Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is the Morning Drive with dadd and Cole.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
He's still looking, still looking, text out, funning passon back
with his legs, tampless connects to snap backpedals, watts to
the end zone. Broke it up to the mind of
your Hurricanes head home to play for a champion.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Tip.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
It's a paraphrase my buddy and fls friend of the show,
Peter Burns of the SEC network, How can you watch
last night and be an NFL guy? I understand loving
the NFL, and I understand you know, you saying that
it's a better product talent wise, all of that. But
Cole Thompson, which by the way, it's the morning Drive
away we go and good morning. I mean that's how
(00:55):
you know you really start to show. But Cole, I
mean me and you were both college football guys. We
don't hide it. We know that college football is pretty
niche here in the area.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
We're gonna make a grill by the time I get
off these air waves. You're gonna love Houston Cougars football.
You're gonna love Longhorn football. And you're gonna say the
Texans there are days that you want to put them
as as the secondary team of the city.
Speaker 5 (01:16):
But you see, that's just it.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
This is you know where You've got a lot of
different factions out there of fans where you know, it's
one of those things that when I came back from
my previous stop, people were like, you know, oh, you know,
college football is so huge there, and my point was is,
I said, yeah, you've got fan bases from other places,
but for the most part, it's pretty unified in terms
of who everybody roots for around here. Whereas here, I
(01:41):
mean in this city alone, Longhorns, Aggie's to what you
just brought up.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
You know, the Coup Chiggers are about ready to blow up.
Have you seen their transfer portal class? They look freaking
legit for twenty.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Twice And that's why, again why I said that winning
ten games this last season meant so much to them,
and it's it's a massive step forward to where Willie
Fritz is going. You know what, It's funny you say
that because I thought about it this morning. I know
that gut feelings are a Matt Thomas show thing. So
for Matt and Ross, if you want to put me
in the Noster Ramis or Noster Thomas category, either of those,
(02:11):
that's fine. This time next year, we're talking about an
eleven to one U of H team and a team
that is either hosting a game at TDECU or playing
as a buy team somewhere next season, the host a
playoff game next year.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
If you're asking me right now, finger on the trigger,
you got to go ahead and make a bold decision.
It's gonna be the Cougars are finding a way to
guarantee their spot in Arlington.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
You got Connor Wigman back.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
I'm telling you if you haven't be paying attention to
what they're doing in the transfer portal, they're freaking killing
it when it comes to the offensive lineman, great wide
receiver play.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
It's gonna be a legit team.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
And then you throw in LSU what they could potentially
be next season underneath Lane Kiffin. You talk about Texas
A and M. They're not slowing down anytime soon. You
talk about Texas, they're making some moves in the offseason
and put themselves in a better spot for Arch. And
year two, you got like four or five teams to
this city. Roots for that all should have interest in
college football, and then you get to experience what we
all wentness last night, A thirty one to twenty seven.
(03:09):
Victory is Miami punches its ticket back to the college
football National Championship for the.
Speaker 5 (03:14):
First time in twenty three years. That crazy.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
Best of all, it's gonna be in their home turf
inside of hard Rock Stadium. Phenomenal performance on the final
drive back Carson back to be able to keep momentum
going his way.
Speaker 5 (03:24):
Trade Ad Schambis had a shot.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
It's frustrating because of on money and I'm sitting here
and I'm saying all the positivity, all the traction, all
the good that happened for Miami and the storylines that
came with you know, Beck being left to the wayside
of Georgia, you know, getting hurt in the SEC championship game,
being told he's not good enough to win a national title.
Speaker 5 (03:45):
And I was playing for a national title.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
But then you talk about trade Ad Schamas having eighteen
seconds left and he gets two plays off, and we're
at a moment to where if any other game besides
a college football playoffs semi final time expires, hail Mary
back of the end zone. That's a past interference call
and they're giving him one more shot. But officiating was
crap all day. I mean You had one targeting call
that didn't count, the next one that did and it
(04:08):
was almost the exact same hit. You had multiple players
get thrown out because of injuries. You had false starts everywhere,
you had the late past interference that plays earlier in
the matchup. You had explosives down the field, bad coverage
from Pete Golding Secondary, and it just reminded me of
why this sport is so frickin' awesome. And yes, I
know that the NFL is always gonna rag Supreme. And
(04:28):
I got somebody in the comments last night telling me.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Why are we you? Why are we doing it? Doing
the game? We gotta up because if the NFL.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
Is gonna range Supreme on Saturday, and ratings need to
happen on a Thursday and Friday. But that, like, that's
what makes this game so special, is like you watches
these kids leave it all on the line, and it's
a game that you're gonna remember because of highlight play
we witnessed, in my opinion, the last two times almost
took the field moments of history that we will look
(04:57):
back in the long term of the college football Playoff
and be excited to be talking out.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
So normally I don't listen to whining just because it's
exactly that, especially when it comes from people. But what
are they in a non whining voice, what are they
actually complaining about? It's on a Thursday and Friday versus
a Saturday. Who cares?
Speaker 4 (05:13):
Because if it's a college football like, okay, my favorite argument.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
So they're the ones that are like, college football should
be played on saturdayday.
Speaker 5 (05:21):
Yes, okay, that's who cares.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Listen.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
There are some people that work in the industry that
I respect the hell out of. I tell them all
the time, shut the hell up. Because if they say
that the national Championship belongs to this Saturday, and I'm like,
then don't watch on a Monday, you know, don't watch
it a Monday. And then is what happens when the
ratings drop because it's but you're not gonna do it
because if you're bought into the you're addicted.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
I'm addicted, Dan's addicted.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
We're addicted, not to Paine, We're addicted to watching this game,
and you can't take it away from us because it's
the only one we got.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Look, brother, I mean, if they put football every single night,
people would watch. There's a reason why there is a
niche group of sports fans that get fired up from action.
Why you gotta talk about me like that.
Speaker 5 (06:04):
But I'm just saying that.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
You know, Tuesday Wednesday night football people are watching them
Conference USA. Either that's there you go throw throw throw
them all in there, throw them all in there. But
I mean, look, I mean I think that there is
you know a huge part of why they're playing these
games is exactly what you said. You can't go head
to head with the NFL. You don't fight City Hall. No,
(06:27):
So I mean doing that is just it's it's really
cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Speaker 5 (06:31):
It's dumb. Don't do it.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
It was a fantastic game though last night, thirty one
twenty seven Finals score Ole Miss. I mean, listen, there's
storyline of how they got here. And I know for
you and half of the office, you were very vehemently
waiting for the other shoe to drop and for this
Cinderella story of Pete Golding to come to an end
and then we could start fresh and Charlie Wise Junior
and Kevin Smith get head on down to Baton Rugs
(06:53):
instead of going to Oxford. But this was a game
to where it really came down to three main elements
in my opinion. Number one, the defense did not show
up at all. I mean, Miami was eleven of nineteen
on third don conversion. You're not winning football games when
you're gonna be giving up almost fifty five.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Percent of conversion, damn near on the play, I mean
on the field for ninety plus plays.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Number two is the time possession. Can you tell me
how many minutes Miami had the football? It was like
forty eight wasn't it forty one minutes and twenty two seconds?
Speaker 5 (07:21):
Okay?
Speaker 4 (07:22):
And that feels like it's that feels like it's short. Well, right,
I felt like it should be about forty five to
forty six minutes. So they had it two thirds of
the of the time to ole Miss. Yes, so the
one time possession because they were able to run the
football efficiently, and then the third thing was out of
this was pretty big. The only reason why ole Miss
got back in this game was because of the penalties
and because of the careless errors.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
I mean, like, thankfully the narrative.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
About like wide defensive backs are not wide receivers came
true last night for Miami because true Dot Chambliss for
as good as he's played out the playoffs, and he
had nine touchdowns and zero turnovers, Like how.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Many picks did you? Oh my god, seven eleven. That's
why I threw out that tweet Miami catched the damn ball,
because I mean, that's just it. Just catch the damn ball.
You have that that becomes a major issue.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
And then the penalties, like it was a third and
three and then a false start call would be made,
or it would be a roughing the passer coll and
trade on chandlis on third and fifteen, so you tack
on fifteen yards. But like Miami earned their way to
a victory even though it was a sloppy performance. But
I'll tell you did. Here's the thing that I can
appreciate about college football. We love the sloppiness because at
least in the sloppiness you see how a lad a program.
Speaker 5 (08:27):
Can be well. And you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
I mean, of course, I don't think anybody has any
preconceived notions about who I root for. I let it
be known pretty easily. So I mean, I think you
know that I had a rooting interest last night, and
one reason in particular, because you know why I'm not
disrespectful to what ole miss did. I I'm not blind
(08:51):
to what they have accomplished. And I mean, as I
said last night, they have guts. They I mean that
that was an outstanding performance.
Speaker 5 (09:00):
Had they want, had they.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
Gone on to the national title, And even though they're
not going on to the national title, I'll tip my hat. Hey,
you guys had guts. You didn't give up ever, so
I'll give you that. But one part why I'm glad
that they're out. We could stop listening to the hand
ringing from a bunch of people who continuously don't understand
what they're covering. And I mean, these are the same
(09:22):
people Cole who for the longest time yelled pay the players,
pay the players, pay the players.
Speaker 5 (09:27):
Now we pay the players, and they bitch about how
we pay the players.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
You can't you can't have it both ways.
Speaker 5 (09:32):
Okay, when you don't have a plan.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
And that's the thing too, is what cracks me up
about all of this is that people want to say, oh,
the system's broken, the system's wrong. What's your what's your
solution to fix it? Then you're such an expert. Nobody
in particular.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
I'm just saying, what was the exact way that we're
kind about with this one.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Oh, it's no about Lane and you know the whole Oh,
he's not letting coaches coach and all of this. Like
I'm just I'm done listening to the handring. He made
a business decision, Get over it. He made a business decision,
Yes he did. Yeah, you're right, and that's why I
have no issue with that. And he probably went to
a better job.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
And I'm not gonna sit here and act like that
because of you end up going to a location that's.
Speaker 5 (10:10):
Gonna help out your career. It's not a good move.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
But like again, Dan, here's where I will fight back.
You can't be the coach of LSU and coach the
almost rebels.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
It's a breach of contract and it's a breach of interest.
I get that.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
But like at the same time, again, we heard the
conversation from Ross Dellinger after the Sugar Bowl. Well, maybe
Kevin Smith and Charlie Wise Junior are gonna be pulled
back to batoners. You're really gonna tell these guys because
if you weren't at the center of attention, you narcissistic, pretentious,
a wall that this is the reason that they have
to come on back now, like I mean, like it's
(10:43):
a bad look for him too.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
It is, and so there's so much wrong with it.
Speaker 5 (10:47):
I mean, we had a.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
Quarterback Dan that told his school I'm signing on a
dotted line.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
Hey, never mind, Hey just kidding.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
I'm actually coming back here because I don't want to
be sued for four million dollars.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
And that's college football. The rules I get mixed, The
rules I get, I understand. I say it all the time.
It's almost probably to the point of annoyance for people,
but it's just it's true.
Speaker 5 (11:09):
Don't complain about the rules. Make the rules work for you.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
But at the same time, let me ask you, if
it wasn't your school that was involved in it. And
I'm not saying you specifically, I'm just saying any school
in general, how would you feel shoe was on the
other foot?
Speaker 5 (11:22):
Wouldn't care? So you would not care if you're head coach.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Because I would understand. I would understand the business side
of it.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
You're leaving in the middle of a college football playoff
run to go to Alabama arrival.
Speaker 5 (11:31):
Okay, Well then you wouldn't be okay with that.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
Then put together rules kind of like the NFL, where
interviews can't happen, recruiting can't happen, all of that kind
of stuff until after the season is done.
Speaker 5 (11:42):
Until then, this is what you're going to get. Yeah,
you're right, and that's fine.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
And I won't complain about that either, because if you
are right, as long as these rules are in place,
to where there are no regulations and people who are
morons and Nitwitz are running the program into the ground
and getting college football a bad name, guess what, We're going.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
To continue to see these things happen.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
But at the same time, as a f perspective, I'm
allowed to be pissed off. I'm allowed to be upset
that my quarterback decided to enter the transfer portal after
signing on a dotted line and then saying, oh, because
if I don't want to pay four million dollars, Oh
my god, I gonna welcome you back with open arms.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
I'm gonna be pissed about that.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
I'm gonna be pissed about my coach saying, in the
best season of our program, what you were able to build,
you look up and down that roster and say I
may do this one time, I may do it nineteen
times their peace out boy scout like, I'm gonna be
pissed about that.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
And that's the beauty of fandom.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
That's the beauty of what is college football and why
it is a ravenous, toxic sport that I cannot continue
to get enough of and I'm always gonna want to.
I'm always gonna be a user. Like I will say this,
I am addicted to college football. I'm never gonna get
off that durt train wagon. You're never gonna send me
to rehab or therapy to go ahead.
Speaker 6 (12:48):
And fix it.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
You're just not.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
I'm gonna be that way for the rest of my life.
And now because of what we're seeing with Congress and
with NIL and with NCAA transfer portal news and all
these other things behind closes, we're talking about now this
being a twenty four seven, three sixty five sport and
I am fiending for more content. I am salivating for
(13:10):
what is gonna be the next big thing trade at Shambliss.
What's gonna be your waiver eligibility? Keewan Lacy? Did you
really play your last game at a will Miss or
are you gonna be back next season? I'm salivating for
more of this and I'm gonna get more of it.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Well, I mean in two names in particular that would
feed into that. I mean, I think Dan Wilkin finally
blocked me after I got after him about Kirk kurb
Street's dogs, because that's the thing. You come after dogs,
I'm gonna come after you, don't do it. But he
came on with us once, and you know, there was
something that we brought him on, and he goes and
I'm not gonna get into all of that. I go,
(13:43):
I go, that's the whole reason you're on the air
with us, Dan, I go, that's honestly the whole reason
you're on. I'm like, you got a lot of Twitter fingers,
but then when we ask you to put actually your
voice behind it, you're not gonna do it.
Speaker 5 (13:53):
So why do we even have you on?
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Do you feel better?
Speaker 7 (13:57):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (13:57):
One hundred percent? Actually, dude, I'll tell you.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
But the reason why I brought that up was because
it felt so amazing in the moment. That was a
dopamine hit. I mean a hundred percent was when I
did that.
Speaker 5 (14:07):
Seven three two one two five seven ninety.
Speaker 4 (14:10):
The Cougars are the next team in the Big twelve
to go want to run toward the college football playoff.
We'd love to get your thoughts on what you saw
in last night's game and what have you seen so
far in the transfer portal from Willie Fritz Cougars, Because
I'm telling.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
You, dude, they're making some noise.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
I get Cody Campbell's got a lot of money. I
get that he can basically buy whoever the hell he
wants to come out to Lubbock.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
Well, is it will He's.
Speaker 5 (14:30):
Building a culture, gut feeling, they're winning the Big twelve. Well,
you know what.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
I texted Brian McTaggart because I knew he was at
the Tech U of H basketball game the other night.
Seat by the way, who says, we don't talk koogs,
but I sexit. I said, looks like Cody Campbell's there,
he goes, so is Tillman. And he's got more money,
so there you go. You know, Look, I I don't
love for Tilman just to open up a blank check.
Speaker 5 (14:53):
I'm sorry.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
I mean, that's that's the thing. That's that's Look again,
the rules, don't complain about him. Make them work for you.
And if and if Texa text doing it, and you've
got people that can do it at your place, at
your place, do it? Have you been to love it?
I'd much rather be here exactly. That's the point. I'm
not saying that you're saying, Hey, look Jimmy's and Mesquite
and all those places. They're great, you know, going out
to the strip out there, it's fun all of that.
(15:14):
For a college kid, I still rather go out one
hundred percent. Absolutely. So, yeah, we got college football to
chew on this morning, and we'll work in a few
other things. By the way to seven thirty. Bill Benders
Sporting News. He's got a huge, big ten lead lean,
so we will have him come on with us at
(15:35):
seven thirty. Max Starks, former Steelers offensive lineman who's now
part of the Steelers radio network, He's going to come
on with us at eight thirty, and the nine o'clock
our weekly visit with Aaron Wilson.
Speaker 5 (15:45):
So we got all of that.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Speaking of the Texans, some massive good news for this team,
and I think it is great.
Speaker 5 (15:53):
Twofold.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
We'll discuss right here as we get into the six
o'clock hour. Here on a Friday, it is the morning
with Dan and Colesports Stock seven ninety.
Speaker 8 (16:04):
Back to the morning Drive. Here's Dan Matthews and Cole Thompson.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Fourth and goal from the five. Yeah, probably he's going
for the corner. He's got it. Vince Young Scars two
thousand and seven Festival, two thousand and seven Fiesta Bowl.
Speaker 5 (16:24):
I'm trying to remember who that. Ah, that was a good.
Speaker 4 (16:28):
One Cinderella story where I thought that that was probably
the peak of what is a David versus Goliath.
Speaker 5 (16:34):
The college footbomberre never gonna get back to that.
Speaker 4 (16:36):
And it's not a shot to g five teams to
say that you aren't good enough to compete.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
I'm not doing anything right right.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
But you're not going to be able to go on
a four game run the way that Miami just did,
or the way that potentially Ole miss just did, or
even what Oregon can do, because Oregon beat the brakes
off of James Madison to win a national title. So
that was like the peak version of don't worry about
the star, don't worry about the location, don't worry about
how many bunch put in seats. Just give me four
(17:04):
quarters of football and scene comes out on top. And
that was where Chris Peterson made himself an icon.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
Well, and that was also too I mean, you know
to your point when I mean you could say, now
with name, image and likeness, where you have the people
who say, hey, you know, look you want parody in sports?
I mean, what better parody than have an Indiana Ole,
miss Miami, and Oregon as your national championship final four
over say like, I don't know Florida State, Alabama, Georgia,
(17:33):
and Ohio State, but.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
Don't forget next season we're going to see Cincinnati, wake Forest, Perdue,
and of course Mississippi State playing in the College Football
lefts because because that's what apparently parody's going to the sport.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Well, I mean it really just kind of seems like
who's got the most and look, you know, before we
get to the Texans thing, I mean, Kirk Curve Street,
I'm the biggest fan, but here's the butt. Like last night,
he has his whole soliloquy at the end about you
need to build a team like look at Miami, and
I was like, oh, really, Kirk, Miami one of the
programs that has been one of the biggest spenders in name,
(18:06):
image and likeness, Like you're really gonna hit me with
you know, you need to build a team much more
than chasing five stars. I get what he's saying, but
come on, man, like, be a little more on brand
with it if you can be in making your point,
because if that's the case. If that's the case, then
why isn't Georgia in this because they have one of
(18:27):
the highest roster retentions in the country.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
You're right, no, and I'm not disagreeing with you when
it comes to if you have the money and you
can fly and spend it, do so. But what I
will push back on from the standpoint of Curve Street
Mark Fletcher's a homegrown talent. Now they paid a lot
to get him down to Miami and not go into
a team like Georgia or Florida. But he's a homegrown talent.
He's a homegrown talent. Yeah, keem Mezador homegrown talent. Can'te
(18:51):
Scott homegrown talent, Ruben Bay homegrown talent. So you spend
a lot to be able to utilize these players, but
they're not leaving and they're not coming in out a
one year rental like Carson Becker Campbell.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
It's just like professional sports in regard to where for
the most part, you win because of the guys that
you already had there. The guys that you drafted, the
guys that you signed, those are the guys that usually
are the foundation for your team.
Speaker 5 (19:15):
You supplement through trades and free agency.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
And at the same time, and this is where again
you look at it from a standpoint like Willie Fritz
ten wins season on the horizon you're building off of it.
You're not going to get every single player in the
state of Texas to come to Houston. They're not gonna
look at TDECU Stadium and say, hey, that's that's my
dream location.
Speaker 5 (19:33):
You'll get a.
Speaker 4 (19:34):
Few, and you'll get some people that look at the
culture and the identity of what Willi's build in with
Slade Nagel and Austin Armstrong and having a quarterback like
Connor Wigman, and they just got the kid, the five
star that Keishan that's gonna be here for a long term.
But like, this is a program that needs to utilize
the transfer because you need to back supplement players. They're
going to elevate your offensive line, they are going to
(19:55):
give a guy like Wigman more weapons. They're going to
replace the loss like Tannerkoy's. They're going to upgrade your
pass rush from other universities that were very high profile
and you just didn't hit your stride at the right time.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
Well, it's also too, I mean, the reason why I've
said that you of h would be so good at
it is because of the amount of talent that you
have here in the area that leaves and goes elsewhere.
To your point you brought up about Miami, That's why
it's been twenty three years for them to get to
this point because for the longest time, all of that
talent that you had there at Miami Northwestern and any
of the great schools there in South Florida, they were
going to Georgia, they were going to Clemson, they were
(20:29):
going to Alabama, they were going to LSU. They were
going to any other place but Miami. I mean, Devonte Freeman,
I remember talking with him. He was really close with
Luther Campbell, Michael Luke. He told me that I think
it was because Al Golden was there, and Al Golden
was just like, now whatever, you know, it just basically
blew them off. So he was like, Okay, guess what.
(20:49):
As much as it pains me to do this, guess
where I'm taking you guys. A bunch of youth football. Guys,
I'm taking you to Florida State. I'm taking you to Florida.
I'm taking you to all of these other places because
if they don't give a damn, then I don't want
I don't want you guys going there. Well, they were
living off.
Speaker 5 (21:03):
Of a branding more than anything else. And that's just it.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
I mean, I remember Mark Rick told me that when
I talked with him, he goes, the U is not
the you anymore. It doesn't, it doesn't resonate with kids
like it used to. It's going to now it absolutely will.
And why is that? Because he brought a guy in
that understands it. Remember what we talked about the Demico
difference the other day. It's the same deal there. Programs
like that. When you bring a guy like that back
in who understands what it's supposed to look like, and
(21:28):
they can act on it and they can execute being
able to get it back to looking like what it's
supposed to look like, that's what you get.
Speaker 5 (21:34):
You get him in the national title.
Speaker 4 (21:35):
And here's where I'll turn it back to the University
of Houston. A guy like Mario Cristobal who rebuilt a
program at Oregon because I think a lot of people
don't realize Oregon went four and eighty year.
Speaker 5 (21:44):
Your Fowler brought that up last night, which I thought
was great.
Speaker 4 (21:47):
And he was able to bring them to a college
football I mean a packed twelve conference championship. He knew
the brought into a college football playoff, but he saw
the case and he saw the situation at Miami and said,
that's that's not my Miami. I want to be the
reason that we fix it. I want to be here.
I want to be in the standpoint. Willie Fritz looked
at Houston and said, I want to be at Houston.
(22:09):
I want to go back to a place that I
know the area, I know the lay of the land.
I know how to recruit, I know how to build
a relationship with high school coaches.
Speaker 5 (22:17):
I know what it's.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
Going to take to turn this program back into a
level of sustainability and success. Since the Southwest Conference days
where we were viewed as a legit power for contender
that would bring in high profile recruits that would compete
for Heisman trophies. Have all Americans and so the second thing,
you got that guy in the building much like Mario's
and down in Coral Cables. You have an opportunity to
(22:40):
build a culture, a rapport and have a good understanding.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
I'm not going anywhere.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
Because Willie Fritz after the season could have gone and
he could have gotten offers for multiple schools in the SEC,
multiple schools in the Big Ten. He's happy where he
is and he's not interested in moving elsewhere.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
There are certain places where you recruit the area you
can win. South Florida is one of them. And that's
one thing for Miami is Miami is one of those programs.
And I've said it for years. You have one really
good recruiting class, you can absolutely turn that thing around
very quickly. You have at LSU, you recruit Southern Louisiana
and you supplement with the Houston area.
Speaker 5 (23:15):
You can absolutely do that Georgia. I mean, that's the thing.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
The Atlanta area when it comes to high school football
is one of the best in the country. There's a
reason why they have back to back national titles. It's
for that very reason.
Speaker 4 (23:26):
So are you telling me that Tillman Furtida needs to
make sure that Willie Fritz has enough money possible to
guarantee that all the Houston kids say wouldn't hurt.
Speaker 5 (23:33):
Wouldn't hurt it. Let it work.
Speaker 3 (23:34):
You got you got the you got the means, You
got the means, and you love the program. It's the
price of doing business nowadays, it would mean. And that's
the thing is some people might say, oh, that's greed,
that's all of these other things. So what if it
has you holding up that whatever golden trophy it is
at the end of the season, that's the national championship.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
So what you mean I get to have multiple five
stars instead of just Keishaan Henderson as my starting quarterback
long term?
Speaker 5 (23:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (23:57):
Fine, signed me out. That's where's the chef?
Speaker 5 (24:00):
Willie?
Speaker 3 (24:00):
Who do I make this out? Cash? Gotcha? Here we go?
Speaker 5 (24:03):
No, that's it.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
Look, you know it's I mean, you can complain about
the Cody Campbell's and all of these other people, or
you can try to find your own Cody Campbell because
it's not going away anytime soon. It's it's gonna absolutely
it is. And Cody Campbell even said as much. He goes, Hey,
look the system's broken. That's not my fault, but it's
also too We're going to take advantage of doing this
(24:26):
while we can before somebody finally wizens up and has
a plan for Hey, this is how we unify college football,
and hey, this is how we put together unified enforceable
rules because the NC douablea ain't gonna do it.
Speaker 4 (24:39):
Yeah, Puston's had a really good spot when it comes
to the recruiting class, their transferport of class that we
already mentioned before, bringing in Gazac Patrick, Overermeyer from UTSA,
de Marion Thomas on the defensive line from Oklahoma State,
Trent Walker, big time playmaker at wide receiver from Oregon State,
Hayden Wright cuts back on home from Northwestern.
Speaker 3 (24:55):
A lot of guys that you look at.
Speaker 4 (24:57):
But to me, what I think is going to be
a really interesting is seeing how moving forward these pieces,
as they continue to hit, they turn into an opportunity
to wear much like Ole Miss with Lank Kiffin. Hey,
there's a proof of concept here. If I come to
this place, not only am I gonna go to the NFL,
I'm gonna have a higher draft grade and be better
prepared for want I go messing on Sundays?
Speaker 3 (25:19):
All right, So great news for the Texans twofold. We'll
share that with you because it could be massive difference
making news for the Texans, and we've got that for you.
As we get into that conversation, you want to join
us someone three two one two five seven ninety against
someone three two and two five seven ninety Morning Drive
Dan Cole Sports Talk seven ninety.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
We don't run on algorithms.
Speaker 8 (25:43):
We run on al Tuve, Durant and Strout four stock
seven ninety guaranteed human.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
How about some great news when it comes to the Texans,
by some amazing news when it comes to the Texas.
Speaker 5 (26:00):
They're going to win a Super for the first time
in franchise history. That would be nice, that that would
amazing news. I mean, I'm just going I mean no,
and that that would qualify for sure.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
So the injury report comes out yesterday and you see
D and P did not practice Kamari last yar knee ankle.
Speaker 5 (26:16):
So you're just like, oh, well, you know, I hope so.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
But Lassiter telling reporters yesterday feeling good, I'm ready to play.
Speaker 4 (26:24):
Do you feel like that he was just kept out
because it was a game against Indianapolis Colts and you
were already going to get about exactly. But I didn't
worry about that when I saw it on the report.
I didn't worry about it when they said yesterday that
he was limited. He's gonna play. It's a playoffy. Remember
he missed two straight weeks of practice where he did
not go on Wednesday or Thursday, and Thursday's the string
of his day and he just barely did anything on
(26:47):
walk through day.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
And that's about it.
Speaker 5 (26:48):
Well, I mean, and.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
That's the thing is for certain guys in the league,
which I mean, he's played a year and a half now,
so he knows enough of this league to be able
to do that where you can get away with that.
You can get away with you get the mental res
you get the meetings, you get all of that. But
really for you, it's just being physically ready to go.
I don't think anybody worries about Laster that way. Titus
(27:09):
Howard also another guy who was also out from practice yesterday,
but according to Jonathan and Alexander, he is also expected
to go. But here is the second part of it
being really good news. And while you're out, Aaron Wilson,
who of course is going to join us at nine
o'clock bringing up that Jalen Reid was highly counted on. Yeah,
(27:29):
and that Jalen Reid had his practice window opened up
yesterday and Demiko Ryans doing what he always does with
injured players. We'll see how the week goes. So we'll
see how the week goes. But you get Jalen Reid
back to massive, massive.
Speaker 4 (27:43):
It saves the position to where I don't need to
see Kavon Wallace, cave On Meriweather or Miles Brian.
Speaker 3 (27:49):
Out the safety position. That's that's the win here.
Speaker 4 (27:53):
It has nothing new with him, and again he may
end up panning out to be a really, really really
solid defensive back long term. I mean, we have seven
games of evidence, we have one start under his belt
to really kind of have a gauge on who he
is as a player. I know who Miles Brian is.
I know who Kevon Wallace is. I know who Kekvon
Merriweather is. I don't want any of them out there
starting against any team in the playoff.
Speaker 3 (28:14):
So, I mean, you know, and you know, Keavon Wallace
obviously was put back on the practice squad after, you know,
helping out, and I mean you appreciate their contributions, but yes,
they're not Kamari Laster.
Speaker 5 (28:27):
They're they're not Jalen Reid. In what you're able to
get out of those guys.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
I mean, I think even to some point this year
with Kaylen Bulock, like, do you think like it's it's
been a little bit of we haven't seen the interceptions
from last year. So I think that probably some people
could look at him and say, well, isn't that like
really like the main part of his game? So has
he really had that great of a season? I would
say fine, I would say, yeah, he has. He's he's
(28:52):
been serviceable.
Speaker 6 (28:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
For you, which for a third round pick, That's that's
what you want out of a guy. You want to
if somebody out of the third round becomes a starter,
you hit.
Speaker 5 (29:02):
That's what it is. I'm not asking for a superstar.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
If they become that, that's great, But being able to
get a serviceable, good starter, that's that's a win right there.
Speaker 5 (29:11):
Incredible, be able to do.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
That, great potential, great overall highigh. It is gonna be
a dated reference, but you went Hub Brown right there,
great upside potential.
Speaker 4 (29:21):
Right it is a very dated reference. I've no ided
what you even just said. Who is who the hell
is HB.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
Brown? There's this guy that has white hair and glasses
and used to do basketball for years. He used to
always be part of like the draft coverage and on
the NBA too. He is he still around. He retired
a couple of years ago, but he's still around.
Speaker 5 (29:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (29:39):
I can't say he kicked it like we're gonna kick
the rest of the segment. No, no, no, okay, but Kaylen Bullock.
He's a good player, very solid and secondary play. Very overall,
I think, still a competitor that is going to create turnovers.
You need a running mate, though, And let's be real,
the safety position has been a constant carousel of uncertainty
for the last seventeen weeks.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
CJ.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
Garner Johnson started your season, he was out after three weeks.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
Then you go ahead and bring him to m J. Stewart.
Speaker 5 (30:07):
He's in for four games, then he gets hurt.
Speaker 4 (30:09):
Then he begins Jalen Reid and he's in for two games,
and then he gets hurt, and then Myles Brian comes
in and he's liability in coverage, so they can turn
to Kevon Wallace and he's liability and coverage so bad
that he actually has to get cut. And in between
those reps, you throw cave on Meriweather, another practice squad player,
in just because if you need a change and it's
like putting a band aid on something that needs stitches
(30:31):
and you're bleeding out as you're driving to the hospital,
like it's that bad. So bringing in an option that
at least Nick Asseio evaluated the talent. He thought that
there was something there that could make him a fringe starter.
There were things to like about him in training camp
that really shoot on out to where nobody thought that
he was gonna be a full time starter, but they
(30:52):
thought that he could compete for reps and feel really confident.
Speaker 5 (30:55):
If Kaylen Block got hurt or CJ.
Speaker 4 (30:57):
Garner Johnson at the time got hurt, there's to like
and that probably is your best bet to pair alongside
with Block going into the playoffs, because let's just be real, dude,
there's not many options on the open market. That's number one,
and number two the opps that you have in the building,
every single one.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
Outside of him is probably a lie bulb. I think
also to one of the issues with the safety position
has been ever since Tamiko Ryans got here, Jimmy Ward,
I mean, you brought him here kind of I think
to be one of those Aziz al Shai air types
of every time a head coach has hired and it
is their first time, they will have guys that they
have as almost kind of like lieutenants and colonels that
(31:34):
are with them as players where they're from their old place.
They can they can you know, kind of shepherd along
the players of what the head coach expects and how
he wants to build this thing. And that's why Jimmy
Ward was brought in. He just hasn't been able to
be on the field.
Speaker 4 (31:49):
Having checked in on the status of Jimmy Ward going
into the playoffs, because I'm still waiting for the update
on Joe Mixon.
Speaker 3 (31:54):
Well, I mean all of them. I mean, you're not
getting them. That's that's that's the status report, right the.
Speaker 5 (32:01):
Man. Well, I mean for war I.
Speaker 4 (32:04):
Was told that we could always that that anything is
possible and they could always find a way to come
back in.
Speaker 5 (32:08):
Well, I mean for the rest of the season.
Speaker 3 (32:11):
I think you also have to see are they out
there working on the side, are they actually visible in
the building. And at least for both of those guys,
we have not seen that. At least Tank Dell is
out of practice, but we've never seen him doing anything
of on field work other than stationary catches during some drills.
Speaker 4 (32:28):
I mean, but again, I mean we'll just not that evaluate, won't.
We're just gonna have that valuate and.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
Ask the question exactly exactly the fun that it is
whenever you ask about it.
Speaker 5 (32:36):
See, that's that's the thing is is.
Speaker 3 (32:38):
I think I've had this line with you before, and
you'll not see it as much in the NFL. But
I remember the buddy of mine pointed out once that
there are certain coaches out there that just assume, not
even tell you that there is a game coming up
this weekend that they they just they don't want to
let anything out. And when it comes to injuries, the
Texans are that way.
Speaker 5 (32:58):
Look listen, Iris back there, I really do Hey.
Speaker 3 (33:01):
Hey, hey, do you you know? But what about the
guy Joe? Do you do you care about the guy?
Do you I'm protecting him? You know, because because you
don't really care about him, right exactly? You just want
to be first of the story. That's That's what I'm
told all the time. No to me again, it's very simple, guys.
I respect it.
Speaker 4 (33:19):
But if you're gonna go ahead and make these type
of comments, get ready to get made fun of I'm
gonna call you out for it.
Speaker 3 (33:24):
But it's also though too. It's just it's a feeling
of you're hiding something. That's that's that's the feeling that I.
Speaker 4 (33:31):
Want to if you want to nip in the button,
just call it a day to say, hey, guys, not
playing for the rest of the year.
Speaker 3 (33:36):
Well, I mean, and I think that most people are
not going to be surprised by that, if indeed they
just said, yeah, hey, by the way, guys, Joe is out.
Speaker 5 (33:42):
Oh really, no kidding, Like.
Speaker 4 (33:43):
Do you remember when when Stefan Diggs had the torn
acl and then very next day they said, yeah, he's
out for the season. Yeah, imagine we're still doing tests,
even do tests for six weeks.
Speaker 6 (33:51):
Guys.
Speaker 3 (33:52):
Yeah, it's been a hot we're getting we're getting a
second opinion.
Speaker 5 (33:55):
It's not as bad as we thought it was.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
Or you know, my personal favorite, especially when it comes
to the astros, he's doing much better today.
Speaker 5 (34:02):
What does that even mean?
Speaker 3 (34:04):
I don't even know what that means. It well, so
like what like like square one, I mean, it's like
the chart that they used to give you at the
doctor's office.
Speaker 5 (34:12):
How bad is the pain is it?
Speaker 9 (34:13):
Is?
Speaker 3 (34:13):
It like this, and it's that face? Is it this
and it's another face? Like remember that, like that was
it was emojis before emojis, of the little like chart
that they would give you at the pediatricians office to
like describe how your pain was. Yeah, that's actually you know,
so that you can do that. Just just just have
that chart behind Demiko and he could be like, you know, hey,
(34:34):
you say he's feeling better? Can you a point?
Speaker 5 (34:36):
Can you a point on the chart?
Speaker 1 (34:37):
Here?
Speaker 3 (34:38):
We'll give you a little pointer right here. Can you
point to where his pain level is?
Speaker 5 (34:42):
Winsing?
Speaker 6 (34:43):
God?
Speaker 5 (34:43):
Does that seem like he's gonna be a day to
day out?
Speaker 3 (34:45):
Oh it's that emoji? Okay, I get that one. I
know that feeling.
Speaker 4 (34:48):
Why had the tears barely coming out? Does that mean
that he's a questionable for the day you throw in
the fiery face.
Speaker 3 (34:53):
Oh man, he's out to see that's it? Hey, look
you know, because then it's all it's the effect of
you gotta be here to get that information, So then
it's effect. Why are their xes on his eyes to Miko?
Why do you keep pointing at that?
Speaker 10 (35:04):
Oh?
Speaker 11 (35:05):
Not that?
Speaker 7 (35:05):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (35:06):
What's his status?
Speaker 12 (35:07):
Dead?
Speaker 5 (35:07):
He's dead?
Speaker 3 (35:08):
Sorry, guys, you know, apologize. Yeah, you know, I'm not Jesus.
I can't bring back Lazarus with this one.
Speaker 4 (35:14):
I apologize seven ninety Texas sake on the Pittsburgh Sailors
this upcoming Monday.
Speaker 3 (35:20):
You can listen to the game.
Speaker 4 (35:21):
I mean, you can watch game on ESPN kickoff at
seven o'clock.
Speaker 3 (35:25):
So I think it's pretty safe to say that CJ,
at least last year had a little bit of a
reputation when it came to offensive coordinators. Sure, what if
I told you that he broke that reputation yesterday in
a good way.
Speaker 5 (35:38):
We'll have that for.
Speaker 3 (35:39):
You right here as it is the Morning Dry with
Dan and Cole Sports Talk seven ninety.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
Page down. The Morning Drive continues. Now, now here's Dan.
Speaker 3 (35:50):
And Cole get back into the Texans conversation. We don't
have time to get to the CJ that I mentioned.
We'll do that at the top of the hour. Don't
forget Bill Bender from the Sporting News is going to
join us at seven thirty. But before we get to
Roger here real quick, the context is going to be
lost on some but was watching some of the Michael
(36:12):
Irvin videos from last night, and you know what, cracks
me up about Michael too, is you know, his reactions
on the sidelines. It's the noises like he almost if
you had no you know, and no idea what you
were watching, or if you didn't even get, you know,
be able to see what you were watching, you would
think that someone was in agony with like the noises
(36:33):
that he's making, Like the touchdown from Carson Beck somebody had.
Speaker 5 (36:36):
It and you just hear Michael.
Speaker 3 (36:41):
If you did not know who.
Speaker 4 (36:43):
Michael Irvin was, I thought that that would have been
a deranged fan they brought on the field.
Speaker 5 (36:46):
Laney Fritz.
Speaker 3 (36:47):
Of course, you know Willie Fritz's daughter is married to
one of the Miami assistants. She posted a video of
you can tell that their little one is very tired,
because I mean, at that point it's probably like what
midnight on the East Coast or whatever, so probably it
is it is bedtime, well past bedtime. And I almost
was like, you know, I'm sure that probably to some
kids who are a little tired, that Michael could almost
(37:10):
be like the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus, that he
might be a little bit too much for you. I
could see.
Speaker 5 (37:15):
I can actually say that, Yeah, Michael Michael too much of.
Speaker 3 (37:18):
The TV at times. Okay, can I ask the serious
way is he on the staff? And then he does
and I found network. I believe that, like it is
one of those I mean, you know, in pro sports
it's personal services.
Speaker 5 (37:32):
But I believe that he does have.
Speaker 3 (37:34):
A role in the program that could be wrong because
of like because I know that Ed Reid at least
used to.
Speaker 4 (37:39):
Used to because like I understand to a certain extent,
your legacy, what you were, what you meant to the program,
the fact that you were probably the earliest face of
the you.
Speaker 3 (37:49):
You're gonna be on the sidelines, but like the he
is the you. But but like how much you're touching
the players afterwards, and you're going on the field and
to give it them like a dap up after and
like you're screw or even alongside ray Lewis, they want
it first, they want it first.
Speaker 4 (38:03):
I'm just like, there's a fine level man of like
I get that you're a part of that, but you're
not a part of this.
Speaker 3 (38:09):
See, when it comes to intensity, there's the playmaker, there's
Michael Irvin, and then there's our guy. There's Andre Johnson,
who the most emotion he showed was the Reuben Bain
blocked field goal against A and M. And you hear
Andre yell out, oh yes, like that's about as far.
And it's funny too because where we line up to
go into the Texans locker room post game, sometimes you'll
(38:30):
see Andre Johnson walking by and somebody brought up it
was after the A and M win. They're like, man,
Michael Irvin, he goes, Man, he's crazy. He goes He's
like in the huddle with the players. He's in the
huddle with the players. He wants to be out there
playing another rep. That's the problem.
Speaker 7 (38:46):
Now.
Speaker 4 (38:47):
Michael Irvin is like a guy who's had sixteen ergy
drinks before six am. And Andre Johnson is a guy
that just took his annex.
Speaker 3 (38:53):
They're the complete and.
Speaker 4 (38:54):
Total opposite of each other when it comes to their idea.
Speaker 3 (38:57):
He's off the field, it's a permit chill. For Andre,
it's a permachill. That's why I like when you used
to see, like you know some of you know his
h what he would show emotionally on the field, you
were kind of like, who is this guy?
Speaker 5 (39:08):
Like like did.
Speaker 3 (39:08):
Somebody kidnap Andre Johnson and have somebody else out there,
because when you talk to him, you're almost kind of like, hey,
you do realize like you're one of the league's best, right, Like,
you know, where's the energy man?
Speaker 4 (39:18):
See, he's a site, he's a silent psycho. To really
find a way to piss him off. No, Andre Johnson
and Courtland Finnegan found that out. And remember what I've
said numerous times of people not to fight. Never fight
the quiet guy. Don't fight a guy like Andre Johnson
for obvious reason. You're not getting back up.
Speaker 5 (39:34):
But you fight the That's that's it. That's it.
Speaker 3 (39:36):
Also, they also to be fair, they don't fight fair
because here's what they do. They go for the jugular
on the first try. And that's what Andre Johnson did
to Courtland Finney.
Speaker 4 (39:45):
And the guy that's sit in the back of the
classroom and you're always making fun of me and you're
throwing like spitballs. He doesn't go ahead and punch in
the face. He takes the chair and he breaks it
over your back.
Speaker 5 (39:53):
No, that's it.
Speaker 3 (39:53):
That's what happens with the Andre Johnson's That's that's that's
what I'm telling you. You know, you try Andre Johnson, it's
gonna be the last try. It's gonna be the last
time you try someone. You didn't even have time to
pack a lunch.
Speaker 5 (40:04):
That's the problem.
Speaker 3 (40:04):
You're not getting up, you're laying down it. You just
gotta take it all right, Roger, we will get to you.
And also to that CJ. Stroud that I mentioned, Let's
let's hit it up the seven o'clock hour with that,
so we'll open with that as we continue the conversation here.
It is the Morning Drive with Dan and Cole. Of
course you want to be a part of it. Seven
one three two one two five seven ninety against seven
(40:26):
one three two on two five seven ninety. It is
the Morning Drive here on a Friday, Sports Talk seven ninety.
Speaker 5 (40:33):
Kd E Houston, k TV HD two Houston.
Speaker 1 (40:39):
As a Rocket.
Speaker 8 (40:41):
Sports Talk seven ninety, your home for your home teams
and iHeartRadio stations guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (40:48):
Youman, this is the Morning Drive with Dad and Cole.
Speaker 3 (41:01):
Late touchdown to be able to move on to the
National Title game, which is gonna be in their home stadium,
and they await the winner of tonight's game between Indiana
and Oregon and also tonight too. See I mean, can
you ask for a better Friday night around these parts
where you get a really good college football game, that's one.
And then after that game or as that game is
(41:21):
closing out, you've got.
Speaker 5 (41:23):
Rockets basketball tonight too.
Speaker 3 (41:25):
So what time is sipoff?
Speaker 5 (41:27):
Nine o'clock?
Speaker 3 (41:27):
Okay, So basically I'm gonna be watching the fourth quarterball
so then once yeah, exactly, So once that game's over,
it will be about halftime of the Rockets game, and
then you can watch the second half of that. But
of course, while you're watching the college football playoff, you
can listen on the iHeartRadio app to the Rockets and
Blazers right there and Matt Thomas on the call.
Speaker 5 (41:47):
So you got that for you.
Speaker 3 (41:48):
Here's the other one on the call tonight. I think
it's gonna be a c that's gonna be back here.
