean you guys think by attrition,
you you're just gonna get me over to your side
numbers that we're going to call it hump numbers.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
So we're gonna go ahead and guarantee you win because
we have a bet going on right now. So we're
actually both rooting for each other because that way, win
triply ends to paying me a six pack of beer.
I'll bring him in some doughnuts so you can celebrate
with me. That's the case. I mean, you cant sit
over here by yourself.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
And that was the the bet that you guys have
for a week from Saturday when Oklahoma and Alabama take
on each other. You Friday night, are are a yellow
hammer from uh from from Alabama. And of course Triple
Lee is a Oklahoma guy. So you know that's that's
the bet you guys have going on. Uh he's got
breakfast on it from his end, and you've got a
(01:28):
six pack of uh the stuff from Spezil Brewing right there.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
In uh In in south central Texas.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
I mean, most people just call it shining Back. But
good job I'm being able to point out the careery.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Well it's a great name. I just it's it's a
fun word to say, so I say it. I've never been.
I've always wanted to go. I've heard good things, so
maybe one of these days I'll do that. But oh yeah, yeah,
numerous dude, Okay, like Bluebell in the Museum of Natural
History or Natural Science are like the in the Zoo.
Those are the three easy field trips for schools if
(01:59):
you grew up in this area.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
Bluebell was a field trip in the sum I never
we never went to Blue Belt. Yeah, we went to
blue Bell and I went numerous times. We did the
zoo and we did natural history, and that was it
the only thing that we have on a regular occurrence.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Right right.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
And then I mean, like I said, the zoo was
in there. We did the Oil Ranch. I we did
a lot, we did what the Oil Ranch?
Speaker 3 (02:21):
What even is that?
Speaker 2 (02:22):
It was like a huge pumpkin patch that they had,
like I think it was in Waller.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Oh god, oh god. What else is on the news today?
An oil ranch? God, it's just the name of the ranch.
That's all. That's all it was. It's like the King Ranch.
The King Ranch is like a restaurant that's made for steaks. Well, no,
it's an actual ranch that is very profitable.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
Is it a restaurant like right up the street King Ranch, Bovine.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Or whatever the crap it is? Well, I mean, yeah, no,
there's there. There is that.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
It's it's owned by Landry's. But I mean you also
have the leather as part of the King Ranch edition
of Ford f one fifties and Numero others. And it
was even prominently mentioned on Yellowstone where they were talking
about trying to monetize the Yellowstone Ranch there, and I
remember John Dutton was.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Like make it like the King Ranch in Texas.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
Chargers win last night and overtime and the Ashers are
interested in getting in another pitchers.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
There we go, There you go.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Those are just some of the headlines of today and
also too, like I mentioned the Texans. You know, I
think that you know, that's where we get started this morning,
is what the Texans is. Now we find out just
how locked in this team is because it's one of
those that it's like the old times of the college
football playoff. You lose one game, then you got to
go on a run, and it feels like that's what
(03:39):
Texans have to do right here, is that the early
part of the season has now made them have to
go on a run. Like let's just say, in an
ideal world, in this scenario, you win that Monday night
against Tampa Bay and you've got that one, and maybe
you win that Jacksonville game, so you're one in two,
two and one.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
You're something like that.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Right now, I mean, we could have been talking about
a team at this point coal that would be very
much in position to be playing for one of those
top two spots with the.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
Ten and three with an opportunity to finish the year
off fourteen and three, fourteen and three would have an
absolute guarantee that you were a top two seat in
my opinion.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
So you know, it's it's weird to think and me
and you were talking before the show and if you
want to get in someone three two one two five
seven ninety that the Texans have.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
They ever had twelve wins in a regular season. Yes,
one time underneath Bill O'Brien.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Okay, so it was, you know, one of those because
I was trying to remember if twenty twelve, I think
they were on pace to have an outstanding season, and
then December kind of got away from them and they
went back to wild card weekend and playing that very
first game on that Saturday as they normally do.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
But my bad wasn't It wasn't Bill O'Brien. It was
Garret Kubiak twelve. So it was that season, yeah, okay,
so it was the wild card round and they lost
in the divisional round of the Patriots at defense player
of the year.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Okay, right, right, So I mean you just had New
England having an outstanding season and was I think Denver
was the other one too, because I remember that was
the playoffs where the Ravens went out there.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
That was the That was the race, That was the mirror.
That was the miracle run by the Ravens. That was
the hobball ball.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Right, so you had that season, but I mean, aside
from that, still you won the division easily that year.
And now it's weird to think that they could win
twelve games, not even win the division, and not even
put themselves in position to do exactly what Will Anderson
Junior said they needed to do when they were cleaning
(05:35):
out lockers last year, which was, Hey, divisional round, we
need to finally get one of those games here. Because
we get one here, then we feel like we ain't
losing it.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
I feel like you have to be the top three seed,
which means you have to win the division, because I
am guaranteeing right now that you will see the two
seed loose the seventh seed. If the seventh seed is
the Buffalo Bills, Buffalo can still fall down, lose a
little bit of traction. They will get in as a
wild card spot. But you're telling me Josh Allen versus
Bone Nicks in Denver. Sorry, guys, I don't care how
bad the defense is for Buffalo. Josh Allen's winning that
(06:06):
football game. You tell me, New England ends up falling
short and they get the number two seed. New England
is losing that football game because they've never been there
before underneath this current regime. So you need to be
at least the three seed to guarantee you're hosting a
second playoff game at home, and right now, the only
way that happens is if you get a little bit
of help, which also kind of sucks because of that
(06:27):
probably means that Denver gets the number one seed. Jacksonville
scheduled to close out the year Jets Broncos at Colds
home against Titans. They are going to win three of
those games. So the only way to wear you guarantee
that you get to keep pace with Jacksonville is if
you have that Broncos loss, because then I think about this, Dan,
You both lost the Broncos. Therefore the head to head
doesn't matter. You both have a win against each other,
(06:50):
so common opponent for yourself. It's one to one, what's
the next day to point, strength of schedule and strength
of margin of victory. Texans win that one, okay, So
right now, if they were tied at twelve and five,
should get the division title. Therefore Jacksonville would be the
five seeds. So Jacksonville would play against whoever is the
AFC North winner. You would play the six seed, more
than likely the Los Angeles Chargers, who again last night,
(07:12):
looked pathetic on offense.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Dude, it was bad.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
Like Jalen Hurts had four interceptions, there were five turners
in Philadelphia and they still need overtime to shut out Philly.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Well, do you believe in that team in the Chargers? Yes, no, no, no, no.
I mean that's one of those games that you should
be able to if you play the way that you're
capable of playing, win that game. But speaking of that,
with Jalen Hurts making NFL history for the wrong reason
last night, two turnovers on one play.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
That was hysterical. That was hysterical.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
I'm sitting here and I'm like, there's no way that
Troy di is getting that ball back.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Oh no, there it is.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
And then you don't even get it. Then you barely
find your way into the end zone if you're Los Angeles.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
My favorite part of that too is you know you
get the interception initially and was it was it a
defensive line so it was a defensive lineman, and I
always love whenever big guys get the football. Like I'm
trying to remember the offensive lineman he he had played
at TCU, and he picked up a fumble and tried
(08:15):
to run it and he got up ended. He was
shoe soles over you know, Watts as he got hit
and did a front flip.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Damn near faumbled football.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
My favorite play still in the last five years has
been the Robert Hunt play where he goes flying through
the air and still comes up short for a touchdown.
I mean, that's that still is my favorite play in
the NFL, because it takes a whole lot of heat
to be able to make a three and fifty pounds
man do.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
A front flip. Well, I mean, that's that's why.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
You know, earlier this season when the Eagles had that
blocked field goal against the Rams and Jordan Davis ran
it back for a touchdown. And of course, if you
had action on that game, not saying I did, but
if you had action on that game, you're yelling at
the screen, just go down, just go down.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
But then I have to remember, no, no, no, no, no no.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
When when offensive or defensive lineman get a chance to
make a play.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
They're going to try to make a play.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
Why wouldn't you, like Oesley, this is your fifteen seconds
of being the hero of the game. Absolutely go for
the play. And we all want to see a fat
man touchdown. Like I'm telling you, I would rather see
a fat man touchdown than a full back touchdown any day.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
Not even close to being a fat guy.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
But probably the most impressive one of all time had
to be the Super Bowl with what's his name the
Pittsburgh Steelers James James Harrison hit with.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
With a ninety nine return and he was clearly out
of breath bats time I got the thirty yard.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Night and then almost out of nowhere, here comes Larry Fitzgerald,
who damn near saves the day.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
I'm sorry.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
Like when he got the thirty yard line, every Arizona
player should have realized he's about to pass out.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Let's just take.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
Out his legs. He'll fumble the football, we'll get it back,
we'll return it. At that point, and then Larry tries
to jump on the back and be like the hero
of like Arizona. Dude, he's not going to wait. Distribution
is not helping you in this standpoint. Go for the knee,
Go clip him, get him out of here, because then
he's gonna fumble the ball and.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
You get it right back.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Well, and of course last night, yeah, I mean you
have that play where if you missed it, I mean,
I'm not sure how you could at this point, but
you get the interception, then he fumbles and then Jalen
hurts for like a millisecond, picks the football up, but
he gets clocked right and then he gets smoked and
the football which it almost made it out of bounds.
(10:31):
So at that point then it would have been eagle
ball because he was the last one to half possession
of it. But the Chargers able to get on top
of it. But they win on Monday Night twenty two
to nineteen. And as Cole mentioned, the Texan's going to
see them here in a few weeks. But with that
game last night, now you've got the Chargers. I mean,
they're kind of in the same situation the Texans are,
(10:52):
where they're not going to catch Denver, so they could
very easily finish the season twelve and five, just like
the Texan. So you you could conceivably have at least
two teams at twelve and five.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
You gonna have four teams be twelve and five or
thirteen of four. I mean, it's just nuts to think.
And two of them are gonna be wild card teams
in the even more nuts to think.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Part of this is that one of the toughest divisions
in football is the one that's going to squeak in
in the AFC North.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
Yeah, but it's squeaking in because if that's how incompetence
several spots are on certain position groups. Therefore, it makes
it more challenging because like if you told me that
we see Lamar Jackson having an MVP year, like we're
so accustomed seeing they won the division easily, there's no
question about it. If you don't lose Joe Burrow for
almost three months, I.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Think that at least they're still in the hut.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
I mean, like technically they're not eliminated because they're four
and that they're eliminated, Like for all intense purposes, they're eliminated.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
Pittsburgh.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
They're defense is taking a massive step back from what
has been the customers underneath Mike Tomlin, but they're finding
ways to win in just dumb Tom Woolery fashion, and
the officials kind of helping them out and then Cleveland sucks.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
So like, if one of these teams.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
Just had competent play at quarterback for an entire season,
they would be running away with this division. The tougher
division right now is the AFC East and the AFC West,
And I don't even think it's even that tough because
I still think that there's fools goals when it comes
to New England, there's fools goal when it comes to Denver.
And to an certain standpoint, Los Angeles isn't a good
(12:27):
football team. I'm so yeah, they're nine to four, but like,
you can't sell me on the idea that you're this
elite team when you need overtime to beat a team
that give you five opportunities to capitalize on turnovers and
you lose to the freaking Jaguars with Trevor Lawrence is
your starting quarterback, Like, I don't believe in you as
a legit threat to win anything this year.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Yeah, I mean, and you know one of the other
teams that's part of this is a team that you
beat the Buffalo Bills where they've got the Patriots, Browns, Eagles,
and Jets to finish out the season. So Buffalo also
could find themselves. You could have all three wildcard teams
at twelve and five, where normally ten wins nine wins
(13:09):
makes you a wildcard team, but this is a year
in the AFC where they're like, no, that's not good enough.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
If the Texans were to lose to Los Angeles and
then they went on out, but Los Angeles loses every
game minus the Texans, I mean they went out for
the tech. For the Chargers, they would be thirteen to four,
and they would be the wildcard seed because right now,
Denver would still have the tiebreaker. So even at thirteen
and four, Denver would be the number one seed and
they would end up having the same record as the
(13:35):
five seed.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
It's crazy to think that's for sure, all right, the
Texans heading into the final four games of their regular season.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
We'll get into that next.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
But also too, there's some good newsy notes from the
winter meetings in Orlando and the Astros. Will a deal
be made today or in the coming days. We'll get
into that as well, and more to get to as well.
But for the Texans, with this spot, a chance for
a get right for a part of the team that
really needs it. Maybe so we'll talk about it right
(14:09):
here as we're just getting going on a Tuesday, it's
the Morning Drive Dan and Cole Sports Talks seven ninety.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
The Morning Drive with Dann and Cole on Sports Talk
seven ninety, home of the Strolls, Rockets and Houston's best
sports talk.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
You'll have the Bear Bryant Awards here, which of course
are our station will be featured over there for that
and you'll be hearing from whoever is in town for
that too. So college football fans rejoice in that regard
seven one three two one two five seven ninety is
the number two get in. This is the Texans offense
that really could use a soft landing spot here in
(14:49):
these next few weeks, and they just might get it, Cole,
because a passing game that really needs to be able
to have a good performance c J. Stroud, especially after
Sun could really use a good performance.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Well, here's the good news.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
On Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals bring the twentieth out of
thirty two worst or the twentieth defense in terms of
defending the pass in the NFL, giving up two hundred
nineteen point six yards per game and the total defense
as a whole.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
They are nineteenth.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
And this is a team too that seemingly has a
head coach dead man walking there. They just got absolutely
boat raced by the La Rams.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
Jonathan Gannon is a dead man walking when he has
to play with Jacoby Paid as his quarterback.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
That's what it seems like.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
I don't think that he's a dead man walking yet.
You think that the Cardinals are going to keep him.
I think that there's going to be a conversation we had,
because let's just be real. When he decided to sign
off to be the Cardinals head coach, he was stuck
with Kyler Murray. Now Manti Austin for is going to
have an opportunity to draft a quarterback, and he may
allow John the.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
Gain to have a say in it.
Speaker 5 (15:54):
Now.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
The problem here, though, Dan, is that we see this
happen all the time in Chicago, where Chicago will bring
in a new quarterback under a previous regime, they'll fire
the current regime about to keep the current quarterback for
the new regime to come on in. Then they'll get
rid of the quarterback, and then they'll bring in a
new quarterback. But then the new regime that was in
for the old quarterback is now out and they bringing
a new regime for that quarterback. So the question is
do you just hit reset with Many Austin for It
(16:16):
and Jonathan Gannon to let them bring in a new quarterback,
or do you keep both because at some point you
can either hit reason on everything and it's a brand
new coach, a brand new GM, and a brand new
quarterback all working together, or you're eventually gonna have a
GM that comes on into replace Money Austin for It
after he has retained to joath the Gannon is fired,
(16:36):
but he may not like the quarterback that you just drafted.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Usually the GM gets the benefit of the doubt first,
like they're the one that gets to sacrifice the head coach,
and then you know, you hire another one and all right,
now we finally got it right.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
You know, me and me and this guy work a
lot better together.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
But I always view it as the first person in
line is the usually oldest and they have the late
least amount of for error. So Jonathan Gannon being the
first higher over Money Austin fort He's in. Then it
would be Many then after well, actually it's Kyler. Kyler's
is on the total pole first, so he's out. We
already know he's going to be playing in Pittsburgh next year,
and the constant carousel and mediocrity of quarterbacks that have
(17:14):
been is going to go to the Steel City. Then
you lose Jathangannon, it both throughout, then Manias supports on
the shopping black for twenty twenty six.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
All right, I mean, and it's also too. I mean,
it kind of depends on the organization that you're dealing with, too.
And I mean the Cardinals haven't necessarily been like one
of the most dysfunctional, but they haven't been one of
the most successful, so depending on how the bid Wells
handle that.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
But they're three and ten heading into this game.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
That was my worst prediction of the year, that you
thought that they were gonna be much better than they really.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
I thought they would be a wild card team.
Speaker 4 (17:45):
I thought that they would can I thought they would
have the season that Seattle had last year, where good
enough offensively, compartable defensively, ten and seven, maybe missing the playoffs,
but like the first team out.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
That was my opinion of the team this year.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Well, and I mean this is a team also too
that you know, you get to this point in the
season and when you're out of the playoffs. I mean
at that point, there's two fold when it comes to
players in that locker room. Number one, it's we're fighting
for jobs because well, we don't know if the head
coach is going to be here. We don't know who
is going to be here. So the chances are I
won't be here because well, they're going to be looking
(18:20):
for younger and better players than me. But I think
the other point of pride is, hey, we can knock
those guys out of the playoffs. So I mean, you know,
just with with everything that you have in front of
you as a team, you got Arizona this weekend, you
got the Raiders f the following weekend.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
I mean, we always know what the Raiders are. They're
a mess and they continue to be that this year.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
But then I mean, you got the Chargers and then
you finish up the season against a Colts team, who oh,
we're going to talk about them next because man, you
want to talk about a dirt road right now? In Indianapolis.
Speaker 4 (18:57):
Raiders currently are the fifteenth defense in totally allowed, there's
seventeenth in passing defense, they're fifteenth against the run. That
they are twenty fifth in twenty sixth in points to
a lot per game, third down conversion success rate twenty
second in the league, and they are thirtieth in red
zone efficiency.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
So that's average.
Speaker 4 (19:12):
I mean, just just straight outside the red zone efficiency
where they are going to allow a lot of points
to be scored once you get inside the twenty.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
They're average in every single sense. And that's just it.
I mean, you know they have no offense, that's the thing.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
So it's a moot point because of if you hold
them to zero, you need three game over well.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
And it's also too, I mean, you know you got
Max Crosby over there, and you know their defense is
exactly as I said, it's average. And I think this
Texans offense can be able to put up points against
an average defense, whereas the Arizona Cardinals are below average.
Speaker 4 (19:46):
So you're saying that in the Cardinals game, because we
just watched Los Angeles hang forty five on them, Houston
should be able to hang thirty.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
Boy, I'll tell you what you hang thirty, you do backflips.
If they hung.
Speaker 4 (19:59):
Thirty, would you say that they are now in the
conversation for a top two seed.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
They hung thirty, I at least would have confidence in
them as a three year wildcard heading into the playoffs, I.
Speaker 4 (20:12):
Would say congratulations. It reminds me a lot of that
game against Baltimore. Probably fools Gold. Not to be petty,
because again I think that the Texans will make the
playoffs this year. I think they will either be a
wildcard team or they will get the three seed, because
the three seed is going to the AFC South.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
But do you.
Speaker 4 (20:29):
Remember that game against the Ravens. Nine starters defensively were out.
It was unfair, Like that's quite literally what you got
right now when it comes to Arizona, except their starters
are in and they still suck.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
But I think that there is power though in I
mean having false confidence. I mean I'd be for this
offense having false confidence to then carry it into other
games where they're like, no, no, no, hey, we can protect CJ.
We can get him going, we can get this running
game going well enough. Cody Schrader, by the way, added
(20:59):
to this team, which, of course Nick Chubb went down
with the rib injury yesterday. So the former Miszoo running
back might be finding himself getting meaningful carries alongside what
he marks.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
He will be finding himself on the inactive list come
one Sunday afternoon.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
So that's what it is. They added in Yakub.
Speaker 4 (21:16):
They got rid of Yakub Johnson because if they have
British Birks that can play the fullback spot and now
they need to fill a roster place for the fifty
three on the forty six, he will be a healthy
scratch come Sunday.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
We know that mister shortyard it Daria Goomble Walley can
make plays happen.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
Now.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
Uh, Like I said, nobody has allowed to talk negatively
about Dara Goomble Walley for the rest of the year,
so I will shut my mouth on that one.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
Yeah, take that, haters with a Z. All right, So haters,
this is the reality.
Speaker 4 (21:42):
By the way, when it comes to sack totals, where
do you think the Arizona Cardinals.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
Rank bottom twn or top ten? Bottom ten?
Speaker 4 (21:47):
Yeah, they're number six in the league. They have twenty
four sacks in the year, tied with the Chicago Bears
and one end of the kan See Chiefs. So naturally
that means this is going to be the Walter Nolan game,
because it was Chris. It was the Chris Jones games
last week. So Walton, No one, start claiming for your
case for Defensive Vicky of the Year, Buddy.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
Well, but I also think that's an offensive line that
would like to be able to regain some pride after
last week's game. Because last week's was it was a
little rough for that offensive line.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
Little dude. I went back and I looked at PFF's references.
Speaker 4 (22:20):
CJ. Stroud had thirty nine dropbacks. He was pressured on
thirty eight of them. He had one play of a
clean pocket. Thirty of them came from ed Ingram. It
was single handedly the worst game I've seen with the
interior offensive line all year. And this was against a
team that couldn't generate a pass rush for three straight
weeks before they faced off against you.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
So I mean they they're due to be able to
have a good bounce back.
Speaker 4 (22:43):
Or or this is where the dam breaks and lo
and behold that nineteen sacks allowed going into the game.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
Hey, now we're just gonna double it in the last
four matchup of the year. Why don't you be positive?
Col w Onon't you have some faith?
Speaker 5 (22:52):
Come?
Speaker 4 (22:53):
I have some faith that the Texans are going to
win out and finish twelve and five. I still think
the offensive line is a turnst alan in a factory
of sadness.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
I do, well, it's not a factory of sadness for
the most part offensively here, but that can't be the
same said for somebody else in the AFC South and Well,
that saga continues to take an interesting turn. We'll discuss
that right here as we keep it going on the
Morning Drive with Dan and Cole Sports SOX seven ninety Houston.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
It's your home team, man, lifelong as fan here anytime anywhere,
I love your home team.
Speaker 5 (23:28):
We'll go to rock and we go.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
Just tell your smart device Spice Sports Top seven ninety
on iHeart.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Radio playing Sports Talk seven ninety on iHeartRadio. Cole, it's
funny enough, thought about it last night.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
It's only about two months away, like about a month
and a half away from spring training.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
We sucked paratas as you're starting second basement, first basement
and Christian Walker out the door, e Separades is in
training spring training elsewhere.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
Glad you said that, because seven o'clock hour, we're going
to have some of that.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
Because Joe Spata speaking yesterday both with MLB Network and
also with the media as a whole, so he spoke
on all those things.
Speaker 4 (24:02):
No, no, no, no, we're doing Philip Rivers right now. I
don't want to Philip Rivers.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
Why not? Why? Okay? Okay?
Speaker 4 (24:09):
For anybody who doesn't know, Philip Rivers is forty four
years old and is a grandfather, also having a toddler
for his youngest son, is now training to become the
quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts after the Daniel Jones injury.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
Yeah, so Adam Schefter had the news yesterday that Jones
is out for the season and Riley Leonard is week
to week with a stray knee ligament. Yeah, that's what
it is when you suck and the Colts are going
to work out Philip Rivers today. Why, Well, actually it
was it was Ian Rappaport and Tom Pelsaro that had
it first. But still why but because you don't have
really anyone else or I mean maybe the thought is
(24:44):
because he was He wasn't with Stiking. He was before Stiking, right, right,
So I mean he was before him and that was
where they had like that little bit of all right,
let's try Philip Rivers, let's try Matt Ryan. And then
they were like, okay, let's just draft a quarterback and
draft the wrong one. You forgot yourself in this situation.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
You forgot.
Speaker 4 (25:02):
They also give away a first round pick to the
Philadelphia Eagles to guarantee that Carson Wentz would come in here,
only to not make it to the playoffs, just like
they trade away two first round picks to the Northeast Region,
once again to guarantee that they would not make the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
I'll tell you what Chris Ballard, I mean, he's trying
everything possible at quarterbacks, but I will.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
Appreciate the fact that he swung, and he swung for
an Anthony Richardson type player because of all the intangibles
were there. He struck out. Dude, I'm going to strike
out a quarterback, and you miss when it comes to
the constant carousels of aging quarterbacks that are no longer
able to be starters. Going back to Philip Rivers is
already the nail on the coffin in your tenure.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
The only time that I think I've seen something like
this was remember when both Matt Schaub and Matt Lioner
got hurt here and you were just to TJ Yates
And I'll never forget it. They first signed Jake delom
who I remember that got signed, came to Houston and
in that Cajun act, was like, hey, you know what
(26:02):
if I was done playing, I was fine with that.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
I was all good.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
But I think he was on his horse farm there
in Louisiana got the call and was like, sure, I'll
show up. And then it gets even better because they
signed a guy who looked like grandpa in Jeff Garcia
came in there full gray. I mean, you remember Jeff
Garcia when he was making things happen for the forty
(26:27):
nine ers. But I remember he walked into the locker
room and I was just like, oh my god, Like,
this is really what they're relegated to is signing an
aged Jeff Garcia. So the moral of the story is, kids,
if you can throw a football halfway, well keep throwing
a football.
Speaker 4 (26:47):
So you said that Jeff Garcia came in looking like
a grandpa, right, uh huh Okay, Well, the Indianapolis Colts
are bringing in Philip Rivers, who quite literally just became
a grandpa.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
He really did. I'm not joking on that. His oldest
child just became a father. Oh my god. The one
who was in that.
Speaker 4 (27:02):
Draft room with him in two thousand and four just
became a father. That guy is now gonna start and
try to save the Colt season. Brother, what are we
doing in Indianapolis? I get it, you struggle, you need
a quarterback, you feel like that this season should not
be lost. But let me ask you from the standpoint
of Philip Rivers. I mean, don't get me wrong. You
(27:22):
get paid money to go play a game for basically fun.
I take that ten times out of ten. But dude,
I'm gonna be making so many grandpa jokes about calling
AARP and using the life alert whenever Will Anderson or
Josh Heinz Allen sacks your ass the You're gonna have
to hit the button.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
Help. I fallen and I can't get up.
Speaker 4 (27:42):
I mean, quite literally, do you really also want to
hit reset on your Hall of Fame resume? Because remember Dan,
the Hall of Fame just came out with the statement,
if Philip Rivers plays one down, not a game, one
down a year from when he's able to be on
the Hall of Fame, ballot out gotta recept five years.
Speaker 3 (28:01):
Is it worth it?
Speaker 2 (28:02):
I mean, I think that he probably looks sat at
as he's gonna be one of those guys going in
when he's in his sixties or maybe even seventies in
the first place, So I mean, maybe the competitive juices
still flow for him.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
Seven one three, two one two five seven ninety. Is
it worth Grandpa Rivers coming on into the shoe to
guarantee a losing season for Indianapolis go ahead of a show.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
And it's one of those two that you almost wonder
if there would be a little bit of mutual respect
from defenses of like, man, I don't want to hit
this guy killing him.
Speaker 4 (28:31):
I want to be the reason why he is never
able to walk again. Yes, I want to act that
way because that's the way that the mindset goes when
you play defense. I feel that way about twenty five
year old quarterbacks. You think that for one second, I
got a forty year old coming out here who hasn't
been in the league in four years and wants to say, oh,
I could still play this young whipper snapper game. No, Grandpa,
(28:52):
I'm gonna make sure that you go ahead and meet
the grim Reaper. That's the guarantee for me.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
I just worry for Rivers. I mean, you know, it's
one of those that do. Why do you worry for rivers.
Speaker 4 (29:03):
If he's willing to throw his body out on the line,
he's willing to go out in the blades of glory.
Like honestly, I commend him for wanting to die on
the football field, because that's what's going to happen.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
The thing when he's got like ten kids, Like you said,
he just became a grandpa, and he's got kids from
like like from toddlers, like all.
Speaker 4 (29:20):
The way to Yeah, I think the youngest one is
a seven year old. I think the youngest one is
a seven year old and he's a grandpa.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
Philip. You don't need this, man, you don't need it.
You're going to be Apple sauce for different reasons.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
They stay in mobile, keep coaching your high school football.
Speaker 4 (29:35):
Well they've done for the years. He's pretty free. Okay,
then go.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
I mean you've got a full plate, as is Philip.
You don't need this. You can create your own football team.
You don't need to join one, buddy.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
I mean, look, you know, kind of like the Texas
Bowl and elis using it again. They finally had to
turn the John Jay John Trey Kirkland to play quarterback.
I mean, just finally, just go just go out kat
with Johnson Taylor.
Speaker 4 (29:59):
At this point, that's a better game plan than what
you currently have because you're already running a wildcat with
the Riley Leonard, who, by the way, is not playing
in this game this week.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
He's not saying I thought he said that he was
week tweek. But I mean the belief that I that
I saw from one of the reports is that he
would play, that this would be strictly as a backup.
Speaker 4 (30:19):
You know what, Actually, at this point, Skirt, I want
to see Philip Rivers playing this game.
Speaker 3 (30:23):
I want to see him come out of retirement. I
want him to throw.
Speaker 4 (30:26):
Away four years of waiting to be on the ballot
to go to Canton, Ohio. I want to see him
strapping on up where that number seventeen and then be
carted off the field in a body bag because if
he thought that he could still play football. And I
love Philip Rivers, Philip Rivers, I can.
Speaker 3 (30:42):
Clearly tell from everything that you just said right there.
Speaker 4 (30:44):
Because of why Because I realized that at some point
the game has passed us by, and you still want
to act like that at forty four years old and
four years away that you are going to be able
to make this work.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
Maybe I'm the optimist. Maybe maybe I'm the one that
wants to have a great story here. Cole, Now I
would love to see a great story.
Speaker 4 (31:01):
Grandpa tries to send a Disney movie plot, ends up
going in tragedy fashion, ends up having in tragic fashion period.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
No, No, I think it's the other way around.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
It's Grandpa comes out of retirement and Grandpa leads the
team to the playoffs, which won't happen. But I'm saying
it's one of those that again kind of like, you know,
he thinks that probably the Hall of Fame will come
later for him in his career, that maybe you could
let a lot of years pass and you could take
some creative licensing with the story a little bit, where
then people, of course that are football fans could be like, no,
(31:34):
that's not how that happened. But then for the most
part they're like, well, most of our audience has no
idea to watch that, And it's a movie that's based
on a true story. That's how they that's how they
always get away with it, based on a truth.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
Sure, watch that crap Kurt Warner movie that came on
out can't say I did well. I can tell you
the Philip Rivers story is going to be ten times worse.
Speaker 2 (31:54):
What about the one that had all like Bridget Fonda
and all them for Tom Brady?
Speaker 4 (32:01):
That was even a football movie. The the the entire
premise of that movie was, there are a bunch of
old broads that are going to go watch Tom Brady
play a football game because I wanted them.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
Those are your elders. Why don't you have some respect?
Speaker 4 (32:12):
No, I do not have respect for my elders, just
like I don't expect Will Anderson to have respect for
Philip Rivers.
Speaker 3 (32:17):
If they are to meet on the football field.
Speaker 4 (32:18):
The only respect that he is going to get is
a complete and total ass whooping and then put in.
Speaker 3 (32:22):
A body bag and play with that.
Speaker 4 (32:27):
I don't know why I'm the way I am, but
you know what now I want to see a murder
on the football field. To be fantastic, get the ratings
through it all the time high.
Speaker 2 (32:36):
That makes one of you all right, son one here? Well, no, no, no, no,
we're we're both fun. I'm just you know, I just
I just.
Speaker 3 (32:44):
We're selling it. Dan.
Speaker 4 (32:45):
I'm the one that is excited to see someone die
on an actual I just.
Speaker 3 (32:50):
Want to see somebody be able to enjoy the rest
of their life.
Speaker 4 (32:52):
To be completely fun, to be fair, to watch Daniel
Tosha's joke come true about a football player always going
back and staying alive and dying on the field and
going out and plays the glory. I now want this
for him. Well, maybe finally he could actually have a
joke that hit on the punchline.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
All right, so let's get in a little bit of
college football, because well Notre Dame just is the storyline
that won't go away, and fuel was added to the
fire yesterday.
Speaker 3 (33:20):
We'll have that for you right here as we continue.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
It is the Morning Drive with Dan and Coles Sports
Talk at seven to ninety. Let's talk a good friend,
a good buddy, a good man, and a good company
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Speaker 3 (33:42):
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Speaker 2 (33:43):
I'm talking about Kobe Stevens dot Com, Kobe Stevens Apparel.
And how about the news that Kobe Stevens Apparel dropped yesterday.
Now I know, I tell you all the time, it's
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you say things. I tell you all the time, don't
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(34:04):
and mortar because coming soon, Kobe Stevens Apparel is going
to be opening their first ever brick and mortar store.
Speaker 3 (34:11):
It's going to be in Spring on Luetta Road.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
Stay tuned a Kobe Stevens dot com for sneak peaks,
opening dates and more details to come on when that
store is going to be online. So until then you
can continue online and even when the brick and mortar
is available, the online option is always there and we
always know that we want to cheat be able to
try to avoid that Houston traffic as much as possible,
and that's what you can do when you head on
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at the end, Kobe Stevens dot Com, Kobe Stevens Apparel.
Speaker 1 (34:47):
They are on Morning Drive. Here's Dan Matthews and Cole Thompson.
Speaker 4 (34:54):
I'm just making sure that they're prepared to pick up
a body at Luminfield.
Speaker 3 (34:57):
Oh, I'm just.
Speaker 4 (34:58):
Making sure it's a six mile drive away from Lewinfield.
I'm just making sure that they're caught in the loop
on what happens.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
I mean, you just assumed that they would be the first, Like,
did you just look up like funeral closest to Liwinfield.
Speaker 3 (35:11):
Within a ten mile radius? Okay, I mean i'd probably
have to think that.
Speaker 2 (35:15):
I mean, I don't know how they do their local
government in Seattle, but you know, maybe like the county
picks them up first, and then you know, you ask
the family like, hey, where do you want to take them?
Speaker 5 (35:22):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (35:22):
Yeah, take them to whatever that funeral home.
Speaker 4 (35:24):
And family salutations on this fine Tuesday morning, and get
ready to meet Lieutenant Rivers.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
I can say that he's Lieutenant Rivers.
Speaker 4 (35:33):
Well it's Captain Andrew Locke on Twitter. Okay, so Lieutenant Rivers.
Speaker 2 (35:36):
And then you've got you know, Lane Kiffin. Somebody has
created a Lane Kiffin one that.
Speaker 3 (35:40):
Like a Civil War one? Yeah, did they really? What
is it? Major Lane?
Speaker 5 (35:44):
No?
Speaker 3 (35:45):
I think it's uh, I think it's General Lane Kiffin.
Speaker 4 (35:48):
Yeah, he's more of a major or colonel. He's he's
not general sergeant. I would say he's sergeant. No, he's
higher than that. He's a little bit higher than that.
I think his ads, you know, at least gone to
lieutenant m Yeah.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
I mean he's probably he's got a little bit of
Maverick in them, like where you know, the the higher
ups aren't aren't a big fan of them, but you know, uh,
the soldiers love him, and the soldiers will go to
work for him.
Speaker 4 (36:11):
So would that make Nick Saban Merlin then? Because if
he was the old cranky guy in the background, now,
I think he'd be the Tom Scarett character.
Speaker 3 (36:18):
Is that Merlin? Is it Merlin? Merlin? Okay, I didn't
know that. Did Tom skirts? Did he fly?
Speaker 1 (36:24):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (36:25):
The movie?
Speaker 2 (36:26):
Okay, I'm just trying to remember. I gotta go back.
So you say you saying I shoul leave top Gun.
I didn't say that. Maverick love that movie all right?
College football wise, Notre Dame boy. I mean, I don't
think that I've ever seen a story that didn't have
someone that was at least a well actually or even
(36:46):
well you know, guys, they kind of have a point here.
It seems like pretty much in Unison that everybody is
dragging Notre Dame for their decision to take their ball
and go home.
Speaker 3 (36:54):
My bad. It was Viper, that was it. Merlin was
played by I think Tim Robbins.
Speaker 2 (36:57):
Okay, all right, yeah, anyway, So Pete Bavaqua is the
ad at Notre Dame and he was on with the
Dan Patrick Show yesterday and of all the people that
they're upset with on Sunday, it was the college Football
playoff themselves, the Committee. Man boy, he definitely took his
chances to take his shots at the committee.
Speaker 3 (37:18):
Well.
Speaker 2 (37:18):
On Monday, it turned to the conference that in football
they have a loose partnership with and our members and
other sports. Here's Pete Bravaqua on sham on you acc We.
Speaker 6 (37:30):
Were mystified by the actions of the conference to attack,
you know, their biggest really business partner in football and
a member of their conference in twenty four of our
other sports. And I would tell you, Dan, I wouldn't
be honest with you if I didn't say that they
have certainly done permanent damage to the relationship between the
(37:51):
conference and Notre Dame. What do you mean, just we
didn't appreciate the fact that we were singled out repeatedly
and compared to Miami not but Miami. Miami has every
right to do that. But it raised a lot of
eyebrows here that the conference was taking shots at us,
and you know, that's just not something we chose to do.
(38:13):
We wouldn't choose to do that in the future, and
people might disagree with us, but that's just not something
that we'd be comfortable with.
Speaker 3 (38:19):
All right.
Speaker 2 (38:20):
So there's a couple of different things that really irked
Bavaqua and Notre Dame from the ACC.
Speaker 3 (38:26):
Because if I was very art here in that conversation, all.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
Right, So the ACC put out a graphic that said
no hypotheticals, just facts. Team A, which was Miami, and
there's a check mark next to it, Team B Notre
Dame at number ten, and then they did a side
by side overall record head to head win loss, top
twenty five wins, FBI top thirty five wins.
Speaker 3 (38:48):
Strength of record according to ESPN, and.
Speaker 2 (38:51):
Then also too, I mean, the ACC doesn't have control
of what goes on the conference network.
Speaker 3 (38:57):
It's ESPN that controls that.
Speaker 2 (39:00):
But remember we mentioned this last week that dozens of
times on Thursday, Friday, heading in the championship weekend, they
replayed the Miami Notre Dame games, So I think that
that was something else that irked Notre Dame about that
of like being like, you're kind of stacking the deck
against us here, you're not necessarily fighting for us, which
look in the case of you know, Jim Phillips and
(39:21):
the ACC, they really look at him and say, look,
if there were basketball, we do it for you. If
this were any other sport, we do it for you.
But you're not a member. You're not a member, Like
you're dipping your toe into the water here. And I've
understood it from Notre Dame's perspective of why they've stayed independent,
but I mean two at the same time, I don't
(39:42):
really know where he gets off coming after them, where
it's you know, we're your biggest business partner, Okay, you
play him five times Like I think they almost look
at it like we're doing charity for you.
Speaker 4 (39:51):
You are basically saying that you are now dating someone else,
but you want to stay in your situationship. But by
the way, the situationship person they can't date any You
got to keep them just adamant to you.
Speaker 3 (40:02):
That's all. It is like you want to have your cake,
you need it too.
Speaker 4 (40:04):
Ladies and gentlemen like may make this clear, I will
never fight for Notre Dame to not be an independent.
I appreciate that Notre Dame is an independent because guess
what they get to create their own schedule, They get
to go about their business. They get to have an
opportunity to schedule games that were never promised Dan.
Speaker 3 (40:19):
They scheduled games against.
Speaker 4 (40:20):
The two worst teams in the ACC and then demanded
that they get representation from the conference. And then what
happened was, Hey, there's only one spot left. Defend us
because we don't play for you in football season. We
only play for you in basketball and track and baseball season.
But defend us here over a team that actually plays
in every single one of your conference games. Oh and
(40:42):
on top of that, let me ask us they won
the head to head. Guys, when data points are so
close to the way that Notre Dame in Miami were,
strength of record, strength the schedule, FPI rankings, margin to victory,
common opponent victories. Guess what, both of you guys beat
the brakes off off of Boston? Both do you beat
the breaks off.
Speaker 3 (41:01):
A pit both.
Speaker 4 (41:02):
Do you beat the breaks off of Stanford? What's left? Hey,
didn't they play a game back in week one?
Speaker 3 (41:08):
Bye? Will it curse?
Speaker 4 (41:09):
Ladies and guys, we have to go back and rewatch
that game from week one?
Speaker 3 (41:12):
Like, how did we miss Hunter your check?
Speaker 4 (41:15):
How did you miss not watching that game from week
one to see who won the game? Like? The entire
reason why nerd AMSB pissed off is that there are
two G five teams in when they're one of the
seven best teams in college football and that they were
left on out but they were told that they were
in for four straight weeks.
Speaker 3 (41:30):
That threes are your piss all right.
Speaker 2 (41:31):
We can cover this as the show goes along, but
the seven o'clock hour beckon, so we'll get into that.
And you know the rules here on the Morning Drive
with Dan and Cole, we've covered it. It's fair game.
Seven one three, two, one two five seven ninety is
the number to get in. So Roger will working into
the conversation. Do you want to get into the astros
conversation too, because a really nice option might have be
(41:52):
might have been presented to the astros. We'll see if
they are able to follow through on it till we
will discuss that as we get into the seven o'clock
hour here on a Tuesday, it is the Morning Drive
with Dana Cole, Sports Talk seven ninety.
Speaker 3 (42:05):
KB Houston, a TV HD two Houston.
Speaker 1 (42:08):
The Astross, the Rockets, Rockets East, Befall your home for
your home teams. This is Sports Talk seven ninety and
iHeartRadio Station guaranteed Human. This is the Morning Drive with
Dadd and Cole.
Speaker 3 (42:33):
We mentioned it.
Speaker 2 (42:34):
Jump on in on it seven one three, two, one
two five seven ninety is the way to get in.
Roger wants to get us going this morning. Good morning, Roger,
I guess so we've got the phones pointed U tripley.
Speaker 3 (42:48):
Do you want to do it or me?
Speaker 5 (42:50):
Yep?
Speaker 3 (42:50):
There you go, Roger, Good morning, Good warning gentlemen.
Speaker 7 (42:54):
Man, how are you gonna be telling big city like that?
Don't makes for live? Get a gold there, put the
points on the board. He's got grandchilder. You got to
put another house on the compound.
Speaker 5 (43:05):
Come on, baby, that's right.
Speaker 3 (43:08):
That's right. The old man's strength is gonna show.
Speaker 4 (43:11):
No, his no, his health, no, his life insurance is
gonna Chla.
Speaker 2 (43:15):
Came back and he took Mason the line Dixon, the distance.
Speaker 3 (43:20):
That's okay, that's a that's a great story.
Speaker 7 (43:23):
Damn, that's a gold reds whole property life, sweat children
on the ground and put points on the board.
Speaker 2 (43:30):
Maybe Antonio Antonio Tarvar Mason the line Dixon, It didn't matter.
Speaker 3 (43:36):
The rock was gonna show up and he was gonna
fight that night.
Speaker 4 (43:39):
He does not have Antonio Gates and lt out there
to save his back from that kind So congratulations.
Speaker 3 (43:44):
I mean, I'm bother. We're bringing up a fiction, big
Philly baby.
