December 12, 2025 • 12 mins
Entering the back stretch of the NFL's schedule now, many fans can begin to consider whether their team is playoff-bound or not. Looking at Houston, the Texans are second in the AFC South Division at 8-5 with four games left of the season to play. Evaluating the team's greatest strengths mixed with some weaknesses that need sustaining, PFF's lead NFL draft analyst, Trevor Sikkema, analyzes where the Texans' current stature of play has them, along with what they must continue to sustain if they wish to make a deep postseason run.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
One of the greatest minds in the NFL, especially when
it comes to NFL draft coverage. Trevor Sikima joins us
right here on the Morning Drive. Trevor, good morning, my dude,
and let's just start off with this. Texans five weeks
ago look dead in the water. Davis Mills leads a
twenty it leads a twenty nine point comeback and twenty
six point comeback against Jacksonville. They're in the driver's seat
(00:22):
five game win streak, potentially a six game win streak
over Arizona this week. In your opinion, what's been the
biggest turnaround.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
For this team?
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Yeah, I think that, to be honest with you, during
that stretch, well one, you got to give all credit
to Davis Mills, because without his performances over those couple
of games, I mean, they're not in this spot. But
to be honest with you, I think it's the offensive
line planing a little bit better.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Now.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
They're not coming off of a great game recently, but
I just think that in the middle of the season,
I would say over the better half of the last
month month and a half, they haven't been one of
the worst offensive lines in the NFL, and that was
our big worry about this team right coming into the season.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
You get ready to layer me tunsl You don't really
have a lot of options.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
They throw a lot of new bodies at the offensive
line and they're just kind of like, hey, you know,
we'll be able to find our best five here, and
it doesn't always work as much of a guarantee like that,
and I think that it was really a struggle for them,
especially with some of those young guys earlier in the season,
But as of late, they have started to come along
and play better as a group.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
That's the thing with Houston.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
It's always been you don't have to be a top
ten offensive line, just don't be bottom five. And I
think the rest of this defense and CJ. Stroud and
Eagle Collins will be able to carry you a little
bit here. So to me, it's just the offensive line
raising that floor a little bit.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
Trevor, you guys, I mean, obviously you're very much into
the metrics over at Pro Football Focus. So these last
five weeks, the defense has obviously really stepped up for
the Texans. What's a metric that maybe a time or
two you've seen with this defense and you've looked at
it and said, oh man, that's kind of interesting. Wow.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
I mean, it's the obvious one, but it starts with
the guys who are generating the pressure up front. I
just think that overall, it's such an elite game plan
that they have that is coming to fruition here with
the guys on their roster. It's been a really good
job with with Stereo, with Demigo, Ryan's you know, drafting
these team, getting the right players in here, and Will
(02:12):
Anderson being the constant constant for them on the defensive line.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
I mean that's not to say that Daniel Hunter hasn't,
but specifically, I mean he's having a defensive Player of
the Year type of year.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
If Miles Garrett wasn't having one of the greatest seasons
we've ever seen in NFL history, Will Anderson Junior would
absolutely be right there. He's got above a twenty percent
passes win percentage, he's got an elite pass rush great
on the season. Like, all of the stuff is there
for him to be a major difference maker. And when
you go into the when you go into a week
two week matchup, where the very first thing that the
(02:41):
offensive coordinator and that the quarterback have to think about
is is we have to be very afraid of those
two guys.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
On the edge.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Well, now, all of a sudden, now you're allowing the
two outside corners to be able to play exactly the
game that they want. They've got the talent with guys
like Kamari Laster and Derek Singley Junior to be able
to play that trueman coverage on the outside. And they
have Kaylen Bullock, who I think is doing a great
job exactly what you wanted him to be when you
drafted him, which is be that true center fielder type
of a defender. So you talk about the rate at
(03:10):
which they're running a lot of single high stuff.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Not a lot of teams in the NFL are doing
this right.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
I mean, you go back maybe ten years ago during
the cover three, Cover one era, that was all the
rage in the NFL. But over the last five years
it's really gravitated more towards two high stuff to more
deep quarter stuff. You just don't want to give these
quarterbacks the ability to beat you over the top. Well,
the fact of the matter is Houston is allowing themselves
to play a very aggressive style of defense. Specifically, I
(03:35):
think because they have Bullock back there to be able
to play that single high role, so they're playing that
at a higher clip than most teams are in the NFL.