I could be wrong, and if I'm wrong, I'm sure
I'll get a text from Wex. Actually it's gonna be
me that you know that it's gonna be him's.
Speaker 5 (42:00):
So I don't know, we'll see there's going to be Wex.
Speaker 3 (42:02):
How's he gonna say it?
Speaker 5 (42:04):
Well, actually, I'm no one doing it. See I send
out the schedule.
Speaker 3 (42:07):
My favorite was always too when you see both of
both me and you have time served with the A team. Sure,
And if I ever had a question about something scheduling wise,
Wex would always go, it's on the docket, let's get
the phone line.
Speaker 5 (42:23):
That's it. Roger wants the way and good morning.
Speaker 13 (42:25):
Roger in given mornings, so let's se Yeah, I've talked
to Wex before. He's pretty coolxalone. Uh So the CFP man,
they got it right, man. They for all the criticism
and all the negative that they got, you know, amongst
coaches and players and no loyalty. And I was one
(42:45):
of them. You know, I was kind of like, you know,
I was kind of like bought out. I was like, man,
the playoffs have been awesome for the most part. They've
been really really good. Uh you know, no biders and
and you know, you can't take your eyes off of it.
And I guess they got it right, you know, with
paying the kids and the portal and all that stuff.
(43:05):
Make keep it coming, and want to add more teams,
and you know, you know, teams like the U of
H and probably get in there and and and then
sneak in there one one year and and surprising people.
You know, the mom's not not a surprise. You know,
they're a small team, but they weren't supposed to do
anythings this year and they did. They have just did
nothing but awesome.
Speaker 9 (43:25):
Uh.
Speaker 13 (43:26):
And that one coach for Miami, if you've got a
doppel ganger, you know, it looks like Daddy Hustin. He
came out thirty days or night only hasn't seen that
acting report. Just like that, dude. And Uh, anyway, for
the Texans man, just I know about Monday man, we
should have a mister Aaron Rodgers living into the retirement
(43:46):
home and that would be the end of that discussion. Guys,
have a good weekend, stay dry and be safe.
Speaker 3 (43:51):
Do you do the same? Roger appreciate it? I mean,
you know, just with Miami though, I mean I think
that it was more of we'll believe it when we
see it, because I mean I think that that was
more of the conversation around them because they've done the
transfer portal, they've done the bring guys there for years,
and I mean this was the year that they finally
(44:13):
got it right where Mario Cristobal said, Hey, the lines
of scrimmage, that's where we build and then we go
from there. I mean Carson Beck. I know a lot
of people were, like, dude, guy sucks at big games.
It's not gonna work. He showed up last night. Yeah,
for the most part, he might. He might have made
himself some money at the next level.
Speaker 4 (44:32):
He's got himself I think a draftable grade, maybe even
a Day two grade. With how crappy the quarterback class
it is outside of Fernanda Mendoza, who.
Speaker 3 (44:39):
Still has yet to declare.
Speaker 4 (44:40):
He's got to declare because if you just brought in
Josh Hoover from TCU, so like he oiled a Claire.
But you know what's really interesting is that the NFL
and college are two drastically different games because of the
play styles and because of the amount of talent, and
because of how few players can actually make it to
the next level. I think that the NFL could learn
something last night about Miami. You have to win with
(45:02):
the trenches and you have to have a sable run game.
If you do not have either of those two things,
you will not have a shot of winning it.
Speaker 5 (45:08):
How many fourth downs did they convert last night? Miami? Two?
But they only went four three times?
Speaker 3 (45:13):
Sure, so no, no, no, what three?
Speaker 4 (45:15):
And they only went fourth three times, but they were
eleven of nineteen on third down and almost half of them,
I mean almost two thirds of them.
Speaker 3 (45:23):
Came on running at place.
Speaker 5 (45:24):
What a concept.
Speaker 4 (45:24):
And the thing was is that again, having an offensive
lineman that is able to continue to through the play.
Because how many of those runs do you remember watching
were Mark Fletcher or the Brown kid? They were at
the list scrimmage. They got the first down, but then
it was four more yards five years. The offiction of
lineman was not letting go. They were relentless at that play.
(45:46):
And then look at the defensive line. The first four minutes,
I mean, the first quarter of the game was all Miami.
Speaker 3 (45:53):
Miami ran thirty.
Speaker 4 (45:56):
Plays in the first quarter, only ran six And why
was that? Because of they had a defensive line that
was so penetrable. They were able to win every single
one of their battles and force an offense to become
one dimensional.
Speaker 5 (46:11):
Didn't they say what eighty eight plays?
Speaker 3 (46:13):
Well, seven plays last night?
Speaker 1 (46:14):
Jeez?
Speaker 4 (46:15):
Eighty nine plays was how many plays they And like
almost again, like ole Miss's defense was terrible defending the run.
But like at some point, I'm not even gonna sit
here and blame it all on almost You're out there
for almost ninety plays. The damn was broken. It was
like the village had been flooded. At this point. If
you were still left behind and you didn't evacuate at
(46:36):
the right time, you were done. Like that was it,
because if your body can't handle it that much. But
like the Texans standpoint, moving forward, however, you do not
have a How are you watching last night's game and
seeing a team that, for some they viewed.
Speaker 3 (46:52):
As not a playoff team.
Speaker 4 (46:54):
Some said because they lost my Louisville and they lost
to SMU and they were ten and two and they
play the conference, say.
Speaker 5 (47:01):
They weren't even in the ACC and didn't.
Speaker 3 (47:02):
Belong to the College of Ball playoff.
Speaker 4 (47:04):
The reason that they're playing for a national title are
three main elements. Exceptional defensive line, penetrable offensive line, stable
run game.
Speaker 3 (47:14):
That's it.
Speaker 4 (47:15):
And at this point, the Texans, that's what you need
to be focused in on for the playoffs and for
twenty twenty seven beyond if.
Speaker 5 (47:20):
You want to win and change.
Speaker 3 (47:21):
And that's the good, and it's something that the Texans
can aspire to be offensively, but it's also too the
bad of what you were talking about from the ole
miss side where it was, Hey, what do you want
from the defense at a certain point? Seriously, what do
you want from You kept them out there for eighty
nine plays. Of course they're going to break down at
that point. But when it comes to the offense as
a hole for the Texans, c J Stroud, I mean,
(47:44):
I think it's pretty widely known now that he soured
on Bobby Slowe c last year. Yeah, right, so there's
the reason why Bobby slow it's not here anymore. And
I mean remember a couple of weeks ago, I had
wondered aloud of something that CJ said, and I was like, hm,
he kind of taking a little bit.
Speaker 5 (48:00):
Of a shot at Nick Kyley.
Speaker 3 (48:01):
So then it kind of became the conversation of well,
maybe you know, CJ is going to kind of get
the Lebron James reputation a little bit when it comes
to offensive coordinators because Lebron, you know, known as being
a coach killer. Well, CJ could he be known as
being a no c killer of a guy that you
know is going to continue to get guys hired and
fired around the league. But he was asked yesterday about
(48:26):
Nick Kyley and his impressions of how Nick has handled
the job.
Speaker 5 (48:29):
This year and CJ he being praised. Listen to the quarterback.
Speaker 14 (48:34):
I think you know his ability to you know, to
block out the noise and continue to go forward. I
think you know, everybody in his day and age wants microwave,
you know, they want stuff something in a microwave, let
a heat up fast and be a new product. And
that's none of us. So you know, football is an
other type of sport or whatever. You use a crock
pie or whatever whatever, hey, y'all use yeah, whatever. So
(48:58):
I mean I think you know, this team, you know,
and we try to do our best to just block
out the noise, you know, and just stay you know
in our in our you know, in our brotherhood and
lean on one another. I thought he's done a great
job of, you know, leaning on us, asking us what
he will be like even if it didn't work, like
not running away from asking guys you know, what they like,
and putting guys in position to you know, do do
(49:20):
what we need to do best. So, I mean, know
we're still working, we're still you know, got ways to go.
But I'm just proud of that guy.
Speaker 9 (49:25):
Man.
Speaker 14 (49:25):
I think he's done a heck of a job of
calling it of you know, being honest, you know, and
really one thing I respect of our kills, Like he doesn't,
you know, point fingers and if he does, it's it's in.
It's in the right way. It's not like blame game.
It's like, hey, you can be better here, because I
know you can. So he's uplifting, you know, And I
have a lot of love for that guy. But he's
done a heck of a job for us.
Speaker 9 (49:45):
This here.
Speaker 3 (49:45):
What are you cooking on the crock pot? Well, I
was gonna say, I mean a crockpot. You're going low
and slow on that one.
Speaker 4 (49:50):
So I think that you're the dude who likes to
go for like a seven hour cook.
Speaker 5 (49:54):
I mean, I'll tell you what a good crock pok
meal like.
Speaker 3 (49:57):
You know, I've done it numerous times where I've gone
ahead and just thrown it all in there, hit it
on low, and then come in done the show. So
then once it hits dinner time, it's ready to go.
A good crock pot goes a long way. I think
that CJ was probably looking more for an instapot, which
is like a crockpot, but it's the microwave version of it.
So you can throw everything in there and it will
(50:18):
cook up in like thirty minutes. Or an air fryer,
because an air fryer will you know, do things in
you know, eight ten minutes and you're good to go.
Both of those things are very useful. See an air I.
Speaker 5 (50:31):
Hate air fryars, dude, I really do.
Speaker 4 (50:33):
I feel like that because because Okay, it's like a
juicer in my opinion, And the reason is because if
you don't clean it out every single time, it bits
in debris afterwards, and it's a pain in the ass
to clean.
Speaker 3 (50:44):
Yeah, all the pulp and everything. It is kind of tough.
I had one actually left it behind. But but I mean, look,
I mean, I think everything that he's saying about Nick
Kayley is is valid. I mean, at least for you know,
the Dan Orlowski's of the world and other people that
have looked at the Texans offense.
Speaker 5 (51:03):
There has been improvements this season.
Speaker 3 (51:05):
I think that people misconstrue improvements in the lack thereof
with points and saying no, no, no, no, you're still scoring
twenty to twenty four points a game. But again, I
also think that it's to a certain point, and I
think that this is Nick Keyley doing this where he says, Okay, look,
we've given the defense enough of a cushion here. Now
(51:26):
it's on to us to be able to preserve this thing,
because if I start putting them in bad positions, then
that puts me in a bad position career wise.
Speaker 5 (51:34):
With this team.
Speaker 3 (51:35):
Well, I had to.
Speaker 4 (51:35):
I mean, like, you're at a standpoint of your defense
has been ginning up less than twenty points per game
on average. Your defense has once again been one of
the best when it comes to run support.
Speaker 3 (51:45):
They're elite inside the red zone.
Speaker 4 (51:46):
They're holding opponents to under four hundred yards I mean
three hundred yards per game. You got to be able
to look and say, I understand that we have limitations
to our squad, but we can be better than twenty points.
We should not have to go ahead and say all
we got is twenty today. Can you go ahead and
match that defensively? And it's been too much of that,
I think in recent weeks. And you're going into the
(52:07):
playoffs where you're facing against a team that snuck its
way on in because of a missfield goal by a
guy who got his coach fired, and a miss PA team.
You have a wide receiver in DK Metcalf that I
think a lot of people have forgotten about because if
we haven't seen him out there that we're not sure
what he's going to provide for the team. It's a
forty one year old quarterback, and their defense, for as
(52:29):
good as it's been in the past, is nowhere near
what it's been to Accordingly, we at some point have got.
Speaker 5 (52:34):
To be able to give our defense at least a
little bit of breathing.
Speaker 3 (52:36):
Right This Texan when we talk to you on Tuesday,
is going to be a difference maker in this one,
and we will be heaping praise on him. We'll discuss
who that is right here as we continue in the
seven o'clock hour. Also too, we'll get back into the
college football conversation. Bill Bender, Sporting News is gonna hop
on with us here in about fifteen minutes.
Speaker 5 (52:55):
Got all of that straight ahead right here.
Speaker 3 (52:57):
It is the Morning Drive with Dan and Coles Sports
Talk seven to ninety.
Speaker 8 (53:01):
Dan Matthews, Cole Thompson. This is the Morning Drive with
Dan and Cole.
Speaker 3 (53:10):
I guess I guess uh you know the board is
having a mind of its own. They're they're they're taking
over Tripoli they being the robots. They're they're they're they're
taking over. Now the roads are just truned through the wires. Man,
we all know that. Yeah, that's they could be that too.
But anyway, the Gremlins, why are you out?
Speaker 7 (53:25):
Man?
Speaker 3 (53:25):
As I was saying, seventy eight in the morning, you're
supposed to be out like at four. It's okay. The
Trolls can come back later. The Texan is going to
be back on the practice field. The Rockets also going
to be on the floor tonight up in Portland taking
on the Blazers college football playoff. Last night you get
Miami moving on to the National Championship game beating nol Miss.
They're gonna wait and see who wins to night between
Indiana and also Oregon. All Right, the Texan that is
(53:50):
going to be the difference maker on Monday night against
the Steelers'.
Speaker 5 (53:56):
Jayden Higgins.
Speaker 3 (53:58):
We come in here on Tuesday, We're gonna be talking
about the play of Jaden Higgins. Here's why the double
team is going to go over to Nico Collins, and
they don't try to force the ball to Nico Collins
when they don't have to. Obviously, he's a good enough
player that we've seen at numerous times when things break
down for CJ the off schedule plays, Hey throw it
up because number twelve is going to be there.
Speaker 5 (54:18):
And it has worked out for the most part.
Speaker 3 (54:20):
But they've been building to a crescendo these last few
weeks of having Jaden Higgins become a difference maker for
this team. The deep touchdown pass against the Chargers. I
think that was another showing of belief in Jaden Higgins.
I think that it is the entire reason of why
you added him as early as you did this year
in the draft, that Jaden Higgins is a guy that
(54:42):
it's to this point and it's almost going to be
either a conversation with him and Demiko or a conversation
with him and Nick Cayley of now's the time we've
built you up for this.
Speaker 5 (54:52):
You've got the big playability.
Speaker 3 (54:53):
There's a reason why you were compared to Nico Collins
when you're coming out of the draft. You've got the
body type, you got the makeup, you got the speed,
you've got at all. We're gonna be talking about a
huge night out of Jayden Higgins.
Speaker 5 (55:04):
I won't fight back on that one.
Speaker 4 (55:06):
I see the pathway to where that is a reality.
I do, and I agree with you that you will
see double teams go their way. You know, Jalen Ramsey,
he's now moved to safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers, so
he's gonna be playing over the top. Yeah, Joey Porter junior,
son of legendary linebacker, A couple of other dudes out there,
They're gonna want to make sure they shut down twelve
because if you shut down Nico Collins, it feels like
(55:28):
that thirty percent of your offense started taken away.
Speaker 3 (55:32):
So that's good.
Speaker 4 (55:33):
That means that Higgins, who last week again had a
good game, stepped on up in place of Nico being out.
It's a good understanding on where you want.
Speaker 3 (55:41):
So I won't say that's a big negative there. I
can see that scenario.
Speaker 4 (55:46):
To me, though, I think it's gonna come on the
defensive side, and I think it's gonna come with Sheldon Rankins.
Speaker 5 (55:53):
Sheldon Rankins.
Speaker 3 (55:54):
I go with Sheldon Rankins.
Speaker 4 (55:55):
I think that if you tell me who is gonna
be the player that we look at and ask ourselves
what was the reason that this became a one dimensional game?
Speaker 5 (56:06):
And in the fourth quarter everyone started looking.
Speaker 4 (56:08):
Towards book in their flights to head on over to
Foxborough or you know, having to make a trip on
over the Denver or whatever it is. I think it's
because of you know that Sheldon Rankins did such a
good job. I'm not only shutting down the run game,
but adding pressure up the interior. What was something that
was brought up on the show earlier this week when
we had Pony on. He mentioned that the two biggest
(56:29):
players right now for the Steelers offense or nine T
game Metcalf. It's not Calvin Austin, It's none of the
wide receivers, it's not even one of their tight ends.
It's the running backs. It's their ability to be able
to make plays in space between the trenches and then
on the outside. So Sheldon Ranks can't do anything about
the outside. That's that's Derek Stingley, that's Tamorrow Lasser, that's
(56:52):
Kayln Block, That's that's Jalen Petree. But when it comes
to the run game, making them a one dimensional offense
and forcing Aaron Roddy to beat you is critical. He's
been one of the better run defenders for the Texans
the entire season.
Speaker 3 (57:06):
He's been at the last two years.
Speaker 4 (57:08):
On top of that, he's an exceptional pass rusher, and
he wins because of lower center gravity. The thing that
I've always loved about Tmiko Ryans's defenses are he knows
what he needs in a defensive tackle, which is short,
stocky and able to win with leverage down low to
continue to push their way upfield and put themselves in
a better position to where they can attack to exactly
(57:30):
so in a game like this, going up against a
decent but still underwhelming Steelers offensive line, knowing that you
could take away the rushing attack, and then putting Aaron
Rodgers who can't move, He's not gonna be able to
do anything outside the pocket. He's got to stand still
to get him to be able to have to move upward.
That allows a Daniel Hunter to come around the edge,
(57:52):
or allows a Will Anderson to win his one on
one and then basically sandwich him into a position of
where it's a loss of fifteen it's a loss of
eleven yards because of the pressure at the middle. That's
because of what you get from a guy like Sheldon Reagans.
Rankins has had a good season. It's been very under
the radar because of all the other defensive names. He's
up for a contract extension. I think I think that
(58:13):
Nicosario knows I don't want to lose him a second time.
It's a good piece I can have for a very
cost friendly deal, great fit for the system. The way
to guarantee that you're getting paid this offseason by one
organization to stick around is by having a solid performance
in the wildcard round.
Speaker 3 (58:28):
No, it definitely is. I mean, the playoffs get people paid.
That's been a tale as old as time in any sport,
not just the NFL. But I mean I'll agree with
you on Rankins because I mean we saw it again
that same you know game that I think told you
a lot about this team out in LA against the Chargers.
He was a massive difference maker in that game. I mean,
a massive twist and able to get to Justin Herbert
(58:49):
and you know, of course he meets him there along
with will Anderson Junior to get the sack on that play.
I mean, Tommy TOGII is another guy. I mean that
was something that at the time when it happened, when
both Mario Edwards Junior and Tim Settle both went down
for the season, he started to see a little bit
of oil being leaked in the run defense because those
guys were so good at being able to do that.
(59:10):
And it also too it allowed for Rankins to showcase more.
But also for Tommy Togi, I who we've told you
how good he's been against the run this year, so
I'm with you on that. I mean, i'd said that
my defensive difference makers earlier in the week while you
were out where. I think you're gonna be looking for
a huge night out of Henry Toto, who has had
a nice last couple of weeks. But then also to
(59:31):
Jalen Petrie because of how much this Stealers team likes
to work underneath.
Speaker 4 (59:35):
Petrie, I will give you, and the reason why is
because of the fact that they're going to try to
target Kenny Gainwell and Jayalen Mooren out of the backfield.
That's where a guy like Petrie comes involved mightily in
the nickel position. Anywhere else, I think it's a little
bit more challenging. I feel like that Kamari Laster is
probably a bigger name because of look at what happened
last week when Alec Pierce was.
Speaker 5 (59:56):
The wonder receiver they had to worry about but what
did that do.
Speaker 4 (59:59):
It opened up plays with Josh Downs, It opened up
plays for Tyler Warren, It opened up plays out of
the backfield for Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman. So having another
cornerback that's able to go ahead and make plays that
would take away DK Metcat, that would take away Calvin Austin,
any one of the Steelers wide receivers is beneficial.
Speaker 5 (01:00:15):
I just think that when it comes down.
Speaker 4 (01:00:16):
To the standpoint of making sure that Aaron Rodgers is
as one dimensional as possible, he and is not able
to do a damn thing, and Arthur Smith's kind of
has to sit there and throw his hands up and go, well,
I'm going to get fired from this job too, and
just take it. It comes from the standpoint of making
sure that you're able to win with pressure on the interior.
I don't think that there is anybody who can do
it at a higher click than what Sheldon Records could
(01:00:37):
possibly do on Sunday Monday.
Speaker 3 (01:00:39):
Well, I mean, and that's the thing too, is you know,
we obviously look to the stars of this team to
be those guys.
Speaker 5 (01:00:45):
I mean c J. Stroud.
Speaker 3 (01:00:46):
It starts with him, and I mean that's what I
think a lot of people are going to start looking
at in this matchup, is you know, a you know
CJ against Aaron Rodgers, who has the better game. It's
not going to come down to that. I think this
is going to come down to your defensive guys. I
mean Will Anderson Junior and Daniel Hunter, which the sacks
have kind of tailed off the last few weeks. I mean,
(01:01:08):
you know, the Chargers game again was a nice game,
but I mean you know the Arizona and the Raider games,
those were ones where you're like, hey, whytn't to get
into the quarterback. Even last week against Riley Leonard it
was that, but it was also too it was timely
rush of when they got to him the interception. You
got to him, you got his throwing arm, and he
throws a duck up there and Elijah Hushy is able
(01:01:31):
to jump underneath it and get an interception. So that's
what you want to see. And Rogers is still elusive enough.
He's not what he used to be, but he is
going to avoid the rush as much as possible. So
then that does fall on your linebackers, It does fall
on your star position, and it even falls on the
(01:01:51):
guys at the back end too of being able to
make those plays true and.
Speaker 4 (01:01:57):
Having a guy like Kamari Laster back there once again
is probably gonna be really bad officials simply because of
now it gives you an opportunity to win your one
on ones and you don't have to worry about the
double teams because I think about it from the standpoint
of like having a Huzzy out there versus the last Automatically,
your secondary is now saying, now we got Stingley and
block on one dude, that leaves a guy on an
island or no, no phrase up Huzzy and bluck on
(01:02:17):
one dude, which means Stingley's got to be on an
island with whoever is the other player. And so this
is just a way to guarantee you're winning your matchups
because because again whether or not you want to say
that he's underwhelmed this year, he doesn't have a he
has a ten per problem. He's definitely got to get
some anger management issues. DK Metcalf is still DK Metcalf,
and you got to prepare for him mentally and physically,
(01:02:39):
and sometimes having those double teams is a lot but
official than what you'd expect.
Speaker 3 (01:02:43):
All right, So let's switch back over to college football
because we'll talk last night's game, but also to tonight
in the Chick fil A Peach Bowl. And the man
to do all of that, Bill Bender, Sporting News. He's
gonna hop on with us right here as it is
the morning Drive with Dan and Cole here on a Friday,
Sports Talks seven to ninety.
Speaker 12 (01:03:01):
We run on.
Speaker 8 (01:03:02):
Dingers, dumpson drives, not cold Sports.
Speaker 1 (01:03:08):
Top seven ninety guaranteed human.
Speaker 3 (01:03:12):
And also to the college football playoff, which we're going
to talk a lot right now. Miami moving on to
the national title game beating Old Miss last night. We
wait and see on Indiana and Oregon tonight and talk
more about that. Joining us from Sporting News, Bill Bender,
hopping on, Bill, Good to hear from you again. Man.
Let's just start with last night's I mean, where you
shocked at all of how it all went down, of
(01:03:35):
you know, not only Miami finding a way to win
that game, but also to the effort that Ole Miss
put together.
Speaker 7 (01:03:42):
Oh what a fantastic fourth quarter.
Speaker 15 (01:03:44):
I told my son that's you know, in our predictions
and Sporting News, I had twenty seven to twenty four
Old Miss and I had to text a friend, Hey,
this is the final score I had.
Speaker 7 (01:03:53):
And then of course Miami took it down the field
and scored.
Speaker 15 (01:03:57):
And what a finish I think, twenty five points in
the fourth order, four lead changes. Brilliant performance by Trinidad chamberlains.
That was a fun semi final. There's no question, Bill, when.
Speaker 4 (01:04:08):
You look at what we saw last night for Miami
eleven to nineteen on third down attempts. They ran the
football at almost five point six yards a click. I
mean what they've been able to do by dismantling opponents
is regards of who they face off against in the
National championship, Oregon or Indiana. When you're got a run
game like this and a quarterback that's not making a
lot of mental mistakes like Carson back, does that give
(01:04:29):
them some advantages to where as long as they're not
putting the ball in harm's way, they should feel confident
playing in their home stadium.
Speaker 15 (01:04:37):
Well, I can't even describe what I think the atmosphere
is going to be for that. I mean, this is
a program that's starved for a national championship going to
be in their backyard. I was down there years ago
when they played a Notre Dame at home and beat
them like forty three to eight, But you said it.
I mean fifty one rushing attempts and the way that
(01:05:00):
they ran the football, and if they can control the
clock and control the line of scrimmages like they did
at least on the offensive side last night, they're gonna
have a chance to beat whoever wins tonight again.
Speaker 3 (01:05:11):
Bill Benders, Sporting News hopping on with us here on
the Morning Drive with Dan and Cole. The game tonight too,
Indiana Oregon. It's gonna be a lot of fun. I mean,
I know you're up there in big ten countries, so
you've seen both of these teams play quite a bit
this season. But do you feel like it's gonna be
kind of a tale of an opposite one tonight, Like
we're looking at a final score of like seventeen thirteen
(01:05:34):
something like that.
Speaker 15 (01:05:37):
I mean, yeah, the defense on both sides, and I
think really the key to this game is which quarterback
is gonna make plays If neither team can run the ball.
If Indiana can run the football effectively, they're gonna play
for a national title. Oregon's a little bin at running back,
but you know between Mendoza and Dante Moore, which one
of those quarterbacks may be makes the good decisions, doesn't
(01:06:01):
make the mistakes. Mendoza had the interception last time they played,
takes them down the field after Dante.
Speaker 7 (01:06:07):
Had two picks after that. I think it's gonna be
a close game.
Speaker 15 (01:06:11):
You know, I picked Indiana to win, But like I
just told you, I picked a little this last night,
So be careful.
Speaker 10 (01:06:16):
There.
Speaker 7 (01:06:17):
Rematches are tricky.
Speaker 9 (01:06:18):
You guys know that.
Speaker 4 (01:06:19):
Yeah, I mean, listen, Alabama found a way to beat
Georgia week one, they got molly wopped in the SEC
championship and the same thing happened for Georgia when they
took on Ole Miss. But Bill, you talk about Kirk Signetty,
it's two years in the program, he has two losses.
This is a program that was not known for having
a lot of nil This was a program that was
not built to be really much of anything other than
just a bottom drawler in the Big Ten. And he's
(01:06:41):
eight quarters away from bringing a national title to Bloomington, Indiana.
For a national standpoint, is this one of the greatest
stories in sports history, not just college football, but a
turnaround for the losingest program to now become a place
to where kids like Nick marsh and Josh Hoover were
getting offers from SEC schools and Notre Dame. They're saying,
(01:07:03):
you know what, no, no, no, no, I want to
go play Memorial Stadium underneath the guy nam Kirk signetti.
Speaker 7 (01:07:08):
Running to Indiana. By the way, yeah, yeah, you said it.
Speaker 15 (01:07:14):
It's the greatest sports turnaround in North American sports history.
Speaker 7 (01:07:19):
As you guys know, I live in Ohio.
Speaker 15 (01:07:21):
I keep telling my buddies the like, imagine if the
Browns just go six seventeen and oh when Super Bowl
next year?
Speaker 6 (01:07:28):
Like that's that.
Speaker 15 (01:07:29):
And I still don't think it would be a larger
turnaround than what Indiana's doing, just because.
Speaker 1 (01:07:35):
They like I look this up.
Speaker 15 (01:07:37):
They are the second second worst Power Conference school in
terms of winning percentage all time. They passed Away Forest
in the last two years. Right, and they're on and
they're not just winning, right, they're dominating.
Speaker 9 (01:07:50):
If you'd told me ten.
Speaker 7 (01:07:51):
Years ago they're gonna beat Alabama thirty eight to three,
I mean, come on.
Speaker 3 (01:07:56):
Yeah, I don't think there's any doubt about it. I mean,
it's kind of turning the sport on. It's ear little
bit again Bill Bender's Sporting News with us here for
a few minutes on Sports Talk seven to ninety Bill,
I mean, you know, kind of in that same vein
of talking about Kurt Signetty we were talking about him
a little bit earlier. Seems like Willie Fritz is starting
to kind of get that going here in Houston. Ten
wins this season and a nice little turnaround from a
(01:08:19):
year one to year two. I mean, is there any
reason to believe that he can't kind of bring something
similar over.
Speaker 15 (01:08:26):
To you of h I love Willy Fritz and the
effort that his team's always play with. I'll tell you
a story years ago when he was at Tulane. I
watched them play at Ohio State and it was one
of those dominant Buckeyes teams, you know, and they it's
a cliche, but they played hard the entire game. It
(01:08:46):
was one of those they were ignoring the score, they
were still going hard. You could see the effort on
both sides of the ball, and I thought, that's on
the coach that he has them playing like that. It
was great, and you know, to watch his career and
track it and see what Houston did this year. Yeah,
I think it is possible, especially in the Big Twelve,
where you know, you look at that conference. Texas Tech
(01:09:08):
did that this year by use one double digit games
each of the last two years. Colorado had to turn
around with Dion the couple star players, and you're in
a part of the country where I know, you guys
played high school football down there and it's pretty good.
So I think I think he absolutely could get them
to that point where they could play for a playoff person.
Speaker 4 (01:09:27):
It's Bill Bender from Sportingnews dot Com, senior writer of
all Things College football. Game the follow on Twitter at
Bill Bender ninety two.
Speaker 7 (01:09:33):
Bill.
Speaker 4 (01:09:34):
In this new day of age in college football, it
really isn't just about, you know, the branding and the logo. Yeah,
it certainly helps if your Alabama and Ohio State, but
it's all about how much money you have. And when
you look at programs like Texas Tech and what they
were able to spend this past year, and you look
at what Ole Miss has done underneath Link Kiffin and
how they're able to retain talent.
Speaker 5 (01:09:52):
Is this going to become a new norm where we
are going.
Speaker 4 (01:09:55):
To see more and more players be as a one
and done on rosters and just go to the highest
bit to where you can't really think of roster attention
and you can't just think about, you know, recruiting at
a high end level. You got to think about transportal
players having conversations in season with guys that you know
are non negotibles to leave because the second that you give.
Speaker 3 (01:10:13):
Them a contract.
Speaker 4 (01:10:14):
I mean, we could see them on Williams two point
zero situation where hell, six million dollars really was actually
enough for me to stick around for another season Seattle.
Speaker 15 (01:10:22):
I hope this final tap reference isn't outdated, but like
college football has gone to eleven, it has, and we've
turned it up to eleven in a good way. And
I've I'm adjusting my settings, so to speak, because I
wrote a column last night. It feels like the NCAA
basketball tournament now it really does, where the final four,
(01:10:42):
you might get a one seed, you might get a Cinderella,
you might get you know, somebody like Ole Miss who
didn't have their coach, and as long as the games
were fine, we're gonna like it.
Speaker 7 (01:10:51):
I think, you know, one of the stats I pointed
out is when.
Speaker 15 (01:10:55):
You get to March, there's only one team. Since twenty fourteen.
That was the number one overall seed that won the
national title. That was Yukon in twenty twenty four and
I think we all picked.
Speaker 7 (01:11:05):
Them in the bracket that year. We had to you
better have. But it's kind of like that now.
Speaker 15 (01:11:12):
Like my bracket, I thought Georgia Ohio State would win it,
and the nil piece has turned it on its head
a little bit.
Speaker 7 (01:11:18):
It's spread out the talent. I still think those pro
like Ohio State.
Speaker 15 (01:11:22):
I made the analogy, they're kind of like duper North
Carolina and basketball.
Speaker 7 (01:11:25):
They're always going to be there, they just might not
always win it every year.
Speaker 3 (01:11:30):
A couple more minutes with Bill Bender again Sporting News
Radio with us here or Sporting News On with us
here on the Sports Talk seven ninety Bill, I mean
even more local here with Texas and Texas A and M.
Texas a little disappointing season this year. Steve Sarkisian decides
the offense was not the issue. I'm moving on and
(01:11:51):
I'm switching out DC's and then for A and M.
I think it's kind of a question of can they
sustain this success and make it a year in and
year out thing. What do you think about both of
those programs heading forward, well, I.
Speaker 15 (01:12:05):
Mean yeah, A and M got to the playoff. It
was an impressive season. What come back I would I
just always go back to that comeback against South Carolina.
I mean what they showed that they have some discipline,
some part around Mike Elko didn't in the way that
they wanted, but I think he'll continue to build on that.
And I don't know that Texas was a disappointment. I
actually was on that, on board with They did have
(01:12:28):
a compelling playoffs case. They did step out. I was
at the Ohio State game this year. They were they
played them within a touchdown. Arch continue to get better.
I think the Heisman hype and then all those things
are going to come back for Arch next year. They should,
and the talent is there.
Speaker 9 (01:12:43):
I was here.
Speaker 7 (01:12:44):
I'll try this one on you.
Speaker 15 (01:12:46):
I think the Big Ten has three elite programs right now,
right now present Tense, Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana. I think
the SEC has won in Georgia and Texas is right
there like they could they can be that. It's just
going out doing that and you know, so start like
even with the coordinator switch, I think they're always going
to be in the picture.
Speaker 4 (01:13:05):
Money talks, and it definitely does down in Austin, BILLI
gets you out of here on this. You look at
lin Kiff and he signs the deal and he goes
to LSU, and I can't fault him. I think the
LSU would run properly, is the best job in college
football because of what you have in terms of recruiting
backgrounds and the ability to sell the program at Death
Valley on a Saturday night. But you look at Kirk
Signetti and you look at Willie Fritz, you look at
(01:13:26):
all these guys who don't have a lot of nil funds,
and the standards a little bit different at certain places
because of that.
Speaker 3 (01:13:33):
An LSU eight and four gets you fired. At eight
and four.
Speaker 4 (01:13:35):
Gets you another contract extension sometimes TDECU Stadium. When you
look at what they've been able to accomplish, has the
pressure could have been kind of dialed up to about
a nine or ten for him to hit the ground
running and start winning. Because if a guy like Kirk
Signetti can take a team to go eleven and won
in year one as the losingest program in college football,
but the resources found down to Baton Rouge, I mean
(01:13:57):
there should be no excuse for guards of who's your
starting quarterback or who you haven't left tackle.
Speaker 15 (01:14:02):
Yeah, the pressure's definitely on because of Old missus run.
The expectation is that Lane, you got to get us
to the semi finals and ls you only made one
playoff appearance in the fourteen era, it happened to be
arguably the greatest college football.
Speaker 7 (01:14:16):
Team of all time.
Speaker 15 (01:14:17):
But when three of the last four coaches have won
national championships and Brian Kelly didn't do well there, there's
going to be a ton of pressure on Lane Tiffin,
and especially with how everything went down this year, and
you know there's no need to bring all that back up.
But yeah, I think absolutely from recruiting, from winning, and
as we all know, their first three games next year
(01:14:38):
they play Clemson and then they play Old Miss two
weeks later. I don't think he'll have any more pressure
on him the entire tenure than when they go down
to Old Miss in week three.
Speaker 3 (01:14:48):
Bill Bender again sporty news hopping on with us for
a few minutes. Bill, Hey, appreciate the time, Always love
your coverage and always appreciate you hopping on with us
here anytime.
Speaker 7 (01:14:58):
I'm gonna go watch the final tex before the game
to night. Yeah, there you go.
Speaker 3 (01:15:03):
Hey, take care Bill, Yeah, pay pay some respects to
the great Rob Reyner watching spinal Tap. I've never actually
seen it. I just I know the reference of this
thing goes to eleven. Yeah, that's that's. That's as far
as it goes. I'm very glad that.
Speaker 4 (01:15:15):
He did say that he brought up for old missus standpoint. Hey,
they won and went to the semifinals without Sholane. I mean, listen,
you read a D two quarterback and a third string
running back to the highest level of an honor. You
can't bring in the elon quarterback and need Tournham into
something special.
Speaker 3 (01:15:29):
By the way, point, I mean, that's that's I mean,
that's that's the way I choose to look at and
I think most L s U fans choose to look
at it as well. Who found him, who got him there,
and who got it out of them? Who played at
the highest level without him them? Well, and then they
lose last night. So I mean it came to an end.
Speaker 5 (01:15:47):
Because its shambliss though no, not at all actually to.
Speaker 3 (01:15:51):
Be fair, because if he almost had four interceptions, he
if Miami could catch a football that would have been
a possibility. Right, let's get back into the NFL, because
we do it at the time. I'm every single show,
it's time to look at the shield because you're looking
for a new coach. Well, it's a little crowded the
Bucks fire damn near everyone, and this guy believes in
(01:16:11):
his quarterback. We'll discuss all three of those things right
here as we continue here. It is the Morning Drive
with Dan and Cole Sports Talk seven ninety before with
you that though, let's talk your financial future. How's it looking?
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Speaker 5 (01:17:22):
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Dan Matthews from Sports Talk seven ninety sent you over.
Speaker 1 (01:17:47):
Back to Dan and Cole as the Morning Drive Cruiz is.
Speaker 3 (01:17:51):
On Brian to bray you, Jeremy Pania and Hunter Brown
so two Scott Borne's clients after signing a scottboard clients.
Sounds pretty good.
Speaker 5 (01:18:01):
There you go, that's pretty good.
Speaker 3 (01:18:02):
We'll get into some astros a little bit later on
the show, but we do it at the time every
single day here on the program. It's time to look
at the shield, all right. So you got eight jobs
that are open now, that's and and see. And that's
(01:18:25):
funny too because when that was posted yesterday and I
saw Wex had even said as much too, and then
he even listed him out, and then I was like,
we'll see one, two, three, four, five, six, seven eight.
Speaker 5 (01:18:36):
Yeah, No, you're not wrong in the exactly.
Speaker 3 (01:18:40):
And that's not even to consider the head coaching or
excuse me, like coordinator jobs out there, like for example,
the Cowboys supposedly reached out to the Falcons about Jeff Ulbrick.
Speaker 4 (01:18:51):
Oh, I was talking about the fact that Mike Tomlin
and Matt la Fleur still technically could be job come tuesday.
Speaker 3 (01:18:58):
So you could have a third of the lead. Yeah,
that is looking for new head coaches. So the most recent,
of course, was Mike McDaniel the Dolphins. He got let
go of the day before. It was John Harball there
in Baltimore, but of course added to the list Jonathan
Gannon Arizona, Pete Carroll in Las Vegas, Stefanski in Cleveland,
(01:19:21):
Raheem Morris with the Falcons, and then the guys that
got fired in season Brian Dabole, Brian Callahan and.
Speaker 5 (01:19:30):
Believe that's all hate.
Speaker 3 (01:19:31):
That's eight. So but of all the jobs that are
out there that are open right now, I mean, the
one that looks like it is the most intriguing of those,
I mean it's it's Baltimore.
Speaker 5 (01:19:41):
There's yeah, there's no question.
Speaker 4 (01:19:42):
Great ownership, good GM, you don't miss on draft picks,
culture in place, stability when it comes to everybody on
the same page. Veteran quarterback that's won an MVP, enough
of a position to where you have money to spend
in free agency, it seems like a very good culture
to wear a lot if people want to resign there.
It's a man made job to where, like I said earlier,
(01:20:05):
they're going to be a team that will find their
way back into the playoffs next year because of all
they're doing is tweaking up a few little details and
everything is going to go according to plant.
Speaker 3 (01:20:15):
You know, and I know that some people might push
back on this, But the second best is the Falcons
because I'll push back.
Speaker 5 (01:20:21):
I think that.
Speaker 3 (01:20:22):
I mean, I understand, you know the quarterback situation. People
are not sold on Michael Pennix. You had the owner,
Arthur Blank, meeting with the media yes day saying they
believe he's their franchise guy. But I think that they
are impressionable because you have somebody in there that has
enough respect for what they've done in the league already,
(01:20:43):
but also too a chance to be able to come
in there and truly make it your own. Because this
next head coach is going to be handpicked by Matt Ryan.
I don't think there's any doubt about that. For what
you're bringing him in to do, it's going to be
somebody that he has some ties with.
Speaker 5 (01:20:57):
Would be my guest.
Speaker 4 (01:20:58):
You have the most salary cap space, the number one
overall pick, and Tom Brady having a bigger role inside
of the environment. I think the second best job is
the Las Vegas Raiders. I know you're in a challenging
division with Kansas City, with Denver, with Los Angeles, but
when you have all those pieces lined up and you
can spend and you get an adult outside of somebody
who I thought was really gonna be a good fit.
Speaker 3 (01:21:18):
With Pete Carroll for a year.
Speaker 4 (01:21:20):
It does seem like that you could at least be
trending toward a lot of success because of all the
decisions are.
Speaker 3 (01:21:25):
Made in your image.
Speaker 4 (01:21:26):
Now, it could backfire immediately if you suck at your
job and don't know what you're doing when it comes
to evaluating talent. But no, the on the flip side,
it's a man made job and you get the number
one overall pick.
Speaker 3 (01:21:37):
I think that also though too, for what you just
threw out there. That's why I have the falcons in
front of them, because I.
Speaker 5 (01:21:42):
Can't have a first round pick for the next two years.
That is a little bit of an issue.
Speaker 3 (01:21:46):
But you also do play in the NFC South, and
we just saw that the NFC South is up for grabs.
They are number three.
Speaker 4 (01:21:53):
I will gladly put them at number three because I
do see your b Jean Robbins's irony team.
Speaker 3 (01:21:57):
I mean, like you say that and you got drink wonder. Yeah,
I was gonna say both of those guys, and then
you know, it's gonna be interesting to see what they
do with Kyle Pitts if he walks and takes money
somewhere else. Maybe it's time for him to do that.
But anyway, some intriguing openings out there. The Buccaneers yesterday,
I mean, you want to talk about a fire sale
of pink slips being handed out over there. So they decide,
(01:22:19):
of course, to keep Todd Bowles. But the offensive coordinator,
Josh Grizzard, he's now gone. You also have the special
teams coordinator gone, cornerbacks coach Thad lewis gone. You know,
the defensive line coaches. I didn't even know this.
Speaker 5 (01:22:33):
Charlie Strong. Charlie Charlie Strong was the d line. He's
downgraded that much is gone.
Speaker 3 (01:22:42):
And also cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross is also gone. So look,
that's one of those that it's with ownership there in
Tampa Bay, where they're like, all right, the head coach
wasn't bad enough for us to can him, but let's
let's go ahead and give him a little bit of
an off ramp here, and all right, we'll keep you around,
like you gotta let a bunch of guys go.
Speaker 4 (01:23:02):
If you let go of five or more coaches, in
my book, you should have been fired that.
Speaker 3 (01:23:06):
I'm sorry. That's the way my brain is well. I mean,
if that's the case, then Gary Kubiak wouldn't have gotten
this team to the first playoff because I remember the
day after the the twenty ten season ended and the
first thing he did when he got up to the
podium was announcing that Frank Bush, along with Robert Salah
and a bunch of other coaches were gone. Yeah. It
(01:23:31):
was the defensive side of the ball. It was the
defensive side. What is Todd Bowles defensive side of the ball?
Speaker 4 (01:23:36):
Okay, So why is his defense coordinator still sticking around?
Or because he's technically not the defense coordinator? He's technically
just I don't think he's think he's the de facto
defensive play caller at this point. So yeah, offensively, you
got to get a change in there. You gotta get
somebody for Baker. That was a job to me that
felt like you have all the pieces in play to
be the favorites from here on out in the NFC South.
Speaker 5 (01:23:56):
That you couldn't get the job done, you deserve to
be fired.
Speaker 3 (01:23:58):
Finally, Chris Ballard backs Daniel Jones as the Colts future
as in twenty twenty seven and the near and long
term for the Colts I look at him both near
and long term, is what Balor said about Jones, adding on,
when you're chasing a quarterback all the time, it makes
it very hard. Your margin avera really shrinks down. And
(01:24:18):
I feel good about Daniel Jones and where he's at,
where he's going. Yes, he's got the achilles, but I
think Daniel Jones has got a really bright future here
in Indianapols.
Speaker 4 (01:24:26):
Let me throw it sounds like they're keeping let me
throw an achilles heel in this entire plan. His achilles
is completely shot. He's not playing in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (01:24:34):
Yeah, he was hanging out with us up in the
press box, wheeling around, so weird, trying to I remember
right before me and you did the video at the half,
I just go, hey, you just missed Danny Dimes.
Speaker 5 (01:24:43):
He just whizzed right by us.
Speaker 4 (01:24:44):
It's so weird to see him in this giant boot
and he's in the coach's box.