Speaker 7 (43:49):
Anyway. Okay, moving on, Okay, the Texans, none of the
none of the work, none of the good work they've done,
go to Dagon, go to go to Casey, go to Buffalo,
go to Indie, do all these great things throughout the whole.
Winning streak will be worth squad if they get complacent
(44:10):
and go to Arizona or or lose Arizona, Houston, lose
the vague losing teams like that. So just just want
them to just keep keep the freaking grease going, man,
just keep it going. I just don't want them to
start to start sniffing their own folks just yet. I
just want them to just keep going and and and
and it just seems like the defensive the defensive side
(44:34):
of the ball seems like just steady, steady ship. I know,
I know the offense leaks oil, uh every every every
time they play at some point. I just I just
hope that they they they find a way and get
well against these little these lecture teams and find some
of that continuity back and they keep so they can,
(44:55):
uh you know, have have some kind of some kind
of a some kind of mo should going when they
start playing these playoff games and and just you know,
something like that, some kind of maybe like Flocko did
when when he was with the Ravens. You know, I
think plus Rodder was a lot better than Blocko, but hey,
that's what he got paid for. He had a great
(45:17):
playoff run and had a great defense as well. So
maybe we could somewhat do something like that onto the Rockets.
What's going on with Alfie. I haven't heard anything about him.
I know he was sick.
Speaker 3 (45:28):
Yeah, yeah, that's that's That's all we knew, was just
that he was sick.
Speaker 2 (45:32):
He missed Friday night's game is Saturdays, and like I said,
they got a couple more days. I would probably expect
that he's gonna be on the floor on Thursday.
Speaker 7 (45:41):
Yeah, you would think I was thinking he was getting ship.
Speaker 5 (45:43):
I really was.
Speaker 7 (45:44):
I was getting scared there for a minute. All right, guys,
all I got a great Tuesday. They won't.
Speaker 2 (45:49):
Hey, he's saying to you, Roger, appreciate it, buddy. I mean, look,
you know the point that Roger brings up there something
we talked about last week.
Speaker 3 (45:55):
Which one the one about the fictional movie or the
one about the Texans?
Speaker 4 (45:57):
The one about the Texans. Okay, just make it sure.
I thought were living in reality for a second. Okay,
let's go.
Speaker 2 (46:02):
I mean Rogers, he's a buffet of sports. He brings
a lot to the table.
Speaker 4 (46:07):
I appreciate his love for Philip Rivers. I also appreciate
my reality take that his life insurance about to cash
hat well.
Speaker 2 (46:14):
So the reality is with the Texans is exactly what
we talked about last week, is that you want to
avoid the pattern that you had in the first two seasons.
Two years ago, it was Carolina on the Road where
you came out of it and you're like the hell
you doing losing that game number one overall pick the
next year, and then last year it was the Tennessee
Titans at home against will Levis, where it was how
(46:36):
dare you make Will Levis look like a capable NFL quarterback?
Which they cleared that up the next time that they
played against will Levis number all overall pick this year,
I mean this past year. So, I mean the good
news is, other than maybe the Raiders, you don't have
to necessarily worry about that.
Speaker 4 (46:53):
That's the problem is that you still have an opportunity
to take on the team that will get the number
one overall pick and.
Speaker 2 (46:58):
Be a loss, because I mean it does seem like,
at least, you know, paying close enough attention to the
Saints that they're in the business of wanting to win games,
which at this point it's like why, I mean, I
don't know, maybe the players look at it and say, well,
Mickey Loomis is so bad at drafting.
Speaker 3 (47:12):
I mean, can we necessarily think that he's gonna get
this right?
Speaker 8 (47:15):
Wait?
Speaker 3 (47:15):
Why because of its football?
Speaker 4 (47:17):
You don't want to be known as one of the
teams that went owen sixteen or had a mediocre season.
Speaker 2 (47:21):
Well, I mean the good news is they're not. There
are three win football teams, So I mean, at this
point just kind of bottom out, man, what do you
like say? That's what I always love like to a
certain point, I mean I get it, like from the
player's side, they're not just gonna, you know, pack it
in and say all right, you know, for the better
of the organization, because well, here's what usually happens. When
everybody gets fired and then you bring in the next group.
(47:44):
Then the next group's like, yeah, hey, I'd like to
get my own guys in here. You guys are a
bunch of stiffs. I don't want you.
Speaker 3 (47:49):
I got a better idea.
Speaker 4 (47:50):
How about just don't give up because if you never
know who's gonna go number one overall, and that may
end up being a massive problem because the Texans, if
they were to give and on up, we're not of CJ. Stroud,
that at Bryce Young and we may not even see
Will Anderson Junior in a uniform. Well, I mean it
is so thank you Davis Mills and Jordan Akins forget
the number two overall pick and playing till the finish line.
Speaker 2 (48:11):
I mean, I guess you know there is something to
be said for that, because I mean, you could have
had Bryce Young right now.
Speaker 4 (48:16):
And you would not have probably traded for Will Anderson
because I think that's somebody else what made the.
Speaker 2 (48:20):
Move up sliding doors, my man sliding sliding doors, and
it all worked out for the Texans. We're gonna actually
get back to the Texans a little bit later on
in this hour as a matter of fact, bottom of
the hour, because this Texan has I think become my
new favorite Texan.
Speaker 4 (48:38):
And there's two different examples of why. Well three actually,
because you're a big Austin Brickman fan.
Speaker 3 (48:44):
I always knew that right right on the head. You
got it, you hit it right there. Yeah, you got them.
Pay what position?
Speaker 4 (48:52):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (48:52):
Secondary? Loss? And brigand plays secondary? Well, I mean does
he play secondary?
Speaker 7 (48:57):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (48:57):
He plays long snapper. He's John we Is replacement. Tell
you how much you know about your favorite player in
the NFL?
Speaker 3 (49:04):
Good great questions.
Speaker 2 (49:05):
I mean you know it's it's if you, if you
replace one of my favorites before well, then you know
I'll root for you.
Speaker 3 (49:14):
I want you to do well. See see, I I
root for people to do well, Cole. I don't I
read for misery. I rot for sadness. I root for
everybody to go ahead and stink. I mean that's your life, man,
that's you it's fantastic.
Speaker 7 (49:26):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (49:27):
I would say, you do you, but you're not on
my team. Get out of my way, get the toxicity
out of your life. I'll see and see the good
in everybody else.
Speaker 3 (49:35):
How do you see the good?
Speaker 4 (49:36):
And Notre Dame right now saying we didn't make the
college football playoffs, so therefore we're going to not have
a bowl game, take away millions of dollars from our revenue,
and then complain to the a CEC for not defending
you when you took advantage of the a c C
and played only their bottom dwellings.
Speaker 3 (49:51):
See Cole.
Speaker 2 (49:52):
In life, there's rules and there's exceptions. That's an exception.
That's that's one that I will meet you on like,
you know, as being a cap flick young man. Of
course you know tacitly I am a I am a
Notre Dame fan from from that perspective. But I mean,
just with saying, oh no, we're we're not playing in
a bowl game because we're so upset that we were
(50:12):
left out of the party, I mean, what are we
doing at a certain Okay.
Speaker 4 (50:16):
Can we agree that right now? Just just everyone on
board seven one ninety triple. I want your opinion on
this too.
Speaker 3 (50:22):
You're not going to do the whole you didn't go
to Notre Dame thing?
Speaker 9 (50:24):
Are you?
Speaker 3 (50:25):
Very few people did?
Speaker 10 (50:26):
No?
Speaker 5 (50:26):
No, no, no.
Speaker 4 (50:28):
We can all agree that Notre Dame was screwed because
of what the playoff committee said. For five straight weeks
they were in the field. They were in the field.
Then there was no game played by Miami or by
Notre Dame. And that the very last minute they said,
you know what that had to head actually does matter.
Speaker 2 (50:44):
No, I get them from that, and I mean, and
that's where I will meet them on their argument for that,
where it's like, okay, well then why not have us
behind Miami? Then if we were behind them the entire time,
why are you doing this whole dog and pony show.
And I think that there is a reason for it,
and I've said it numerous times and it fits right
now true trivially.
Speaker 4 (51:03):
Do you agree that the reasoning is fair for Miami
to I mean, for Nerdy to be upset because they
were told they were in the playoff until they were
told absolutely not.
Speaker 3 (51:11):
Now you're not I'll think it's fair.
Speaker 4 (51:12):
Okay, that's fine. Now I'm going to ask the other question,
who won the football game Week one. That's the team
that's going to the playoff. Well, and that's what they
said was the determining factor for it. But that should
be the first determining factor, not the last.
Speaker 2 (51:29):
But again, what if I told you numerous times what
the college football playoff is and it played out that
way on Sunday?
Speaker 4 (51:35):
Yeah, being a drama filled residence that is basically reality
television for sick.
Speaker 3 (51:38):
I was like you and me, Yeah, it's a TV show.
Speaker 4 (51:41):
Again, I understand the premise behind it. But ladies and gentlemen,
what's the point of playing ahead to head? What's the
point of playing a game when at the end of
the day, if you have the exact same record, you
have the exact same strength to schedule, you have the
exact same strength the conference opponent, you have the exact
same margin of victories in matchups against common teams, you
have the exact same style of offense, your defensive playing
(52:03):
single handedly.
Speaker 3 (52:04):
And you say, hey, that Week one game because.
Speaker 4 (52:07):
Notre Dame is playing better than you right now, and
you both ended up losing two matchups to power for teams. Uh,
take a hike, Take a hike, Miami. Yeah, Like, I'm sorry,
I'm like that the data point needs to be number one.
Did you win a football game? Yes, okay, the Miami
and so further noticed should always be a ranked ahead
of Notre Dame and they respected head to heads in
(52:28):
every single matchup. And I bring this up because Houston
is ranked behind Arizona. Guess what happened Arizona lost a
football game to Houston. What if there was one spot
left in the college football playoff and your Cougars had
an opportunity in year two of Willie Fritz to make
a run to a national championship, and they said, oh, well,
Arizona looks prettier on a helmet, therefore they're going to
the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (52:49):
Well, I mean, the only thing that would have been
better is if you had Joe Testatur on this one
because of his professional wrestling experience. And then Notre Dame
and Marcus Freeman emerged from the tunnel at Kyle Field
and you're like, my.
Speaker 3 (53:01):
God, that's Notre Dame.
Speaker 2 (53:03):
And then you know he he cracks Mario crystal Ball
with it with a chair and then in all out battle, Royal.
Speaker 4 (53:10):
Sc scrit Kyle Field on December twentieth. Let's go ahead
and have a three way fight. The winner of the
best two out of three triple threat match is what
that's called. Two three you go to then you go play.
Speaker 3 (53:20):
Against Georgia and get your ass hit because that whoever
does is gonna lose.
Speaker 2 (53:22):
Rich wants to get in on the conversation. We'll give
you that chance. Rich, you want to join them someone
three two one two five seven ninety.
Speaker 3 (53:28):
I promised you too.
Speaker 2 (53:29):
There is Astro's discussion here because well a name of
note was floated around yesterday, So after we get to Rich,
we'll chop that up a little bit here as we
continue the conversation here on a Tuesday, it is the
Morning Drive with Dan and Cole Sports Talk at seven ninety.
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Speaker 1 (55:16):
Back to the Morning Drive, here's Dan Matthews and Cole Thompson.
Speaker 2 (55:23):
At least from Partisi's perspective, they were talking about that. No,
he's he's not on the trade block. We're keeping that
guy around so then see you later. Christian Walker not
him either, supposedly, So who's leaving guys, cause there's not
enough room on that. I think we will get an
idea of how this could work, and Joe Aspota did
(55:43):
share that, so we'll have that here a little bit
later on the show. But seven one three two one
two five seven ninety is the way to get in.
Rich In Spring wants to get in on the Notre
Dame conversation. Rich, good morning, Ah, I just did it again.
I apologize. Triple Lee will get you rich.
Speaker 3 (56:00):
What's going on? Good morning? Hey, good morning guys.
Speaker 7 (56:03):
Thanks for taking my call. So let me trefa this.
I want to talk about Notre Dame.
Speaker 10 (56:08):
I am I grew up a Texas Longhorn fan, but
I am a first year Notre Dame dad.
Speaker 7 (56:14):
My daughter is a freshman.
Speaker 11 (56:16):
She's a cheerleader for a Notre Dame cheer, So I.
Speaker 7 (56:19):
Have a different I kind of thank you.
Speaker 11 (56:21):
I have a different perspective on this.
Speaker 10 (56:24):
You know, first of all, I agree totally with what
you guys said earlier that Notre Dame's beef should be
the fact that they were led to believe that if
they took care of business after beating A and M,
that they were going to be in the playoffs, especially
the last four to five weeks. You know, they were
told that they were going to be in and then
(56:47):
at the last minute they took them out. So it's
just it's disenfranchising to these to these student athletes and
these kids, and the and the coaching staff who were
told take care business, and that's what they did. They
beat teams by over twenty six points, averaging over you know,
twenty six points a game, blowing out teams, took care
(57:09):
of business, and then it was taken away from them.
But yet, my take on it is, you know, them
not playing in a bowl, it doesn't benefit them because
you know who's benefiting it benefiting it from the most,
It's going to be the networks, it's going to be
the conference that they're playing. They don't get any benefit
(57:32):
from it, and not to mention the players and the
team captains.
Speaker 7 (57:37):
They they made this decision. The school didn't make the decision.
They asked them straight up, do you want to what
do you guys want to do?
Speaker 12 (57:44):
Do you want to play?
Speaker 10 (57:45):
And they all unanimously said they don't want to play.
So I can't be mad at them for that, and uh,
it is just kind of it's just kind of crazy.
Last year, this notedy team went to the National Championship
and for the most part, they're a pretty well liked
teams by the national media and by fans all across
(58:09):
the country. And now I'm getting PTSD of Houston Astro's
cheating scandal.
Speaker 7 (58:14):
Everybody hates Notre Dame now.
Speaker 11 (58:17):
But that's all I have to say. And thanks guys.
Speaker 10 (58:20):
I listen to your show every morning on my drive
taking my kids to school.
Speaker 3 (58:24):
You guys do a great job. Hey, I appreciate it. Rich.
Speaker 2 (58:26):
I mean, I'm going to push back on the I
am it doesn't it doesn't benefit them because well, I mean,
you're a college football program.
Speaker 3 (58:34):
What's the benefit practicing and playing?
Speaker 4 (58:36):
Here's where you lose me and Rich, I sincerely appreciate it,
and congratulations to you. And your family to have a
kid go to Notre Dame. It's a it's a high honor.
I'm sorry you mean to tell me with a straight face.
In the world of competitive football, with a guy like
Marcus Freeman as youre head coach and the way that
he he proclaims physicality, maturity and finished wishing the job,
(59:01):
that they all sat down and said we're.
Speaker 3 (59:03):
Not going to play enough bowl game.
Speaker 4 (59:05):
Everyone, everyone, including Marcus Freeman, including a coach that I
have an an ordinate amount of respect for, all said hey,
we didn't get our way, so therefore we're not.
Speaker 3 (59:15):
Going to a bowl game.
Speaker 2 (59:15):
Well, I mean, I can understand it from like some
of the five and seven teams that decided not to, Like,
I know, I saw Alex Golish talked about it and
he was like, players have dispersed, you know, finals are done,
all of that kind of stuff, like we were we're
I mean, when you come out of a season, there's
there's no thought that, hey, at five and seven, we're
still gonna have a chance to play in a bowl game.
(59:36):
I mean, nowadays, maybe you know, programs will handle themselves
that way where they're like, hey, you know, let's let's
keep practicing. Let's keep working out because we don't know
how this is going to happen. But I mean, I
can understand it from their perspective, But I mean, this
is a team that's fully capable, and I think if
nothing else, I mean, you can handle it the way
that Texas has handled it, the way that Clark Lee
(59:56):
has handled it. I mean the way a couple of
years ago Georgia got like to the college football playoff
and Georgia said, no, not not only are we going
to show up, We're going to show out in our
game against Florida State.
Speaker 7 (01:00:08):
Do you know what?
Speaker 4 (01:00:08):
There is the biggest gripe that I have right now
with Notre Dame fans who are crapping a moment about
being left out of the playoff when clearly you didn't
belong in because you don't play a conference, and you
were left up to the debate because when you have
two losses it doesn't mean to guarantee in the playoff.
You're saying, well, why are you not holding the saying
holding the same grip when it comes to these other
teams that opted out because.
Speaker 3 (01:00:28):
You're Notre Dame.
Speaker 4 (01:00:30):
Do you want me to compare you now to Iowa
State and to Kansas State, because I will. I mean,
do you really want me to go and put you
in that pedestal a blue blood program that has consistently
stride for not just academic excellence but athletic excellence and
is setting a standard that says, hey, if we don't
get our way, we're gonna go ahead and take our
ball and go home.
Speaker 3 (01:00:49):
Do you want me to put you in the same.
Speaker 4 (01:00:50):
Standard as Kansas in the same standard as Baylor, in
the same standard as Rutgers, Because.
Speaker 3 (01:00:56):
I gladly will.
Speaker 4 (01:00:57):
Therefore, if you want to go ahead and say, oh, well,
you know, it's a different situation. Iowa State is not
of a head coach right now. He left for Penn State.
Kansas State is out of a head coach right now.
He retired and their head coach is currently helping at
Texas A and M try to win its first national
title since nineteen thirty nine. But if you want me
to keep you in that same predecessory as how I
feel about Kansastate and Iowa was say for the public eye,
(01:01:18):
you gotta.
Speaker 3 (01:01:19):
Go twelve and zero.
Speaker 4 (01:01:20):
It shouldn't be hard with your schedule that is ranked
one hundred and fourteenth next year because of all you
do is you play the bottom dwellers of.
Speaker 3 (01:01:26):
Power for programs. But sure you go twelve and I'll
put you in the playoff.
Speaker 4 (01:01:29):
You lose one game, you're not in the top twelve,
which that MoU You're the only team in college football
that is guaranteed a spot if you finish in the
top twelve. Yeah, sure, okay, go undefeated. I'll put you
in the playoff. You lose one game, I'm treating you
like Iowa State. You're trash and you're not.
Speaker 3 (01:01:44):
Going in Well.
Speaker 2 (01:01:45):
I mean that's the thing too, that what you just
brought up right there is exactly what Pete Pavaqua did
bring up yesterday on the Dan Patrick Show, where he
was like, oh, yeah, by the way, for top twelve
next year, we're guaranteed a spot.
Speaker 3 (01:01:58):
So then why are you complet because of you? Okay?
Speaker 4 (01:02:02):
Bottom line guys, And this is the way I would
feel about any team. It's not Alabama, it's not by you.
It's not a precedent against you. If you lost two
games and you gave the committee, this committee that is
so incompetent to realize that head to heads matter and
that strength to schedule matters, and they were making up
their rules as long as they go, and they contract
themselves in every pathway. I don't feel bad for you
(01:02:23):
for being left out. You gave them a reason to
leave you out. Guess what you lost to two teams
that were ranked You beat up on a bunch of
bottom dwelling Power four teams. Oh and on top of that,
we got idiots out here that are saying, hey, Alabama
doesn't belong in the playoffs despite making it to their
conference title game, and that their win over Navy is
(01:02:44):
more impressive than Alabama's road win over Auburn.
Speaker 2 (01:02:47):
Wow, spare me, well, spare me. But I think it's
also though too. It's a little bit of prisoner of
the moment with Alabama, just with how poor they were
offensively in that game on Saturday.
Speaker 4 (01:02:56):
They have five ranked wins and the best regular season
win the season.
Speaker 3 (01:03:00):
I'm sorry, that's something debate. You want to be pissed
off at.
Speaker 4 (01:03:03):
Somebody be pissed off at the community that said, hey,
two G five teams never going to make the playoff
in our format. Oh wait, we didn't realize that the
ACC was going to crap the bet.
Speaker 2 (01:03:13):
I just know that if I'm Marcus Freeman, and if
he ever complains about not having enough time to prepare,
I'm going to look at him and say, well, you
did have a chance to have about fifteen practices and
an extra game to be able to get guys a
chance that you're going to be counting on next year
to be able to see what you have along with
spring practice.
Speaker 3 (01:03:30):
With the young defense. By the way, that probably in
theed S reps. But yeah, screw it. We don't need
those reps, do we, Marcus Freeman.
Speaker 5 (01:03:35):
So there you go.
Speaker 3 (01:03:36):
It's there on bed they can lie in. It's all right.
Speaker 2 (01:03:38):
So let's get into the astros because, as we mentioned,
we've been hearing at least the thought that the Astros
could be going after certain guys. Well, now we've got
a certain name that maybe could be an astro here
in the next day or two, we'll share that with
you as we continue long Here it is the Morning
Drive with Dan and Cole here on Tuesday Sports Talk
seven to ninety.
Speaker 3 (01:04:00):
Hey, it's Runner Brown. Catch every as game on Sports
Talk seven ninety four.
Speaker 1 (01:04:04):
The iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 3 (01:04:08):
Home of Your Astros.
Speaker 2 (01:04:10):
Has some plans for certain astros this coming season, but
We did also get a little bit of a report
because you know, Cole, we've known what the Astros priority
is this offseason. Dana Brown said it pretty much anytime
there's a microphone or a phone in front of him,
whatever way to be able to get this out, that
starting pitching is something. And then you know, we've had
(01:04:32):
reports here and there that if they're going to get
a starter, Chandler Rome saying, probably going to be through
a trade, although now it seems like that trade or
free agency is available options to them. But according to
Chandler Rome and Ken Rosenthal, the Astros have explained they
have expressed interest in Shane Boss, right hander for the
Tampa Bay Rays. A deal is not believed to be close,
(01:04:55):
but it has been indicated that the teams have discussed
the framework of a patent central trade.
Speaker 4 (01:05:00):
Basically, what happened was Joe Ryan was too expensive. They
were never gonna be in on Sunny Gray. They got
a pivot to a team that is known for wanting
to trade away starters before they had to sign him
to long term deals and are willing to take on
lesser known commodities in the farm systems to develop them
properly and help them build a new franchise.
Speaker 3 (01:05:18):
Don't hate this at all now.
Speaker 2 (01:05:19):
And Boss is a local guy to He played his
high school baseball at Concordia Lutheran and he's a Cypress guy,
so probably knows. Hayden was NESCI pretty well but pretty impressive.
In twenty twenty four fourteen starts, he went four and
three with a three point oh six ERA, and last
season a little bit up and down for him ten
(01:05:40):
and twelve with a four point eighty seven ERA in
one hundred and sixty six point and one hundred and
sixty six and a third innings pitched.
Speaker 4 (01:05:49):
But to be fair, this was his first season coming
back from Tommy John surgery, so he missed the entire
twenty twenty three season, I mean twenty twenty four seasons,
so he got that.
Speaker 3 (01:05:57):
The way around.
Speaker 4 (01:05:57):
It was twenty three twenty three, So you guys take
that into consideration, and when it comes to what was
on display because of you're still getting a picture.
Speaker 3 (01:06:04):
Who's trying to ramp on up? I mean, like think
about this.
Speaker 4 (01:06:07):
Shane Bieber had Tommy John surgery at the start of
twenty twenty four and he wasn't ready until literally the
last month of the regular season and then helped the
Toronto Blue Jays make the World Series.
Speaker 3 (01:06:16):
So it takes some time.
Speaker 2 (01:06:17):
Well, and here's the thing that we've talked about numerous
times Cole is the Astros track record when it comes
to having success with certain players. I mean, and especially pitchers.
I mean a couple of years ago, you make the
trade for you say, Kakuci, how can you make that trade? Well,
clearly the Astros pitching coaching staff was the one who
(01:06:37):
was probably a driving force for this of this is
something we can fix.
Speaker 3 (01:06:40):
We can fix that, We can fix that. Joey Librafito
was so good in the World Series, dude, let go
of him.
Speaker 2 (01:06:46):
Well, I then Will Wagner, who's now a San Francisco Giants,
and then the World Series.
Speaker 4 (01:06:50):
No, he didn't, he was a San Francisco Jason because
I was told that losing Will Wagner was a big
time deal by that.
Speaker 3 (01:06:54):
Well, and then you know, of course Jake Bloss, who
I mean, you don't wish this on any Dare we
lose Bloss for guy that's a rental.
Speaker 2 (01:07:01):
Well, he missed all of last season with Tommy Johnson.
But I mean, you know, it's been him Steven Okert
last year, I mean countless others. You know, Brian, Brian King,
Caleb Bort, you know that he stands his son well,
I mean even Bennett Sussa, another guy that that's been
(01:07:21):
able to find something here in Houston.
Speaker 3 (01:07:23):
So the track record is good.
Speaker 2 (01:07:25):
So the reason that I think this name is being
out there is because, yes, I do think that there's
actual interest, and obviously of chandeler Rome sharing it, then
there probably is.
Speaker 3 (01:07:35):
But that's what it is.
Speaker 2 (01:07:36):
It's Josh Miller and the Astros pitching staff saying, hey,
you know, this guy's got good stuff, and we can
tweak a few things and we can make this guy
really really good.
Speaker 4 (01:07:44):
The thing is that he's going to be cheap. He's
on control for a few years. And the other important
part is that he's not a number one. And the
reason why I say that that's a good thing is
because if you want to guarantee that Hunter Brown moving
forward is known as your race, he is the go
to guy. He is the one that you need and
he gotta have moment, give me eight strong, that kind
of mentality, and now you know that you're gonna be
able to pay that price without overspending if you like
(01:08:07):
what you see from Boz and he wants to stick
around here for the long term, so I don't mind it.
I still think that the Astros need to make another
move for the rotation because it don't feel entirely confident
in what you have with the number five spot. But
adding in Boz gives you opportunities to see where Christian
Hovier is, where he is coming off of an injury,
coming off of a less than stellar season, who was
also dealing with Tom and John surgery without really feeling
(01:08:29):
like that you're going to oversplurge by bringing in a
lucrative contract because of now you have to pay that
to ste hundred Brown. Because the thing that I always
worry about is when you're seeing a guy come on in,
they're like like, like the Ranger Suarez moved that, people
are like talking about, let's bring in Ranger swaz On
like a five year, one to twenty million dollar deal.
Speaker 3 (01:08:46):
Okay, cool, So now it's gonna be five.
Speaker 4 (01:08:48):
Years, two hundred million dollar deal for Hunter Brown if
you want to keep him around, because he's a Scott
Bors client. He's say say, if you're paying this much
for this guy, my guy's ten times better than him,
you owe him ten times more of the amount of
money I mean.
Speaker 3 (01:08:59):
And that's just the thing.
Speaker 5 (01:09:00):
I mean.
Speaker 2 (01:09:00):
This is a team that has shown you that they'll spend,
but they're not going to wildly spend. And then, of
course you know then that gets from some in astros
fandoms saying, oh, this team is cheap.
Speaker 3 (01:09:10):
No, they're just not reckless, I think is the major difference. No,
that's a very fair point.
Speaker 4 (01:09:15):
They understand what is the value of a player, and
they're not willing to overspend on a name to when
they know that they can get quality overall reps and
more importantly results for a cheaper contract because of they
know how to develop talent, especially on the pitching side.
I think that's the really big thing that you brought up,
is that they do a good job of being able
to figure out what are the problems with the picture
(01:09:35):
from their past, bring them in, reinvent who they are,
and usually they get paid on the open market because
of it. So you don't want to overspend on a
guy when you can get probably similar results from a
cheaper option. It's not cheap, it's just the nature of
the businesses save money elsewhere.
Speaker 2 (01:09:50):
Well, I mean, and you know, everybody wants to have
a guy like Hunter Brown, and I mean the Astros
have them right now. And that's why you know, when
it comes to hey, pay the man, extend the guy.
Hunter Brown's a guy that I absolutely am willing to
listen to you on because I mean, he is all
of those things. Last year that start that he had
against the Rangers in Arlington where he's ninety five pitches
(01:10:12):
and you think that's it. Then he immediately comes to
the dugout, looks at Joe and looks at Josh Miller
and says, no, no, no, you're not pulling me from this.
I know how tax that group is out there. Give
me one more inning and let me save some of
those arms.
Speaker 3 (01:10:24):
Ye huh.
Speaker 4 (01:10:25):
What's where I want to put this from Bervaldez is
replaceable and it stinks to lose a guy like him
because of just how good he can be and what
his top level is. It's top fifteen pitcher in Major League.
You can find a way to go ahead and find
reps to get a number two in here. I don't
feel that way about Hunter Brown right now. And Hunter
Brown's only going to get better now.
Speaker 2 (01:10:44):
We're almost four months away from the start of the
major league season, but that's not stopping Joe Aspota from
already putting plans in place for how he's going to
use certain guys this year. He shared those yesterday. We'll
share those with you right here on the Morning Drive
with Dan and Cole Talk seven ninety As we continue
here on a Tuesday.
Speaker 3 (01:11:06):
H Town, the Morning Drive continues.
Speaker 1 (01:11:10):
Now, now here's Dan and Cole.
Speaker 2 (01:11:14):
Then of course suited and booted right there all the
Heisman winners and then the winner is announced and you
find out who the winner is this year.
Speaker 4 (01:11:22):
I'm really happy that they brought an entourage for Diego Pavia.
Speaker 3 (01:11:26):
That's nice. That's a good feeling.
Speaker 4 (01:11:27):
And that right Jeremiah Julian saying, Fernanda Mendoza, you just
get to go ahead and be a part of his posse.
Speaker 3 (01:11:32):
Happened to be part of the family. Now, just don't
get arrested like his brother.
Speaker 2 (01:11:35):
Having known the dynamics of Albuquerque, and I heard him
on Busting with the Boys recently and he was talking about,
you know, how his family is, and he was like,
Albuquerque is almost like GTA, dude. So he's like, you know,
It's one of those that like, we get our family
out of Albuquerque to come to Nashville with me, and
in certain ways, it's kind of like, dude, you know,
you don't have any chill, and I need you to
(01:11:57):
have some chill just a little bit.
Speaker 4 (01:11:59):
Curio. Isn't there a very famous television show known for
its mobster mentality from Kirk?
Speaker 11 (01:12:05):
What was the name of it?
Speaker 3 (01:12:06):
Not Breaking Bad? I wonder how that makes a lot
of sense.
Speaker 4 (01:12:09):
But hey, good for the Heisman Trophy can well, actually
it was better call Saul.
Speaker 3 (01:12:14):
I thought both were in there. No, it was exactly.
Speaker 4 (01:12:16):
But good for the Heisman Committee to go ahead and
guarantee that there will be an entire entourage to welcome Diego,
Pabo and Kirk the only the only worthy Heisman Trophy candidate.
Speaker 2 (01:12:26):
And I mean, if I had a vote, that's that's
who mine would be for. But my vote is to
see what the Astros look like in twenty twenty six
and Astros manager Joe A. Spotta, like many managers and
gms and executives everybody of the sort in Major League Baseball,
they're in Orlando for the Winter Meetings. This is when
deals usually start to start flying. Fast and furious. Well,
(01:12:49):
in the case of four different players here that Joe
Aspota talked about yesterday with MLB Network, some of them
it's hey, where are they going to play? So we'll
start in that wing of the audio first, because jose
L Tuove, you got a lot of play out in
left field last year, but is that going to be
the case in twenty twenty six. Here's what Joe Spotta said.
(01:13:10):
I like the fact that he is open to help
him to do whatever it takes, you know, healthy team.
But I think second base is his flying position.
Speaker 13 (01:13:17):
I think we're going to see him play there more
this season, you know, giving us some starts in left field.
That's something that I will sit down and talk to
him about that. But right now is I need to
keep our guys healthy. I think a lot of these
players can play multiple positions. Paradis can play some second, third,
and first base. It allows me to keep Korea and
Walker healthy. The DH spot, I'm also going to use
(01:13:39):
that spot to keep those guys off their feet some.
So you know, I got some really good players that,
once they're healthy, is a really good team to It's
gonna be a really tough team.
Speaker 4 (01:13:48):
To be here was the name that we were just
talking about as a potential pitcher to join the Astra's rotation.
Speaker 3 (01:13:53):
Shaane bas Yeah, I'm gonna have to go look up
what is this fly out?
Speaker 5 (01:13:56):
Right?
Speaker 4 (01:13:56):
Because there's ground balls. We got some problems and that's
why I think there's a huge reason. And I can't
remember who brought that up.
Speaker 2 (01:14:01):
It might have been Chandler that brought it up on
Twitter about the reason to keep al Twove at second
for much of the season is for exactly that. I mean,
Hunter Brown's a flyball guy, Christian Javier is a flyball guy.
So most of your pitching staff are flyball guys. And
I mean I think that you know more than anything.
You used jose al tu by the way you did
(01:14:22):
last year because well, I mean, obviously his defensive metrics
have declined at second, but you also felt the need
to be able to try to get say Brendan Rodgers
in or even too. You know, where do where do
things stack up? For estoc Pretis this year. We'll get
to him here in just a second, but you heard
what he mentioned about the plan for the DH because
(01:14:44):
well we all know, during a baseball season, the best
laid plans, well, they usually go out the window, and
for the last couple of years for the Astros that's
been the case because well, injury has necessitated that. But
for your Don Alvarez in twenty twenty six, Joe Espada,
what is your plan for him?
Speaker 3 (01:14:59):
Not much less.
Speaker 13 (01:15:00):
I can't give you the numbers through it right now,
but you know I'm We're going to try to minimize
the volume of innings and left trying to keep peace
bat in that lineup every single day. It's our number
one priority. He's one of the best hitters in the game.
We can probably argue here all night that he's probably
top two hitters is number one in my opinion. But
(01:15:21):
keeping your unhealthy while he brings through our lineup, why
he brings to our clubhouse suppresses in that game is
a game changing player.
Speaker 2 (01:15:28):
And he is somebody too that if it were up
to your non he'd be in left field every single day.
Apparently I heard a story that Jordan will continuously send
Joe different articles talking about how he's an underrated left
fielder and that his numbers are better when he plays
in left field, to which Joe will respond, Hey, that's nice.
Speaker 3 (01:15:47):
You're still the DH.
Speaker 4 (01:15:48):
I'm sorry, he needs to play some left field because
there needs to be a way to guarantee that you
are either going to have a guy like you, Zack
Parade's in the lineup on most days, or you're going
to have to make a trade. I'm sorry, that's just
kind of the case. I know that sounds like really
really facetious. I know that sounds like, oh, Cole playing
with it, playing, you know, playing on both.
Speaker 3 (01:16:09):
Sides of the coin. Guys.
Speaker 4 (01:16:11):
In my opinion right now, after what I saw last
season and how valuable he was in the two hole,
e Suk barrettez has got to be in the lineup.
So if that means that he's got play second, is
Hozel to be moving to left field. If he's not
moving to left field, then guess what happens He's got
played DH. That means that you got play left well.
Speaker 2 (01:16:29):
I mean, and it's also too, I mean, you are
hoping that you don't have the same amount of injury
attrition in twenty six that you did this year, but
you are going to have injuries. You are going to
have guys go on the fifteen day il and you know,
you just hope that that it's not much more than
those two weeks that they're going to be out. So
in that case, I mean, I really believe that early
(01:16:52):
on in the season, Joe Espada, if it's up to him,
is going to probably in the first couple of months
of this season, use the DH as a roving kind
of move it around. Hey, you're not you're out and
left today, l two Ba is going to DH, Christian Walker,
You're going to DH. Estoch Brettis is going to play
first base. I mean, that's just really I think the
way that the Astros, at least right now plan to
(01:17:13):
be able to go about the season.
Speaker 4 (01:17:15):
Carlos Korea DH or on days when you have to
go ahead and play Estoc Pretes at third is or
were going to see him go shortstop?
Speaker 3 (01:17:20):
I guess that's the big question.
Speaker 2 (01:17:23):
I mean, I want to I want to keep you're
talking about Corea even getting some rext You're.
Speaker 4 (01:17:27):
Going to have to because if I think that you
can't play him at shortstop right now and keep Jamie
Pane out of the lineup, I just I.
Speaker 3 (01:17:32):
Want to keep him off shortstop as much as possible.
Speaker 2 (01:17:35):
I think that the move to third base was for
a career preservation for him, sure, best move possible.
Speaker 3 (01:17:40):
I'm not arguing that.
Speaker 4 (01:17:41):
I think that at this point in his career, you
want to play third base, that's fine. But at the
same time, escoch Predes has got to get on the field.
Well I'm sorry, Like right now, the non negotiable for
me until I have a reason not to is have
esoch Paris in the line up most days.
Speaker 2 (01:17:55):
We'll close out with him, but first let's get some
pitching because Josh Hater missing the final stretch of this
season and Joe A. Spotta talking about the recovery is
going well, and also preservation with them not.
Speaker 3 (01:18:07):
Much left field.
Speaker 13 (01:18:08):
I can't give you the numbers of it right now,
but but you know I'm we're going to try to
minimize the volume of innings and left trying to keep
peace bat in that lineup every single day. It's our
number one priority. He's one of the best hitters in
the game. We could probably argue here all night that
he's probably top two hitters. He is number one in
my opinion, but keeping your unhealthy, what he brings to
(01:18:31):
our lineup, what he brings to our clubhouse, suppresses in
that game.
Speaker 3 (01:18:34):
He's a game changing player.
Speaker 2 (01:18:36):
Just how important your Don Alvarez is. It was, you know,
such good information from Joe A.
Speaker 3 (01:18:40):
Spotta.
Speaker 4 (01:18:41):
We had to share it twice. But that's important. I mean, like,
let's be really, he's a top ten hitter.
Speaker 3 (01:18:44):
In the game when healthy.
Speaker 2 (01:18:45):
But for Josh Hater, one of the things that Joe
Aspotta did talk about is he wants to stay away
from those multiple out saves that at least early on
in this season, he's going to try to avoid those
situations as much as possible.
Speaker 3 (01:18:59):
We've seen out of Josh Hater.
Speaker 2 (01:19:00):
We've seen, you know, games go to extra innings, so
then you put him in the tenth inning because you
know he can handle that situation. We've seen it from
Brian to pray You two where he said the same
thing with a bray You he goes I'd like to
keep him out of those four out hold situations, just.
Speaker 4 (01:19:14):
Making sure at least early on the season. You said
multiple outsaves, you mean multiple inning saves.
Speaker 2 (01:19:19):
Well, sure, I mean that's that's exactly what I mean.
But I mean that could be an inning in a third,
that can be an inning in two thirds. It didn't
have to be full on two innings.
Speaker 4 (01:19:26):
Well, what I'm saying is not multiple outsaves is in
like bottom of the nine two outs.
Speaker 3 (01:19:29):
Now we call Josh hater, And that's not what you're saying.
Speaker 2 (01:19:31):
He just would like to be able to see other
guys that can step into high leverage spots, which he
did talk about. I mean, now, they trust Brian King
to be a high leverage guy, they trust Benett Susa
to be a high leverage guy, they trust in certain
parts Steven Okert to be a high leverage guy. And
you'd like to be able to see if Caleb bort
It can be one of those guys too, although it
was one of the guys that was non tender this offseason. Yeah,
(01:19:54):
it will have to while we look that up east
ok perettis I mean, because you know we talked about it.
You've got Carlos Korea at third, you got Jeremy Paynett
short more than likely, you're gonna have Osel two Va
at second, and then you're gonna have Christian Walker at first.
So for your probably best hitter that you had for
much of the season, Joe, how are you gonna use them?
Speaker 13 (01:20:14):
We're going to ask those questions here in the in
the coming weeks, right we try to improve our roster.
I need to keep all those guys healthy, right, But
I'm going to ask those guys to play multiple positions
so I could keep them all in the lineup, so
I could keep that offense uh together and give us
a chance to win every single night. So you know,
they they all done it in the past, uh. And
(01:20:35):
we're going to continue to explore our options and see
how we're going to improve our club. But I'm excited
about these guys. Once we're healthy, we are we're going
to be a very tough team to be.
Speaker 2 (01:20:43):
So maybe that's the key right there. Of an off
day here or there. Hey Carlos Krea, you're not even
dhing today. You're off est Socks playing third base, Jose,
You're off today, est Socks playing second.
Speaker 3 (01:20:56):
Hey, Christian Walker, take the day off. He's playing over
at first.
Speaker 2 (01:21:00):
If you slide them into an infield utility role is
what it sounds like they're going to do, and then
maybe even two you slide them in as a DH
in certain spots. But Joe Spotten knows just as much
as I and you know that you need to have
Estock Pretas in the lineup as much as possible.
Speaker 4 (01:21:15):
Until proven otherwise, Estcoc Paretas is a non negotiable to
be in that two hole. And I will go as
far as to say the two hole. I think that
you can have a rotation when it comes to what
you want to do without Tuve and Correa and Walker
and Diaz and whoever else you bring in in the
off season. But right now my lineup would start off
Jeremy Pangin leading off Estoc Paris in the two hole,
no questions asked.
Speaker 2 (01:21:35):
All right, so let's get back into the Texans as
we swing over to the eight o'clock hour. Because I've
got a new favorite Texan and there is evidence to
back up my fandom.
Speaker 3 (01:21:45):
We will discuss and let you hear exactly why right here.
Speaker 2 (01:21:48):
As again we get into the eight o'clock hour, it
is the Morning Drive with Dan and Coles Sports Talk
seven to ninety kat.
Speaker 3 (01:21:56):
E Houston ATVs E HD TOO Houston, Home of the Astro.
Speaker 5 (01:22:00):
And Rocket.
Speaker 1 (01:22:03):
Sports Talk seven ninety your home for your home teens
and iHeart radio station guaranteed Human. This is the Morning
Drive with Dad and Cole.
Speaker 3 (01:22:21):
The last thing you bought online Christmas gifts for my family? Okay,
all right, all right, So shoes for triple A Christmas gifts.
I like how you kept it generic right there too,
because I got people listening in they don't even know
what about.
Speaker 2 (01:22:32):
Okay, now see you got it right, you got it right.
I mean, look, you know, share some personal details, but
not all of them. I mean, I hate Christmas, So
it's okay. What I hate Christmas. That's that is that
is and that has probably been worst take of all time,
and I'm okay with that. I'm not a Christmas person.
Speaker 3 (01:22:49):
It is the best holiday. It is the worst holiday.
It's amazing.
Speaker 4 (01:22:54):
It is not the lights, it's commercial. People are people
are nicer to each other.
Speaker 3 (01:22:59):
They are fighting for who has the better guest.
Speaker 2 (01:23:02):
Well, you just just hee, you're just okay. I like
I can understand how like you know, some people handle
it that way. But I mean, I just I look
at it as especially to where I don't have kids
of my own yet, but I've got nieces and nephews,
so you know, to see how excited they get, That's
that's the enjoyment.
Speaker 3 (01:23:20):
That's the fun stuff.
Speaker 4 (01:23:21):
Are you going to take the role of the jolly
old big guy this year? I'm might I've thrown it
out before that.