And then that all leads up to my favorite element
of this team, allowing Jalen Petrie to just be out
of his mind and run all over the field and
just go off of straight instincts where we see an
elite performance. He got an elite PFF grade for US
(03:58):
last week, and I think that those are the things
he's able to do when he's able to play so
fast and free. So I think that, you know, going
back to your question, the statistics of the consistent pressure
generated just one of the top pressure teams in the NFL,
especially from those edge spots, put such a mental stress
on the game plan of the offense. It's that man coverage,
(04:18):
single coverage high coverage grade from both Kamari Lasster and
Derek Singley Junior. Then paired with the interceptions the take
away ability of a guy like Kaylen Bullick and what
that means for Galen Peatrie as well. So to me,
it's not even just a singular stat It really is
just a couple of those stats coming together and really
being so complimentary of each other for this team.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Trevor, your background is in the NFL draft, and believe me,
you are the best of doing it in the business.
And I'll tell you right now that you look at
this team, they've been able to hit in rounds two,
rounds three underneath Nickossario. But but in your opinion, who's
been the guy that stood on out in this recent
draft class that's been an X factor for Houston.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Well, I think that I have to looked at Ariante
Ersie just because of what has been put on his plate, right,
I mean, like it hasn't been the best year from him.
He doesn't have the best PFF grades, but it's the
fact that he's been able to stabilize himself when they
have really needed him. They don't really have any other options,
and so obviously it's a rookie class that guys have
(05:18):
been able to play pretty well. Obviously Woody marsh be
able to step up is huge for this team, and
they've really needed somebody with dynamic ability, just the threat
out of the backfield, and I think that he's been
able to bring that, even though it's not, you know,
as constant as it is for other teams. It's been
enough at times to be that complimentary piece that they
needed it to be. He helps out in the receiving game,
(05:39):
which is certainly a plus for them, But I just
think that from what they are asked to do, I
feel as though Ersery being able to sort of be
thrown into the fire at the beginning of the season.
And I remember down and when I was in Tampa
Bay cover in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I used to
talk to a former offensive lineman there. His name is
Ian Beckels, and he knew that I was big into
(05:59):
the draft, and you know, every offseason we talked about
draft guys and he's hearing me get so excited. He'd
be like, oh, no, no, but if they draft this guy,
then they can plug him in right away. He'd be fantastic.
And he's slowed me to be a hold. Trevor, I
need you to know, rookies suck until they don't.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
And so that's just it.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
It's a funny little check that he gave me there
to where it's like, Okay, you're right, these guys as rookies,
they're supposed to struggle, and so when they do, that's
the expectation you just want to see them grow and
bounce back, and so to throw a guy to the
Wolves at the beginning of the season and for him
to have a couple of games here over the last month,
month and a half where he has been improving. I
(06:39):
think it's been huge for this team, going back to.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
The very first question of how much offensive.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Line play and figuring that out has really meant to
them being in this spot here in the month of December.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
Yeah, Trevor. One of those rookies, Jayden Higgins, has been
counted on a lot more these last few weeks. What
do you think he projects to be during the final
four game stretch of the Texans season.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
No, I think that you know, you're projecting sort of
him getting closer to that ceiling of what you envisioned
him when he was your top draft choice this past year,
and that is the exact compliment that you need in
and beyond just a compliment to Nico Collins.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
I think that some.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
People, myself included, have used that phrase, and some people
will think of it as like, oh, okay, well, that
means that you know he's gonna play second fiddle. You
know he's going to be somebody who you know, what
he does has to play well to what Collins is doing.
And there's a little bit of truth to that because
of how good Collins this is a wide receiver one. But
Jayden Higgins, man, I mean, you watch him when he
was at Iowa State. It wasn't the most potent passing
(07:37):
attack in the world, but when they needed a guy
to go up and make a big play, he's able
to do it.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
He's got such great you know, fluidity and and explosiveness.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Or a player of his size, with his length, that
brings him a lot of mismatched potential at whatever he
is doing. And so Higgins is also somebody who I
think is can certainly be in for a big finish share, right,
I mean, because the potential is there for him, and
I figured that it was probably gonna be a little
bit more of a year two, year three thing when
it comes to Higgins. But there's a chance where, man,
(08:06):
if he finishes this season strong, certainly if they get
into the playoffs as well, he's got the ability to
hit the ground run next season and we could be
talking about, you know, such a such a talented wide
receiver group.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
That's all going to be able to put it together.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
In twenty twenty seven, he's Trevor Sickoma.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Give him a follow on Twitter at Tampa Bay Tray,
lead NFL draft analyst for Pro Football Focus, and also
the co host of one of the best podcasts out there,
The NFL Stocking Change. Trevor, I got to ask you.