Speaker 5 (01:24:48):
That was the thing. The only regrets I've never seen
that you see him on the field.
Speaker 3 (01:24:52):
The only regret that I had for my brother being
a proud Carolina tar heel is to not look to
my right as he was whizzing by and going go
heel God, it's not that big of a No, it's not.
Speaker 9 (01:25:02):
It's not. It was.
Speaker 3 (01:25:03):
It was not an opportunity missed. But anyway, it seems
like it is a uphill climb for the Colts at
the moment. Someone three two and two five seven ninety
is the number two. Get in Demiko Ryans. It comes
down to the trenches on Monday night. According to Demico
Ryans'll let you hear from him as we get into
(01:25:24):
the eight o'clock hour. Right here on the Morning Drive,
it's Dan Matthews, It's Cold Tops, and it's Trip Ley,
Emmanuel Elmore. It is all right here on Sports Talk
seven ninety.
Speaker 16 (01:25:33):
A Houston atv HD two Houston, the Astros, the Rockets,
Rockets fall, your home for your home teams. This is
Sports Talk seven ninety and iHeartRadio Station Guaranteed Human.
Speaker 1 (01:25:53):
This is the Morning Drive with Dad and Cole.
Speaker 3 (01:26:01):
You got college football playoff last night, Miami moving on
to the National Championship game in their own stadium taking
on either the winner of Indiana or Oregon tonight, and
then also to the Rockets going to be in Portland
taking on the Blazers second game. Right there, they lost
a close one just a couple of nights ago, so
(01:26:23):
you'd like to be able to get them back up
there in Portland before you wrap up this three game
road trip with a Sunday in Sacramento against the Kings.
Someone three two, one two five seven ninety is the
number two get in. And I mean I mentioned it
earlier too, you know, speaking of the Rockets, speaking of
the game tonight, I mean, what could you ask for
for a better Friday night?
Speaker 5 (01:26:42):
Where number one?
Speaker 3 (01:26:44):
I will give the College Football Playoff for all of
the complaints, because you ever noticed that we do that
with everything. Nothing's ever good enough, like like we always
have to like find like ways to complain about it,
Like Super Bowl Sunday, for example, people complain about the
game shouldn't be played on a Sunday. Well, I mean
by the logic that a lot of people throw out
there about you know, the college Football Playoff, Well, the
(01:27:05):
game should be played on Saturdays? Well win are most
NFL games played on a Sunday? And then you know,
I'm with you on the if you want to make
the next day at national holiday. But I mean, I
think we can all agree that our industry, it's probably
not a good idea to sit out that Monday after
the final football game of the year, just saying, you know,
football makes this industry go around a pretty good amount.
(01:27:25):
But I mean tonight where you get the college football
playoff game, and it's not only just the college football
playoff game, but it starts at six thirty, and you're
just like, man, that's amazing, Like, thank you so much
for not doing an eight eight thirty, And then I'm
staying up until midnight one am. I mean a lot
of these are personal problems, but for that, like last
night's game ends at ten thirty, goes a little long.
Speaker 5 (01:27:47):
That's fine, it's all good.
Speaker 3 (01:27:49):
But then you get the Rockets game tonight too, so
a little bit of weather coming into the area. I
can't think of a better night to you know, if
you want to cook a nice little meal at the house,
go ahead and head to the store or get it all,
get whatever you want to, you know, eat and drink
on all of that, and then settle in watch some
good college football and then watch, more importantly, listen to
(01:28:10):
Matt Thomas on the call of the Rockets and Blazers tonight.
So you got that all right, So the Texans Demiko
Ryans meeting with the media yesterday over at NRG Stadium. Again,
yesterday's practice was considered to be their Wednesday because they've
got the Monday night game, so everything bumps up a day.
So it's their first full practice day of the week,
and that's also the first time the wee get to
hear from Demiko Ryans after the last time that he
(01:28:33):
met with the media, which was on that Monday following
at the regular season finale. The offensive line has been
a group that has had a lot of focus on
them this season, and I mean, I think for the
most part we've looked at the bad with them, short
yardage situations, guys shuffling in and outs, you know, trying
to find the right collection of five, all of that.
(01:28:55):
But then also too you look at the improvements that
they've made this year, and Demiko Ryans talking about that
group that he's got up front on the offensive side.
Speaker 17 (01:29:02):
Our offensive line has has done a good job. Like
our group has improved throughout the year. The main thing
when you look at it, we've done a really great
job of protecting our quarterback and that's the that was
the main emphasis coming into this year is can we
upgrade in that area of protecting our quarterback better keeping
him off the ground, And we've done.
Speaker 5 (01:29:21):
That and for the most part they have.
Speaker 3 (01:29:24):
I mean, you haven't seen the massive amount of pressure
that we saw last year on CJ.
Speaker 5 (01:29:28):
Stroud.
Speaker 3 (01:29:29):
It's come after him, but it hasn't been so much
of us time that they Texans give up a sack.
Was it against No, he wasn't even against the Chargers?
Was it because that was wiped away third quarter? In
the years in the Cardinals game. Okay, they gave up
one sack in the last four games of the regular season.
So they've they've done their work. They've they've done a
good job. And you've also had a group that's very
banged up. I mean, you know, I mentioned it earlier
(01:29:51):
that Titus Howard did not practice just day with the ankle,
but he's expected to go in this one, same as
you know on the other side of the ball, Kamari
Lassiter with an ankle and a knee. But then yesterday
you get limited participation Trent Brown. You'll you'll love to
see that. And this is a group too at Ingram
has been a nice edition this year. Jake and Andrews,
I know that you're not as sold as Jake Canrews.
Speaker 4 (01:30:14):
Okay, he's an NPC character that just kind of shows
on up in video games.
Speaker 3 (01:30:19):
So I mean it's he's doing a fine enough job.
But if you can find somebody that you can upgrade
with and then you go with it, I'm with you
on that. And then left guard, I think that that's
going to be something that they try to find this
offset because I think that right now, coming out of
this season, no matter how it ends, you're going to
be looking at all, right where can we improve this
(01:30:40):
football team? Left guard is one of them that I
don't think that you would have to break the bank,
you know, free agent wise to be able to go
find somebody that can really help you out.
Speaker 5 (01:30:48):
Are you're saying that Titus Howard goes back to right tackle.
Speaker 3 (01:30:50):
I think that you have Titus Howard at the right tackle,
you have Arianta Eraser at the left. Well, that left tackle,
that's he's a locked in at this point, So I'm
not worried about that. I think the question turns to
what's an easier pathway for you to drastically improve the line?
Is it going out in free agency and bringing in
a guard and then signing Eddingram to another short term
(01:31:11):
deal like maybe a two year contract, and then moving
Titus Hower to write tackle. Or do you go and
do the same thing that you do this pass offseason
where if you bring in to Cam Robinson, it's gonna
be a little expensive, but because of offensive tackles are
always tradable, then on Day two you draft an offensive tackle,
or with the first round pick, a draft offens tackle
he pans out, you can go ahead and move the
(01:31:31):
guy and get as much money off the books. I
understand the Shack Mason example, but at least Nick Cassario
has had a better batting average when it comes to
the free agent side of adding offensive lineman than he
has through the Drafty kind of goes against that. But
that's the thing, though, is interior offensive linemen are going
to be much cheaper than being able to try to
(01:31:54):
go out there and find a tackle. And for the
most part, if you're able to find a tackle on
the quote unquote scrap heat scrap heap, you're probably adding
a guy that's going to be disappointing for you.
Speaker 4 (01:32:04):
Well, I mean, every single offensive lineman that's a backup
to an extent is disappointing. I mean, Josh Jones, you
traded for him and you gave a multiple draft compensation.
He was a very underwhelming player.
Speaker 3 (01:32:13):
Which was necessity at the time. Is why you say
the thing is is that that's where you look at
a guy like Cam Robinson.
Speaker 4 (01:32:18):
Cam Robinson was a liability playing anywhere outside of left tackle.
And the problem is Ariontae Ersrie earned the right to
be a left tackle. So what happened Another team saw
the value of bringing in an offensive lineman with experience,
will give you a sixth round pick or a seventh
round pick, and then we'll take away eight million dollars
or the contract. And yeah, is it buyer's remorse to
(01:32:38):
a certain extent, because if it was a fourteen million
dollar deal, Yeah, But at the same time, you get
off the contract and you're able to get something in
return for it, because if you know that, he's just
not riding the betch All right, So let's flip over
to the defensive side, because we've talked about this Steelers
offense and how they set up against this Texans team, which,
by the way, the Texans open this week at a three.
Speaker 5 (01:32:59):
And a half point favorite.
Speaker 3 (01:33:00):
Right now, it's down to three, so you're starting to
get a little bit of money on at Pittsburgh. You know,
I don't know if that's a little bit of a
bump of it's a road game, it's gonna be cold,
it's all of that. Texans win this one close. Again,
I don't see it going that way. But here's Demika
Ryans talking about trying to stop a part of the
Steelers offense that maybe a lot of people aren't focusing on.
Speaker 5 (01:33:22):
But it's the run game.
Speaker 17 (01:33:24):
And when you first pop on the film watching the Steelers,
a thing that jumps out the most, you know, is
their running back position. They have two guys you know,
Warren you know, you know who's I mean, you watch
him running football. It's really impressive to see a young
guy run the ball the way he runs the ball.
He's he's a small guy, but he's tough, he's physical,
(01:33:46):
runs it really well and game well. Another receiver that
step saying, and he's done a really great job as
well running the football. But the thing where they make
a lot of plays is you know, both backs, whichever
guy's in, you know what they do with the ball
in their hand once the ball is out Aaron has
done a great job of not making bad plays. He
gets the ball to his checkdown very quickly.
Speaker 3 (01:34:08):
And I mean, and that's something that we've talked about
all week with this Steelers offense, is that it is
based around Jalen Warren and around Kenneth Gainwell. And I
know that a lot of people are going to focus
on Aaron Rodgers what he's able to do, but in
this stage of his career, he is reliant on those
guys like nobody's business.
Speaker 9 (01:34:28):
You know.
Speaker 3 (01:34:28):
It almost kind of reminds me of to a certain point, Cole.
It reminds me at the end of Drew Brees's career
and how much he relied on Alvin Kamara and mark
Ingram in New Orleans.
Speaker 5 (01:34:38):
You mean, because of the fact that it was just
a lot of shuckdowns. Is exactly what it is.
Speaker 3 (01:34:41):
Can you tell me the last time Aaron Rodgers threw
an interception No. November ninth. So just like the Texans
giving up sacks, it's been a while since Aaron Rodgers
has coughed up the football.
Speaker 4 (01:34:53):
That don't get me wrong, he doesn't have a three
hundred yard passing game. The most that he's seen is
that game against Baltimore on Sunday where it was two
ninety four. His and play a percentage just hovered anywhere
around fifty one to sixty percent.
Speaker 3 (01:35:03):
So it's not like he's doing a lot.
Speaker 4 (01:35:05):
It's a lot of dink and dunks, and it's a
lot of hey can he gain well, Calvin Austin dk
metcalf wide receives Scotty Miller there, random dude from Tampa
because of you Outam Thielen, old.
Speaker 3 (01:35:16):
Guy, let's just go bring the retirement to Rah. It's
a lot of that.
Speaker 5 (01:35:20):
But the thing is is that enough of that can
get you conversate.
Speaker 4 (01:35:23):
It can get you in a position to where you're
constantly moving the football and you're putting yourself in a
better spot to at least win the time, possession and
walk away positive points. And that's an area to where
if the Texans are complacent, they may only give a
one deep shot on the day, but that deep shot
allows you to hit reset go dink and dunk, set
up a Chris Boswell field goal. And if your offense
(01:35:44):
can't counteract that, three nothing is still three nothing.
Speaker 3 (01:35:47):
Well, and that's why I think you also see you
know the Texans whenever they win the toss saying we're
going offense first. And you know, it's been something that's
worked out well for them because we've seen it. Where
you give this defense a lead, it's very, very very
tough on the other team because then they're not playing,
you know, pressed, they're they're not trying to force the issue,
(01:36:08):
and that's where the penalties start to come in. It's
much more of a free, you know, flowing way of playing.
And when that defense is able to do that, than
we see good things out of them.
Speaker 4 (01:36:16):
No, And the other thing is that when you're able
to go ahead and put pressure on a quarterback into
making fundamental mistakes like the Texans have done with Justin Herbert,
like they did at times with Bradley Leonard, what they
did with Trevor Laws in that first game. The ability
to make a quarterback feel so I would say, claustrophobic
inside the pocket that they have to kind of get
out of the situation. It leads to turnovers, it leads
(01:36:36):
to fourth downs, it leads to easy punts and the
ball going right back to Houston to where hopefully the
offense can do enough. I mean, I'm not even asking
for you to go ahead and put you know, light
the fuse on fire and then destroy all of aschascher Sadium.
Speaker 3 (01:36:50):
Like I'm not asking that.
Speaker 4 (01:36:51):
I'm just saying, do enough to get the Kayami fairbear
and field goal arrange at least walk away with the
positive net game.
Speaker 5 (01:36:57):
This was massive news that came out.
Speaker 3 (01:37:00):
You stay with the Texans and it is going to
be the reason Capital thch reason why they went on
Monday night against the Steelers.
Speaker 4 (01:37:08):
Before we go any further, I just gotta say I
need some coffee, Like I really need some call. Like
I come in every single morning and I'll like go
into the other place because if it's a giant corporate situation,
and I know in the city of Houston there's great
coffee places around here. We are a morning show. I
need to get my daily dose of caffeine. You want
me to be excited, you want me to be loud
and obnoxious and do what I always do.
Speaker 3 (01:37:28):
Then guess what I need to.
Speaker 4 (01:37:29):
Be able to have some coffee or I just need
to be able to have some energy, whatever it is.
If you are a local person here in Houston and
you want to promote your product right here with Sports
Talk seven, ninety.
Speaker 5 (01:37:40):
I'd love to sponsor you. I'd love to be your spokesperson.
Speaker 4 (01:37:42):
I would love to be able to be to talk
about where you are giving me the most vitalization, the
most energizing situations and set my day off on the
right note because if on.
Speaker 5 (01:37:51):
The morning drive, I want to be able to give
you what you need.
Speaker 4 (01:37:55):
And the best way to reach out to me if
you want to have a spokesperson is simply email me
Thompson at iHeartMedia dot com. If you email me, we
can have a conversation. Let's get some good coffee in
the mornings from Dan and I. Let's go ahead and
start off your morning ride and let me help you
make the city of Houston know where your location is
because I'll tell you what.
Speaker 5 (01:38:14):
If I can find great coffee, I'll make sure.
Speaker 4 (01:38:16):
That any single person that listens on sports SUX seven
ninety finds you as well. So make sure you email
me Cole Thompson at iHeartMedia dot com.
Speaker 8 (01:38:23):
Good Morning Drive with Dannen Cole on Sports Talk seven ninety,
home of the Strolls, Rockets and Houston's best sports Talk.
Speaker 3 (01:38:33):
You said Sheldon Rankins, I said Jaden Higgins. But the
difference of all in this game is getting Kamari Laster back. Yes,
so Kamara Laster yesterday in the locker room after practice
he had a B and P with his knee and ankle.
But Jonathan and Alexander sharing this quotes from Laster very quick,
(01:38:54):
feeling good.
Speaker 5 (01:38:55):
I'm ready to play.
Speaker 3 (01:38:57):
And Laster of course did not play in the regular
seat and finale due to those injuries, but said, oh
yeah for sure. When asked if it was more of
a precaution if it were necessary for him to play,
Lassner said, oh yeah, for sure that he would have
indeed given it a go against the Indianapolis Colt. Okay,
(01:39:17):
be real.
Speaker 4 (01:39:19):
He was gonna be one of those players alongside Derek
seeing the junior Will Anderson and Danil Hunter that would
have been benched at halftime because of the score that
we saw out in Jacksonville exactly. So it would have
amounted if he played for a quarter or not because
of he was already going to be missing the second half.
He's been dealing with a foot injury and a lower
body injury for six weeks.
Speaker 3 (01:39:39):
He's played through the pain. He's gone and missed multiple
practices to put himself in a position to where at
least he's gonna walk away being cleared for game day.
Speaker 5 (01:39:51):
I don't know why I yet to worry about it.
Speaker 4 (01:39:52):
Like last week was a you're you're not a veteran,
but you're an irreplaceable piece of our team to where
we need you at closest to one for a playoff run,
not a game to where if we go eleven and six,
it's gonna suck that we don't get twelve wins on
the year. It won't be the most wins that we've
had this two twenty twelve, but will live because of
(01:40:13):
you know what, at least we're still gonna be playing
in the playoffs, so you need him out there. It
was okay to sit him for a game.
Speaker 3 (01:40:18):
Well, and then you know Nico Collins didn't play in
that game either, and that was precaution, not even on
the injury report yesterday, so shows you exactly where he
is with things. But of the DNP guys yesterday, Denico Autrey,
Titus Howard, Duar, Jordan Jordan dealing with an ankle he
left the game against the Colts with that, and then
of course Kamari Laster with the issues that you also
(01:40:41):
just laid out. But at least according to Jonathan and
Alexander Titus, Howard is expected to be able to be
a go.
Speaker 5 (01:40:49):
On Monday Night against the Steelers. So that's another bit
of use.
Speaker 3 (01:40:55):
I mean, with him not practicing yesterday, yeah, I would
say that that could be a question for sure.
Speaker 5 (01:41:00):
But it's the playoffs. I mean, like, that's it to me.
Speaker 4 (01:41:02):
And again I'm not saying that like it's one of
those things where I'm going back and forth and wondering, Okay,
well this is gonna be the issue.
Speaker 3 (01:41:07):
It's like, it's the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (01:41:10):
You you were out for a half against the Colts,
You're you're starting right tackle missed the game because he's
a veteran that probably needs more rest than you do. Like,
as long as you're not on the ir you're playing
in this game. Like that to me is where it
comes down to.
Speaker 3 (01:41:25):
And then now the limited guys yesterday, Trent Brown, Jamal Hill,
Sheldon Rankins, as you mentioned earlier, Jalen Reid with the
forearm sounding like he's going to try to give it
a go as to get go right. That's the first right,
So I mean that's you know, go through practice, see
how it goes with that, and then Derek Stanley Junior,
who's been dealing with that oblique for much of the season.
Speaker 5 (01:41:45):
But I mean for Laster as a whole.
Speaker 3 (01:41:47):
I mean, you know, again, it's the point of repetition
that I've said this week about Aaron Rodgers in this
Steelers offense, not a ton of downfield throws, but but
the matt but that we've seen the last few weeks
with a banged up Kamari last year, is teams willing
to take those shots downfield because they know that he's
(01:42:08):
less than one hundred percent massive.
Speaker 5 (01:42:10):
But where is that. It's not with two t's, it's
with one.
Speaker 3 (01:42:13):
Oh, okay, just want to make sure. No, I will
like port your guy go ahead to know which one
you prefer, but please go ahead phrasing it's it's a
family show. Damn Matthews. It's not really sure what you're
talking about. Please, we have other things going on.
Speaker 16 (01:42:26):
No.
Speaker 4 (01:42:26):
I mean again, you take the shot against Kamara last
because you know he's not at a one hundred percent,
But at the same time, you're playing devil's advocate here
because of Kamara Laster. I think that we noticed after
watching Alec Pierce Torch, both Tremon Smith and even Derek
Singlely Junior. To a certain extent, he has become such
a valuable asset to not only the Texans defense, but
(01:42:46):
just in general as a standout cornerback. Like you throw
him on probably eight or nine teams guaranteed modified number
one corner Like, no question about that. You throw him
on about ten or fifteen more teams. He's fighting for
CB one reps. There's like three or four teams to
where guaranteed he a CB two in the league.
Speaker 3 (01:43:03):
Well, I mean, and that's something that Matt Burke had
even thrown out. I mean, he had said it a
few weeks ago. He goes, you don't have Derek Stanley here.
We're talking more about this guy. We I mean, like,
let's be.
Speaker 4 (01:43:12):
Real, I've been screaming his name from the mountaintops for
months now because of just how well he fits in
this brand of defense and how well he's been able
to win against quality wide receivers. He's not always going
up against the number two, and that's been like, do
you know how everyone to talk about traveling like, oh, well,
you gotta send Derek Singley Junior on Tyree Kill or
Devonte Adams or Pooka Nakou or whoever it is, and
(01:43:32):
it's like, yeah, you do ninety percent of the time,
but after you got to about the midway point of
the season, you felt good that it doesn't to be
every single rep. But you're wanting to give Kamari Loster
a few looks here and there against the wide receiver one.
Speaker 5 (01:43:45):
I think that also to what works against him is
how he came into the league.
Speaker 3 (01:43:48):
He came into the league with less than impressive workout
numbers leading up to the draft, falls to Day two,
and then he gets into day two. I mean I
remember doing the draft show at the time. It was
Wex and Stan doing it, and Wex was arrested and
was like, you know, where were the interceptions? Where were
all of the takeaways for you to believe that this
guy is going to be a standout corner in this league?
Speaker 5 (01:44:08):
And well, I mean, he showed you that he can
do that too.
Speaker 3 (01:44:12):
A lot of it is what you're asked to do
in a defense, and at Georgia you're not asked to
be a standout guy. You're asked to do your job
and do whatever that entails, and sometimes the numbers will suffer,
suffer because of it.
Speaker 4 (01:44:24):
So somebody said that because of he didn't have a
lot of takeaways, that he was an underwhelming player.
Speaker 5 (01:44:30):
I mean, just for where he was taken in the draft.
Speaker 4 (01:44:32):
Anybody want to see what his passer rating efficiency was
against quarterbacks in college football, I'll spare you the trouble.
It was number one in college football in twenty twenty three.
He was the best cornerback in man coverage against quarterbacks
in a league at the time that was viewed as
the best in college football. Because if he didn't have
any takeaways, that was your argument.
Speaker 3 (01:44:51):
My god, lazy take on that one. I'm sorry it is.
It's a complete and total as nine take when you
go to that oh no takeaways, the four six one forty,
how about I watch the dude beat the breaks up
of wide receivers at the line of scrimmage and don't
allow a quarterback to make plays downfield.
Speaker 4 (01:45:10):
I'd rather that than to take away. And it's also
the eighteen passwack imp session.
Speaker 5 (01:45:13):
And you've seen the ball skills too.
Speaker 3 (01:45:15):
I mean you've seen when he's had the high point
the football be able to try to take it away
from his receiver. He's able to do that. I mean
last year in the playoffs, he showed you that against
Justin Herbert. So no, I mean, he's somebody that you know,
Texan fans know. I mean, you know, I talk about
it all the time of you know more about your
football team than people who watch your team from a
thousand foot view, so we know.
Speaker 5 (01:45:36):
But I mean I think you also too.
Speaker 3 (01:45:38):
You have a lot of people around the country who
don't necessarily know abou Kamari Laster yet, and getting him
back on the field is going to be a massive
addition for the Texans.
Speaker 5 (01:45:47):
So glad to have him, no question about it.
Speaker 3 (01:45:50):
So all right, let's get the Steelers side of Monday night,
and we're gonna do that with a guy that knows
it from calling it on the radio but also to
playing it and winning super That is Max Stark's former
Steelers offensive lineman. He is going to hop on with
us right here. It is the Morning Drive with Dan
and Cole on a Friday, Sports Talk seven ninety.
Speaker 8 (01:46:10):
Reeal takes Real Reaction, Real Houston Sports Talk seven ninety
guarantee Human.
Speaker 3 (01:46:19):
Rockets are going to be in Portland taking on the Blazers,
trying to be able to split those two games up
there in Portland, so we'll see if they are able
to do that. Seven one three two one two five
seven ninety is the number is waiting to be able
to catch up with Max Starks. Of course, former Steelers
offensive lineman now part of the Steelers radio network.
Speaker 5 (01:46:42):
I think Bill Hargrove still does the games for them
up there.
Speaker 3 (01:46:45):
But of course somebody that knows this organization inside and out,
so curious to be able to pick his brain on
the Steelers. So we'll also get into a little bit
of the Astros too, as the Stros, you know, coming
to deals yesterday with a handful of guys, but also
unable to come to deals with a couple of guys.
Speaker 5 (01:47:07):
So probably in the nine o'clock hour we will do that.
Speaker 3 (01:47:09):
But I mean we've talked a lot of Texans this morning,
where we spent a good amount of the last segment
on Kamari Lassiter also to you know, just being able
to get some of the other injured guys involved, and
I mean, you know, these are things that the Texans,
at least for the most part, you know, I was
thinking about this yesterday, Cole. For the most part, a
(01:47:31):
pretty fortunate team this year when it comes to injuries.
Hopefully that is not the mushing of the Texans at
this point, because you are pretty close to one hundred
percent and not a lot of teams can say that
at the moment. So we'll see if they are able
to use that to their advantage. No, I mean, it'd be.
Speaker 4 (01:47:47):
Really interesting to see if a team like Pittsburgh that
has been dealing with injuries, that has been dealing with
lackluster overall offensive execution, just just things like that that
maybe come up.
Speaker 3 (01:47:56):
And end up hurting them in this playoffs. Well, let's
find out more about As a former Steelers offensive lineman
now part of their radio network, Max Starks pops on
with us for a few minutes. Max, appreciate your time
this morning. You got myself, Dan Matthews, you got Cole Thompson.
You know, let's just start, you know, just with this
Steelers team. I mean, you know, I asked this yesterday
to Andrew phil a pony, one of your guys out there.
(01:48:19):
How's this fan base looking at this team? Like are
they looking at it as hey, we got a real
shot on Monday night? Or is it kind of like
what's next?
Speaker 6 (01:48:30):
You know?
Speaker 9 (01:48:30):
Good morning, guys, and yeah, I would. I would definitely
say the fan base is looking forward to thinking that
this is a game that they could possibly win. When
you kind of look at the season and how things
have transpired at different points, you know, unlike in years
pass right, you know, last year with Russell Wilson as
our quarterback, and even two years ago when Mason Rudolph
(01:48:53):
was leading the charge, I think, you know, there was
a sense of Okay, what's next, like what's coming year?
But with Aaron Rodgers it gives a completely different complexion
to what they can do. And then defensively, you have
a really solid squad detensively that's been playing some of
(01:49:13):
his best football at Spurts. It has not been full
complete four quarter defensive effort, but they've been able to
manage and put out some quality three quarters of games,
and they're thinking that there's still an opportunity for his
defense to get even better. So there's a lot of
hope in the city of Pittsburgh. Max.
Speaker 4 (01:49:34):
Let me ask you last season when you went to
the playoffs, you were on a four game losing streak,
and then this time around you win four of the
last five games. It's larger to the Aaron Rodgers and
the offense just getting the job done. But when you
go into a playoff run and you're facing off against
a team like Baltimore, it maybe feels like it is
a bit of a souring feel. But knowing that you
(01:49:55):
did end the year on much of a high note,
does that kind of change the narrative about what a
team feels like going into a postseason?
Speaker 6 (01:50:04):
Oh?
Speaker 9 (01:50:04):
Absolutely absolutely.
Speaker 7 (01:50:06):
I mean, you know, even from my.
Speaker 9 (01:50:08):
Days and then my experience as a player, you know,
how you play in December largely will give you an
insight into how a team's going to perform in January.
And if you're ending on a high note or you're
trending in the right direction, you know, you have a
lot of that momentum that goes in your favor as
(01:50:31):
you get ready for a playoff push. And I fortunately
have done it from two different perspectives. I've done it
from the wildcard spot when we were a six seed
back in two thousand and five, and then also a
number two seed in two thousand and eight, and then
we've been a one seed in eleven. And how you
play in December, how you manage those games, how this
(01:50:53):
team kind of rides that wave instead of limping into
the playoffs really makes a big difference and how you're
going to perform, you know, because I think of you know,
two thousand and two thousand and and uh and seventh season,
the year after or two years after, I should say,
(01:51:14):
we went you know, we lived into that playoff, had
a lot of injuries going into that. I think about,
you know that that that two ten season as well,
the whole Tim Tebow game in Denver, you know, and
and how we kind of just limped a lot of injuries,
not a lot of momentum in our favor, just kind
of made it. And you know, your team feeds off
(01:51:37):
of that type of energy as they get ready for
a playoff.
Speaker 3 (01:51:40):
Bush Again, former Steelers offensive lineman, two times Super Bowl champion,
now part of the Steelers radio network, Max Starks, hopping
on with us and Max, I mean one of those
super Bowl runs, you were you were part of it.
So with Mike Tomlin and I know that there's been
a lot of questions about his future up there. But
if anybody ever comes to you and says, hey, Mac,
it's time to move off from this guy, you played
(01:52:01):
for him.
Speaker 5 (01:52:02):
You know what makes him who he is. What do
you say to them?
Speaker 9 (01:52:08):
I'm saying, you know, for a lot of those you know,
bandwagon fans or you know, negative people, Let's just say
if Mike Tomlin went on the streets tomorrow, just like
John Harbo and Adam Schefter report, there would be nine
teams college immediately saying hey, uh, would you like to
come coach our team? I mean he is, he's a
(01:52:31):
leader of men. I think that's something that's rare for
head coaches. But I think Demiko is a similar guy.
I played against Demiko. You know, I know a lot
of his former teammates. I mean, heck, my cousin played
for the Texans, so what two of my cousins actually
played for the Texas, So you know, I know what
(01:52:52):
that personality is. I know what you know, those type
of people bring to the table. What they bring. It's
not just x's and o's, right, It's not just oh,
this guy is an offensive guru and he can draw
up plays, right. But when you're a leader of men,
you know how to communicate with people to get them
to rise up above their capabilities or take their abilities
(01:53:15):
to another level. That's a rare thing, and that's why
you keep those coaches for a long time, and that's
why you have successful stability within an organization with the
head coach and the coaching staff and your general manager
front office group. So you know, that's one of the
rare intrinsic skills. And to do that for two decades,
(01:53:36):
and also, by the way, never have a tanking season
or a losing season on your resume as well for
two decades. That that's a rare thing that people, you know,
you hate to say. People get tired of winning, people
get tired of being above average, But being above average
that long and never having to put the paper bag
over your head's a pretty special thing.
Speaker 5 (01:53:56):
I mean, Max, I tell people all the time.
Speaker 4 (01:53:57):
Remember when Andy Reid got let go by Philadelphi and
they literally fired a coach to go bring him on
into Kansas. It's the same thing with Tomlin, Like there's
an organization out there that will literally think of, hey,
we're gonna move off of this guy because if Tomlin
may even consider us, and we're willing to take the risk.
But I do want to get your thoughts on dk
metcast return. He missed the last two games because of
(01:54:18):
the suspension from a locker's perspective, and from a player's mindset,
knowing that this is an opportunity for you to kind
of win back the fan base because of what your
impact would be on the game. Is Is there a
lot of pressure running on him for having that breakout
performance against Houston Secondary?
Speaker 9 (01:54:38):
Uh? You know what, No, I think, because I think
there's two separate things that you mentioned there, locker room
versus fan base.
Speaker 1 (01:54:46):
Fan base has a.
Speaker 9 (01:54:47):
Different perspective than the guys who are between the four
walls with him, right, the guy that you have to change,
that you changed next to, and you go out on
the field and you you sweat with and you you
get frustrated and you have the emotions of a season with.
And so his teammates have always been in this quarter
and they're just happy to have him back because I
(01:55:09):
think they probably feel like, man, if we had him,
we probably would have beat Cleveland, you know, and you know,
to have him on our side going into this playoff push,
it's like getting a player back at a critical moment.
And so to have him back, he's welcome with open arms.
Speaker 6 (01:55:24):
And I think for the fan base.
Speaker 9 (01:55:27):
The most part, I think they thought that the two
games being upheld was a bit excessive. They thought that, hey,
one game probably made sense of hey, this is the
era on your part, Okay, slap on the wrist. One
game and let's drop it to you know, let's just
drop it from two to one. But the fact they
(01:55:48):
upheld it, I think a lot of fans are kind
of even more in his corner, like this was excessive,
Like you got targeted by the league for this type
of suspension again.
Speaker 3 (01:55:57):
Max Starks join us here on the Morning Drive with
Dan and Coles Sports Talk seven nineties, a two time
Super Bowl winner also part of the Steelers radio network. Max,
we saw that Steelers defensive front, even with the banked
up Cam Hayward, able to get after Lamar Jackson a
little bit on Sunday night. Do you feel like that's
going to be the game plan against c J. Stroud
(01:56:19):
and trying to be able to make his Monday nights
really tough?
Speaker 6 (01:56:25):
Absolutely.
Speaker 9 (01:56:26):
I think the game plan is you have to get
pressure with your defensive line and you know, and you
should know this goal, right, four man pressure makes your
secondary a lot happier. The more guys you could drop
in the coverage, the more that you can do to
affect his normal stasis and operating movements. By being able
(01:56:46):
to only rush for is a huge advantage for your defense.
And you know, you think about that. You have daneil
Hunter and Will Anderson that are exceptional and of course
you throw out to OGII in company in the middle
and those guys can get after you, and you don't
really need to add Henry Totoe right, you could drop
(01:57:07):
him in the coverage. You can send him with the
tight end, and you can you can applot with your
with your down lineman. That's a huge advantage for your defense.
So I think for the Steelers, we come from that
five man front, even if not rushing all five, if
you can bring four out of those five and have success,
you're in a lot better place and you make your
(01:57:28):
secondary that much better. And you have to be able
to affect CJ. You have to be able to get
him off this point. He's a highly accurate quarterback. I mean,
he he could put he can drop the ball in
the well, you know, from eighty yards out like That's
just how good he is. So you have to get
him off this point and get him moving.
Speaker 3 (01:57:45):
Max I gets you out of here on this Kenny
gainwell what needs to happen to slow him down, because
if you have him in space, it feels like it's
game over on a lot of first downs, and that
keeps going to him.
Speaker 9 (01:57:56):
On favorite Pittsburgh, He's our team MVP for a reason.
Coal He is a dynamic guy. Whether you hand him
the ball or whether you throw him the football, he
knows how to make things happen. This is also a
guy coming off of a super Bowl year the previous
year with Philly, so he knows what it looks like.
(01:58:16):
He knows what it takes received the game ball because
of his performances in the playoffs. So he's a guy
that just has experience, and like you said, to slow
him down, you have to dedicate multiple guys to him.
You have to outflank him when it is his term.
But the problem is you never know when his term
because Aaron distributes the football equally around the field a lot,
(01:58:39):
and so it's tough to get a beat on that.
You know, when you can double team a receiver, you
can dedicate two guys to the running back in the
run game, it makes their life a lot harder. But
the problem is you have multiple fires and you don't
have enough guys you can keep on the field to
be able to cover everybody.
Speaker 3 (01:58:57):
Max Starks again, two times Super Bowl champion, now part
of the Steelers Radio Network, giving us the Steelers side
of Monday Night against the Texans and the Wildcard round.
Speaker 5 (01:59:06):
Hey, Max, have a great call.
Speaker 3 (01:59:08):
We really appreciate your time this morning, and hopefully we'll
be able to catch up again soon with these two
teams link up. Thanks again, Max.
Speaker 6 (01:59:16):
All right, Thanks man, y'all take care all right.
Speaker 3 (01:59:19):
Max Starks again. Keith Browner Junior was one of his
cousins that played for the Texans. He was here from
twenty twelve to twenty fourteen. You know, part of the
Browner family as a whole second to the Matthews family
in regards to NFL players in the family.
Speaker 4 (01:59:36):
I will agree with him on one thing, Kenny Gainwell
now as the number one player that I am targeting
if I'm Houston Texans. The way that I'm telling you
that everyone looks at fifty one and says circle him
in a big, big, big big black bulld leck.
Speaker 3 (01:59:50):
Say thy were kind of gained Well? What he is
able to do? You tell me his stat line?
Speaker 4 (01:59:55):
I'll tell you the Texans winner lose that football game,
and again they're going to win.
Speaker 5 (01:59:59):
But what woul make this?
Speaker 4 (02:00:00):
Let's rephrase it. You give me a stat line, I'll
tell you what the Texans cover or not in this game.
Speaker 3 (02:00:05):
Let's play higher or lower next right here, because it
is the Morning Drive with Dan and Cole as we
continue here on a Friday Sports Talk seven ninety again
thanks to Max Starks for hopping on with us. And
you might be feeling good about the Texans on Monday night,
but it's also to a question.
Speaker 5 (02:00:23):
Of between now and then, are you looking good?
Speaker 3 (02:00:25):
Because well, the weather might be a little shaky for golf,
but still you can get it and it's not gonna
be that bad. So if you're out there, how is
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golf course? And if it's shaky, well, then Kobe Stevens
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You gotta sit and wait. What if you want to
(02:00:46):
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there in one stop shop, and you got great people
up there that are gonna be able to help you
out and make sure that you're walking out the door
looking good and feeling good, because there's nothing better too.
(02:01:07):
Then when you buy some nice new golf apparel or
maybe like a fishing shirt, and you just imagine, how's
that gonna look the next time that I'm out on
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on Galveston Bay and I'm trying to be able to
hook some good reds. That is something that you can
already start thinking about when you shop with Kobe Stevens
Apparel again.
Speaker 5 (02:01:24):
Sixty four oh two Luetta Road.
Speaker 3 (02:01:26):
That is where the brick and mortar store is, but
it's always online at Kobe Stephens dot com, Kobe Stevens
dot com, Coby Stevens with a VS at the end,
Kobe Stevens dot Com, Kobe Stevens Apparel.
Speaker 7 (02:01:40):
They are on Morning Drive.
Speaker 1 (02:01:43):
Here's Dan Matthews and Cole Thompson.
Speaker 3 (02:01:47):
And also to the Rockets trying to bounce back from
their one point loss a night ago against the Blazers
in Portland and you'll have that game coming your way
right here on Sports Talk seven nine. But you threw
out a scenario Kenneth Gainwell stat line for him. If
he's able to have this, how does the game go?
Speaker 9 (02:02:08):
All right?
Speaker 5 (02:02:08):
So I'll throw it to you right now.
Speaker 3 (02:02:09):
Cole Thompson receiving nine catches, sixty four yards, running five
runs for ten yards. That was the last game that
he had against the Baltimore Ravens. Texas went by ten points.
All right, Texas went by ten points.
Speaker 5 (02:02:27):
Do you can go explain?
Speaker 4 (02:02:29):
You need to go over sixty yards rushing, You need
to go over fifty yards catching. He needs to finish
with at least one hundred and twenty total yards of
offense and in the ends one at least once.
Speaker 3 (02:02:39):
I think for this to be a game, I mean
because Warren is their primary guy, but I mean they
rely on both guys, you know pretty you know, you know,
side by side, But it does seem like they Gainwell
is more of the guy that you're going to see
if he's catch, if anybody's catching passes, it's more going
to be Gainwell.
Speaker 4 (02:02:56):
If you throw all of Kenny Gainwell's stats together this year,
he's almost a one thousand yard player with over two
hundred I mean with almost two hundred touches, and he
has nine touchdowns, so he does a lot. Then he's
a big factor in this offense because if he can
do a little bit of everything.
Speaker 3 (02:03:10):
The most he's run for in a game this year
was if unless I'm missing, was ninety nine yards against
the Minnesota Vikings, and that was his most productive game
that he had this season in terms of overall production
because he also had six catches for thirty five yards.
How many yards do you have in the last game
(02:03:30):
all total?
Speaker 5 (02:03:31):
He had seventy four.
Speaker 4 (02:03:35):
Yeah, I think that you're gonna I think you're gonna
need a hundred. I think if you have one hundred,
then you're gonna win this football game.
Speaker 3 (02:03:40):
The Texans you're talking about, if you have over a hundred,
you will make it a command.
Speaker 4 (02:03:44):
Well, for sure, let me phrase that. The Steelers are
not winning this football game. They're gonna lose no matter one.
I'm not worried about that. I think the Houston will
be fine. They'll put themselves in a position to where
they can coast going into the fourth quarter. But if
you have one hundred yards, I think it is a
fourth quarterback and forth battle, very low scoring affair, but
enough to be able to feel confident that the Steelers
make this a game.
Speaker 3 (02:04:04):
So I mean, and that's the thing too, is the
Texans for the most part this year, that's what's made
them successful defensively, is that they've been able to lock
down the run. Early on the season, it was a
little bit of an issue. Karen Williams able to have
a decent enough day for the Rams, they were able
to beat you. Same deal with Bucky Irving and crew
with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and of course, you know
what was the play that did you in Baker Mayfield
(02:04:25):
able to take off and pick up a huge first
down and keep that drive going and eventually they beat
you with a game winning drive. But I mean, ever
since then and once they started winning, that was the
calling card of this defense, stopping the run. Ashton Gent's
performance notwithstanding it, you give up a huge run against
James Cook, but aside from that, he didn't do much
(02:04:45):
against you, and said that numerous times that this is
yet another one of those matchups where you stop that
part of their offense, you win this game. Said that
in the Bills game, you stop James Cook, you're winning
that game, the forty nine ers game. You stop Christian McCaffrey,
you're winning that game. You limit these two guys, you're
winning that football game. And it's going to be pretty easy.
Speaker 4 (02:05:04):
Here's why I say that, if you have one hundred yards,
you have a shot off your Pittsburgh. But Kenny Gainwell,
he has gone over one hundred yards four times this year.
In those games, the Steilers are three and one. They
lost one game to the Chicago Bears, and it came
on a thirty one to twenty eight game winning field
goal in Chicago. Besides that, they would have been four
and oh against the Bears, against the Vikings, against the Bill,
(02:05:25):
against the Lions, and against the Dolphins. He went over
one hundred yards in every single one of those games.
They won three or four. The only one they lost
was to Chicago.
Speaker 3 (02:05:34):
Five games.
Speaker 4 (02:05:35):
My apology Cincinnati too, so four and one. In games
he goes over one hundred yards, they went at an
eighty percent rate. You could say that was their magic number,
would if you so, It's got to be one. One
to ten is the average. If he hits over one
hundred and ten yards, eighty percent of the.
Speaker 3 (02:05:51):
Time you win the football game.
Speaker 4 (02:05:52):
So Kenny Gainwell is going to be that X factor
that I think Houston is circling and making sure he
does into anything. Jalen Petree, Kamari last As hez Alshaier,
Henry Toatoa. I don't care where you are in the field,
you don't let fourteen get past you. That needs to
be the game plan. If he gets if he stays
(02:06:12):
his lane and nothing happens, you're good.
Speaker 3 (02:06:16):
We'll talk about that much more as with the Texans
heading into this game, as we'll catch up with our
Sports Talk seven ninety Texans Insider, also with KPRC two,
Aaron Wilson gonna hop on with us for his weekly
visit that's coming up here to start the nine o'clock
hour on the Morning Drive with Dan and Coles Sports
Talk seven ninety.
Speaker 16 (02:06:34):
Kb E Houston ATVHD two Houston, home of the Astro and.
Speaker 7 (02:06:39):
The Rockets.
Speaker 8 (02:06:42):
Sports Talk seven ninety your home for your home teams,
an iHeartRadio station guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (02:06:48):
You mean, this is the Morning Drive with Dan and Cole.
Speaker 3 (02:07:01):
You got to Indiana and Oregon for the right to
move on and face Miami for the national title. Texans
on the practice field getting ready for that Monday night
in Pittsburgh against the Steelers and the Rockets of course
in Portland to take on the Blazers. Talking about said
Monday night's game, Well, the Texans side of things, we
do it every single Friday with them. He's our Sports
(02:07:21):
Talk seven ninety Texans insider, also a KPRC two. He's
Aaron Wilson. Aaron appreciate the time. As always we've been
talking about. At least the news that came out yesterday.
I know it was a DNP for Kamari Laster, but
at least I know you guys caught up with them.
I guess the thumbs are up. He's going to be
out there on Monday night for the Texans, right, Yeah.
Speaker 6 (02:07:42):
I reported that before practice too. I know that he
was going to play, and he could have played against
the Colts. They were trying to really get him feeling
better for the playoffs. He's been dealing with knee and
ankle injury, and anklinder is probably the more serious of
the two situations with this guy's not very normal.
Speaker 5 (02:08:01):
I mean that in a good way.
Speaker 6 (02:08:03):
I just stask Kirby Smart or Demika Ryans or his
teammates and including Calem Bullock, who said, yeah, there's just
no way the guy doesn't miss games. He broke his
scapula as a rookie that kept him out, and he
had a broken bone in his back. But other than that, Yeah,
(02:08:24):
the guy's going to be out there. And it's just
very tough. Tough as nails is what you would hope
for at any defensive position, but especially for a corner.