Speaker 3 (01:23:29):
I'm willing to do it.
Speaker 2 (01:23:30):
I don't think I could pull it off personally. Well,
there's a buddy of mine who for for his kids
when they were younger. Because it's an Italian family, so
of course, you know Italian families. It's the entire family
celebrates Christmas together. That he every year would throw on
the hat and you know, throw throw on everything and
and uh and you know, play play the parts.
Speaker 4 (01:23:51):
It's sometimes hard for me to get in the holiday
spirit when December twenty fifth rolls around, it I'm sweating outside.
Speaker 2 (01:23:56):
Sorry, it's a little bit challenging. Well, I mean we
had wolves the tooth thousand and four. That's when we
had a white Christmas here.
Speaker 3 (01:24:02):
That's nice.
Speaker 4 (01:24:02):
I'm not saying for snow. I'm saying for the weather
not to be eighty two degrees.
Speaker 2 (01:24:06):
No, I mean I don't have a problem with that one.
I mean, if I'm in shorts and a T shirt,
no matter what the time of year is, I'm good
with it.
Speaker 1 (01:24:11):
I am sorry.
Speaker 4 (01:24:12):
There's a reason why season's rock and we have two
of them. We have summer and November.
Speaker 3 (01:24:18):
We have summer and not so much summer. I guess
is pretty much how it goes.
Speaker 2 (01:24:22):
But we've been talking a lot of astros there at
Baseball's Winter Meetings, the Texans who we're going to get
into right here, at least one individual Texan.
Speaker 3 (01:24:31):
They are off in the practice field to day.
Speaker 2 (01:24:33):
As I mentioned Dmiko Ryans telling the players as he
was talking to him on Sunday, I'll see you Wednesday.
Don't even bother showing up to the facility. Maybe you
got some treatment, then okay, you can do that. But
aside from that, take those days off and we'll get
back to work to get ready for the Cardinals on Sunday,
and then the Rockets have a couple of more nights
off before they get back on the floor over at
Toyota Center against the LA Clippers. I am a massive, massive,
(01:24:56):
massive Kamari lastrafiin And no it's not for the reason
that people.
Speaker 3 (01:25:00):
I think just the guy's a gamer. And I mean
he didn't practice for much of the week.
Speaker 2 (01:25:04):
I think it was Thursday was when the media saw
him working on the side, So it was touch and
go if he was gonna even have a chance to
factor into the game on Sunday, And it did look
like he was a little hampered out there like, well,
was it the one catch? I forget who it was
for Kansas City where the guy caught it and then
was able to roll for the first down, and you
(01:25:24):
see Laster get over there and it's like, dude, just
touch him and he's short of the first down. But
then you know, he tried to swipe at the ball,
wasn't able to get the football, which I didn't know
was a penalty. If you try to do the peanut
punch and you punch the player, then it's a penalty. Yeah,
they changed out a few years ago.
Speaker 4 (01:25:40):
If you don't get the ball, if you touch the
player at any spot, then yeah, it happens.
Speaker 2 (01:25:45):
Okay, all right, So luckily that didn't happen with Laster,
because I mean he did take a swipe at it,
and I think he did hit the ball and then
he reared back like he was gonna, you know, swing again,
and then he was like all right, yeah, you know
that'd be reckless at that point. So reasoning for me
being a massive Kamari Laster fan, We've got one past
(01:26:05):
bit of audio, and we got one year from Sunday
Night when he was on with Shady McCoy and Emmanuelacio
on the Speakeasy Podcast.
Speaker 3 (01:26:14):
So we'll start with the one before.
Speaker 2 (01:26:15):
So this is even before Kamari Laster was a Texan,
and it was stuff like this was probably the reason
why the Texans ended up taking last year in the
second round. Here was after again, funny enough, a team
that misses the college football playoff but then decides to
play in a air quotes meaningless bowl game. And Kamari
(01:26:36):
Laster was a guy that had every single opportunity in
front of him in the NFL draft. Probably could have
sat out and just said no, I'm not playing the game.
But this was Kirby Smart talking up the Texans cornerback
when he was still a college player.
Speaker 8 (01:26:50):
For him at Georgia, Kamari Laster had a one to
two grade first second round grade, and Kamari had to
make a tough decision like all these other people. Callamory
in and I talked to him and I told him, Kamori,
you should come out for the draft. That's my opinion.
You're one of the top corners in the draft. You
got to make that decision. Okay, that's one decision. Then
(01:27:10):
the second decision is you got to decide if you
want to play this bowl game. I don't know that
you got a lot to gain in this bowl game, Comori,
but I do know who you are, and I do
know how you practice, and I do know how you lead.
But I'm not going to be disappointed in anything you decide.
He came back about three or four days later, and
I met with him and his mom and talked to
him and fully expected him not to play in this game.
(01:27:32):
He called me two days later said, Coach, I can't
do it.
Speaker 4 (01:27:35):
I can't do it.
Speaker 8 (01:27:36):
I'm sitting down. I'm over there coaching.
Speaker 5 (01:27:38):
I can't do it.
Speaker 8 (01:27:39):
I want to be out there.
Speaker 3 (01:27:40):
I want to play with my guys. And I think
he did it against his mother's will.
Speaker 8 (01:27:43):
To be honest, now I don't know that, but I
think he did it against his mother's will because that's
who he is. So all these teams that go shopping,
this dude right here wants to play football. That's all
he cares about is playing football and his teammates.
Speaker 3 (01:27:54):
He ain't worried.
Speaker 8 (01:27:55):
About the next thing and all that, and all that.
He said, I want to play football, and he played
football for the University of Georgia.
Speaker 3 (01:28:01):
He did it.
Speaker 8 (01:28:02):
I mean, he didn't have to do it.
Speaker 4 (01:28:03):
I have never been more thankful that a four six
forty is the reason why he wasn't a first round pick.
That's the only reason he's a Houston Texan right now,
because everything else screened he was a first round pick.
Speaker 3 (01:28:12):
I s talking to you.
Speaker 4 (01:28:14):
I remember going to Indianapolis that year and meeting around
and talking with some scouts and some people that are
in the business, and they said two things to me.
Number One, Kamari Laster, his forty time will tell you
if he is a top twenty player in this year's draft.
Number Two, the last team I want to see him
be paired up with is a guy as a team
coach by Damiko Ryans match made in heaven.
Speaker 3 (01:28:32):
Well, it's a match made in heaven.
Speaker 2 (01:28:33):
And it's also too, I mean for endorsements like that
from a guy that knows him really well. And oh,
by the way too, I mean, there's certain coaches that
are known for certain parts of the field. Secondary is
what Kirby Smart is known for. Nick Saban was the
same deal. So if those guys will put a good
endorsement on a player, usually teams are going to listen
(01:28:54):
because they're like, oh, not only do you coach him,
you also know the type of work that he's putting
in at a spot that you care deeply about.
Speaker 4 (01:29:01):
I'll go a step further to get a recommendation and
talking in that prominent light from the best coach and
currently the face of college football. Yeah, probably want him
on my team. I would say almost ninety nine percent
of people would want that kid on their team.
Speaker 2 (01:29:14):
And it's absolutely worked out because, I mean just for
the reason alone of him having very very much every
single reason to say, now, I'm not going to give
it a go on Sunday. I mean clearly that was
him saying, no, if I am good enough to be
able to, you know, make meaningful contributions on the field,
and then I'm playing like you're going to have me
(01:29:34):
out there clearly too, I mean, he knew what was
at stake for the Texans on Sunday night. You lose
that game, you're in playoff dire straits at this moment.
You win that game, now you're looking really good to
make the playoffs. So he knew that being out there
in whatever capacity and probably I mean, aside from the turnovers,
the defensive play of the game, who was it made by.
Speaker 3 (01:29:56):
Third down call star of the fourth quarter. They were driving.
Speaker 4 (01:29:58):
They got a big time pick on an under thrown pass.
I'm talking about the one that was the deep shot
to the end zone. Oh I meant play. Yeah, that
ball was caught and he was behind. I mean, what
was so interesting is that you see clear as day
he has burned off the line of scrimmage, but he
doesn't quit on the play, and knowing that he's not
gonna be able to make the tackle, he just does
(01:30:19):
screw it, go full Creed mode.
Speaker 3 (01:30:21):
Can you take me, Hi, I just fly up, smack
the ball down and be able to go ahead and
stop a touchdown and went Scott's stapp is what you
said right there. I like that. That's fits. It's the
greatest half type performance of all time. We need we
need to have it reprise.
Speaker 4 (01:30:35):
I'm not even joking. I don't care about the super
Bowl halftime show.
Speaker 3 (01:30:39):
I have him for a while. I will sit down
and I will watch all thirty minutes. If it is Creedy. Well,
they got a new album coming out, supposedly, all right
to let what he wants to hear the new album.
I want to hear the classics.
Speaker 2 (01:30:49):
That's what you always love like whenever you go to
shows with bands like that and they're like, you know, hey,
we're gonna play some of our new stuff.
Speaker 3 (01:30:55):
No play higher, no play arms white open.
Speaker 4 (01:30:59):
Name the last time. Okay, name a band that you
recently saw that came out with new stuff. Dave Matthews Band,
and he played it all and we were in it.
It's the only show that I've ever been to where
the performer got booed. He is see And that's exactly it.
Speaker 3 (01:31:13):
That's what it was is.
Speaker 2 (01:31:14):
It was no, you know, we really like our new stuff,
so we know you guys are going to like this.
It's like Dave, Dave, Dave, You're not that performer anymore, Okay,
Like I hate to tell you, but you're not. When
people when people pay to come see you, they're coming
to come see you because they want to hear you
play satellite in all of these other songs.
Speaker 3 (01:31:33):
I'm marching exactly.
Speaker 2 (01:31:35):
I mean, it's take pro Jam for example, Like like
if Eddie Vedder tried to, you know, foist their new
stuff on you, you'd be like, no, dude, I want Jeremy,
I want I want Dissident.
Speaker 3 (01:31:46):
I want I want all of those songs. I don't want.
Speaker 2 (01:31:48):
I don't I don't care about this. I don't want
your your new iTunes stuff. I don't care about that.
Speaker 4 (01:31:54):
I don't want any song from Dave Matthew's band. I
hate Dave Matthews band.
Speaker 3 (01:31:57):
That's fine. The problem I'm not. It's not one of
those performers that I'm good be like, oh how dare you?
I don't care.
Speaker 4 (01:32:03):
It got played around the college campus NonStop and I
was forced to listen to it daily. And then when
I paid money out of my own pocket to go
sit inside a concert and he had twenty minutes per song,
because if everybody had to.
Speaker 3 (01:32:15):
Have their solo with the guitar jam out.
Speaker 4 (01:32:18):
And John Mayor is the exact same way, like John
Mayer is an exceptional songwriter. I love his music, but
I can't watch him live. He's the best current guitarist
because of all it is is just guitar riff after
guitar riff after guitarist, and it's six songs.
Speaker 3 (01:32:30):
And two hours. That's also too, I mean, what's your audience?
Speaker 2 (01:32:33):
I mean for some of them, like Fish and all
of them, there's a reason why they have jam outs
is because they know that their audience is rolling along
with them.
Speaker 4 (01:32:39):
I don't need to hear the free Falling cover that's
a fifteen minute song, because seven minutes of it is
a guitar solo.
Speaker 3 (01:32:45):
Before you even sing the first note, I don't need
to hear it.
Speaker 2 (01:32:48):
The repetition can be kind of droning on. You get
a little bit of a drone strike right there when
it comes to that.
Speaker 7 (01:32:54):
All right.
Speaker 2 (01:32:55):
So Kamari Laster was on with the Speakeasy Podcast that's
em Manuel watch on uh Lashawn Shady McCoy on Sunday
night after the game, and the Texans had a road
game and you hear about it all the time in football,
the first off the bus guy, and you know that's
one of those because you want to have the most
intimidating guy come off the bus first. So they asked
(01:33:16):
him that question. They go, Hey, for the Texans, who's
that who's that guy? Who's the one that you want
to send off first? Behind the head coach? Where if
you've got people from the team on the opposing side
watching you, they're like, oh man, it's gonna be a
long day.
Speaker 3 (01:33:29):
Here's what last I had to say to that question.
Speaker 5 (01:33:31):
If you can only say one person off the bus first,
like Data Dog, they the intimidator, like Data. If you
have to stand one person off the bus first, who
going off the bus first?
Speaker 3 (01:33:42):
To be honest? Me what Kamari Laster saying? Send me
off first? I'm that guy who's podcast we see on
this is on Speakeasy with Emmanuel and Shady.
Speaker 4 (01:34:01):
McCoy, So two other failed broadcasters that are trying to
keep stay relevant in the maybe got him what?
Speaker 3 (01:34:06):
I'm sorry? Does anybody respect either of their opinions?
Speaker 4 (01:34:08):
Because all I heard whenever whenever, at least Shady was
on with that show with Joy Taylor that he single
handedly made Joy Taylor likable?
Speaker 3 (01:34:18):
Am I wrong on anything? I ever?
Speaker 4 (01:34:20):
I never watched it, so I don't have a free
believe do you did you ever watch the show?
Speaker 3 (01:34:24):
I guess not. I guess not. Sorry, I don't care.
The silence was deafening right there. I don't care.
Speaker 4 (01:34:29):
Bottom line, Kamaraw Laser is a dog. Kamara Lasser is
a Texan. Kamari Laster is a Texan dog who is
going to be a reason why this defense cannot only
win a Super Bowl in twenty twenty five, but also
be a foundational piece. Here's my fear. Though we've talked
about this a lot. You can't pay for everybody to
stick around. And the more he continues to play the
(01:34:51):
way that he has, the more money he is accumulating
for the open market.
Speaker 2 (01:34:55):
I know, though, I mean with you know, mentalities like that,
I think I want to keep guys like that around
in my locker room.
Speaker 3 (01:35:00):
And maybe that means you say goodbye to somebody else,
but you.
Speaker 4 (01:35:03):
Say goodbye to Nico. I don't think you can say
about it a Nico. He's too good of a locker
room presence. He just became the fourth all time leading
receiver in franchise history. Now I get what he can
bring you, but I mean, you know, why do you
think that Jayden Higgins is here? Because if they needed
to get somebody else in that wide receiver and who
was Jaden Higgins compared to in the pre.
Speaker 3 (01:35:20):
Draft to hear it, I don't want to hear it.
I get I know where you're going with this.
Speaker 4 (01:35:24):
But this is why again, I understand this why Jalen
Knowle was my favorite pick, because if he will fit
a bill to where it's not having these type of discussions.
Speaker 2 (01:35:31):
A thing is when you put when you pay the quarterback,
whether you like it or not, forced redundancy comes into play.
And if that's the case, then I don't think Texans
fans are gonna like it.
Speaker 4 (01:35:40):
For the jam Higgins just bes a really good number
three for the rest of his career. So that way
he's getting paid forty two million instead of one hundred
and seventy five million or in seventy five million. That
way you can pay CJ and pay Nico and look
at that everybody will. I don't think the offense is
being used that way, but that's just between me and you,
all right.
Speaker 2 (01:35:58):
So we'll continue here on the Morning Drive with Dan
and Cole, continue the Texans conversation because these next four
games a little bit of a soft spot for the Texans,
possibly so the numbers might back it up. We'll discuss
right here as we continue on a Tuesday Sports Talk
seven ninety.
Speaker 1 (01:36:15):
Dan Matthews, Cole Thompson. This is the Morning Drive with
Dan and Cole.
Speaker 2 (01:36:24):
And you get into a stretch right now where your
next two opponents have a combined win total of five
three buyers on a two by the Raiders. Now we've
talked about the tripping point that could be there because
seemingly these have been teams, at least one of them
the last couple of years, that have been able to
get the Texans in a game, where again a couple
of years ago it was the Carolina Panthers last year
(01:36:45):
as the Tennessee Titans. So you'd like to be able
to avoid a similar fate this year against teams that
are trending very much towards the bottom of the league
and the top of the draft this year, as opposed
to giving themselves a win, which in the case of
say the Las Vegas Raiders, they're they're a dumpster fire.
I mean so much to the point where the other
(01:37:07):
day they're down by ten, which, by the way, the
betters were not very happy with Pete Carroll at the
end of that game. I think we've all learned a
valuable lesson at this point. I've been burned in the past,
and I think others have been burned in the past
when it comes to betting on Pete Carroll coach teams.
Speaker 3 (01:37:21):
He will find a way to burst your bet.
Speaker 2 (01:37:24):
Like a couple of years ago, it was having a
chance to be able to win when he was with
the Seattle Seahawks, and if they just kicked the extra point.
Then I win my bet as opposed to them going
for two. And then I missed my, my, my parley
by one. Then the other night it was they were
down by ten. I believe the the total was eight
and a half and half. Yeah, it was eight and
(01:37:45):
a half for Denver. So they kick a meaningless fuel
goal to lose by seven.
Speaker 3 (01:37:50):
You see Portner's reaction. He was not happy.
Speaker 4 (01:37:53):
No, he called for something that even investigate the raiders,
investigate pig.
Speaker 3 (01:37:58):
He said, way worse than that.
Speaker 4 (01:38:00):
And listen, I think that I'm allowed a mount at
times and I will get a little bit hospitable.
Speaker 3 (01:38:03):
I don't go that far. Oh, I mean, being hospitable
is nice. Being hostile is not. Is not the good part.
Speaker 4 (01:38:09):
I mixed up words all the time. That's just my
reality of this one, Dan, That's just all it is.
I think how hospitable is where I think hospitable is
where you're.
Speaker 3 (01:38:16):
Total just kind of kind of your thing.
Speaker 4 (01:38:17):
You're a delta bravo of you're hospitable. You're the nicest
person in the world of your hostile Okay, all right,
my brain works, all right, all right, I like it.
Speaker 7 (01:38:25):
I like it.
Speaker 3 (01:38:25):
I can roll with it now. I mean, are we
are we?
Speaker 4 (01:38:27):
Are we playing betting lines? Are we playing actual winning football?
Because right now the Raiders can't win to save their life, but.
Speaker 2 (01:38:33):
Now you want to, you know, also avoid the Arizona
Cardinals with that because.
Speaker 3 (01:38:37):
The Texans have been burned.
Speaker 2 (01:38:38):
And again too, this isn't a comparison to previous years,
but I mean it is one of those though too.
I mean, you know, it can be increased confidence for
a guy of saying, you know, hey, I've had success
against these guys before, and Jacoby Brissett has been one
of those guys that's had success in the past against
the Texans. But I think that the major difference here
again rules and exceptions, is that not this defense, not
(01:39:03):
the way that this group is playing. I mean, dare
I say that the way that this Texans defense is
playing right now it's better than twenty eleven when that
defense was unreal with Wade Phillips that team. If you
want to talk about a possible mirror image kind of
a similar deal. Now you feel much better about your
quarterback than you did TJ.
Speaker 3 (01:39:23):
Yates.
Speaker 2 (01:39:24):
But that's exactly why you felt like the Texans had
a chance because You're like, oh, Waite Phillips is gonna
keep us in this.
Speaker 4 (01:39:29):
Game better than twenty eleven Dan, We're past that at
this point. We're talking historic defenses. I'm looking this is
the best defense that the Texans have ever had a
franchise history. I will go down on that, and they
may not get the sacked totals and they may end
up not having the number one overall metric when it
comes to third down conversion rate or red zone efficency.
(01:39:50):
Watch with your eyes, watch the way the team plays
and how they've been able to respond with multiple injuries
and cuts from other position groups, just to guarantee that
they still are playing with with a fire. We're now
in the conversation of are they better than twenty thirteen
Legion of Boom? Are they better than nineteen eighty five Bears?
Are they better than the one defense from two thousand
(01:40:12):
and one for the Baltimore Ravens. And honestly, the Ravens
one feels very much like in the conversation because the
reason why Baltimore won the Super Bowl over the New
York Giants was not because of Trent Dilfer. It was
because of what they have with Ray Lewis, what they
have with Ed Reid and what they have with the
great communication upfront, That's what Houston could actually have this year.
Speaker 3 (01:40:32):
Tony Sarah Gusa there too. That was a team, That's
That's what I always say.
Speaker 4 (01:40:37):
That was a defense that was able to quite literally
pull the rest of the team across the finish line.
Speaker 3 (01:40:42):
That's what always cracks me up to with.
Speaker 2 (01:40:44):
You know, I've always wanted to ask Trent Dilfer, just
being like, hey, do you like being used as that example?
And I'm sure he'd probably say, well, I want a
super Bowl, so what do I care? Huh he gets
to say I got to hold a Lombardi Trophy and
I have a ring. Yeah, I'm totally okay with it.
What's his name, Mike dick Cut. Do you really think
that Mike Dicka, especially when he was in the movie
kicking and screaming and saying, oh, I'm sorry, I couldn't
(01:41:04):
hear you over the sound of my ring, you think
that he cares that Jim McMahon was a joke and
that the offensive line was a little bit above average. No,
he had the Monsters of Midway defense that was able
to deliver time after time after time, and that's what
the Texans happened. Apparently Laura Rutledge, I think, came up
with the nickname for the Texans.
Speaker 3 (01:41:22):
No Kay Adams did.
Speaker 4 (01:41:23):
What was it?
Speaker 3 (01:41:24):
I have no idea ida list of k Adams.
Speaker 2 (01:41:25):
Okay, every time I think of kicking and screaming, I
always think of the part where Dick goes up in
his office smoking a cigar and his wife's Mike, I
smell smoke. Nobody's smoking, and this comes on it and
she puts it on out. No, he gives it to
Will Ferrell. He's like, I told you no smoking.
Speaker 10 (01:41:41):
No.
Speaker 3 (01:41:41):
There's a scene at the very end where he does
it again.
Speaker 4 (01:41:43):
She comes on and he's like I knew it, and
she slaps him and then goes lavea honey and then
he goes in the Light's the second one as Seroni
as the game?
Speaker 3 (01:41:48):
Yeah, it's the coach. He's allowed to do whatever he wants.
Speaker 2 (01:41:51):
Sean told a great story you know where he talked
about how ditka they when they were working at ESPN
that they were supposed to I think go to Philadelphia
as part of their training camp tour and they were like,
you know, hey, we're getting on the flight and did
go was like, I'm not going. I want a steak,
And because they were in Indianapolis, he's like, he's like,
(01:42:12):
I want a steak.
Speaker 3 (01:42:13):
We'll get there, We'll find our way. And they had
a buddy with a private hit and they they got there.
Where do you think he went? Sane?
Speaker 5 (01:42:19):
Almost?
Speaker 2 (01:42:19):
No, that's exactly where they went. And then of course
it was one of those like where they had closed.
But you know how like if you've got a certain
amount of status, like they'll stay open for you. Yeah,
apparently they stayed open for Ditka.
Speaker 3 (01:42:31):
Why wouldn't they?
Speaker 4 (01:42:32):
Yeah, exactly, Hall of Fame coach and a guy that
won the another bourbon coach. Absolutely, do you even need
to ask?
Speaker 5 (01:42:39):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (01:42:39):
Care is that gonna happen for Demiko Ryans if they
win the Super Bowl this year?
Speaker 1 (01:42:42):
Sure?
Speaker 3 (01:42:42):
Yeah, you win a Super Bowl, you don't pay for
another meal? Absolutely? Do you think that there's restaurants that
stay open for Tamiko Ryans already? Right now?
Speaker 2 (01:42:49):
I mean if he wants to. I mean he's a
family man, so I don't. I don't think he's living
that life as much anymore. But if he, if he did,
then sure absolutely, they would.
Speaker 4 (01:42:57):
Again to me, this defense is the reason why you
can believe that the Texans have a shot for going
to the Super Bowl. Now, I'm not ready to go
ahead and say anything along that because matchups really matter,
and I will say I still have to see you
deliver against the teams that you're supposed to. My fear
has always been not losing to Kansas City. You lose
Kansas City, Okay, you went on out, You're in the playoffs. Still,
(01:43:18):
my fear has always been what happens if you get
complacent and you overlook Arizona and then Trey McBride goes
off for two forty and he has a touch and
he has four touchdowns. What happens if you overlook Ashton
Genty in this rushing attack for Las Vegas and it's
not good right now, and they're looking to get the
number one overall pick.
Speaker 3 (01:43:35):
But winners want to win. And Pete Carroll is a
winner and.
Speaker 4 (01:43:37):
He ends up like quite literally emptying the kitchen scene
because he knows that he is going to be out
the door at this point, and they get the biggest
win of the year, Like what happens? Then then we
go right back to the conversation to what we said
for a while about the Texans. This is a team
that has all the talent in the world, but they
get complacent at the worst times possible and they lose
(01:43:58):
to rosters that are fighting for the number one one
We're all back.
Speaker 2 (01:44:00):
Well, the Texans defense, you don't have to really worry
about them. It's other parts of the team that you
have to worry about. And Demiico Ryans talked about it yesterday.
We will let you hear from him as we continue
here on a Tuesday, It's the Morning Drive with Dan
and Coles Sports Talks seven ninety. Let's talk to your health,
and I'm talking to physical health this time. And if
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(01:45:26):
and the low T Center.
Speaker 3 (01:45:30):
You don't have to be a pep to get your
lady to work at your command, mister von Bee, that's.
Speaker 5 (01:45:34):
Right, jess Aks, just my device to play sports Talk
seven to ninety on I Heart.
Speaker 3 (01:45:37):
Radio talking to Texans right now.
Speaker 2 (01:45:40):
You want to get in on them seven one three
two one two five seven ninety And as we mentioned,
I mean the defense you got that figured out you're
all good there. Offensively, well, that's another story. When we
saw that play out in the third quarter of Sunday
Night football against the Chiefs and Demiico Ryans meeting with
the media yesterday talking about that offense and saying, yeah,
(01:46:00):
let's be honest, we got things to work on.
Speaker 14 (01:46:03):
Look, there are a lot of things offensively, I think
we have to approve upon, specifically in the half and
coming out at the second. At the second the beginning
of the second half, it's not good.
Speaker 3 (01:46:13):
Enough for us.
Speaker 14 (01:46:14):
We got to move the ball better in those situations,
all right, and then when it comes to the pressures,
there's things to learn from. We got to operate much
faster with just the timing of everything, getting the play
calls in and out of the huddle, getting the line properly,
making the right id, getting guys picked up the proper way.
We have to operate more efficiently. We have to operate
(01:46:36):
with much more urgency on the offensive side of the football.
You'll continue to see those type of pressures right that
showed up, So there's a lot of room for improvement
there and we have to see that improvement very quickly.
Speaker 4 (01:46:48):
Do you think that he's saying anything negative about the defense,
even when it comes to improvements, because if that's just
who Demiko Ryans is, or he realizes my offense can't
get more.
Speaker 3 (01:46:57):
Than twenty points, so we got to get even better.
Speaker 2 (01:46:59):
I think there is a higher standard for the defense,
and I think it's been that way ever since he's
gotten here. I mean, you know, that's kind of one
of those where it's just like, well, wait a minute,
why are you you know, why are you putting this
on the defense? You know, with you know, we got
to get stops, we got to get off the field
on third down. Where it's just like, well, yeah, you do,
but Tmiko, why are you also in those situations? So
(01:47:19):
I think there's a little bit of that, the part
that you know, if you're a fan listening to that,
that you're like, dude, you've got some nerve to say
that about the end of the half because you're the
one that's been sitting on timeouts. You're the one that
hasn't necessarily been able to work the clock well enough
in those situations, So why is that on the offense
(01:47:40):
At a certain point.
Speaker 3 (01:47:41):
That's on you.
Speaker 4 (01:47:42):
You're the head coach. You have to take priority of it,
and I don't want to hear. I don't I don't
want to hear when we get the ball in the
second half, Therefore, we don't want to go ahead and
give the ball over to somebody and then maybe they
get some points. I want to see aggressiveness because unfortunately,
when you get down to the bottom line of what
is going to be your season, when there is no
(01:48:03):
margin of error. I completely understand that you don't want
to give the give a team a second opportunity, but
in my opinion, take a risk show that you're willing
to go for the juggular. And I said this on
Monday night. The Texans play for the field goal. They're
excited for the touchdown because they know that their defense
is good enough to guarantee that their team is not
(01:48:25):
scoring or even crossing midfield. So all you need is
three to win the football game. But it's infuriating that
that feels like the identa of what the offense is
right now.
Speaker 3 (01:48:34):
I think that also too.
Speaker 2 (01:48:35):
I mean, the lack of trust in the offense is
what feeds into that, and I mean it's exactly what
you know we've talked about before with the offense. I
think the Miko kind of looks at it as God
bless them. They try, like you know, they try. But
it's also though, it's like, Okay, you shouldn't think that way.
When you've got a guy like Nico Collins, who is
one of the best receivers in the league. You know
(01:48:56):
what the charge is at that point, is Nick find
a way to get him the football.
Speaker 3 (01:49:00):
Well, there's this. I don't care. Nick.
Speaker 2 (01:49:01):
Your job is to be able to scheme him open.
That's your job, your job, that's what you're supposed to do.
So enough of the bunch formations. Enough with the Hey,
you know what we got, we gotta establish the run.
You know what, why don't we worry about establishing the
run like late in games when you got to try
to ice things away.
Speaker 3 (01:49:18):
Like what what, let's think about what's working?
Speaker 2 (01:49:21):
Like you almost feel like, you know, uh, necessary roughness
right here, Let's talk about what's working.
Speaker 3 (01:49:26):
And in certain cases when it comes to the run, game,
not a thing.
Speaker 4 (01:49:30):
Nothing, nothing's working in the offense right now, Dan, at
least for I would say thirty I would say fifty
percent of the game nothing is working because of again,
there's incompetence when it comes to coming out of halftime,
there's the slow, methodical drive of no sheer passion that
you see right before the half, and then you maybe
are lucky enough to get start off on the hot foot,
(01:49:50):
and then you close out the fourth quarter with at
least scoring or a delay a game that nearly costs
you in that game. That's the other thing, too, man,
It's just like it's it's constantly. At this point, we
already can expect that, and I've already told you I've
expected at this point of the season, Week fifteen, the
Texans are going to have at least three false starts
or three offensive line palaties.
Speaker 3 (01:50:11):
So prepare for it. Have a game plan. Here'd be
my answer for you.
Speaker 4 (01:50:16):
Knowing when you're in the red zone and knowing that
there have been red zone fatalities and red zone misopportunities
about the year, Well, you don't score, so you kill drives.
Speaker 3 (01:50:24):
Have a plan to when you're going to see the
illegal motion.
Speaker 4 (01:50:27):
Have a play call to where you already know that
you don't have to do make any adjustments when it's
second and ten, but you know it's gonna be second
and fifteen. Have a play drawn up for when you
know the inevitable false start happens, you're not going to
be able to get back to the line of scrimmage
and hits, so hit because that's going to be the
case moving forward. The Texans are going to get into
the red zone, You're going to get either a holding call,
(01:50:49):
an illegal motion or a false start on somebody on
the front five and now the play is going to
be pushed back five yards.
Speaker 2 (01:50:55):
You know, and I have to think that way, but
I mean it's also too I mean, play to your strengths,
play to your weakness, and that definitely is one of
their weaknesses.
Speaker 4 (01:51:02):
What do you mean, don't plan to think that way?
That's you I said, you don't want to have to
you have to think that way. That's what I was saying.
We're in agreement here, Cole. I was like, there is
no way that you can say, oh, you don't have
to know. You very much have to think that way
because it's.
Speaker 3 (01:51:16):
Going to happen.
Speaker 4 (01:51:17):
And if you don't believe me, go look back at
the film from week one to week fourteen. You want
to what is the one constant that the offensive line
is going to have a false start or an illegal
motion inside the red zone. It's the one constant I
can guarantee death taxes. Somebody jumping off sides.
Speaker 2 (01:51:33):
In the first quarter. One of my favorites is sure
as You're born. That's that's one of my go to So,
sure as You're born. Somebody is going to false start.
Sure as You're born. There's going to be two guys
in motion when the ball is snapped.
Speaker 4 (01:51:46):
Sure as You're born. The Texans are going to find
a way to mess it up in the red zone.
Speaker 2 (01:51:49):
Oh, I mean, you know the scariest words in local
sports right now? Texans have the ball inside the opponents five.
Speaker 3 (01:51:55):
I don't think that's the scariest words.
Speaker 13 (01:51:57):
No, it is.
Speaker 3 (01:51:58):
It totally is. It's almost a death center every single time.
It's not death sentence.
Speaker 4 (01:52:02):
It's just it's just something that you have to realize
it is probably gonna end in three points.
Speaker 3 (01:52:08):
That's the funny. Am I wrong?
Speaker 2 (01:52:09):
No, you're not wrong, because the offense right now is hey,
as you exactly said, plan for Kayami Fairbairn jogging out
for three as opposed to him jogging out for thirty
three yards to only be one look.
Speaker 3 (01:52:22):
And I don't want to act that way because of again,
you brought it up.
Speaker 4 (01:52:24):
You have one of the best receivers currently in the
NFL and Nico Collins, and I do think that you
have a quarterback that, when given time to throw, does
have the ability to at least be accurate. But the
question comes to you still see the ineptitude and the
mental mistakes that hindered this team early on in the
season showing up in Week fifteen. So now, unfortunately, it's
(01:52:45):
like it's like how I've said to a lot of
people when it comes like Alabama versus Okahoma, Like everyone's like, oh, well,
these two teams are gonna change, right, No, this is
who they are. Offensively, this is who they are. So
you have to find a way to adjust around it. Offensively,
the tech since offensive line is going to have a
false start or in a legal motion inside the twenty,
(01:53:05):
so have a game plan for when that inevitably happens.
Speaker 2 (01:53:08):
All right, So one of the best to put on
a headset currently in the NFL nearly never was, And
we'll explain right here on the Morning Drive with Dan
and Coles Sports Talk seven ninety. You want to get
in know a couple of you already trying to weigh in,
so we'll give you that chance. Someone three two one
two five seven ninety. Get it's someone three two one
two five seven ninety. As we continue here on a
(01:53:31):
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Speaker 3 (01:54:58):
Houston's generator experts.
Speaker 1 (01:55:02):
Cole as the Morning Drive cruises off.
Speaker 2 (01:55:07):
A current best in the broadcasting booth, nearly never was
get to that here in just a couple of minutes.
Speaker 3 (01:55:13):
But Dave on the north side wants to weigh in. Dave,
good morning. I did it again. There you go, Dave,
good morning. Who Yes, we got us loud and clear.
What's that buddy?
Speaker 15 (01:55:30):
Yea, Dana Cole, what's happening?
Speaker 3 (01:55:31):
What's up man? How you doing?
Speaker 15 (01:55:34):
I'm doing great, doing great, doing great. I need to
ask both of you guys a question about the Houston
Texans offense. Do the Houston Texas offense are Nick Keley?
Nick Kelly is the offensive coordinator, okay of the Houston Texas.
If you are the offensive coordinator of the Houston Texas,
(01:55:54):
what is your plan for a pre snap penalty or
a penalty that car through the holding Kennedy on second
and twenty or something like that, A second and fifteen
action pass?
Speaker 3 (01:56:09):
Going to pass the play action pass?
Speaker 15 (01:56:11):
But why I play act.
Speaker 4 (01:56:13):
Pass because of I think that, no matter what, you
need to be prepared for a ten yard penalty, so
you're not going to be able to run it on
first and twenty. I think that, knowing how this offense
is and how this office has been all year, they
would predict you to go for it on first and
twenty and try to run and put yourself in a
second and seventeen.
Speaker 15 (01:56:29):
Okay, why is Nick Haley not doing it?
Speaker 3 (01:56:35):
Your guess is a good as mine.
Speaker 4 (01:56:37):
I mean, I wish he had an answer for that
one man, But right now it's abundantly clear that it
feels like it's very predictable.
Speaker 3 (01:56:43):
It's very much a conversation.
Speaker 15 (01:56:45):
It is very predictable.
Speaker 3 (01:56:46):
You and I know that, right So that's.
Speaker 4 (01:56:49):
Probably why is that Unfortunately, he stuck in his ways
and he doesn't want to put the team in a
different position.
Speaker 3 (01:56:54):
Because here's the problem.
Speaker 4 (01:56:55):
Here's the problem with what happens when you run a
play action pass on let's say a first and twenty.
Let's say the offensive line gets pulverized like it did
on Sunday night against Kansas City.
Speaker 3 (01:57:06):
Well, now you're living in second and thirty three.
Speaker 4 (01:57:09):
So that's usually why they're running it on first and twenty,
or why they have that presat penalty. They're trying to
gain as many yards back to get back to that
initial line of scrimmage, not put themselves in a more
negative position.
Speaker 15 (01:57:21):
Yeah, I see, I understand what you're saying.
Speaker 7 (01:57:23):
But he is.
Speaker 15 (01:57:26):
He is continuing to do that, and it drives me
crazy when he does that.
Speaker 3 (01:57:32):
Yeah, I get it.
Speaker 4 (01:57:33):
It's very frustrating. I completely understand. It's frustrating. I think
it's frustrating for this organization because this should be an
offense that right now. We've seen growth on the offensive line.
We've seen maturity when it comes to Jaden Higgins. We've
seen what Dalton Schultz can do in open space. We've
known that Woodie Marks can run the football to and
at least an efficient level. We're not asking to be
Joe Mixon two point zero. We're asking to just be
(01:57:53):
able to put the ball in a positive light. And
right now it feels like the predictability of the play
call now leads to a first and fifteen because of
a false start by an offensive lineman who at this point,
fifteen weeks in the season should know the snap count
is now leading to a second and twenty because of
everybody can guess what the first play is.
Speaker 15 (01:58:16):
And basically that it's it's repetitive when they do when
they do, when they.
Speaker 3 (01:58:21):
Do this no predictable time. Appreciate the call. Dave always
great too, Yeah, you always great to hear from you.
Speaker 2 (01:58:30):
I guess that, you know, just kind of, you know,
during the course of you two guys talking, it just
dawned on me, like, is there anything to necessarily ever
believe that we're going to see creativity out of Nick Kyley.
Speaker 4 (01:58:41):
I thought he tried to on the third down play
when it came with Jaalen Nole. I thought he was passing,
like I honestly thought that was a creative play to
where you get everybody to fall to the left and
then you have a wide open receiver on the right,
whether that be Higgins or Collins or Schultz, it's one
on one coverage at that point. So then you say, okay,
we get the first down. Maybe it's a gain of
twenty five, maybe it's a touchdown pass. I thought that
(01:59:03):
was creative. The problem was is that it was always
a design run. If you're gonna run a wide receiver's
jet sweep, you don't go from behind. You go right
in front of the line, right in front of the quarterback.
That's how Jets swoot's supposed to be run. If you're
passing the.
Speaker 3 (01:59:17):
Ball, you go behind. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (01:59:19):
I just I feel like that there's telegraphing that's happening
with these play calls.
Speaker 3 (01:59:24):
I mean, because that's the thing.
Speaker 2 (01:59:25):
I mean, as soon as I saw Jalennoell go in
the backfield, I said, ball's going to him.
Speaker 3 (01:59:29):
Doesn't matter if it's a run, doesn't matter if it's
a pass. No, everyone knew it was going to him.
Speaker 4 (01:59:33):
But the thing that you can do afterwards is you
can have him either pass it right back to CJ
who then gets a receiver downfield, and you pull the
defense all the way over to the right where they're
going to have to plant their feet and work their
way back and now go against the offensive line, or
you throw it downfield and hopefully your arm is strong
enough to make the play to the receiver.
Speaker 2 (01:59:52):
Just feel like creativity is earned, and I just I
don't think that he's going to be able to earn that.
Like I think short of you know, seeing what this
offense looks like when you've got Joe Mixon involved in
you know, Tank Dell involved in this. I mean, I
mean even Brevin Jordan, who, as you mentioned yesterday, signing
an extension. I just don't I just don't think that
we're going to be able to get to that point.
(02:00:12):
I mean, I think that just my belief is that
Nick Kyley is going to be this guy, and that
I mean for the defensive side of the ball. They're
kind of like, well, you're not really going to put
us in danger, so we appreciate you for that. But
I mean, I think just in terms of being able
to take that next step, i e. Winning the AFC
and winning the Super Bowl, you need more seven seven nine.
(02:00:33):
I have a question for all of you out here
in Houston.
Speaker 4 (02:00:36):
Would you take your defense not being number one in
the NFL and you give up ten more points per contest,
if it meant that the offense was scoring ten more
points and averaging one hundred more yards.
Speaker 3 (02:00:48):
Per game, something we can definitely kick around and would
you do it?
Speaker 4 (02:00:52):
It's it's it's a simple question, because honestly, I think
there are some people who would say, no, I'd rather
have the number one defense in the NFL and just
trust that the going to get the job done.
Speaker 2 (02:01:01):
I'll tell you next right here as we continue in
the nine o'clock hour on the Morning Drive. Don't forget
Cynthia Freeland from NFL Network. She's going to join us
at nine thirty, so we'll get into a little bit
of Texans talk with her as we continue here on Tuesday,
Sports Talk seven ninety KDM.
Speaker 3 (02:01:20):
E Houston, KTVHD to Houston as a rocket.
Speaker 1 (02:01:28):
Is Sports Talk seven ninety your home for your home
teams and iHeartRadio stations guaranteed you mean, this is the
Morning Drive with Dan and Cole.
Speaker 2 (02:01:47):
Texans. Another off day for the players. Everybody going to
be back in the building tomorrow getting ready for the
Cardinals on Sunday over at NRG Stadium.
Speaker 3 (02:01:57):
Monday Night Football.
Speaker 2 (02:01:57):
Last night Chargers over the Eagles twenty two nineteen and
Heisman finalists announced. Indiana quarterback for Dana Mendozo, Ohio State
QB Julians, sand Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love, and
Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia all headed to New York. Seven
one three two one two five seven ninety. So lay
out your scenario again for the audience that you threw
(02:02:18):
out about the offense and being able to take away
a little bit from the defense. As I mean, it
is one of those things that you look at with
this team and you're like, Okay, you know the defense
is absolutely carrying the team, but maybe a chance for
the offense to be able to help out a little
bit more.
Speaker 3 (02:02:38):
And you had a scenario for that. Seven one three
two one two five seven ninety.
Speaker 4 (02:02:43):
The Texans currently are the number one defense in the
NFL in total yards and in total and in scoring defense.
Right now, entering Week fifteen against a lowly Arizona Cardinals roster,
they are allowing two hundred and sixty six point three
yards per game sixteenth points per contest. Would you trade
(02:03:07):
up and give up ten points per game to the
average and average one hundred more yards allowed per contest,
So that would put you at.
Speaker 3 (02:03:15):
Twenty six points per game.
Speaker 4 (02:03:17):
Twenty six points per game is currently in the bottom
of the defensive rankings. It's in the bottom ten. You're
only you're also giving up three hundred and sixty three
yards per game. That is in the middle, that's seventeenth.
