October 31, 2025 • 46 mins
Hall of Famer John McClain talks with Marc and John about the huge game with Denver, The Steelers chances of upsetting the Colts. And his thoughts on Janice McNair getting into the Ring of Honor, including early memories of meeting the McNairs in the 90s.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hello Texans, Welcome to the show. It's a big one
with the game against the Broncos coming up in three
days at NRG Stadium, a noonkick as hot Denver comes
into town first place in the AFC West. This is
after the NFC West first place team tied for first
anyway at the time, came in here and the Texans
(00:22):
took care of business. So we'll see altogether what happens
on Sunday. It'll be live here at noon. Mark Vandermain
and John Harris with you, joined by the Hall of
Fame writer John McClain, the general in the house. So John,
let's start out here your thoughts on what it's going
to take to knock off the Broncos, who I'm not
(00:42):
gonna call them a big surprise necessarily, but I guess
it is that they lead the division and have done
so well overall against the competition they faced at the
midway point of the season. Well for them, it's coming
up at halftime Sunday.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Your thoughts. Good evening, Good evening.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
They just pounded the Cowboys, which is good. Of course,
they've been scoring a whole lot of points in the
last five quarters. That miraculous come back two weeks ago.
I think it was against the Giants, and then in
a way, they just obliterated Dallas, and I think this
is one of the biggest games we've seen in regular
(01:18):
season that did not mean clinching the playoffs, because if
they win this game, that would give them four out
of five, and then they host Jacksonville, and I think,
no matter what happens here, they're going to beat Jacksonville.
Then they're going to go to Tennessee. Might be depleted
because of the trade deadline, but it wouldn't matter. They're
(01:41):
going to beat Tennessee. So if they could win this game,
then I think they they're going to win the next two.
And I know Tamiko Ryans hates said when you look ahead,
but that's what fans do, and everybody's looking at this
game and the next two. Now, the fact is they
beat the forty nine Ers. Forty nine Ers defense was
(02:03):
missing a lot of key players, just like the Texans
offense was missing a lot of key players, and they
beat the Ravens whose defense was decimated. Now they're going
against the defense that leads the NFL in sacks with
thirty six and is allowed the fewest with eight that's
the first time I think I read in history that
(02:24):
after eight games a team had done that. Indianapolis has
allowed one more, and you know, the Texans have allowed
what fifteen and they have sixteen. Well, the Broncos have
thirty six sacks led the NFL last year Advance Joseph
boy At some point, Vance is on the verge of
being fired and now he has turned it around and
(02:46):
he is doing a great coaching job. So if the
Texans win this game, they're certainly capable of winning it.
If they do, they're going to get so much positive
feedback locally and nationally. And they still have those two
games left for the Calls, who play at Pittsburgh, which
to me has been a big disappointment. More money spent
(03:09):
on their defense than any in the league, and there's
nothing special about the Steelers defense. But the fact is
this is a big game. If they win it, it
could turn around their season.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
But there is something special about Broncos quarterback Bo Knicks
general In the fourth quarter against the Giants, they put
up thirty three. Last week against the Cowboys, they put
up forty four. That's seventy seven points in five quarters.
That projected over a full game is sixty points a game. Yes,
the Cowboys have a sieve for a defense. The Giants'
(03:43):
front front is pretty good and shut them out for
three quarters. What are your thoughts about bo Knicks as
kind of the next level guy being how good he
is now versus where you thought he might be. What
are your thoughts about bo Knicks coming in on Sunday?
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Well, I just mentioned about the Broncos leaguing the league
in sacks and fewest sacks allowed. Detexans have a pretty
good double going there themselves. They've allowed the fewest points
per game and they're number one in defense. So I
don't know that bow Knicks has gone up against a
defense like this. I hear so much and you do
too about Drake May Drake May this, Drake May that.