He's just unusually tough and hard hitting and you know,
ninety one tackles this year. He loves to be in
the action. Yeah, he's all good. And that was not
like a surprise to me or in anything. So the
(02:08:47):
fact that he let him talk is pretty much all
you need to know. They wouldn't if he wasn't gonna play,
He wouldn't even do interviews. It's not any kind of gamesmanship.
He's gonna be fine. He'll practice at some point, whether
it's today or tomorrow, and then he'll play on Monday
night and match twits with Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 5 (02:09:06):
Aaron, let's just go and talk about Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 3 (02:09:07):
Both Amiico Ryans and CJ.
Speaker 4 (02:09:09):
Straud had a lot of positive things to say about
the forty one year old quarterback CJ called him top
three player at the position all time, I mean, And
the bottom line is that whether or not you say
he's forty one, he's had his way with the Texans
highest passer rating of his careers against Houston.
Speaker 5 (02:09:23):
He was able to beat them with the Jets a
year ago.
Speaker 4 (02:09:26):
When you look at this matchup, is there a reason
to believe that Rogers still has one more left in
him against Houston to make this a pretty big upset
in the eyes of the public.
Speaker 6 (02:09:37):
Well, right, his recent body at work, including what he did,
I know the baltimoren was gonna have the kind of
defense and the Texans to. But he's still chilling ninety
four yards. It's still a clutch game. It's still a
bunch of touchdowns, and he's still completing passes at a
sixty five percent rate, so he's still accurate. It's just
a matter of can they protect him. And that's the
big X factor because no one, including the Ravens, as
(02:10:02):
the kind of passers to the Texans do with l
Anderson Juniors and Neil Hunter and company. And that's a
different kind of heat. And like Aaron or Tom brad
or any these quarterbacks have covered games like that where
he can be rendered ordinary if you hit him enough,
and that's true for any quarterback, how great they are.
But yeah, for Aaron, he still can throw a great football.
(02:10:25):
He beat them last year with the Jets were up
there in the meadowlands, and he's throwing darts to DeVante
Adams and Garrett Wilson. He doesn't have receivers like that.
He's got DK metcalf back and DK's explosive. But I'm big,
but it's not like those guys. I think he's got
a chance to mean, it's just a matter of can
they protect long enough for him to throw some darts
(02:10:46):
because he can and he's also very good at finding
the weakness here defense. So what if he's thrown underneath
at the Jayalen reed, if Jalen's activated, what if he's
going after her at hotel? What if he's trying to
do some things against Jaim. He's had a great year,
but you know it's had some covered lapses in the past.
There's things there and he'll try to find them again.
Speaker 3 (02:11:07):
Aaron Wilson, he's our Sports Talk seven ninety Texans insider
also at KPRC two. He joins us every single Friday
here on the Morning Drive with Dan and Cole Sports
Talks seven to ninety. Cole brought up to this point
earlier Aaron about the Texans keeping CJ.
Speaker 5 (02:11:21):
Stroud clean.
Speaker 3 (02:11:22):
It's been all the way since early November was the
last time that he got sacked. So with all that
being said, I mean, you know, how is this Texans
offensive line even with all the injuries progressed as the
last couple of months have gone, you.
Speaker 6 (02:11:38):
Know, out of leadership from Titus Howard. But you have
a leader at the offensive line coaching position now, a
cool Popovich. And I was talking about Cole, you know,
at this time last year when they were signing an
extension fire E Strouser from Morning Paplovich recently pushing all
the chips in the middle of the table with him
making a run game coordinator. And he's Nick Kayley's bro
(02:11:59):
for New England. And they speak the same language because
they both, you know, were working with Dante Skernakia and
Belichick and these guys are you know tight and Papovich
you you learned West Virginia were watching with the Greenbrier
and I could hear a lot of the coaching just
from standing nearby. And these guys really respond to him.
(02:12:21):
Everybody brings them up, whether it's CJ, whether it's all
the offensive linemen. Uh, there's a big buy in factor now.
They like this guy. Kind have a tough love situation
with him because you know he's gonna get on them,
he's the coach ma Mark, but he's also going to
you know, encourage them be positive. He's a former offensive
lineman at Friendsville State. He's very highly thought of. And
(02:12:42):
I think, you know, for them to with no Pro
Bowl guys put out these good performances. Yeah, they deserve
the criticism they're getting early in the year, but they
got it together and this is a good alignment for them.
Speaker 9 (02:12:55):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (02:12:55):
You know, it'd be even better if Trent Brown could play.
Trent still working his way back to the knee, and
but I think that, you know, Titus deserves a lot
of the credit for the flexibility he's shown the knees
and the MVP of a much improved golf it Selon Aaron.
Speaker 4 (02:13:09):
It's not a big, big, big season for him, but
he did step on strong towards towards the end of
the year. Jadan Higgins, people talking about him as a
prominent figure moving forward for the Texans. Just what is
his impact in this game, especially when you know there's
gonna be double teams against Thinco Collins forcedis try to
find him open downfield.
Speaker 6 (02:13:26):
He can be really important. It's a good point because
you look at Jaden size, improved route running skills, pretty
good hands, and he's got a lot of you know,
you can kind of see why they draft him in
the second round. I know that numbers aren't gigantic, but
you know, six touchdowns is nothing. This seems at as
a rookies time for the second most with Own Daniels
(02:13:46):
in franchise history. I look at Jayden and I could
see him getting the mismatches.
Speaker 9 (02:13:53):
He's six'.
Speaker 6 (02:13:53):
Four there are very few corners that can match up with.
That and it's not Just, niko it's you, know you've
Got higgins and you've Got. Schultz salt's got easy, catches
so he's got a few. Weapons AND i think that
the touchdowns kind of emblematic of the improved timing in
chemistry against The colts on the, rollout and you know
(02:14:15):
he's making no good plays in. Traffic he's an improving young.
Player he's very young and his best footballs ahead of.
Him he's played good football right, now AND i think
he can be a backer in the.
Speaker 3 (02:14:25):
Playoffs absolutely spending a couple more minutes, Again Aaron, wilson
Our Sports talk seven to Ninety texans INSIDER kprc. Two
he joins us every Single friday here on the show
During texans season.
Speaker 1 (02:14:37):
With the run.
Speaker 3 (02:14:38):
Game you Know Juwar jordan missing practice, yesterday but we
did see a little bit more Of British. BROOKS i,
mean if he can't, go you feel like The texans
would feel comfortable running with a backfield that has obviously
woody marks first don't know About Nick, chubb but Also
Darry goombwalle And.
Speaker 18 (02:14:55):
Brooks, right they'll have to be And George orton is
the complimentary player and he's got a high ankle, spring
so per, sources he is not going to be.
Speaker 6 (02:15:07):
Available to, Them so it will have to be those other.
Guys british open some eyes for them with the sixty
three yards he ran. HARD i think primarily, though It's
jawar and it's you, know Having Nick, chubb and you
know they Rested chubb last, week not. Injured they're just
gonna roll him out there SOME i just don't think
(02:15:28):
it's gonna be as many. Touches they're gonna ride the
hothand and that's obviously you Know woody marks AND i
Think woody still play him a. Lot and there's no
saving guys right. Now you got to win each game
and advance or whatever it. TAKES i think it would
help them if they could Get woody involved more in
the passing, game because he's very good at. That but
(02:15:50):
they just haven't done as much AS i thought they
would withdrawing to. Him when they have done, it they've
had great, success you. Know but, Overall, yeah in the,
backfield you're just generally you're not getting to some of
these third and fourth, options except in mop up time
And brooks when they wanted to Rest, woody he stepped
up and he had nothing about. Him surprised. Me he's a,
(02:16:12):
tough tough. Guy, yeah they're gonna have to look at
other options, because, Yeah jar he's not available because he is.
Hurt he is an illegal hip drop. Tackle they didn't call,
it BUT i would imagine there'll be a fine coming
over the. Weekend, Hey, aaron let me.
Speaker 4 (02:16:26):
Just ask you and throw this out. Here Your texas
sitting at twelve and, five they're in the. Playoffs that's
best records in twenty. Twelve people can plain and want
to gripe on the offensive play calling And Nick cayley
being an OVERRATED oc and a former friend Of dimico
just got fired from a shob out Of, Miami and
now there is people coming and, saying, well why don't
(02:16:46):
we just go ahead and see what happened at the
end of the, season because he can't rule out anything
because if you, know, hey that relationship with that pencil
pusher who was maybe vaping on the, sidelines is they're
gonna be a really good fit for the. Team can
you just put can you just end the narrative That
Nick kayley's give me the play caller next season might
Be daniel's not going to be runing the show at
A nergie.
Speaker 6 (02:17:03):
STADIUM i don't see it. HAPPENING i think he's gonna
have You detroit will living options For mike If michael
wants to get back, in AND i think he. WILL
i think that's Probably taylor made for. HIM i don't
really see this as the best o se position for,
him AND i also don't see them Firing Nick. Kayley, so,
YEAH i think it's a bit of a non starter,
(02:17:24):
really The mike McDaniel. Talk it's a great conversation, piece
but it's just not based on a lot of. Reality
unfortunately for people that Want mike. McDaniel i don't think it's.
Speaker 3 (02:17:36):
Happening there you go straight From Aaron, wilson a man
who is all over The texans and for good reason
here At Sports talk seven ninety because these Are texans,
insider and he joins us every Single friday here on the. Show, Aaron,
hey always appreciate your, time, man and safe travels up To,
pittsburgh and hopefully we're talking with you again Next.
Speaker 6 (02:17:56):
Friday appreciate you. Guys, YEAH i think it could. HAPPEN
i think The texans particular. Business we'll see what.
Speaker 3 (02:18:03):
Happens there you go, Again Aaron wilson joining us here
on The Morning. Drive so you, know we've even laid
out this scenario, too where we could possibly be talking
about A texans divisional round game here In. Houston hopefully
that is the, case but you would also need all
three wildcard teams to be able to win this. Weekend i'm,
Sorry i'm tired of having a conversation. Starter, oh it's
(02:18:24):
a conversation starter that you.
Speaker 6 (02:18:26):
Know now we got the.
Speaker 4 (02:18:26):
Gun you're not Firing Nick, Kyley, like can we not
do this again like we did with The Chip kelly
bs for about six. Weeks it's not happening except for
your off its coordinator is and figure out a way
how to make it.
Speaker 3 (02:18:39):
Work it's a terrible.
Speaker 4 (02:18:40):
Relationship go to counseling with Your texans fandom and be
able to have a good dialogue because guess, what you
two won't break it up anytime.
Speaker 3 (02:18:48):
Soon it's all kind of like advice a buddy of
mine gave me WHEN i was really upset with somebody
AND i was, like we need to sit him down and.
Talk he was, like, dude he's at this age. Already
it's either you accept him for who he is or
you move. On he's not going anywhere you went twelve and.
Five you're not firing him unless he has the single worst.
Game AND i Thought aaron brought up a really interesting.
(02:19:09):
Point we can maybe talk about it on the other,
side but, like not the best fit For.
Speaker 4 (02:19:14):
Houston isn't that All i'm hearing From Texans twitter right?
Now it's just like how he's such a perfect.
Speaker 3 (02:19:19):
Fit how actually you know what's seven one three two
one two five seven Ninety if you are in the
camp Of Nick kayley fired Bringing mike, McDaniel why is
he a perfect pit? Fit excluding the fact that.
Speaker 4 (02:19:32):
He has previously worked with to mak A Ryan's i'm
throwing that caveat in, there you come up with the,
Reason i'd love to hear.
Speaker 5 (02:19:37):
IT i would love to hear it on The Morning
drive right here With Dan cole On sports like seven.
Speaker 3 (02:19:40):
Nine and you heard him and one guy who already
wants to get in J w will catch up with you.
Next you want to join him again seven one three
two one two five seven ninety against seven one three
two one two five seven. Ninety if we have time
in the next, segment do you want to throw this out?
Too that an idea THAT i, Love it's just the
execution of it That i'm not a big fan. Of
we'll talk about all of those things right here as
(02:20:02):
we continue in the nine o'clock hour on A, friday
it is The Morning drive With dan And Cole Sports
talk seven.
Speaker 8 (02:20:07):
Ninety back to The Morning. Drive Here's Dan matthews And
Cole Thompson.
Speaker 5 (02:20:17):
Okay for. Stories we don't even know how many teams
are going to be in the playoff next. Year that is,
True that is.
Speaker 3 (02:20:21):
True right, now you think it's going to be fourteen or.
SIXTEEN i think they go to. SIXTEEN i think they got.
SIXTEEN i think what you want to, WHY i think
they go to. Sixteen and here's what you can also,
do is you can with, sixteen have that be the
conference championship game weekend the teams that didn't make.
Speaker 5 (02:20:38):
It, THAT i, mean it's it's almost kind of a
play in.
Speaker 4 (02:20:43):
Now see here's WHAT i think that the reason they're
going to do sixteen because of now they're going to
have one versus, sixteen so everyone doesn't have to have
that first round by because of what are we looking
at right?
Speaker 3 (02:20:51):
Now data shows that teams that play in the first
round are one and. Seven, yeah SO i mean it means.
Something it is a big.
Speaker 5 (02:21:00):
Deal it has worked.
Speaker 3 (02:21:02):
Out and then of course The, texans which has been
the line's share of the conversation here someone three, two, one, two,
five seven. Ninety they're on the practice field getting ready
for The Steelers monday nights in the wildcard. Round see
if they get another week to play this season. Again
someone three, two, one two five seven ninety is the
way to get.
Speaker 5 (02:21:21):
In let's keep it. Going on the phone LAUNCH jw
wants to. Wag good MORNING. Jw good.
Speaker 9 (02:21:27):
Morning.
Speaker 12 (02:21:28):
Hey first of, All, DAN i want to congratulate you
on getting getting.
Speaker 7 (02:21:34):
Promoted it's about.
Speaker 5 (02:21:35):
Time, OH i appreciate, it, Man thanks so.
Speaker 12 (02:21:38):
Much uh don't get to call in very much Because
i'm usually on the road quite a. Bit But i've
been hearing a lot of scuttle mode about all the
nonsense that The pittsburgh theaters are going to do, This
we're going to do. That, well you know, What i'm
just going to get proven on the football field Come.
Monday AND i got a really good feeling That houston's
(02:21:59):
going to come out on top of all.
Speaker 3 (02:22:00):
Of, this.
Speaker 5 (02:22:02):
Fired up for your.
Speaker 3 (02:22:03):
Guys and you, KNOW i, mean it's the same thing
That i've said to you KNOW. Jw THAT i, Mean
i've even thrown out THAT i think The texans can
win this game by three. Scores this is gonna win
by ten points at.
Speaker 7 (02:22:13):
Least, well let me let me say one other.
Speaker 12 (02:22:16):
Thing, sure you know, what you guys are too young
to remember all of, this BUT i remember fervidly about
what happened With renfro in the end zone In.
Speaker 9 (02:22:25):
Houston won that.
Speaker 12 (02:22:26):
Game so There's i'm sure a whole lot of people
remember it.
Speaker 3 (02:22:31):
Too, YEAH i Know larry And stafford. Does he brought
it up earlier this. Week but, yeah it's funny you
mentioned that because The chronicle even did.
Speaker 5 (02:22:40):
Something HEY.
Speaker 3 (02:22:40):
Jw appreciate the kind. Words appreciate the, call uh be
safe on the roadways. Too but the you, know the
Whole steelers thing of it is like our parents', Generation
like that's the one LIKE i remember my dad telling me, About,
yeah you, know should have caught, it you, know Bum
phillips in the in the astrodi when they came back next,
year we kicked that some bitch, In AND i, mean
(02:23:02):
unfortunately The oilers never kicked the door.
Speaker 5 (02:23:04):
In but at, least you, know for.
Speaker 3 (02:23:06):
A lot of, people The steelers still elicit those emotions
we talked about.
Speaker 5 (02:23:10):
A couple of days.
Speaker 6 (02:23:10):
Ago.
Speaker 4 (02:23:11):
Cool they elicit those emotions for a franchise that told
you this city wasn't good enough to be, home and
so they moved on over To. Nashville Initially memphis and Then,
nashville and then when a team finally had an opportunity
to come back.
Speaker 5 (02:23:25):
Here they looked you up and down and smiled and go.
Speaker 3 (02:23:30):
Piss. Off we're not.
Speaker 5 (02:23:31):
Giving you the oiler's. Logo in, fact you know what
we're gonna.
Speaker 4 (02:23:33):
Do we're gonna bring it back out when we feel
the necessary, too whenever we play.
Speaker 9 (02:23:38):
You and, then so.
Speaker 5 (02:23:40):
Why are we bringing up anything to do with that?
FRANCHISE i get.
Speaker 4 (02:23:43):
IT i understand this city is still hurting because of
it's a new organization that's only been around for twenty.
Years but still it's like a bad ex. Girlfriend stop
pining over, Her stop trying to go ahead and make it.
Work stop trying to go ahead and see if she's.
Speaker 3 (02:23:58):
Gonna call you. Back you have the tech right.
Speaker 4 (02:24:00):
Now The texans don't have these bad blood when it
comes To. Steelers they have bad. Blood when it comes
to The, colts they have bad. Blood when it comes
to The, broncos they have blad blood when it comes
to The. Patriots this is, just in my, opinion a
game that you're supposed to, Win, yes but the memories
will always be there and you can't take away the.
Memories SO i, mean LIKE i get people still having you,
know that game AS i, MENTIONED i mean, TOO i,
(02:24:21):
MEAN i don't know if you know The Buffalo bills
still elicit those reactions out of, people BUT i, mean you,
know BECAUSE i think it's also too there's a little
bit of a void Coal The texans don't really have
that with. ANYONE i, mean especially when it comes to playoff.
MATCHUPS i, mean every single time that you go face
off Against, buffalo you kick the crap out of.
Speaker 3 (02:24:39):
Them Whether Josh allen's AN mvp or.
Speaker 5 (02:24:41):
Not, WELL i, mean but you played them once in
the playoffs and you beat.
Speaker 4 (02:24:43):
Them so and then you played them twice in the regular,
season then you beat the crap out of the quarterback
and he openly said it twice they kicked my.
Speaker 3 (02:24:50):
Ass SO i, mean what if you meet up with
them in THE Afc championship, game you.
Speaker 5 (02:24:54):
Gotta feel pretty confident because you've.
Speaker 4 (02:24:56):
Already beaten them in the, playoffs and you've already beaten
them in the regular season with the same quarterback that
everyone considers to be one, of if not the best
name outside Of Patrick, mahomes including. Yours, TRULY i, Mean
i'll be, HONEST i think that when you go pound for,
pound best quarterback in THE nfl not Named Patrick Mahomes Josh,
allen but he has A texans, problem much like The
(02:25:16):
yankees have An astros, problem much Like georgia forever had
An alabama.
Speaker 3 (02:25:20):
Problem until you get it, DONE i view you as
not a.
Speaker 4 (02:25:24):
THREAT i don't view The yankees as a threat to
ever win A World? Series do you want to? Why
because they can't beat The astros to get. There until
they do, that they're not gonna win.
Speaker 3 (02:25:33):
Anything and The yankees have a long horn, problem And
alabama has An oklahoma, problem And texas has a problem
playing against teams that are set five hundred on the.
Road that's what it. Is until you do, it it's
history on your back.
Speaker 4 (02:25:47):
End And i'm, sorry but like from the standpoint OF
i get, it the city is going to care about,
it and they are and they. Should but at the same,
time The texans don't have bad blood with The. Steelers
and why are you wondering about The oilers when The
oilers looked you up and down and basically pulled a
lane kiff and, said, hey you know, What you're not
as good enough for. Me you're not Good this city
ain't good enough for.
Speaker 5 (02:26:06):
Me, WELL i mean it was more on the owner
than it was the actual.
Speaker 3 (02:26:09):
ORGANIZATION i, MEAN i know that people soured on him
at the, end AND i think it was kind of
one of those that the initial you, know just grief
of them moving on, was, man you, know what are
we going to do without pro football in this? Town
but it was ALSO i think taken over by people
who were just, LIKE i hate that, Guy, like just
get him out of.
Speaker 5 (02:26:29):
Here i've had enough of that.
Speaker 4 (02:26:30):
Guy like why would you in this city want anything
to do to talk about The oilers when clear as
day the, ownership when you had an opportunity to bring
back a, franchise just like they brought back The Cleveland,
browns they.
Speaker 3 (02:26:41):
Said you know, what now you can't have the. Name
i'm gonna be so.
Speaker 4 (02:26:44):
Petty i'm going to make sure THAT i am such
a vindictive a hole That i'm going to not let
you bring back The oilers because it's the one thing
that you want And i'm not gonna let you have.
Speaker 5 (02:26:54):
It AND i mean till his death and his daughter
has continued, it BUT i, mean just for.
Speaker 4 (02:26:59):
Good, measure whenever we play you a, concerant reminder that
we have the, branding.
Speaker 5 (02:27:03):
But it's also though.
Speaker 3 (02:27:04):
TOO i, mean you, know games can make, rivalries SO
i mean maybe this is one that can possibly do.
That you mean against the against The.
Speaker 4 (02:27:10):
Steelers, yeah, SURE i the rivalry to, ME i think right,
now AND i also want to get everyone's else being
on this. One so seven one three two five seven.
Ninety who is the Biggest texans arrival in the? PLAYOFFS
i think The bills come into, mind AND i still
think The. Patriots and the reason it's The patriots because
of you had one of the best teams in franchise
history go Into foxborough and make it a game for
(02:27:31):
four quarters and then in the fourth quarter it came
crashing on. Down so in my, opinion let's say that
you get to meet up against them in the next.
Round that to me feels like a rivalry because if
you haven't been able to win In, foxborough well do.
Speaker 3 (02:27:44):
That Plus ray And, tim you want a way into
you want to join, Them we've got a couple of
spots available for. You seven one three two on two
five seven. Ninety can it's semon one three two on
two five seven ninety as it is The Morning drive
With Dany cole right here on A Friday Sports talk seven.
Speaker 5 (02:27:59):
Ninety we don't run on.
Speaker 8 (02:28:02):
Algorithms we run On El, Tub durant And strous Or
talk seven ninety guaranteed human.
Speaker 3 (02:28:14):
And The rockets In portland taking on The, blazers got
all of that to look forward to. Again seOne thirty
two and two five seven ninety is the number to get.
In let's keep it rolling on the phone. Lines speaking
of The iHeartRadio, app he listens to us every morning
There ray In, miami want us to join.
Speaker 7 (02:28:29):
In good Morning, Ray thank you, man how you?
Speaker 10 (02:28:32):
Doing AND i love the radio app because On saturday
And sunday While i'm, working you, KNOW i can listen
to you guys and go back and. Rewind you, KNOW
i can skip the. COMMERCIALS Da radio app is.
Speaker 9 (02:28:45):
Awesome.
Speaker 10 (02:28:45):
Bro IF i miss your, SHOW i can listen to
the whole thing over its condensed with no.
Speaker 9 (02:28:51):
Commercials, RAY i think you just cut a.
Speaker 5 (02:28:53):
PROMO i think you just cut a promo for. Us
so we appreciate.
Speaker 10 (02:28:56):
That one thing about That miami, Game miami already won
a national. Championship because there's no way nobody's getting out
Of Hard Rock stadium unless they they're gonna beat. Them
it's a home game and in that, Place Miami gardens
is gonna be. Rocking but about The, TEXANS i changed my.
(02:29:16):
THOUGHTS i had a losing seventeen to, twenty AND i
was thinking About Will anderson and Big playbar and net
you know them kind of, Guys danil and you Know Pe,
tree if we would have everyone out. There the only
REASON i doubted My texans is because this team was
set up to Have Stefan diggs and you Know, mixing
(02:29:38):
and you know you Got Digs mixing AND cj and
all these. Guys they're great, team but we lost.
Speaker 7 (02:29:44):
Guys that's WHY i doubted my.
Speaker 10 (02:29:46):
Team if you're, Listening Garian, spring that's the only.
Speaker 9 (02:29:49):
REASON i doubted.
Speaker 10 (02:29:50):
Him other than, that you, KNOW i changed my. Mind
If Will anderson is breathing and, alive we're gonna beat
them Because aaron rodg, years he's not gonna have enough.
Time Will anderson is a certified beast on the, football
and and and and going and flying into that. City
(02:30:11):
demico has them guys.
Speaker 9 (02:30:12):
Locked in like they're scared of.
Speaker 6 (02:30:14):
Him just like an old school In New.
Speaker 10 (02:30:16):
England, patriots you have to play hard hitting football or
you cannot Be you have to play high level or
you cannot play football for The texans for.
Speaker 7 (02:30:26):
Defensively, Yeah Aaron.
Speaker 3 (02:30:27):
Rodgers got a wheelchair.
Speaker 6 (02:30:28):
MONEY i don't WANT i don't want him to get, Hurt.
Speaker 9 (02:30:31):
Cole but you know he's gonna.
Speaker 10 (02:30:33):
Be running for his.
Speaker 3 (02:30:35):
Life he's not gonna be able to, run, right that's the.
Speaker 4 (02:30:38):
Problem he's forty. One he's he's gonna run faster than.
You he's gonna run slower than A ra's gonna. Run
ray's gonna go for a jog this. Afternoon he's gonna
have a pr of like five to twenty two in a.
Speaker 11 (02:30:49):
Mile.
Speaker 5 (02:30:50):
Wow And Aaron rodgers is gonna have a pr of
nineteen twenty. Eight quite quite the runner by the way.
Speaker 3 (02:30:56):
Too Like i've got to know what the genesis is
of this rivalry between and he And Garian, Spring like
this has been ongoing for some. TIME i just enjoy
giving them the, chance you, know just to go. Ahead
and when you were, OUT i had both them on
AND i had to argue with each. Other oh you,
did oh, yeah so you went, fine bomb. SHOW i
went full on.
Speaker 5 (02:31:12):
Them look at, You Cole. THOMPSON i like your. STYLE
i want.
Speaker 3 (02:31:16):
MORE i want people to come on in and argue
with each. Other let's, hey, look you know you gotta
you gotta jones against. Somebody you've, got you, know some
airing of. Grievances please six to ten every single morning
in the. Morning absolutely we. Could, YEAH i, mean we'll
even mix in the feats of strength at, sometimes you,
KNOW i don't, know we'll. See maybe we can make
it a year round. Thing seb one, three two one two,
(02:31:36):
five seven. Ninety let's head To, Katie tim what's the?
Speaker 5 (02:31:39):
Way and good? Morning?
Speaker 11 (02:31:40):
Tim morning, guys how are you?
Speaker 3 (02:31:43):
Good? Fantastic?
Speaker 6 (02:31:44):
Good, hey you KNOW i listened to you. YESTERDAY i didn't.
Speaker 11 (02:31:48):
Hear the whole.
Speaker 9 (02:31:49):
SHOW i was kind of in and.
Speaker 11 (02:31:50):
Out but you've been talking about why would we Hate.
Speaker 6 (02:31:54):
PITTSBURGH i don't know if you got what your.
Speaker 13 (02:31:57):
Age is.
Speaker 11 (02:31:59):
That there in seventy, eight seventy, nine AND i think
he's been into. Eighty we had the love Of. Blue
you guys can't believe the fervor in this city for The.
Speaker 6 (02:32:15):
Oilers OH, TI i BELIEVE i.
Speaker 11 (02:32:18):
Do they lost To, pittsburgh particularly without bad.
Speaker 6 (02:32:24):
Call might not have constant the, game but it might.
Speaker 11 (02:32:27):
Have the team came, Back they flew, back and they
filled The astrodome up with. Fans they go from the
airport to The. ASTRODOME i don't Hate. PITTSBURGH i respect
him a, lot BUT i sure hate losing to.
Speaker 4 (02:32:45):
Them, sure But, tim he's not a curiosity. Man AND
i don't mean to be disrespectfuy down Because i'm. YOUNG
i am, young AND i wasn't around for this for The.
Oilers but when The oilers leave you and they say
that you're not good enough for, us why are you
going to care about that rivalry With. Pittsburgh that rivalry
left to go To. Dashville AND i get there's still
(02:33:05):
the pain inside the, City but you have a team
here that now is saying we want to be a
part of THE h town. Culture we want to be
here for the long. Haul we're not leaving anytime. Soon
we're not bailing on this. Franchise and there is no
bad blood Between pittsburgh and The.
Speaker 3 (02:33:18):
Texans, well let me one.
Speaker 11 (02:33:22):
WAY i can kind of talk about. It let's go
to a different. SPORT i grew up In Los. ANGELES
i was an Avid Dodger Ram laker. Fan twenty seventeen
king with The astros finally getting in The World, SERIES
i was a little bit, torn but not too much
(02:33:43):
BECAUSE i kind of, said beat them bums out Of.
Speaker 9 (02:33:47):
Brooklyn you, know.
Speaker 11 (02:33:50):
You get the, feeling and that feeling will hold with
you once. More it's not a feeling of, hatred it's
a feeling of respect Because pittsburgh had a hell of
a team back, then and it just so happens we
had a hell of a, team but it always just
seemed they were a little bit. Better so the only
(02:34:12):
THING i CAN i can say is it's against The.
Steelers it's not For tennessee because they abandoned.
Speaker 6 (02:34:22):
US i really don't have that much feeling For, tennessee
BUT i do have feeling for.
Speaker 9 (02:34:31):
The oilers when they were.
Speaker 11 (02:34:34):
HERE i don't know if that makes sense to.
Speaker 9 (02:34:36):
SEE i really don't, Now.
Speaker 3 (02:34:38):
TIM i, mean As i've continued to, say LIKE i
understand the memories still elicit some you, know reactions and.
Speaker 5 (02:34:45):
EMOTIONS i get all of.
Speaker 3 (02:34:46):
THAT i JUST i just think that it's also too you,
know just looking at it from The texans fans perspective
of being able to have that hated team that you
can really grasp.
Speaker 5 (02:34:59):
Onto the steel just aren't.
Speaker 4 (02:35:00):
THAT i ever talking about the time THAT i got
left by a check who said that she wouldn't date
me because OF i didn't live in the same state as,
her and then she decided to go date a guy
THAT i was living in the same status ever tell
you that.
Speaker 3 (02:35:10):
Story so she gave you the it's not, you it's,
me and then literally sorry dating the dude WHO i
was living in THIS.
Speaker 5 (02:35:16):
Sta that's usually the way it. Goes, MAN i hate
to break it to.
Speaker 4 (02:35:18):
You the fun thing IS i haven't thought about her
in ten, years just LIKE i don't think that anybody
in a huge should think about the oilers when they
Said nashville's calling and you guys are, terrible that's just.
Speaker 3 (02:35:28):
It they lost listen and they've lost the. Breakout they.
Suck they're a terrible. Organizations they're a terrible organization run
by an incompetent owner who constantly is having the self
inflicted wounds by your own personal, mistakes and now they
have to deal with the errors of their.
Speaker 4 (02:35:44):
Consequences you don't get to have a cool. Logo people
make fun of. You the only good thing that you
have is an awesome city to live in on. Weekends besides,
that there's really nothing to talk about with The Tennessee
titans crap. Name so congratulates on living with That.
Speaker 3 (02:35:59):
Houston you're doing just. Fine you were able to rebound
and you got a ten in the. Process, broadway it's
a fun time kid rock. Spot that's WHERE i usually
always go WHEN i right hit Up broadwaydies someone three
two on two five seven Ninety kyle going to weigh.
Speaker 5 (02:36:12):
In good Morning, Kyle.
Speaker 9 (02:36:15):
Good Morning, Dan good Morning. Cole how are y'all?
Speaker 3 (02:36:17):
Doing thanks for taking my.
Speaker 6 (02:36:18):
Call ye.
Speaker 19 (02:36:21):
Just wanted to call about the game On, Monday and,
UH i don't, KNOW i guess just after watching The
Steelers ravens and how good The ravens. OFFENSES i, MEAN
i know they've gone through their struggles this year And
lamar probably wasn't at one hundred, percent but just watching
The steelers defense shut down their offense for the most,
PART i JUST i GUESS i wanted to see what
(02:36:43):
y'all's thoughts were on how y'all think OUR i GUESS
o line is going to hold up against What heyward
High smith and IF i, MEAN i know we've been
talking about being able to beat them by a couple,
scores but do y'all think we're we're gonna LET. Cj
stroud do his thing or is he going to be
going through a lot of.
Speaker 3 (02:37:04):
Pressure they appreciate the, Call, Kyle, dude last time The
texas Gave OPA saq was thirteen quarters ago in. Counting,
SO i mean we're talking about a team that right
now on the offensive line has GIVEN. Cj stroud time
to be able to build a rapport in the passing.
Attack now is all gonna come down to play, calling
and you are going to need to establish some bit
of a run game to a level of where you're
(02:37:26):
not just living in third and eleven or third and.
Speaker 4 (02:37:28):
Eight but it's not like you, Know i'm sitting here
and saying That i'm concerned because you still HAVE. Tj
want on the other, side you still Have Cam, hayward
you still Have Alex. Highsmith BUT i do think that
this is gonna be a game where as long as
you are gaining positive. Traction, dude just got a field goal,
Range Kymie fairbraham draina.
Speaker 3 (02:37:47):
Three you're. GOOD i JUST i just feel like that
it's for The texans their path to a. Win if
you write out a, list it's a lot less than
what The steelers. Is The steelers probably have about LIKE
i don't know six or seven on that. List, yeah
now six SEVEN i get, it which, apparently from WHAT i,
understand has been left in twenty twenty, five so we
don't have to worry about that. Anymore but for The,
(02:38:08):
texans it's about. Three control the football, offensively don't turn
the football. Over, defensively be who you, are and then
exactly what you just said the economy. Fairbarn when you're
asked to come, on kick for, three kick for, one
make them, Dude like everybody in the locker room just
talks about how will we got to? Do is get in?
RANGE i mean like at this point we're good and,
(02:38:28):
honestly why. NOT i, mean LIKE i play out last
night With canaro with with The ole miss they were
just like yeah two but yeah two doinks Neck.
Speaker 6 (02:38:38):
Like that was the.
Speaker 5 (02:38:39):
Thing that was the.
Speaker 4 (02:38:39):
Thing when WHEN i thought he was gonna do it,
AGAIN i was, like no, Way the double doink means
completely different narratives out in the out in ox. Room
from here on, out it's one of the greatest noises
that there is in. Sports so you really do like.
Speaker 5 (02:38:52):
THAT i love.
Speaker 3 (02:38:53):
It and then last night, too like where it was
like you could even like kind of hear like the you,
know reverberating rattling first one is the second one was very,
clear is like a quick, shot, yeah BECAUSE i mean
it did glance off the side of, it so that's
why he was able to go.
Speaker 5 (02:39:06):
In but but, yeah, no no. Doinks we don't need any.
Speaker 4 (02:39:10):
Doinks and if you, do just Pull Lucas canaro the
second time and make sure it goes.
Speaker 5 (02:39:13):
Through and THEN i mean he made what that fifty
eight yarder that could have been good for like.
Speaker 4 (02:39:17):
Seventy, dude he made in the playoff this year four
kicks up over fifty five.
Speaker 3 (02:39:22):
Yards three of them would have gone for over. Sixty
he's got a leg, man, or as somebody heard once
say About Harrison, butker he can kick the spine out of.
Someone the hell they're like like the way this guy kicks,
man he kicked the spine out of. Someone it was
somebody that said it On Chris Chris long's. Show how
in the hell do you kick the spine out of?
(02:39:43):
Something kick him really? Hard so what does it pop?
Up does it pop? Out LIKE i would probably say
with the physics that you'd probably have to like go
from the, side you, know it's like one of those
like sidekicks right, there or maybe even. Two you, know
you get him so good with the head kick right
there that it kind of just, MAYBE i don't, KNOW
i have to think about a physics, wise there's those
sports science guys when you need. Them, Unfortunately JOHN i know,
(02:40:06):
him BUT i gotta believe there's still people out there
who do some sort of physics. Sports the thing THAT
i think of right. Now have you ever seen the
Movie Hotshots part duo With Charlie?
Speaker 5 (02:40:14):
Sheen vaguely. Yes, okay so at one point he takes
a he takes.
Speaker 4 (02:40:19):
Like what's supposed to be like a, dodgeball but it's
actually a severed head and he throws as heart as
he possible can at the enemy and it chops off
the other person's.
Speaker 6 (02:40:25):
Head.
Speaker 3 (02:40:26):
Wow so that's like a kind of kick THAT i
would think that you would.
Speaker 5 (02:40:28):
Get Charlie sheen could throw a.
Speaker 3 (02:40:29):
Baseball we knew that much about, him so who, Knows
maybe it was true and they just kind of glossed
over it in the.
Speaker 5 (02:40:35):
MOVIE i don't.
Speaker 3 (02:40:36):
Know but, anyway speaking of, baseball In astro's notes and
also to how they might have tipped their hand about
the future of some, players but also, Too LIKE i,
SAID i love the, idea but.
Speaker 5 (02:40:48):
It's just the.
Speaker 3 (02:40:49):
Execution both of those things will get you before we
hand you over to The Matt Thomas show With. Ross
all of that coming up right here it is The
Morning drive With Danna Coles sportstock seven NINETY.
Speaker 5 (02:40:59):
A Bell Morning drive.
Speaker 1 (02:41:01):
Continues. Now now Here's dad And Cole.
Speaker 3 (02:41:07):
Football friday here of getting you ready For monday, nights
also to the wildcard weekend as a, whole and also
the college football playoff that's. Happened but The astros yesterday
throwing out they've avoided, arbitration agreed on deals With brian Bray,
You Nick, Allen Hunter, Brown Jake, Myers Steven, Okert Jeremy,
Pania Jesus, Sanchez Bennett, susa And Hayden. Biznski the names
(02:41:31):
THAT i did not, Say Jiner diaz And Esac. PERETTIS
i think that they tipped their hand on four different
guys and in two different, Categories Hunter brown And Jeremy.
Pania they have future plans for those, guys that the
conversations are going to fire up this year and that
they're going to try to get deals done with both
of those guys to keep them here long. TERM i
(02:41:52):
think With yiner And, perettis one of those guys will
not be here when we head out to spring. Training
in about them, All so basically what you're saying is
is That perettes is probably the name of the Two
between him and WHY.
Speaker 5 (02:42:04):
I would think that probably he is the.
Speaker 3 (02:42:06):
ONE i, mean because we've said it numerous times With,
walker you're not going to have very many, takers or
at least in this case right, here a deal that
makes sense for you because of the contract that he
has attached to. Him if somebody were to take on that,
deal it would entail you having to pay a lot
of money and probably not getting as good a return
in the deal as part of said.
Speaker 4 (02:42:27):
Trade it's a salary, dump that's all it, is and
you're still paying a portion of the salary for a
lesser to your commodity that you're bringing back in.
Speaker 3 (02:42:33):
Return that's where, AGAIN i, mean we talked With Dana
brown the other, day we played the audio for you
where the term open minded came in of you know
when bringing up those two guys is BECAUSE i think
that they've probably come to terms with you, know even
though he, said we feel like we can make the
at bats. Work it's kind of one of those why
(02:42:53):
do we want to try to make that work when
you could be able to get a very valuable return
and probably even, TOO i would think If i'm The,
Astros i'm wanting an outfielder that can be A day
one starter for you as part of that return.
Speaker 5 (02:43:07):
Package, okay, well.
Speaker 4 (02:43:08):
What About Jake, Myers because, like now we've gone from
the time of he's gonna be. Traded he's on the,
move it's gonna. Happen there's big. Conversations there seems to
be a deal in place.
Speaker 5 (02:43:18):
Too oh we just.
Speaker 4 (02:43:19):
Started we just got an arbitration deal with. Him so,
cool he's out, Here, like is he now back in
the plan being a part of the roster next?
Speaker 5 (02:43:27):
Season it seems.
Speaker 3 (02:43:28):
So AND i mean what they settled on with him
is not necessarily an albatross of a. Deal it's a
three point five to five million SO i mean it's not,
like you, know you sign him to that and you're,
like oh, man you know we're gonna have to flip.
That another one that keep in, mind, though, too is
even though you're trying to shore up the outfield Is
Jesus sanchez got six point eight.
Speaker 5 (02:43:48):
Million all, Right, well he's not going.
Speaker 3 (02:43:49):
ANYWHERE i don't think they want him to go. Anywhere
If i'm being completely, Honest they want to see what
IT'S i, think how it's gonna.
Speaker 4 (02:43:56):
Work brand new hitting coach coming on in knowing that
they've brought in a left handed bat that has.
Speaker 5 (02:44:02):
Power and was on point when he was In miami
with years of roster.
Speaker 4 (02:44:06):
Control he's probably the one that gets the biggest mulligan
because it's so hard to find a left, handed power
hitting bat that can go anywhere in the line of
between three through.
Speaker 3 (02:44:15):
Six it's really challenging to get.
Speaker 4 (02:44:18):
That and the easy fix would Be Cam smith plays really,
well he's in, right you solve your left field problem
by Moving Jesus stans's.
Speaker 3 (02:44:26):
Over parretta has turned down eight point seventy five, million
and he was seeking nine point nine to five. Million
as For, diaz he wanted four and a half and
The astros are willing to counter with three of the.
Speaker 5 (02:44:39):
Two which one do you think is worth the?
Speaker 3 (02:44:40):
PRICE i, MEAN i would Say, perettis BUT i mean
the problem is it's where you're gonna play him on
a daily basis now for nine. Million that's the thing
that's and THAT'S i think another element of all of this. Conversation,
yes you have.
Speaker 4 (02:44:54):
A guy that at least will be an everyday. STARTER
i can listen to an. ARGUMENT i don't think THAT'S
i don't think THAT. Yanr diaz is worth the price
right now a four million. Dollars but who you having a?
CATCHER i mean the thing THAT i think a lot
of people forget to mention right now is The astros
don't have a backup, catcher let alone the don't feel
comfortable with maybe their full time starting catcher who's off
(02:45:17):
a down. Year so if you're looking at the standpoint
of who AM i wanting to pay, For, YEAH i
would love to pay Eastlec, preides BUT i have to
know that he's gonna be starting every, day AND i
know that right, Now Christian walker has earned the right
to start every. Day i'm not Moving korea paying. It
we just got to deal with done. With we have
to play out Two bay. Somewhere Your don's got to
(02:45:37):
be in the. Lineup we do Have Jesus sanchez under
a contract and we can move into left. Field we
still want to see what we have right now With Cam.
Smith Jake myers is step deal on a brand new,
deal so you're the odd man, out And Yaner diaz
is a bigger priority because if we don't have a
starting catcher outside of, you.
Speaker 3 (02:45:54):
And we're a couple of weeks away too From Astros Fan,
fest we'll be out there over At dyk in Par
on That, Saturday So i'm sure there'll be some moves
made between now and then as we inch even closer
to spring. Training The Coaches room is a feature THAT
espn has had in the past when it comes to
national title, games and they've had it where sometimes they'll
(02:46:16):
have current, coaches but in this case right, here they
announced yesterday that they're bringing it back to go along
with The pat McAfee broadcast everything else they, have and
it's going to Include Jimbo, Fisher Steve, Adazio Jane, chiswick
And Dave.
Speaker 5 (02:46:30):
Clawson, boring, boring boring.
Speaker 4 (02:46:35):
Man jim's gonna get a lot of media, attention BUT i,
mean you, Know jimbo would be the only one THAT
i THINK i somewhat willing to listen, to even THOUGH i,
mean you got to pay close attention to what he's, Saying,
oh he's gonna have the dumbest takes out there half the,
time and you're gonna barely understand what he's.
Speaker 3 (02:46:50):
Saying but he's at least entertaining get current, coaches is
All i'm. Saying, like you can't do.
Speaker 4 (02:46:55):
That during the middle of a, run LIKE i, mean
during the middle of a run like, this you, Could but,
like are we saying it's gonna happen every week in the.
Speaker 5 (02:47:00):
Offseason, no it's just this is for the national title
game that they have.
Speaker 3 (02:47:04):
This oh so it's a one time.
Speaker 4 (02:47:07):
Deal, yeah yeahh, Alright so, okay who would you want
guarantee this one coach right?
Speaker 5 (02:47:11):
Now Kirby dabo.
Speaker 3 (02:47:14):
When Dan lanning loses, TONIGHT i would love to see, that, Okay,
Yeah Dan lanning would be, great, Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (02:47:19):
Signetty would just be complaining about everything that happened with
the game.
Speaker 3 (02:47:22):
Before it would be fun to have. Him didn't get
a chance to get to him to. Day maybe we'll
do that On, monday but he's Called Thompson, Triple Emmanuel,
Elmore Dan, Matthews The Matt Thomas show With ross coming up.