To guarantee that your offense is now averaging ten more
points per contest. So right now, the Texans offensively araging
(02:03:38):
twenty one point eight points per game. That is point
one point higher than the team that you face off
against on Sunday in the Arizona Cardinals thirty one point
one points per game. That'd be the number one scoring
offense in the NFL. Would you make that trade?
Speaker 2 (02:03:52):
No, no about it either, not even close, just because
of you know the personnel that you have, and also,
I mean you would think that you know more offense
that's going to give you an opportunity in a game.
I need definitives, and a definitive is knowing that defense
will play no matter what.
Speaker 4 (02:04:09):
I think it's easier to say that you can win
in a rock fight than a shootout. Right now, especially
in today's NFL because of there are so many teams
that are aggressively going after fourt DOCN versions and trying
to go ahead and set the tempo on first down
with the play action pass, they could easily score. I
feel like that because of where your defense is and
(02:04:30):
the ability to trust your pass rush and your ability
to trust your secondary to create turnovers, there is a
better chance for you to be able to walk in
and win thirteen to ten than it is for you
to walk out forty one to forty score.
Speaker 2 (02:04:43):
I mean, I think the scenario that you just laid
out right there is the Detroit Lions, because I mean
that's a defense that has been very advantageous in terms
of turnovers and their high risk, you know, in some
cases low reward. But I mean they're pretty much in
the same position that you are, in a much tougher
division with Chicago and with Green Bay there breathing down
(02:05:05):
their neck too.
Speaker 4 (02:05:06):
So I mean, you know, offensively, right now, the Detroit
Lions are number one in the NFL and points alloted
per game and number one in total yards, So there
you go.
Speaker 3 (02:05:13):
I mean they are middle of the pack and defense.
Speaker 2 (02:05:15):
So yeah, I mean that's that's pretty much what you
would be and I mean in terms of the AFC
playoff picture at this moment, if you had that going
for you, then you're probably right where say Kansas City
is at the moment with some of the teams that
you played against. I mean, defense is what won you
the Buffalo game. Defense is what won you at least
(02:05:37):
in the fourth quarter, along with the offense going along
in the Jacksonville game, same deal in the Tennessee game.
I mean, almost every single one of these games that
they've had in this five game win streak has been
because of the defense.
Speaker 4 (02:05:49):
It's one hundred percent because of the defense. It's because
your offense. Okay, to be fair, I will say that
the comeback by Davis Mills in the fourth quarter was
on the offense. Now, was that also because of you?
You had incompetent play from Jacksonville. Absolutely, and your defense
did force two.
Speaker 3 (02:06:04):
Man a warm him down and you know, three and outs,
all of that kind of.
Speaker 4 (02:06:08):
And they did force two critical turnovers, including the game
ceiling scoop and score by Sheldon Rankins. I'll give them
credit there, but the offense was the reason why you
were able to come back, because let's just say it,
was twenty nine ten, I mean twenty six ten. If
your offense doesn't do anything and your defense is forcing
three and outs, it's just punt punt, punt, punt, punt.
Speaker 3 (02:06:24):
Game over.
Speaker 2 (02:06:25):
I mean, and that Sheldon Rankins pick six return too, well,
was it big guy touchdown?
Speaker 3 (02:06:31):
It was fairly in touchdown, but it was a scoop
and score one.
Speaker 2 (02:06:32):
And did you see two that he nearly had it
knocked out of his hands right as he was going
into the end zone. That man was not losing that football. Please,
That's what I loved. Where they were like, hey, do
you know where the football is? He's like, no, not really,
because the only thing I remember was my head coach
was jumping on me as soon as I got to
the end zone.
Speaker 4 (02:06:50):
I'll be completely real. They block out in that moment.
I would block out in that moment. You would triple
you would block out in that moment. You would block
out in that moment. Nobody would be able to remin
what happened in that moment.
Speaker 3 (02:07:01):
Yeah, what happened. I blacked out. I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (02:07:02):
Someone three two one, two five seven ninety is the
number to get in. Let's keep it going on the
phone lines, Anthony wants the way and Anthony good morning.
Speaker 12 (02:07:11):
Hey, good morning fellas. Hey, I'm I'm with y'all. I
think defense is more an elite. Defense is more repeatable.
In my opinion, it's more sustainable. During this five game stretch,
the Texans have played the second ranked offense and the
Bills and the fifth ranked offense and the Colts, and
the defense won both of those games. So I'll take
(02:07:34):
the Texans right where they're at. And I also believe
heavily and the old saying that defense wins championships.
Speaker 7 (02:07:42):
So I'll take us right where we're at.
Speaker 3 (02:07:44):
Guys, appreciate the call. I mean. And that's just the thing.
Speaker 2 (02:07:48):
I mean, because when you consider the personnel that you
have at this moment, you're not going to have a
capable run game. Like that's just it's it's not going
to happen what he Marx has performed above being a
fourth round pick this year for how much they use
him one I mean, And that's the thing is because
the way that this offense was supposed to work, you
(02:08:09):
were supposed to have Joe Mixon, Joe Mixon was supposed
to be able to And that's the thing, Like you
have Joe Mixon this year, Like, are some of the
offensive line issues?
Speaker 3 (02:08:19):
Are they rectified?
Speaker 10 (02:08:20):
No?
Speaker 3 (02:08:21):
I don't think so.
Speaker 4 (02:08:22):
I think it's not as big as a talking point
because if you're seeing the yards after contact coming by mixing,
and it shows as long as you have five dudes
that are able to create a whole, he can make plays.
I think that that's more so the conversation we're having
at this point that you're able to sustain this because
you're not getting CJ. Stroud killed behind the line of scrimmage.
And so far they've done that part. It's the run
(02:08:42):
blocking that's actually been a negative for the team most
this year.
Speaker 2 (02:08:45):
And I mean, and that's where you know, I think
having mixing around and you know Chubb has also been
pretty good at doing that as well. I mean that's
something that you've been able to count on with him.
But obviously with signing Cody Schrader yesterday, I.
Speaker 4 (02:08:57):
Mean, shining a guy that's going to be in inactive
player on Sunday, gotcham so.
Speaker 2 (02:09:01):
I mean, so then it's gonna become Darry Goombwallee and
before him what he marks as being your run game
right now. So that's the part that you just you're
not gonna be able to count on you look for hey,
just give us enough, like that's pretty much what we need.
Speaker 3 (02:09:15):
I mean, it's as a team.
Speaker 2 (02:09:16):
If you run for as a team over one hundred yards,
then you're excited about that. I mean, and that's that's
what we've seen. I mean, what's it been mostly for
the high totals this year for Marx? What sixty eight
seventy yards something like that, But.
Speaker 4 (02:09:30):
He's finally gotten to a point of where he's averaging
twenty carries a game.
Speaker 3 (02:09:33):
That's over the last couple of games.
Speaker 4 (02:09:34):
Look at look at his numbers ever since since this lot,
since the win Street happened fourteen eighteen, sixteen, nineteen twenty six,
and every single one he's finished with at least forty
rushing yards, and four of those games finished with sixty four.
The only one he did have finished with fifty yards
or more was the Tennessee game.
Speaker 2 (02:09:51):
I mean, and that's I mean because I mean you've
also had Nick Chubb, who's able to you know, chip
in with thirty five forty yards here and there. I mean,
give you some tough yardage and you know a few
runs too. Where it looks like he's gonna be brought
down for about a you know, a gain of two
and then you look up and you're like, oh, hey,
you know that's about five or six on that one. Okay, yeah,
we can play with that one. We're good with that one.
Speaker 4 (02:10:11):
It's still kind of infuriating that he has more receiving
touchdowns than rushing touchdowns, and that's attestment of the offensive line.
And I do think that if you had Joe Mixon
out there right now, you feel a little bit more
confident about where your offensive personnel is in terms of
being able to run the football at a high end level,
because there are some limitations that you just have with
Nick Chubb at this point, and there are some limitations
that you have with the rookie running back in what
(02:10:32):
he marks to make place.
Speaker 3 (02:10:34):
That's just the case.
Speaker 2 (02:10:35):
Someone three two on two, five seven ninety the number
to get in Larry and Stafford wants to weigh in.
Speaker 3 (02:10:40):
Larry, Good morning, what's going on, bull dog?
Speaker 5 (02:10:44):
How you doing mate? I got no complaints, Hey man,
It's a beautiful day in the age, man, especially after
that win on Sunday night. Baby, you know, you just
got to be able to embrace the Chamber of Commerce,
weather we have outside and really get into it. But
let me get at a couple of things real quick.
You know, I'm a big fan of you know, sport
(02:11:05):
man and really enjoying sports. And after that game in
Kansas City, man, you know, I was on the high
drunk me some yack man, smoked me a stick, stayed
up all night, rewashed the gage at three o'clock in
the morning. And when I come to realize, man.
Speaker 3 (02:11:20):
Is that.
Speaker 5 (02:11:22):
Nick Cayley still bothers me? Bulldog because when they had
a chance to put that team away in on Sunday night,
Nick Cayley calls some of the dumbest plays that I've
seen when you have an opportunity to put the champs away.
And this is one of the things that worries me
about this team, because I think this team is a
(02:11:42):
legitimate Super Bowl team. And Cole, I remember all the
stuff you said last week too that you didn't believe.
I bet your ass starting to believe now. No, anyway,
I don't anyway, Uh.
Speaker 3 (02:11:53):
No, No, I mean you want to go there, Larry,
you want to go there. Let's go there. No, I don't.
Speaker 4 (02:11:56):
I still don't because I got to see it be
done offensively against teams like last Vegas in Arizona.
Speaker 5 (02:12:01):
That's a problem you're gonna You're you're one of those
people that are gonna continue to find the reason to
make excuses for your disbelief and what your eyes are
telling you.
Speaker 3 (02:12:11):
The number one defense in the NFL and the offense
is not.
Speaker 5 (02:12:15):
If you still need to see the Denver Broncos and
somebody else, and after watching that defense, I suggest real
quick that you either figure out how to start understanding
football and what your eyes are actually seeing, you are
you just quit saying foolish stuff because we don't need
to see nothing else. You ain't seen him play Josh Allen.
(02:12:37):
You've seen him play Pat mahonone, you've seen him play
Trevor Lawrence and all these quarterbacks. And you're still gonna
come on the air and say, well, I still need
to see a little bit more from.
Speaker 16 (02:12:46):
The No no, no, no, No.
Speaker 4 (02:12:49):
Larry Larry, Larry, Larry Larry, good morning, Good morning, bulldog.
Speaker 3 (02:12:54):
How about this?
Speaker 4 (02:12:55):
How about we say that the defense is a super
Bowl caliber contending team. Because I've never argued that, I've
never once argued that you can't come throw it in
my face and say that I've done that. I am
going to question the offense until I see consistency at
the highest level against the underqualified teams.
Speaker 3 (02:13:12):
That's the next eight quarters you have.
Speaker 4 (02:13:14):
Over the next eight quarters, if you show me that
you can handle business against a team that is middle
of the pack defensively in the Arizona Cardinals and one
that is the bottom dweller of the AFC in rankings,
by all means, I will take back everything that I
said about seeing more from this team, because you are right.
They have been able to win against teams that are
(02:13:35):
qualified playoff rosters, but they haven't been able to show
me enough offensively, and they still have to face off
against teams from the NFC, which is where I think
right now the Super Bowl contender resides.
Speaker 5 (02:13:49):
So basically, you're saying that the only team that's going
to satisfy and quench your thirst is if they put
a forty points against a mediocre Oakland team or a
mediocre Arizona team. That's what you're trying to tell me.
I'm saying because if that's what you're trying to tell me,
then again I am going to cost.
Speaker 3 (02:14:05):
You with these words.
Speaker 5 (02:14:06):
The Texas have a legitimate franchise quarterback. They have a
legitimate number one wide receiver. They have a running game
that is starting to pick up speed. They solidified their
offense attacking is a play caller that is making play
call at a time that allows them to continue the
drive that they're not stalling out on. But we have
(02:14:28):
this conversation because I figured I'm gonna have to spend
some time with you, man, because it's something that ain't
rap too tight up there with you and my dog
with a dog. But that's okay. This is a part
of the growing process I have, Larry.
Speaker 3 (02:14:41):
I'm sorry.
Speaker 4 (02:14:42):
I have higher expectations than just accepting a medial costs.
Speaker 5 (02:14:46):
Uh oh no, you don't. We all want a higher
offense of playing that they should be playing on the
Only thing that I'm telling you is that it's the
National Football League and the teams that they played on
their schedule. Of course, the office hasn't been up to
the standard, but we understand that. What I'm telling you today,
when you got a legitimate franchise quarterback, when they put
(02:15:07):
thirty or forty up on the Raiders and the Cardinals,
I'm gonna call your ass back. But I'm gonna bring
you a glass of that yack.
Speaker 3 (02:15:13):
And I'll appreciate it.
Speaker 13 (02:15:15):
Larry.
Speaker 2 (02:15:16):
I'm just glad that I you know, I just got
to watch it at that point, and I learned a
long time ago. You know, whether it's verbal or physical,
don't get involved if it doesn't involve you, because you
usually are the one that get punched.
Speaker 4 (02:15:30):
That's fine, Listen, Larry is allowed to have his opinion.
It's not a right opinion, but it's okay for him
to have a wrong opinion every once in a while.
Speaker 2 (02:15:36):
Well, speaking of the Cardinals and then the Raiders, could
this possibly be the get right portion of the Texans schedule?
Speaker 3 (02:15:44):
Maybe the numbers back that up.
Speaker 2 (02:15:46):
We will discuss right here, and don't forget Cynthia Freeland,
NFL Network and to join us here in about fifteen minutes.
We got all that much more still to go here
on the Morning Drive with Danny Cole, Sports Talk seven
to ninety the Morning and.
Speaker 1 (02:16:00):
Cole on Sports Talk seven ninety pull them in the Strolls,
Rockets and Houston's best sports talk.
Speaker 2 (02:16:09):
Then let's squeeze in Robert and Cyprus really quick. Robert,
good morning, how you doing?
Speaker 9 (02:16:15):
By Good morning, Buddy. I just want to talk about
that center. You think they're going to hang on to
that guy, man or grat a Samoan center?
Speaker 3 (02:16:22):
What you should do?
Speaker 9 (02:16:23):
Man, it's gonna block far at the offensive line?
Speaker 10 (02:16:26):
Man.
Speaker 3 (02:16:27):
I mean, I think J. K. Andrew has done a
fine enough job.
Speaker 2 (02:16:30):
But I mean at the same time, though, too, Robert,
I mean, I'm gonna go ahead and put this back
on you. What makes you confident that Nick Kyley's gonna
get it right? What's what's this track record of being
able to find good offensive linemen?
Speaker 13 (02:16:43):
You know?
Speaker 1 (02:16:44):
Zero?
Speaker 9 (02:16:45):
Man, I don't trust that guy. I mean, I don't
know who else could. I don't think the owner's going
to stick and say, hey, get this guy. He just
laying sitting back and just let them run the show.
Speaker 3 (02:16:53):
Man.
Speaker 9 (02:16:55):
It's it's pretty You m to be Einstein to know
that you need you need a quarterback. Which is the center?
Is the quarterbacks the offensive line? It's not him.
Speaker 5 (02:17:03):
He gets beat.
Speaker 9 (02:17:04):
He's a broom out there, man, he's getting sweat.
Speaker 15 (02:17:06):
Man, he's not big enough.
Speaker 9 (02:17:08):
He doesn't fire off, you don't pass block on a
running play. I don't know why all of them have
a hard time of getting a DRNK gw on.
Speaker 5 (02:17:16):
The line a little bit, man, you can that's just me,
That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 9 (02:17:20):
I know I went a little too far, but.
Speaker 2 (02:17:23):
I mean, I mean, I'm not gonna, you know, say
that I don't completely trust Nick Assario and I know that,
you know, I've had a lot of, you know, criticisms
of the way that he's handled building up his roster.
Speaker 3 (02:17:33):
But I mean, Robert, we're also being short sighted.
Speaker 2 (02:17:36):
If we don't say, I mean, you know, you found
Willie Anderson Junior, you bring in Daniel Hunter. You have
been able to find two of the best corners on
either end of the field in you know, Kamari Laster
and Derek Stingley Junior. I mean, I just think the
only the the unfortunate thing is and where I don't
trust Nick Kayley is guys have blind spots.
Speaker 3 (02:17:54):
I think it's blind spot is the offensive line.
Speaker 9 (02:17:57):
Unfortunately, I agree with you Hunter percent what you're saying
one hundred percent, and it's I don't know, man, I
can see you do it one year, but every year.
But anyway, I'm gonna just wait and see what he does.
And I like what he did with with Tunzel. The
poisons got rid of that guy and got draft picks.
Speaker 5 (02:18:13):
I give him that.
Speaker 9 (02:18:14):
That's part of the hopeless part of his plan of
getting a good offensive lineman. Maybe two that when you
get him in the it's hard to getting a lineman
in the first round because you're cutting back on other things.
Right man, you're you're desperate for a good lineman. Man,
I mean a center at least or even I mean,
they got nothing but trash.
Speaker 5 (02:18:31):
Man.
Speaker 9 (02:18:31):
You got rid of that guy from Minnesota. He lasted
a week and he got to beat up by rookie.
Come on, man, you don't have to be a genius
on that move there.
Speaker 3 (02:18:39):
Man, Hey, I appreciate the call, Roberts.
Speaker 2 (02:18:42):
I mean, you know, and that is something that this
offseason you almost wonder where I mean, you know CJ.
Stroud being here. Don't you think that was calin Hannah. Hey,
we need a quarterback, We we need somebody here. You
almost wonder if the charge this offseason is going to
be they no more interests in guys, Like when you've
got Joe Toney out there, you signed Joe Toney, Like you.
Speaker 4 (02:19:04):
Trade for Joe Toney then sound to an extension? Well,
I mean just whatever way I mean, like when you've
got that guy out there. I don't want to hear
about interest. I want to hear that guy is here.
No more fines. You can't find guys. Ed Ingram's worked
out fine, He's been great. He was awful on Sunday,
but for the overall this season he's been good. I mean,
everything else, it was basically just trying to piece meal
(02:19:27):
this thing. You don't win championships piece mealing an offensive line.
You win championships by building an offensive line. And look
for the pre snap penalties and you know, some of
the issues that Aronto Ersari has had this season. I'd
say that the positive is far away the negatives with him.
I do think that you have something there, but.
Speaker 3 (02:19:44):
Well, you better have something there.
Speaker 4 (02:19:45):
You use the second round pick on him, and you
could have brought in multiple other offensive linemen beforehand. To
draft two wide receivers from the same school at some point, Yeah,
you better hope that he's something.
Speaker 2 (02:19:55):
Well, and that's where you know, you try to build
off of. I mean, obviously you've got you know, Titus
Howard too.
Speaker 3 (02:20:01):
You like what he brings you.
Speaker 2 (02:20:02):
It's pretty much everybody else is kind of a wild
card in this. So we'll see what other moves are
made this soft season. We touched on this a little
bit earlier, and we can probably carry this over with
Cynthia too. That the Texan's playing against the nineteenth rank
defense this week, the fifteenth ranked total defense the following week.
Then you get the Chargers, who are not too far
behind you. They're giving up just about ten more yards
(02:20:24):
per game than you are, so they're a pretty good
defense in their own right. And then you get the Colts,
who are going to be a shell of who they
were because I mean, you're you're going to see that
team completely fall off the map. I mean, you would
like to be able to head into that game where
the you know, the game this season has lost for them,
and maybe you still have something to gain, so you're
(02:20:45):
able to handle business that day at home against Indianapolis.
But I think I would say that three out of
those four chances, though, Cole give you reason to believe
that maybe, just maybe this is where the offense could
get going.
Speaker 3 (02:20:58):
Yeah, I mean to an extent.
Speaker 4 (02:20:59):
And by the way, again, I'm not trying to say
that I nesm score forty to know that they're going
to be a comparable offense.
Speaker 3 (02:21:05):
I just need to know that they fix the errors
of their ways.
Speaker 4 (02:21:08):
I mean, when you're not going up against a team
that can generate a pass rush, does that mean that
you can build a repertoire in the passing attack. When
you have a team that struggles to defend the run
and is known for having the most missed tackles in
the NFL, can you see the run game be a
little bit more potent? That's all I'm asking, Cause, again,
from a defensive standpoint, Texans are there, Like I do,
find it disingenuous at times when you hear to meet
(02:21:30):
go say, well, we could work on some stuff defensively, No,
you really can't. You're number one in scoring, you're number
one in total yards, your top three in run defense,
your top five in coverage, you're great inside the red zone,
you're good on third down. There's not much else that
you can work on other than just finishing drives when
it comes to sacks. But even still, are you really
complaining about that when you're top ten in sacks right now?
(02:21:52):
You gotta work on everything offensively, and in a game
like that, you have Sunday and the one that you
have next Sunday, you should be able to put together
dry a consistent plays to where it feels like we
don't need to do this consistently in the third and
fourth quarter against Los Angeles, but at least we know
that we have an identity to do so I'm given
the opportunity.
Speaker 3 (02:22:11):
That's all I'm asking for.
Speaker 2 (02:22:12):
Well, I mean, we know that analytics are used a
lot in baseball, but they are in football now too,
and somebody that's at the forefront of that with the
NFL Network, Cynthia Freeland.
Speaker 3 (02:22:21):
She's going to join us next and we.
Speaker 2 (02:22:23):
Will talk that much more with her right here as
we continue on the Morning Drive with Dan and Cole
Sports Talk seven ninety.
Speaker 3 (02:22:29):
You like free stuff. We all like free stuff.
Speaker 1 (02:22:33):
Guess what our iHeartRadio app is free, free never Sound.
Speaker 3 (02:22:39):
It's still good.
Speaker 2 (02:22:42):
Currently in the playoff push, and we're talking that much
more with Cynthia Freeland, NFL Network, joining us here on
the Morning Drive. Cynthia, good to hear from you again.
Let's just look back before we look forward here, starting
with the Texans offensively on Sunday nights. What were some
things that you saw that they got away from? But
(02:23:03):
what are some things that they were able to use
to their benefit.
Speaker 17 (02:23:07):
Well, I'm always I will always start with offensive lines
because I mean to be fair. I did my whole
master sasis on this, so I clearly think it's important
right when you see the difference in the first half
in the second half, and you know some things to
learn from there, right, being able to stop at Chris
Jones effects or George carloftis and pressures coming from different directions. Obviously,
(02:23:28):
health will always help with O lines, but I've been
really impressed with the advancements of this O line as
the season's continued, so I think kind of reconfiguring just
a few more.
Speaker 11 (02:23:39):
You know, obviously it helps if you're.
Speaker 17 (02:23:40):
You know, you're running backs.
Speaker 11 (02:23:42):
It's always good if you have healthy players.
Speaker 17 (02:23:44):
You know, just the just the thought. But that was interesting,
and what I really saw from CJ. Stroud was an
ability to diagnose different spots in whatever the coverage was,
be it ahead of the snap earlier in the season,
if it was looking like man and turned into his
own or vice versa. It was as if he he
(02:24:04):
maybe didn't diagnose it as well as we've been.
Speaker 11 (02:24:06):
Seeing right now. So that's what I thought.
Speaker 17 (02:24:08):
Those and false leverages, so he thinks he has outside
leveraged really inside, like all of these different things that
he's able to adapt to and perhaps see you know,
you hear like the commentarers are like, he's seeing the field,
and I think that's what's happening.
Speaker 4 (02:24:22):
You look at the last three games, Cynthia, the Texans
have struggled coming out of halftime when it comes to
adjustments offensively. Is this the defense looking back at the
film from the first half of being able to understand,
what are some areas that CJ and company can't really connect?
Or is this more so really bad play designs kind
of set the time by.
Speaker 3 (02:24:40):
Nick Kayley, I don't know.
Speaker 17 (02:24:43):
I mean, I'm not in the rooms. We don't really know,
but I think the better you are in adapt to
be fair, You've played some really good second half adapters, right,
like some obviously the difference that everyone on the broadcast
talked about it, you can see it from this dats
into the first half of the second half from the
Chiefs was remarkable. It was like as if you know,
(02:25:05):
Chris Jones had turned an on switch and whatever. I
don't I don't really know what happened. Maybe you know
the fire was lit under their bums. In that regard,
but I also think, you know, give credit to Lou
and Arroomo. I mean, the Colts defense, they're missing some
key pieces. It's just the thing is that those are
just really good play callers too. So sometimes you go
through a streak where you're looking at some you know,
Steve Spagnolo legend. You know, that's that's just gonna happen sometimes.
(02:25:29):
So I'm not super concerned about that. I think they
will all learn together.
Speaker 11 (02:25:32):
But as long as c J.
Speaker 17 (02:25:34):
Strock can keep picking up like little nuances in the defense,
you're gonna be okay again.
Speaker 2 (02:25:38):
Cynthia Freeland, NFL Network, joining us here on the Morning
Drive with Dan and Cole. With CJ, it looked like
that most of his accuracy was coming from throws on
the run the other night, did there did the results
show that as opposed to him being in the pocket.
Speaker 5 (02:25:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 17 (02:25:55):
The funny part is when you look at like next
gen stats, a throw on the run. This affles me
because it's to me, it's like throw on the on
the sprint because it's eight miles an hour or better,
which is just a wild stat. By the way, all
quarterbacks this season they have been in that situation like
that has been something where you know that has been
extremely accurate. So if you want to notice on the
(02:26:16):
run numbers, you know it is six of eleven ninety
two yards and his touchdown did not come on the run,
but you know the passer rating was higher eighty two
point four yards for attempt to eight point four versus
five point six when he wasn't on the run, so correct,
the completion percentage, everything was better when he was on
the run. But again that has been a theme like
quarterbacks this season. You must be able to throw on
(02:26:37):
the run if you're going to be successful.
Speaker 4 (02:26:38):
You have a number one defense not only in scoring
but also in total yards and their top five and
almost every single category. Cynthia, I want to just put
you on the spot. But are we looking on a
defense that is measuring up to teams like the two
thousand and one Ravens the twenty thirteen Leads in a
boom or is there still a little bit of room
for improvement.
Speaker 17 (02:26:56):
I don't think any coach would be like, there's never
room for improvement. We're done. MC matt Burke would be like,
yes we can, but no, this is a you're on
you're on pace. Here for some pre historic uh, numbers
and things people are and you like, remember that.
Speaker 11 (02:27:09):
Defense you need to.
Speaker 17 (02:27:10):
It just needs a better name. Someone needs to work
on the branding of it. But no, it's right up there.
Even though I don't think uh Dimigo Ryans or anyone
would say that they're there yet, they'll be like, nope.
Speaker 11 (02:27:19):
We've still got ways to go. Because I love coach speak.
Speaker 3 (02:27:21):
Right, they all lie again.
Speaker 2 (02:27:24):
Cynthia Freeline, NFL Network join us here on the Morning
Drive with the TANDEMA Edge Rushers. This team is thrown
at quarterbacks Will Anderson Junior Daniel Hunter. I mean, you know,
they're not tops in the league, but they're up there
inside the top five. Just you know, what have those
guys been able to bring to the field this year?
Speaker 17 (02:27:43):
It's about the direction, right Like when you have right
now Miles the Arizon. Okay, let's put him aside. Right
he's on pace to break history. And part of that's because,
to be fair, I mean, there's the kind of don't
have anything else going on right like, So it's it's
not like they're sitting there winning it.
Speaker 11 (02:27:59):
Okay. I know should or sas is very fun, but
it's just a.
Speaker 17 (02:28:01):
Very different story when you have the ability to have
a duo have the most pressures in the league, and
then a secondary to be able to back it up
with the lowest completion percentage allowed, and not just like
in certain circumstances. You know, we see those caveats with
stats sometimes with like oh yeah when they're playing cover two,
Like no, no, no, it's anytime any place you got
(02:28:22):
the number one, you know you have just like the
best situation where you have the corners and the front
backing each other up. You have the secondary that because
those two things were hand and gloves. So while you
don't have one like number that's going to be like, oh,
this is gonna be the defensive player of the year.
I think every single coach and every single player would
be like, yeah, the better way to the Lombardi Trophy
is to have a bunch of guys who can create
(02:28:44):
this like really big problem and make Patrick Mahomes look
pedestrian when he's probably the best quarterback of our time.
Speaker 4 (02:28:50):
And then you have a guy in Derek Singley Junior
that we know as an all Pro, but Kamari Loster
has stepped up immensely this year. He may be one
of the better number two corners. When you look at
the numbers last season to what you've seen this season,
what's been the biggest growth for the second in your corner.
Speaker 17 (02:29:05):
Well, when you're looking at look Lassiter, Lassiter is not
in a dissimilar situation to like a Riley Moss, for
you know, the defensive player, the reigning defensive player of
the Earth passer Tan. You know he kind of gets
Lasser gets picked on more than stingly because of who
he is. It's just a little bit more, I don't know.
And what you're seeing is he's not dropping off in
(02:29:26):
any way like the past interferences are not there like
that is what sometimes you see, right when you get
targeted a ton, you see a lot of DPI that
doesn't happen for him keeping it clean, those not giving
up big plays. That is to me a masterpiece in
what happens with a great defense. I think the way
that you know teams like I don't think they are
(02:29:47):
looking at it in the same way as the you know,
the Broncos, which is a nice comp to it, right,
Like they're not saying, all right, we're going with Riley Moss,
We're gonna go target him a billion times to get.
Speaker 11 (02:29:55):
A hole bunch of DPT They're like, shoot, I have
to pick between their stingly or Kamara Laughener.
Speaker 5 (02:30:00):
That's not great.
Speaker 11 (02:30:01):
Kalon Book's doing.
Speaker 17 (02:30:02):
Really good as well.
Speaker 11 (02:30:03):
So I don't know where I'm gonna go with this one.
Speaker 2 (02:30:06):
And Cynthia, I mean, you bring up the Broncos, and
I'm glad you did, because I mean, it seems like
that's a comparison to the Texans that fits. I mean,
both teams lacking a little bit on the offensive end
and superior on the defensive end. But I mean it
when it comes to them in the Texans, I mean,
is it because of what they lack on the offensive
end that would probably keep people from believing that not
(02:30:27):
only are they an AFC champion, but a team that
could compete to win the entire thing.
Speaker 17 (02:30:34):
I think right now a few of those early losses
are really what is changing people. Per Again, we're not
at the end of the season, but like perspective, national perspective,
the way we all you know, I would like to
go on record that I have receipts for it. You
can say week gosh eight before before Thanksgiving, well before Thanksgiving,
like all right, Houston Is points to go on a run.
(02:30:55):
David Smills can get them through just a few of
these games, and the South is theres I have.
Speaker 11 (02:31:00):
I can send it to you. It's on video, so
there we go. But I think that is the national perception,
right Like the.
Speaker 17 (02:31:05):
Broncos have been on this crazy win streak, you know,
and winning close games, which is something that resonates with
people in terms of, you know, we thought last year
with the Chiefs go to the super.
Speaker 11 (02:31:16):
Bowl with all of these close wins.
Speaker 17 (02:31:17):
So I just think it's really you know, the fact
that the record would say that you're not leading your
division yet, which is what the difference. But remember, we
got to be forward looking. Who cares about the past,
and so what have you done for me lately?
Speaker 11 (02:31:30):
League?
Speaker 3 (02:31:31):
And what do we got for the.
Speaker 11 (02:31:32):
Last month of the season, Cynthia.
Speaker 4 (02:31:34):
Right now, it does feel like that there is no
front runner in the AFC simply because of you the
questions when it comes to a young quarterback.
Speaker 3 (02:31:40):
In Drake May.
Speaker 4 (02:31:42):
I'm personally not a big believer in Jacksonville just because
they've been winning in close calls. The AFC North is
wide open when you look right now, do you feel
like that based off the analytics there's one team that
you could maybe throw a little bit of.
Speaker 3 (02:31:54):
Cash down on.
Speaker 4 (02:31:55):
Hey they're going to be in Santa Clair and facing
off against an NFC opponent.
Speaker 17 (02:31:59):
Well, I think Look, I'm a former banker, So the
way that I'm going to say this is you could
put together a nice portfolio of picks based on some shares.
We got to diversify our portfolio, right, We need a
little bit of Houston, we need a little bit of Denver.
We probably need, you know, just a little bit of
I don't know, like some weird one that's I don't
have a lot of faith in. Like, if you're gonna
(02:32:20):
make it, then you have a chance. In the AFC,
I don't think there's anyone. I actually don't even think
in the NFC that there's a front runner. The Bears
can go from first to seventh with one game with
one loss. So I'd put a little bit down And
I know that this is the NFC, but but Green
Bay too, though, I'm going my defensive portfolio would include
those three assets.
Speaker 2 (02:32:37):
See Cole financial health. Talk about it every single day
and Cynthia backs me.
Speaker 11 (02:32:41):
Up, Yeah, exactly, there you go.
Speaker 2 (02:32:43):
It's just as important as physical and mental Cynthia. We
all know that it all goes hand in hand.
Speaker 3 (02:32:48):
I don't even know how to set down four on
one k that's all. There you go.
Speaker 17 (02:32:51):
You gotta get with people like Cynthia, then listen, do
the roth Ira first and then worry about the rest later.
Speaker 11 (02:32:57):
That's what you got to say. There's my financial advice
for the day.
Speaker 5 (02:33:00):
There you go.
Speaker 7 (02:33:00):
I like it.
Speaker 11 (02:33:01):
I like the people.
Speaker 2 (02:33:02):
Ever, we got analytics, we got financial advice. There's there's
everything that Cynthia can do. Cynthia, you're the best. It's
it's always awesome to be able to catch up with you.
And hopefully we'll get a chance to do this again
before the season comes to an end.
Speaker 17 (02:33:15):
You got it.
Speaker 11 (02:33:16):
And by the way, I do have a favorite text
in this year. Do you want to know who it is?
Speaker 3 (02:33:20):
Lay it on us?
Speaker 17 (02:33:22):
It's Sheldon Rankins because if you look at what he
overcame from last year from a major health issue to
be on the field and doing what he's doing. I
just love a good like comeback story.
Speaker 11 (02:33:30):
I'm into it. So not get enough national shine.
Speaker 3 (02:33:34):
For that, Cynthia.
Speaker 4 (02:33:35):
He's one of my favorite players too, because of my
favorite moment in football is always a big man touchdown.
Speaker 3 (02:33:39):
There's nothing better than a big man touches.
Speaker 17 (02:33:41):
Love a big man.
Speaker 3 (02:33:43):
I love a big man touchdown. It's better than this,
saball if you know, like.
Speaker 11 (02:33:46):
A big man touchdown.
Speaker 3 (02:33:47):
Thank you exactly.
Speaker 2 (02:33:49):
And we and we had a big man last night
who was trying to run his way back for a touchdown.
Then it was a fumble picked up by the quarterback
and then fumbled again.
Speaker 3 (02:33:57):
I was so mad at that.
Speaker 11 (02:33:59):
What I watched it last nights game. I have no
idea what that was?
Speaker 5 (02:34:02):
Finish, what was that? That's it.
Speaker 2 (02:34:05):
That's it the NFL. You see it once, well you'll
probably see it again. Hey, Cynthia, we'll go ahead.
Speaker 3 (02:34:14):
Oh there you go.
Speaker 2 (02:34:15):
There you go, Cynthia Freeland again, NFL Network. Okay, we
appreciate it. We'll catch up soon, all right, Cynthia Freelan.
I mean, you know that's that's the thing is the
big man. You know, whenever the big man has a
chance to grab the football, well then usually comedy ensues.
Speaker 3 (02:34:32):
Do you remember NFL Street.
Speaker 4 (02:34:35):
So I would always play with a running back that
was five hundred pounds when we call him Tubby Wilson,
and every single Tybey scored, we sing the song.
Speaker 3 (02:34:40):
It's Tubby Wolson time. I kid you not. It was
the greatest. That is still why it's my favorite video
game of all time. I don't think I know that
Tubby Wilson. I'm not singing the Tubby Wilson song on air.
You can't tell us about it and then not do it.
Speaker 4 (02:34:52):
I'm not singing Tubby Wilson time. It's not the time
for Tubby Wilson time. All right, we'll build up to
it eventually. I do want to hear this. I mean
maybe some of the the audience are like, I don't
think I want to. Well you know what, Look when
when you lay something out like that, then I got
to hear it. So anyway, all right, maybe we don't
like them, but we have to respect them for this.
And somebody that was part of them, well maybe they
(02:35:13):
almost never were.
Speaker 2 (02:35:15):
We'll cover both of those things here before we send
it over to the Matt Thomas Show with Ross right
here on a Tuesday Sports Talk at seven ninety.
Speaker 1 (02:35:24):
They are on Morning Drive. Here's Dan Matthews and Cole Thompson.
Speaker 2 (02:35:31):
But here's the thing is is people do the cheese
steak wrong, like where it's like, you know, the peppers
and like you know, mushrooms and all that.
Speaker 3 (02:35:37):
Yes, No, just onions, onions and cheese and.
Speaker 4 (02:35:40):
Onions, bell peppers and onions, bell peppers, provo and cheese
and the fresh cut of meat.
Speaker 3 (02:35:45):
That's where you go with that. And you gotta use
shaved ribbi too.
Speaker 2 (02:35:48):
That's that's the key in the Almoroso rolls are important
for them too as well.
Speaker 3 (02:35:53):
Otherwise you don't have a cheese steak. You just have
a beef sandwich.
Speaker 4 (02:35:55):
I will take an Italian dip before I will take
probably a Philly cheese steak.
Speaker 3 (02:35:58):
I like, I like a good Italian beef. I will
take that over. I will take that over a Philly
cheese take.
Speaker 2 (02:36:03):
I've been I've been meaning to get over to that
Chicago place and they'll try it out.
Speaker 3 (02:36:07):
Yeah it's fine, Yeah, okay the box.
Speaker 16 (02:36:09):
So you just turned into Matt Thomas, right, because when
you take an establishment from a city that is known
for making the thing properly and bring it down to
the southeastern region of the United States, it's not going.
Speaker 3 (02:36:21):
To hit the same well it is it. Here's the thing.
Go ahead, I said, like pizza.
Speaker 4 (02:36:25):
Oh, pizza again, pizza is beyond better up North I
don't want to hear from anybody, Like there's one pizza
place that I trust around this area, and it's not
even in spitting distance to what I get from what
I get in New York.
Speaker 2 (02:36:35):
Here's the thing, all right, Like it's kind of like
college football. Food's the same way. I mean, we're known
for text mex we're known for barbecue here. So if
you come here, you're gonna get text Mexic, gonna get barbecued. Right,
I'm not going to you. You go up to the Northeast,
you're gonna get Italian food. Like the comfort food up
there is like everybody you know, go back up the home.
They're like, oh, I'm going to get Italian. I'm going
to get pizza.
Speaker 3 (02:36:54):
Of course. Well they make it.
Speaker 4 (02:36:55):
Better up there too. To begin with, they never send
the recipes down here. They tell you it's the water.
That's what they tell you. I actually do believe that. Surprisingly,
I actually will agree with you on that one. I
think it does it because the one that's what they'll
tell you. With that.
Speaker 2 (02:37:07):
So anyway, Matt Thomas and food takes and him and
Ross just roasting each other for the next four hours.
That's the same It's the same thing every single day,
and we love them for it.
Speaker 4 (02:37:16):
Nick grib Lover, he's right, because if it's the best
sandwich that's available out of fast food.
Speaker 3 (02:37:20):
Place, ribs have bones in them, all right. So that's
that's that's chicken wings.
Speaker 4 (02:37:25):
But apparently it's okay to call them boneless wings and
not flavored chicken nuggets.
Speaker 3 (02:37:28):
Who cares, I'll eat them either way.
Speaker 2 (02:37:31):
Seven one, three, two, two, five, seven ninety is the
number to get in, and you want to get in
for the last couple of minutes. Texans, of course, a
huge shout out to Cynthia Freeland NFL Network for hopping
on with us. But the Texan's going to be back
on the practice field tomorrow and the Astros and the
rest of baseball at the winter meetings in Orlando.
Speaker 3 (02:37:48):
Let you know if any deals come down.
Speaker 2 (02:37:50):
Cowboys Lions was the most watched Thursday night football game
in Prime Video era. Nineteen point thirty nine million viewers
tuned in to watch the Lions beat the Cowboys. So again,
oh man, I'm so tired of the Cowboys. Well, America isn't, unfortunately,
so you get more of the Cowboys. Pretty much every
(02:38:12):
single game did you know that Troy Aikman nearly walked
away from broadcasting.
Speaker 3 (02:38:18):
When was this.
Speaker 2 (02:38:19):
This was the two thousand and six Super Bowl, so
that Giants and that Patriots Super Bowl. He called the
game with Joe Buck, and he thought that that was
the greatest game that he could ever call. And he
felt empty, he said, and he nearly walked away from
calling any more games.
Speaker 4 (02:38:36):
So he was gonna go out on top or he
felt empty calling the game like that he wasn't doing
a good job.
Speaker 2 (02:38:41):
I just I think he felt like that, you know,
he'd kind of peeked at that point and that it
was never necessarily going to get any better for him.
Speaker 4 (02:38:48):
Maybe I will say the thing that has always been
on my mind when it comes to when it comes
to Akman, he's a perfect pairing with Troy, I mean
with Buck. So when there was the conversation about him
I'm leaving to go to ESPN, I actually did worry
about Troy Aikman. I thought he'd the one year and
then retire. But they make a great duo. And thankfully
he didn't retire because if I still love the two
(02:39:10):
that they show up on ESPN.
Speaker 2 (02:39:11):
He said this on Sports Media with Richard Deitsch, tremendous
super Bowl, great historic game.
Speaker 3 (02:39:16):
After the game, didn't know that.
Speaker 2 (02:39:19):
I don't know that I ever felt more empty than
I did at that moment in my life, and I
just thought, Wow, this is how I feel, and maybe
am I in the wrong profession?
Speaker 3 (02:39:28):
Well, good for all of us. He decided he wasn't,
and he's really good at it.
Speaker 2 (02:39:32):
He's Cole Thompson, Triple Emmanuel Elmore, Dan Matthews. It is
the Morning Drive with Dan and Cole. Sports Talk seven ninety,
The Matt Thomas Show with Ross coming up next.
Speaker 3 (02:39:40):
We'll talk to you in twenty hours.
This is the morning Drive with Dad and Cole.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Texans still off from the practice field. Because Cole, if
you watched Jamiico Ryant's speech, that's what I had everybody
dancing in the locker room where he said, I'll see
you on Wednesday. So yesterday today Texans players. Nice little
off days.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
That's nice. I don't know what a Wednesday is? You don't.