I knew how talented he was coming out of Georgia,
but how impressive you've been mccamari Laster from year one
to year two.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Yeah, it's it so with Lassiter.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
When you have a corner who man coverages their bread
and butter. It's so hard in the NFL to be
good at that right away. And I think that people
look at last last season. You know, it's pretty up
and down for him, and there were good moments that
but there were bad moments. And I think that the
people went into this offseason maybe think that the jury
(09:03):
was still out on Kamari last year. But here in
year two, he is settling in so so well. And
I think that as a Florida Gator guy, this hurts
me to stay. But the Kirby Smart just has such
an incredible program there at Georgia where you are mentally
and physically prepared to be a pro. And there are
so many of these players at Georgia that when they
(09:25):
step on the field, they're not overwhelmed in either of
those areas. Does it take them a little bit of
time to get up the speed, Yes, of course, But
you gave Kamari Laster the appropriate amount of time and
now we're seeing what we have in this player, and
that is a starting NFL corner and somebody that could
be a big difference maker. It forms one of the
best cornerback duos in the NFL, no question about it,
(09:45):
with him on one side and Stingley on the other.
So to me, cornerback play, when you're drafted early as
a corner in the NFL, there's almost a one hundred
percent chance that you were a great athlete.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
That you have the size that you have, the strength
of the explosiveness, the fluidity, the movement.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Skills to be able to play at the pro level.
Teams just don't draft defensive backs that aren't great athletes
with their top picks. So when you draft a player
like that, you know that that is within them at
that point. What the difference between the guys who make
it and the guys who don't is of course guys
who could pick it up, but more importantly, guys who
have that confidence.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
When you were a corner you got to have a
little bit of a screw loose in your head.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
You gotta believe that you were the baddest dude on
the football field the second that you step on it.
And that's that cornerback mentality. And you have to have
that because of the nature of the job, right it's
a lot like baseball, you lose a lot, you know.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
It's it's a.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Phrase where it's like, oh, you know, if you get
on base four out of ten times, you're a Hall
of Famer, And like, that's kind of how it is
at corner.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
You know you're just going to fail. It's part of
the job. But how do you respond to that? Do
you keep your confidence up in that? And I think
that Ryan's has set up such a.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Great culture and scheme to just instill so much confidence
in these players because once again, they understand the skill
set of guys that they are drafting. They're not just
drafting good football players. They're drafting good football players for
what they want to do, so that as they grow,
as they get into the system, they only get more
and more confident. And I think that's why you see these,
(11:16):
you know, jumps from guys like Petrie and guys like
Caman Bullock and guys like Kamari Lasster.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
You just see these will Aerson obviously as somebody as well.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
You just see these jumps leaps even in efficiency, effectiveness,
difference making ability when they get into year two and
year three, because they're in the right spot.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
Trevor, we got about thirty seconds in your opinion. In
a city known for its barbecue, what are the three
minimum sides on your plate?
Speaker 2 (11:42):
So?
Speaker 3 (11:43):
Oh man, okay, come on, I can write dissertation.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Mac and cheese.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
I always, I always go with mac and cheese. I'm
a big barbecue bake beans guy. It's just when I'm.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Getting barbecue, I always feel like I gotta get barbecue bake.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
Beans, and I'll flip. Normally I flip the last one
Coast Law or collars. One of the two.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
I feel like I go with collards more often than
Coast Law, but if the Coast Law looks good, I'm
not a Coast Law hater. Those are my three slash
four sides that I go with.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
Fiver with the protein, I can ride with that. I mean,
I'm a potato salad guy. I know not everybody is.