Next we will talk to you in sixty eight hours
This is the Morning Drive with dadd and Cole.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
He's still looking, still looking, text out, funning passon back
with his legs, tampless connects to snap backpedals, watts to
the end zone. Broke it up to the mind of
your Hurricanes head home to play for a champion.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Tip.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
It's a paraphrase my buddy and fls friend of the show,
Peter Burns of the SEC network, How can you watch
last night and be an NFL guy? I understand loving
the NFL, and I understand you know, you saying that
it's a better product talent wise, all of that. But
Cole Thompson, which by the way, it's the morning Drive
away we go and good morning. I mean that's how
(00:55):
you know you really start to show. But Cole, I
mean me and you were both college football guys. We
don't hide it. We know that college football is pretty
niche here in the area.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
We're gonna make a grill by the time I get
off these air waves. You're gonna love Houston Cougars football.
You're gonna love Longhorn football. And you're gonna say the
Texans there are days that you want to put them
as as the secondary team of the city.
Speaker 5 (01:16):
But you see, that's just it.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
This is you know where You've got a lot of
different factions out there of fans where you know, it's
one of those things that when I came back from
my previous stop, people were like, you know, oh, you know,
college football is so huge there, and my point was is,
I said, yeah, you've got fan bases from other places,
but for the most part, it's pretty unified in terms
of who everybody roots for around here. Whereas here, I
(01:41):
mean in this city alone, Longhorns, Aggie's to what you
just brought up.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
You know, the Coup Chiggers are about ready to blow up.
Have you seen their transfer portal class? They look freaking
legit for twenty.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Twice And that's why, again why I said that winning
ten games this last season meant so much to them,
and it's it's a massive step forward to where Willie
Fritz is going. You know what, It's funny you say
that because I thought about it this morning. I know
that gut feelings are a Matt Thomas show thing. So
for Matt and Ross, if you want to put me
in the Noster Ramis or Noster Thomas category, either of those,
(02:11):
that's fine. This time next year, we're talking about an
eleven to one U of H team and a team
that is either hosting a game at TDECU or playing
as a buy team somewhere next season, the host a
playoff game next year.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
If you're asking me right now, finger on the trigger,
you got to go ahead and make a bold decision.
It's gonna be the Cougars are finding a way to
guarantee their spot in Arlington.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
You got Connor Wigman back.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
I'm telling you if you haven't be paying attention to
what they're doing in the transfer portal, they're freaking killing
it when it comes to the offensive lineman, great wide
receiver play.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
It's gonna be a legit team.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
And then you throw in LSU what they could potentially
be next season underneath Lane Kiffin. You talk about Texas
A and M. They're not slowing down anytime soon. You
talk about Texas, they're making some moves in the offseason
and put themselves in a better spot for Arch. And
year two, you got like four or five teams to
this city. Roots for that all should have interest in
college football, and then you get to experience what we
all wentness last night, A thirty one to twenty seven.
(03:09):
Victory is Miami punches its ticket back to the college
football National Championship for the.
Speaker 5 (03:14):
First time in twenty three years. That crazy.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
Best of all, it's gonna be in their home turf
inside of hard Rock Stadium. Phenomenal performance on the final
drive back Carson back to be able to keep momentum
going his way.
Speaker 5 (03:24):
Trade Ad Schambis had a shot.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
It's frustrating because of on money and I'm sitting here
and I'm saying all the positivity, all the traction, all
the good that happened for Miami and the storylines that
came with you know, Beck being left to the wayside
of Georgia, you know, getting hurt in the SEC championship game,
being told he's not good enough to win a national title.
Speaker 5 (03:45):
And I was playing for a national title.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
But then you talk about trade Ad Schamas having eighteen
seconds left and he gets two plays off, and we're
at a moment to where if any other game besides
a college football playoffs semi final time expires, hail Mary
back of the end zone. That's a past interference call
and they're giving him one more shot. But officiating was
crap all day. I mean You had one targeting call
that didn't count, the next one that did and it
(04:08):
was almost the exact same hit. You had multiple players
get thrown out because of injuries. You had false starts everywhere,
you had the late past interference that plays earlier in
the matchup. You had explosives down the field, bad coverage
from Pete Golding Secondary, and it just reminded me of
why this sport is so frickin' awesome. And yes, I
know that the NFL is always gonna rag Supreme. And
(04:28):
I got somebody in the comments last night telling me.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Why are we you? Why are we doing it? Doing
the game? We gotta up because if the NFL.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
Is gonna range Supreme on Saturday, and ratings need to
happen on a Thursday and Friday. But that, like, that's
what makes this game so special, is like you watches
these kids leave it all on the line, and it's
a game that you're gonna remember because of highlight play
we witnessed, in my opinion, the last two times almost
took the field moments of history that we will look
(04:57):
back in the long term of the college football Playoff
and be excited to be talking out.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
So normally I don't listen to whining just because it's
exactly that, especially when it comes from people. But what
are they in a non whining voice, what are they
actually complaining about? It's on a Thursday and Friday versus
a Saturday. Who cares?
Speaker 4 (05:13):
Because if it's a college football like, okay, my favorite argument.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
So they're the ones that are like, college football should
be played on saturdayday.
Speaker 5 (05:21):
Yes, okay, that's who cares.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Listen.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
There are some people that work in the industry that
I respect the hell out of. I tell them all
the time, shut the hell up. Because if they say
that the national Championship belongs to this Saturday, and I'm like,
then don't watch on a Monday, you know, don't watch
it a Monday. And then is what happens when the
ratings drop because it's but you're not gonna do it
because if you're bought into the you're addicted.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
I'm addicted, Dan's addicted.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
We're addicted, not to Paine, We're addicted to watching this game,
and you can't take it away from us because it's
the only one we got.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Look, brother, I mean, if they put football every single night,
people would watch. There's a reason why there is a
niche group of sports fans that get fired up from action.
Why you gotta talk about me like that.
Speaker 5 (06:04):
But I'm just saying that.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
You know, Tuesday Wednesday night football people are watching them
Conference USA. Either that's there you go throw throw throw
them all in there, throw them all in there. But
I mean, look, I mean I think that there is
you know a huge part of why they're playing these
games is exactly what you said. You can't go head
to head with the NFL. You don't fight City Hall. No,
(06:27):
So I mean doing that is just it's it's really
cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Speaker 5 (06:31):
It's dumb. Don't do it.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
It was a fantastic game though last night, thirty one
twenty seven Finals score Ole Miss. I mean, listen, there's
storyline of how they got here. And I know for
you and half of the office, you were very vehemently
waiting for the other shoe to drop and for this
Cinderella story of Pete Golding to come to an end
and then we could start fresh and Charlie Wise Junior
and Kevin Smith get head on down to Baton Rugs
(06:53):
instead of going to Oxford. But this was a game
to where it really came down to three main elements
in my opinion. Number one, the defense did not show
up at all. I mean, Miami was eleven of nineteen
on third don conversion. You're not winning football games when
you're gonna be giving up almost fifty five.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Percent of conversion, damn near on the play, I mean
on the field for ninety plus plays.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Number two is the time possession. Can you tell me
how many minutes Miami had the football? It was like
forty eight wasn't it forty one minutes and twenty two seconds?
Speaker 5 (07:21):
Okay?
Speaker 4 (07:22):
And that feels like it's that feels like it's short. Well, right,
I felt like it should be about forty five to
forty six minutes. So they had it two thirds of
the of the time to ole Miss. Yes, so the
one time possession because they were able to run the
football efficiently, and then the third thing was out of
this was pretty big. The only reason why ole Miss
got back in this game was because of the penalties
and because of the careless errors.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
I mean, like, thankfully the narrative.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
About like wide defensive backs are not wide receivers came
true last night for Miami because true Dot Chambliss for
as good as he's played out the playoffs, and he
had nine touchdowns and zero turnovers, Like how.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Many picks did you? Oh my god, seven eleven. That's
why I threw out that tweet Miami catched the damn ball,
because I mean, that's just it. Just catch the damn ball.
You have that that becomes a major issue.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
And then the penalties, like it was a third and
three and then a false start call would be made,
or it would be a roughing the passer coll and
trade on chandlis on third and fifteen, so you tack
on fifteen yards. But like Miami earned their way to
a victory even though it was a sloppy performance. But
I'll tell you did. Here's the thing that I can
appreciate about college football. We love the sloppiness because at
least in the sloppiness you see how a lad a program.
Speaker 5 (08:27):
Can be well. And you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
I mean, of course, I don't think anybody has any
preconceived notions about who I root for. I let it
be known pretty easily. So I mean, I think you
know that I had a rooting interest last night, and
one reason in particular, because you know why I'm not
disrespectful to what ole miss did. I I'm not blind
(08:51):
to what they have accomplished. And I mean, as I
said last night, they have guts. They I mean that
that was an outstanding performance.
Speaker 5 (09:00):
Had they want, had they.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
Gone on to the national title, And even though they're
not going on to the national title, I'll tip my hat. Hey,
you guys had guts. You didn't give up ever, so
I'll give you that. But one part why I'm glad
that they're out. We could stop listening to the hand
ringing from a bunch of people who continuously don't understand
what they're covering. And I mean, these are the same
(09:22):
people Cole who for the longest time yelled pay the players,
pay the players, pay the players.
Speaker 5 (09:27):
Now we pay the players, and they bitch about how
we pay the players.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
You can't you can't have it both ways.
Speaker 5 (09:32):
Okay, when you don't have a plan.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
And that's the thing too, is what cracks me up
about all of this is that people want to say, oh,
the system's broken, the system's wrong. What's your what's your
solution to fix it? Then you're such an expert. Nobody
in particular.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
I'm just saying, what was the exact way that we're
kind about with this one.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Oh, it's no about Lane and you know the whole Oh,
he's not letting coaches coach and all of this. Like
I'm just I'm done listening to the handring. He made
a business decision, Get over it. He made a business decision,
Yes he did. Yeah, you're right, and that's why I
have no issue with that. And he probably went to
a better job.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
And I'm not gonna sit here and act like that
because of you end up going to a location that's.
Speaker 5 (10:10):
Gonna help out your career. It's not a good move.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
But like again, Dan, here's where I will fight back.
You can't be the coach of LSU and coach the
almost rebels.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
It's a breach of contract and it's a breach of interest.
I get that.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
But like at the same time, again, we heard the
conversation from Ross Dellinger after the Sugar Bowl. Well, maybe
Kevin Smith and Charlie Wise Junior are gonna be pulled
back to batoners. You're really gonna tell these guys because
if you weren't at the center of attention, you narcissistic, pretentious,
a wall that this is the reason that they have
to come on back now, like I mean, like it's
(10:43):
a bad look for him too.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
It is, and so there's so much wrong with it.
Speaker 5 (10:47):
I mean, we had a.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
Quarterback Dan that told his school I'm signing on a
dotted line.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
Hey, never mind, Hey just kidding.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
I'm actually coming back here because I don't want to
be sued for four million dollars.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
And that's college football. The rules I get mixed, The
rules I get, I understand. I say it all the time.
It's almost probably to the point of annoyance for people,
but it's just it's true.
Speaker 5 (11:09):
Don't complain about the rules. Make the rules work for you.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
But at the same time, let me ask you, if
it wasn't your school that was involved in it. And
I'm not saying you specifically, I'm just saying any school
in general, how would you feel shoe was on the
other foot?
Speaker 5 (11:22):
Wouldn't care? So you would not care if you're head coach.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Because I would understand. I would understand the business side
of it.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
You're leaving in the middle of a college football playoff
run to go to Alabama arrival.
Speaker 5 (11:31):
Okay, Well then you wouldn't be okay with that.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
Then put together rules kind of like the NFL, where
interviews can't happen, recruiting can't happen, all of that kind
of stuff until after the season is done.
Speaker 5 (11:42):
Until then, this is what you're going to get. Yeah,
you're right, and that's fine.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
And I won't complain about that either, because if you
are right, as long as these rules are in place,
to where there are no regulations and people who are
morons and Nitwitz are running the program into the ground
and getting college football a bad name, guess what, We're going.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
To continue to see these things happen.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
But at the same time, as a f perspective, I'm
allowed to be pissed off. I'm allowed to be upset
that my quarterback decided to enter the transfer portal after
signing on a dotted line and then saying, oh, because
if I don't want to pay four million dollars, Oh
my god, I gonna welcome you back with open arms.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
I'm gonna be pissed about that.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
I'm gonna be pissed about my coach saying, in the
best season of our program, what you were able to build,
you look up and down that roster and say I
may do this one time, I may do it nineteen
times their peace out boy scout like, I'm gonna be
pissed about that.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
And that's the beauty of fandom.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
That's the beauty of what is college football and why
it is a ravenous, toxic sport that I cannot continue
to get enough of and I'm always gonna want to.
I'm always gonna be a user. Like I will say this,
I am addicted to college football. I'm never gonna get
off that durt train wagon. You're never gonna send me
to rehab or therapy to go ahead.
Speaker 6 (12:48):
And fix it.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
You're just not.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
I'm gonna be that way for the rest of my life.
And now because of what we're seeing with Congress and
with NIL and with NCAA transfer portal news and all
these other things behind closes, we're talking about now this
being a twenty four seven, three sixty five sport and
I am fiending for more content. I am salivating for
(13:10):
what is gonna be the next big thing trade at Shambliss.
What's gonna be your waiver eligibility? Keewan Lacy? Did you
really play your last game at a will Miss or
are you gonna be back next season? I'm salivating for
more of this and I'm gonna get more of it.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Well, I mean in two names in particular that would
feed into that. I mean, I think Dan Wilkin finally
blocked me after I got after him about Kirk kurb
Street's dogs, because that's the thing. You come after dogs,
I'm gonna come after you, don't do it. But he
came on with us once, and you know, there was
something that we brought him on, and he goes and
I'm not gonna get into all of that. I go,
(13:43):
I go, that's the whole reason you're on the air
with us, Dan, I go, that's honestly the whole reason
you're on. I'm like, you got a lot of Twitter fingers,
but then when we ask you to put actually your
voice behind it, you're not gonna do it.
Speaker 5 (13:53):
So why do we even have you on?
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Do you feel better?
Speaker 7 (13:57):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (13:57):
One hundred percent? Actually, dude, I'll tell you.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
But the reason why I brought that up was because
it felt so amazing in the moment. That was a
dopamine hit. I mean a hundred percent was when I
did that.
Speaker 5 (14:07):
Seven three two one two five seven ninety.
Speaker 4 (14:10):
The Cougars are the next team in the Big twelve
to go want to run toward the college football playoff.
We'd love to get your thoughts on what you saw
in last night's game and what have you seen so
far in the transfer portal from Willie Fritz Cougars, Because
I'm telling.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
You, dude, they're making some noise.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
I get Cody Campbell's got a lot of money. I
get that he can basically buy whoever the hell he
wants to come out to Lubbock.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
Well, is it will He's.
Speaker 5 (14:30):
Building a culture, gut feeling, they're winning the Big twelve. Well,
you know what.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
I texted Brian McTaggart because I knew he was at
the Tech U of H basketball game the other night.
Seat by the way, who says, we don't talk koogs,
but I sexit. I said, looks like Cody Campbell's there,
he goes, so is Tillman. And he's got more money,
so there you go. You know, Look, I I don't
love for Tilman just to open up a blank check.
Speaker 5 (14:53):
I'm sorry.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
I mean, that's that's the thing. That's that's Look again,
the rules, don't complain about him. Make them work for you.
And if and if Texa text doing it, and you've
got people that can do it at your place, at
your place, do it? Have you been to love it?
I'd much rather be here exactly. That's the point. I'm
not saying that you're saying, Hey, look Jimmy's and Mesquite
and all those places. They're great, you know, going out
to the strip out there, it's fun all of that.
(15:14):
For a college kid, I still rather go out one
hundred percent. Absolutely. So, yeah, we got college football to
chew on this morning, and we'll work in a few
other things. By the way to seven thirty. Bill Benders
Sporting News. He's got a huge, big ten lead lean,
so we will have him come on with us at
(15:35):
seven thirty. Max Starks, former Steelers offensive lineman who's now
part of the Steelers radio network, He's going to come
on with us at eight thirty, and the nine o'clock
our weekly visit with Aaron Wilson.
Speaker 5 (15:45):
So we got all of that.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Speaking of the Texans, some massive good news for this team,
and I think it is great.
Speaker 5 (15:53):
Twofold.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
We'll discuss right here as we get into the six
o'clock hour. Here on a Friday, it is the morning
with Dan and Colesports Stock seven ninety.
Speaker 8 (16:04):
Back to the morning Drive. Here's Dan Matthews and Cole Thompson.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Fourth and goal from the five. Yeah, probably he's going
for the corner. He's got it. Vince Young Scars two
thousand and seven Festival, two thousand and seven Fiesta Bowl.
Speaker 5 (16:24):
I'm trying to remember who that. Ah, that was a good.
Speaker 4 (16:28):
One Cinderella story where I thought that that was probably
the peak of what is a David versus Goliath.
Speaker 5 (16:34):
The college footbomberre never gonna get back to that.
Speaker 4 (16:36):
And it's not a shot to g five teams to
say that you aren't good enough to compete.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
I'm not doing anything right right.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
But you're not going to be able to go on
a four game run the way that Miami just did,
or the way that potentially Ole miss just did, or
even what Oregon can do, because Oregon beat the brakes
off of James Madison to win a national title. So
that was like the peak version of don't worry about
the star, don't worry about the location, don't worry about
how many bunch put in seats. Just give me four
(17:04):
quarters of football and scene comes out on top. And
that was where Chris Peterson made himself an icon.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
Well, and that was also too I mean, you know
to your point when I mean you could say, now
with name, image and likeness, where you have the people
who say, hey, you know, look you want parody in sports?
I mean, what better parody than have an Indiana Ole,
miss Miami, and Oregon as your national championship final four
over say like, I don't know Florida State, Alabama, Georgia,
(17:33):
and Ohio State, but.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
Don't forget next season we're going to see Cincinnati, wake Forest, Perdue,
and of course Mississippi State playing in the College Football
lefts because because that's what apparently parody's going to the sport.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Well, I mean it really just kind of seems like
who's got the most and look, you know, before we
get to the Texans thing, I mean, Kirk Curve Street,
I'm the biggest fan, but here's the butt. Like last night,
he has his whole soliloquy at the end about you
need to build a team like look at Miami, and
I was like, oh, really, Kirk, Miami one of the
programs that has been one of the biggest spenders in name,
(18:06):
image and likeness, Like you're really gonna hit me with
you know, you need to build a team much more
than chasing five stars. I get what he's saying, but
come on, man, like, be a little more on brand
with it if you can be in making your point,
because if that's the case. If that's the case, then
why isn't Georgia in this because they have one of
(18:27):
the highest roster retentions in the country.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
You're right, no, and I'm not disagreeing with you when
it comes to if you have the money and you
can fly and spend it, do so. But what I
will push back on from the standpoint of Curve Street
Mark Fletcher's a homegrown talent. Now they paid a lot
to get him down to Miami and not go into
a team like Georgia or Florida. But he's a homegrown talent.
He's a homegrown talent. Yeah, keem Mezador homegrown talent. Can'te
(18:51):
Scott homegrown talent, Ruben Bay homegrown talent. So you spend
a lot to be able to utilize these players, but
they're not leaving and they're not coming in out a
one year rental like Carson Becker Campbell.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
It's just like professional sports in regard to where for
the most part, you win because of the guys that
you already had there. The guys that you drafted, the
guys that you signed, those are the guys that usually
are the foundation for your team.
Speaker 5 (19:15):
You supplement through trades and free agency.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
And at the same time, and this is where again
you look at it from a standpoint like Willie Fritz
ten wins season on the horizon you're building off of it.
You're not going to get every single player in the
state of Texas to come to Houston. They're not gonna
look at TDECU Stadium and say, hey, that's that's my
dream location.
Speaker 5 (19:33):
You'll get a.
Speaker 4 (19:34):
Few, and you'll get some people that look at the
culture and the identity of what Willi's build in with
Slade Nagel and Austin Armstrong and having a quarterback like
Connor Wigman, and they just got the kid, the five
star that Keishan that's gonna be here for a long term.
But like, this is a program that needs to utilize
the transfer because you need to back supplement players. They're
going to elevate your offensive line, they are going to
(19:55):
give a guy like Wigman more weapons. They're going to
replace the loss like Tannerkoy's. They're going to upgrade your
pass rush from other universities that were very high profile
and you just didn't hit your stride at the right time.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
Well, it's also too, I mean, the reason why I've
said that you of h would be so good at
it is because of the amount of talent that you
have here in the area that leaves and goes elsewhere.
To your point you brought up about Miami, That's why
it's been twenty three years for them to get to
this point because for the longest time, all of that
talent that you had there at Miami Northwestern and any
of the great schools there in South Florida, they were
going to Georgia, they were going to Clemson, they were
(20:29):
going to Alabama, they were going to LSU. They were
going to any other place but Miami. I mean, Devonte Freeman,
I remember talking with him. He was really close with
Luther Campbell, Michael Luke. He told me that I think
it was because Al Golden was there, and Al Golden
was just like, now whatever, you know, it just basically
blew them off. So he was like, Okay, guess what.
(20:49):
As much as it pains me to do this, guess
where I'm taking you guys. A bunch of youth football. Guys,
I'm taking you to Florida State. I'm taking you to Florida.
I'm taking you to all of these other places because
if they don't give a damn, then I don't want
I don't want you guys going there. Well, they were
living off.
Speaker 5 (21:03):
Of a branding more than anything else. And that's just it.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
I mean, I remember Mark Rick told me that when
I talked with him, he goes, the U is not
the you anymore. It doesn't, it doesn't resonate with kids
like it used to. It's going to now it absolutely will.
And why is that? Because he brought a guy in
that understands it. Remember what we talked about the Demico
difference the other day. It's the same deal there. Programs
like that. When you bring a guy like that back
in who understands what it's supposed to look like, and
(21:28):
they can act on it and they can execute being
able to get it back to looking like what it's
supposed to look like, that's what you get.
Speaker 5 (21:34):
You get him in the national title.
Speaker 4 (21:35):
And here's where I'll turn it back to the University
of Houston. A guy like Mario Cristobal who rebuilt a
program at Oregon because I think a lot of people
don't realize Oregon went four and eighty year.
Speaker 5 (21:44):
Your Fowler brought that up last night, which I thought
was great.
Speaker 4 (21:47):
And he was able to bring them to a college
football I mean a packed twelve conference championship. He knew
the brought into a college football playoff, but he saw
the case and he saw the situation at Miami and said,
that's that's not my Miami. I want to be the
reason that we fix it. I want to be here.
I want to be in the standpoint. Willie Fritz looked
at Houston and said, I want to be at Houston.
(22:09):
I want to go back to a place that I
know the area, I know the lay of the land.
I know how to recruit, I know how to build
a relationship with high school coaches.
Speaker 5 (22:17):
I know what it's.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
Going to take to turn this program back into a
level of sustainability and success. Since the Southwest Conference days
where we were viewed as a legit power for contender
that would bring in high profile recruits that would compete
for Heisman trophies. Have all Americans and so the second thing,
you got that guy in the building much like Mario's
and down in Coral Cables. You have an opportunity to
(22:40):
build a culture, a rapport and have a good understanding.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
I'm not going anywhere.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
Because Willie Fritz after the season could have gone and
he could have gotten offers for multiple schools in the SEC,
multiple schools in the Big Ten. He's happy where he
is and he's not interested in moving elsewhere.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
There are certain places where you recruit the area you
can win. South Florida is one of them. And that's
one thing for Miami is Miami is one of those programs.
And I've said it for years. You have one really
good recruiting class, you can absolutely turn that thing around
very quickly. You have at LSU, you recruit Southern Louisiana
and you supplement with the Houston area.
Speaker 5 (23:15):
You can absolutely do that Georgia. I mean, that's the thing.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
The Atlanta area when it comes to high school football
is one of the best in the country. There's a
reason why they have back to back national titles. It's
for that very reason.
Speaker 4 (23:26):
So are you telling me that Tillman Furtida needs to
make sure that Willie Fritz has enough money possible to
guarantee that all the Houston kids say wouldn't hurt.
Speaker 5 (23:33):
Wouldn't hurt it. Let it work.
Speaker 3 (23:34):
You got you got the you got the means, You
got the means, and you love the program. It's the
price of doing business nowadays, it would mean. And that's
the thing is some people might say, oh, that's greed,
that's all of these other things. So what if it
has you holding up that whatever golden trophy it is
at the end of the season, that's the national championship.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
So what you mean I get to have multiple five
stars instead of just Keishaan Henderson as my starting quarterback
long term?
Speaker 5 (23:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (23:57):
Fine, signed me out. That's where's the chef?
Speaker 5 (24:00):
Willie?
Speaker 3 (24:00):
Who do I make this out? Cash? Gotcha? Here we go?
Speaker 5 (24:03):
No, that's it.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
Look, you know it's I mean, you can complain about
the Cody Campbell's and all of these other people, or
you can try to find your own Cody Campbell because
it's not going away anytime soon. It's it's gonna absolutely
it is. And Cody Campbell even said as much. He goes, Hey,
look the system's broken. That's not my fault, but it's
also too We're going to take advantage of doing this
(24:26):
while we can before somebody finally wizens up and has
a plan for Hey, this is how we unify college football,
and hey, this is how we put together unified enforceable
rules because the NC douablea ain't gonna do it.
Speaker 4 (24:39):
Yeah, Puston's had a really good spot when it comes
to the recruiting class, their transferport of class that we
already mentioned before, bringing in Gazac Patrick, Overermeyer from UTSA,
de Marion Thomas on the defensive line from Oklahoma State,
Trent Walker, big time playmaker at wide receiver from Oregon State,
Hayden Wright cuts back on home from Northwestern.
Speaker 3 (24:55):
A lot of guys that you look at.
Speaker 4 (24:57):
But to me, what I think is going to be
a really interesting is seeing how moving forward these pieces,
as they continue to hit, they turn into an opportunity
to wear much like Ole Miss with Lank Kiffin. Hey,
there's a proof of concept here. If I come to
this place, not only am I gonna go to the NFL,
I'm gonna have a higher draft grade and be better
prepared for want I go messing on Sundays?
Speaker 3 (25:19):
All right, So great news for the Texans twofold. We'll
share that with you because it could be massive difference
making news for the Texans, and we've got that for you.
As we get into that conversation, you want to join
us someone three two one two five seven ninety against
someone three two and two five seven ninety Morning Drive
Dan Cole Sports Talk seven ninety.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
We don't run on algorithms.
Speaker 8 (25:43):
We run on al Tuve, Durant and Strout four stock
seven ninety guaranteed human.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
How about some great news when it comes to the Texans,
by some amazing news when it comes to the Texas.
Speaker 5 (26:00):
They're going to win a Super for the first time
in franchise history. That would be nice, that that would
amazing news. I mean, I'm just going I mean no,
and that that would qualify for sure.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
So the injury report comes out yesterday and you see
D and P did not practice Kamari last yar knee ankle.
Speaker 5 (26:16):
So you're just like, oh, well, you know, I hope so.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
But Lassiter telling reporters yesterday feeling good, I'm ready to play.
Speaker 4 (26:24):
Do you feel like that he was just kept out
because it was a game against Indianapolis Colts and you
were already going to get about exactly. But I didn't
worry about that when I saw it on the report.
I didn't worry about it when they said yesterday that
he was limited. He's gonna play. It's a playoffy. Remember
he missed two straight weeks of practice where he did
not go on Wednesday or Thursday, and Thursday's the string
of his day and he just barely did anything on
(26:47):
walk through day.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
And that's about it.
Speaker 5 (26:48):
Well, I mean, and.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
That's the thing is for certain guys in the league,
which I mean, he's played a year and a half now,
so he knows enough of this league to be able
to do that where you can get away with that.
You can get away with you get the mental res
you get the meetings, you get all of that. But
really for you, it's just being physically ready to go.
I don't think anybody worries about Laster that way. Titus
(27:09):
Howard also another guy who was also out from practice yesterday,
but according to Jonathan and Alexander, he is also expected
to go. But here is the second part of it
being really good news. And while you're out, Aaron Wilson,
who of course is going to join us at nine
o'clock bringing up that Jalen Reid was highly counted on. Yeah,
(27:29):
and that Jalen Reid had his practice window opened up
yesterday and Demiko Ryans doing what he always does with
injured players. We'll see how the week goes. So we'll
see how the week goes. But you get Jalen Reid
back to massive, massive.
Speaker 4 (27:43):
It saves the position to where I don't need to
see Kavon Wallace, cave On Meriweather or Miles Brian.
Speaker 3 (27:49):
Out the safety position. That's that's the win here.
Speaker 4 (27:53):
It has nothing new with him, and again he may
end up panning out to be a really, really really
solid defensive back long term. I mean, we have seven
games of evidence, we have one start under his belt
to really kind of have a gauge on who he
is as a player. I know who Miles Brian is.
I know who Kevon Wallace is. I know who Kekvon
Merriweather is. I don't want any of them out there
starting against any team in the playoff.
Speaker 3 (28:14):
So, I mean, you know, and you know, Keavon Wallace
obviously was put back on the practice squad after, you know,
helping out, and I mean you appreciate their contributions, but yes,
they're not Kamari Laster.
Speaker 5 (28:27):
They're they're not Jalen Reid. In what you're able to
get out of those guys.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
I mean, I think even to some point this year
with Kaylen Bulock, like, do you think like it's it's
been a little bit of we haven't seen the interceptions
from last year. So I think that probably some people
could look at him and say, well, isn't that like
really like the main part of his game? So has
he really had that great of a season? I would
say fine, I would say, yeah, he has. He's he's
(28:52):
been serviceable.
Speaker 6 (28:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
For you, which for a third round pick, That's that's
what you want out of a guy. You want to
if somebody out of the third round becomes a starter,
you hit.
Speaker 5 (29:02):
That's what it is. I'm not asking for a superstar.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
If they become that, that's great, But being able to
get a serviceable, good starter, that's that's a win right there.
Speaker 5 (29:11):
Incredible, be able to do.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
That, great potential, great overall highigh. It is gonna be
a dated reference, but you went Hub Brown right there,
great upside potential.
Speaker 4 (29:21):
Right it is a very dated reference. I've no ided
what you even just said. Who is who the hell
is HB.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
Brown? There's this guy that has white hair and glasses
and used to do basketball for years. He used to
always be part of like the draft coverage and on
the NBA too. He is he still around. He retired
a couple of years ago, but he's still around.
Speaker 5 (29:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (29:39):
I can't say he kicked it like we're gonna kick
the rest of the segment. No, no, no, okay, but Kaylen Bullock.
He's a good player, very solid and secondary play. Very overall,
I think, still a competitor that is going to create turnovers.
You need a running mate, though, And let's be real,
the safety position has been a constant carousel of uncertainty
for the last seventeen weeks.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
CJ.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
Garner Johnson started your season, he was out after three weeks.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
Then you go ahead and bring him to m J. Stewart.
Speaker 5 (30:07):
He's in for four games, then he gets hurt.
Speaker 4 (30:09):
Then he begins Jalen Reid and he's in for two games,
and then he gets hurt, and then Myles Brian comes
in and he's liability in coverage, so they can turn
to Kevon Wallace and he's liability and coverage so bad
that he actually has to get cut. And in between
those reps, you throw cave on Meriweather, another practice squad player,
in just because if you need a change and it's
like putting a band aid on something that needs stitches
(30:31):
and you're bleeding out as you're driving to the hospital,
like it's that bad. So bringing in an option that
at least Nick Asseio evaluated the talent. He thought that
there was something there that could make him a fringe starter.
There were things to like about him in training camp
that really shoot on out to where nobody thought that
he was gonna be a full time starter, but they
(30:52):
thought that he could compete for reps and feel really confident.
Speaker 5 (30:55):
If Kaylen Block got hurt or CJ.
Speaker 4 (30:57):
Garner Johnson at the time got hurt, there's to like
and that probably is your best bet to pair alongside
with Block going into the playoffs, because let's just be real, dude,
there's not many options on the open market. That's number one,
and number two the opps that you have in the building,
every single one.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
Outside of him is probably a lie bulb. I think
also to one of the issues with the safety position
has been ever since Tamiko Ryans got here, Jimmy Ward,
I mean, you brought him here kind of I think
to be one of those Aziz al Shai air types
of every time a head coach has hired and it
is their first time, they will have guys that they
have as almost kind of like lieutenants and colonels that
(31:34):
are with them as players where they're from their old place.
They can they can you know, kind of shepherd along
the players of what the head coach expects and how
he wants to build this thing. And that's why Jimmy
Ward was brought in. He just hasn't been able to
be on the field.
Speaker 4 (31:49):
Having checked in on the status of Jimmy Ward going
into the playoffs, because I'm still waiting for the update
on Joe Mixon.
Speaker 3 (31:54):
Well, I mean all of them. I mean, you're not
getting them. That's that's that's the status report, right the.
Speaker 5 (32:01):
Man. Well, I mean for war I.
Speaker 4 (32:04):
Was told that we could always that that anything is
possible and they could always find a way to come
back in.
Speaker 5 (32:08):
Well, I mean for the rest of the season.
Speaker 3 (32:11):
I think you also have to see are they out
there working on the side, are they actually visible in
the building. And at least for both of those guys,
we have not seen that. At least Tank Dell is
out of practice, but we've never seen him doing anything
of on field work other than stationary catches during some drills.
Speaker 4 (32:28):
I mean, but again, I mean we'll just not that evaluate, won't.
We're just gonna have that valuate and.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
Ask the question exactly exactly the fun that it is
whenever you ask about it.
Speaker 5 (32:36):
See, that's that's the thing is is.
Speaker 3 (32:38):
I think I've had this line with you before, and
you'll not see it as much in the NFL. But
I remember the buddy of mine pointed out once that
there are certain coaches out there that just assume, not
even tell you that there is a game coming up
this weekend that they they just they don't want to
let anything out. And when it comes to injuries, the
Texans are that way.
Speaker 5 (32:58):
Look listen, Iris back there, I really do Hey.
Speaker 3 (33:01):
Hey, hey, do you you know? But what about the
guy Joe? Do you do you care about the guy?
Do you I'm protecting him? You know, because because you
don't really care about him, right exactly? You just want
to be first of the story. That's That's what I'm
told all the time. No to me again, it's very simple, guys.
I respect it.
Speaker 4 (33:19):
But if you're gonna go ahead and make these type
of comments, get ready to get made fun of I'm
gonna call you out for it.
Speaker 3 (33:24):
But it's also though too. It's just it's a feeling
of you're hiding something. That's that's that's the feeling that I.
Speaker 4 (33:31):
Want to if you want to nip in the button,
just call it a day to say, hey, guys, not
playing for the rest of the year.
Speaker 3 (33:36):
Well, I mean, and I think that most people are
not going to be surprised by that, if indeed they
just said, yeah, hey, by the way, guys, Joe is out.
Speaker 5 (33:42):
Oh really, no kidding, Like.
Speaker 4 (33:43):
Do you remember when when Stefan Diggs had the torn
acl and then very next day they said, yeah, he's
out for the season. Yeah, imagine we're still doing tests,
even do tests for six weeks.
Speaker 6 (33:51):
Guys.
Speaker 3 (33:52):
Yeah, it's been a hot we're getting we're getting a
second opinion.
Speaker 5 (33:55):
It's not as bad as we thought it was.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
Or you know, my personal favorite, especially when it comes
to the astros, he's doing much better today.
Speaker 5 (34:02):
What does that even mean?
Speaker 3 (34:04):
I don't even know what that means. It well, so
like what like like square one, I mean, it's like
the chart that they used to give you at the
doctor's office.
Speaker 5 (34:12):
How bad is the pain is it?
Speaker 9 (34:13):
Is?
Speaker 3 (34:13):
It like this, and it's that face? Is it this
and it's another face? Like remember that, like that was
it was emojis before emojis, of the little like chart
that they would give you at the pediatricians office to
like describe how your pain was. Yeah, that's actually you know,
so that you can do that. Just just just have
that chart behind Demiko and he could be like, you know, hey,
(34:34):
you say he's feeling better? Can you a point?
Speaker 5 (34:36):
Can you a point on the chart?
Speaker 1 (34:37):
Here?
Speaker 3 (34:38):
We'll give you a little pointer right here. Can you
point to where his pain level is?
Speaker 5 (34:42):
Winsing?
Speaker 6 (34:43):
God?
Speaker 5 (34:43):
Does that seem like he's gonna be a day to
day out?
Speaker 3 (34:45):
Oh it's that emoji? Okay, I get that one. I
know that feeling.
Speaker 4 (34:48):
Why had the tears barely coming out? Does that mean
that he's a questionable for the day you throw in
the fiery face.
Speaker 3 (34:53):
Oh man, he's out to see that's it? Hey, look
you know, because then it's all it's the effect of
you gotta be here to get that information, So then
it's effect. Why are their xes on his eyes to Miko?
Why do you keep pointing at that?
Speaker 10 (35:04):
Oh?
Speaker 11 (35:05):
Not that?
Speaker 7 (35:05):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (35:06):
What's his status?
Speaker 12 (35:07):
Dead?
Speaker 5 (35:07):
He's dead?
Speaker 3 (35:08):
Sorry, guys, you know, apologize. Yeah, you know, I'm not Jesus.
I can't bring back Lazarus with this one.
Speaker 4 (35:14):
I apologize seven ninety Texas sake on the Pittsburgh Sailors
this upcoming Monday.
Speaker 3 (35:20):
You can listen to the game.
Speaker 4 (35:21):
I mean, you can watch game on ESPN kickoff at
seven o'clock.
Speaker 3 (35:25):
So I think it's pretty safe to say that CJ,
at least last year had a little bit of a
reputation when it came to offensive coordinators. Sure, what if
I told you that he broke that reputation yesterday in
a good way.
Speaker 5 (35:38):
We'll have that for.
Speaker 3 (35:39):
You right here as it is the Morning Dry with
Dan and Cole Sports Talk seven ninety.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
Page down. The Morning Drive continues. Now, now here's Dan.
Speaker 3 (35:50):
And Cole get back into the Texans conversation. We don't
have time to get to the CJ that I mentioned.
We'll do that at the top of the hour. Don't
forget Bill Bender from the Sporting News is going to
join us at seven thirty. But before we get to
Roger here real quick, the context is going to be
lost on some but was watching some of the Michael
(36:12):
Irvin videos from last night, and you know what, cracks
me up about Michael too, is you know, his reactions
on the sidelines. It's the noises like he almost if
you had no you know, and no idea what you
were watching, or if you didn't even get, you know,
be able to see what you were watching, you would
think that someone was in agony with like the noises
(36:33):
that he's making, Like the touchdown from Carson Beck somebody had.
Speaker 5 (36:36):
It and you just hear Michael.
Speaker 3 (36:41):
If you did not know who.
Speaker 4 (36:43):
Michael Irvin was, I thought that that would have been
a deranged fan they brought on the field.
Speaker 5 (36:46):
Laney Fritz.
Speaker 3 (36:47):
Of course, you know Willie Fritz's daughter is married to
one of the Miami assistants. She posted a video of
you can tell that their little one is very tired,
because I mean, at that point it's probably like what
midnight on the East Coast or whatever, so probably it
is it is bedtime, well past bedtime. And I almost
was like, you know, I'm sure that probably to some
kids who are a little tired, that Michael could almost
(37:10):
be like the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus, that he
might be a little bit too much for you. I
could see.
Speaker 5 (37:15):
I can actually say that, Yeah, Michael Michael too much of.
Speaker 3 (37:18):
The TV at times. Okay, can I ask the serious
way is he on the staff? And then he does
and I found network. I believe that, like it is
one of those I mean, you know, in pro sports
it's personal services.
Speaker 5 (37:32):
But I believe that he does have.
Speaker 3 (37:34):
A role in the program that could be wrong because
of like because I know that Ed Reid at least
used to.
Speaker 4 (37:39):
Used to because like I understand to a certain extent,
your legacy, what you were, what you meant to the program,
the fact that you were probably the earliest face of
the you.
Speaker 3 (37:49):
You're gonna be on the sidelines, but like the he
is the you. But but like how much you're touching
the players afterwards, and you're going on the field and
to give it them like a dap up after and
like you're screw or even alongside ray Lewis, they want
it first, they want it first.
Speaker 4 (38:03):
I'm just like, there's a fine level man of like
I get that you're a part of that, but you're
not a part of this.
Speaker 3 (38:09):
See, when it comes to intensity, there's the playmaker, there's
Michael Irvin, and then there's our guy. There's Andre Johnson,
who the most emotion he showed was the Reuben Bain
blocked field goal against A and M. And you hear
Andre yell out, oh yes, like that's about as far.
And it's funny too because where we line up to
go into the Texans locker room post game, sometimes you'll
(38:30):
see Andre Johnson walking by and somebody brought up it
was after the A and M win. They're like, man,
Michael Irvin, he goes, Man, he's crazy. He goes He's
like in the huddle with the players. He's in the
huddle with the players. He wants to be out there
playing another rep. That's the problem.
Speaker 7 (38:46):
Now.
Speaker 4 (38:47):
Michael Irvin is like a guy who's had sixteen ergy
drinks before six am. And Andre Johnson is a guy
that just took his annex.
Speaker 3 (38:53):
They're the complete and.
Speaker 4 (38:54):
Total opposite of each other when it comes to their idea.
Speaker 3 (38:57):
He's off the field, it's a permit chill. For Andre,
it's a permachill. That's why I like when you used
to see, like you know some of you know his
h what he would show emotionally on the field, you
were kind of like, who is this guy?
Speaker 5 (39:08):
Like like did.
Speaker 3 (39:08):
Somebody kidnap Andre Johnson and have somebody else out there,
because when you talk to him, you're almost kind of like, hey,
you do realize like you're one of the league's best, right, Like,
you know, where's the energy man?
Speaker 4 (39:18):
See, he's a site, he's a silent psycho. To really
find a way to piss him off. No, Andre Johnson
and Courtland Finnegan found that out. And remember what I've
said numerous times of people not to fight. Never fight
the quiet guy. Don't fight a guy like Andre Johnson
for obvious reason. You're not getting back up.
Speaker 5 (39:34):
But you fight the That's that's it. That's it.
Speaker 3 (39:36):
Also, they also to be fair, they don't fight fair
because here's what they do. They go for the jugular
on the first try. And that's what Andre Johnson did
to Courtland Finney.
Speaker 4 (39:45):
And the guy that's sit in the back of the
classroom and you're always making fun of me and you're
throwing like spitballs. He doesn't go ahead and punch in
the face. He takes the chair and he breaks it
over your back.
Speaker 5 (39:53):
No, that's it.
Speaker 3 (39:53):
That's what happens with the Andre Johnson's That's that's that's
what I'm telling you. You know, you try Andre Johnson, it's
gonna be the last try. It's gonna be the last
time you try someone. You didn't even have time to
pack a lunch.
Speaker 5 (40:04):
That's the problem.
Speaker 3 (40:04):
You're not getting up, you're laying down it. You just
gotta take it all right, Roger, we will get to you.
And also to that CJ. Stroud that I mentioned, Let's
let's hit it up the seven o'clock hour with that,
so we'll open with that as we continue the conversation here.
It is the Morning Drive with Dan and Cole. Of
course you want to be a part of it. Seven
one three two one two five seven ninety against seven
(40:26):
one three two on two five seven ninety. It is
the Morning Drive here on a Friday, Sports Talk seven ninety.
Speaker 5 (40:33):
Kd E Houston, k TV HD two Houston.
Speaker 1 (40:39):
As a Rocket.
Speaker 8 (40:41):
Sports Talk seven ninety, your home for your home teams
and iHeartRadio stations guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (40:48):
Youman, this is the Morning Drive with Dad and Cole.
Speaker 3 (41:01):
Late touchdown to be able to move on to the
National Title game, which is gonna be in their home stadium,
and they await the winner of tonight's game between Indiana
and Oregon and also tonight too. See I mean, can
you ask for a better Friday night around these parts
where you get a really good college football game, that's one.
And then after that game or as that game is
(41:21):
closing out, you've got.
Speaker 5 (41:23):
Rockets basketball tonight too.
Speaker 3 (41:25):
So what time is sipoff?
Speaker 5 (41:27):
Nine o'clock?
Speaker 3 (41:27):
Okay, So basically I'm gonna be watching the fourth quarterball
so then once yeah, exactly, So once that game's over,
it will be about halftime of the Rockets game, and
then you can watch the second half of that. But
of course, while you're watching the college football playoff, you
can listen on the iHeartRadio app to the Rockets and
Blazers right there and Matt Thomas on the call.
Speaker 5 (41:47):
So you got that for you.
Speaker 3 (41:48):
Here's the other one on the call tonight. I think
it's gonna be a c that's gonna be back here.
I could be wrong, and if I'm wrong, I'm sure
I'll get a text from Wex. Actually it's gonna be
me that you know that it's gonna be him's.