You don't know what a Wednesday is? No, I know
what that is on the show.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Oh yeah, I'm not even gonna remotely open that show
out of curiosity.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
What's a Wednesday? Nona is also? No, no, no, don't
yep yep? What is it? Two against one? Buddy walking
to the show. Great? I mean you guys think by attrition,
you you're just gonna get me over to your side
numbers that we're going to call it hump numbers.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
So we're gonna go ahead and guarantee you win because
we have a bet going on right now. So we're
actually both rooting for each other because that way, win
triply ends to paying me a six pack of beer.
I'll bring him in some doughnuts so you can celebrate
with me. That's the case. I mean, you cant sit
over here by yourself.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
And that was the the bet that you guys have
for a week from Saturday when Oklahoma and Alabama take
on each other. You Friday night, are are a yellow
hammer from uh from from Alabama. And of course Triple
Lee is a Oklahoma guy. So you know that's that's
the bet you guys have going on. Uh he's got
breakfast on it from his end, and you've got a
(01:28):
six pack of uh the stuff from Spezil Brewing right there.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
In uh In in south central Texas.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
I mean, most people just call it shining Back. But
good job I'm being able to point out the careery.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Well it's a great name. I just it's it's a
fun word to say, so I say it. I've never been.
I've always wanted to go. I've heard good things, so
maybe one of these days I'll do that. But oh yeah, yeah,
numerous dude, Okay, like Bluebell in the Museum of Natural
History or Natural Science are like the in the Zoo.
Those are the three easy field trips for schools if
(01:59):
you grew up in this area.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
Bluebell was a field trip in the sum I never
we never went to Blue Belt. Yeah, we went to
blue Bell and I went numerous times. We did the
zoo and we did natural history, and that was it
the only thing that we have on a regular occurrence.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Right right.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
And then I mean, like I said, the zoo was
in there. We did the Oil Ranch. I we did
a lot, we did what the Oil Ranch?
Speaker 3 (02:21):
What even is that?
Speaker 2 (02:22):
It was like a huge pumpkin patch that they had,
like I think it was in Waller.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Oh god, oh god. What else is on the news today?
An oil ranch? God, it's just the name of the ranch.
That's all. That's all it was. It's like the King Ranch.
The King Ranch is like a restaurant that's made for steaks. Well, no,
it's an actual ranch that is very profitable.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
Is it a restaurant like right up the street King Ranch, Bovine.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Or whatever the crap it is? Well, I mean, yeah, no,
there's there. There is that.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
It's it's owned by Landry's. But I mean you also
have the leather as part of the King Ranch edition
of Ford f one fifties and Numero others. And it
was even prominently mentioned on Yellowstone where they were talking
about trying to monetize the Yellowstone Ranch there, and I
remember John Dutton was.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Like make it like the King Ranch in Texas.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
Chargers win last night and overtime and the Ashers are
interested in getting in another pitchers.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
There we go, There you go.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Those are just some of the headlines of today and
also too, like I mentioned the Texans. You know, I
think that you know, that's where we get started this morning,
is what the Texans is. Now we find out just
how locked in this team is because it's one of
those that it's like the old times of the college
football playoff. You lose one game, then you got to
go on a run, and it feels like that's what
(03:39):
Texans have to do right here, is that the early
part of the season has now made them have to
go on a run. Like let's just say, in an
ideal world, in this scenario, you win that Monday night
against Tampa Bay and you've got that one, and maybe
you win that Jacksonville game, so you're one in two,
two and one.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
You're something like that.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Right now, I mean, we could have been talking about
a team at this point coal that would be very
much in position to be playing for one of those
top two spots with the.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
Ten and three with an opportunity to finish the year
off fourteen and three, fourteen and three would have an
absolute guarantee that you were a top two seat in
my opinion.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
So you know, it's it's weird to think and me
and you were talking before the show and if you
want to get in someone three two one two five
seven ninety that the Texans have.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
They ever had twelve wins in a regular season. Yes,
one time underneath Bill O'Brien.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Okay, so it was, you know, one of those because
I was trying to remember if twenty twelve, I think
they were on pace to have an outstanding season, and
then December kind of got away from them and they
went back to wild card weekend and playing that very
first game on that Saturday as they normally do.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
But my bad wasn't It wasn't Bill O'Brien. It was
Garret Kubiak twelve. So it was that season, yeah, okay,
so it was the wild card round and they lost
in the divisional round of the Patriots at defense player
of the year.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Okay, right, right, So I mean you just had New
England having an outstanding season and was I think Denver
was the other one too, because I remember that was
the playoffs where the Ravens went out there.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
That was the That was the race, That was the mirror.
That was the miracle run by the Ravens. That was
the hobball ball.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Right, so you had that season, but I mean, aside
from that, still you won the division easily that year.
And now it's weird to think that they could win
twelve games, not even win the division, and not even
put themselves in position to do exactly what Will Anderson
Junior said they needed to do when they were cleaning
(05:35):
out lockers last year, which was, Hey, divisional round, we
need to finally get one of those games here. Because
we get one here, then we feel like we ain't
losing it.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
I feel like you have to be the top three seed,
which means you have to win the division, because I
am guaranteeing right now that you will see the two
seed loose the seventh seed. If the seventh seed is
the Buffalo Bills, Buffalo can still fall down, lose a
little bit of traction. They will get in as a
wild card spot. But you're telling me Josh Allen versus
Bone Nicks in Denver. Sorry, guys, I don't care how
bad the defense is for Buffalo. Josh Allen's winning that
(06:06):
football game. You tell me, New England ends up falling
short and they get the number two seed. New England
is losing that football game because they've never been there
before underneath this current regime. So you need to be
at least the three seed to guarantee you're hosting a
second playoff game at home, and right now, the only
way that happens is if you get a little bit
of help, which also kind of sucks because of that
(06:27):
probably means that Denver gets the number one seed. Jacksonville
scheduled to close out the year Jets Broncos at Colds
home against Titans. They are going to win three of
those games. So the only way to wear you guarantee
that you get to keep pace with Jacksonville is if
you have that Broncos loss, because then I think about this, Dan,
You both lost the Broncos. Therefore the head to head
doesn't matter. You both have a win against each other,
(06:50):
so common opponent for yourself. It's one to one, what's
the next day to point, strength of schedule and strength
of margin of victory. Texans win that one, okay, So
right now, if they were tied at twelve and five,
should get the division title. Therefore Jacksonville would be the
five seeds. So Jacksonville would play against whoever is the
AFC North winner. You would play the six seed, more
than likely the Los Angeles Chargers, who again last night,
(07:12):
looked pathetic on offense.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Dude, it was bad.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
Like Jalen Hurts had four interceptions, there were five turners
in Philadelphia and they still need overtime to shut out Philly.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Well, do you believe in that team in the Chargers? Yes, no, no, no, no.
I mean that's one of those games that you should
be able to if you play the way that you're
capable of playing, win that game. But speaking of that,
with Jalen Hurts making NFL history for the wrong reason
last night, two turnovers on one play.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
That was hysterical. That was hysterical.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
I'm sitting here and I'm like, there's no way that
Troy di is getting that ball back.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Oh no, there it is.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
And then you don't even get it. Then you barely
find your way into the end zone if you're Los Angeles.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
My favorite part of that too is you know you
get the interception initially and was it was it a
defensive line so it was a defensive lineman, and I
always love whenever big guys get the football. Like I'm
trying to remember the offensive lineman he he had played
at TCU, and he picked up a fumble and tried
(08:15):
to run it and he got up ended. He was
shoe soles over you know, Watts as he got hit
and did a front flip.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Damn near faumbled football.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
My favorite play still in the last five years has
been the Robert Hunt play where he goes flying through
the air and still comes up short for a touchdown.
I mean, that's that still is my favorite play in
the NFL, because it takes a whole lot of heat
to be able to make a three and fifty pounds
man do.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
A front flip. Well, I mean, that's that's why.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
You know, earlier this season when the Eagles had that
blocked field goal against the Rams and Jordan Davis ran
it back for a touchdown. And of course, if you
had action on that game, not saying I did, but
if you had action on that game, you're yelling at
the screen, just go down, just go down.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
But then I have to remember, no, no, no, no, no no.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
When when offensive or defensive lineman get a chance to
make a play.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
They're going to try to make a play.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
Why wouldn't you, like Oesley, this is your fifteen seconds
of being the hero of the game. Absolutely go for
the play. And we all want to see a fat
man touchdown. Like I'm telling you, I would rather see
a fat man touchdown than a full back touchdown any day.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
Not even close to being a fat guy.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
But probably the most impressive one of all time had
to be the Super Bowl with what's his name the
Pittsburgh Steelers James James Harrison hit with.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
With a ninety nine return and he was clearly out
of breath bats time I got the thirty yard.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Night and then almost out of nowhere, here comes Larry Fitzgerald,
who damn near saves the day.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
I'm sorry.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
Like when he got the thirty yard line, every Arizona
player should have realized he's about to pass out.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Let's just take.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
Out his legs. He'll fumble the football, we'll get it back,
we'll return it. At that point, and then Larry tries
to jump on the back and be like the hero
of like Arizona. Dude, he's not going to wait. Distribution
is not helping you in this standpoint. Go for the knee,
Go clip him, get him out of here, because then
he's gonna fumble the ball and.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
You get it right back.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Well, and of course last night, yeah, I mean you
have that play where if you missed it, I mean,
I'm not sure how you could at this point, but
you get the interception, then he fumbles and then Jalen
hurts for like a millisecond, picks the football up, but
he gets clocked right and then he gets smoked and
the football which it almost made it out of bounds.
(10:31):
So at that point then it would have been eagle
ball because he was the last one to half possession
of it. But the Chargers able to get on top
of it. But they win on Monday Night twenty two
to nineteen. And as Cole mentioned, the Texan's going to
see them here in a few weeks. But with that
game last night, now you've got the Chargers. I mean,
they're kind of in the same situation the Texans are,
(10:52):
where they're not going to catch Denver, so they could
very easily finish the season twelve and five, just like
the Texan. So you you could conceivably have at least
two teams at twelve and five.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
You gonna have four teams be twelve and five or
thirteen of four. I mean, it's just nuts to think.
And two of them are gonna be wild card teams
in the even more nuts to think.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Part of this is that one of the toughest divisions
in football is the one that's going to squeak in
in the AFC North.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
Yeah, but it's squeaking in because if that's how incompetence
several spots are on certain position groups. Therefore, it makes
it more challenging because like if you told me that
we see Lamar Jackson having an MVP year, like we're
so accustomed seeing they won the division easily, there's no
question about it. If you don't lose Joe Burrow for
almost three months, I.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Think that at least they're still in the hut.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
I mean, like technically they're not eliminated because they're four
and that they're eliminated, Like for all intense purposes, they're eliminated.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
Pittsburgh.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
They're defense is taking a massive step back from what
has been the customers underneath Mike Tomlin, but they're finding
ways to win in just dumb Tom Woolery fashion, and
the officials kind of helping them out and then Cleveland sucks.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
So like, if one of these teams.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
Just had competent play at quarterback for an entire season,
they would be running away with this division. The tougher
division right now is the AFC East and the AFC West,
And I don't even think it's even that tough because
I still think that there's fools goals when it comes
to New England, there's fools goal when it comes to Denver.
And to an certain standpoint, Los Angeles isn't a good
(12:27):
football team. I'm so yeah, they're nine to four, but like,
you can't sell me on the idea that you're this
elite team when you need overtime to beat a team
that give you five opportunities to capitalize on turnovers and
you lose to the freaking Jaguars with Trevor Lawrence is
your starting quarterback, Like, I don't believe in you as
a legit threat to win anything this year.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Yeah, I mean, and you know one of the other
teams that's part of this is a team that you
beat the Buffalo Bills where they've got the Patriots, Browns, Eagles,
and Jets to finish out the season. So Buffalo also
could find themselves. You could have all three wildcard teams
at twelve and five, where normally ten wins nine wins
(13:09):
makes you a wildcard team, but this is a year
in the AFC where they're like, no, that's not good enough.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
If the Texans were to lose to Los Angeles and
then they went on out, but Los Angeles loses every
game minus the Texans, I mean they went out for
the tech. For the Chargers, they would be thirteen to four,
and they would be the wildcard seed because right now,
Denver would still have the tiebreaker. So even at thirteen
and four, Denver would be the number one seed and
they would end up having the same record as the
(13:35):
five seed.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
It's crazy to think that's for sure, all right, the
Texans heading into the final four games of their regular season.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
We'll get into that next.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
But also too, there's some good newsy notes from the
winter meetings in Orlando and the Astros. Will a deal
be made today or in the coming days. We'll get
into that as well, and more to get to as well.
But for the Texans, with this spot, a chance for
a get right for a part of the team that
really needs it. Maybe so we'll talk about it right
(14:09):
here as we're just getting going on a Tuesday, it's
the Morning Drive Dan and Cole Sports Talks seven ninety.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
The Morning Drive with Dann and Cole on Sports Talk
seven ninety, home of the Strolls, Rockets and Houston's best
sports talk.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
You'll have the Bear Bryant Awards here, which of course
are our station will be featured over there for that
and you'll be hearing from whoever is in town for
that too. So college football fans rejoice in that regard
seven one three two one two five seven ninety is
the number two get in. This is the Texans offense
that really could use a soft landing spot here in
(14:49):
these next few weeks, and they just might get it, Cole,
because a passing game that really needs to be able
to have a good performance c J. Stroud, especially after
Sun could really use a good performance.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Well, here's the good news.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
On Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals bring the twentieth out of
thirty two worst or the twentieth defense in terms of
defending the pass in the NFL, giving up two hundred
nineteen point six yards per game and the total defense
as a whole.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
They are nineteenth.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
And this is a team too that seemingly has a
head coach dead man walking there. They just got absolutely
boat raced by the La Rams.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
Jonathan Gannon is a dead man walking when he has
to play with Jacoby Paid as his quarterback.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
That's what it seems like.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
I don't think that he's a dead man walking yet.
You think that the Cardinals are going to keep him.
I think that there's going to be a conversation we had,
because let's just be real. When he decided to sign
off to be the Cardinals head coach, he was stuck
with Kyler Murray. Now Manti Austin for is going to
have an opportunity to draft a quarterback, and he may
allow John the.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
Gain to have a say in it.
Speaker 5 (15:54):
Now.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
The problem here, though, Dan, is that we see this
happen all the time in Chicago, where Chicago will bring
in a new quarterback under a previous regime, they'll fire
the current regime about to keep the current quarterback for
the new regime to come on in. Then they'll get
rid of the quarterback, and then they'll bring in a
new quarterback. But then the new regime that was in
for the old quarterback is now out and they bringing
a new regime for that quarterback. So the question is
do you just hit reset with Many Austin for It
(16:16):
and Jonathan Gannon to let them bring in a new quarterback,
or do you keep both because at some point you
can either hit reason on everything and it's a brand
new coach, a brand new GM, and a brand new
quarterback all working together, or you're eventually gonna have a
GM that comes on into replace Money Austin for It
after he has retained to joath the Gannon is fired,
(16:36):
but he may not like the quarterback that you just drafted.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Usually the GM gets the benefit of the doubt first,
like they're the one that gets to sacrifice the head coach,
and then you know, you hire another one and all right,
now we finally got it right.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
You know, me and me and this guy work a
lot better together.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
But I always view it as the first person in
line is the usually oldest and they have the late
least amount of for error. So Jonathan Gannon being the
first higher over Money Austin fort He's in. Then it
would be Many then after well, actually it's Kyler. Kyler's
is on the total pole first, so he's out. We
already know he's going to be playing in Pittsburgh next year,
and the constant carousel and mediocrity of quarterbacks that have
(17:14):
been is going to go to the Steel City. Then
you lose Jathangannon, it both throughout, then Manias supports on
the shopping black for twenty twenty six.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
All right, I mean, and it's also too. I mean,
it kind of depends on the organization that you're dealing with, too.
And I mean the Cardinals haven't necessarily been like one
of the most dysfunctional, but they haven't been one of
the most successful, so depending on how the bid Wells
handle that.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
But they're three and ten heading into this game.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
That was my worst prediction of the year, that you
thought that they were gonna be much better than they really.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
I thought they would be a wild card team.
Speaker 4 (17:45):
I thought that they would can I thought they would
have the season that Seattle had last year, where good
enough offensively, compartable defensively, ten and seven, maybe missing the playoffs,
but like the first team out.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
That was my opinion of the team this year.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Well, and I mean this is a team also too
that you know, you get to this point in the
season and when you're out of the playoffs. I mean
at that point, there's two fold when it comes to
players in that locker room. Number one, it's we're fighting
for jobs because well, we don't know if the head
coach is going to be here. We don't know who
is going to be here. So the chances are I
won't be here because well, they're going to be looking
(18:20):
for younger and better players than me. But I think
the other point of pride is, hey, we can knock
those guys out of the playoffs. So I mean, you know,
just with with everything that you have in front of
you as a team, you got Arizona this weekend, you
got the Raiders f the following weekend.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
I mean, we always know what the Raiders are. They're
a mess and they continue to be that this year.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
But then I mean, you got the Chargers and then
you finish up the season against a Colts team, who oh,
we're going to talk about them next because man, you
want to talk about a dirt road right now? In Indianapolis.
Speaker 4 (18:57):
Raiders currently are the fifteenth defense in totally allowed, there's
seventeenth in passing defense, they're fifteenth against the run. That
they are twenty fifth in twenty sixth in points to
a lot per game, third down conversion success rate twenty
second in the league, and they are thirtieth in red
zone efficiency.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
So that's average.
Speaker 4 (19:12):
I mean, just just straight outside the red zone efficiency
where they are going to allow a lot of points
to be scored once you get inside the twenty.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
They're average in every single sense. And that's just it.
I mean, you know they have no offense, that's the thing.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
So it's a moot point because of if you hold
them to zero, you need three game over well.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
And it's also too, I mean, you know you got
Max Crosby over there, and you know their defense is
exactly as I said, it's average. And I think this
Texans offense can be able to put up points against
an average defense, whereas the Arizona Cardinals are below average.
Speaker 4 (19:46):
So you're saying that in the Cardinals game, because we
just watched Los Angeles hang forty five on them, Houston
should be able to hang thirty.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
Boy, I'll tell you what you hang thirty, you do backflips.
If they hung.
Speaker 4 (19:59):
Thirty, would you say that they are now in the
conversation for a top two seed.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
They hung thirty, I at least would have confidence in
them as a three year wildcard heading into the playoffs, I.
Speaker 4 (20:12):
Would say congratulations. It reminds me a lot of that
game against Baltimore. Probably fools Gold. Not to be petty,
because again I think that the Texans will make the
playoffs this year. I think they will either be a
wildcard team or they will get the three seed, because
the three seed is going to the AFC South.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
But do you.
Speaker 4 (20:29):
Remember that game against the Ravens. Nine starters defensively were out.
It was unfair, Like that's quite literally what you got
right now when it comes to Arizona, except their starters
are in and they still suck.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
But I think that there is power though in I
mean having false confidence. I mean I'd be for this
offense having false confidence to then carry it into other
games where they're like, no, no, no, hey, we can protect CJ.
We can get him going, we can get this running
game going well enough. Cody Schrader, by the way, added
(20:59):
to this team, which, of course Nick Chubb went down
with the rib injury yesterday. So the former Miszoo running
back might be finding himself getting meaningful carries alongside what
he marks.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
He will be finding himself on the inactive list come
one Sunday afternoon.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
So that's what it is. They added in Yakub.
Speaker 4 (21:16):
They got rid of Yakub Johnson because if they have
British Birks that can play the fullback spot and now
they need to fill a roster place for the fifty
three on the forty six, he will be a healthy
scratch come Sunday.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
We know that mister shortyard it Daria Goomble Walley can
make plays happen.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
Now.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
Uh, Like I said, nobody has allowed to talk negatively
about Dara Goomble Walley for the rest of the year,
so I will shut my mouth on that one.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
Yeah, take that, haters with a Z. All right, So haters,
this is the reality.
Speaker 4 (21:42):
By the way, when it comes to sack totals, where
do you think the Arizona Cardinals.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
Rank bottom twn or top ten? Bottom ten?
Speaker 4 (21:47):
Yeah, they're number six in the league. They have twenty
four sacks in the year, tied with the Chicago Bears
and one end of the kan See Chiefs. So naturally
that means this is going to be the Walter Nolan game,
because it was Chris. It was the Chris Jones games
last week. So Walton, No one, start claiming for your
case for Defensive Vicky of the Year, Buddy.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
Well, but I also think that's an offensive line that
would like to be able to regain some pride after
last week's game. Because last week's was it was a
little rough for that offensive line.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
Little dude. I went back and I looked at PFF's references.
Speaker 4 (22:20):
CJ. Stroud had thirty nine dropbacks. He was pressured on
thirty eight of them. He had one play of a
clean pocket. Thirty of them came from ed Ingram. It
was single handedly the worst game I've seen with the
interior offensive line all year. And this was against a
team that couldn't generate a pass rush for three straight
weeks before they faced off against you.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
So I mean they they're due to be able to
have a good bounce back.
Speaker 4 (22:43):
Or or this is where the dam breaks and lo
and behold that nineteen sacks allowed going into the game.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
Hey, now we're just gonna double it in the last
four matchup of the year. Why don't you be positive?
Col w Onon't you have some faith?
Speaker 5 (22:52):
Come?
Speaker 4 (22:53):
I have some faith that the Texans are going to
win out and finish twelve and five. I still think
the offensive line is a turnst alan in a factory
of sadness.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
I do, well, it's not a factory of sadness for
the most part offensively here, but that can't be the
same said for somebody else in the AFC South and Well,
that saga continues to take an interesting turn. We'll discuss
that right here as we keep it going on the
Morning Drive with Dan and Cole Sports SOX seven ninety Houston.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
It's your home team, man, lifelong as fan here anytime anywhere,
I love your home team.
Speaker 5 (23:28):
We'll go to rock and we go.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
Just tell your smart device Spice Sports Top seven ninety
on iHeart.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Radio playing Sports Talk seven ninety on iHeartRadio. Cole, it's
funny enough, thought about it last night.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
It's only about two months away, like about a month
and a half away from spring training.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
We sucked paratas as you're starting second basement, first basement
and Christian Walker out the door, e Separades is in
training spring training elsewhere.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
Glad you said that, because seven o'clock hour, we're going
to have some of that.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
Because Joe Spata speaking yesterday both with MLB Network and
also with the media as a whole, so he spoke
on all those things.
Speaker 4 (24:02):
No, no, no, no, we're doing Philip Rivers right now. I
don't want to Philip Rivers.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
Why not? Why? Okay? Okay?
Speaker 4 (24:09):
For anybody who doesn't know, Philip Rivers is forty four
years old and is a grandfather, also having a toddler
for his youngest son, is now training to become the
quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts after the Daniel Jones injury.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
Yeah, so Adam Schefter had the news yesterday that Jones
is out for the season and Riley Leonard is week
to week with a stray knee ligament. Yeah, that's what
it is when you suck and the Colts are going
to work out Philip Rivers today. Why, Well, actually it
was it was Ian Rappaport and Tom Pelsaro that had
it first. But still why but because you don't have
really anyone else or I mean maybe the thought is
(24:44):
because he was He wasn't with Stiking. He was before Stiking, right, right,
So I mean he was before him and that was
where they had like that little bit of all right,
let's try Philip Rivers, let's try Matt Ryan. And then
they were like, okay, let's just draft a quarterback and
draft the wrong one. You forgot yourself in this situation.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
You forgot.
Speaker 4 (25:02):
They also give away a first round pick to the
Philadelphia Eagles to guarantee that Carson Wentz would come in here,
only to not make it to the playoffs, just like
they trade away two first round picks to the Northeast Region,
once again to guarantee that they would not make the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
I'll tell you what Chris Ballard, I mean, he's trying
everything possible at quarterbacks, but I will.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
Appreciate the fact that he swung, and he swung for
an Anthony Richardson type player because of all the intangibles
were there. He struck out. Dude, I'm going to strike
out a quarterback, and you miss when it comes to
the constant carousels of aging quarterbacks that are no longer
able to be starters. Going back to Philip Rivers is
already the nail on the coffin in your tenure.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
The only time that I think I've seen something like
this was remember when both Matt Schaub and Matt Lioner
got hurt here and you were just to TJ Yates
And I'll never forget it. They first signed Jake delom
who I remember that got signed, came to Houston and
in that Cajun act, was like, hey, you know what
(26:02):
if I was done playing, I was fine with that.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
I was all good.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
But I think he was on his horse farm there
in Louisiana got the call and was like, sure, I'll
show up. And then it gets even better because they
signed a guy who looked like grandpa in Jeff Garcia
came in there full gray. I mean, you remember Jeff
Garcia when he was making things happen for the forty
(26:27):
nine ers. But I remember he walked into the locker
room and I was just like, oh my god, Like,
this is really what they're relegated to is signing an
aged Jeff Garcia. So the moral of the story is, kids,
if you can throw a football halfway, well keep throwing
a football.
Speaker 4 (26:47):
So you said that Jeff Garcia came in looking like
a grandpa, right, uh huh Okay, Well, the Indianapolis Colts
are bringing in Philip Rivers, who quite literally just became
a grandpa.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
He really did. I'm not joking on that. His oldest
child just became a father. Oh my god. The one
who was in that.
Speaker 4 (27:02):
Draft room with him in two thousand and four just
became a father. That guy is now gonna start and
try to save the Colt season. Brother, what are we
doing in Indianapolis? I get it, you struggle, you need
a quarterback, you feel like that this season should not
be lost. But let me ask you from the standpoint
of Philip Rivers. I mean, don't get me wrong. You
(27:22):
get paid money to go play a game for basically fun.
I take that ten times out of ten. But dude,
I'm gonna be making so many grandpa jokes about calling
AARP and using the life alert whenever Will Anderson or
Josh Heinz Allen sacks your ass the You're gonna have
to hit the button.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
Help. I fallen and I can't get up.
Speaker 4 (27:42):
I mean, quite literally, do you really also want to
hit reset on your Hall of Fame resume? Because remember Dan,
the Hall of Fame just came out with the statement,
if Philip Rivers plays one down, not a game, one
down a year from when he's able to be on
the Hall of Fame, ballot out gotta recept five years.
Speaker 3 (28:01):
Is it worth it?
Speaker 2 (28:02):
I mean, I think that he probably looks sat at
as he's gonna be one of those guys going in
when he's in his sixties or maybe even seventies in
the first place, So I mean, maybe the competitive juices
still flow for him.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
Seven one three, two one two five seven ninety. Is
it worth Grandpa Rivers coming on into the shoe to
guarantee a losing season for Indianapolis go ahead of a show.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
And it's one of those two that you almost wonder
if there would be a little bit of mutual respect
from defenses of like, man, I don't want to hit
this guy killing him.
Speaker 4 (28:31):
I want to be the reason why he is never
able to walk again. Yes, I want to act that
way because that's the way that the mindset goes when
you play defense. I feel that way about twenty five
year old quarterbacks. You think that for one second, I
got a forty year old coming out here who hasn't
been in the league in four years and wants to say, oh,
I could still play this young whipper snapper game. No, Grandpa,
(28:52):
I'm gonna make sure that you go ahead and meet
the grim Reaper. That's the guarantee for me.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
I just worry for Rivers. I mean, you know, it's
one of those that do. Why do you worry for rivers.
Speaker 4 (29:03):
If he's willing to throw his body out on the line,
he's willing to go out in the blades of glory.
Like honestly, I commend him for wanting to die on
the football field, because that's what's going to happen.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
The thing when he's got like ten kids, Like you said,
he just became a grandpa, and he's got kids from
like like from toddlers, like all.
Speaker 4 (29:20):
The way to Yeah, I think the youngest one is
a seven year old. I think the youngest one is
a seven year old and he's a grandpa.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
Philip. You don't need this, man, you don't need it.
You're going to be Apple sauce for different reasons.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
They stay in mobile, keep coaching your high school football.
Speaker 4 (29:35):
Well they've done for the years. He's pretty free. Okay,
then go.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
I mean you've got a full plate, as is Philip.
You don't need this. You can create your own football team.
You don't need to join one, buddy.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
I mean, look, you know, kind of like the Texas
Bowl and elis using it again. They finally had to
turn the John Jay John Trey Kirkland to play quarterback.
I mean, just finally, just go just go out kat
with Johnson Taylor.
Speaker 4 (29:59):
At this point, that's a better game plan than what
you currently have because you're already running a wildcat with
the Riley Leonard, who, by the way, is not playing
in this game this week.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
He's not saying I thought he said that he was
week tweek. But I mean the belief that I that
I saw from one of the reports is that he
would play, that this would be strictly as a backup.
Speaker 4 (30:19):
You know what, Actually, at this point, Skirt, I want
to see Philip Rivers playing this game.
Speaker 3 (30:23):
I want to see him come out of retirement. I
want him to throw.
Speaker 4 (30:26):
Away four years of waiting to be on the ballot
to go to Canton, Ohio. I want to see him
strapping on up where that number seventeen and then be
carted off the field in a body bag because if
he thought that he could still play football. And I
love Philip Rivers, Philip Rivers, I can.
Speaker 3 (30:42):
Clearly tell from everything that you just said right there.
Speaker 4 (30:44):
Because of why Because I realized that at some point
the game has passed us by, and you still want
to act like that at forty four years old and
four years away that you are going to be able
to make this work.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
Maybe I'm the optimist. Maybe maybe I'm the one that
wants to have a great story here. Cole, Now I
would love to see a great story.
Speaker 4 (31:01):
Grandpa tries to send a Disney movie plot, ends up
going in tragedy fashion, ends up having in tragic fashion period.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
No, No, I think it's the other way around.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
It's Grandpa comes out of retirement and Grandpa leads the
team to the playoffs, which won't happen. But I'm saying
it's one of those that again kind of like, you know,
he thinks that probably the Hall of Fame will come
later for him in his career, that maybe you could
let a lot of years pass and you could take
some creative licensing with the story a little bit, where
then people, of course that are football fans could be like, no,
(31:34):
that's not how that happened. But then for the most
part they're like, well, most of our audience has no
idea to watch that, And it's a movie that's based
on a true story. That's how they that's how they
always get away with it, based on a truth.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
Sure, watch that crap Kurt Warner movie that came on
out can't say I did well. I can tell you
the Philip Rivers story is going to be ten times worse.
Speaker 2 (31:54):
What about the one that had all like Bridget Fonda
and all them for Tom Brady?
Speaker 4 (32:01):
That was even a football movie. The the the entire
premise of that movie was, there are a bunch of
old broads that are going to go watch Tom Brady
play a football game because I wanted them.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
Those are your elders. Why don't you have some respect?
Speaker 4 (32:12):
No, I do not have respect for my elders, just
like I don't expect Will Anderson to have respect for
Philip Rivers.
Speaker 3 (32:17):
If they are to meet on the football field.
Speaker 4 (32:18):
The only respect that he is going to get is
a complete and total ass whooping and then put in.
Speaker 3 (32:22):
A body bag and play with that.
Speaker 4 (32:27):
I don't know why I'm the way I am, but
you know what now I want to see a murder
on the football field. To be fantastic, get the ratings
through it all the time high.
Speaker 2 (32:36):
That makes one of you all right, son one here? Well, no, no, no, no,
we're we're both fun. I'm just you know, I just
I just.
Speaker 3 (32:44):
We're selling it. Dan.
Speaker 4 (32:45):
I'm the one that is excited to see someone die
on an actual I just.
Speaker 3 (32:50):
Want to see somebody be able to enjoy the rest
of their life.
Speaker 4 (32:52):
To be completely fun, to be fair, to watch Daniel
Tosha's joke come true about a football player always going
back and staying alive and dying on the field and
going out and plays the glory. I now want this
for him. Well, maybe finally he could actually have a
joke that hit on the punchline.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
All right, so let's get in a little bit of
college football, because well Notre Dame just is the storyline
that won't go away, and fuel was added to the
fire yesterday.
Speaker 3 (33:20):
We'll have that for you right here as we continue.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
It is the Morning Drive with Dan and Coles Sports
Talk at seven to ninety. Let's talk a good friend,
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then you got to kind of amend the way that
you say things. I tell you all the time, don't
waste your time shopping for close at the brick and
mortar stores well, because they're going to become a brick
(34:04):
and mortar because coming soon, Kobe Stevens Apparel is going
to be opening their first ever brick and mortar store.
Speaker 3 (34:11):
It's going to be in Spring on Luetta Road.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
Stay tuned a Kobe Stevens dot com for sneak peaks,
opening dates and more details to come on when that
store is going to be online. So until then you
can continue online and even when the brick and mortar
is available, the online option is always there and we
always know that we want to cheat be able to
try to avoid that Houston traffic as much as possible,
and that's what you can do when you head on
(34:35):
over to Kobe Stephens dot com. That's Kobe Stephens dot com,
Cobby Stephens dot com, cob Y Stevens with a VS
at the end, Kobe Stevens dot Com, Kobe Stevens Apparel.
Speaker 1 (34:47):
They are on Morning Drive. Here's Dan Matthews and Cole Thompson.
Speaker 4 (34:54):
I'm just making sure that they're prepared to pick up
a body at Luminfield.
Speaker 3 (34:57):
Oh, I'm just.
Speaker 4 (34:58):
Making sure it's a six mile drive away from Lewinfield.
I'm just making sure that they're caught in the loop
on what happens.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
I mean, you just assumed that they would be the first, Like,
did you just look up like funeral closest to Liwinfield.
Speaker 3 (35:11):
Within a ten mile radius? Okay, I mean i'd probably
have to think that.
Speaker 2 (35:15):
I mean, I don't know how they do their local
government in Seattle, but you know, maybe like the county
picks them up first, and then you know, you ask
the family like, hey, where do you want to take them?
Speaker 5 (35:22):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (35:22):
Yeah, take them to whatever that funeral home.
Speaker 4 (35:24):
And family salutations on this fine Tuesday morning, and get
ready to meet Lieutenant Rivers.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
I can say that he's Lieutenant Rivers.
Speaker 4 (35:33):
Well it's Captain Andrew Locke on Twitter. Okay, so Lieutenant Rivers.
Speaker 2 (35:36):
And then you've got you know, Lane Kiffin. Somebody has
created a Lane Kiffin one that.
Speaker 3 (35:40):
Like a Civil War one? Yeah, did they really? What
is it? Major Lane?
Speaker 5 (35:44):
No?
Speaker 3 (35:45):
I think it's uh, I think it's General Lane Kiffin.
Speaker 4 (35:48):
Yeah, he's more of a major or colonel. He's he's
not general sergeant. I would say he's sergeant. No, he's
higher than that. He's a little bit higher than that.
I think his ads, you know, at least gone to
lieutenant m Yeah.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
I mean he's probably he's got a little bit of
Maverick in them, like where you know, the the higher
ups aren't aren't a big fan of them, but you know, uh,
the soldiers love him, and the soldiers will go to
work for him.
Speaker 4 (36:11):
So would that make Nick Saban Merlin then? Because if
he was the old cranky guy in the background, now,
I think he'd be the Tom Scarett character.
Speaker 3 (36:18):
Is that Merlin? Is it Merlin? Merlin? Okay, I didn't
know that. Did Tom skirts? Did he fly?
Speaker 1 (36:24):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (36:25):
The movie?
Speaker 2 (36:26):
Okay, I'm just trying to remember. I gotta go back.
So you say you saying I shoul leave top Gun.
I didn't say that. Maverick love that movie all right?
College football wise, Notre Dame boy. I mean, I don't
think that I've ever seen a story that didn't have
someone that was at least a well actually or even
(36:46):
well you know, guys, they kind of have a point here.
It seems like pretty much in Unison that everybody is
dragging Notre Dame for their decision to take their ball
and go home.
Speaker 3 (36:54):
My bad. It was Viper, that was it. Merlin was
played by I think Tim Robbins.
Speaker 2 (36:57):
Okay, all right, yeah, anyway, So Pete Bavaqua is the
ad at Notre Dame and he was on with the
Dan Patrick Show yesterday and of all the people that
they're upset with on Sunday, it was the college Football
playoff themselves, the Committee. Man boy, he definitely took his
chances to take his shots at the committee.
Speaker 3 (37:18):
Well.
Speaker 2 (37:18):
On Monday, it turned to the conference that in football
they have a loose partnership with and our members and
other sports. Here's Pete Bravaqua on sham on you acc We.
Speaker 6 (37:30):
Were mystified by the actions of the conference to attack,
you know, their biggest really business partner in football and
a member of their conference in twenty four of our
other sports. And I would tell you, Dan, I wouldn't
be honest with you if I didn't say that they
have certainly done permanent damage to the relationship between the
(37:51):
conference and Notre Dame. What do you mean, just we
didn't appreciate the fact that we were singled out repeatedly
and compared to Miami not but Miami. Miami has every
right to do that. But it raised a lot of
eyebrows here that the conference was taking shots at us,
and you know, that's just not something we chose to do.
(38:13):
We wouldn't choose to do that in the future, and
people might disagree with us, but that's just not something
that we'd be comfortable with.
Speaker 3 (38:19):
All right.
Speaker 2 (38:20):
So there's a couple of different things that really irked
Bavaqua and Notre Dame from the ACC.
Speaker 3 (38:26):
Because if I was very art here in that conversation, all.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
Right, So the ACC put out a graphic that said
no hypotheticals, just facts. Team A, which was Miami, and
there's a check mark next to it, Team B Notre
Dame at number ten, and then they did a side
by side overall record head to head win loss, top
twenty five wins, FBI top thirty five wins.
Speaker 3 (38:48):
Strength of record according to ESPN, and.
Speaker 2 (38:51):
Then also too, I mean, the ACC doesn't have control
of what goes on the conference network.
Speaker 3 (38:57):
It's ESPN that controls that.
Speaker 2 (39:00):
But remember we mentioned this last week that dozens of
times on Thursday, Friday, heading in the championship weekend, they
replayed the Miami Notre Dame games, So I think that
that was something else that irked Notre Dame about that
of like being like, you're kind of stacking the deck
against us here, you're not necessarily fighting for us, which
look in the case of you know, Jim Phillips and
(39:21):
the ACC, they really look at him and say, look,
if there were basketball, we do it for you. If
this were any other sport, we do it for you.
But you're not a member. You're not a member, Like
you're dipping your toe into the water here. And I've
understood it from Notre Dame's perspective of why they've stayed independent,
but I mean two at the same time, I don't
(39:42):
really know where he gets off coming after them, where
it's you know, we're your biggest business partner, Okay, you
play him five times Like I think they almost look
at it like we're doing charity for you.
Speaker 4 (39:51):
You are basically saying that you are now dating someone else,
but you want to stay in your situationship. But by
the way, the situationship person they can't date any You
got to keep them just adamant to you.
Speaker 3 (40:02):
That's all. It is like you want to have your cake,
you need it too.
Speaker 4 (40:04):
Ladies and gentlemen like may make this clear, I will
never fight for Notre Dame to not be an independent.
I appreciate that Notre Dame is an independent because guess
what they get to create their own schedule, They get
to go about their business. They get to have an
opportunity to schedule games that were never promised Dan.
Speaker 3 (40:19):
They scheduled games against.
Speaker 4 (40:20):
The two worst teams in the ACC and then demanded
that they get representation from the conference. And then what
happened was, Hey, there's only one spot left. Defend us
because we don't play for you in football season. We
only play for you in basketball and track and baseball season.
But defend us here over a team that actually plays
in every single one of your conference games. Oh and
(40:42):
on top of that, let me ask us they won
the head to head. Guys, when data points are so
close to the way that Notre Dame in Miami were,
strength of record, strength the schedule, FPI rankings, margin to victory,
common opponent victories. Guess what, both of you guys beat
the brakes off off of Boston? Both do you beat
the breaks off.
Speaker 3 (41:01):
A pit both.
Speaker 4 (41:02):
Do you beat the breaks off of Stanford? What's left? Hey,
didn't they play a game back in week one?
Speaker 3 (41:08):
Bye? Will it curse?
Speaker 4 (41:09):
Ladies and guys, we have to go back and rewatch
that game from week one?
Speaker 3 (41:12):
Like, how did we miss Hunter your check?
Speaker 4 (41:15):
How did you miss not watching that game from week
one to see who won the game? Like? The entire
reason why nerd AMSB pissed off is that there are
two G five teams in when they're one of the
seven best teams in college football and that they were
left on out but they were told that they were
in for four straight weeks.
Speaker 3 (41:30):
That threes are your piss all right.
Speaker 2 (41:31):
We can cover this as the show goes along, but
the seven o'clock hour beckon, so we'll get into that.
And you know the rules here on the Morning Drive
with Dan and Cole, we've covered it. It's fair game.
Seven one three, two, one two five seven ninety is
the number to get in. So Roger will working into
the conversation. Do you want to get into the astros
conversation too, because a really nice option might have be
(41:52):
might have been presented to the astros. We'll see if
they are able to follow through on it till we
will discuss that as we get into the seven o'clock
hour here on a Tuesday, it is the Morning Drive
with Dana Cole, Sports Talk seven ninety.
Speaker 3 (42:05):
KB Houston, a TV HD two Houston.
Speaker 1 (42:08):
The Astross, the Rockets, Rockets East, Befall your home for
your home teams. This is Sports Talk seven ninety and
iHeartRadio Station guaranteed Human. This is the Morning Drive with
Dadd and Cole.
Speaker 3 (42:33):
We mentioned it.
Speaker 2 (42:34):
Jump on in on it seven one three, two, one
two five seven ninety is the way to get in.
Roger wants to get us going this morning. Good morning, Roger,
I guess so we've got the phones pointed U tripley.
Speaker 3 (42:48):
Do you want to do it or me?
Speaker 5 (42:50):
Yep?
Speaker 3 (42:50):
There you go, Roger, Good morning, Good warning gentlemen.
Speaker 7 (42:54):
Man, how are you gonna be telling big city like that?
Don't makes for live? Get a gold there, put the
points on the board. He's got grandchilder. You got to
put another house on the compound.
Speaker 5 (43:05):
Come on, baby, that's right.
Speaker 3 (43:08):
That's right. The old man's strength is gonna show.
Speaker 4 (43:11):
No, his no, his health, no, his life insurance is
gonna Chla.
Speaker 2 (43:15):
Came back and he took Mason the line Dixon, the distance.
Speaker 3 (43:20):
That's okay, that's a that's a great story.
Speaker 7 (43:23):
Damn, that's a gold reds whole property life, sweat children
on the ground and put points on the board.
Speaker 2 (43:30):
Maybe Antonio Antonio Tarvar Mason the line Dixon, It didn't matter.
Speaker 3 (43:36):
The rock was gonna show up and he was gonna
fight that night.
Speaker 4 (43:39):
He does not have Antonio Gates and lt out there
to save his back from that kind So congratulations.