I totally get it, Trevor.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
I don't fly back with the collars at all. That
is a perfect compliment to any single side dish.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
There we go.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
Good stuff, Trevor Sikima again pro football focus, hopping on
with us here for a few minutes. Hey, Trevor, appreciate
the time. Man been following your work for years. You
do great stuff, and look forward to hopefully having you
on again here pretty soon.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
I appreciate it, guys, anytime,
One of the greatest minds in the NFL, especially when
it comes to NFL draft coverage. Trevor Sikima joins us
right here on the Morning Drive. Trevor, good morning, my dude,
and let's just start off with this. Texans five weeks
ago look dead in the water. Davis Mills leads a
twenty it leads a twenty nine point comeback and twenty
six point comeback against Jacksonville. They're in the driver's seat
(00:22):
five game win streak, potentially a six game win streak
over Arizona this week. In your opinion, what's been the
biggest turnaround.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
For this team?
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Yeah, I think that, to be honest with you, during
that stretch, well one, you got to give all credit
to Davis Mills, because without his performances over those couple
of games, I mean, they're not in this spot. But
to be honest with you, I think it's the offensive
line planing a little bit better.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Now.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
They're not coming off of a great game recently, but
I just think that in the middle of the season,
I would say over the better half of the last
month month and a half, they haven't been one of
the worst offensive lines in the NFL, and that was
our big worry about this team right coming into the season.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
You get ready to layer me tunsl You don't really
have a lot of options.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
They throw a lot of new bodies at the offensive
line and they're just kind of like, hey, you know,
we'll be able to find our best five here, and
it doesn't always work as much of a guarantee like that,
and I think that it was really a struggle for them,
especially with some of those young guys earlier in the season,
But as of late, they have started to come along
and play better as a group.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
That's the thing with Houston.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
It's always been you don't have to be a top
ten offensive line, just don't be bottom five. And I
think the rest of this defense and CJ. Stroud and
Eagle Collins will be able to carry you a little
bit here. So to me, it's just the offensive line
raising that floor a little bit.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
Trevor, you guys, I mean, obviously you're very much into
the metrics over at Pro Football Focus. So these last
five weeks, the defense has obviously really stepped up for
the Texans. What's a metric that maybe a time or
two you've seen with this defense and you've looked at
it and said, oh man, that's kind of interesting. Wow.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
I mean, it's the obvious one, but it starts with
the guys who are generating the pressure up front. I
just think that overall, it's such an elite game plan
that they have that is coming to fruition here with
the guys on their roster. It's been a really good
job with with Stereo, with Demigo, Ryan's you know, drafting
these team, getting the right players in here, and Will
(02:12):
Anderson being the constant constant for them on the defensive line.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
I mean that's not to say that Daniel Hunter hasn't,
but specifically, I mean he's having a defensive Player of
the Year type of year.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
If Miles Garrett wasn't having one of the greatest seasons
we've ever seen in NFL history, Will Anderson Junior would
absolutely be right there. He's got above a twenty percent
passes win percentage, he's got an elite pass rush great
on the season. Like, all of the stuff is there
for him to be a major difference maker. And when
you go into the when you go into a week
two week matchup, where the very first thing that the
(02:41):
offensive coordinator and that the quarterback have to think about
is is we have to be very afraid of those
two guys.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
On the edge.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Well, now, all of a sudden, now you're allowing the
two outside corners to be able to play exactly the
game that they want. They've got the talent with guys
like Kamari Laster and Derek Singley Junior to be able
to play that trueman coverage on the outside. And they
have Kaylen Bullock, who I think is doing a great
job exactly what you wanted him to be when you
drafted him, which is be that true center fielder type
of a defender. So you talk about the rate at
(03:10):
which they're running a lot of single high stuff.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Not a lot of teams in the NFL are doing
this right.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
I mean, you go back maybe ten years ago during
the cover three, Cover one era, that was all the
rage in the NFL. But over the last five years
it's really gravitated more towards two high stuff to more
deep quarter stuff. You just don't want to give these
quarterbacks the ability to beat you over the top. Well,
the fact of the matter is Houston is allowing themselves
to play a very aggressive style of defense. Specifically, I
(03:35):
think because they have Bullock back there to be able
to play that single high role, so they're playing that
at a higher clip than most teams are in the NFL.