Speaker 5 (42:00):
So I don't know, we'll see there's going to be Wex.
Speaker 3 (42:02):
How's he gonna say it?
Speaker 5 (42:04):
Well, actually, I'm no one doing it. See I send
out the schedule.
Speaker 3 (42:07):
My favorite was always too when you see both of
both me and you have time served with the A team. Sure,
And if I ever had a question about something scheduling wise,
Wex would always go, it's on the docket, let's get
the phone line.
Speaker 5 (42:23):
That's it. Roger wants the way and good morning.
Speaker 13 (42:25):
Roger in given mornings, so let's se Yeah, I've talked
to Wex before. He's pretty coolxalone. Uh So the CFP man,
they got it right, man. They for all the criticism
and all the negative that they got, you know, amongst
coaches and players and no loyalty. And I was one
(42:45):
of them. You know, I was kind of like, you know,
I was kind of like bought out. I was like, man,
the playoffs have been awesome for the most part. They've
been really really good. Uh you know, no biders and
and you know, you can't take your eyes off of it.
And I guess they got it right, you know, with
paying the kids and the portal and all that stuff.
(43:05):
Make keep it coming, and want to add more teams,
and you know, you know, teams like the U of
H and probably get in there and and and then
sneak in there one one year and and surprising people.
You know, the mom's not not a surprise. You know,
they're a small team, but they weren't supposed to do
anythings this year and they did. They have just did
nothing but awesome.
Speaker 9 (43:25):
Uh.
Speaker 13 (43:26):
And that one coach for Miami, if you've got a
doppel ganger, you know, it looks like Daddy Hustin. He
came out thirty days or night only hasn't seen that
acting report. Just like that, dude. And Uh, anyway, for
the Texans man, just I know about Monday man, we
should have a mister Aaron Rodgers living into the retirement
(43:46):
home and that would be the end of that discussion. Guys,
have a good weekend, stay dry and be safe.
Speaker 3 (43:51):
Do you do the same? Roger appreciate it? I mean,
you know, just with Miami though, I mean I think
that it was more of we'll believe it when we
see it, because I mean I think that that was
more of the conversation around them because they've done the
transfer portal, they've done the bring guys there for years,
and I mean this was the year that they finally
(44:13):
got it right where Mario Cristobal said, Hey, the lines
of scrimmage, that's where we build and then we go
from there. I mean Carson Beck. I know a lot
of people were, like, dude, guy sucks at big games.
It's not gonna work. He showed up last night. Yeah,
for the most part, he might. He might have made
himself some money at the next level.
Speaker 4 (44:32):
He's got himself I think a draftable grade, maybe even
a Day two grade. With how crappy the quarterback class
it is outside of Fernanda Mendoza, who.
Speaker 3 (44:39):
Still has yet to declare.
Speaker 4 (44:40):
He's got to declare because if you just brought in
Josh Hoover from TCU, so like he oiled a Claire.
But you know what's really interesting is that the NFL
and college are two drastically different games because of the
play styles and because of the amount of talent, and
because of how few players can actually make it to
the next level. I think that the NFL could learn
something last night about Miami. You have to win with
(45:02):
the trenches and you have to have a sable run game.
If you do not have either of those two things,
you will not have a shot of winning it.
Speaker 5 (45:08):
How many fourth downs did they convert last night? Miami? Two?
But they only went four three times?
Speaker 3 (45:13):
Sure, so no, no, no, what three?
Speaker 4 (45:15):
And they only went fourth three times, but they were
eleven of nineteen on third down and almost half of them,
I mean almost two thirds of them.
Speaker 3 (45:23):
Came on running at place.
Speaker 5 (45:24):
What a concept.
Speaker 4 (45:24):
And the thing was is that again, having an offensive
lineman that is able to continue to through the play.
Because how many of those runs do you remember watching
were Mark Fletcher or the Brown kid? They were at
the list scrimmage. They got the first down, but then
it was four more yards five years. The offiction of
lineman was not letting go. They were relentless at that play.
(45:46):
And then look at the defensive line. The first four minutes,
I mean, the first quarter of the game was all Miami.
Speaker 3 (45:53):
Miami ran thirty.
Speaker 4 (45:56):
Plays in the first quarter, only ran six And why
was that? Because of they had a defensive line that
was so penetrable. They were able to win every single
one of their battles and force an offense to become
one dimensional.
Speaker 5 (46:11):
Didn't they say what eighty eight plays?
Speaker 3 (46:13):
Well, seven plays last night?
Speaker 1 (46:14):
Jeez?
Speaker 4 (46:15):
Eighty nine plays was how many plays they And like
almost again, like ole Miss's defense was terrible defending the run.
But like at some point, I'm not even gonna sit
here and blame it all on almost You're out there
for almost ninety plays. The damn was broken. It was
like the village had been flooded. At this point. If
you were still left behind and you didn't evacuate at
(46:36):
the right time, you were done. Like that was it,
because if your body can't handle it that much. But
like the Texans standpoint, moving forward, however, you do not
have a How are you watching last night's game and
seeing a team that, for some they viewed.
Speaker 3 (46:52):
As not a playoff team.
Speaker 4 (46:54):
Some said because they lost my Louisville and they lost
to SMU and they were ten and two and they
play the conference, say.
Speaker 5 (47:01):
They weren't even in the ACC and didn't.
Speaker 3 (47:02):
Belong to the College of Ball playoff.
Speaker 4 (47:04):
The reason that they're playing for a national title are
three main elements. Exceptional defensive line, penetrable offensive line, stable
run game.
Speaker 3 (47:14):
That's it.
Speaker 4 (47:15):
And at this point, the Texans, that's what you need
to be focused in on for the playoffs and for
twenty twenty seven beyond if.
Speaker 5 (47:20):
You want to win and change.
Speaker 3 (47:21):
And that's the good, and it's something that the Texans
can aspire to be offensively, but it's also too the
bad of what you were talking about from the ole
miss side where it was, Hey, what do you want
from the defense at a certain point? Seriously, what do
you want from You kept them out there for eighty
nine plays. Of course they're going to break down at
that point. But when it comes to the offense as
a hole for the Texans, c J Stroud, I mean,
(47:44):
I think it's pretty widely known now that he soured
on Bobby Slowe c last year. Yeah, right, so there's
the reason why Bobby slow it's not here anymore. And
I mean remember a couple of weeks ago, I had
wondered aloud of something that CJ said, and I was like, hm,
he kind of taking a little bit.
Speaker 5 (48:00):
Of a shot at Nick Kyley.
Speaker 3 (48:01):
So then it kind of became the conversation of well,
maybe you know, CJ is going to kind of get
the Lebron James reputation a little bit when it comes
to offensive coordinators because Lebron, you know, known as being
a coach killer. Well, CJ could he be known as
being a no c killer of a guy that you
know is going to continue to get guys hired and
fired around the league. But he was asked yesterday about
(48:26):
Nick Kyley and his impressions of how Nick has handled
the job.
Speaker 5 (48:29):
This year and CJ he being praised. Listen to the quarterback.
Speaker 14 (48:34):
I think you know his ability to you know, to
block out the noise and continue to go forward. I
think you know, everybody in his day and age wants microwave,
you know, they want stuff something in a microwave, let
a heat up fast and be a new product. And
that's none of us. So you know, football is an
other type of sport or whatever. You use a crock
pie or whatever whatever, hey, y'all use yeah, whatever. So
(48:58):
I mean I think you know, this team, you know,
and we try to do our best to just block
out the noise, you know, and just stay you know
in our in our you know, in our brotherhood and
lean on one another. I thought he's done a great
job of, you know, leaning on us, asking us what
he will be like even if it didn't work, like
not running away from asking guys you know, what they like,
and putting guys in position to you know, do do
(49:20):
what we need to do best. So, I mean, know
we're still working, we're still you know, got ways to go.
But I'm just proud of that guy.
Speaker 9 (49:25):
Man.
Speaker 14 (49:25):
I think he's done a heck of a job of
calling it of you know, being honest, you know, and
really one thing I respect of our kills, Like he doesn't,
you know, point fingers and if he does, it's it's in.
It's in the right way. It's not like blame game.
It's like, hey, you can be better here, because I
know you can. So he's uplifting, you know, And I
have a lot of love for that guy. But he's
done a heck of a job for us.
Speaker 9 (49:45):
This here.
Speaker 3 (49:45):
What are you cooking on the crock pot? Well, I
was gonna say, I mean a crockpot. You're going low
and slow on that one.
Speaker 4 (49:50):
So I think that you're the dude who likes to
go for like a seven hour cook.
Speaker 5 (49:54):
I mean, I'll tell you what a good crock pok
meal like.
Speaker 3 (49:57):
You know, I've done it numerous times where I've gone
ahead and just thrown it all in there, hit it
on low, and then come in done the show. So
then once it hits dinner time, it's ready to go.
A good crock pot goes a long way. I think
that CJ was probably looking more for an instapot, which
is like a crockpot, but it's the microwave version of it.
So you can throw everything in there and it will
(50:18):
cook up in like thirty minutes. Or an air fryer,
because an air fryer will you know, do things in
you know, eight ten minutes and you're good to go.
Both of those things are very useful. See an air I.
Speaker 5 (50:31):
Hate air fryars, dude, I really do.
Speaker 4 (50:33):
I feel like that because because Okay, it's like a
juicer in my opinion, And the reason is because if
you don't clean it out every single time, it bits
in debris afterwards, and it's a pain in the ass
to clean.
Speaker 3 (50:44):
Yeah, all the pulp and everything. It is kind of tough.
I had one actually left it behind. But but I mean, look,
I mean, I think everything that he's saying about Nick
Kayley is is valid. I mean, at least for you know,
the Dan Orlowski's of the world and other people that
have looked at the Texans offense.
Speaker 5 (51:03):
There has been improvements this season.
Speaker 3 (51:05):
I think that people misconstrue improvements in the lack thereof
with points and saying no, no, no, no, you're still scoring
twenty to twenty four points a game. But again, I
also think that it's to a certain point, and I
think that this is Nick Keyley doing this where he says, Okay, look,
we've given the defense enough of a cushion here. Now
(51:26):
it's on to us to be able to preserve this thing,
because if I start putting them in bad positions, then
that puts me in a bad position career wise.
Speaker 5 (51:34):
With this team.
Speaker 3 (51:35):
Well, I had to.
Speaker 4 (51:35):
I mean, like, you're at a standpoint of your defense
has been ginning up less than twenty points per game
on average. Your defense has once again been one of
the best when it comes to run support.
Speaker 3 (51:45):
They're elite inside the red zone.
Speaker 4 (51:46):
They're holding opponents to under four hundred yards I mean
three hundred yards per game. You got to be able
to look and say, I understand that we have limitations
to our squad, but we can be better than twenty points.
We should not have to go ahead and say all
we got is twenty today. Can you go ahead and
match that defensively? And it's been too much of that,
I think in recent weeks. And you're going into the
(52:07):
playoffs where you're facing against a team that snuck its
way on in because of a missfield goal by a
guy who got his coach fired, and a miss PA team.
You have a wide receiver in DK Metcalf that I
think a lot of people have forgotten about because if
we haven't seen him out there that we're not sure
what he's going to provide for the team. It's a
forty one year old quarterback, and their defense, for as
(52:29):
good as it's been in the past, is nowhere near
what it's been to Accordingly, we at some point have got.
Speaker 5 (52:34):
To be able to give our defense at least a
little bit of breathing.
Speaker 3 (52:36):
Right This Texan when we talk to you on Tuesday,
is going to be a difference maker in this one,
and we will be heaping praise on him. We'll discuss
who that is right here as we continue in the
seven o'clock hour. Also too, we'll get back into the
college football conversation. Bill Bender, Sporting News is gonna hop
on with us here in about fifteen minutes.
Speaker 5 (52:55):
Got all of that straight ahead right here.
Speaker 3 (52:57):
It is the Morning Drive with Dan and Coles Sports
Talk seven to ninety.
Speaker 8 (53:01):
Dan Matthews, Cole Thompson. This is the Morning Drive with
Dan and Cole.
Speaker 3 (53:10):
I guess I guess uh you know the board is
having a mind of its own. They're they're they're taking
over Tripoli they being the robots. They're they're they're they're
taking over. Now the roads are just truned through the wires. Man,
we all know that. Yeah, that's they could be that too.
But anyway, the Gremlins, why are you out?
Speaker 7 (53:25):
Man?
Speaker 3 (53:25):
As I was saying, seventy eight in the morning, you're
supposed to be out like at four. It's okay. The
Trolls can come back later. The Texan is going to
be back on the practice field. The Rockets also going
to be on the floor tonight up in Portland taking
on the Blazers college football playoff. Last night you get
Miami moving on to the National Championship game beating nol Miss.
They're gonna wait and see who wins to night between
Indiana and also Oregon. All Right, the Texan that is
(53:50):
going to be the difference maker on Monday night against
the Steelers'.
Speaker 5 (53:56):
Jayden Higgins.
Speaker 3 (53:58):
We come in here on Tuesday, We're gonna be talking
about the play of Jaden Higgins. Here's why the double
team is going to go over to Nico Collins, and
they don't try to force the ball to Nico Collins
when they don't have to. Obviously, he's a good enough
player that we've seen at numerous times when things break
down for CJ the off schedule plays, Hey throw it
up because number twelve is going to be there.
Speaker 5 (54:18):
And it has worked out for the most part.
Speaker 3 (54:20):
But they've been building to a crescendo these last few
weeks of having Jaden Higgins become a difference maker for
this team. The deep touchdown pass against the Chargers. I
think that was another showing of belief in Jaden Higgins.
I think that it is the entire reason of why
you added him as early as you did this year
in the draft, that Jaden Higgins is a guy that
(54:42):
it's to this point and it's almost going to be
either a conversation with him and Demiko or a conversation
with him and Nick Cayley of now's the time we've
built you up for this.
Speaker 5 (54:52):
You've got the big playability.
Speaker 3 (54:53):
There's a reason why you were compared to Nico Collins
when you're coming out of the draft. You've got the
body type, you got the makeup, you got the speed,
you've got at all. We're gonna be talking about a
huge night out of Jayden Higgins.
Speaker 5 (55:04):
I won't fight back on that one.
Speaker 4 (55:06):
I see the pathway to where that is a reality.
I do, and I agree with you that you will
see double teams go their way. You know, Jalen Ramsey,
he's now moved to safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers, so
he's gonna be playing over the top. Yeah, Joey Porter junior,
son of legendary linebacker, A couple of other dudes out there,
They're gonna want to make sure they shut down twelve
because if you shut down Nico Collins, it feels like
(55:28):
that thirty percent of your offense started taken away.
Speaker 3 (55:32):
So that's good.
Speaker 4 (55:33):
That means that Higgins, who last week again had a
good game, stepped on up in place of Nico being out.
It's a good understanding on where you want.
Speaker 3 (55:41):
So I won't say that's a big negative there. I
can see that scenario.
Speaker 4 (55:46):
To me, though, I think it's gonna come on the
defensive side, and I think it's gonna come with Sheldon Rankins.
Speaker 5 (55:53):
Sheldon Rankins.
Speaker 3 (55:54):
I go with Sheldon Rankins.
Speaker 4 (55:55):
I think that if you tell me who is gonna
be the player that we look at and ask ourselves
what was the reason that this became a one dimensional game?
Speaker 5 (56:06):
And in the fourth quarter everyone started looking.
Speaker 4 (56:08):
Towards book in their flights to head on over to
Foxborough or you know, having to make a trip on
over the Denver or whatever it is. I think it's
because of you know that Sheldon Rankins did such a
good job. I'm not only shutting down the run game,
but adding pressure up the interior. What was something that
was brought up on the show earlier this week when
we had Pony on. He mentioned that the two biggest
(56:29):
players right now for the Steelers offense or nine T
game Metcalf. It's not Calvin Austin, It's none of the
wide receivers, it's not even one of their tight ends.
It's the running backs. It's their ability to be able
to make plays in space between the trenches and then
on the outside. So Sheldon Ranks can't do anything about
the outside. That's that's Derek Stingley, that's Tamorrow Lasser, that's
(56:52):
Kayln Block, That's that's Jalen Petree. But when it comes
to the run game, making them a one dimensional offense
and forcing Aaron Roddy to beat you is critical. He's
been one of the better run defenders for the Texans
the entire season.
Speaker 3 (57:06):
He's been at the last two years.
Speaker 4 (57:08):
On top of that, he's an exceptional pass rusher, and
he wins because of lower center gravity. The thing that
I've always loved about Tmiko Ryans's defenses are he knows
what he needs in a defensive tackle, which is short,
stocky and able to win with leverage down low to
continue to push their way upfield and put themselves in
a better position to where they can attack to exactly
(57:30):
so in a game like this, going up against a
decent but still underwhelming Steelers offensive line, knowing that you
could take away the rushing attack, and then putting Aaron
Rodgers who can't move, He's not gonna be able to
do anything outside the pocket. He's got to stand still
to get him to be able to have to move upward.
That allows a Daniel Hunter to come around the edge,
(57:52):
or allows a Will Anderson to win his one on
one and then basically sandwich him into a position of
where it's a loss of fifteen it's a loss of
eleven yards because of the pressure at the middle. That's
because of what you get from a guy like Sheldon Reagans.
Rankins has had a good season. It's been very under
the radar because of all the other defensive names. He's
up for a contract extension. I think I think that
(58:13):
Nicosario knows I don't want to lose him a second time.
It's a good piece I can have for a very
cost friendly deal, great fit for the system. The way
to guarantee that you're getting paid this offseason by one
organization to stick around is by having a solid performance
in the wildcard round.
Speaker 3 (58:28):
No, it definitely is. I mean, the playoffs get people paid.
That's been a tale as old as time in any sport,
not just the NFL. But I mean I'll agree with
you on Rankins because I mean we saw it again
that same you know game that I think told you
a lot about this team out in LA against the Chargers.
He was a massive difference maker in that game. I mean,
a massive twist and able to get to Justin Herbert
(58:49):
and you know, of course he meets him there along
with will Anderson Junior to get the sack on that play.
I mean, Tommy TOGII is another guy. I mean that
was something that at the time when it happened, when
both Mario Edwards Junior and Tim Settle both went down
for the season, he started to see a little bit
of oil being leaked in the run defense because those
guys were so good at being able to do that.
(59:10):
And it also too it allowed for Rankins to showcase more.
But also for Tommy Togi, I who we've told you
how good he's been against the run this year, so
I'm with you on that. I mean, i'd said that
my defensive difference makers earlier in the week while you
were out where. I think you're gonna be looking for
a huge night out of Henry Toto, who has had
a nice last couple of weeks. But then also to
(59:31):
Jalen Petrie because of how much this Stealers team likes
to work underneath.
Speaker 4 (59:35):
Petrie, I will give you, and the reason why is
because of the fact that they're going to try to
target Kenny Gainwell and Jayalen Mooren out of the backfield.
That's where a guy like Petrie comes involved mightily in
the nickel position. Anywhere else, I think it's a little
bit more challenging. I feel like that Kamari Laster is
probably a bigger name because of look at what happened
last week when Alec Pierce was.
Speaker 5 (59:56):
The wonder receiver they had to worry about but what
did that do.
Speaker 4 (59:59):
It opened up plays with Josh Downs, It opened up
plays for Tyler Warren, It opened up plays out of
the backfield for Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman. So having another
cornerback that's able to go ahead and make plays that
would take away DK Metcat, that would take away Calvin Austin,
any one of the Steelers wide receivers is beneficial.
Speaker 5 (01:00:15):
I just think that when it comes down.
Speaker 4 (01:00:16):
To the standpoint of making sure that Aaron Rodgers is
as one dimensional as possible, he and is not able
to do a damn thing, and Arthur Smith's kind of
has to sit there and throw his hands up and go, well,
I'm going to get fired from this job too, and
just take it. It comes from the standpoint of making
sure that you're able to win with pressure on the interior.
I don't think that there is anybody who can do
it at a higher click than what Sheldon Records could
(01:00:37):
possibly do on Sunday Monday.
Speaker 3 (01:00:39):
Well, I mean, and that's the thing too, is you know,
we obviously look to the stars of this team to
be those guys.
Speaker 5 (01:00:45):
I mean c J. Stroud.
Speaker 3 (01:00:46):
It starts with him, and I mean that's what I
think a lot of people are going to start looking
at in this matchup, is you know, a you know
CJ against Aaron Rodgers, who has the better game. It's
not going to come down to that. I think this
is going to come down to your defensive guys. I
mean Will Anderson Junior and Daniel Hunter, which the sacks
have kind of tailed off the last few weeks. I mean,
(01:01:08):
you know, the Chargers game again was a nice game,
but I mean you know the Arizona and the Raider games,
those were ones where you're like, hey, whytn't to get
into the quarterback. Even last week against Riley Leonard it
was that, but it was also too it was timely
rush of when they got to him the interception. You
got to him, you got his throwing arm, and he
throws a duck up there and Elijah Hushy is able
(01:01:31):
to jump underneath it and get an interception. So that's
what you want to see. And Rogers is still elusive enough.
He's not what he used to be, but he is
going to avoid the rush as much as possible. So
then that does fall on your linebackers, It does fall
on your star position, and it even falls on the
(01:01:51):
guys at the back end too of being able to
make those plays true and.
Speaker 4 (01:01:57):
Having a guy like Kamari Laster back there once again
is probably gonna be really bad officials simply because of
now it gives you an opportunity to win your one
on ones and you don't have to worry about the
double teams because I think about it from the standpoint
of like having a Huzzy out there versus the last Automatically,
your secondary is now saying, now we got Stingley and
block on one dude, that leaves a guy on an
island or no, no phrase up Huzzy and bluck on
(01:02:17):
one dude, which means Stingley's got to be on an
island with whoever is the other player. And so this
is just a way to guarantee you're winning your matchups
because because again whether or not you want to say
that he's underwhelmed this year, he doesn't have a he
has a ten per problem. He's definitely got to get
some anger management issues. DK Metcalf is still DK Metcalf,
and you got to prepare for him mentally and physically,
(01:02:39):
and sometimes having those double teams is a lot but
official than what you'd expect.
Speaker 3 (01:02:43):
All right, So let's switch back over to college football
because we'll talk last night's game, but also to tonight
in the Chick fil A Peach Bowl. And the man
to do all of that, Bill Bender, Sporting News. He's
gonna hop on with us right here as it is
the morning Drive with Dan and Cole here on a Friday,
Sports Talks seven to ninety.
Speaker 12 (01:03:01):
We run on.
Speaker 8 (01:03:02):
Dingers, dumpson drives, not cold Sports.
Speaker 1 (01:03:08):
Top seven ninety guaranteed human.
Speaker 3 (01:03:12):
And also to the college football playoff, which we're going
to talk a lot right now. Miami moving on to
the national title game beating Old Miss last night. We
wait and see on Indiana and Oregon tonight and talk
more about that. Joining us from Sporting News, Bill Bender,
hopping on, Bill, Good to hear from you again. Man.
Let's just start with last night's I mean, where you
shocked at all of how it all went down, of
(01:03:35):
you know, not only Miami finding a way to win
that game, but also to the effort that Ole Miss
put together.
Speaker 7 (01:03:42):
Oh what a fantastic fourth quarter.
Speaker 15 (01:03:44):
I told my son that's you know, in our predictions
and Sporting News, I had twenty seven to twenty four
Old Miss and I had to text a friend, Hey,
this is the final score I had.
Speaker 7 (01:03:53):
And then of course Miami took it down the field
and scored.
Speaker 15 (01:03:57):
And what a finish I think, twenty five points in
the fourth order, four lead changes. Brilliant performance by Trinidad chamberlains.
That was a fun semi final. There's no question, Bill, when.
Speaker 4 (01:04:08):
You look at what we saw last night for Miami
eleven to nineteen on third down attempts. They ran the
football at almost five point six yards a click. I
mean what they've been able to do by dismantling opponents
is regards of who they face off against in the
National championship, Oregon or Indiana. When you're got a run
game like this and a quarterback that's not making a
lot of mental mistakes like Carson back, does that give
(01:04:29):
them some advantages to where as long as they're not
putting the ball in harm's way, they should feel confident
playing in their home stadium.
Speaker 15 (01:04:37):
Well, I can't even describe what I think the atmosphere
is going to be for that. I mean, this is
a program that's starved for a national championship going to
be in their backyard. I was down there years ago
when they played a Notre Dame at home and beat
them like forty three to eight, But you said it.
I mean fifty one rushing attempts and the way that
(01:05:00):
they ran the football, and if they can control the
clock and control the line of scrimmages like they did
at least on the offensive side last night, they're gonna
have a chance to beat whoever wins tonight again.
Speaker 3 (01:05:11):
Bill Benders, Sporting News hopping on with us here on
the Morning Drive with Dan and Cole. The game tonight too,
Indiana Oregon. It's gonna be a lot of fun. I mean,
I know you're up there in big ten countries, so
you've seen both of these teams play quite a bit
this season. But do you feel like it's gonna be
kind of a tale of an opposite one tonight, Like
we're looking at a final score of like seventeen thirteen
(01:05:34):
something like that.
Speaker 15 (01:05:37):
I mean, yeah, the defense on both sides, and I
think really the key to this game is which quarterback
is gonna make plays If neither team can run the ball.
If Indiana can run the football effectively, they're gonna play
for a national title. Oregon's a little bin at running back,
but you know between Mendoza and Dante Moore, which one
of those quarterbacks may be makes the good decisions, doesn't
(01:06:01):
make the mistakes. Mendoza had the interception last time they played,
takes them down the field after Dante.
Speaker 7 (01:06:07):
Had two picks after that. I think it's gonna be
a close game.
Speaker 15 (01:06:11):
You know, I picked Indiana to win, But like I
just told you, I picked a little this last night,
So be careful.
Speaker 10 (01:06:16):
There.
Speaker 7 (01:06:17):
Rematches are tricky.
Speaker 9 (01:06:18):
You guys know that.
Speaker 4 (01:06:19):
Yeah, I mean, listen, Alabama found a way to beat
Georgia week one, they got molly wopped in the SEC
championship and the same thing happened for Georgia when they
took on Ole Miss. But Bill, you talk about Kirk Signetty,
it's two years in the program, he has two losses.
This is a program that was not known for having
a lot of nil This was a program that was
not built to be really much of anything other than
just a bottom drawler in the Big Ten. And he's
(01:06:41):
eight quarters away from bringing a national title to Bloomington, Indiana.
For a national standpoint, is this one of the greatest
stories in sports history, not just college football, but a
turnaround for the losingest program to now become a place
to where kids like Nick marsh and Josh Hoover were
getting offers from SEC schools and Notre Dame. They're saying,
(01:07:03):
you know what, no, no, no, no, I want to
go play Memorial Stadium underneath the guy nam Kirk signetti.
Speaker 7 (01:07:08):
Running to Indiana. By the way, yeah, yeah, you said it.
Speaker 15 (01:07:14):
It's the greatest sports turnaround in North American sports history.
Speaker 7 (01:07:19):
As you guys know, I live in Ohio.
Speaker 15 (01:07:21):
I keep telling my buddies the like, imagine if the
Browns just go six seventeen and oh when Super Bowl
next year?
Speaker 6 (01:07:28):
Like that's that.
Speaker 15 (01:07:29):
And I still don't think it would be a larger
turnaround than what Indiana's doing, just because.
Speaker 1 (01:07:35):
They like I look this up.
Speaker 15 (01:07:37):
They are the second second worst Power Conference school in
terms of winning percentage all time. They passed Away Forest
in the last two years. Right, and they're on and
they're not just winning, right, they're dominating.
Speaker 9 (01:07:50):
If you'd told me ten.
Speaker 7 (01:07:51):
Years ago they're gonna beat Alabama thirty eight to three,
I mean, come on.
Speaker 3 (01:07:56):
Yeah, I don't think there's any doubt about it. I mean,
it's kind of turning the sport on. It's ear little
bit again Bill Bender's Sporting News with us here for
a few minutes on Sports Talk seven to ninety Bill,
I mean, you know, kind of in that same vein
of talking about Kurt Signetty we were talking about him
a little bit earlier. Seems like Willie Fritz is starting
to kind of get that going here in Houston. Ten
wins this season and a nice little turnaround from a
(01:08:19):
year one to year two. I mean, is there any
reason to believe that he can't kind of bring something
similar over.
Speaker 15 (01:08:26):
To you of h I love Willy Fritz and the
effort that his team's always play with. I'll tell you
a story years ago when he was at Tulane. I
watched them play at Ohio State and it was one
of those dominant Buckeyes teams, you know, and they it's
a cliche, but they played hard the entire game. It
(01:08:46):
was one of those they were ignoring the score, they
were still going hard. You could see the effort on
both sides of the ball, and I thought, that's on
the coach that he has them playing like that. It
was great, and you know, to watch his career and
track it and see what Houston did this year. Yeah,
I think it is possible, especially in the Big Twelve,
where you know, you look at that conference. Texas Tech
(01:09:08):
did that this year by use one double digit games
each of the last two years. Colorado had to turn
around with Dion the couple star players, and you're in
a part of the country where I know, you guys
played high school football down there and it's pretty good.
So I think I think he absolutely could get them
to that point where they could play for a playoff person.
Speaker 4 (01:09:27):
It's Bill Bender from Sportingnews dot Com, senior writer of
all Things College football. Game the follow on Twitter at
Bill Bender ninety two.
Speaker 7 (01:09:33):
Bill.
Speaker 4 (01:09:34):
In this new day of age in college football, it
really isn't just about, you know, the branding and the logo. Yeah,
it certainly helps if your Alabama and Ohio State, but
it's all about how much money you have. And when
you look at programs like Texas Tech and what they
were able to spend this past year, and you look
at what Ole Miss has done underneath Link Kiffin and
how they're able to retain talent.
Speaker 5 (01:09:52):
Is this going to become a new norm where we
are going.
Speaker 4 (01:09:55):
To see more and more players be as a one
and done on rosters and just go to the highest
bit to where you can't really think of roster attention
and you can't just think about, you know, recruiting at
a high end level. You got to think about transportal
players having conversations in season with guys that you know
are non negotibles to leave because the second that you give.
Speaker 3 (01:10:13):
Them a contract.
Speaker 4 (01:10:14):
I mean, we could see them on Williams two point
zero situation where hell, six million dollars really was actually
enough for me to stick around for another season Seattle.
Speaker 15 (01:10:22):
I hope this final tap reference isn't outdated, but like
college football has gone to eleven, it has, and we've
turned it up to eleven in a good way. And
I've I'm adjusting my settings, so to speak, because I
wrote a column last night. It feels like the NCAA
basketball tournament now it really does, where the final four,
(01:10:42):
you might get a one seed, you might get a Cinderella,
you might get you know, somebody like Ole Miss who
didn't have their coach, and as long as the games
were fine, we're gonna like it.
Speaker 7 (01:10:51):
I think, you know, one of the stats I pointed
out is when.
Speaker 15 (01:10:55):
You get to March, there's only one team. Since twenty fourteen.
That was the number one overall seed that won the
national title. That was Yukon in twenty twenty four and
I think we all picked.
Speaker 7 (01:11:05):
Them in the bracket that year. We had to you
better have. But it's kind of like that now.
Speaker 15 (01:11:12):
Like my bracket, I thought Georgia Ohio State would win it,
and the nil piece has turned it on its head
a little bit.
Speaker 7 (01:11:18):
It's spread out the talent. I still think those pro
like Ohio State.
Speaker 15 (01:11:22):
I made the analogy, they're kind of like duper North
Carolina and basketball.
Speaker 7 (01:11:25):
They're always going to be there, they just might not
always win it every year.
Speaker 3 (01:11:30):
A couple more minutes with Bill Bender again Sporting News
Radio with us here or Sporting News On with us
here on the Sports Talk seven ninety Bill, I mean
even more local here with Texas and Texas A and M.
Texas a little disappointing season this year. Steve Sarkisian decides
the offense was not the issue. I'm moving on and
(01:11:51):
I'm switching out DC's and then for A and M.
I think it's kind of a question of can they
sustain this success and make it a year in and
year out thing. What do you think about both of
those programs heading forward, well, I.
Speaker 15 (01:12:05):
Mean yeah, A and M got to the playoff. It
was an impressive season. What come back I would I
just always go back to that comeback against South Carolina.
I mean what they showed that they have some discipline,
some part around Mike Elko didn't in the way that
they wanted, but I think he'll continue to build on that.
And I don't know that Texas was a disappointment. I
actually was on that, on board with They did have
(01:12:28):
a compelling playoffs case. They did step out. I was
at the Ohio State game this year. They were they
played them within a touchdown. Arch continue to get better.
I think the Heisman hype and then all those things
are going to come back for Arch next year. They should,
and the talent is there.
Speaker 9 (01:12:43):
I was here.
Speaker 7 (01:12:44):
I'll try this one on you.
Speaker 15 (01:12:46):
I think the Big Ten has three elite programs right now,
right now present Tense, Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana. I think
the SEC has won in Georgia and Texas is right
there like they could they can be that. It's just
going out doing that and you know, so start like
even with the coordinator switch, I think they're always going
to be in the picture.
Speaker 4 (01:13:05):
Money talks, and it definitely does down in Austin, BILLI
gets you out of here on this. You look at
lin Kiff and he signs the deal and he goes
to LSU, and I can't fault him. I think the
LSU would run properly, is the best job in college
football because of what you have in terms of recruiting
backgrounds and the ability to sell the program at Death
Valley on a Saturday night. But you look at Kirk
Signetti and you look at Willie Fritz, you look at
(01:13:26):
all these guys who don't have a lot of nil funds,
and the standards a little bit different at certain places
because of that.
Speaker 3 (01:13:33):
An LSU eight and four gets you fired. At eight
and four.
Speaker 4 (01:13:35):
Gets you another contract extension sometimes TDECU Stadium. When you
look at what they've been able to accomplish, has the
pressure could have been kind of dialed up to about
a nine or ten for him to hit the ground
running and start winning. Because if a guy like Kirk
Signetti can take a team to go eleven and won
in year one as the losingest program in college football,
but the resources found down to Baton Rouge, I mean
(01:13:57):
there should be no excuse for guards of who's your
starting quarterback or who you haven't left tackle.
Speaker 15 (01:14:02):
Yeah, the pressure's definitely on because of Old missus run.
The expectation is that Lane, you got to get us
to the semi finals and ls you only made one
playoff appearance in the fourteen era, it happened to be
arguably the greatest college football.
Speaker 7 (01:14:16):
Team of all time.
Speaker 15 (01:14:17):
But when three of the last four coaches have won
national championships and Brian Kelly didn't do well there, there's
going to be a ton of pressure on Lane Tiffin,
and especially with how everything went down this year, and
you know there's no need to bring all that back up.
But yeah, I think absolutely from recruiting, from winning, and
as we all know, their first three games next year
(01:14:38):
they play Clemson and then they play Old Miss two
weeks later. I don't think he'll have any more pressure
on him the entire tenure than when they go down
to Old Miss in week three.
Speaker 3 (01:14:48):
Bill Bender again sporty news hopping on with us for
a few minutes. Bill, Hey, appreciate the time, Always love
your coverage and always appreciate you hopping on with us
here anytime.
Speaker 7 (01:14:58):
I'm gonna go watch the final tex before the game
to night. Yeah, there you go.
Speaker 3 (01:15:03):
Hey, take care Bill, Yeah, pay pay some respects to
the great Rob Reyner watching spinal Tap. I've never actually
seen it. I just I know the reference of this
thing goes to eleven. Yeah, that's that's. That's as far
as it goes. I'm very glad that.
Speaker 4 (01:15:15):
He did say that he brought up for old missus standpoint. Hey,
they won and went to the semifinals without Sholane. I mean, listen,
you read a D two quarterback and a third string
running back to the highest level of an honor. You
can't bring in the elon quarterback and need Tournham into
something special.
Speaker 3 (01:15:29):
By the way, point, I mean, that's that's I mean,
that's that's the way I choose to look at and
I think most L s U fans choose to look
at it as well. Who found him, who got him there,
and who got it out of them? Who played at
the highest level without him them? Well, and then they
lose last night. So I mean it came to an end.
Speaker 5 (01:15:47):
Because its shambliss though no, not at all actually to.
Speaker 3 (01:15:51):
Be fair, because if he almost had four interceptions, he
if Miami could catch a football that would have been
a possibility. Right, let's get back into the NFL, because
we do it at the time. I'm every single show,
it's time to look at the shield because you're looking
for a new coach. Well, it's a little crowded the
Bucks fire damn near everyone, and this guy believes in
(01:16:11):
his quarterback. We'll discuss all three of those things right
here as we continue here. It is the Morning Drive
with Dan and Cole Sports Talk seven ninety before with
you that though, let's talk your financial future. How's it looking?
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Speaker 5 (01:17:22):
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Dan Matthews from Sports Talk seven ninety sent you over.
Speaker 1 (01:17:47):
Back to Dan and Cole as the Morning Drive Cruiz is.
Speaker 3 (01:17:51):
On Brian to bray you, Jeremy Pania and Hunter Brown
so two Scott Borne's clients after signing a scottboard clients.
Sounds pretty good.
Speaker 5 (01:18:01):
There you go, that's pretty good.
Speaker 3 (01:18:02):
We'll get into some astros a little bit later on
the show, but we do it at the time every
single day here on the program. It's time to look
at the shield, all right. So you got eight jobs
that are open now, that's and and see. And that's
(01:18:25):
funny too because when that was posted yesterday and I
saw Wex had even said as much too, and then
he even listed him out, and then I was like,
we'll see one, two, three, four, five, six, seven eight.
Speaker 5 (01:18:36):
Yeah, No, you're not wrong in the exactly.
Speaker 3 (01:18:40):
And that's not even to consider the head coaching or
excuse me, like coordinator jobs out there, like for example,
the Cowboys supposedly reached out to the Falcons about Jeff Ulbrick.
Speaker 4 (01:18:51):
Oh, I was talking about the fact that Mike Tomlin
and Matt la Fleur still technically could be job come tuesday.
Speaker 3 (01:18:58):
So you could have a third of the lead. Yeah,
that is looking for new head coaches. So the most recent,
of course, was Mike McDaniel the Dolphins. He got let
go of the day before. It was John Harball there
in Baltimore, but of course added to the list Jonathan
Gannon Arizona, Pete Carroll in Las Vegas, Stefanski in Cleveland,
(01:19:21):
Raheem Morris with the Falcons, and then the guys that
got fired in season Brian Dabole, Brian Callahan and.
Speaker 5 (01:19:30):
Believe that's all hate.
Speaker 3 (01:19:31):
That's eight. So but of all the jobs that are
out there that are open right now, I mean, the
one that looks like it is the most intriguing of those,
I mean it's it's Baltimore.
Speaker 5 (01:19:41):
There's yeah, there's no question.
Speaker 4 (01:19:42):
Great ownership, good GM, you don't miss on draft picks,
culture in place, stability when it comes to everybody on
the same page. Veteran quarterback that's won an MVP, enough
of a position to where you have money to spend
in free agency, it seems like a very good culture
to wear a lot if people want to resign there.
It's a man made job to where, like I said earlier,
(01:20:05):
they're going to be a team that will find their
way back into the playoffs next year because of all
they're doing is tweaking up a few little details and
everything is going to go according to plant.
Speaker 3 (01:20:15):
You know, and I know that some people might push
back on this, But the second best is the Falcons
because I'll push back.
Speaker 5 (01:20:21):
I think that.
Speaker 3 (01:20:22):
I mean, I understand, you know the quarterback situation. People
are not sold on Michael Pennix. You had the owner,
Arthur Blank, meeting with the media yes day saying they
believe he's their franchise guy. But I think that they
are impressionable because you have somebody in there that has
enough respect for what they've done in the league already,
(01:20:43):
but also too a chance to be able to come
in there and truly make it your own. Because this
next head coach is going to be handpicked by Matt Ryan.
I don't think there's any doubt about that. For what
you're bringing him in to do, it's going to be
somebody that he has some ties with.
Speaker 5 (01:20:57):
Would be my guest.
Speaker 4 (01:20:58):
You have the most salary cap space, the number one
overall pick, and Tom Brady having a bigger role inside
of the environment. I think the second best job is
the Las Vegas Raiders. I know you're in a challenging
division with Kansas City, with Denver, with Los Angeles, but
when you have all those pieces lined up and you
can spend and you get an adult outside of somebody
who I thought was really gonna be a good fit.
Speaker 3 (01:21:18):
With Pete Carroll for a year.
Speaker 4 (01:21:20):
It does seem like that you could at least be
trending toward a lot of success because of all the
decisions are.
Speaker 3 (01:21:25):
Made in your image.
Speaker 4 (01:21:26):
Now, it could backfire immediately if you suck at your
job and don't know what you're doing when it comes
to evaluating talent. But no, the on the flip side,
it's a man made job and you get the number
one overall pick.
Speaker 3 (01:21:37):
I think that also though too, for what you just
threw out there. That's why I have the falcons in
front of them, because I.
Speaker 5 (01:21:42):
Can't have a first round pick for the next two years.
That is a little bit of an issue.
Speaker 3 (01:21:46):
But you also do play in the NFC South, and
we just saw that the NFC South is up for grabs.
They are number three.
Speaker 4 (01:21:53):
I will gladly put them at number three because I
do see your b Jean Robbins's irony team.
Speaker 3 (01:21:57):
I mean, like you say that and you got drink wonder. Yeah,
I was gonna say both of those guys, and then
you know, it's gonna be interesting to see what they
do with Kyle Pitts if he walks and takes money
somewhere else. Maybe it's time for him to do that.
But anyway, some intriguing openings out there. The Buccaneers yesterday,
I mean, you want to talk about a fire sale
of pink slips being handed out over there. So they decide,
(01:22:19):
of course, to keep Todd Bowles. But the offensive coordinator,
Josh Grizzard, he's now gone. You also have the special
teams coordinator gone, cornerbacks coach Thad lewis gone. You know,
the defensive line coaches. I didn't even know this.
Speaker 5 (01:22:33):
Charlie Strong. Charlie Charlie Strong was the d line. He's
downgraded that much is gone.
Speaker 3 (01:22:42):
And also cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross is also gone. So look,
that's one of those that it's with ownership there in
Tampa Bay, where they're like, all right, the head coach
wasn't bad enough for us to can him, but let's
let's go ahead and give him a little bit of
an off ramp here, and all right, we'll keep you around,
like you gotta let a bunch of guys go.
Speaker 4 (01:23:02):
If you let go of five or more coaches, in
my book, you should have been fired that.
Speaker 3 (01:23:06):
I'm sorry. That's the way my brain is well. I mean,
if that's the case, then Gary Kubiak wouldn't have gotten
this team to the first playoff because I remember the
day after the the twenty ten season ended and the
first thing he did when he got up to the
podium was announcing that Frank Bush, along with Robert Salah
and a bunch of other coaches were gone. Yeah. It
(01:23:31):
was the defensive side of the ball. It was the
defensive side. What is Todd Bowles defensive side of the ball?
Speaker 4 (01:23:36):
Okay, So why is his defense coordinator still sticking around?
Or because he's technically not the defense coordinator? He's technically
just I don't think he's think he's the de facto
defensive play caller at this point. So yeah, offensively, you
got to get a change in there. You gotta get
somebody for Baker. That was a job to me that
felt like you have all the pieces in play to
be the favorites from here on out in the NFC South.
Speaker 5 (01:23:56):
That you couldn't get the job done, you deserve to
be fired.
Speaker 3 (01:23:58):
Finally, Chris Ballard backs Daniel Jones as the Colts future
as in twenty twenty seven and the near and long
term for the Colts I look at him both near
and long term, is what Balor said about Jones, adding on,
when you're chasing a quarterback all the time, it makes
it very hard. Your margin avera really shrinks down. And
(01:24:18):
I feel good about Daniel Jones and where he's at,
where he's going. Yes, he's got the achilles, but I
think Daniel Jones has got a really bright future here
in Indianapols.
Speaker 4 (01:24:26):
Let me throw it sounds like they're keeping let me
throw an achilles heel in this entire plan. His achilles
is completely shot. He's not playing in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (01:24:34):
Yeah, he was hanging out with us up in the
press box, wheeling around, so weird, trying to I remember
right before me and you did the video at the half,
I just go, hey, you just missed Danny Dimes.
Speaker 5 (01:24:43):
He just whizzed right by us.
Speaker 4 (01:24:44):
It's so weird to see him in this giant boot
and he's in the coach's box.
Speaker 5 (01:24:48):
That was the thing. The only regrets I've never seen
that you see him on the field.