Speaker 3 (43:44):
I mean, I'm bother. We're bringing up a fiction, big
Philly baby.
Speaker 7 (43:49):
Anyway. Okay, moving on, Okay, the Texans, none of the
none of the work, none of the good work they've done,
go to Dagon, go to go to Casey, go to Buffalo,
go to Indie, do all these great things throughout the whole.
Winning streak will be worth squad if they get complacent
(44:10):
and go to Arizona or or lose Arizona, Houston, lose
the vague losing teams like that. So just just want
them to just keep keep the freaking grease going, man,
just keep it going. I just don't want them to
start to start sniffing their own folks just yet. I
just want them to just keep going and and and
and it just seems like the defensive the defensive side
(44:34):
of the ball seems like just steady, steady ship. I know,
I know the offense leaks oil, uh every every every
time they play at some point. I just I just
hope that they they they find a way and get
well against these little these lecture teams and find some
of that continuity back and they keep so they can,
(44:55):
uh you know, have have some kind of some kind
of a some kind of mo should going when they
start playing these playoff games and and just you know,
something like that, some kind of maybe like Flocko did
when when he was with the Ravens. You know, I
think plus Rodder was a lot better than Blocko, but hey,
that's what he got paid for. He had a great
(45:17):
playoff run and had a great defense as well. So
maybe we could somewhat do something like that onto the Rockets.
What's going on with Alfie. I haven't heard anything about him.
I know he was sick.
Speaker 3 (45:28):
Yeah, yeah, that's that's That's all we knew, was just
that he was sick.
Speaker 2 (45:32):
He missed Friday night's game is Saturdays, and like I said,
they got a couple more days. I would probably expect
that he's gonna be on the floor on Thursday.
Speaker 7 (45:41):
Yeah, you would think I was thinking he was getting ship.
Speaker 5 (45:43):
I really was.
Speaker 7 (45:44):
I was getting scared there for a minute. All right, guys,
all I got a great Tuesday. They won't.
Speaker 2 (45:49):
Hey, he's saying to you, Roger, appreciate it, buddy. I mean, look,
you know the point that Roger brings up there something
we talked about last week.
Speaker 3 (45:55):
Which one the one about the fictional movie or the
one about the Texans?
Speaker 4 (45:57):
The one about the Texans. Okay, just make it sure.
I thought were living in reality for a second. Okay,
let's go.
Speaker 2 (46:02):
I mean Rogers, he's a buffet of sports. He brings
a lot to the table.
Speaker 4 (46:07):
I appreciate his love for Philip Rivers. I also appreciate
my reality take that his life insurance about to cash
hat well.
Speaker 2 (46:14):
So the reality is with the Texans is exactly what
we talked about last week, is that you want to
avoid the pattern that you had in the first two seasons.
Two years ago, it was Carolina on the Road where
you came out of it and you're like the hell
you doing losing that game number one overall pick the
next year, and then last year it was the Tennessee
Titans at home against will Levis, where it was how
(46:36):
dare you make Will Levis look like a capable NFL quarterback?
Which they cleared that up the next time that they
played against will Levis number all overall pick this year,
I mean this past year. So, I mean the good
news is, other than maybe the Raiders, you don't have
to necessarily worry about that.
Speaker 4 (46:53):
That's the problem is that you still have an opportunity
to take on the team that will get the number
one overall pick and.
Speaker 2 (46:58):
Be a loss, because I mean it does seem like,
at least, you know, paying close enough attention to the
Saints that they're in the business of wanting to win games,
which at this point it's like why, I mean, I
don't know, maybe the players look at it and say, well,
Mickey Loomis is so bad at drafting.
Speaker 3 (47:12):
I mean, can we necessarily think that he's gonna get
this right?
Speaker 8 (47:15):
Wait?
Speaker 3 (47:15):
Why because of its football?
Speaker 4 (47:17):
You don't want to be known as one of the
teams that went owen sixteen or had a mediocre season.
Speaker 2 (47:21):
Well, I mean the good news is they're not. There
are three win football teams, So I mean, at this
point just kind of bottom out, man, what do you
like say? That's what I always love like to a
certain point, I mean I get it, like from the
player's side, they're not just gonna, you know, pack it
in and say all right, you know, for the better
of the organization, because well, here's what usually happens. When
everybody gets fired and then you bring in the next group.
(47:44):
Then the next group's like, yeah, hey, I'd like to
get my own guys in here. You guys are a
bunch of stiffs. I don't want you.
Speaker 3 (47:49):
I got a better idea.
Speaker 4 (47:50):
How about just don't give up because if you never
know who's gonna go number one overall, and that may
end up being a massive problem because the Texans, if
they were to give and on up, we're not of CJ. Stroud,
that at Bryce Young and we may not even see
Will Anderson Junior in a uniform. Well, I mean it
is so thank you Davis Mills and Jordan Akins forget
the number two overall pick and playing till the finish line.
Speaker 2 (48:11):
I mean, I guess you know there is something to
be said for that, because I mean, you could have
had Bryce Young right now.
Speaker 4 (48:16):
And you would not have probably traded for Will Anderson
because I think that's somebody else what made the.
Speaker 2 (48:20):
Move up sliding doors, my man sliding sliding doors, and
it all worked out for the Texans. We're gonna actually
get back to the Texans a little bit later on
in this hour as a matter of fact, bottom of
the hour, because this Texan has I think become my
new favorite Texan.
Speaker 4 (48:38):
And there's two different examples of why. Well three actually,
because you're a big Austin Brickman fan.
Speaker 3 (48:44):
I always knew that right right on the head. You
got it, you hit it right there. Yeah, you got them.
Pay what position?
Speaker 4 (48:52):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (48:52):
Secondary? Loss? And brigand plays secondary? Well, I mean does
he play secondary?
Speaker 7 (48:57):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (48:57):
He plays long snapper. He's John we Is replacement. Tell
you how much you know about your favorite player in
the NFL?
Speaker 3 (49:04):
Good great questions.
Speaker 2 (49:05):
I mean you know it's it's if you, if you
replace one of my favorites before well, then you know
I'll root for you.
Speaker 3 (49:14):
I want you to do well. See see, I I
root for people to do well, Cole. I don't I
read for misery. I rot for sadness. I root for
everybody to go ahead and stink. I mean that's your life, man,
that's you it's fantastic.
Speaker 7 (49:26):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (49:27):
I would say, you do you, but you're not on
my team. Get out of my way, get the toxicity
out of your life. I'll see and see the good
in everybody else.
Speaker 3 (49:35):
How do you see the good?
Speaker 4 (49:36):
And Notre Dame right now saying we didn't make the
college football playoffs, so therefore we're going to not have
a bowl game, take away millions of dollars from our revenue,
and then complain to the a CEC for not defending
you when you took advantage of the a c C
and played only their bottom dwellings.
Speaker 3 (49:51):
See Cole.
Speaker 2 (49:52):
In life, there's rules and there's exceptions. That's an exception.
That's that's one that I will meet you on like,
you know, as being a cap flick young man. Of
course you know tacitly I am a I am a
Notre Dame fan from from that perspective. But I mean,
just with saying, oh no, we're we're not playing in
a bowl game because we're so upset that we were
(50:12):
left out of the party, I mean, what are we
doing at a certain Okay.
Speaker 4 (50:16):
Can we agree that right now? Just just everyone on
board seven one ninety triple. I want your opinion on
this too.
Speaker 3 (50:22):
You're not going to do the whole you didn't go
to Notre Dame thing?
Speaker 9 (50:24):
Are you?
Speaker 3 (50:25):
Very few people did?
Speaker 10 (50:26):
No?
Speaker 5 (50:26):
No, no, no.
Speaker 4 (50:28):
We can all agree that Notre Dame was screwed because
of what the playoff committee said. For five straight weeks
they were in the field. They were in the field.
Then there was no game played by Miami or by
Notre Dame. And that the very last minute they said,
you know what that had to head actually does matter.
Speaker 2 (50:44):
No, I get them from that, and I mean, and
that's where I will meet them on their argument for that,
where it's like, okay, well then why not have us
behind Miami? Then if we were behind them the entire time,
why are you doing this whole dog and pony show.
And I think that there is a reason for it,
and I've said it numerous times and it fits right
now true trivially.
Speaker 4 (51:03):
Do you agree that the reasoning is fair for Miami
to I mean, for Nerdy to be upset because they
were told they were in the playoff until they were
told absolutely not.
Speaker 3 (51:11):
Now you're not I'll think it's fair.
Speaker 4 (51:12):
Okay, that's fine. Now I'm going to ask the other question,
who won the football game Week one. That's the team
that's going to the playoff. Well, and that's what they
said was the determining factor for it. But that should
be the first determining factor, not the last.
Speaker 2 (51:29):
But again, what if I told you numerous times what
the college football playoff is and it played out that
way on Sunday?
Speaker 4 (51:35):
Yeah, being a drama filled residence that is basically reality
television for sick.
Speaker 3 (51:38):
I was like you and me, Yeah, it's a TV show.
Speaker 4 (51:41):
Again, I understand the premise behind it. But ladies and gentlemen,
what's the point of playing ahead to head? What's the
point of playing a game when at the end of
the day, if you have the exact same record, you
have the exact same strength to schedule, you have the
exact same strength the conference opponent, you have the exact
same margin of victories in matchups against common teams, you
have the exact same style of offense, your defensive playing
(52:03):
single handedly.
Speaker 3 (52:04):
And you say, hey, that Week one game because.
Speaker 4 (52:07):
Notre Dame is playing better than you right now, and
you both ended up losing two matchups to power for teams. Uh,
take a hike, Take a hike, Miami. Yeah, Like, I'm sorry,
I'm like that the data point needs to be number one.
Did you win a football game? Yes, okay, the Miami
and so further noticed should always be a ranked ahead
of Notre Dame and they respected head to heads in
(52:28):
every single matchup. And I bring this up because Houston
is ranked behind Arizona. Guess what happened Arizona lost a
football game to Houston. What if there was one spot
left in the college football playoff and your Cougars had
an opportunity in year two of Willie Fritz to make
a run to a national championship, and they said, oh, well,
Arizona looks prettier on a helmet, therefore they're going to
the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (52:49):
Well, I mean, the only thing that would have been
better is if you had Joe Testatur on this one
because of his professional wrestling experience. And then Notre Dame
and Marcus Freeman emerged from the tunnel at Kyle Field
and you're like, my.
Speaker 3 (53:01):
God, that's Notre Dame.
Speaker 2 (53:03):
And then you know he he cracks Mario crystal Ball
with it with a chair and then in all out battle, Royal.
Speaker 4 (53:10):
Sc scrit Kyle Field on December twentieth. Let's go ahead
and have a three way fight. The winner of the
best two out of three triple threat match is what
that's called. Two three you go to then you go play.
Speaker 3 (53:20):
Against Georgia and get your ass hit because that whoever
does is gonna lose.
Speaker 2 (53:22):
Rich wants to get in on the conversation. We'll give
you that chance. Rich, you want to join them someone
three two one two five seven ninety.
Speaker 3 (53:28):
I promised you too.
Speaker 2 (53:29):
There is Astro's discussion here because well a name of
note was floated around yesterday, So after we get to Rich,
we'll chop that up a little bit here as we
continue the conversation here on a Tuesday, it is the
Morning Drive with Dan and Cole Sports Talk at seven ninety.
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(53:50):
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What's stopping you today? Seriously? What's stopping you?
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Especially when I tell you if you go to either
of those places that you've got three different offices to
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Speaker 1 (55:16):
Back to the Morning Drive, here's Dan Matthews and Cole Thompson.
Speaker 2 (55:23):
At least from Partisi's perspective, they were talking about that. No,
he's he's not on the trade block. We're keeping that
guy around so then see you later. Christian Walker not
him either, supposedly, So who's leaving guys, cause there's not
enough room on that. I think we will get an
idea of how this could work, and Joe Aspota did
(55:43):
share that, so we'll have that here a little bit
later on the show. But seven one three two one
two five seven ninety is the way to get in.
Rich In Spring wants to get in on the Notre
Dame conversation. Rich, good morning, Ah, I just did it again.
I apologize. Triple Lee will get you rich.
Speaker 3 (56:00):
What's going on? Good morning? Hey, good morning guys.
Speaker 7 (56:03):
Thanks for taking my call. So let me trefa this.
I want to talk about Notre Dame.
Speaker 10 (56:08):
I am I grew up a Texas Longhorn fan, but
I am a first year Notre Dame dad.
Speaker 7 (56:14):
My daughter is a freshman.
Speaker 11 (56:16):
She's a cheerleader for a Notre Dame cheer, So I.
Speaker 7 (56:19):
Have a different I kind of thank you.
Speaker 11 (56:21):
I have a different perspective on this.
Speaker 10 (56:24):
You know, first of all, I agree totally with what
you guys said earlier that Notre Dame's beef should be
the fact that they were led to believe that if
they took care of business after beating A and M,
that they were going to be in the playoffs, especially
the last four to five weeks. You know, they were
told that they were going to be in and then
(56:47):
at the last minute they took them out. So it's
just it's disenfranchising to these to these student athletes and
these kids, and the and the coaching staff who were
told take care business, and that's what they did. They
beat teams by over twenty six points, averaging over you know,
twenty six points a game, blowing out teams, took care
(57:09):
of business, and then it was taken away from them.
But yet, my take on it is, you know, them
not playing in a bowl, it doesn't benefit them because
you know who's benefiting it benefiting it from the most,
It's going to be the networks, it's going to be
the conference that they're playing. They don't get any benefit
(57:32):
from it, and not to mention the players and the
team captains.
Speaker 7 (57:37):
They they made this decision. The school didn't make the decision.
They asked them straight up, do you want to what
do you guys want to do?
Speaker 12 (57:44):
Do you want to play?
Speaker 10 (57:45):
And they all unanimously said they don't want to play.
So I can't be mad at them for that, and uh,
it is just kind of it's just kind of crazy.
Last year, this notedy team went to the National Championship
and for the most part, they're a pretty well liked
teams by the national media and by fans all across
(58:09):
the country. And now I'm getting PTSD of Houston Astro's
cheating scandal.
Speaker 7 (58:14):
Everybody hates Notre Dame now.
Speaker 11 (58:17):
But that's all I have to say. And thanks guys.
Speaker 10 (58:20):
I listen to your show every morning on my drive
taking my kids to school.
Speaker 3 (58:24):
You guys do a great job. Hey, I appreciate it. Rich.
Speaker 2 (58:26):
I mean, I'm going to push back on the I
am it doesn't it doesn't benefit them because well, I mean,
you're a college football program.
Speaker 3 (58:34):
What's the benefit practicing and playing?
Speaker 4 (58:36):
Here's where you lose me and Rich, I sincerely appreciate it,
and congratulations to you. And your family to have a
kid go to Notre Dame. It's a it's a high honor.
I'm sorry you mean to tell me with a straight face.
In the world of competitive football, with a guy like
Marcus Freeman as youre head coach and the way that
he he proclaims physicality, maturity and finished wishing the job,
(59:01):
that they all sat down and said we're.
Speaker 3 (59:03):
Not going to play enough bowl game.
Speaker 4 (59:05):
Everyone, everyone, including Marcus Freeman, including a coach that I
have an an ordinate amount of respect for, all said hey,
we didn't get our way, so therefore we're not.
Speaker 3 (59:15):
Going to a bowl game.
Speaker 2 (59:15):
Well, I mean, I can understand it from like some
of the five and seven teams that decided not to, Like,
I know, I saw Alex Golish talked about it and
he was like, players have dispersed, you know, finals are done,
all of that kind of stuff, like we were we're
I mean, when you come out of a season, there's
there's no thought that, hey, at five and seven, we're
still gonna have a chance to play in a bowl game.
(59:36):
I mean, nowadays, maybe you know, programs will handle themselves
that way where they're like, hey, you know, let's let's
keep practicing. Let's keep working out because we don't know
how this is going to happen. But I mean, I
can understand it from their perspective, But I mean, this
is a team that's fully capable, and I think if
nothing else, I mean, you can handle it the way
that Texas has handled it, the way that Clark Lee
(59:56):
has handled it. I mean the way a couple of
years ago Georgia got like to the college football playoff
and Georgia said, no, not not only are we going
to show up, We're going to show out in our
game against Florida State.
Speaker 7 (01:00:08):
Do you know what?
Speaker 4 (01:00:08):
There is the biggest gripe that I have right now
with Notre Dame fans who are crapping a moment about
being left out of the playoff when clearly you didn't
belong in because you don't play a conference, and you
were left up to the debate because when you have
two losses it doesn't mean to guarantee in the playoff.
You're saying, well, why are you not holding the saying
holding the same grip when it comes to these other
teams that opted out because.
Speaker 3 (01:00:28):
You're Notre Dame.
Speaker 4 (01:00:30):
Do you want me to compare you now to Iowa
State and to Kansas State, because I will. I mean,
do you really want me to go and put you
in that pedestal a blue blood program that has consistently
stride for not just academic excellence but athletic excellence and
is setting a standard that says, hey, if we don't
get our way, we're gonna go ahead and take our
ball and go home.
Speaker 3 (01:00:49):
Do you want me to put you in the same.
Speaker 4 (01:00:50):
Standard as Kansas in the same standard as Baylor, in
the same standard as Rutgers, Because.
Speaker 3 (01:00:56):
I gladly will.
Speaker 4 (01:00:57):
Therefore, if you want to go ahead and say, oh, well,
you know, it's a different situation. Iowa State is not
of a head coach right now. He left for Penn State.
Kansas State is out of a head coach right now.
He retired and their head coach is currently helping at
Texas A and M try to win its first national
title since nineteen thirty nine. But if you want me
to keep you in that same predecessory as how I
feel about Kansastate and Iowa was say for the public eye,
(01:01:18):
you gotta.
Speaker 3 (01:01:19):
Go twelve and zero.
Speaker 4 (01:01:20):
It shouldn't be hard with your schedule that is ranked
one hundred and fourteenth next year because of all you
do is you play the bottom dwellers of.
Speaker 3 (01:01:26):
Power for programs. But sure you go twelve and I'll
put you in the playoff.
Speaker 4 (01:01:29):
You lose one game, you're not in the top twelve,
which that MoU You're the only team in college football
that is guaranteed a spot if you finish in the
top twelve. Yeah, sure, okay, go undefeated. I'll put you
in the playoff. You lose one game, I'm treating you
like Iowa State. You're trash and you're not.
Speaker 3 (01:01:44):
Going in Well.
Speaker 2 (01:01:45):
I mean that's the thing too, that what you just
brought up right there is exactly what Pete Pavaqua did
bring up yesterday on the Dan Patrick Show, where he
was like, oh, yeah, by the way, for top twelve
next year, we're guaranteed a spot.
Speaker 3 (01:01:58):
So then why are you complet because of you? Okay?
Speaker 4 (01:02:02):
Bottom line guys, And this is the way I would
feel about any team. It's not Alabama, it's not by you.
It's not a precedent against you. If you lost two
games and you gave the committee, this committee that is
so incompetent to realize that head to heads matter and
that strength to schedule matters, and they were making up
their rules as long as they go, and they contract
themselves in every pathway. I don't feel bad for you
(01:02:23):
for being left out. You gave them a reason to
leave you out. Guess what you lost to two teams
that were ranked You beat up on a bunch of
bottom dwelling Power four teams. Oh and on top of that,
we got idiots out here that are saying, hey, Alabama
doesn't belong in the playoffs despite making it to their
conference title game, and that their win over Navy is
(01:02:44):
more impressive than Alabama's road win over Auburn.
Speaker 2 (01:02:47):
Wow, spare me, well, spare me. But I think it's
also though too. It's a little bit of prisoner of
the moment with Alabama, just with how poor they were
offensively in that game on Saturday.
Speaker 4 (01:02:56):
They have five ranked wins and the best regular season
win the season.
Speaker 3 (01:03:00):
I'm sorry, that's something debate. You want to be pissed
off at.
Speaker 4 (01:03:03):
Somebody be pissed off at the community that said, hey,
two G five teams never going to make the playoff
in our format. Oh wait, we didn't realize that the
ACC was going to crap the bet.
Speaker 2 (01:03:13):
I just know that if I'm Marcus Freeman, and if
he ever complains about not having enough time to prepare,
I'm going to look at him and say, well, you
did have a chance to have about fifteen practices and
an extra game to be able to get guys a
chance that you're going to be counting on next year
to be able to see what you have along with
spring practice.
Speaker 3 (01:03:30):
With the young defense. By the way, that probably in
theed S reps. But yeah, screw it. We don't need
those reps, do we, Marcus Freeman.
Speaker 5 (01:03:35):
So there you go.
Speaker 3 (01:03:36):
It's there on bed they can lie in. It's all right.
Speaker 2 (01:03:38):
So let's get into the astros because, as we mentioned,
we've been hearing at least the thought that the Astros
could be going after certain guys. Well, now we've got
a certain name that maybe could be an astro here
in the next day or two, we'll share that with
you as we continue long Here it is the Morning
Drive with Dan and Cole here on Tuesday Sports Talk
seven to ninety.
Speaker 3 (01:04:00):
Hey, it's Runner Brown. Catch every as game on Sports
Talk seven ninety four.
Speaker 1 (01:04:04):
The iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 3 (01:04:08):
Home of Your Astros.
Speaker 2 (01:04:10):
Has some plans for certain astros this coming season, but
We did also get a little bit of a report
because you know, Cole, we've known what the Astros priority
is this offseason. Dana Brown said it pretty much anytime
there's a microphone or a phone in front of him,
whatever way to be able to get this out, that
starting pitching is something. And then you know, we've had
(01:04:32):
reports here and there that if they're going to get
a starter, Chandler Rome saying, probably going to be through
a trade, although now it seems like that trade or
free agency is available options to them. But according to
Chandler Rome and Ken Rosenthal, the Astros have explained they
have expressed interest in Shane Boss, right hander for the
Tampa Bay Rays. A deal is not believed to be close,
(01:04:55):
but it has been indicated that the teams have discussed
the framework of a patent central trade.
Speaker 4 (01:05:00):
Basically, what happened was Joe Ryan was too expensive. They
were never gonna be in on Sunny Gray. They got
a pivot to a team that is known for wanting
to trade away starters before they had to sign him
to long term deals and are willing to take on
lesser known commodities in the farm systems to develop them
properly and help them build a new franchise.
Speaker 3 (01:05:18):
Don't hate this at all now.
Speaker 2 (01:05:19):
And Boss is a local guy to He played his
high school baseball at Concordia Lutheran and he's a Cypress guy,
so probably knows. Hayden was NESCI pretty well but pretty impressive.
In twenty twenty four fourteen starts, he went four and
three with a three point oh six ERA, and last
season a little bit up and down for him ten
(01:05:40):
and twelve with a four point eighty seven ERA in
one hundred and sixty six point and one hundred and
sixty six and a third innings pitched.
Speaker 4 (01:05:49):
But to be fair, this was his first season coming
back from Tommy John surgery, so he missed the entire
twenty twenty three season, I mean twenty twenty four seasons,
so he got that.
Speaker 3 (01:05:57):
The way around.
Speaker 4 (01:05:57):
It was twenty three twenty three, So you guys take
that into consideration, and when it comes to what was
on display because of you're still getting a picture.
Speaker 3 (01:06:04):
Who's trying to ramp on up? I mean, like think
about this.
Speaker 4 (01:06:07):
Shane Bieber had Tommy John surgery at the start of
twenty twenty four and he wasn't ready until literally the
last month of the regular season and then helped the
Toronto Blue Jays make the World Series.
Speaker 3 (01:06:16):
So it takes some time.
Speaker 2 (01:06:17):
Well, and here's the thing that we've talked about numerous
times Cole is the Astros track record when it comes
to having success with certain players. I mean, and especially pitchers.
I mean a couple of years ago, you make the
trade for you say, Kakuci, how can you make that trade? Well,
clearly the Astros pitching coaching staff was the one who
(01:06:37):
was probably a driving force for this of this is
something we can fix.
Speaker 3 (01:06:40):
We can fix that, We can fix that. Joey Librafito
was so good in the World Series, dude, let go
of him.
Speaker 2 (01:06:46):
Well, I then Will Wagner, who's now a San Francisco Giants,
and then the World Series.
Speaker 4 (01:06:50):
No, he didn't, he was a San Francisco Jason because
I was told that losing Will Wagner was a big
time deal by that.
Speaker 3 (01:06:54):
Well, and then you know, of course Jake Bloss, who
I mean, you don't wish this on any Dare we
lose Bloss for guy that's a rental.
Speaker 2 (01:07:01):
Well, he missed all of last season with Tommy Johnson.
But I mean, you know, it's been him Steven Okert
last year, I mean countless others. You know, Brian, Brian King,
Caleb Bort, you know that he stands his son well,
I mean even Bennett Sussa, another guy that that's been
(01:07:21):
able to find something here in Houston.
Speaker 3 (01:07:23):
So the track record is good.
Speaker 2 (01:07:25):
So the reason that I think this name is being
out there is because, yes, I do think that there's
actual interest, and obviously of chandeler Rome sharing it, then
there probably is.
Speaker 3 (01:07:35):
But that's what it is.
Speaker 2 (01:07:36):
It's Josh Miller and the Astros pitching staff saying, hey,
you know, this guy's got good stuff, and we can
tweak a few things and we can make this guy
really really good.
Speaker 4 (01:07:44):
The thing is that he's going to be cheap. He's
on control for a few years. And the other important
part is that he's not a number one. And the
reason why I say that that's a good thing is
because if you want to guarantee that Hunter Brown moving
forward is known as your race, he is the go
to guy. He is the one that you need and
he gotta have moment, give me eight strong, that kind
of mentality, and now you know that you're gonna be
able to pay that price without overspending if you like
(01:08:07):
what you see from Boz and he wants to stick
around here for the long term, so I don't mind it.
I still think that the Astros need to make another
move for the rotation because it don't feel entirely confident
in what you have with the number five spot. But
adding in Boz gives you opportunities to see where Christian
Hovier is, where he is coming off of an injury,
coming off of a less than stellar season, who was
also dealing with Tom and John surgery without really feeling
(01:08:29):
like that you're going to oversplurge by bringing in a
lucrative contract because of now you have to pay that
to ste hundred Brown. Because the thing that I always
worry about is when you're seeing a guy come on in,
they're like like, like the Ranger Suarez moved that, people
are like talking about, let's bring in Ranger swaz On
like a five year, one to twenty million dollar deal.
Speaker 3 (01:08:46):
Okay, cool, So now it's gonna be five.
Speaker 4 (01:08:48):
Years, two hundred million dollar deal for Hunter Brown if
you want to keep him around, because he's a Scott
Bors client. He's say say, if you're paying this much
for this guy, my guy's ten times better than him,
you owe him ten times more of the amount of
money I mean.
Speaker 3 (01:08:59):
And that's just the thing.
Speaker 5 (01:09:00):
I mean.
Speaker 2 (01:09:00):
This is a team that has shown you that they'll spend,
but they're not going to wildly spend. And then, of
course you know then that gets from some in astros
fandoms saying, oh, this team is cheap.
Speaker 3 (01:09:10):
No, they're just not reckless, I think is the major difference. No,
that's a very fair point.
Speaker 4 (01:09:15):
They understand what is the value of a player, and
they're not willing to overspend on a name to when
they know that they can get quality overall reps and
more importantly results for a cheaper contract because of they
know how to develop talent, especially on the pitching side.
I think that's the really big thing that you brought up,
is that they do a good job of being able
to figure out what are the problems with the picture
(01:09:35):
from their past, bring them in, reinvent who they are,
and usually they get paid on the open market because
of it. So you don't want to overspend on a
guy when you can get probably similar results from a
cheaper option. It's not cheap, it's just the nature of
the businesses save money elsewhere.
Speaker 2 (01:09:50):
Well, I mean, and you know, everybody wants to have
a guy like Hunter Brown, and I mean the Astros
have them right now. And that's why you know, when
it comes to hey, pay the man, extend the guy.
Hunter Brown's a guy that I absolutely am willing to
listen to you on because I mean, he is all
of those things. Last year that start that he had
against the Rangers in Arlington where he's ninety five pitches
(01:10:12):
and you think that's it. Then he immediately comes to
the dugout, looks at Joe and looks at Josh Miller
and says, no, no, no, you're not pulling me from this.
I know how tax that group is out there. Give
me one more inning and let me save some of
those arms.
Speaker 3 (01:10:24):
Ye huh.
Speaker 4 (01:10:25):
What's where I want to put this from Bervaldez is
replaceable and it stinks to lose a guy like him
because of just how good he can be and what
his top level is. It's top fifteen pitcher in Major League.
You can find a way to go ahead and find
reps to get a number two in here. I don't
feel that way about Hunter Brown right now. And Hunter
Brown's only going to get better now.
Speaker 2 (01:10:44):
We're almost four months away from the start of the
major league season, but that's not stopping Joe Aspota from
already putting plans in place for how he's going to
use certain guys this year. He shared those yesterday. We'll
share those with you right here on the Morning Drive
with Dan and Cole Talk seven ninety As we continue
here on a Tuesday.
Speaker 3 (01:11:06):
H Town, the Morning Drive continues.
Speaker 1 (01:11:10):
Now, now here's Dan and Cole.
Speaker 2 (01:11:14):
Then of course suited and booted right there all the
Heisman winners and then the winner is announced and you
find out who the winner is this year.
Speaker 4 (01:11:22):
I'm really happy that they brought an entourage for Diego Pavia.
Speaker 3 (01:11:26):
That's nice. That's a good feeling.
Speaker 4 (01:11:27):
And that right Jeremiah Julian saying, Fernanda Mendoza, you just
get to go ahead and be a part of his posse.
Speaker 3 (01:11:32):
Happened to be part of the family. Now, just don't
get arrested like his brother.
Speaker 2 (01:11:35):
Having known the dynamics of Albuquerque, and I heard him
on Busting with the Boys recently and he was talking about,
you know, how his family is, and he was like,
Albuquerque is almost like GTA, dude. So he's like, you know,
It's one of those that like, we get our family
out of Albuquerque to come to Nashville with me, and
in certain ways, it's kind of like, dude, you know,
you don't have any chill, and I need you to
(01:11:57):
have some chill just a little bit.
Speaker 4 (01:11:59):
Curio. Isn't there a very famous television show known for
its mobster mentality from Kirk?
Speaker 11 (01:12:05):
What was the name of it?
Speaker 3 (01:12:06):
Not Breaking Bad? I wonder how that makes a lot
of sense.
Speaker 4 (01:12:09):
But hey, good for the Heisman Trophy can well, actually
it was better call Saul.
Speaker 3 (01:12:14):
I thought both were in there. No, it was exactly.
Speaker 4 (01:12:16):
But good for the Heisman Committee to go ahead and
guarantee that there will be an entire entourage to welcome Diego,
Pabo and Kirk the only the only worthy Heisman Trophy candidate.
Speaker 2 (01:12:26):
And I mean, if I had a vote, that's that's
who mine would be for. But my vote is to
see what the Astros look like in twenty twenty six
and Astros manager Joe A. Spotta, like many managers and
gms and executives everybody of the sort in Major League Baseball,
they're in Orlando for the Winter Meetings. This is when
deals usually start to start flying. Fast and furious. Well,
(01:12:49):
in the case of four different players here that Joe
Aspota talked about yesterday with MLB Network, some of them
it's hey, where are they going to play? So we'll
start in that wing of the audio first, because jose
L Tuove, you got a lot of play out in
left field last year, but is that going to be
the case in twenty twenty six. Here's what Joe Spotta said.
(01:13:10):
I like the fact that he is open to help
him to do whatever it takes, you know, healthy team.
But I think second base is his flying position.
Speaker 13 (01:13:17):
I think we're going to see him play there more
this season, you know, giving us some starts in left field.
That's something that I will sit down and talk to
him about that. But right now is I need to
keep our guys healthy. I think a lot of these
players can play multiple positions. Paradis can play some second, third,
and first base. It allows me to keep Korea and
Walker healthy. The DH spot, I'm also going to use
(01:13:39):
that spot to keep those guys off their feet some.
So you know, I got some really good players that,
once they're healthy, is a really good team to It's
gonna be a really tough team.
Speaker 4 (01:13:48):
To be here was the name that we were just
talking about as a potential pitcher to join the Astra's rotation.
Speaker 3 (01:13:53):
Shaane bas Yeah, I'm gonna have to go look up
what is this fly out?
Speaker 5 (01:13:56):
Right?
Speaker 4 (01:13:56):
Because there's ground balls. We got some problems and that's
why I think there's a huge reason. And I can't
remember who brought that up.
Speaker 2 (01:14:01):
It might have been Chandler that brought it up on
Twitter about the reason to keep al Twove at second
for much of the season is for exactly that. I mean,
Hunter Brown's a flyball guy, Christian Javier is a flyball guy.
So most of your pitching staff are flyball guys. And
I mean I think that you know more than anything.
You used jose al tu by the way you did
(01:14:22):
last year because well, I mean, obviously his defensive metrics
have declined at second, but you also felt the need
to be able to try to get say Brendan Rodgers
in or even too. You know, where do where do
things stack up? For estoc Pretis this year. We'll get
to him here in just a second, but you heard
what he mentioned about the plan for the DH because
(01:14:44):
well we all know, during a baseball season, the best
laid plans, well, they usually go out the window, and
for the last couple of years for the Astros that's
been the case because well, injury has necessitated that. But
for your Don Alvarez in twenty twenty six, Joe Espada,
what is your plan for him?
Speaker 3 (01:14:59):
Not much less.
Speaker 13 (01:15:00):
I can't give you the numbers through it right now,
but you know I'm We're going to try to minimize
the volume of innings and left trying to keep peace
bat in that lineup every single day. It's our number
one priority. He's one of the best hitters in the game.
We can probably argue here all night that he's probably
top two hitters is number one in my opinion. But
(01:15:21):
keeping your unhealthy while he brings through our lineup, why
he brings to our clubhouse suppresses in that game is
a game changing player.
Speaker 2 (01:15:28):
And he is somebody too that if it were up
to your non he'd be in left field every single day.
Apparently I heard a story that Jordan will continuously send
Joe different articles talking about how he's an underrated left
fielder and that his numbers are better when he plays
in left field, to which Joe will respond, Hey, that's nice.
Speaker 3 (01:15:47):
You're still the DH.
Speaker 4 (01:15:48):
I'm sorry, he needs to play some left field because
there needs to be a way to guarantee that you
are either going to have a guy like you, Zack
Parade's in the lineup on most days, or you're going
to have to make a trade. I'm sorry, that's just
kind of the case. I know that sounds like really
really facetious. I know that sounds like, oh, Cole playing
with it, playing, you know, playing on both.
Speaker 3 (01:16:09):
Sides of the coin. Guys.
Speaker 4 (01:16:11):
In my opinion right now, after what I saw last
season and how valuable he was in the two hole,
e Suk barrettez has got to be in the lineup.
So if that means that he's got play second, is
Hozel to be moving to left field. If he's not
moving to left field, then guess what happens He's got
played DH. That means that you got play left well.
Speaker 2 (01:16:29):
I mean, and it's also too, I mean, you are
hoping that you don't have the same amount of injury
attrition in twenty six that you did this year, but
you are going to have injuries. You are going to
have guys go on the fifteen day il and you know,
you just hope that that it's not much more than
those two weeks that they're going to be out. So
in that case, I mean, I really believe that early
(01:16:52):
on in the season, Joe Espada, if it's up to him,
is going to probably in the first couple of months
of this season, use the DH as a roving kind
of move it around. Hey, you're not you're out and
left today, l two Ba is going to DH, Christian Walker,
You're going to DH. Estoch Brettis is going to play
first base. I mean, that's just really I think the
way that the Astros, at least right now plan to
(01:17:13):
be able to go about the season.
Speaker 4 (01:17:15):
Carlos Korea DH or on days when you have to
go ahead and play Estoc Pretes at third is or
were going to see him go shortstop?
Speaker 3 (01:17:20):
I guess that's the big question.
Speaker 2 (01:17:23):
I mean, I want to I want to keep you're
talking about Corea even getting some rext You're.
Speaker 4 (01:17:27):
Going to have to because if I think that you
can't play him at shortstop right now and keep Jamie
Pane out of the lineup, I just I.
Speaker 3 (01:17:32):
Want to keep him off shortstop as much as possible.
Speaker 2 (01:17:35):
I think that the move to third base was for
a career preservation for him, sure, best move possible.
Speaker 3 (01:17:40):
I'm not arguing that.
Speaker 4 (01:17:41):
I think that at this point in his career, you
want to play third base, that's fine. But at the
same time, escoch Predes has got to get on the field.
Well I'm sorry, Like right now, the non negotiable for
me until I have a reason not to is have
esoch Paris in the line up most days.
Speaker 2 (01:17:55):
We'll close out with him, but first let's get some
pitching because Josh Hater missing the final stretch of this
season and Joe A. Spotta talking about the recovery is
going well, and also preservation with them not.
Speaker 3 (01:18:07):
Much left field.
Speaker 13 (01:18:08):
I can't give you the numbers of it right now,
but but you know I'm we're going to try to
minimize the volume of innings and left trying to keep
peace bat in that lineup every single day. It's our
number one priority. He's one of the best hitters in
the game. We could probably argue here all night that
he's probably top two hitters. He is number one in
my opinion, but keeping your unhealthy, what he brings to
(01:18:31):
our lineup, what he brings to our clubhouse, suppresses in
that game.
Speaker 3 (01:18:34):
He's a game changing player.
Speaker 2 (01:18:36):
Just how important your Don Alvarez is. It was, you know,
such good information from Joe A.
Speaker 3 (01:18:40):
Spotta.
Speaker 4 (01:18:41):
We had to share it twice. But that's important. I mean, like,
let's be really, he's a top ten hitter.
Speaker 3 (01:18:44):
In the game when healthy.
Speaker 2 (01:18:45):
But for Josh Hater, one of the things that Joe
Aspotta did talk about is he wants to stay away
from those multiple out saves that at least early on
in this season, he's going to try to avoid those
situations as much as possible.
Speaker 3 (01:18:59):
We've seen out of Josh Hater.
Speaker 2 (01:19:00):
We've seen, you know, games go to extra innings, so
then you put him in the tenth inning because you
know he can handle that situation. We've seen it from
Brian to pray You two where he said the same
thing with a bray You he goes I'd like to
keep him out of those four out hold situations, just.
Speaker 4 (01:19:14):
Making sure at least early on the season. You said
multiple outsaves, you mean multiple inning saves.
Speaker 2 (01:19:19):
Well, sure, I mean that's that's exactly what I mean.
But I mean that could be an inning in a third,
that can be an inning in two thirds. It didn't
have to be full on two innings.
Speaker 4 (01:19:26):
Well, what I'm saying is not multiple outsaves is in
like bottom of the nine two outs.
Speaker 3 (01:19:29):
Now we call Josh hater, And that's not what you're saying.
Speaker 2 (01:19:31):
He just would like to be able to see other
guys that can step into high leverage spots, which he
did talk about. I mean, now, they trust Brian King
to be a high leverage guy, they trust Benett Susa
to be a high leverage guy, they trust in certain
parts Steven Okert to be a high leverage guy. And
you'd like to be able to see if Caleb bort
It can be one of those guys too, although it
was one of the guys that was non tender this offseason. Yeah,
(01:19:54):
it will have to while we look that up east
ok perettis I mean, because you know we talked about it.
You've got Carlos Korea at third, you got Jeremy Paynett
short more than likely, you're gonna have Osel two Va
at second, and then you're gonna have Christian Walker at first.
So for your probably best hitter that you had for
much of the season, Joe, how are you gonna use them?
Speaker 13 (01:20:14):
We're going to ask those questions here in the in
the coming weeks, right we try to improve our roster.
I need to keep all those guys healthy, right, But
I'm going to ask those guys to play multiple positions
so I could keep them all in the lineup, so
I could keep that offense uh together and give us
a chance to win every single night. So you know,
they they all done it in the past, uh. And
(01:20:35):
we're going to continue to explore our options and see
how we're going to improve our club. But I'm excited
about these guys. Once we're healthy, we are we're going
to be a very tough team to be.
Speaker 2 (01:20:43):
So maybe that's the key right there. Of an off
day here or there. Hey Carlos Krea, you're not even
dhing today. You're off est Socks playing third base, Jose,
You're off today, est Socks playing second.
Speaker 3 (01:20:56):
Hey, Christian Walker, take the day off. He's playing over
at first.
Speaker 2 (01:21:00):
If you slide them into an infield utility role is
what it sounds like they're going to do, and then
maybe even two you slide them in as a DH
in certain spots. But Joe Spotten knows just as much
as I and you know that you need to have
Estock Pretas in the lineup as much as possible.
Speaker 4 (01:21:15):
Until proven otherwise, Estcoc Paretas is a non negotiable to
be in that two hole. And I will go as
far as to say the two hole. I think that
you can have a rotation when it comes to what
you want to do without Tuve and Correa and Walker
and Diaz and whoever else you bring in in the
off season. But right now my lineup would start off
Jeremy Pangin leading off Estoc Paris in the two hole,
no questions asked.
Speaker 2 (01:21:35):
All right, so let's get back into the Texans as
we swing over to the eight o'clock hour. Because I've
got a new favorite Texan and there is evidence to
back up my fandom.
Speaker 3 (01:21:45):
We will discuss and let you hear exactly why right here.
Speaker 2 (01:21:48):
As again we get into the eight o'clock hour, it
is the Morning Drive with Dan and Coles Sports Talk
seven to ninety kat.
Speaker 3 (01:21:56):
E Houston ATVs E HD TOO Houston, Home of the Astro.
Speaker 5 (01:22:00):
And Rocket.
Speaker 1 (01:22:03):
Sports Talk seven ninety your home for your home teens
and iHeart radio station guaranteed Human. This is the Morning
Drive with Dad and Cole.
Speaker 3 (01:22:21):
The last thing you bought online Christmas gifts for my family? Okay,
all right, all right, So shoes for triple A Christmas gifts.
I like how you kept it generic right there too,
because I got people listening in they don't even know
what about.
Speaker 2 (01:22:32):
Okay, now see you got it right, you got it right.
I mean, look, you know, share some personal details, but
not all of them. I mean, I hate Christmas, So
it's okay. What I hate Christmas. That's that is that
is and that has probably been worst take of all time,
and I'm okay with that. I'm not a Christmas person.
Speaker 3 (01:22:49):
It is the best holiday. It is the worst holiday.
It's amazing.
Speaker 4 (01:22:54):
It is not the lights, it's commercial. People are people
are nicer to each other.
Speaker 3 (01:22:59):
They are fighting for who has the better guest.