And then that all leads up to my favorite element
of this team, allowing Jalen Petrie to just be out
of his mind and run all over the field and
just go off of straight instincts where we see an
elite performance. He got an elite PFF grade for US
(03:58):
last week, and I think that those are the things
he's able to do when he's able to play so
fast and free. So I think that, you know, going
back to your question, the statistics of the consistent pressure
generated just one of the top pressure teams in the NFL,
especially from those edge spots, put such a mental stress
on the game plan of the offense. It's that man coverage,
(04:18):
single coverage high coverage grade from both Kamari Lasster and
Derek Singley Junior. Then paired with the interceptions the take
away ability of a guy like Kaylen Bullick and what
that means for Galen Peatrie as well. So to me,
it's not even just a singular stat It really is
just a couple of those stats coming together and really
being so complimentary of each other for this team.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Trevor, your background is in the NFL draft, and believe me,
you are the best of doing it in the business.
And I'll tell you right now that you look at
this team, they've been able to hit in rounds two,
rounds three underneath Nickossario. But but in your opinion, who's
been the guy that stood on out in this recent
draft class that's been an X factor for Houston.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Well, I think that I have to looked at Ariante
Ersie just because of what has been put on his plate, right,
I mean, like it hasn't been the best year from him.
He doesn't have the best PFF grades, but it's the
fact that he's been able to stabilize himself when they
have really needed him. They don't really have any other options,
and so obviously it's a rookie class that guys have
(05:18):
been able to play pretty well. Obviously Woody marsh be
able to step up is huge for this team, and
they've really needed somebody with dynamic ability, just the threat
out of the backfield, and I think that he's been
able to bring that, even though it's not, you know,
as constant as it is for other teams. It's been
enough at times to be that complimentary piece that they
needed it to be. He helps out in the receiving game,
(05:39):
which is certainly a plus for them, But I just
think that from what they are asked to do, I
feel as though Ersery being able to sort of be
thrown into the fire at the beginning of the season.
And I remember down and when I was in Tampa
Bay cover in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I used to
talk to a former offensive lineman there. His name is
Ian Beckels, and he knew that I was big into
(05:59):
the draft, and you know, every offseason we talked about
draft guys and he's hearing me get so excited. He'd
be like, oh, no, no, but if they draft this guy,
then they can plug him in right away. He'd be fantastic.
And he's slowed me to be a hold. Trevor, I
need you to know, rookies suck until they don't.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
And so that's just it.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
It's a funny little check that he gave me there
to where it's like, Okay, you're right, these guys as rookies,
they're supposed to struggle, and so when they do, that's
the expectation you just want to see them grow and
bounce back, and so to throw a guy to the
Wolves at the beginning of the season and for him
to have a couple of games here over the last month,
month and a half where he has been improving. I
(06:39):
think it's been huge for this team, going back to.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
The very first question of how much offensive.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Line play and figuring that out has really meant to
them being in this spot here in the month of December.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
Yeah, Trevor. One of those rookies, Jayden Higgins, has been
counted on a lot more these last few weeks. What
do you think he projects to be during the final
four game stretch of the Texans season.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
No, I think that you know, you're projecting sort of
him getting closer to that ceiling of what you envisioned
him when he was your top draft choice this past year,
and that is the exact compliment that you need in
and beyond just a compliment to Nico Collins.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
I think that some.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
People, myself included, have used that phrase, and some people
will think of it as like, oh, okay, well, that
means that you know he's gonna play second fiddle. You
know he's going to be somebody who you know, what
he does has to play well to what Collins is doing.
And there's a little bit of truth to that because
of how good Collins this is a wide receiver one. But
Jayden Higgins, man, I mean, you watch him when he
was at Iowa State. It wasn't the most potent passing
(07:37):
attack in the world, but when they needed a guy
to go up and make a big play, he's able
to do it.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
He's got such great you know, fluidity and and explosiveness.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Or a player of his size, with his length, that
brings him a lot of mismatched potential at whatever he
is doing. And so Higgins is also somebody who I
think is can certainly be in for a big finish share, right,
I mean, because the potential is there for him, and
I figured that it was probably gonna be a little
bit more of a year two, year three thing when
it comes to Higgins. But there's a chance where, man,
(08:06):
if he finishes this season strong, certainly if they get
into the playoffs as well, he's got the ability to
hit the ground run next season and we could be
talking about, you know, such a such a talented wide
receiver group.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
That's all going to be able to put it together.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
In twenty twenty seven, he's Trevor Sickoma.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Give him a follow on Twitter at Tampa Bay Tray,
lead NFL draft analyst for Pro Football Focus, and also
the co host of one of the best podcasts out there,
The NFL Stocking Change. Trevor, I got to ask you.