Speaker 3 (01:24:52):
The only regret that I had for my brother being
a proud Carolina tar heel is to not look to
my right as he was whizzing by and going go
heel God, it's not that big of a No, it's not.
Speaker 9 (01:25:02):
It's not. It was.
Speaker 3 (01:25:03):
It was not an opportunity missed. But anyway, it seems
like it is a uphill climb for the Colts at
the moment. Someone three two and two five seven ninety
is the number two. Get in Demiko Ryans. It comes
down to the trenches on Monday night. According to Demico
Ryans'll let you hear from him as we get into
(01:25:24):
the eight o'clock hour. Right here on the Morning Drive,
it's Dan Matthews, It's Cold Tops, and it's Trip Ley,
Emmanuel Elmore. It is all right here on Sports Talk
seven ninety.
Speaker 16 (01:25:33):
A Houston atv HD two Houston, the Astros, the Rockets,
Rockets fall, your home for your home teams. This is
Sports Talk seven ninety and iHeartRadio Station Guaranteed Human.
Speaker 1 (01:25:53):
This is the Morning Drive with Dad and Cole.
Speaker 3 (01:26:01):
You got college football playoff last night, Miami moving on
to the National Championship game in their own stadium taking
on either the winner of Indiana or Oregon tonight, and
then also to the Rockets going to be in Portland
taking on the Blazers second game. Right there, they lost
a close one just a couple of nights ago, so
(01:26:23):
you'd like to be able to get them back up
there in Portland before you wrap up this three game
road trip with a Sunday in Sacramento against the Kings.
Someone three two, one two five seven ninety is the
number two get in. And I mean I mentioned it
earlier too, you know, speaking of the Rockets, speaking of
the game tonight, I mean, what could you ask for
for a better Friday night?
Speaker 5 (01:26:42):
Where number one?
Speaker 3 (01:26:44):
I will give the College Football Playoff for all of
the complaints, because you ever noticed that we do that
with everything. Nothing's ever good enough, like like we always
have to like find like ways to complain about it,
Like Super Bowl Sunday, for example, people complain about the
game shouldn't be played on a Sunday. Well, I mean
by the logic that a lot of people throw out
there about you know, the college Football Playoff, Well, the
(01:27:05):
game should be played on Saturdays? Well win are most
NFL games played on a Sunday? And then you know,
I'm with you on the if you want to make
the next day at national holiday. But I mean, I
think we can all agree that our industry, it's probably
not a good idea to sit out that Monday after
the final football game of the year, just saying, you know,
football makes this industry go around a pretty good amount.
(01:27:25):
But I mean tonight where you get the college football
playoff game, and it's not only just the college football
playoff game, but it starts at six thirty, and you're
just like, man, that's amazing, Like, thank you so much
for not doing an eight eight thirty, And then I'm
staying up until midnight one am. I mean a lot
of these are personal problems, but for that, like last
night's game ends at ten thirty, goes a little long.
Speaker 5 (01:27:47):
That's fine, it's all good.
Speaker 3 (01:27:49):
But then you get the Rockets game tonight too, so
a little bit of weather coming into the area. I
can't think of a better night to you know, if
you want to cook a nice little meal at the house,
go ahead and head to the store or get it all,
get whatever you want to, you know, eat and drink
on all of that, and then settle in watch some
good college football and then watch, more importantly, listen to
(01:28:10):
Matt Thomas on the call of the Rockets and Blazers tonight.
So you got that all right, So the Texans Demiko
Ryans meeting with the media yesterday over at NRG Stadium. Again,
yesterday's practice was considered to be their Wednesday because they've
got the Monday night game, so everything bumps up a day.
So it's their first full practice day of the week,
and that's also the first time the wee get to
hear from Demiko Ryans after the last time that he
(01:28:33):
met with the media, which was on that Monday following
at the regular season finale. The offensive line has been
a group that has had a lot of focus on
them this season, and I mean, I think for the
most part we've looked at the bad with them, short
yardage situations, guys shuffling in and outs, you know, trying
to find the right collection of five, all of that.
(01:28:55):
But then also too you look at the improvements that
they've made this year, and Demiko Ryans talking about that
group that he's got up front on the offensive side.
Speaker 17 (01:29:02):
Our offensive line has has done a good job. Like
our group has improved throughout the year. The main thing
when you look at it, we've done a really great
job of protecting our quarterback and that's the that was
the main emphasis coming into this year is can we
upgrade in that area of protecting our quarterback better keeping
him off the ground, And we've done.
Speaker 5 (01:29:21):
That and for the most part they have.
Speaker 3 (01:29:24):
I mean, you haven't seen the massive amount of pressure
that we saw last year on CJ.
Speaker 5 (01:29:28):
Stroud.
Speaker 3 (01:29:29):
It's come after him, but it hasn't been so much
of us time that they Texans give up a sack.
Was it against No, he wasn't even against the Chargers?
Was it because that was wiped away third quarter? In
the years in the Cardinals game. Okay, they gave up
one sack in the last four games of the regular season.
So they've they've done their work. They've they've done a
good job. And you've also had a group that's very
banged up. I mean, you know, I mentioned it earlier
(01:29:51):
that Titus Howard did not practice just day with the ankle,
but he's expected to go in this one, same as
you know on the other side of the ball, Kamari
Lassiter with an ankle and a knee. But then yesterday
you get limited participation Trent Brown. You'll you'll love to
see that. And this is a group too at Ingram
has been a nice edition this year. Jake and Andrews,
I know that you're not as sold as Jake Canrews.
Speaker 4 (01:30:14):
Okay, he's an NPC character that just kind of shows
on up in video games.
Speaker 3 (01:30:19):
So I mean it's he's doing a fine enough job.
But if you can find somebody that you can upgrade
with and then you go with it, I'm with you
on that. And then left guard, I think that that's
going to be something that they try to find this
offset because I think that right now, coming out of
this season, no matter how it ends, you're going to
be looking at all, right where can we improve this
(01:30:40):
football team? Left guard is one of them that I
don't think that you would have to break the bank,
you know, free agent wise to be able to go
find somebody that can really help you out.
Speaker 5 (01:30:48):
Are you're saying that Titus Howard goes back to right tackle.
Speaker 3 (01:30:50):
I think that you have Titus Howard at the right tackle,
you have Arianta Eraser at the left. Well, that left tackle,
that's he's a locked in at this point, So I'm
not worried about that. I think the question turns to
what's an easier pathway for you to drastically improve the line?
Is it going out in free agency and bringing in
a guard and then signing Eddingram to another short term
(01:31:11):
deal like maybe a two year contract, and then moving
Titus Hower to write tackle. Or do you go and
do the same thing that you do this pass offseason
where if you bring in to Cam Robinson, it's gonna
be a little expensive, but because of offensive tackles are
always tradable, then on Day two you draft an offensive tackle,
or with the first round pick, a draft offens tackle
he pans out, you can go ahead and move the
(01:31:31):
guy and get as much money off the books. I
understand the Shack Mason example, but at least Nick Cassario
has had a better batting average when it comes to
the free agent side of adding offensive lineman than he
has through the Drafty kind of goes against that. But
that's the thing, though, is interior offensive linemen are going
to be much cheaper than being able to try to
(01:31:54):
go out there and find a tackle. And for the
most part, if you're able to find a tackle on
the quote unquote scrap heat scrap heap, you're probably adding
a guy that's going to be disappointing for you.
Speaker 4 (01:32:04):
Well, I mean, every single offensive lineman that's a backup
to an extent is disappointing. I mean, Josh Jones, you
traded for him and you gave a multiple draft compensation.
He was a very underwhelming player.
Speaker 3 (01:32:13):
Which was necessity at the time. Is why you say
the thing is is that that's where you look at
a guy like Cam Robinson.
Speaker 4 (01:32:18):
Cam Robinson was a liability playing anywhere outside of left tackle.
And the problem is Ariontae Ersrie earned the right to
be a left tackle. So what happened Another team saw
the value of bringing in an offensive lineman with experience,
will give you a sixth round pick or a seventh
round pick, and then we'll take away eight million dollars
or the contract. And yeah, is it buyer's remorse to
(01:32:38):
a certain extent, because if it was a fourteen million
dollar deal, Yeah, But at the same time, you get
off the contract and you're able to get something in
return for it, because if you know that, he's just
not riding the betch All right, So let's flip over
to the defensive side, because we've talked about this Steelers
offense and how they set up against this Texans team, which,
by the way, the Texans open this week at a three.
Speaker 5 (01:32:59):
And a half point favorite.
Speaker 3 (01:33:00):
Right now, it's down to three, so you're starting to
get a little bit of money on at Pittsburgh. You know,
I don't know if that's a little bit of a
bump of it's a road game, it's gonna be cold,
it's all of that. Texans win this one close. Again,
I don't see it going that way. But here's Demika
Ryans talking about trying to stop a part of the
Steelers offense that maybe a lot of people aren't focusing on.
Speaker 5 (01:33:22):
But it's the run game.
Speaker 17 (01:33:24):
And when you first pop on the film watching the Steelers,
a thing that jumps out the most, you know, is
their running back position. They have two guys you know,
Warren you know, you know who's I mean, you watch
him running football. It's really impressive to see a young
guy run the ball the way he runs the ball.
He's he's a small guy, but he's tough, he's physical,
(01:33:46):
runs it really well and game well. Another receiver that
step saying, and he's done a really great job as
well running the football. But the thing where they make
a lot of plays is you know, both backs, whichever
guy's in, you know what they do with the ball
in their hand once the ball is out Aaron has
done a great job of not making bad plays. He
gets the ball to his checkdown very quickly.
Speaker 3 (01:34:08):
And I mean, and that's something that we've talked about
all week with this Steelers offense, is that it is
based around Jalen Warren and around Kenneth Gainwell. And I
know that a lot of people are going to focus
on Aaron Rodgers what he's able to do, but in
this stage of his career, he is reliant on those
guys like nobody's business.
Speaker 9 (01:34:28):
You know.
Speaker 3 (01:34:28):
It almost kind of reminds me of to a certain point, Cole.
It reminds me at the end of Drew Brees's career
and how much he relied on Alvin Kamara and mark
Ingram in New Orleans.
Speaker 5 (01:34:38):
You mean, because of the fact that it was just
a lot of shuckdowns. Is exactly what it is.
Speaker 3 (01:34:41):
Can you tell me the last time Aaron Rodgers threw
an interception No. November ninth. So just like the Texans
giving up sacks, it's been a while since Aaron Rodgers
has coughed up the football.
Speaker 4 (01:34:53):
That don't get me wrong, he doesn't have a three
hundred yard passing game. The most that he's seen is
that game against Baltimore on Sunday where it was two
ninety four. His and play a percentage just hovered anywhere
around fifty one to sixty percent.
Speaker 3 (01:35:03):
So it's not like he's doing a lot.
Speaker 4 (01:35:05):
It's a lot of dink and dunks, and it's a
lot of hey can he gain well, Calvin Austin dk
metcalf wide receives Scotty Miller there, random dude from Tampa
because of you Outam Thielen, old.
Speaker 3 (01:35:16):
Guy, let's just go bring the retirement to Rah. It's
a lot of that.
Speaker 5 (01:35:20):
But the thing is is that enough of that can
get you conversate.
Speaker 4 (01:35:23):
It can get you in a position to where you're
constantly moving the football and you're putting yourself in a
better spot to at least win the time, possession and
walk away positive points. And that's an area to where
if the Texans are complacent, they may only give a
one deep shot on the day, but that deep shot
allows you to hit reset go dink and dunk, set
up a Chris Boswell field goal. And if your offense
(01:35:44):
can't counteract that, three nothing is still three nothing.
Speaker 3 (01:35:47):
Well, and that's why I think you also see you
know the Texans whenever they win the toss saying we're
going offense first. And you know, it's been something that's
worked out well for them because we've seen it. Where
you give this defense a lead, it's very, very very
tough on the other team because then they're not playing,
you know, pressed, they're they're not trying to force the issue,
(01:36:08):
and that's where the penalties start to come in. It's
much more of a free, you know, flowing way of playing.
And when that defense is able to do that, than
we see good things out of them.
Speaker 4 (01:36:16):
No, And the other thing is that when you're able
to go ahead and put pressure on a quarterback into
making fundamental mistakes like the Texans have done with Justin Herbert,
like they did at times with Bradley Leonard, what they
did with Trevor Laws in that first game. The ability
to make a quarterback feel so I would say, claustrophobic
inside the pocket that they have to kind of get
out of the situation. It leads to turnovers, it leads
(01:36:36):
to fourth downs, it leads to easy punts and the
ball going right back to Houston to where hopefully the
offense can do enough. I mean, I'm not even asking
for you to go ahead and put you know, light
the fuse on fire and then destroy all of aschascher Sadium.
Speaker 3 (01:36:50):
Like I'm not asking that.
Speaker 4 (01:36:51):
I'm just saying, do enough to get the Kayami fairbear
and field goal arrange at least walk away with the
positive net game.
Speaker 5 (01:36:57):
This was massive news that came out.
Speaker 3 (01:37:00):
You stay with the Texans and it is going to
be the reason Capital thch reason why they went on
Monday night against the Steelers.
Speaker 4 (01:37:08):
Before we go any further, I just gotta say I
need some coffee, Like I really need some call. Like
I come in every single morning and I'll like go
into the other place because if it's a giant corporate situation,
and I know in the city of Houston there's great
coffee places around here. We are a morning show. I
need to get my daily dose of caffeine. You want
me to be excited, you want me to be loud
and obnoxious and do what I always do.
Speaker 3 (01:37:28):
Then guess what I need to.
Speaker 4 (01:37:29):
Be able to have some coffee or I just need
to be able to have some energy, whatever it is.
If you are a local person here in Houston and
you want to promote your product right here with Sports
Talk seven, ninety.
Speaker 5 (01:37:40):
I'd love to sponsor you. I'd love to be your spokesperson.
Speaker 4 (01:37:42):
I would love to be able to be to talk
about where you are giving me the most vitalization, the
most energizing situations and set my day off on the
right note because if on.
Speaker 5 (01:37:51):
The morning drive, I want to be able to give
you what you need.
Speaker 4 (01:37:55):
And the best way to reach out to me if
you want to have a spokesperson is simply email me
Thompson at iHeartMedia dot com. If you email me, we
can have a conversation. Let's get some good coffee in
the mornings from Dan and I. Let's go ahead and
start off your morning ride and let me help you
make the city of Houston know where your location is
because I'll tell you what.
Speaker 5 (01:38:14):
If I can find great coffee, I'll make sure.
Speaker 4 (01:38:16):
That any single person that listens on sports SUX seven
ninety finds you as well. So make sure you email
me Cole Thompson at iHeartMedia dot com.
Speaker 8 (01:38:23):
Good Morning Drive with Dannen Cole on Sports Talk seven ninety,
home of the Strolls, Rockets and Houston's best sports Talk.
Speaker 3 (01:38:33):
You said Sheldon Rankins, I said Jaden Higgins. But the
difference of all in this game is getting Kamari Laster back. Yes,
so Kamara Laster yesterday in the locker room after practice
he had a B and P with his knee and ankle.
But Jonathan and Alexander sharing this quotes from Laster very quick,
(01:38:54):
feeling good.
Speaker 5 (01:38:55):
I'm ready to play.
Speaker 3 (01:38:57):
And Laster of course did not play in the regular
seat and finale due to those injuries, but said, oh
yeah for sure. When asked if it was more of
a precaution if it were necessary for him to play,
Lassner said, oh yeah, for sure that he would have
indeed given it a go against the Indianapolis Colt. Okay,
(01:39:17):
be real.
Speaker 4 (01:39:19):
He was gonna be one of those players alongside Derek
seeing the junior Will Anderson and Danil Hunter that would
have been benched at halftime because of the score that
we saw out in Jacksonville exactly. So it would have
amounted if he played for a quarter or not because
of he was already going to be missing the second half.
He's been dealing with a foot injury and a lower
body injury for six weeks.
Speaker 3 (01:39:39):
He's played through the pain. He's gone and missed multiple
practices to put himself in a position to where at
least he's gonna walk away being cleared for game day.
Speaker 5 (01:39:51):
I don't know why I yet to worry about it.
Speaker 4 (01:39:52):
Like last week was a you're you're not a veteran,
but you're an irreplaceable piece of our team to where
we need you at closest to one for a playoff run,
not a game to where if we go eleven and six,
it's gonna suck that we don't get twelve wins on
the year. It won't be the most wins that we've
had this two twenty twelve, but will live because of
(01:40:13):
you know what, at least we're still gonna be playing
in the playoffs, so you need him out there. It
was okay to sit him for a game.
Speaker 3 (01:40:18):
Well, and then you know Nico Collins didn't play in
that game either, and that was precaution, not even on
the injury report yesterday, so shows you exactly where he
is with things. But of the DNP guys yesterday, Denico Autrey,
Titus Howard, Duar, Jordan Jordan dealing with an ankle he
left the game against the Colts with that, and then
of course Kamari Laster with the issues that you also
(01:40:41):
just laid out. But at least according to Jonathan and
Alexander Titus, Howard is expected to be able to be
a go.
Speaker 5 (01:40:49):
On Monday Night against the Steelers. So that's another bit
of use.
Speaker 3 (01:40:55):
I mean, with him not practicing yesterday, yeah, I would
say that that could be a question for sure.
Speaker 5 (01:41:00):
But it's the playoffs. I mean, like, that's it to me.
Speaker 4 (01:41:02):
And again I'm not saying that like it's one of
those things where I'm going back and forth and wondering, Okay,
well this is gonna be the issue.
Speaker 3 (01:41:07):
It's like, it's the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (01:41:10):
You you were out for a half against the Colts,
You're you're starting right tackle missed the game because he's
a veteran that probably needs more rest than you do. Like,
as long as you're not on the ir you're playing
in this game. Like that to me is where it
comes down to.
Speaker 3 (01:41:25):
And then now the limited guys yesterday, Trent Brown, Jamal Hill,
Sheldon Rankins, as you mentioned earlier, Jalen Reid with the
forearm sounding like he's going to try to give it
a go as to get go right. That's the first right,
So I mean that's you know, go through practice, see
how it goes with that, and then Derek Stanley Junior,
who's been dealing with that oblique for much of the season.
Speaker 5 (01:41:45):
But I mean for Laster as a whole.
Speaker 3 (01:41:47):
I mean, you know, again, it's the point of repetition
that I've said this week about Aaron Rodgers in this
Steelers offense, not a ton of downfield throws, but but
the matt but that we've seen the last few weeks
with a banged up Kamari last year, is teams willing
to take those shots downfield because they know that he's
(01:42:08):
less than one hundred percent massive.
Speaker 5 (01:42:10):
But where is that. It's not with two t's, it's
with one.
Speaker 3 (01:42:13):
Oh, okay, just want to make sure. No, I will
like port your guy go ahead to know which one
you prefer, but please go ahead phrasing it's it's a
family show. Damn Matthews. It's not really sure what you're
talking about. Please, we have other things going on.
Speaker 16 (01:42:26):
No.
Speaker 4 (01:42:26):
I mean again, you take the shot against Kamara last
because you know he's not at a one hundred percent,
But at the same time, you're playing devil's advocate here
because of Kamara Laster. I think that we noticed after
watching Alec Pierce Torch, both Tremon Smith and even Derek
Singlely Junior. To a certain extent, he has become such
a valuable asset to not only the Texans defense, but
(01:42:46):
just in general as a standout cornerback. Like you throw
him on probably eight or nine teams guaranteed modified number
one corner Like, no question about that. You throw him
on about ten or fifteen more teams. He's fighting for
CB one reps. There's like three or four teams to
where guaranteed he a CB two in the league.
Speaker 3 (01:43:03):
Well, I mean, and that's something that Matt Burke had
even thrown out. I mean, he had said it a
few weeks ago. He goes, you don't have Derek Stanley here.
We're talking more about this guy. We I mean, like,
let's be.
Speaker 4 (01:43:12):
Real, I've been screaming his name from the mountaintops for
months now because of just how well he fits in
this brand of defense and how well he's been able
to win against quality wide receivers. He's not always going
up against the number two, and that's been like, do
you know how everyone to talk about traveling like, oh, well,
you gotta send Derek Singley Junior on Tyree Kill or
Devonte Adams or Pooka Nakou or whoever it is, and
(01:43:32):
it's like, yeah, you do ninety percent of the time,
but after you got to about the midway point of
the season, you felt good that it doesn't to be
every single rep. But you're wanting to give Kamari Loster
a few looks here and there against the wide receiver one.
Speaker 5 (01:43:45):
I think that also to what works against him is
how he came into the league.
Speaker 3 (01:43:48):
He came into the league with less than impressive workout
numbers leading up to the draft, falls to Day two,
and then he gets into day two. I mean I
remember doing the draft show at the time. It was
Wex and Stan doing it, and Wex was arrested and
was like, you know, where were the interceptions? Where were
all of the takeaways for you to believe that this
guy is going to be a standout corner in this league?
Speaker 5 (01:44:08):
And well, I mean, he showed you that he can
do that too.
Speaker 3 (01:44:12):
A lot of it is what you're asked to do
in a defense, and at Georgia you're not asked to
be a standout guy. You're asked to do your job
and do whatever that entails, and sometimes the numbers will suffer,
suffer because of it.
Speaker 4 (01:44:24):
So somebody said that because of he didn't have a
lot of takeaways, that he was an underwhelming player.
Speaker 5 (01:44:30):
I mean, just for where he was taken in the draft.
Speaker 4 (01:44:32):
Anybody want to see what his passer rating efficiency was
against quarterbacks in college football, I'll spare you the trouble.
It was number one in college football in twenty twenty three.
He was the best cornerback in man coverage against quarterbacks
in a league at the time that was viewed as
the best in college football. Because if he didn't have
any takeaways, that was your argument.
Speaker 3 (01:44:51):
My god, lazy take on that one. I'm sorry it is.
It's a complete and total as nine take when you
go to that oh no takeaways, the four six one forty,
how about I watch the dude beat the breaks up
of wide receivers at the line of scrimmage and don't
allow a quarterback to make plays downfield.
Speaker 4 (01:45:10):
I'd rather that than to take away. And it's also
the eighteen passwack imp session.
Speaker 5 (01:45:13):
And you've seen the ball skills too.
Speaker 3 (01:45:15):
I mean you've seen when he's had the high point
the football be able to try to take it away
from his receiver. He's able to do that. I mean
last year in the playoffs, he showed you that against
Justin Herbert. So no, I mean, he's somebody that you know,
Texan fans know. I mean, you know, I talk about
it all the time of you know more about your
football team than people who watch your team from a
thousand foot view, so we know.
Speaker 5 (01:45:36):
But I mean I think you also too.
Speaker 3 (01:45:38):
You have a lot of people around the country who
don't necessarily know abou Kamari Laster yet, and getting him
back on the field is going to be a massive
addition for the Texans.
Speaker 5 (01:45:47):
So glad to have him, no question about it.
Speaker 3 (01:45:50):
So all right, let's get the Steelers side of Monday night,
and we're gonna do that with a guy that knows
it from calling it on the radio but also to
playing it and winning super That is Max Stark's former
Steelers offensive lineman. He is going to hop on with
us right here. It is the Morning Drive with Dan
and Cole on a Friday, Sports Talk seven ninety.
Speaker 8 (01:46:10):
Reeal takes Real Reaction, Real Houston Sports Talk seven ninety
guarantee Human.
Speaker 3 (01:46:19):
Rockets are going to be in Portland taking on the Blazers,
trying to be able to split those two games up
there in Portland, so we'll see if they are able
to do that. Seven one three two one two five
seven ninety is the number is waiting to be able
to catch up with Max Starks. Of course, former Steelers
offensive lineman now part of the Steelers radio network.
Speaker 5 (01:46:42):
I think Bill Hargrove still does the games for them
up there.
Speaker 3 (01:46:45):
But of course somebody that knows this organization inside and out,
so curious to be able to pick his brain on
the Steelers. So we'll also get into a little bit
of the Astros too, as the Stros, you know, coming
to deals yesterday with a handful of guys, but also
unable to come to deals with a couple of guys.
Speaker 5 (01:47:07):
So probably in the nine o'clock hour we will do that.
Speaker 3 (01:47:09):
But I mean we've talked a lot of Texans this morning,
where we spent a good amount of the last segment
on Kamari Lassiter also to you know, just being able
to get some of the other injured guys involved, and
I mean, you know, these are things that the Texans,
at least for the most part, you know, I was
thinking about this yesterday, Cole. For the most part, a
(01:47:31):
pretty fortunate team this year when it comes to injuries.
Hopefully that is not the mushing of the Texans at
this point, because you are pretty close to one hundred
percent and not a lot of teams can say that
at the moment. So we'll see if they are able
to use that to their advantage. No, I mean, it'd be.
Speaker 4 (01:47:47):
Really interesting to see if a team like Pittsburgh that
has been dealing with injuries, that has been dealing with
lackluster overall offensive execution, just just things like that that
maybe come up.
Speaker 3 (01:47:56):
And end up hurting them in this playoffs. Well, let's
find out more about As a former Steelers offensive lineman
now part of their radio network, Max Starks pops on
with us for a few minutes. Max, appreciate your time
this morning. You got myself, Dan Matthews, you got Cole Thompson.
You know, let's just start, you know, just with this
Steelers team. I mean, you know, I asked this yesterday
to Andrew phil a pony, one of your guys out there.
(01:48:19):
How's this fan base looking at this team? Like are
they looking at it as hey, we got a real
shot on Monday night? Or is it kind of like
what's next?
Speaker 6 (01:48:30):
You know?
Speaker 9 (01:48:30):
Good morning, guys, and yeah, I would. I would definitely
say the fan base is looking forward to thinking that
this is a game that they could possibly win. When
you kind of look at the season and how things
have transpired at different points, you know, unlike in years
pass right, you know, last year with Russell Wilson as
our quarterback, and even two years ago when Mason Rudolph
(01:48:53):
was leading the charge, I think, you know, there was
a sense of Okay, what's next, like what's coming year?
But with Aaron Rodgers it gives a completely different complexion
to what they can do. And then defensively, you have
a really solid squad detensively that's been playing some of
(01:49:13):
his best football at Spurts. It has not been full
complete four quarter defensive effort, but they've been able to
manage and put out some quality three quarters of games,
and they're thinking that there's still an opportunity for his
defense to get even better. So there's a lot of
hope in the city of Pittsburgh. Max.
Speaker 4 (01:49:34):
Let me ask you last season when you went to
the playoffs, you were on a four game losing streak,
and then this time around you win four of the
last five games. It's larger to the Aaron Rodgers and
the offense just getting the job done. But when you
go into a playoff run and you're facing off against
a team like Baltimore, it maybe feels like it is
a bit of a souring feel. But knowing that you
(01:49:55):
did end the year on much of a high note,
does that kind of change the narrative about what a
team feels like going into a postseason?
Speaker 6 (01:50:04):
Oh?
Speaker 9 (01:50:04):
Absolutely absolutely.
Speaker 7 (01:50:06):
I mean, you know, even from my.
Speaker 9 (01:50:08):
Days and then my experience as a player, you know,
how you play in December largely will give you an
insight into how a team's going to perform in January.
And if you're ending on a high note or you're
trending in the right direction, you know, you have a
lot of that momentum that goes in your favor as
(01:50:31):
you get ready for a playoff push. And I fortunately
have done it from two different perspectives. I've done it
from the wildcard spot when we were a six seed
back in two thousand and five, and then also a
number two seed in two thousand and eight, and then
we've been a one seed in eleven. And how you
play in December, how you manage those games, how this
(01:50:53):
team kind of rides that wave instead of limping into
the playoffs really makes a big difference and how you're
going to perform, you know, because I think of you know,
two thousand and two thousand and and uh and seventh season,
the year after or two years after, I should say,
(01:51:14):
we went you know, we lived into that playoff, had
a lot of injuries going into that. I think about,
you know that that that two ten season as well,
the whole Tim Tebow game in Denver, you know, and
and how we kind of just limped a lot of injuries,
not a lot of momentum in our favor, just kind
of made it. And you know, your team feeds off
(01:51:37):
of that type of energy as they get ready for
a playoff.
Speaker 3 (01:51:40):
Bush Again, former Steelers offensive lineman, two times Super Bowl champion,
now part of the Steelers radio network, Max Starks, hopping
on with us and Max, I mean one of those
super Bowl runs, you were you were part of it.
So with Mike Tomlin and I know that there's been
a lot of questions about his future up there. But
if anybody ever comes to you and says, hey, Mac,
it's time to move off from this guy, you played
(01:52:01):
for him.
Speaker 5 (01:52:02):
You know what makes him who he is. What do
you say to them?
Speaker 9 (01:52:08):
I'm saying, you know, for a lot of those you know,
bandwagon fans or you know, negative people, Let's just say
if Mike Tomlin went on the streets tomorrow, just like
John Harbo and Adam Schefter report, there would be nine
teams college immediately saying hey, uh, would you like to
come coach our team? I mean he is, he's a
(01:52:31):
leader of men. I think that's something that's rare for
head coaches. But I think Demiko is a similar guy.
I played against Demiko. You know, I know a lot
of his former teammates. I mean, heck, my cousin played
for the Texans, so what two of my cousins actually
played for the Texas, So you know, I know what
(01:52:52):
that personality is. I know what you know, those type
of people bring to the table. What they bring. It's
not just x's and o's, right, It's not just oh,
this guy is an offensive guru and he can draw
up plays, right. But when you're a leader of men,
you know how to communicate with people to get them
to rise up above their capabilities or take their abilities
(01:53:15):
to another level. That's a rare thing, and that's why
you keep those coaches for a long time, and that's
why you have successful stability within an organization with the
head coach and the coaching staff and your general manager
front office group. So you know, that's one of the
rare intrinsic skills. And to do that for two decades,
(01:53:36):
and also, by the way, never have a tanking season
or a losing season on your resume as well for
two decades. That that's a rare thing that people, you know,
you hate to say. People get tired of winning, people
get tired of being above average, But being above average
that long and never having to put the paper bag
over your head's a pretty special thing.
Speaker 5 (01:53:56):
I mean, Max, I tell people all the time.
Speaker 4 (01:53:57):
Remember when Andy Reid got let go by Philadelphi and
they literally fired a coach to go bring him on
into Kansas. It's the same thing with Tomlin, Like there's
an organization out there that will literally think of, hey,
we're gonna move off of this guy because if Tomlin
may even consider us, and we're willing to take the risk.
But I do want to get your thoughts on dk
metcast return. He missed the last two games because of
(01:54:18):
the suspension from a locker's perspective, and from a player's mindset,
knowing that this is an opportunity for you to kind
of win back the fan base because of what your
impact would be on the game. Is Is there a
lot of pressure running on him for having that breakout
performance against Houston Secondary?
Speaker 9 (01:54:38):
Uh? You know what, No, I think, because I think
there's two separate things that you mentioned there, locker room
versus fan base.
Speaker 1 (01:54:46):
Fan base has a.
Speaker 9 (01:54:47):
Different perspective than the guys who are between the four
walls with him, right, the guy that you have to change,
that you changed next to, and you go out on
the field and you you sweat with and you you
get frustrated and you have the emotions of a season with.
And so his teammates have always been in this quarter
and they're just happy to have him back because I
(01:55:09):
think they probably feel like, man, if we had him,
we probably would have beat Cleveland, you know, and you know,
to have him on our side going into this playoff push,
it's like getting a player back at a critical moment.
And so to have him back, he's welcome with open arms.
Speaker 6 (01:55:24):
And I think for the fan base.
Speaker 9 (01:55:27):
The most part, I think they thought that the two
games being upheld was a bit excessive. They thought that, hey,
one game probably made sense of hey, this is the
era on your part, Okay, slap on the wrist. One
game and let's drop it to you know, let's just
drop it from two to one. But the fact they
(01:55:48):
upheld it, I think a lot of fans are kind
of even more in his corner, like this was excessive,
Like you got targeted by the league for this type
of suspension again.
Speaker 3 (01:55:57):
Max Starks join us here on the Morning Drive with
Dan and Coles Sports Talk seven nineties, a two time
Super Bowl winner also part of the Steelers radio network. Max,
we saw that Steelers defensive front, even with the banked
up Cam Hayward, able to get after Lamar Jackson a
little bit on Sunday night. Do you feel like that's
going to be the game plan against c J. Stroud
(01:56:19):
and trying to be able to make his Monday nights
really tough?
Speaker 6 (01:56:25):
Absolutely.
Speaker 9 (01:56:26):
I think the game plan is you have to get
pressure with your defensive line and you know, and you
should know this goal, right, four man pressure makes your
secondary a lot happier. The more guys you could drop
in the coverage, the more that you can do to
affect his normal stasis and operating movements. By being able
(01:56:46):
to only rush for is a huge advantage for your defense.
And you know, you think about that. You have daneil
Hunter and Will Anderson that are exceptional and of course
you throw out to OGII in company in the middle
and those guys can get after you, and you don't
really need to add Henry Totoe right, you could drop
(01:57:07):
him in the coverage. You can send him with the
tight end, and you can you can applot with your
with your down lineman. That's a huge advantage for your defense.
So I think for the Steelers, we come from that
five man front, even if not rushing all five, if
you can bring four out of those five and have success,
you're in a lot better place and you make your
(01:57:28):
secondary that much better. And you have to be able
to affect CJ. You have to be able to get
him off this point. He's a highly accurate quarterback. I mean,
he he could put he can drop the ball in
the well, you know, from eighty yards out like That's
just how good he is. So you have to get
him off this point and get him moving.
Speaker 3 (01:57:45):
Max I gets you out of here on this Kenny
gainwell what needs to happen to slow him down, because
if you have him in space, it feels like it's
game over on a lot of first downs, and that
keeps going to him.
Speaker 9 (01:57:56):
On favorite Pittsburgh, He's our team MVP for a reason.
Coal He is a dynamic guy. Whether you hand him
the ball or whether you throw him the football, he
knows how to make things happen. This is also a
guy coming off of a super Bowl year the previous
year with Philly, so he knows what it looks like.
(01:58:16):
He knows what it takes received the game ball because
of his performances in the playoffs. So he's a guy
that just has experience, and like you said, to slow
him down, you have to dedicate multiple guys to him.
You have to outflank him when it is his term.
But the problem is you never know when his term
because Aaron distributes the football equally around the field a lot,
(01:58:39):
and so it's tough to get a beat on that.
You know, when you can double team a receiver, you
can dedicate two guys to the running back in the
run game, it makes their life a lot harder. But
the problem is you have multiple fires and you don't
have enough guys you can keep on the field to
be able to cover everybody.
Speaker 3 (01:58:57):
Max Starks again, two times Super Bowl champion, now part
of the Steelers Radio Network, giving us the Steelers side
of Monday Night against the Texans and the Wildcard round.
Speaker 5 (01:59:06):
Hey, Max, have a great call.
Speaker 3 (01:59:08):
We really appreciate your time this morning, and hopefully we'll
be able to catch up again soon with these two
teams link up. Thanks again, Max.
Speaker 6 (01:59:16):
All right, Thanks man, y'all take care all right.
Speaker 3 (01:59:19):
Max Starks again. Keith Browner Junior was one of his
cousins that played for the Texans. He was here from
twenty twelve to twenty fourteen. You know, part of the
Browner family as a whole second to the Matthews family
in regards to NFL players in the family.
Speaker 4 (01:59:36):
I will agree with him on one thing, Kenny Gainwell
now as the number one player that I am targeting
if I'm Houston Texans. The way that I'm telling you
that everyone looks at fifty one and says circle him
in a big, big, big big black bulld leck.
Speaker 3 (01:59:50):
Say thy were kind of gained Well? What he is
able to do? You tell me his stat line?
Speaker 4 (01:59:55):
I'll tell you the Texans winner lose that football game,
and again they're going to win.
Speaker 5 (01:59:59):
But what woul make this?
Speaker 4 (02:00:00):
Let's rephrase it. You give me a stat line, I'll
tell you what the Texans cover or not in this game.
Speaker 3 (02:00:05):
Let's play higher or lower next right here, because it
is the Morning Drive with Dan and Cole as we
continue here on a Friday Sports Talk seven ninety again
thanks to Max Starks for hopping on with us. And
you might be feeling good about the Texans on Monday night,
but it's also to a question.
Speaker 5 (02:00:23):
Of between now and then, are you looking good?
Speaker 3 (02:00:25):
Because well, the weather might be a little shaky for golf,
but still you can get it and it's not gonna
be that bad. So if you're out there, how is
your apparel game looking when you head out onto the
golf course? And if it's shaky, well, then Kobe Stevens
dot com is the place to go. Not only is
it online because you know online, you know how it is.
You gotta sit and wait. What if you want to
(02:00:46):
go get it done yourself by going to the brick
and mortar store that's now at sixty four h two
Lueta Road right there in Spring and you can see
all the great inventory that they have online. It's right
there in one stop shop, and you got great people
up there that are gonna be able to help you
out and make sure that you're walking out the door
looking good and feeling good, because there's nothing better too.
(02:01:07):
Then when you buy some nice new golf apparel or
maybe like a fishing shirt, and you just imagine, how's
that gonna look the next time that I'm out on
the course. How's it gonna look when I'm out there
on Galveston Bay and I'm trying to be able to
hook some good reds. That is something that you can
already start thinking about when you shop with Kobe Stevens
Apparel again.
Speaker 5 (02:01:24):
Sixty four oh two Luetta Road.
Speaker 3 (02:01:26):
That is where the brick and mortar store is, but
it's always online at Kobe Stephens dot com, Kobe Stevens
dot com, Coby Stevens with a VS at the end,
Kobe Stevens dot Com, Kobe Stevens Apparel.
Speaker 7 (02:01:40):
They are on Morning Drive.
Speaker 1 (02:01:43):
Here's Dan Matthews and Cole Thompson.
Speaker 3 (02:01:47):
And also to the Rockets trying to bounce back from
their one point loss a night ago against the Blazers
in Portland and you'll have that game coming your way
right here on Sports Talk seven nine. But you threw
out a scenario Kenneth Gainwell stat line for him. If
he's able to have this, how does the game go?
Speaker 9 (02:02:08):
All right?
Speaker 5 (02:02:08):
So I'll throw it to you right now.
Speaker 3 (02:02:09):
Cole Thompson receiving nine catches, sixty four yards, running five
runs for ten yards. That was the last game that
he had against the Baltimore Ravens. Texas went by ten points.
All right, Texas went by ten points.
Speaker 5 (02:02:27):
Do you can go explain?
Speaker 4 (02:02:29):
You need to go over sixty yards rushing, You need
to go over fifty yards catching. He needs to finish
with at least one hundred and twenty total yards of
offense and in the ends one at least once.
Speaker 3 (02:02:39):
I think for this to be a game, I mean
because Warren is their primary guy, but I mean they
rely on both guys, you know pretty you know, you know,
side by side, But it does seem like they Gainwell
is more of the guy that you're going to see
if he's catch, if anybody's catching passes, it's more going
to be Gainwell.
Speaker 4 (02:02:56):
If you throw all of Kenny Gainwell's stats together this year,
he's almost a one thousand yard player with over two
hundred I mean with almost two hundred touches, and he
has nine touchdowns, so he does a lot. Then he's
a big factor in this offense because if he can
do a little bit of everything.
Speaker 3 (02:03:10):
The most he's run for in a game this year
was if unless I'm missing, was ninety nine yards against
the Minnesota Vikings, and that was his most productive game
that he had this season in terms of overall production
because he also had six catches for thirty five yards.
How many yards do you have in the last game
(02:03:30):
all total?
Speaker 5 (02:03:31):
He had seventy four.
Speaker 4 (02:03:35):
Yeah, I think that you're gonna I think you're gonna
need a hundred. I think if you have one hundred,
then you're gonna win this football game.
Speaker 3 (02:03:40):
The Texans you're talking about, if you have over a hundred,
you will make it a command.
Speaker 4 (02:03:44):
Well, for sure, let me phrase that. The Steelers are
not winning this football game. They're gonna lose no matter one.
I'm not worried about that. I think the Houston will
be fine. They'll put themselves in a position to where
they can coast going into the fourth quarter. But if
you have one hundred yards, I think it is a
fourth quarterback and forth battle, very low scoring affair, but
enough to be able to feel confident that the Steelers
make this a game.
Speaker 3 (02:04:04):
So I mean, and that's the thing too, is the
Texans for the most part this year, that's what's made
them successful defensively, is that they've been able to lock
down the run. Early on the season, it was a
little bit of an issue. Karen Williams able to have
a decent enough day for the Rams, they were able
to beat you. Same deal with Bucky Irving and crew
with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and of course, you know
what was the play that did you in Baker Mayfield
(02:04:25):
able to take off and pick up a huge first
down and keep that drive going and eventually they beat
you with a game winning drive. But I mean, ever
since then and once they started winning, that was the
calling card of this defense, stopping the run. Ashton Gent's
performance notwithstanding it, you give up a huge run against
James Cook, but aside from that, he didn't do much
(02:04:45):
against you, and said that numerous times that this is
yet another one of those matchups where you stop that
part of their offense, you win this game. Said that
in the Bills game, you stop James Cook, you're winning
that game, the forty nine ers game. You stop Christian McCaffrey,
you're winning that game. You limit these two guys, you're
winning that football game. And it's going to be pretty easy.
Speaker 4 (02:05:04):
Here's why I say that, if you have one hundred yards,
you have a shot off your Pittsburgh. But Kenny Gainwell,
he has gone over one hundred yards four times this year.
In those games, the Steilers are three and one. They
lost one game to the Chicago Bears, and it came
on a thirty one to twenty eight game winning field
goal in Chicago. Besides that, they would have been four
and oh against the Bears, against the Vikings, against the Bill,
(02:05:25):
against the Lions, and against the Dolphins. He went over
one hundred yards in every single one of those games.
They won three or four. The only one they lost
was to Chicago.
Speaker 3 (02:05:34):
Five games.
Speaker 4 (02:05:35):
My apology Cincinnati too, so four and one. In games
he goes over one hundred yards, they went at an
eighty percent rate. You could say that was their magic number,
would if you so, It's got to be one. One
to ten is the average. If he hits over one
hundred and ten yards, eighty percent of the.
Speaker 3 (02:05:51):
Time you win the football game.
Speaker 4 (02:05:52):
So Kenny Gainwell is going to be that X factor
that I think Houston is circling and making sure he
does into anything. Jalen Petree, Kamari last As hez Alshaier,
Henry Toatoa. I don't care where you are in the field,
you don't let fourteen get past you. That needs to
be the game plan. If he gets if he stays
(02:06:12):
his lane and nothing happens, you're good.
Speaker 3 (02:06:16):
We'll talk about that much more as with the Texans
heading into this game, as we'll catch up with our
Sports Talk seven ninety Texans Insider, also with KPRC two,
Aaron Wilson gonna hop on with us for his weekly
visit that's coming up here to start the nine o'clock
hour on the Morning Drive with Dan and Coles Sports
Talk seven ninety.
Speaker 16 (02:06:34):
Kb E Houston ATVHD two Houston, home of the Astro and.
Speaker 7 (02:06:39):
The Rockets.
Speaker 8 (02:06:42):
Sports Talk seven ninety your home for your home teams,
an iHeartRadio station guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (02:06:48):
You mean, this is the Morning Drive with Dan and Cole.
Speaker 3 (02:07:01):
You got to Indiana and Oregon for the right to
move on and face Miami for the national title. Texans
on the practice field getting ready for that Monday night
in Pittsburgh against the Steelers and the Rockets of course
in Portland to take on the Blazers. Talking about said
Monday night's game, Well, the Texans side of things, we
do it every single Friday with them. He's our Sports
(02:07:21):
Talk seven ninety Texans insider, also a KPRC two. He's
Aaron Wilson. Aaron appreciate the time. As always we've been
talking about. At least the news that came out yesterday.
I know it was a DNP for Kamari Laster, but
at least I know you guys caught up with them.
I guess the thumbs are up. He's going to be
out there on Monday night for the Texans, right, Yeah.
Speaker 6 (02:07:42):
I reported that before practice too. I know that he
was going to play, and he could have played against
the Colts. They were trying to really get him feeling
better for the playoffs. He's been dealing with knee and
ankle injury, and anklinder is probably the more serious of
the two situations with this guy's not very normal.
Speaker 5 (02:08:01):
I mean that in a good way.
Speaker 6 (02:08:03):
I just stask Kirby Smart or Demika Ryans or his
teammates and including Calem Bullock, who said, yeah, there's just
no way the guy doesn't miss games. He broke his
scapula as a rookie that kept him out, and he
had a broken bone in his back. But other than that, Yeah,
(02:08:24):
the guy's going to be out there. And it's just
very tough. Tough as nails is what you would hope
for at any defensive position, but especially for a corner.