Speaker 2 (01:23:02):
Well, you just just hee, you're just okay. I like
I can understand how like you know, some people handle
it that way. But I mean, I just I look
at it as especially to where I don't have kids
of my own yet, but I've got nieces and nephews,
so you know, to see how excited they get, That's
that's the enjoyment.
Speaker 3 (01:23:20):
That's the fun stuff.
Speaker 4 (01:23:21):
Are you going to take the role of the jolly
old big guy this year? I'm might I've thrown it
out before that.
Speaker 3 (01:23:29):
I'm willing to do it.
Speaker 2 (01:23:30):
I don't think I could pull it off personally. Well,
there's a buddy of mine who for for his kids
when they were younger. Because it's an Italian family, so
of course, you know Italian families. It's the entire family
celebrates Christmas together. That he every year would throw on
the hat and you know, throw throw on everything and
and uh and you know, play play the parts.
Speaker 4 (01:23:51):
It's sometimes hard for me to get in the holiday
spirit when December twenty fifth rolls around, it I'm sweating outside.
Speaker 2 (01:23:56):
Sorry, it's a little bit challenging. Well, I mean we
had wolves the tooth thousand and four. That's when we
had a white Christmas here.
Speaker 3 (01:24:02):
That's nice.
Speaker 4 (01:24:02):
I'm not saying for snow. I'm saying for the weather
not to be eighty two degrees.
Speaker 2 (01:24:06):
No, I mean I don't have a problem with that one.
I mean, if I'm in shorts and a T shirt,
no matter what the time of year is, I'm good
with it.
Speaker 1 (01:24:11):
I am sorry.
Speaker 4 (01:24:12):
There's a reason why season's rock and we have two
of them. We have summer and November.
Speaker 3 (01:24:18):
We have summer and not so much summer. I guess
is pretty much how it goes.
Speaker 2 (01:24:22):
But we've been talking a lot of astros there at
Baseball's Winter Meetings, the Texans who we're going to get
into right here, at least one individual Texan.
Speaker 3 (01:24:31):
They are off in the practice field to day.
Speaker 2 (01:24:33):
As I mentioned Dmiko Ryans telling the players as he
was talking to him on Sunday, I'll see you Wednesday.
Don't even bother showing up to the facility. Maybe you
got some treatment, then okay, you can do that. But
aside from that, take those days off and we'll get
back to work to get ready for the Cardinals on Sunday,
and then the Rockets have a couple of more nights
off before they get back on the floor over at
Toyota Center against the LA Clippers. I am a massive, massive,
(01:24:56):
massive Kamari lastrafiin And no it's not for the reason
that people.
Speaker 3 (01:25:00):
I think just the guy's a gamer. And I mean
he didn't practice for much of the week.
Speaker 2 (01:25:04):
I think it was Thursday was when the media saw
him working on the side, So it was touch and
go if he was gonna even have a chance to
factor into the game on Sunday, And it did look
like he was a little hampered out there like, well,
was it the one catch? I forget who it was
for Kansas City where the guy caught it and then
was able to roll for the first down, and you
(01:25:24):
see Laster get over there and it's like, dude, just
touch him and he's short of the first down. But
then you know, he tried to swipe at the ball,
wasn't able to get the football, which I didn't know
was a penalty. If you try to do the peanut
punch and you punch the player, then it's a penalty. Yeah,
they changed out a few years ago.
Speaker 4 (01:25:40):
If you don't get the ball, if you touch the
player at any spot, then yeah, it happens.
Speaker 2 (01:25:45):
Okay, all right, So luckily that didn't happen with Laster,
because I mean he did take a swipe at it,
and I think he did hit the ball and then
he reared back like he was gonna, you know, swing again,
and then he was like all right, yeah, you know
that'd be reckless at that point. So reasoning for me
being a massive Kamari Laster fan, We've got one past
(01:26:05):
bit of audio, and we got one year from Sunday
Night when he was on with Shady McCoy and Emmanuelacio
on the Speakeasy Podcast.
Speaker 3 (01:26:14):
So we'll start with the one before.
Speaker 2 (01:26:15):
So this is even before Kamari Laster was a Texan,
and it was stuff like this was probably the reason
why the Texans ended up taking last year in the
second round. Here was after again, funny enough, a team
that misses the college football playoff but then decides to
play in a air quotes meaningless bowl game. And Kamari
(01:26:36):
Laster was a guy that had every single opportunity in
front of him in the NFL draft. Probably could have
sat out and just said no, I'm not playing the game.
But this was Kirby Smart talking up the Texans cornerback
when he was still a college player.
Speaker 8 (01:26:50):
For him at Georgia, Kamari Laster had a one to
two grade first second round grade, and Kamari had to
make a tough decision like all these other people. Callamory
in and I talked to him and I told him, Kamori,
you should come out for the draft. That's my opinion.
You're one of the top corners in the draft. You
got to make that decision. Okay, that's one decision. Then
(01:27:10):
the second decision is you got to decide if you
want to play this bowl game. I don't know that
you got a lot to gain in this bowl game, Comori,
but I do know who you are, and I do
know how you practice, and I do know how you lead.
But I'm not going to be disappointed in anything you decide.
He came back about three or four days later, and
I met with him and his mom and talked to
him and fully expected him not to play in this game.
(01:27:32):
He called me two days later said, Coach, I can't
do it.
Speaker 4 (01:27:35):
I can't do it.
Speaker 8 (01:27:36):
I'm sitting down. I'm over there coaching.
Speaker 5 (01:27:38):
I can't do it.
Speaker 8 (01:27:39):
I want to be out there.
Speaker 3 (01:27:40):
I want to play with my guys. And I think
he did it against his mother's will.
Speaker 8 (01:27:43):
To be honest, now I don't know that, but I
think he did it against his mother's will because that's
who he is. So all these teams that go shopping,
this dude right here wants to play football. That's all
he cares about is playing football and his teammates.
Speaker 3 (01:27:54):
He ain't worried.
Speaker 8 (01:27:55):
About the next thing and all that, and all that.
He said, I want to play football, and he played
football for the University of Georgia.
Speaker 3 (01:28:01):
He did it.
Speaker 8 (01:28:02):
I mean, he didn't have to do it.
Speaker 4 (01:28:03):
I have never been more thankful that a four six
forty is the reason why he wasn't a first round pick.
That's the only reason he's a Houston Texan right now,
because everything else screened he was a first round pick.
Speaker 3 (01:28:12):
I s talking to you.
Speaker 4 (01:28:14):
I remember going to Indianapolis that year and meeting around
and talking with some scouts and some people that are
in the business, and they said two things to me.
Number One, Kamari Laster, his forty time will tell you
if he is a top twenty player in this year's draft.
Number Two, the last team I want to see him
be paired up with is a guy as a team
coach by Damiko Ryans match made in heaven.
Speaker 3 (01:28:32):
Well, it's a match made in heaven.
Speaker 2 (01:28:33):
And it's also too, I mean for endorsements like that
from a guy that knows him really well. And oh,
by the way too, I mean, there's certain coaches that
are known for certain parts of the field. Secondary is
what Kirby Smart is known for. Nick Saban was the
same deal. So if those guys will put a good
endorsement on a player, usually teams are going to listen
(01:28:54):
because they're like, oh, not only do you coach him,
you also know the type of work that he's putting
in at a spot that you care deeply about.
Speaker 4 (01:29:01):
I'll go a step further to get a recommendation and
talking in that prominent light from the best coach and
currently the face of college football. Yeah, probably want him
on my team. I would say almost ninety nine percent
of people would want that kid on their team.
Speaker 2 (01:29:14):
And it's absolutely worked out because, I mean just for
the reason alone of him having very very much every
single reason to say, now, I'm not going to give
it a go on Sunday. I mean clearly that was
him saying, no, if I am good enough to be
able to, you know, make meaningful contributions on the field,
and then I'm playing like you're going to have me
(01:29:34):
out there clearly too, I mean, he knew what was
at stake for the Texans on Sunday night. You lose
that game, you're in playoff dire straits at this moment.
You win that game, now you're looking really good to
make the playoffs. So he knew that being out there
in whatever capacity and probably I mean, aside from the turnovers,
the defensive play of the game, who was it made by.
Speaker 3 (01:29:56):
Third down call star of the fourth quarter. They were driving.
Speaker 4 (01:29:58):
They got a big time pick on an under thrown pass.
I'm talking about the one that was the deep shot
to the end zone. Oh I meant play. Yeah, that
ball was caught and he was behind. I mean, what
was so interesting is that you see clear as day
he has burned off the line of scrimmage, but he
doesn't quit on the play, and knowing that he's not
gonna be able to make the tackle, he just does
(01:30:19):
screw it, go full Creed mode.
Speaker 3 (01:30:21):
Can you take me, Hi, I just fly up, smack
the ball down and be able to go ahead and
stop a touchdown and went Scott's stapp is what you
said right there. I like that. That's fits. It's the
greatest half type performance of all time. We need we
need to have it reprise.
Speaker 4 (01:30:35):
I'm not even joking. I don't care about the super
Bowl halftime show.
Speaker 3 (01:30:39):
I have him for a while. I will sit down
and I will watch all thirty minutes. If it is Creedy. Well,
they got a new album coming out, supposedly, all right
to let what he wants to hear the new album.
I want to hear the classics.
Speaker 2 (01:30:49):
That's what you always love like whenever you go to
shows with bands like that and they're like, you know, hey,
we're gonna play some of our new stuff.
Speaker 3 (01:30:55):
No play higher, no play arms white open.
Speaker 4 (01:30:59):
Name the last time. Okay, name a band that you
recently saw that came out with new stuff. Dave Matthews Band,
and he played it all and we were in it.
It's the only show that I've ever been to where
the performer got booed. He is see And that's exactly it.
Speaker 3 (01:31:13):
That's what it was is.
Speaker 2 (01:31:14):
It was no, you know, we really like our new stuff,
so we know you guys are going to like this.
It's like Dave, Dave, Dave, You're not that performer anymore, Okay,
Like I hate to tell you, but you're not. When
people when people pay to come see you, they're coming
to come see you because they want to hear you
play satellite in all of these other songs.
Speaker 3 (01:31:33):
I'm marching exactly.
Speaker 2 (01:31:35):
I mean, it's take pro Jam for example, Like like
if Eddie Vedder tried to, you know, foist their new
stuff on you, you'd be like, no, dude, I want Jeremy,
I want I want Dissident.
Speaker 3 (01:31:46):
I want I want all of those songs. I don't want.
Speaker 2 (01:31:48):
I don't I don't care about this. I don't want
your your new iTunes stuff. I don't care about that.
Speaker 4 (01:31:54):
I don't want any song from Dave Matthew's band. I
hate Dave Matthews band.
Speaker 3 (01:31:57):
That's fine. The problem I'm not. It's not one of
those performers that I'm good be like, oh how dare you?
I don't care.
Speaker 4 (01:32:03):
It got played around the college campus NonStop and I
was forced to listen to it daily. And then when
I paid money out of my own pocket to go
sit inside a concert and he had twenty minutes per song,
because if everybody had to.
Speaker 3 (01:32:15):
Have their solo with the guitar jam out.
Speaker 4 (01:32:18):
And John Mayor is the exact same way, like John
Mayer is an exceptional songwriter. I love his music, but
I can't watch him live. He's the best current guitarist
because of all it is is just guitar riff after
guitar riff after guitarist, and it's six songs.
Speaker 3 (01:32:30):
And two hours. That's also too, I mean, what's your audience?
Speaker 2 (01:32:33):
I mean for some of them, like Fish and all
of them, there's a reason why they have jam outs
is because they know that their audience is rolling along
with them.
Speaker 4 (01:32:39):
I don't need to hear the free Falling cover that's
a fifteen minute song, because seven minutes of it is
a guitar solo.
Speaker 3 (01:32:45):
Before you even sing the first note, I don't need
to hear it.
Speaker 2 (01:32:48):
The repetition can be kind of droning on. You get
a little bit of a drone strike right there when
it comes to that.
Speaker 7 (01:32:54):
All right.
Speaker 2 (01:32:55):
So Kamari Laster was on with the Speakeasy Podcast that's
em Manuel watch on uh Lashawn Shady McCoy on Sunday
night after the game, and the Texans had a road
game and you hear about it all the time in football,
the first off the bus guy, and you know that's
one of those because you want to have the most
intimidating guy come off the bus first. So they asked
(01:33:16):
him that question. They go, Hey, for the Texans, who's
that who's that guy? Who's the one that you want
to send off first? Behind the head coach? Where if
you've got people from the team on the opposing side
watching you, they're like, oh man, it's gonna be a
long day.
Speaker 3 (01:33:29):
Here's what last I had to say to that question.
Speaker 5 (01:33:31):
If you can only say one person off the bus first,
like Data Dog, they the intimidator, like Data. If you
have to stand one person off the bus first, who
going off the bus first?
Speaker 3 (01:33:42):
To be honest? Me what Kamari Laster saying? Send me
off first? I'm that guy who's podcast we see on
this is on Speakeasy with Emmanuel and Shady.
Speaker 4 (01:34:01):
McCoy, So two other failed broadcasters that are trying to
keep stay relevant in the maybe got him what?
Speaker 3 (01:34:06):
I'm sorry? Does anybody respect either of their opinions?
Speaker 4 (01:34:08):
Because all I heard whenever whenever, at least Shady was
on with that show with Joy Taylor that he single
handedly made Joy Taylor likable?
Speaker 3 (01:34:18):
Am I wrong on anything? I ever?
Speaker 4 (01:34:20):
I never watched it, so I don't have a free
believe do you did you ever watch the show?
Speaker 3 (01:34:24):
I guess not. I guess not. Sorry, I don't care.
The silence was deafening right there. I don't care.
Speaker 4 (01:34:29):
Bottom line, Kamaraw Laser is a dog. Kamara Lasser is
a Texan. Kamari Laster is a Texan dog who is
going to be a reason why this defense cannot only
win a Super Bowl in twenty twenty five, but also
be a foundational piece. Here's my fear. Though we've talked
about this a lot. You can't pay for everybody to
stick around. And the more he continues to play the
(01:34:51):
way that he has, the more money he is accumulating
for the open market.
Speaker 2 (01:34:55):
I know, though, I mean with you know, mentalities like that,
I think I want to keep guys like that around
in my locker room.
Speaker 3 (01:35:00):
And maybe that means you say goodbye to somebody else,
but you.
Speaker 4 (01:35:03):
Say goodbye to Nico. I don't think you can say
about it a Nico. He's too good of a locker
room presence. He just became the fourth all time leading
receiver in franchise history. Now I get what he can
bring you, but I mean, you know, why do you
think that Jayden Higgins is here? Because if they needed
to get somebody else in that wide receiver and who
was Jaden Higgins compared to in the pre.
Speaker 3 (01:35:20):
Draft to hear it, I don't want to hear it.
I get I know where you're going with this.
Speaker 4 (01:35:24):
But this is why again, I understand this why Jalen
Knowle was my favorite pick, because if he will fit
a bill to where it's not having these type of discussions.
Speaker 2 (01:35:31):
A thing is when you put when you pay the quarterback,
whether you like it or not, forced redundancy comes into play.
And if that's the case, then I don't think Texans
fans are gonna like it.
Speaker 4 (01:35:40):
For the jam Higgins just bes a really good number
three for the rest of his career. So that way
he's getting paid forty two million instead of one hundred
and seventy five million or in seventy five million. That
way you can pay CJ and pay Nico and look
at that everybody will. I don't think the offense is
being used that way, but that's just between me and you,
all right.
Speaker 2 (01:35:58):
So we'll continue here on the Morning Drive with Dan
and Cole, continue the Texans conversation because these next four
games a little bit of a soft spot for the Texans,
possibly so the numbers might back it up. We'll discuss
right here as we continue on a Tuesday Sports Talk
seven ninety.
Speaker 1 (01:36:15):
Dan Matthews, Cole Thompson. This is the Morning Drive with
Dan and Cole.
Speaker 2 (01:36:24):
And you get into a stretch right now where your
next two opponents have a combined win total of five
three buyers on a two by the Raiders. Now we've
talked about the tripping point that could be there because
seemingly these have been teams, at least one of them
the last couple of years, that have been able to
get the Texans in a game, where again a couple
of years ago it was the Carolina Panthers last year
(01:36:45):
as the Tennessee Titans. So you'd like to be able
to avoid a similar fate this year against teams that
are trending very much towards the bottom of the league
and the top of the draft this year, as opposed
to giving themselves a win, which in the case of
say the Las Vegas Raiders, they're they're a dumpster fire.
I mean so much to the point where the other
(01:37:07):
day they're down by ten, which, by the way, the
betters were not very happy with Pete Carroll at the
end of that game. I think we've all learned a
valuable lesson at this point. I've been burned in the past,
and I think others have been burned in the past
when it comes to betting on Pete Carroll coach teams.
Speaker 3 (01:37:21):
He will find a way to burst your bet.
Speaker 2 (01:37:24):
Like a couple of years ago, it was having a
chance to be able to win when he was with
the Seattle Seahawks, and if they just kicked the extra point.
Then I win my bet as opposed to them going
for two. And then I missed my, my, my parley
by one. Then the other night it was they were
down by ten. I believe the the total was eight
and a half and half. Yeah, it was eight and
(01:37:45):
a half for Denver. So they kick a meaningless fuel
goal to lose by seven.
Speaker 3 (01:37:50):
You see Portner's reaction. He was not happy.
Speaker 4 (01:37:53):
No, he called for something that even investigate the raiders,
investigate pig.
Speaker 3 (01:37:58):
He said, way worse than that.
Speaker 4 (01:38:00):
And listen, I think that I'm allowed a mount at
times and I will get a little bit hospitable.
Speaker 3 (01:38:03):
I don't go that far. Oh, I mean, being hospitable
is nice. Being hostile is not. Is not the good part.
Speaker 4 (01:38:09):
I mixed up words all the time. That's just my
reality of this one, Dan, That's just all it is.
I think how hospitable is where I think hospitable is
where you're.
Speaker 3 (01:38:16):
Total just kind of kind of your thing.
Speaker 4 (01:38:17):
You're a delta bravo of you're hospitable. You're the nicest
person in the world of your hostile Okay, all right,
my brain works, all right, all right, I like it.
Speaker 7 (01:38:25):
I like it.
Speaker 3 (01:38:25):
I can roll with it now. I mean, are we
are we?
Speaker 4 (01:38:27):
Are we playing betting lines? Are we playing actual winning football?
Because right now the Raiders can't win to save their life, but.
Speaker 2 (01:38:33):
Now you want to, you know, also avoid the Arizona
Cardinals with that because.
Speaker 3 (01:38:37):
The Texans have been burned.
Speaker 2 (01:38:38):
And again too, this isn't a comparison to previous years,
but I mean it is one of those though too.
I mean, you know, it can be increased confidence for
a guy of saying, you know, hey, I've had success
against these guys before, and Jacoby Brissett has been one
of those guys that's had success in the past against
the Texans. But I think that the major difference here
again rules and exceptions, is that not this defense, not
(01:39:03):
the way that this group is playing. I mean, dare
I say that the way that this Texans defense is
playing right now it's better than twenty eleven when that
defense was unreal with Wade Phillips that team. If you
want to talk about a possible mirror image kind of
a similar deal. Now you feel much better about your
quarterback than you did TJ.
Speaker 3 (01:39:23):
Yates.
Speaker 2 (01:39:24):
But that's exactly why you felt like the Texans had
a chance because You're like, oh, Waite Phillips is gonna
keep us in this.
Speaker 4 (01:39:29):
Game better than twenty eleven Dan, We're past that at
this point. We're talking historic defenses. I'm looking this is
the best defense that the Texans have ever had a
franchise history. I will go down on that, and they
may not get the sacked totals and they may end
up not having the number one overall metric when it
comes to third down conversion rate or red zone efficency.
(01:39:50):
Watch with your eyes, watch the way the team plays
and how they've been able to respond with multiple injuries
and cuts from other position groups, just to guarantee that
they still are playing with with a fire. We're now
in the conversation of are they better than twenty thirteen
Legion of Boom? Are they better than nineteen eighty five Bears?
Are they better than the one defense from two thousand
(01:40:12):
and one for the Baltimore Ravens. And honestly, the Ravens
one feels very much like in the conversation because the
reason why Baltimore won the Super Bowl over the New
York Giants was not because of Trent Dilfer. It was
because of what they have with Ray Lewis, what they
have with Ed Reid and what they have with the
great communication upfront, That's what Houston could actually have this year.
Speaker 3 (01:40:32):
Tony Sarah Gusa there too. That was a team, That's
That's what I always say.
Speaker 4 (01:40:37):
That was a defense that was able to quite literally
pull the rest of the team across the finish line.
Speaker 3 (01:40:42):
That's what always cracks me up to with.
Speaker 2 (01:40:44):
You know, I've always wanted to ask Trent Dilfer, just
being like, hey, do you like being used as that example?
And I'm sure he'd probably say, well, I want a
super Bowl, so what do I care? Huh he gets
to say I got to hold a Lombardi Trophy and
I have a ring. Yeah, I'm totally okay with it.
What's his name, Mike dick Cut. Do you really think
that Mike Dicka, especially when he was in the movie
kicking and screaming and saying, oh, I'm sorry, I couldn't
(01:41:04):
hear you over the sound of my ring, you think
that he cares that Jim McMahon was a joke and
that the offensive line was a little bit above average. No,
he had the Monsters of Midway defense that was able
to deliver time after time after time, and that's what
the Texans happened. Apparently Laura Rutledge, I think, came up
with the nickname for the Texans.
Speaker 3 (01:41:22):
No Kay Adams did.
Speaker 4 (01:41:23):
What was it?
Speaker 3 (01:41:24):
I have no idea ida list of k Adams.
Speaker 2 (01:41:25):
Okay, every time I think of kicking and screaming, I
always think of the part where Dick goes up in
his office smoking a cigar and his wife's Mike, I
smell smoke. Nobody's smoking, and this comes on it and
she puts it on out. No, he gives it to
Will Ferrell. He's like, I told you no smoking.
Speaker 10 (01:41:41):
No.
Speaker 3 (01:41:41):
There's a scene at the very end where he does
it again.
Speaker 4 (01:41:43):
She comes on and he's like I knew it, and
she slaps him and then goes lavea honey and then
he goes in the Light's the second one as Seroni
as the game?
Speaker 3 (01:41:48):
Yeah, it's the coach. He's allowed to do whatever he wants.
Speaker 2 (01:41:51):
Sean told a great story you know where he talked
about how ditka they when they were working at ESPN
that they were supposed to I think go to Philadelphia
as part of their training camp tour and they were like,
you know, hey, we're getting on the flight and did
go was like, I'm not going. I want a steak,
And because they were in Indianapolis, he's like, he's like,
(01:42:12):
I want a steak.
Speaker 3 (01:42:13):
We'll get there, We'll find our way. And they had
a buddy with a private hit and they they got there.
Where do you think he went? Sane?
Speaker 5 (01:42:19):
Almost?
Speaker 2 (01:42:19):
No, that's exactly where they went. And then of course
it was one of those like where they had closed.
But you know how like if you've got a certain
amount of status, like they'll stay open for you. Yeah,
apparently they stayed open for Ditka.
Speaker 3 (01:42:31):
Why wouldn't they?
Speaker 4 (01:42:32):
Yeah, exactly, Hall of Fame coach and a guy that
won the another bourbon coach. Absolutely, do you even need
to ask?
Speaker 5 (01:42:39):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (01:42:39):
Care is that gonna happen for Demiko Ryans if they
win the Super Bowl this year?
Speaker 1 (01:42:42):
Sure?
Speaker 3 (01:42:42):
Yeah, you win a Super Bowl, you don't pay for
another meal? Absolutely? Do you think that there's restaurants that
stay open for Tamiko Ryans already? Right now?
Speaker 2 (01:42:49):
I mean if he wants to. I mean he's a
family man, so I don't. I don't think he's living
that life as much anymore. But if he, if he did,
then sure absolutely, they would.
Speaker 4 (01:42:57):
Again to me, this defense is the reason why you
can believe that the Texans have a shot for going
to the Super Bowl. Now, I'm not ready to go
ahead and say anything along that because matchups really matter,
and I will say I still have to see you
deliver against the teams that you're supposed to. My fear
has always been not losing to Kansas City. You lose
Kansas City, Okay, you went on out, You're in the playoffs. Still,
(01:43:18):
my fear has always been what happens if you get
complacent and you overlook Arizona and then Trey McBride goes
off for two forty and he has a touch and
he has four touchdowns. What happens if you overlook Ashton
Genty in this rushing attack for Las Vegas and it's
not good right now, and they're looking to get the
number one overall pick.
Speaker 3 (01:43:35):
But winners want to win. And Pete Carroll is a
winner and.
Speaker 4 (01:43:37):
He ends up like quite literally emptying the kitchen scene
because he knows that he is going to be out
the door at this point, and they get the biggest
win of the year, Like what happens? Then then we
go right back to the conversation to what we said
for a while about the Texans. This is a team
that has all the talent in the world, but they
get complacent at the worst times possible and they lose
(01:43:58):
to rosters that are fighting for the number one one
We're all back.
Speaker 2 (01:44:00):
Well, the Texans defense, you don't have to really worry
about them. It's other parts of the team that you
have to worry about. And Demiico Ryans talked about it yesterday.
We will let you hear from him as we continue
here on a Tuesday, It's the Morning Drive with Dan
and Coles Sports Talks seven ninety. Let's talk to your health,
and I'm talking to physical health this time. And if
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and the low T Center.
Speaker 3 (01:45:30):
You don't have to be a pep to get your
lady to work at your command, mister von Bee, that's.
Speaker 5 (01:45:34):
Right, jess Aks, just my device to play sports Talk
seven to ninety on I Heart.
Speaker 3 (01:45:37):
Radio talking to Texans right now.
Speaker 2 (01:45:40):
You want to get in on them seven one three
two one two five seven ninety And as we mentioned,
I mean the defense you got that figured out you're
all good there. Offensively, well, that's another story. When we
saw that play out in the third quarter of Sunday
Night football against the Chiefs and Demiico Ryans meeting with
the media yesterday talking about that offense and saying, yeah,
(01:46:00):
let's be honest, we got things to work on.
Speaker 14 (01:46:03):
Look, there are a lot of things offensively, I think
we have to approve upon, specifically in the half and
coming out at the second. At the second the beginning
of the second half, it's not good.
Speaker 3 (01:46:13):
Enough for us.
Speaker 14 (01:46:14):
We got to move the ball better in those situations,
all right, and then when it comes to the pressures,
there's things to learn from. We got to operate much
faster with just the timing of everything, getting the play
calls in and out of the huddle, getting the line properly,
making the right id, getting guys picked up the proper way.
We have to operate more efficiently. We have to operate
(01:46:36):
with much more urgency on the offensive side of the football.
You'll continue to see those type of pressures right that
showed up, So there's a lot of room for improvement
there and we have to see that improvement very quickly.
Speaker 4 (01:46:48):
Do you think that he's saying anything negative about the defense,
even when it comes to improvements, because if that's just
who Demiko Ryans is, or he realizes my offense can't
get more.
Speaker 3 (01:46:57):
Than twenty points, so we got to get even better.
Speaker 2 (01:46:59):
I think there is a higher standard for the defense,
and I think it's been that way ever since he's
gotten here. I mean, you know, that's kind of one
of those where it's just like, well, wait a minute,
why are you you know, why are you putting this
on the defense? You know, with you know, we got
to get stops, we got to get off the field
on third down. Where it's just like, well, yeah, you do,
but Tmiko, why are you also in those situations? So
(01:47:19):
I think there's a little bit of that, the part
that you know, if you're a fan listening to that,
that you're like, dude, you've got some nerve to say
that about the end of the half because you're the
one that's been sitting on timeouts. You're the one that
hasn't necessarily been able to work the clock well enough
in those situations, So why is that on the offense
(01:47:40):
At a certain point.
Speaker 3 (01:47:41):
That's on you.
Speaker 4 (01:47:42):
You're the head coach. You have to take priority of it,
and I don't want to hear. I don't I don't
want to hear when we get the ball in the
second half, Therefore, we don't want to go ahead and
give the ball over to somebody and then maybe they
get some points. I want to see aggressiveness because unfortunately,
when you get down to the bottom line of what
is going to be your season, when there is no
(01:48:03):
margin of error. I completely understand that you don't want
to give the give a team a second opportunity, but
in my opinion, take a risk show that you're willing
to go for the juggular. And I said this on
Monday night. The Texans play for the field goal. They're
excited for the touchdown because they know that their defense
is good enough to guarantee that their team is not
(01:48:25):
scoring or even crossing midfield. So all you need is
three to win the football game. But it's infuriating that
that feels like the identa of what the offense is
right now.
Speaker 3 (01:48:34):
I think that also too.
Speaker 2 (01:48:35):
I mean, the lack of trust in the offense is
what feeds into that, and I mean it's exactly what
you know we've talked about before with the offense. I
think the Miko kind of looks at it as God
bless them. They try, like you know, they try. But
it's also though, it's like, Okay, you shouldn't think that way.
When you've got a guy like Nico Collins, who is
one of the best receivers in the league. You know
(01:48:56):
what the charge is at that point, is Nick find
a way to get him the football.
Speaker 3 (01:49:00):
Well, there's this. I don't care. Nick.
Speaker 2 (01:49:01):
Your job is to be able to scheme him open.
That's your job, your job, that's what you're supposed to do.
So enough of the bunch formations. Enough with the Hey,
you know what we got, we gotta establish the run.
You know what, why don't we worry about establishing the
run like late in games when you got to try
to ice things away.
Speaker 3 (01:49:18):
Like what what, let's think about what's working?
Speaker 2 (01:49:21):
Like you almost feel like, you know, uh, necessary roughness
right here, Let's talk about what's working.
Speaker 3 (01:49:26):
And in certain cases when it comes to the run, game,
not a thing.
Speaker 4 (01:49:30):
Nothing, nothing's working in the offense right now, Dan, at
least for I would say thirty I would say fifty
percent of the game nothing is working because of again,
there's incompetence when it comes to coming out of halftime,
there's the slow, methodical drive of no sheer passion that
you see right before the half, and then you maybe
are lucky enough to get start off on the hot foot,
(01:49:50):
and then you close out the fourth quarter with at
least scoring or a delay a game that nearly costs
you in that game. That's the other thing, too, man,
It's just like it's it's constantly. At this point, we
already can expect that, and I've already told you I've
expected at this point of the season, Week fifteen, the
Texans are going to have at least three false starts
or three offensive line palaties.
Speaker 3 (01:50:11):
So prepare for it. Have a game plan. Here'd be
my answer for you.
Speaker 4 (01:50:16):
Knowing when you're in the red zone and knowing that
there have been red zone fatalities and red zone misopportunities
about the year, Well, you don't score, so you kill drives.
Speaker 3 (01:50:24):
Have a plan to when you're going to see the
illegal motion.
Speaker 4 (01:50:27):
Have a play call to where you already know that
you don't have to do make any adjustments when it's
second and ten, but you know it's gonna be second
and fifteen. Have a play drawn up for when you
know the inevitable false start happens, you're not going to
be able to get back to the line of scrimmage
and hits, so hit because that's going to be the
case moving forward. The Texans are going to get into
the red zone, You're going to get either a holding call,
(01:50:49):
an illegal motion or a false start on somebody on
the front five and now the play is going to
be pushed back five yards.
Speaker 2 (01:50:55):
You know, and I have to think that way, but
I mean it's also too I mean, play to your strengths,
play to your weakness, and that definitely is one of
their weaknesses.
Speaker 4 (01:51:02):
What do you mean, don't plan to think that way?
That's you I said, you don't want to have to
you have to think that way. That's what I was saying.
We're in agreement here, Cole. I was like, there is
no way that you can say, oh, you don't have
to know. You very much have to think that way
because it's.
Speaker 3 (01:51:16):
Going to happen.
Speaker 4 (01:51:17):
And if you don't believe me, go look back at
the film from week one to week fourteen. You want
to what is the one constant that the offensive line
is going to have a false start or an illegal
motion inside the red zone. It's the one constant I
can guarantee death taxes. Somebody jumping off sides.
Speaker 2 (01:51:33):
In the first quarter. One of my favorites is sure
as You're born. That's that's one of my go to So,
sure as You're born. Somebody is going to false start.
Sure as You're born. There's going to be two guys
in motion when the ball is snapped.
Speaker 4 (01:51:46):
Sure as You're born. The Texans are going to find
a way to mess it up in the red zone.
Speaker 2 (01:51:49):
Oh, I mean, you know the scariest words in local
sports right now? Texans have the ball inside the opponents five.
Speaker 3 (01:51:55):
I don't think that's the scariest words.
Speaker 13 (01:51:57):
No, it is.
Speaker 3 (01:51:58):
It totally is. It's almost a death center every single time.
It's not death sentence.
Speaker 4 (01:52:02):
It's just it's just something that you have to realize
it is probably gonna end in three points.
Speaker 3 (01:52:08):
That's the funny. Am I wrong?
Speaker 2 (01:52:09):
No, you're not wrong, because the offense right now is hey,
as you exactly said, plan for Kayami Fairbairn jogging out
for three as opposed to him jogging out for thirty
three yards to only be one look.
Speaker 3 (01:52:22):
And I don't want to act that way because of again,
you brought it up.
Speaker 4 (01:52:24):
You have one of the best receivers currently in the
NFL and Nico Collins, and I do think that you
have a quarterback that, when given time to throw, does
have the ability to at least be accurate. But the
question comes to you still see the ineptitude and the
mental mistakes that hindered this team early on in the
season showing up in Week fifteen. So now, unfortunately, it's
(01:52:45):
like it's like how I've said to a lot of
people when it comes like Alabama versus Okahoma, Like everyone's like, oh, well,
these two teams are gonna change, right, No, this is
who they are. Offensively, this is who they are. So
you have to find a way to adjust around it. Offensively,
the tech since offensive line is going to have a
false start or in a legal motion inside the twenty,
(01:53:05):
so have a game plan for when that inevitably happens.
Speaker 2 (01:53:08):
All right, So one of the best to put on
a headset currently in the NFL nearly never was, And
we'll explain right here on the Morning Drive with Dan
and Coles Sports Talk seven ninety. You want to get
in know a couple of you already trying to weigh in,
so we'll give you that chance. Someone three two one
two five seven ninety. Get it's someone three two one
two five seven ninety. As we continue here on a
(01:53:31):
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Speaker 3 (01:54:58):
Houston's generator experts.
Speaker 1 (01:55:02):
Cole as the Morning Drive cruises off.
Speaker 2 (01:55:07):
A current best in the broadcasting booth, nearly never was
get to that here in just a couple of minutes.
Speaker 3 (01:55:13):
But Dave on the north side wants to weigh in. Dave,
good morning. I did it again. There you go, Dave,
good morning. Who Yes, we got us loud and clear.
What's that buddy?
Speaker 15 (01:55:30):
Yea, Dana Cole, what's happening?
Speaker 3 (01:55:31):
What's up man? How you doing?
Speaker 15 (01:55:34):
I'm doing great, doing great, doing great. I need to
ask both of you guys a question about the Houston
Texans offense. Do the Houston Texas offense are Nick Keley?
Nick Kelly is the offensive coordinator, okay of the Houston Texas.
If you are the offensive coordinator of the Houston Texas,
(01:55:54):
what is your plan for a pre snap penalty or
a penalty that car through the holding Kennedy on second
and twenty or something like that, A second and fifteen
action pass?
Speaker 3 (01:56:09):
Going to pass the play action pass?
Speaker 15 (01:56:11):
But why I play act.
Speaker 4 (01:56:13):
Pass because of I think that, no matter what, you
need to be prepared for a ten yard penalty, so
you're not going to be able to run it on
first and twenty. I think that, knowing how this offense
is and how this office has been all year, they
would predict you to go for it on first and
twenty and try to run and put yourself in a
second and seventeen.
Speaker 15 (01:56:29):
Okay, why is Nick Haley not doing it?
Speaker 3 (01:56:35):
Your guess is a good as mine.
Speaker 4 (01:56:37):
I mean, I wish he had an answer for that
one man, But right now it's abundantly clear that it
feels like it's very predictable.
Speaker 3 (01:56:43):
It's very much a conversation.
Speaker 15 (01:56:45):
It is very predictable.
Speaker 3 (01:56:46):
You and I know that, right So that's.
Speaker 4 (01:56:49):
Probably why is that Unfortunately, he stuck in his ways
and he doesn't want to put the team in a
different position.
Speaker 3 (01:56:54):
Because here's the problem.
Speaker 4 (01:56:55):
Here's the problem with what happens when you run a
play action pass on let's say a first and twenty.
Let's say the offensive line gets pulverized like it did
on Sunday night against Kansas City.
Speaker 3 (01:57:06):
Well, now you're living in second and thirty three.
Speaker 4 (01:57:09):
So that's usually why they're running it on first and twenty,
or why they have that presat penalty. They're trying to
gain as many yards back to get back to that
initial line of scrimmage, not put themselves in a more
negative position.
Speaker 15 (01:57:21):
Yeah, I see, I understand what you're saying.
Speaker 7 (01:57:23):
But he is.
Speaker 15 (01:57:26):
He is continuing to do that, and it drives me
crazy when he does that.
Speaker 3 (01:57:32):
Yeah, I get it.
Speaker 4 (01:57:33):
It's very frustrating. I completely understand. It's frustrating. I think
it's frustrating for this organization because this should be an
offense that right now. We've seen growth on the offensive line.
We've seen maturity when it comes to Jaden Higgins. We've
seen what Dalton Schultz can do in open space. We've
known that Woodie Marks can run the football to and
at least an efficient level. We're not asking to be
Joe Mixon two point zero. We're asking to just be
(01:57:53):
able to put the ball in a positive light. And
right now it feels like the predictability of the play
call now leads to a first and fifteen because of
a false start by an offensive lineman who at this point,
fifteen weeks in the season should know the snap count
is now leading to a second and twenty because of
everybody can guess what the first play is.
Speaker 15 (01:58:16):
And basically that it's it's repetitive when they do when
they do, when they.
Speaker 3 (01:58:21):
Do this no predictable time. Appreciate the call. Dave always
great too, Yeah, you always great to hear from you.
Speaker 2 (01:58:30):
I guess that, you know, just kind of, you know,
during the course of you two guys talking, it just
dawned on me, like, is there anything to necessarily ever
believe that we're going to see creativity out of Nick Kyley.
Speaker 4 (01:58:41):
I thought he tried to on the third down play
when it came with Jaalen Nole. I thought he was passing,
like I honestly thought that was a creative play to
where you get everybody to fall to the left and
then you have a wide open receiver on the right,
whether that be Higgins or Collins or Schultz, it's one
on one coverage at that point. So then you say, okay,
we get the first down. Maybe it's a gain of
twenty five, maybe it's a touchdown pass. I thought that
(01:59:03):
was creative. The problem was is that it was always
a design run. If you're gonna run a wide receiver's
jet sweep, you don't go from behind. You go right
in front of the line, right in front of the quarterback.
That's how Jets swoot's supposed to be run. If you're
passing the.
Speaker 3 (01:59:17):
Ball, you go behind. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (01:59:19):
I just I feel like that there's telegraphing that's happening
with these play calls.
Speaker 3 (01:59:24):
I mean, because that's the thing.
Speaker 2 (01:59:25):
I mean, as soon as I saw Jalennoell go in
the backfield, I said, ball's going to him.
Speaker 3 (01:59:29):
Doesn't matter if it's a run, doesn't matter if it's
a pass. No, everyone knew it was going to him.
Speaker 4 (01:59:33):
But the thing that you can do afterwards is you
can have him either pass it right back to CJ
who then gets a receiver downfield, and you pull the
defense all the way over to the right where they're
going to have to plant their feet and work their
way back and now go against the offensive line, or
you throw it downfield and hopefully your arm is strong
enough to make the play to the receiver.
Speaker 2 (01:59:52):
Just feel like creativity is earned, and I just I
don't think that he's going to be able to earn that.
Like I think short of you know, seeing what this
offense looks like when you've got Joe Mixon involved in
you know, Tank Dell involved in this. I mean, I
mean even Brevin Jordan, who, as you mentioned yesterday, signing
an extension. I just don't I just don't think that
we're going to be able to get to that point.
(02:00:12):
I mean, I think that just my belief is that
Nick Kyley is going to be this guy, and that
I mean for the defensive side of the ball. They're
kind of like, well, you're not really going to put
us in danger, so we appreciate you for that. But
I mean, I think just in terms of being able
to take that next step, i e. Winning the AFC
and winning the Super Bowl, you need more seven seven nine.
(02:00:33):
I have a question for all of you out here
in Houston.
Speaker 4 (02:00:36):
Would you take your defense not being number one in
the NFL and you give up ten more points per contest,
if it meant that the offense was scoring ten more
points and averaging one hundred more yards.
Speaker 3 (02:00:48):
Per game, something we can definitely kick around and would
you do it?
Speaker 4 (02:00:52):
It's it's it's a simple question, because honestly, I think
there are some people who would say, no, I'd rather
have the number one defense in the NFL and just
trust that the going to get the job done.
Speaker 2 (02:01:01):
I'll tell you next right here as we continue in
the nine o'clock hour on the Morning Drive. Don't forget
Cynthia Freeland from NFL Network. She's going to join us
at nine thirty, so we'll get into a little bit
of Texans talk with her as we continue here on Tuesday,
Sports Talk seven ninety KDM.
Speaker 3 (02:01:20):
E Houston, KTVHD to Houston as a rocket.
Speaker 1 (02:01:28):
Is Sports Talk seven ninety your home for your home
teams and iHeartRadio stations guaranteed you mean, this is the
Morning Drive with Dan and Cole.
Speaker 2 (02:01:47):
Texans. Another off day for the players. Everybody going to
be back in the building tomorrow getting ready for the
Cardinals on Sunday over at NRG Stadium.
Speaker 3 (02:01:57):
Monday Night Football.
Speaker 2 (02:01:57):
Last night Chargers over the Eagles twenty two nineteen and
Heisman finalists announced. Indiana quarterback for Dana Mendozo, Ohio State
QB Julians, sand Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love, and
Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia all headed to New York. Seven
one three two one two five seven ninety. So lay
out your scenario again for the audience that you threw
(02:02:18):
out about the offense and being able to take away
a little bit from the defense. As I mean, it
is one of those things that you look at with
this team and you're like, Okay, you know the defense
is absolutely carrying the team, but maybe a chance for
the offense to be able to help out a little
bit more.
Speaker 3 (02:02:38):
And you had a scenario for that. Seven one three
two one two five seven ninety.
Speaker 4 (02:02:43):
The Texans currently are the number one defense in the
NFL in total yards and in total and in scoring defense.
Right now, entering Week fifteen against a lowly Arizona Cardinals roster,
they are allowing two hundred and sixty six point three
yards per game sixteenth points per contest. Would you trade
(02:03:07):
up and give up ten points per game to the
average and average one hundred more yards allowed per contest,
So that would put you at.