I knew how talented he was coming out of Georgia,
but how impressive you've been mccamari Laster from year one
to year two.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Yeah, it's it so with Lassiter.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
When you have a corner who man coverages their bread
and butter. It's so hard in the NFL to be
good at that right away. And I think that people
look at last last season. You know, it's pretty up
and down for him, and there were good moments that
but there were bad moments. And I think that the
people went into this offseason maybe think that the jury
(09:03):
was still out on Kamari last year. But here in
year two, he is settling in so so well. And
I think that as a Florida Gator guy, this hurts
me to stay. But the Kirby Smart just has such
an incredible program there at Georgia where you are mentally
and physically prepared to be a pro. And there are
so many of these players at Georgia that when they
(09:25):
step on the field, they're not overwhelmed in either of
those areas. Does it take them a little bit of
time to get up the speed, Yes, of course, But
you gave Kamari Laster the appropriate amount of time and
now we're seeing what we have in this player, and
that is a starting NFL corner and somebody that could
be a big difference maker. It forms one of the
best cornerback duos in the NFL, no question about it,
(09:45):
with him on one side and Stingley on the other.
So to me, cornerback play, when you're drafted early as
a corner in the NFL, there's almost a one hundred
percent chance that you were a great athlete.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
That you have the size that you have, the strength
of the explosiveness, the fluidity, the movement.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Skills to be able to play at the pro level.
Teams just don't draft defensive backs that aren't great athletes
with their top picks. So when you draft a player
like that, you know that that is within them at
that point. What the difference between the guys who make
it and the guys who don't is of course guys
who could pick it up, but more importantly, guys who
have that confidence.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
When you were a corner you got to have a
little bit of a screw loose in your head.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
You gotta believe that you were the baddest dude on
the football field the second that you step on it.
And that's that cornerback mentality. And you have to have
that because of the nature of the job, right it's
a lot like baseball, you lose a lot, you know.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
It's it's a.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Phrase where it's like, oh, you know, if you get
on base four out of ten times, you're a Hall
of Famer, And like, that's kind of how it is
at corner.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
You know you're just going to fail. It's part of
the job. But how do you respond to that? Do
you keep your confidence up in that? And I think
that Ryan's has set up such a.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Great culture and scheme to just instill so much confidence
in these players because once again, they understand the skill
set of guys that they are drafting. They're not just
drafting good football players. They're drafting good football players for
what they want to do, so that as they grow,
as they get into the system, they only get more
and more confident. And I think that's why you see these,
(11:16):
you know, jumps from guys like Petrie and guys like
Caman Bullock and guys like Kamari Lasster.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
You just see these will Aerson obviously as somebody as well.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
You just see these jumps leaps even in efficiency, effectiveness,
difference making ability when they get into year two and
year three, because they're in the right spot.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
Trevor, we got about thirty seconds in your opinion. In
a city known for its barbecue, what are the three
minimum sides on your plate?
Speaker 2 (11:42):
So?
Speaker 3 (11:43):
Oh man, okay, come on, I can write dissertation.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Mac and cheese.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
I always, I always go with mac and cheese. I'm
a big barbecue bake beans guy. It's just when I'm.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Getting barbecue, I always feel like I gotta get barbecue bake.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
Beans, and I'll flip. Normally I flip the last one
Coast Law or collars. One of the two.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
I feel like I go with collards more often than
Coast Law, but if the Coast Law looks good, I'm
not a Coast Law hater. Those are my three slash
four sides that I go with.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
Fiver with the protein, I can ride with that. I mean,
I'm a potato salad guy. I know not everybody is.
I totally get it, Trevor.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
I don't fly back with the collars at all. That
is a perfect compliment to any single side dish.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
There we go.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
Good stuff, Trevor Sikima again pro football focus, hopping on
with us here for a few minutes. Hey, Trevor, appreciate
the time. Man been following your work for years. You
do great stuff, and look forward to hopefully having you
on again here pretty soon.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
I appreciate it, guys, anytime,
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