He's just unusually tough and hard hitting and you know,
ninety one tackles this year. He loves to be in
the action. Yeah, he's all good. And that was not
like a surprise to me or in anything. So the
(02:08:47):
fact that he let him talk is pretty much all
you need to know. They wouldn't if he wasn't gonna play,
He wouldn't even do interviews. It's not any kind of gamesmanship.
He's gonna be fine. He'll practice at some point, whether
it's today or tomorrow, and then he'll play on Monday
night and match twits with Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 5 (02:09:06):
Aaron, let's just go and talk about Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 3 (02:09:07):
Both Amiico Ryans and CJ.
Speaker 4 (02:09:09):
Straud had a lot of positive things to say about
the forty one year old quarterback CJ called him top
three player at the position all time, I mean, And
the bottom line is that whether or not you say
he's forty one, he's had his way with the Texans
highest passer rating of his careers against Houston.
Speaker 5 (02:09:23):
He was able to beat them with the Jets a
year ago.
Speaker 4 (02:09:26):
When you look at this matchup, is there a reason
to believe that Rogers still has one more left in
him against Houston to make this a pretty big upset
in the eyes of the public.
Speaker 6 (02:09:37):
Well, right, his recent body at work, including what he did,
I know the baltimoren was gonna have the kind of
defense and the Texans to. But he's still chilling ninety
four yards. It's still a clutch game. It's still a
bunch of touchdowns, and he's still completing passes at a
sixty five percent rate, so he's still accurate. It's just
a matter of can they protect him. And that's the
big X factor because no one, including the Ravens, as
(02:10:02):
the kind of passers to the Texans do with l
Anderson Juniors and Neil Hunter and company. And that's a
different kind of heat. And like Aaron or Tom brad
or any these quarterbacks have covered games like that where
he can be rendered ordinary if you hit him enough,
and that's true for any quarterback, how great they are.
But yeah, for Aaron, he still can throw a great football.
(02:10:25):
He beat them last year with the Jets were up
there in the meadowlands, and he's throwing darts to DeVante
Adams and Garrett Wilson. He doesn't have receivers like that.
He's got DK metcalf back and DK's explosive. But I'm big,
but it's not like those guys. I think he's got
a chance to mean, it's just a matter of can
they protect long enough for him to throw some darts
(02:10:46):
because he can and he's also very good at finding
the weakness here defense. So what if he's thrown underneath
at the Jayalen reed, if Jalen's activated, what if he's
going after her at hotel? What if he's trying to
do some things against Jaim. He's had a great year,
but you know it's had some covered lapses in the past.
There's things there and he'll try to find them again.
Speaker 3 (02:11:07):
Aaron Wilson, he's our Sports Talk seven ninety Texans insider
also at KPRC two. He joins us every single Friday
here on the Morning Drive with Dan and Cole Sports
Talks seven to ninety. Cole brought up to this point
earlier Aaron about the Texans keeping CJ.
Speaker 5 (02:11:21):
Stroud clean.
Speaker 3 (02:11:22):
It's been all the way since early November was the
last time that he got sacked. So with all that
being said, I mean, you know, how is this Texans
offensive line even with all the injuries progressed as the
last couple of months have gone, you.
Speaker 6 (02:11:38):
Know, out of leadership from Titus Howard. But you have
a leader at the offensive line coaching position now, a
cool Popovich. And I was talking about Cole, you know,
at this time last year when they were signing an
extension fire E Strouser from Morning Paplovich recently pushing all
the chips in the middle of the table with him
making a run game coordinator. And he's Nick Kayley's bro
(02:11:59):
for New England. And they speak the same language because
they both, you know, were working with Dante Skernakia and
Belichick and these guys are you know tight and Papovich
you you learned West Virginia were watching with the Greenbrier
and I could hear a lot of the coaching just
from standing nearby. And these guys really respond to him.
(02:12:21):
Everybody brings them up, whether it's CJ, whether it's all
the offensive linemen. Uh, there's a big buy in factor now.
They like this guy. Kind have a tough love situation
with him because you know he's gonna get on them,
he's the coach ma Mark, but he's also going to
you know, encourage them be positive. He's a former offensive
lineman at Friendsville State. He's very highly thought of. And
(02:12:42):
I think, you know, for them to with no Pro
Bowl guys put out these good performances. Yeah, they deserve
the criticism they're getting early in the year, but they
got it together and this is a good alignment for them.
Speaker 9 (02:12:55):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (02:12:55):
You know, it'd be even better if Trent Brown could play.
Trent still working his way back to the knee, and
but I think that, you know, Titus deserves a lot
of the credit for the flexibility he's shown the knees
and the MVP of a much improved golf it Selon Aaron.
Speaker 4 (02:13:09):
It's not a big, big, big season for him, but
he did step on strong towards towards the end of
the year. Jadan Higgins, people talking about him as a
prominent figure moving forward for the Texans. Just what is
his impact in this game, especially when you know there's
gonna be double teams against Thinco Collins forcedis try to
find him open downfield.
Speaker 6 (02:13:26):
He can be really important. It's a good point because
you look at Jaden size, improved route running skills, pretty
good hands, and he's got a lot of you know,
you can kind of see why they draft him in
the second round. I know that numbers aren't gigantic, but
you know, six touchdowns is nothing. This seems at as
a rookies time for the second most with Own Daniels
(02:13:46):
in franchise history. I look at Jayden and I could
see him getting the mismatches.
Speaker 9 (02:13:53):
He's six'.
Speaker 6 (02:13:53):
Four there are very few corners that can match up with.
That and it's not Just, niko it's you, know you've
Got higgins and you've Got. Schultz salt's got easy, catches
so he's got a few. Weapons AND i think that
the touchdowns kind of emblematic of the improved timing in
chemistry against The colts on the, rollout and you know
(02:14:15):
he's making no good plays in. Traffic he's an improving young.
Player he's very young and his best footballs ahead of.
Him he's played good football right, now AND i think
he can be a backer in the.
Speaker 3 (02:14:25):
Playoffs absolutely spending a couple more minutes, Again Aaron, wilson
Our Sports talk seven to Ninety texans INSIDER kprc. Two
he joins us every Single friday here on the show
During texans season.
Speaker 1 (02:14:37):
With the run.
Speaker 3 (02:14:38):
Game you Know Juwar jordan missing practice, yesterday but we
did see a little bit more Of British. BROOKS i,
mean if he can't, go you feel like The texans
would feel comfortable running with a backfield that has obviously
woody marks first don't know About Nick, chubb but Also
Darry goombwalle And.
Speaker 18 (02:14:55):
Brooks, right they'll have to be And George orton is
the complimentary player and he's got a high ankle, spring
so per, sources he is not going to be.
Speaker 6 (02:15:07):
Available to, Them so it will have to be those other.
Guys british open some eyes for them with the sixty
three yards he ran. HARD i think primarily, though It's
jawar and it's you, know Having Nick, chubb and you
know they Rested chubb last, week not. Injured they're just
gonna roll him out there SOME i just don't think
(02:15:28):
it's gonna be as many. Touches they're gonna ride the
hothand and that's obviously you Know woody marks AND i
Think woody still play him a. Lot and there's no
saving guys right. Now you got to win each game
and advance or whatever it. TAKES i think it would
help them if they could Get woody involved more in
the passing, game because he's very good at. That but
(02:15:50):
they just haven't done as much AS i thought they
would withdrawing to. Him when they have done, it they've
had great, success you. Know but, Overall, yeah in the,
backfield you're just generally you're not getting to some of
these third and fourth, options except in mop up time
And brooks when they wanted to Rest, woody he stepped
up and he had nothing about. Him surprised. Me he's a,
(02:16:12):
tough tough. Guy, yeah they're gonna have to look at
other options, because, Yeah jar he's not available because he is.
Hurt he is an illegal hip drop. Tackle they didn't call,
it BUT i would imagine there'll be a fine coming
over the. Weekend, Hey, aaron let me.
Speaker 4 (02:16:26):
Just ask you and throw this out. Here Your texas
sitting at twelve and, five they're in the. Playoffs that's
best records in twenty. Twelve people can plain and want
to gripe on the offensive play calling And Nick cayley
being an OVERRATED oc and a former friend Of dimico
just got fired from a shob out Of, Miami and
now there is people coming and, saying, well why don't
(02:16:46):
we just go ahead and see what happened at the
end of the, season because he can't rule out anything
because if you, know, hey that relationship with that pencil
pusher who was maybe vaping on the, sidelines is they're
gonna be a really good fit for the. Team can
you just put can you just end the narrative That
Nick kayley's give me the play caller next season might
Be daniel's not going to be runing the show at
A nergie.
Speaker 6 (02:17:03):
STADIUM i don't see it. HAPPENING i think he's gonna
have You detroit will living options For mike If michael
wants to get back, in AND i think he. WILL
i think that's Probably taylor made for. HIM i don't
really see this as the best o se position for,
him AND i also don't see them Firing Nick. Kayley, so,
YEAH i think it's a bit of a non starter,
(02:17:24):
really The mike McDaniel. Talk it's a great conversation, piece
but it's just not based on a lot of. Reality
unfortunately for people that Want mike. McDaniel i don't think it's.
Speaker 3 (02:17:36):
Happening there you go straight From Aaron, wilson a man
who is all over The texans and for good reason
here At Sports talk seven ninety because these Are texans,
insider and he joins us every Single friday here on the. Show, Aaron,
hey always appreciate your, time, man and safe travels up To,
pittsburgh and hopefully we're talking with you again Next.
Speaker 6 (02:17:56):
Friday appreciate you. Guys, YEAH i think it could. HAPPEN
i think The texans particular. Business we'll see what.
Speaker 3 (02:18:03):
Happens there you go, Again Aaron wilson joining us here
on The Morning. Drive so you, know we've even laid
out this scenario, too where we could possibly be talking
about A texans divisional round game here In. Houston hopefully
that is the, case but you would also need all
three wildcard teams to be able to win this. Weekend i'm,
Sorry i'm tired of having a conversation. Starter, oh it's
(02:18:24):
a conversation starter that you.
Speaker 6 (02:18:26):
Know now we got the.
Speaker 4 (02:18:26):
Gun you're not Firing Nick, Kyley, like can we not
do this again like we did with The Chip kelly
bs for about six. Weeks it's not happening except for
your off its coordinator is and figure out a way
how to make it.
Speaker 3 (02:18:39):
Work it's a terrible.
Speaker 4 (02:18:40):
Relationship go to counseling with Your texans fandom and be
able to have a good dialogue because guess, what you
two won't break it up anytime.
Speaker 3 (02:18:48):
Soon it's all kind of like advice a buddy of
mine gave me WHEN i was really upset with somebody
AND i was, like we need to sit him down and.
Talk he was, like, dude he's at this age. Already
it's either you accept him for who he is or
you move. On he's not going anywhere you went twelve and.
Five you're not firing him unless he has the single worst.
Game AND i Thought aaron brought up a really interesting.
(02:19:09):
Point we can maybe talk about it on the other,
side but, like not the best fit For.
Speaker 4 (02:19:14):
Houston isn't that All i'm hearing From Texans twitter right?
Now it's just like how he's such a perfect.
Speaker 3 (02:19:19):
Fit how actually you know what's seven one three two
one two five seven Ninety if you are in the
camp Of Nick kayley fired Bringing mike, McDaniel why is
he a perfect pit? Fit excluding the fact that.
Speaker 4 (02:19:32):
He has previously worked with to mak A Ryan's i'm
throwing that caveat in, there you come up with the,
Reason i'd love to hear.
Speaker 5 (02:19:37):
IT i would love to hear it on The Morning
drive right here With Dan cole On sports like seven.
Speaker 3 (02:19:40):
Nine and you heard him and one guy who already
wants to get in J w will catch up with you.
Next you want to join him again seven one three
two one two five seven ninety against seven one three
two one two five seven. Ninety if we have time
in the next, segment do you want to throw this out?
Too that an idea THAT i, Love it's just the
execution of it That i'm not a big fan. Of
we'll talk about all of those things right here as
(02:20:02):
we continue in the nine o'clock hour on A, friday
it is The Morning drive With dan And Cole Sports
talk seven.
Speaker 8 (02:20:07):
Ninety back to The Morning. Drive Here's Dan matthews And
Cole Thompson.
Speaker 5 (02:20:17):
Okay for. Stories we don't even know how many teams
are going to be in the playoff next. Year that is,
True that is.
Speaker 3 (02:20:21):
True right, now you think it's going to be fourteen or.
SIXTEEN i think they go to. SIXTEEN i think they got.
SIXTEEN i think what you want to, WHY i think
they go to. Sixteen and here's what you can also,
do is you can with, sixteen have that be the
conference championship game weekend the teams that didn't make.
Speaker 5 (02:20:38):
It, THAT i, mean it's it's almost kind of a
play in.
Speaker 4 (02:20:43):
Now see here's WHAT i think that the reason they're
going to do sixteen because of now they're going to
have one versus, sixteen so everyone doesn't have to have
that first round by because of what are we looking
at right?
Speaker 3 (02:20:51):
Now data shows that teams that play in the first
round are one and. Seven, yeah SO i mean it means.
Something it is a big.
Speaker 5 (02:21:00):
Deal it has worked.
Speaker 3 (02:21:02):
Out and then of course The, texans which has been
the line's share of the conversation here someone three, two, one, two,
five seven. Ninety they're on the practice field getting ready
for The Steelers monday nights in the wildcard. Round see
if they get another week to play this season. Again
someone three, two, one two five seven ninety is the
way to get.
Speaker 5 (02:21:21):
In let's keep it. Going on the phone LAUNCH jw
wants to. Wag good MORNING. Jw good.
Speaker 9 (02:21:27):
Morning.
Speaker 12 (02:21:28):
Hey first of, All, DAN i want to congratulate you
on getting getting.
Speaker 7 (02:21:34):
Promoted it's about.
Speaker 5 (02:21:35):
Time, OH i appreciate, it, Man thanks so.
Speaker 12 (02:21:38):
Much uh don't get to call in very much Because
i'm usually on the road quite a. Bit But i've
been hearing a lot of scuttle mode about all the
nonsense that The pittsburgh theaters are going to do, This
we're going to do. That, well you know, What i'm
just going to get proven on the football field Come.
Monday AND i got a really good feeling That houston's
(02:21:59):
going to come out on top of all.
Speaker 3 (02:22:00):
Of, this.
Speaker 5 (02:22:02):
Fired up for your.
Speaker 3 (02:22:03):
Guys and you, KNOW i, mean it's the same thing
That i've said to you KNOW. Jw THAT i, Mean
i've even thrown out THAT i think The texans can
win this game by three. Scores this is gonna win
by ten points at.
Speaker 7 (02:22:13):
Least, well let me let me say one other.
Speaker 12 (02:22:16):
Thing, sure you know, what you guys are too young
to remember all of, this BUT i remember fervidly about
what happened With renfro in the end zone In.
Speaker 9 (02:22:25):
Houston won that.
Speaker 12 (02:22:26):
Game so There's i'm sure a whole lot of people
remember it.
Speaker 3 (02:22:31):
Too, YEAH i Know larry And stafford. Does he brought
it up earlier this. Week but, yeah it's funny you
mentioned that because The chronicle even did.
Speaker 5 (02:22:40):
Something HEY.
Speaker 3 (02:22:40):
Jw appreciate the kind. Words appreciate the, call uh be
safe on the roadways. Too but the you, know the
Whole steelers thing of it is like our parents', Generation
like that's the one LIKE i remember my dad telling me, About,
yeah you, know should have caught, it you, know Bum
phillips in the in the astrodi when they came back next,
year we kicked that some bitch, In AND i, mean
(02:23:02):
unfortunately The oilers never kicked the door.
Speaker 5 (02:23:04):
In but at, least you, know for.
Speaker 3 (02:23:06):
A lot of, people The steelers still elicit those emotions
we talked about.
Speaker 5 (02:23:10):
A couple of days.
Speaker 6 (02:23:10):
Ago.
Speaker 4 (02:23:11):
Cool they elicit those emotions for a franchise that told
you this city wasn't good enough to be, home and
so they moved on over To. Nashville Initially memphis and Then,
nashville and then when a team finally had an opportunity
to come back.
Speaker 5 (02:23:25):
Here they looked you up and down and smiled and go.
Speaker 3 (02:23:30):
Piss. Off we're not.
Speaker 5 (02:23:31):
Giving you the oiler's. Logo in, fact you know what
we're gonna.
Speaker 4 (02:23:33):
Do we're gonna bring it back out when we feel
the necessary, too whenever we play.
Speaker 9 (02:23:38):
You and, then so.
Speaker 5 (02:23:40):
Why are we bringing up anything to do with that?
FRANCHISE i get.
Speaker 4 (02:23:43):
IT i understand this city is still hurting because of
it's a new organization that's only been around for twenty.
Years but still it's like a bad ex. Girlfriend stop
pining over, Her stop trying to go ahead and make it.
Work stop trying to go ahead and see if she's.
Speaker 3 (02:23:58):
Gonna call you. Back you have the tech right.
Speaker 4 (02:24:00):
Now The texans don't have these bad blood when it
comes To. Steelers they have bad. Blood when it comes
to The, colts they have bad. Blood when it comes
to The, broncos they have blad blood when it comes
to The. Patriots this is, just in my, opinion a
game that you're supposed to, Win, yes but the memories
will always be there and you can't take away the.
Memories SO i, mean LIKE i get people still having you,
know that game AS i, MENTIONED i mean, TOO i,
(02:24:21):
MEAN i don't know if you know The Buffalo bills
still elicit those reactions out of, people BUT i, mean you,
know BECAUSE i think it's also too there's a little
bit of a void Coal The texans don't really have
that with. ANYONE i, mean especially when it comes to playoff.
MATCHUPS i, mean every single time that you go face
off Against, buffalo you kick the crap out of.
Speaker 3 (02:24:39):
Them Whether Josh allen's AN mvp or.
Speaker 5 (02:24:41):
Not, WELL i, mean but you played them once in
the playoffs and you beat.
Speaker 4 (02:24:43):
Them so and then you played them twice in the regular,
season then you beat the crap out of the quarterback
and he openly said it twice they kicked my.
Speaker 3 (02:24:50):
Ass SO i, mean what if you meet up with
them in THE Afc championship, game you.
Speaker 5 (02:24:54):
Gotta feel pretty confident because you've.
Speaker 4 (02:24:56):
Already beaten them in the, playoffs and you've already beaten
them in the regular season with the same quarterback that
everyone considers to be one, of if not the best
name outside Of Patrick, mahomes including. Yours, TRULY i, Mean
i'll be, HONEST i think that when you go pound for,
pound best quarterback in THE nfl not Named Patrick Mahomes Josh,
allen but he has A texans, problem much like The
(02:25:16):
yankees have An astros, problem much Like georgia forever had
An alabama.
Speaker 3 (02:25:20):
Problem until you get it, DONE i view you as
not a.
Speaker 4 (02:25:24):
THREAT i don't view The yankees as a threat to
ever win A World? Series do you want to? Why
because they can't beat The astros to get. There until
they do, that they're not gonna win.
Speaker 3 (02:25:33):
Anything and The yankees have a long horn, problem And
alabama has An oklahoma, problem And texas has a problem
playing against teams that are set five hundred on the.
Road that's what it. Is until you do, it it's
history on your back.
Speaker 4 (02:25:47):
End And i'm, sorry but like from the standpoint OF
i get, it the city is going to care about,
it and they are and they. Should but at the same,
time The texans don't have bad blood with The. Steelers
and why are you wondering about The oilers when The
oilers looked you up and down and basically pulled a
lane kiff and, said, hey you know, What you're not
as good enough for. Me you're not Good this city
ain't good enough for.
Speaker 5 (02:26:06):
Me, WELL i mean it was more on the owner
than it was the actual.
Speaker 3 (02:26:09):
ORGANIZATION i, MEAN i know that people soured on him
at the, end AND i think it was kind of
one of those that the initial you, know just grief
of them moving on, was, man you, know what are
we going to do without pro football in this? Town
but it was ALSO i think taken over by people
who were just, LIKE i hate that, Guy, like just
get him out of.
Speaker 5 (02:26:29):
Here i've had enough of that.
Speaker 4 (02:26:30):
Guy like why would you in this city want anything
to do to talk about The oilers when clear as
day the, ownership when you had an opportunity to bring
back a, franchise just like they brought back The Cleveland,
browns they.
Speaker 3 (02:26:41):
Said you know, what now you can't have the. Name
i'm gonna be so.
Speaker 4 (02:26:44):
Petty i'm going to make sure THAT i am such
a vindictive a hole That i'm going to not let
you bring back The oilers because it's the one thing
that you want And i'm not gonna let you have.
Speaker 5 (02:26:54):
It AND i mean till his death and his daughter
has continued, it BUT i, mean just for.
Speaker 4 (02:26:59):
Good, measure whenever we play you a, concerant reminder that
we have the, branding.
Speaker 5 (02:27:03):
But it's also though.
Speaker 3 (02:27:04):
TOO i, mean you, know games can make, rivalries SO
i mean maybe this is one that can possibly do.
That you mean against the against The.
Speaker 4 (02:27:10):
Steelers, yeah, SURE i the rivalry to, ME i think right,
now AND i also want to get everyone's else being
on this. One so seven one three two five seven.
Ninety who is the Biggest texans arrival in the? PLAYOFFS
i think The bills come into, mind AND i still
think The. Patriots and the reason it's The patriots because
of you had one of the best teams in franchise
history go Into foxborough and make it a game for
(02:27:31):
four quarters and then in the fourth quarter it came
crashing on. Down so in my, opinion let's say that
you get to meet up against them in the next.
Round that to me feels like a rivalry because if
you haven't been able to win In, foxborough well do.
Speaker 3 (02:27:44):
That Plus ray And, tim you want a way into
you want to join, Them we've got a couple of
spots available for. You seven one three two on two
five seven. Ninety can it's semon one three two on
two five seven ninety as it is The Morning drive
With Dany cole right here on A Friday Sports talk seven.
Speaker 5 (02:27:59):
Ninety we don't run on.
Speaker 8 (02:28:02):
Algorithms we run On El, Tub durant And strous Or
talk seven ninety guaranteed human.
Speaker 3 (02:28:14):
And The rockets In portland taking on The, blazers got
all of that to look forward to. Again seOne thirty
two and two five seven ninety is the number to get.
In let's keep it rolling on the phone. Lines speaking
of The iHeartRadio, app he listens to us every morning
There ray In, miami want us to join.
Speaker 7 (02:28:29):
In good Morning, Ray thank you, man how you?
Speaker 10 (02:28:32):
Doing AND i love the radio app because On saturday
And sunday While i'm, working you, KNOW i can listen
to you guys and go back and. Rewind you, KNOW
i can skip the. COMMERCIALS Da radio app is.
Speaker 9 (02:28:45):
Awesome.
Speaker 10 (02:28:45):
Bro IF i miss your, SHOW i can listen to
the whole thing over its condensed with no.
Speaker 9 (02:28:51):
Commercials, RAY i think you just cut a.
Speaker 5 (02:28:53):
PROMO i think you just cut a promo for. Us
so we appreciate.
Speaker 10 (02:28:56):
That one thing about That miami, Game miami already won
a national. Championship because there's no way nobody's getting out
Of Hard Rock stadium unless they they're gonna beat. Them
it's a home game and in that, Place Miami gardens
is gonna be. Rocking but about The, TEXANS i changed my.
(02:29:16):
THOUGHTS i had a losing seventeen to, twenty AND i
was thinking About Will anderson and Big playbar and net
you know them kind of, Guys danil and you Know Pe,
tree if we would have everyone out. There the only
REASON i doubted My texans is because this team was
set up to Have Stefan diggs and you Know, mixing
(02:29:38):
and you know you Got Digs mixing AND cj and
all these. Guys they're great, team but we lost.
Speaker 7 (02:29:44):
Guys that's WHY i doubted my.
Speaker 10 (02:29:46):
Team if you're, Listening Garian, spring that's the only.
Speaker 9 (02:29:49):
REASON i doubted.
Speaker 10 (02:29:50):
Him other than, that you, KNOW i changed my. Mind
If Will anderson is breathing and, alive we're gonna beat
them Because aaron rodg, years he's not gonna have enough.
Time Will anderson is a certified beast on the, football
and and and and going and flying into that. City
(02:30:11):
demico has them guys.
Speaker 9 (02:30:12):
Locked in like they're scared of.
Speaker 6 (02:30:14):
Him just like an old school In New.
Speaker 10 (02:30:16):
England, patriots you have to play hard hitting football or
you cannot Be you have to play high level or
you cannot play football for The texans for.
Speaker 7 (02:30:26):
Defensively, Yeah Aaron.
Speaker 3 (02:30:27):
Rodgers got a wheelchair.
Speaker 6 (02:30:28):
MONEY i don't WANT i don't want him to get, Hurt.
Speaker 9 (02:30:31):
Cole but you know he's gonna.
Speaker 10 (02:30:33):
Be running for his.
Speaker 3 (02:30:35):
Life he's not gonna be able to, run, right that's the.
Speaker 4 (02:30:38):
Problem he's forty. One he's he's gonna run faster than.
You he's gonna run slower than A ra's gonna. Run
ray's gonna go for a jog this. Afternoon he's gonna
have a pr of like five to twenty two in a.
Speaker 11 (02:30:49):
Mile.
Speaker 5 (02:30:50):
Wow And Aaron rodgers is gonna have a pr of
nineteen twenty. Eight quite quite the runner by the way.
Speaker 3 (02:30:56):
Too Like i've got to know what the genesis is
of this rivalry between and he And Garian, Spring like
this has been ongoing for some. TIME i just enjoy
giving them the, chance you, know just to go. Ahead
and when you were, OUT i had both them on
AND i had to argue with each. Other oh you,
did oh, yeah so you went, fine bomb. SHOW i
went full on.
Speaker 5 (02:31:12):
Them look at, You Cole. THOMPSON i like your. STYLE
i want.
Speaker 3 (02:31:16):
MORE i want people to come on in and argue
with each. Other let's, hey, look you know you gotta
you gotta jones against. Somebody you've, got you, know some
airing of. Grievances please six to ten every single morning
in the. Morning absolutely we. Could, YEAH i, mean we'll
even mix in the feats of strength at, sometimes you,
KNOW i don't, know we'll. See maybe we can make
it a year round. Thing seb one, three two one two,
(02:31:36):
five seven. Ninety let's head To, Katie tim what's the?
Speaker 5 (02:31:39):
Way and good? Morning?
Speaker 11 (02:31:40):
Tim morning, guys how are you?
Speaker 3 (02:31:43):
Good? Fantastic?
Speaker 6 (02:31:44):
Good, hey you KNOW i listened to you. YESTERDAY i didn't.
Speaker 11 (02:31:48):
Hear the whole.
Speaker 9 (02:31:49):
SHOW i was kind of in and.
Speaker 11 (02:31:50):
Out but you've been talking about why would we Hate.
Speaker 6 (02:31:54):
PITTSBURGH i don't know if you got what your.
Speaker 13 (02:31:57):
Age is.
Speaker 11 (02:31:59):
That there in seventy, eight seventy, nine AND i think
he's been into. Eighty we had the love Of. Blue
you guys can't believe the fervor in this city for The.
Speaker 6 (02:32:15):
Oilers OH, TI i BELIEVE i.
Speaker 11 (02:32:18):
Do they lost To, pittsburgh particularly without bad.
Speaker 6 (02:32:24):
Call might not have constant the, game but it might.
Speaker 11 (02:32:27):
Have the team came, Back they flew, back and they
filled The astrodome up with. Fans they go from the
airport to The. ASTRODOME i don't Hate. PITTSBURGH i respect
him a, lot BUT i sure hate losing to.
Speaker 4 (02:32:45):
Them, sure But, tim he's not a curiosity. Man AND
i don't mean to be disrespectfuy down Because i'm. YOUNG
i am, young AND i wasn't around for this for The.
Oilers but when The oilers leave you and they say
that you're not good enough for, us why are you
going to care about that rivalry With. Pittsburgh that rivalry
left to go To. Dashville AND i get there's still
(02:33:05):
the pain inside the, City but you have a team
here that now is saying we want to be a
part of THE h town. Culture we want to be
here for the long. Haul we're not leaving anytime. Soon
we're not bailing on this. Franchise and there is no
bad blood Between pittsburgh and The.
Speaker 3 (02:33:18):
Texans, well let me one.
Speaker 11 (02:33:22):
WAY i can kind of talk about. It let's go
to a different. SPORT i grew up In Los. ANGELES
i was an Avid Dodger Ram laker. Fan twenty seventeen
king with The astros finally getting in The World, SERIES
i was a little bit, torn but not too much
(02:33:43):
BECAUSE i kind of, said beat them bums out Of.
Speaker 9 (02:33:47):
Brooklyn you, know.
Speaker 11 (02:33:50):
You get the, feeling and that feeling will hold with
you once. More it's not a feeling of, hatred it's
a feeling of respect Because pittsburgh had a hell of
a team back, then and it just so happens we
had a hell of a, team but it always just
seemed they were a little bit. Better so the only
(02:34:12):
THING i CAN i can say is it's against The.
Steelers it's not For tennessee because they abandoned.
Speaker 6 (02:34:22):
US i really don't have that much feeling For, tennessee
BUT i do have feeling for.
Speaker 9 (02:34:31):
The oilers when they were.
Speaker 11 (02:34:34):
HERE i don't know if that makes sense to.
Speaker 9 (02:34:36):
SEE i really don't, Now.
Speaker 3 (02:34:38):
TIM i, mean As i've continued to, say LIKE i
understand the memories still elicit some you, know reactions and.
Speaker 5 (02:34:45):
EMOTIONS i get all of.
Speaker 3 (02:34:46):
THAT i JUST i just think that it's also too you,
know just looking at it from The texans fans perspective
of being able to have that hated team that you
can really grasp.
Speaker 5 (02:34:59):
Onto the steel just aren't.
Speaker 4 (02:35:00):
THAT i ever talking about the time THAT i got
left by a check who said that she wouldn't date
me because OF i didn't live in the same state as,
her and then she decided to go date a guy
THAT i was living in the same status ever tell
you that.
Speaker 3 (02:35:10):
Story so she gave you the it's not, you it's,
me and then literally sorry dating the dude WHO i
was living in THIS.
Speaker 5 (02:35:16):
Sta that's usually the way it. Goes, MAN i hate
to break it to.
Speaker 4 (02:35:18):
You the fun thing IS i haven't thought about her
in ten, years just LIKE i don't think that anybody
in a huge should think about the oilers when they
Said nashville's calling and you guys are, terrible that's just.
Speaker 3 (02:35:28):
It they lost listen and they've lost the. Breakout they.
Suck they're a terrible. Organizations they're a terrible organization run
by an incompetent owner who constantly is having the self
inflicted wounds by your own personal, mistakes and now they
have to deal with the errors of their.
Speaker 4 (02:35:44):
Consequences you don't get to have a cool. Logo people
make fun of. You the only good thing that you
have is an awesome city to live in on. Weekends besides,
that there's really nothing to talk about with The Tennessee
titans crap. Name so congratulates on living with That.
Speaker 3 (02:35:59):
Houston you're doing just. Fine you were able to rebound
and you got a ten in the. Process, broadway it's
a fun time kid rock. Spot that's WHERE i usually
always go WHEN i right hit Up broadwaydies someone three
two on two five seven Ninety kyle going to weigh.
Speaker 5 (02:36:12):
In good Morning, Kyle.
Speaker 9 (02:36:15):
Good Morning, Dan good Morning. Cole how are y'all?
Speaker 3 (02:36:17):
Doing thanks for taking my.
Speaker 6 (02:36:18):
Call ye.
Speaker 19 (02:36:21):
Just wanted to call about the game On, Monday and,
UH i don't, KNOW i guess just after watching The
Steelers ravens and how good The ravens. OFFENSES i, MEAN
i know they've gone through their struggles this year And
lamar probably wasn't at one hundred, percent but just watching
The steelers defense shut down their offense for the most,
PART i JUST i GUESS i wanted to see what
(02:36:43):
y'all's thoughts were on how y'all think OUR i GUESS
o line is going to hold up against What heyward
High smith and IF i, MEAN i know we've been
talking about being able to beat them by a couple,
scores but do y'all think we're we're gonna LET. Cj
stroud do his thing or is he going to be
going through a lot of.
Speaker 3 (02:37:04):
Pressure they appreciate the, Call, Kyle, dude last time The
texas Gave OPA saq was thirteen quarters ago in. Counting,
SO i mean we're talking about a team that right
now on the offensive line has GIVEN. Cj stroud time
to be able to build a rapport in the passing.
Attack now is all gonna come down to play, calling
and you are going to need to establish some bit
of a run game to a level of where you're
(02:37:26):
not just living in third and eleven or third and.
Speaker 4 (02:37:28):
Eight but it's not like you, Know i'm sitting here
and saying That i'm concerned because you still HAVE. Tj
want on the other, side you still Have Cam, hayward
you still Have Alex. Highsmith BUT i do think that
this is gonna be a game where as long as
you are gaining positive. Traction, dude just got a field goal,
Range Kymie fairbraham draina.
Speaker 3 (02:37:47):
Three you're. GOOD i JUST i just feel like that
it's for The texans their path to a. Win if
you write out a, list it's a lot less than
what The steelers. Is The steelers probably have about LIKE
i don't know six or seven on that. List, yeah
now six SEVEN i get, it which, apparently from WHAT i,
understand has been left in twenty twenty, five so we
don't have to worry about that. Anymore but for The,
(02:38:08):
texans it's about. Three control the football, offensively don't turn
the football. Over, defensively be who you, are and then
exactly what you just said the economy. Fairbarn when you're
asked to come, on kick for, three kick for, one
make them, Dude like everybody in the locker room just
talks about how will we got to? Do is get in?
RANGE i mean like at this point we're good and,
(02:38:28):
honestly why. NOT i, mean LIKE i play out last
night With canaro with with The ole miss they were
just like yeah two but yeah two doinks Neck.
Speaker 6 (02:38:38):
Like that was the.
Speaker 5 (02:38:39):
Thing that was the.
Speaker 4 (02:38:39):
Thing when WHEN i thought he was gonna do it,
AGAIN i was, like no, Way the double doink means
completely different narratives out in the out in ox. Room
from here on, out it's one of the greatest noises
that there is in. Sports so you really do like.
Speaker 5 (02:38:52):
THAT i love.
Speaker 3 (02:38:53):
It and then last night, too like where it was
like you could even like kind of hear like the you,
know reverberating rattling first one is the second one was very,
clear is like a quick, shot, yeah BECAUSE i mean
it did glance off the side of, it so that's
why he was able to go.
Speaker 5 (02:39:06):
In but but, yeah, no no. Doinks we don't need any.
Speaker 4 (02:39:10):
Doinks and if you, do just Pull Lucas canaro the
second time and make sure it goes.
Speaker 5 (02:39:13):
Through and THEN i mean he made what that fifty
eight yarder that could have been good for like.
Speaker 4 (02:39:17):
Seventy, dude he made in the playoff this year four
kicks up over fifty five.
Speaker 3 (02:39:22):
Yards three of them would have gone for over. Sixty
he's got a leg, man, or as somebody heard once
say About Harrison, butker he can kick the spine out of.
Someone the hell they're like like the way this guy kicks,
man he kicked the spine out of. Someone it was
somebody that said it On Chris Chris long's. Show how
in the hell do you kick the spine out of?
(02:39:43):
Something kick him really? Hard so what does it pop?
Up does it pop? Out LIKE i would probably say
with the physics that you'd probably have to like go
from the, side you, know it's like one of those
like sidekicks right, there or maybe even. Two you, know
you get him so good with the head kick right
there that it kind of just, MAYBE i don't, KNOW
i have to think about a physics, wise there's those
sports science guys when you need. Them, Unfortunately JOHN i know,
(02:40:06):
him BUT i gotta believe there's still people out there
who do some sort of physics. Sports the thing THAT
i think of right. Now have you ever seen the
Movie Hotshots part duo With Charlie?
Speaker 5 (02:40:14):
Sheen vaguely. Yes, okay so at one point he takes
a he takes.
Speaker 4 (02:40:19):
Like what's supposed to be like a, dodgeball but it's
actually a severed head and he throws as heart as
he possible can at the enemy and it chops off
the other person's.
Speaker 6 (02:40:25):
Head.
Speaker 3 (02:40:26):
Wow so that's like a kind of kick THAT i
would think that you would.
Speaker 5 (02:40:28):
Get Charlie sheen could throw a.
Speaker 3 (02:40:29):
Baseball we knew that much about, him so who, Knows
maybe it was true and they just kind of glossed
over it in the.
Speaker 5 (02:40:35):
MOVIE i don't.
Speaker 3 (02:40:36):
Know but, anyway speaking of, baseball In astro's notes and
also to how they might have tipped their hand about
the future of some, players but also, Too LIKE i,
SAID i love the, idea but.
Speaker 5 (02:40:48):
It's just the.
Speaker 3 (02:40:49):
Execution both of those things will get you before we
hand you over to The Matt Thomas show With. Ross
all of that coming up right here it is The
Morning drive With Danna Coles sportstock seven NINETY.
Speaker 5 (02:40:59):
A Bell Morning drive.
Speaker 1 (02:41:01):
Continues. Now now Here's dad And Cole.
Speaker 3 (02:41:07):
Football friday here of getting you ready For monday, nights
also to the wildcard weekend as a, whole and also
the college football playoff that's. Happened but The astros yesterday
throwing out they've avoided, arbitration agreed on deals With brian Bray,
You Nick, Allen Hunter, Brown Jake, Myers Steven, Okert Jeremy,
Pania Jesus, Sanchez Bennett, susa And Hayden. Biznski the names
(02:41:31):
THAT i did not, Say Jiner diaz And Esac. PERETTIS
i think that they tipped their hand on four different
guys and in two different, Categories Hunter brown And Jeremy.
Pania they have future plans for those, guys that the
conversations are going to fire up this year and that
they're going to try to get deals done with both
of those guys to keep them here long. TERM i
(02:41:52):
think With yiner And, perettis one of those guys will
not be here when we head out to spring. Training
in about them, All so basically what you're saying is
is That perettes is probably the name of the Two
between him and WHY.
Speaker 5 (02:42:04):
I would think that probably he is the.
Speaker 3 (02:42:06):
ONE i, mean because we've said it numerous times With,
walker you're not going to have very many, takers or
at least in this case right, here a deal that
makes sense for you because of the contract that he
has attached to. Him if somebody were to take on that,
deal it would entail you having to pay a lot
of money and probably not getting as good a return
in the deal as part of said.
Speaker 4 (02:42:27):
Trade it's a salary, dump that's all it, is and
you're still paying a portion of the salary for a
lesser to your commodity that you're bringing back in.
Speaker 3 (02:42:33):
Return that's where, AGAIN i, mean we talked With Dana
brown the other, day we played the audio for you
where the term open minded came in of you know
when bringing up those two guys is BECAUSE i think
that they've probably come to terms with you, know even
though he, said we feel like we can make the
at bats. Work it's kind of one of those why
(02:42:53):
do we want to try to make that work when
you could be able to get a very valuable return
and probably even, TOO i would think If i'm The,
Astros i'm wanting an outfielder that can be A day
one starter for you as part of that return.
Speaker 5 (02:43:07):
Package, okay, well.
Speaker 4 (02:43:08):
What About Jake, Myers because, like now we've gone from
the time of he's gonna be. Traded he's on the,
move it's gonna. Happen there's big. Conversations there seems to
be a deal in place.
Speaker 5 (02:43:18):
Too oh we just.
Speaker 4 (02:43:19):
Started we just got an arbitration deal with. Him so,
cool he's out, Here, like is he now back in
the plan being a part of the roster next?
Speaker 5 (02:43:27):
Season it seems.
Speaker 3 (02:43:28):
So AND i mean what they settled on with him
is not necessarily an albatross of a. Deal it's a
three point five to five million SO i mean it's not,
like you, know you sign him to that and you're,
like oh, man you know we're gonna have to flip.
That another one that keep in, mind, though, too is
even though you're trying to shore up the outfield Is
Jesus sanchez got six point eight.
Speaker 5 (02:43:48):
Million all, Right, well he's not going.
Speaker 3 (02:43:49):
ANYWHERE i don't think they want him to go. Anywhere
If i'm being completely, Honest they want to see what
IT'S i, think how it's gonna.
Speaker 4 (02:43:56):
Work brand new hitting coach coming on in knowing that
they've brought in a left handed bat that has.
Speaker 5 (02:44:02):
Power and was on point when he was In miami
with years of roster.
Speaker 4 (02:44:06):
Control he's probably the one that gets the biggest mulligan
because it's so hard to find a left, handed power
hitting bat that can go anywhere in the line of
between three through.
Speaker 3 (02:44:15):
Six it's really challenging to get.
Speaker 4 (02:44:18):
That and the easy fix would Be Cam smith plays really,
well he's in, right you solve your left field problem
by Moving Jesus stans's.
Speaker 3 (02:44:26):
Over parretta has turned down eight point seventy five, million
and he was seeking nine point nine to five. Million
as For, diaz he wanted four and a half and
The astros are willing to counter with three of the.
Speaker 5 (02:44:39):
Two which one do you think is worth the?
Speaker 3 (02:44:40):
PRICE i, MEAN i would Say, perettis BUT i mean
the problem is it's where you're gonna play him on
a daily basis now for nine. Million that's the thing
that's and THAT'S i think another element of all of this. Conversation,
yes you have.
Speaker 4 (02:44:54):
A guy that at least will be an everyday. STARTER
i can listen to an. ARGUMENT i don't think THAT'S
i don't think THAT. Yanr diaz is worth the price
right now a four million. Dollars but who you having a?
CATCHER i mean the thing THAT i think a lot
of people forget to mention right now is The astros
don't have a backup, catcher let alone the don't feel
comfortable with maybe their full time starting catcher who's off
(02:45:17):
a down. Year so if you're looking at the standpoint
of who AM i wanting to pay, For, YEAH i
would love to pay Eastlec, preides BUT i have to
know that he's gonna be starting every, day AND i
know that right, Now Christian walker has earned the right
to start every. Day i'm not Moving korea paying. It
we just got to deal with done. With we have
to play out Two bay. Somewhere Your don's got to
(02:45:37):
be in the. Lineup we do Have Jesus sanchez under
a contract and we can move into left. Field we
still want to see what we have right now With Cam.
Smith Jake myers is step deal on a brand new,
deal so you're the odd man, out And Yaner diaz
is a bigger priority because if we don't have a
starting catcher outside of, you.
Speaker 3 (02:45:54):
And we're a couple of weeks away too From Astros Fan,
fest we'll be out there over At dyk in Par
on That, Saturday So i'm sure there'll be some moves
made between now and then as we inch even closer
to spring. Training The Coaches room is a feature THAT
espn has had in the past when it comes to
national title, games and they've had it where sometimes they'll
(02:46:16):
have current, coaches but in this case right, here they
announced yesterday that they're bringing it back to go along
with The pat McAfee broadcast everything else they, have and
it's going to Include Jimbo, Fisher Steve, Adazio Jane, chiswick
And Dave.
Speaker 5 (02:46:30):
Clawson, boring, boring boring.
Speaker 4 (02:46:35):
Man jim's gonna get a lot of media, attention BUT i,
mean you, Know jimbo would be the only one THAT
i THINK i somewhat willing to listen, to even THOUGH i,
mean you got to pay close attention to what he's, Saying,
oh he's gonna have the dumbest takes out there half the,
time and you're gonna barely understand what he's.
Speaker 3 (02:46:50):
Saying but he's at least entertaining get current, coaches is
All i'm. Saying, like you can't do.
Speaker 4 (02:46:55):
That during the middle of a, run LIKE i, mean
during the middle of a run like, this you, Could but,
like are we saying it's gonna happen every week in the.
Speaker 5 (02:47:00):
Offseason, no it's just this is for the national title
game that they have.
Speaker 3 (02:47:04):
This oh so it's a one time.
Speaker 4 (02:47:07):
Deal, yeah yeahh, Alright so, okay who would you want
guarantee this one coach right?
Speaker 5 (02:47:11):
Now Kirby dabo.
Speaker 3 (02:47:14):
When Dan lanning loses, TONIGHT i would love to see, that, Okay,
Yeah Dan lanning would be, great, Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (02:47:19):
Signetty would just be complaining about everything that happened with
the game.
Speaker 3 (02:47:22):
Before it would be fun to have. Him didn't get
a chance to get to him to. Day maybe we'll
do that On, monday but he's Called Thompson, Triple Emmanuel,
Elmore Dan, Matthews The Matt Thomas show With ross coming up.
Next we will talk to you in sixty eight hours
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