Speaker 3 (02:03:15):
Twenty six points per game.
Speaker 4 (02:03:17):
Twenty six points per game is currently in the bottom
of the defensive rankings. It's in the bottom ten. You're
only you're also giving up three hundred and sixty three
yards per game. That is in the middle, that's seventeenth.
To guarantee that your offense is now averaging ten more
points per contest. So right now, the Texans offensively araging
(02:03:38):
twenty one point eight points per game. That is point
one point higher than the team that you face off
against on Sunday in the Arizona Cardinals thirty one point
one points per game. That'd be the number one scoring
offense in the NFL. Would you make that trade?
Speaker 2 (02:03:52):
No, no about it either, not even close, just because
of you know the personnel that you have, and also,
I mean you would think that you know more offense
that's going to give you an opportunity in a game.
I need definitives, and a definitive is knowing that defense
will play no matter what.
Speaker 4 (02:04:09):
I think it's easier to say that you can win
in a rock fight than a shootout. Right now, especially
in today's NFL because of there are so many teams
that are aggressively going after fourt DOCN versions and trying
to go ahead and set the tempo on first down
with the play action pass, they could easily score. I
feel like that because of where your defense is and
(02:04:30):
the ability to trust your pass rush and your ability
to trust your secondary to create turnovers, there is a
better chance for you to be able to walk in
and win thirteen to ten than it is for you
to walk out forty one to forty score.
Speaker 2 (02:04:43):
I mean, I think the scenario that you just laid
out right there is the Detroit Lions, because I mean
that's a defense that has been very advantageous in terms
of turnovers and their high risk, you know, in some
cases low reward. But I mean they're pretty much in
the same position that you are, in a much tougher
division with Chicago and with Green Bay there breathing down
(02:05:05):
their neck too.
Speaker 4 (02:05:06):
So I mean, you know, offensively, right now, the Detroit
Lions are number one in the NFL and points alloted
per game and number one in total yards, So there
you go.
Speaker 3 (02:05:13):
I mean they are middle of the pack and defense.
Speaker 2 (02:05:15):
So yeah, I mean that's that's pretty much what you
would be and I mean in terms of the AFC
playoff picture at this moment, if you had that going
for you, then you're probably right where say Kansas City
is at the moment with some of the teams that
you played against. I mean, defense is what won you
the Buffalo game. Defense is what won you at least
(02:05:37):
in the fourth quarter, along with the offense going along
in the Jacksonville game, same deal in the Tennessee game.
I mean, almost every single one of these games that
they've had in this five game win streak has been
because of the defense.
Speaker 4 (02:05:49):
It's one hundred percent because of the defense. It's because
your offense. Okay, to be fair, I will say that
the comeback by Davis Mills in the fourth quarter was
on the offense. Now, was that also because of you?
You had incompetent play from Jacksonville. Absolutely, and your defense
did force two.
Speaker 3 (02:06:04):
Man a warm him down and you know, three and outs,
all of that kind of.
Speaker 4 (02:06:08):
And they did force two critical turnovers, including the game
ceiling scoop and score by Sheldon Rankins. I'll give them
credit there, but the offense was the reason why you
were able to come back, because let's just say it,
was twenty nine ten, I mean twenty six ten. If
your offense doesn't do anything and your defense is forcing
three and outs, it's just punt punt, punt, punt, punt.
Speaker 3 (02:06:24):
Game over.
Speaker 2 (02:06:25):
I mean, and that Sheldon Rankins pick six return too, well,
was it big guy touchdown?
Speaker 3 (02:06:31):
It was fairly in touchdown, but it was a scoop
and score one.
Speaker 2 (02:06:32):
And did you see two that he nearly had it
knocked out of his hands right as he was going
into the end zone. That man was not losing that football. Please,
That's what I loved. Where they were like, hey, do
you know where the football is? He's like, no, not really,
because the only thing I remember was my head coach
was jumping on me as soon as I got to
the end zone.
Speaker 4 (02:06:50):
I'll be completely real. They block out in that moment.
I would block out in that moment. You would triple
you would block out in that moment. You would block
out in that moment. Nobody would be able to remin
what happened in that moment.
Speaker 3 (02:07:01):
Yeah, what happened. I blacked out. I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (02:07:02):
Someone three two one, two five seven ninety is the
number to get in. Let's keep it going on the
phone lines, Anthony wants the way and Anthony good morning.
Speaker 12 (02:07:11):
Hey, good morning fellas. Hey, I'm I'm with y'all. I
think defense is more an elite. Defense is more repeatable.
In my opinion, it's more sustainable. During this five game stretch,
the Texans have played the second ranked offense and the
Bills and the fifth ranked offense and the Colts, and
the defense won both of those games. So I'll take
(02:07:34):
the Texans right where they're at. And I also believe
heavily and the old saying that defense wins championships.
Speaker 7 (02:07:42):
So I'll take us right where we're at.
Speaker 3 (02:07:44):
Guys, appreciate the call. I mean. And that's just the thing.
Speaker 2 (02:07:48):
I mean, because when you consider the personnel that you
have at this moment, you're not going to have a
capable run game. Like that's just it's it's not going
to happen what he Marx has performed above being a
fourth round pick this year for how much they use
him one I mean, And that's the thing is because
the way that this offense was supposed to work, you
(02:08:09):
were supposed to have Joe Mixon, Joe Mixon was supposed
to be able to And that's the thing, Like you
have Joe Mixon this year, Like, are some of the
offensive line issues?
Speaker 3 (02:08:19):
Are they rectified?
Speaker 10 (02:08:20):
No?
Speaker 3 (02:08:21):
I don't think so.
Speaker 4 (02:08:22):
I think it's not as big as a talking point
because if you're seeing the yards after contact coming by mixing,
and it shows as long as you have five dudes
that are able to create a whole, he can make plays.
I think that that's more so the conversation we're having
at this point that you're able to sustain this because
you're not getting CJ. Stroud killed behind the line of scrimmage.
And so far they've done that part. It's the run
(02:08:42):
blocking that's actually been a negative for the team most
this year.
Speaker 2 (02:08:45):
And I mean, and that's where you know, I think
having mixing around and you know Chubb has also been
pretty good at doing that as well. I mean that's
something that you've been able to count on with him.
But obviously with signing Cody Schrader yesterday, I.
Speaker 4 (02:08:57):
Mean, shining a guy that's going to be in inactive
player on Sunday, gotcham so.
Speaker 2 (02:09:01):
I mean, so then it's gonna become Darry Goombwallee and
before him what he marks as being your run game
right now. So that's the part that you just you're
not gonna be able to count on you look for hey,
just give us enough, like that's pretty much what we need.
Speaker 3 (02:09:15):
I mean, it's as a team.
Speaker 2 (02:09:16):
If you run for as a team over one hundred yards,
then you're excited about that. I mean, and that's that's
what we've seen. I mean, what's it been mostly for
the high totals this year for Marx? What sixty eight
seventy yards something like that, But.
Speaker 4 (02:09:30):
He's finally gotten to a point of where he's averaging
twenty carries a game.
Speaker 3 (02:09:33):
That's over the last couple of games.
Speaker 4 (02:09:34):
Look at look at his numbers ever since since this lot,
since the win Street happened fourteen eighteen, sixteen, nineteen twenty six,
and every single one he's finished with at least forty
rushing yards, and four of those games finished with sixty four.
The only one he did have finished with fifty yards
or more was the Tennessee game.
Speaker 2 (02:09:51):
I mean, and that's I mean because I mean you've
also had Nick Chubb, who's able to you know, chip
in with thirty five forty yards here and there. I mean,
give you some tough yardage and you know a few
runs too. Where it looks like he's gonna be brought
down for about a you know, a gain of two
and then you look up and you're like, oh, hey,
you know that's about five or six on that one. Okay, yeah,
we can play with that one. We're good with that one.
Speaker 4 (02:10:11):
It's still kind of infuriating that he has more receiving
touchdowns than rushing touchdowns, and that's attestment of the offensive line.
And I do think that if you had Joe Mixon
out there right now, you feel a little bit more
confident about where your offensive personnel is in terms of
being able to run the football at a high end level,
because there are some limitations that you just have with
Nick Chubb at this point, and there are some limitations
that you have with the rookie running back in what
(02:10:32):
he marks to make place.
Speaker 3 (02:10:34):
That's just the case.
Speaker 2 (02:10:35):
Someone three two on two, five seven ninety the number
to get in Larry and Stafford wants to weigh in.
Speaker 3 (02:10:40):
Larry, Good morning, what's going on, bull dog?
Speaker 5 (02:10:44):
How you doing mate? I got no complaints, Hey man,
It's a beautiful day in the age, man, especially after
that win on Sunday night. Baby, you know, you just
got to be able to embrace the Chamber of Commerce,
weather we have outside and really get into it. But
let me get at a couple of things real quick.
You know, I'm a big fan of you know, sport
(02:11:05):
man and really enjoying sports. And after that game in
Kansas City, man, you know, I was on the high
drunk me some yack man, smoked me a stick, stayed
up all night, rewashed the gage at three o'clock in
the morning. And when I come to realize, man.
Speaker 3 (02:11:20):
Is that.
Speaker 5 (02:11:22):
Nick Cayley still bothers me? Bulldog because when they had
a chance to put that team away in on Sunday night,
Nick Cayley calls some of the dumbest plays that I've
seen when you have an opportunity to put the champs away.
And this is one of the things that worries me
about this team, because I think this team is a
(02:11:42):
legitimate Super Bowl team. And Cole, I remember all the
stuff you said last week too that you didn't believe.
I bet your ass starting to believe now. No, anyway,
I don't anyway, Uh.
Speaker 3 (02:11:53):
No, No, I mean you want to go there, Larry,
you want to go there. Let's go there. No, I don't.
Speaker 4 (02:11:56):
I still don't because I got to see it be
done offensively against teams like last Vegas in Arizona.
Speaker 5 (02:12:01):
That's a problem you're gonna You're you're one of those
people that are gonna continue to find the reason to
make excuses for your disbelief and what your eyes are
telling you.
Speaker 3 (02:12:11):
The number one defense in the NFL and the offense
is not.
Speaker 5 (02:12:15):
If you still need to see the Denver Broncos and
somebody else, and after watching that defense, I suggest real
quick that you either figure out how to start understanding
football and what your eyes are actually seeing, you are
you just quit saying foolish stuff because we don't need
to see nothing else. You ain't seen him play Josh Allen.
(02:12:37):
You've seen him play Pat mahonone, you've seen him play
Trevor Lawrence and all these quarterbacks. And you're still gonna
come on the air and say, well, I still need
to see a little bit more from.
Speaker 16 (02:12:46):
The No no, no, no, No.
Speaker 4 (02:12:49):
Larry Larry, Larry, Larry Larry, good morning, Good morning, bulldog.
Speaker 3 (02:12:54):
How about this?
Speaker 4 (02:12:55):
How about we say that the defense is a super
Bowl caliber contending team. Because I've never argued that, I've
never once argued that you can't come throw it in
my face and say that I've done that. I am
going to question the offense until I see consistency at
the highest level against the underqualified teams.
Speaker 3 (02:13:12):
That's the next eight quarters you have.
Speaker 4 (02:13:14):
Over the next eight quarters, if you show me that
you can handle business against a team that is middle
of the pack defensively in the Arizona Cardinals and one
that is the bottom dweller of the AFC in rankings,
by all means, I will take back everything that I
said about seeing more from this team, because you are right.
They have been able to win against teams that are
(02:13:35):
qualified playoff rosters, but they haven't been able to show
me enough offensively, and they still have to face off
against teams from the NFC, which is where I think
right now the Super Bowl contender resides.
Speaker 5 (02:13:49):
So basically, you're saying that the only team that's going
to satisfy and quench your thirst is if they put
a forty points against a mediocre Oakland team or a
mediocre Arizona team. That's what you're trying to tell me.
I'm saying because if that's what you're trying to tell me,
then again I am going to cost.
Speaker 3 (02:14:05):
You with these words.
Speaker 5 (02:14:06):
The Texas have a legitimate franchise quarterback. They have a
legitimate number one wide receiver. They have a running game
that is starting to pick up speed. They solidified their
offense attacking is a play caller that is making play
call at a time that allows them to continue the
drive that they're not stalling out on. But we have
(02:14:28):
this conversation because I figured I'm gonna have to spend
some time with you, man, because it's something that ain't
rap too tight up there with you and my dog
with a dog. But that's okay. This is a part
of the growing process I have, Larry.
Speaker 3 (02:14:41):
I'm sorry.
Speaker 4 (02:14:42):
I have higher expectations than just accepting a medial costs.
Speaker 5 (02:14:46):
Uh oh no, you don't. We all want a higher
offense of playing that they should be playing on the
Only thing that I'm telling you is that it's the
National Football League and the teams that they played on
their schedule. Of course, the office hasn't been up to
the standard, but we understand that. What I'm telling you today,
when you got a legitimate franchise quarterback, when they put
(02:15:07):
thirty or forty up on the Raiders and the Cardinals,
I'm gonna call your ass back. But I'm gonna bring
you a glass of that yack.
Speaker 3 (02:15:13):
And I'll appreciate it.
Speaker 13 (02:15:15):
Larry.
Speaker 2 (02:15:16):
I'm just glad that I you know, I just got
to watch it at that point, and I learned a
long time ago. You know, whether it's verbal or physical,
don't get involved if it doesn't involve you, because you
usually are the one that get punched.
Speaker 4 (02:15:30):
That's fine, Listen, Larry is allowed to have his opinion.
It's not a right opinion, but it's okay for him
to have a wrong opinion every once in a while.
Speaker 2 (02:15:36):
Well, speaking of the Cardinals and then the Raiders, could
this possibly be the get right portion of the Texans schedule?
Speaker 3 (02:15:44):
Maybe the numbers back that up.
Speaker 2 (02:15:46):
We will discuss right here, and don't forget Cynthia Freeland,
NFL Network and to join us here in about fifteen minutes.
We got all that much more still to go here
on the Morning Drive with Danny Cole, Sports Talk seven
to ninety the Morning and.
Speaker 1 (02:16:00):
Cole on Sports Talk seven ninety pull them in the Strolls,
Rockets and Houston's best sports talk.
Speaker 2 (02:16:09):
Then let's squeeze in Robert and Cyprus really quick. Robert,
good morning, how you doing?
Speaker 9 (02:16:15):
By Good morning, Buddy. I just want to talk about
that center. You think they're going to hang on to
that guy, man or grat a Samoan center?
Speaker 3 (02:16:22):
What you should do?
Speaker 9 (02:16:23):
Man, it's gonna block far at the offensive line?
Speaker 10 (02:16:26):
Man.
Speaker 3 (02:16:27):
I mean, I think J. K. Andrew has done a
fine enough job.
Speaker 2 (02:16:30):
But I mean at the same time, though, too, Robert,
I mean, I'm gonna go ahead and put this back
on you. What makes you confident that Nick Kyley's gonna
get it right? What's what's this track record of being
able to find good offensive linemen?
Speaker 13 (02:16:43):
You know?
Speaker 1 (02:16:44):
Zero?
Speaker 9 (02:16:45):
Man, I don't trust that guy. I mean, I don't
know who else could. I don't think the owner's going
to stick and say, hey, get this guy. He just
laying sitting back and just let them run the show.
Speaker 3 (02:16:53):
Man.
Speaker 9 (02:16:55):
It's it's pretty You m to be Einstein to know
that you need you need a quarterback. Which is the center?
Is the quarterbacks the offensive line? It's not him.
Speaker 5 (02:17:03):
He gets beat.
Speaker 9 (02:17:04):
He's a broom out there, man, he's getting sweat.
Speaker 15 (02:17:06):
Man, he's not big enough.
Speaker 9 (02:17:08):
He doesn't fire off, you don't pass block on a
running play. I don't know why all of them have
a hard time of getting a DRNK gw on.
Speaker 5 (02:17:16):
The line a little bit, man, you can that's just me,
That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 9 (02:17:20):
I know I went a little too far, but.
Speaker 2 (02:17:23):
I mean, I mean, I'm not gonna, you know, say
that I don't completely trust Nick Assario and I know that,
you know, I've had a lot of, you know, criticisms
of the way that he's handled building up his roster.
Speaker 3 (02:17:33):
But I mean, Robert, we're also being short sighted.
Speaker 2 (02:17:36):
If we don't say, I mean, you know, you found
Willie Anderson Junior, you bring in Daniel Hunter. You have
been able to find two of the best corners on
either end of the field in you know, Kamari Laster
and Derek Stingley Junior. I mean, I just think the
only the the unfortunate thing is and where I don't
trust Nick Kayley is guys have blind spots.
Speaker 3 (02:17:54):
I think it's blind spot is the offensive line.
Speaker 9 (02:17:57):
Unfortunately, I agree with you Hunter percent what you're saying
one hundred percent, and it's I don't know, man, I
can see you do it one year, but every year.
But anyway, I'm gonna just wait and see what he does.
And I like what he did with with Tunzel. The
poisons got rid of that guy and got draft picks.
Speaker 5 (02:18:13):
I give him that.
Speaker 9 (02:18:14):
That's part of the hopeless part of his plan of
getting a good offensive lineman. Maybe two that when you
get him in the it's hard to getting a lineman
in the first round because you're cutting back on other things.
Right man, you're you're desperate for a good lineman. Man,
I mean a center at least or even I mean,
they got nothing but trash.
Speaker 5 (02:18:31):
Man.
Speaker 9 (02:18:31):
You got rid of that guy from Minnesota. He lasted
a week and he got to beat up by rookie.
Come on, man, you don't have to be a genius
on that move there.
Speaker 3 (02:18:39):
Man, Hey, I appreciate the call, Roberts.
Speaker 2 (02:18:42):
I mean, you know, and that is something that this
offseason you almost wonder where I mean, you know CJ.
Stroud being here. Don't you think that was calin Hannah. Hey,
we need a quarterback, We we need somebody here. You
almost wonder if the charge this offseason is going to
be they no more interests in guys, Like when you've
got Joe Toney out there, you signed Joe Toney, Like you.
Speaker 4 (02:19:04):
Trade for Joe Toney then sound to an extension? Well,
I mean just whatever way I mean, like when you've
got that guy out there. I don't want to hear
about interest. I want to hear that guy is here.
No more fines. You can't find guys. Ed Ingram's worked
out fine, He's been great. He was awful on Sunday,
but for the overall this season he's been good. I mean,
everything else, it was basically just trying to piece meal
(02:19:27):
this thing. You don't win championships piece mealing an offensive line.
You win championships by building an offensive line. And look
for the pre snap penalties and you know, some of
the issues that Aronto Ersari has had this season. I'd
say that the positive is far away the negatives with him.
I do think that you have something there, but.
Speaker 3 (02:19:44):
Well, you better have something there.
Speaker 4 (02:19:45):
You use the second round pick on him, and you
could have brought in multiple other offensive linemen beforehand. To
draft two wide receivers from the same school at some point, Yeah,
you better hope that he's something.
Speaker 2 (02:19:55):
Well, and that's where you know, you try to build
off of. I mean, obviously you've got you know, Titus
Howard too.
Speaker 3 (02:20:01):
You like what he brings you.
Speaker 2 (02:20:02):
It's pretty much everybody else is kind of a wild
card in this. So we'll see what other moves are
made this soft season. We touched on this a little
bit earlier, and we can probably carry this over with
Cynthia too. That the Texan's playing against the nineteenth rank
defense this week, the fifteenth ranked total defense the following week.
Then you get the Chargers, who are not too far
behind you. They're giving up just about ten more yards
(02:20:24):
per game than you are, so they're a pretty good
defense in their own right. And then you get the Colts,
who are going to be a shell of who they
were because I mean, you're you're going to see that
team completely fall off the map. I mean, you would
like to be able to head into that game where
the you know, the game this season has lost for them,
and maybe you still have something to gain, so you're
(02:20:45):
able to handle business that day at home against Indianapolis.
But I think I would say that three out of
those four chances, though, Cole give you reason to believe
that maybe, just maybe this is where the offense could
get going.
Speaker 3 (02:20:58):
Yeah, I mean to an extent.
Speaker 4 (02:20:59):
And by the way, again, I'm not trying to say
that I nesm score forty to know that they're going
to be a comparable offense.
Speaker 3 (02:21:05):
I just need to know that they fix the errors
of their ways.
Speaker 4 (02:21:08):
I mean, when you're not going up against a team
that can generate a pass rush, does that mean that
you can build a repertoire in the passing attack. When
you have a team that struggles to defend the run
and is known for having the most missed tackles in
the NFL, can you see the run game be a
little bit more potent? That's all I'm asking, Cause, again,
from a defensive standpoint, Texans are there, Like I do,
find it disingenuous at times when you hear to meet
(02:21:30):
go say, well, we could work on some stuff defensively, No,
you really can't. You're number one in scoring, you're number
one in total yards, your top three in run defense,
your top five in coverage, you're great inside the red zone,
you're good on third down. There's not much else that
you can work on other than just finishing drives when
it comes to sacks. But even still, are you really
complaining about that when you're top ten in sacks right now?
(02:21:52):
You gotta work on everything offensively, and in a game
like that, you have Sunday and the one that you
have next Sunday, you should be able to put together
dry a consistent plays to where it feels like we
don't need to do this consistently in the third and
fourth quarter against Los Angeles, but at least we know
that we have an identity to do so I'm given
the opportunity.
Speaker 3 (02:22:11):
That's all I'm asking for.
Speaker 2 (02:22:12):
Well, I mean, we know that analytics are used a
lot in baseball, but they are in football now too,
and somebody that's at the forefront of that with the
NFL Network, Cynthia Freeland.
Speaker 3 (02:22:21):
She's going to join us next and we.
Speaker 2 (02:22:23):
Will talk that much more with her right here as
we continue on the Morning Drive with Dan and Cole
Sports Talk seven ninety.
Speaker 3 (02:22:29):
You like free stuff. We all like free stuff.
Speaker 1 (02:22:33):
Guess what our iHeartRadio app is free, free never Sound.
Speaker 3 (02:22:39):
It's still good.
Speaker 2 (02:22:42):
Currently in the playoff push, and we're talking that much
more with Cynthia Freeland, NFL Network, joining us here on
the Morning Drive. Cynthia, good to hear from you again.
Let's just look back before we look forward here, starting
with the Texans offensively on Sunday nights. What were some
things that you saw that they got away from? But
(02:23:03):
what are some things that they were able to use
to their benefit.
Speaker 17 (02:23:07):
Well, I'm always I will always start with offensive lines
because I mean to be fair. I did my whole
master sasis on this, so I clearly think it's important
right when you see the difference in the first half
in the second half, and you know some things to
learn from there, right, being able to stop at Chris
Jones effects or George carloftis and pressures coming from different directions. Obviously,
(02:23:28):
health will always help with O lines, but I've been
really impressed with the advancements of this O line as
the season's continued, so I think kind of reconfiguring just
a few more.
Speaker 11 (02:23:39):
You know, obviously it helps if you're.
Speaker 17 (02:23:40):
You know, you're running backs.
Speaker 11 (02:23:42):
It's always good if you have healthy players.
Speaker 17 (02:23:44):
You know, just the just the thought. But that was interesting,
and what I really saw from CJ. Stroud was an
ability to diagnose different spots in whatever the coverage was,
be it ahead of the snap earlier in the season,
if it was looking like man and turned into his
own or vice versa. It was as if he he
(02:24:04):
maybe didn't diagnose it as well as we've been.
Speaker 11 (02:24:06):
Seeing right now. So that's what I thought.
Speaker 17 (02:24:08):
Those and false leverages, so he thinks he has outside
leveraged really inside, like all of these different things that
he's able to adapt to and perhaps see you know,
you hear like the commentarers are like, he's seeing the field,
and I think that's what's happening.
Speaker 4 (02:24:22):
You look at the last three games, Cynthia, the Texans
have struggled coming out of halftime when it comes to
adjustments offensively. Is this the defense looking back at the
film from the first half of being able to understand,
what are some areas that CJ and company can't really connect?
Or is this more so really bad play designs kind
of set the time by.
Speaker 3 (02:24:40):
Nick Kayley, I don't know.
Speaker 17 (02:24:43):
I mean, I'm not in the rooms. We don't really know,
but I think the better you are in adapt to
be fair, You've played some really good second half adapters, right,
like some obviously the difference that everyone on the broadcast
talked about it, you can see it from this dats
into the first half of the second half from the
Chiefs was remarkable. It was like as if you know,
(02:25:05):
Chris Jones had turned an on switch and whatever. I
don't I don't really know what happened. Maybe you know
the fire was lit under their bums. In that regard,
but I also think, you know, give credit to Lou
and Arroomo. I mean, the Colts defense, they're missing some
key pieces. It's just the thing is that those are
just really good play callers too. So sometimes you go
through a streak where you're looking at some you know,
Steve Spagnolo legend. You know, that's that's just gonna happen sometimes.
(02:25:29):
So I'm not super concerned about that. I think they
will all learn together.
Speaker 11 (02:25:32):
But as long as c J.
Speaker 17 (02:25:34):
Strock can keep picking up like little nuances in the defense,
you're gonna be okay again.
Speaker 2 (02:25:38):
Cynthia Freeland, NFL Network, joining us here on the Morning
Drive with Dan and Cole. With CJ, it looked like
that most of his accuracy was coming from throws on
the run the other night, did there did the results
show that as opposed to him being in the pocket.
Speaker 5 (02:25:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 17 (02:25:55):
The funny part is when you look at like next
gen stats, a throw on the run. This affles me
because it's to me, it's like throw on the on
the sprint because it's eight miles an hour or better,
which is just a wild stat. By the way, all
quarterbacks this season they have been in that situation like
that has been something where you know that has been
extremely accurate. So if you want to notice on the
(02:26:16):
run numbers, you know it is six of eleven ninety
two yards and his touchdown did not come on the run,
but you know the passer rating was higher eighty two
point four yards for attempt to eight point four versus
five point six when he wasn't on the run, so correct,
the completion percentage, everything was better when he was on
the run. But again that has been a theme like
quarterbacks this season. You must be able to throw on
(02:26:37):
the run if you're going to be successful.
Speaker 4 (02:26:38):
You have a number one defense not only in scoring
but also in total yards and their top five and
almost every single category. Cynthia, I want to just put
you on the spot. But are we looking on a
defense that is measuring up to teams like the two
thousand and one Ravens the twenty thirteen Leads in a
boom or is there still a little bit of room
for improvement.
Speaker 17 (02:26:56):
I don't think any coach would be like, there's never
room for improvement. We're done. MC matt Burke would be like,
yes we can, but no, this is a you're on
you're on pace. Here for some pre historic uh, numbers
and things people are and you like, remember that.
Speaker 11 (02:27:09):
Defense you need to.
Speaker 17 (02:27:10):
It just needs a better name. Someone needs to work
on the branding of it. But no, it's right up there.
Even though I don't think uh Dimigo Ryans or anyone
would say that they're there yet, they'll be like, nope.
Speaker 11 (02:27:19):
We've still got ways to go. Because I love coach speak.
Speaker 3 (02:27:21):
Right, they all lie again.
Speaker 2 (02:27:24):
Cynthia Freeline, NFL Network join us here on the Morning
Drive with the TANDEMA Edge Rushers. This team is thrown
at quarterbacks Will Anderson Junior Daniel Hunter. I mean, you know,
they're not tops in the league, but they're up there
inside the top five. Just you know, what have those
guys been able to bring to the field this year?
Speaker 17 (02:27:43):
It's about the direction, right Like when you have right
now Miles the Arizon. Okay, let's put him aside. Right
he's on pace to break history. And part of that's because,
to be fair, I mean, there's the kind of don't
have anything else going on right like, So it's it's
not like they're sitting there winning it.
Speaker 11 (02:27:59):
Okay. I know should or sas is very fun, but
it's just a.
Speaker 17 (02:28:01):
Very different story when you have the ability to have
a duo have the most pressures in the league, and
then a secondary to be able to back it up
with the lowest completion percentage allowed, and not just like
in certain circumstances. You know, we see those caveats with
stats sometimes with like oh yeah when they're playing cover two,
Like no, no, no, it's anytime any place you got
(02:28:22):
the number one, you know you have just like the
best situation where you have the corners and the front
backing each other up. You have the secondary that because
those two things were hand and gloves. So while you
don't have one like number that's going to be like, oh,
this is gonna be the defensive player of the year.
I think every single coach and every single player would
be like, yeah, the better way to the Lombardi Trophy
is to have a bunch of guys who can create
(02:28:44):
this like really big problem and make Patrick Mahomes look
pedestrian when he's probably the best quarterback of our time.
Speaker 4 (02:28:50):
And then you have a guy in Derek Singley Junior
that we know as an all Pro, but Kamari Loster
has stepped up immensely this year. He may be one
of the better number two corners. When you look at
the numbers last season to what you've seen this season,
what's been the biggest growth for the second in your corner.
Speaker 17 (02:29:05):
Well, when you're looking at look Lassiter, Lassiter is not
in a dissimilar situation to like a Riley Moss, for
you know, the defensive player, the reigning defensive player of
the Earth passer Tan. You know he kind of gets
Lasser gets picked on more than stingly because of who
he is. It's just a little bit more, I don't know.
And what you're seeing is he's not dropping off in
(02:29:26):
any way like the past interferences are not there like
that is what sometimes you see, right when you get
targeted a ton, you see a lot of DPI that
doesn't happen for him keeping it clean, those not giving
up big plays. That is to me a masterpiece in
what happens with a great defense. I think the way
that you know teams like I don't think they are
(02:29:47):
looking at it in the same way as the you know,
the Broncos, which is a nice comp to it, right,
Like they're not saying, all right, we're going with Riley Moss,
We're gonna go target him a billion times to get.
Speaker 11 (02:29:55):
A hole bunch of DPT They're like, shoot, I have
to pick between their stingly or Kamara Laughener.
Speaker 5 (02:30:00):
That's not great.
Speaker 11 (02:30:01):
Kalon Book's doing.
Speaker 17 (02:30:02):
Really good as well.
Speaker 11 (02:30:03):
So I don't know where I'm gonna go with this one.
Speaker 2 (02:30:06):
And Cynthia, I mean, you bring up the Broncos, and
I'm glad you did, because I mean, it seems like
that's a comparison to the Texans that fits. I mean,
both teams lacking a little bit on the offensive end
and superior on the defensive end. But I mean it
when it comes to them in the Texans, I mean,
is it because of what they lack on the offensive
end that would probably keep people from believing that not
(02:30:27):
only are they an AFC champion, but a team that
could compete to win the entire thing.
Speaker 17 (02:30:34):
I think right now a few of those early losses
are really what is changing people. Per Again, we're not
at the end of the season, but like perspective, national perspective,
the way we all you know, I would like to
go on record that I have receipts for it. You
can say week gosh eight before before Thanksgiving, well before Thanksgiving,
like all right, Houston Is points to go on a run.
(02:30:55):
David Smills can get them through just a few of
these games, and the South is theres I have.
Speaker 11 (02:31:00):
I can send it to you. It's on video, so
there we go. But I think that is the national perception,
right Like the.
Speaker 17 (02:31:05):
Broncos have been on this crazy win streak, you know,
and winning close games, which is something that resonates with
people in terms of, you know, we thought last year
with the Chiefs go to the super.
Speaker 11 (02:31:16):
Bowl with all of these close wins.
Speaker 17 (02:31:17):
So I just think it's really you know, the fact
that the record would say that you're not leading your
division yet, which is what the difference. But remember, we
got to be forward looking. Who cares about the past,
and so what have you done for me lately?
Speaker 11 (02:31:30):
League?
Speaker 3 (02:31:31):
And what do we got for the.
Speaker 11 (02:31:32):
Last month of the season, Cynthia.
Speaker 4 (02:31:34):
Right now, it does feel like that there is no
front runner in the AFC simply because of you the
questions when it comes to a young quarterback.
Speaker 3 (02:31:40):
In Drake May.
Speaker 4 (02:31:42):
I'm personally not a big believer in Jacksonville just because
they've been winning in close calls. The AFC North is
wide open when you look right now, do you feel
like that based off the analytics there's one team that
you could maybe throw a little bit of.
Speaker 3 (02:31:54):
Cash down on.
Speaker 4 (02:31:55):
Hey they're going to be in Santa Clair and facing
off against an NFC opponent.
Speaker 17 (02:31:59):
Well, I think Look, I'm a former banker, So the
way that I'm going to say this is you could
put together a nice portfolio of picks based on some shares.
We got to diversify our portfolio, right, We need a
little bit of Houston, we need a little bit of Denver.
We probably need, you know, just a little bit of
I don't know, like some weird one that's I don't
have a lot of faith in. Like, if you're gonna
(02:32:20):
make it, then you have a chance. In the AFC,
I don't think there's anyone. I actually don't even think
in the NFC that there's a front runner. The Bears
can go from first to seventh with one game with
one loss. So I'd put a little bit down And
I know that this is the NFC, but but Green
Bay too, though, I'm going my defensive portfolio would include
those three assets.
Speaker 2 (02:32:37):
See Cole financial health. Talk about it every single day
and Cynthia backs me.
Speaker 11 (02:32:41):
Up, Yeah, exactly, there you go.
Speaker 2 (02:32:43):
It's just as important as physical and mental Cynthia. We
all know that it all goes hand in hand.
Speaker 3 (02:32:48):
I don't even know how to set down four on
one k that's all. There you go.
Speaker 17 (02:32:51):
You gotta get with people like Cynthia, then listen, do
the roth Ira first and then worry about the rest later.
Speaker 11 (02:32:57):
That's what you got to say. There's my financial advice
for the day.
Speaker 5 (02:33:00):
There you go.
Speaker 7 (02:33:00):
I like it.
Speaker 11 (02:33:01):
I like the people.
Speaker 2 (02:33:02):
Ever, we got analytics, we got financial advice. There's there's
everything that Cynthia can do. Cynthia, you're the best. It's
it's always awesome to be able to catch up with you.
And hopefully we'll get a chance to do this again
before the season comes to an end.
Speaker 17 (02:33:15):
You got it.
Speaker 11 (02:33:16):
And by the way, I do have a favorite text
in this year. Do you want to know who it is?
Speaker 3 (02:33:20):
Lay it on us?
Speaker 17 (02:33:22):
It's Sheldon Rankins because if you look at what he
overcame from last year from a major health issue to
be on the field and doing what he's doing. I
just love a good like comeback story.
Speaker 11 (02:33:30):
I'm into it. So not get enough national shine.
Speaker 3 (02:33:34):
For that, Cynthia.
Speaker 4 (02:33:35):
He's one of my favorite players too, because of my
favorite moment in football is always a big man touchdown.
Speaker 3 (02:33:39):
There's nothing better than a big man touches.
Speaker 17 (02:33:41):
Love a big man.
Speaker 3 (02:33:43):
I love a big man touchdown. It's better than this,
saball if you know, like.
Speaker 11 (02:33:46):
A big man touchdown.
Speaker 3 (02:33:47):
Thank you exactly.
Speaker 2 (02:33:49):
And we and we had a big man last night
who was trying to run his way back for a touchdown.
Then it was a fumble picked up by the quarterback
and then fumbled again.
Speaker 3 (02:33:57):
I was so mad at that.
Speaker 11 (02:33:59):
What I watched it last nights game. I have no
idea what that was?
Speaker 5 (02:34:02):
Finish, what was that? That's it.
Speaker 2 (02:34:05):
That's it the NFL. You see it once, well you'll
probably see it again. Hey, Cynthia, we'll go ahead.
Speaker 3 (02:34:14):
Oh there you go.
Speaker 2 (02:34:15):
There you go, Cynthia Freeland again, NFL Network. Okay, we
appreciate it. We'll catch up soon, all right, Cynthia Freelan.
I mean, you know that's that's the thing is the
big man. You know, whenever the big man has a
chance to grab the football, well then usually comedy ensues.
Speaker 3 (02:34:32):
Do you remember NFL Street.
Speaker 4 (02:34:35):
So I would always play with a running back that
was five hundred pounds when we call him Tubby Wilson,
and every single Tybey scored, we sing the song.
Speaker 3 (02:34:40):
It's Tubby Wolson time. I kid you not. It was
the greatest. That is still why it's my favorite video
game of all time. I don't think I know that
Tubby Wilson. I'm not singing the Tubby Wilson song on air.
You can't tell us about it and then not do it.
Speaker 4 (02:34:52):
I'm not singing Tubby Wilson time. It's not the time
for Tubby Wilson time. All right, we'll build up to
it eventually. I do want to hear this. I mean
maybe some of the the audience are like, I don't
think I want to. Well you know what, Look when
when you lay something out like that, then I got
to hear it. So anyway, all right, maybe we don't
like them, but we have to respect them for this.
And somebody that was part of them, well maybe they
(02:35:13):
almost never were.
Speaker 2 (02:35:15):
We'll cover both of those things here before we send
it over to the Matt Thomas Show with Ross right
here on a Tuesday Sports Talk at seven ninety.
Speaker 1 (02:35:24):
They are on Morning Drive. Here's Dan Matthews and Cole Thompson.
Speaker 2 (02:35:31):
But here's the thing is is people do the cheese
steak wrong, like where it's like, you know, the peppers
and like you know, mushrooms and all that.
Speaker 3 (02:35:37):
Yes, No, just onions, onions and cheese and.
Speaker 4 (02:35:40):
Onions, bell peppers and onions, bell peppers, provo and cheese
and the fresh cut of meat.
Speaker 3 (02:35:45):
That's where you go with that. And you gotta use
shaved ribbi too.
Speaker 2 (02:35:48):
That's that's the key in the Almoroso rolls are important
for them too as well.
Speaker 3 (02:35:53):
Otherwise you don't have a cheese steak. You just have
a beef sandwich.
Speaker 4 (02:35:55):
I will take an Italian dip before I will take
probably a Philly cheese steak.
Speaker 3 (02:35:58):
I like, I like a good Italian beef. I will
take that over. I will take that over a Philly
cheese take.
Speaker 2 (02:36:03):
I've been I've been meaning to get over to that
Chicago place and they'll try it out.
Speaker 3 (02:36:07):
Yeah it's fine, Yeah, okay the box.
Speaker 16 (02:36:09):
So you just turned into Matt Thomas, right, because when
you take an establishment from a city that is known
for making the thing properly and bring it down to
the southeastern region of the United States, it's not going.
Speaker 3 (02:36:21):
To hit the same well it is it. Here's the thing.
Go ahead, I said, like pizza.
Speaker 4 (02:36:25):
Oh, pizza again, pizza is beyond better up North I
don't want to hear from anybody, Like there's one pizza
place that I trust around this area, and it's not
even in spitting distance to what I get from what
I get in New York.
Speaker 2 (02:36:35):
Here's the thing, all right, Like it's kind of like
college football. Food's the same way. I mean, we're known
for text mex we're known for barbecue here. So if
you come here, you're gonna get text Mexic, gonna get barbecued. Right,
I'm not going to you. You go up to the Northeast,
you're gonna get Italian food. Like the comfort food up
there is like everybody you know, go back up the home.
They're like, oh, I'm going to get Italian. I'm going
to get pizza.
Speaker 3 (02:36:54):
Of course. Well they make it.
Speaker 4 (02:36:55):
Better up there too. To begin with, they never send
the recipes down here. They tell you it's the water.
That's what they tell you. I actually do believe that. Surprisingly,
I actually will agree with you on that one. I
think it does it because the one that's what they'll
tell you. With that.
Speaker 2 (02:37:07):
So anyway, Matt Thomas and food takes and him and
Ross just roasting each other for the next four hours.
That's the same It's the same thing every single day,
and we love them for it.
Speaker 4 (02:37:16):
Nick grib Lover, he's right, because if it's the best
sandwich that's available out of fast food.
Speaker 3 (02:37:20):
Place, ribs have bones in them, all right. So that's
that's that's chicken wings.
Speaker 4 (02:37:25):
But apparently it's okay to call them boneless wings and
not flavored chicken nuggets.
Speaker 3 (02:37:28):
Who cares, I'll eat them either way.
Speaker 2 (02:37:31):
Seven one, three, two, two, five, seven ninety is the
number to get in, and you want to get in
for the last couple of minutes. Texans, of course, a
huge shout out to Cynthia Freeland NFL Network for hopping
on with us. But the Texan's going to be back
on the practice field tomorrow and the Astros and the
rest of baseball at the winter meetings in Orlando.
Speaker 3 (02:37:48):
Let you know if any deals come down.
Speaker 2 (02:37:50):
Cowboys Lions was the most watched Thursday night football game
in Prime Video era. Nineteen point thirty nine million viewers
tuned in to watch the Lions beat the Cowboys. So again,
oh man, I'm so tired of the Cowboys. Well, America isn't, unfortunately,
so you get more of the Cowboys. Pretty much every
(02:38:12):
single game did you know that Troy Aikman nearly walked
away from broadcasting.
Speaker 3 (02:38:18):
When was this.
Speaker 2 (02:38:19):
This was the two thousand and six Super Bowl, so
that Giants and that Patriots Super Bowl. He called the
game with Joe Buck, and he thought that that was
the greatest game that he could ever call. And he
felt empty, he said, and he nearly walked away from
calling any more games.
Speaker 4 (02:38:36):
So he was gonna go out on top or he
felt empty calling the game like that he wasn't doing
a good job.
Speaker 2 (02:38:41):
I just I think he felt like that, you know,
he'd kind of peeked at that point and that it
was never necessarily going to get any better for him.
Speaker 4 (02:38:48):
Maybe I will say the thing that has always been
on my mind when it comes to when it comes
to Akman, he's a perfect pairing with Troy, I mean
with Buck. So when there was the conversation about him
I'm leaving to go to ESPN, I actually did worry
about Troy Aikman. I thought he'd the one year and
then retire. But they make a great duo. And thankfully
he didn't retire because if I still love the two
(02:39:10):
that they show up on ESPN.
Speaker 2 (02:39:11):
He said this on Sports Media with Richard Deitsch, tremendous
super Bowl, great historic game.
Speaker 3 (02:39:16):
After the game, didn't know that.
Speaker 2 (02:39:19):
I don't know that I ever felt more empty than
I did at that moment in my life, and I
just thought, Wow, this is how I feel, and maybe
am I in the wrong profession?
Speaker 3 (02:39:28):
Well, good for all of us. He decided he wasn't,
and he's really good at it.
Speaker 2 (02:39:32):
He's Cole Thompson, Triple Emmanuel Elmore, Dan Matthews. It is
the Morning Drive with Dan and Cole. Sports Talk seven ninety,
The Matt Thomas Show with Ross coming up next.
Speaker 3 (02:39:40):
We'll talk to you in twenty hours.
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My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
Dateline NBC
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