(04:21):
How come we're not earn more about bow Knicks. Bo
Nicks has played great too. He's he can run, he
can throw, He fens perfectly. In Sean Payton's offense, they
run the run the ball well. They're tied for third
in rushing and their defense is certainly not chevy. All
those sacks have helped them ranked fifth overall, tenth against
(04:44):
the run, seventh against the pass, so it seems like
this would be a defensive oriented game.
Speaker 5 (04:52):
I think the.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Key for the Texans, if you can shut down Christian McCaffrey,
you can shut down the Broncos running game. The Texans
were outstanding against McCaffrey, and the next key is the
Texans have to do a better job scoring in the
red zone. They were terribly against the forty nine ers.
They beat up the Niners so bad that game should
(05:15):
not have been close, but getting down close to the
go line and Kami Fairbarah kicking four field goals was
not good. I don't think they could do it against
the Broncos.
Speaker 5 (05:25):
You know, CJ.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Stroud, great game, offensive line, all the pass protectors, great game,
but boy, it hurts when you can't run the ball
in close and they've only got three rushing touchdowns or
one good day, which equals one good day for Jonathan
Taylor who's had three and three games. So I think
the red zone, of course, shutting down a running game,
(05:48):
getting after bownecks.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
So, John, when you look at CJ. Stroud, you mentioned
not being as good as they needed to be in
the red zone or wanted to be in the red zone.
Last week, they did what they needed to beat the
forty nine.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Ers, but overall that felt like a.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Basketball player having a twenty five to thirty point game.
What did you make of it? Where's it going from here?
With he and this offense?
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Well, I also think you know, they put forty four
on the Ravens, and so he played pretty well in
that game, and they go up hered Seattle, which has
a great defense, and they struggled big time. He looked
so comfortable. He had two or three passes that were
just great, I mean great throws. I think if that
(06:33):
long pass down the right sideline to Harrison Bryant had
been to a wide receiver, he'd have been a step
or two faster and it would have been a touchdown.
But Stroud just looked so much more confident, and he
knows when he's being protected.
Speaker 5 (06:48):
Now, they got rid of the ball quick. That is
the whole key.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
If you had the Broncos backfoot hits the ground, don't
hold it, get it out. And we got to see
the young guys make I didn't know Xavier Hudsons and
had that kind of speed to turn the corner the
way he did on his thirty yard touchdown. They had
those big plays. You know, Chunk plays what he marks,
twenty three yard run, fifty yard catch, Xavior had a
(07:14):
thirty yard touchdown. They looked like a big play offense.
And they did it without Nico and Nikom's back, and
obviously he's starting going to be the main receiver. If
Christian Kirk was back. I still rather see Jalen Knowle.
I rather see Nola's apartment returner. I rather to see
Nola's a slight receiver, because that kid has big play capability.
(07:35):
And we have to mention a player who did really
well before he got hurt, Braxton Barrios, including a great
third down catch. Seeing Stroud spread the ball to all
those receivers was a thing of beauty because he got
it out quick, and he got it out confidently, and
it just seemed that his confidence grew as the game
(07:56):
went on.
Speaker 4 (07:57):
General, it appears that Patrick's ten to second will not
play in this game, and you just mentioned it. Nico
and Christian hopefully will be back in this game for
the Texans. As you look at that difference, they lose,
Sir Tan, Texans get back potentially Nico and Kirk.
Speaker 6 (08:19):
What do you think it means?
Speaker 4 (08:21):
On top of what they did against the forty nine
ers to get those two back, But no Cirtan on
the other side.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Obviously, that'd be like taking out Derek Stanley Jr. It
would be a huge blow and leave a hole.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
In the defense.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
He's the defending NFL Defensive Player of the Year and
certain was playing great. But not one player is going
to cost you. Look at Niko, he was out Sunday
and they beat the pants off the forty nine ers
without him, and a lot of receivers made big plays.
I'd still rather see Jalen Noel and Christian Kirk. Kirk's
(08:53):
been hurt a lot. I don't think he's going to
get any better in his bad but I think Noel
will get better. And I love the way stra outspread
the ball. But they're gonna have to double Niko. They
can't put cirtin on him and have him got him
all over the field. Can't wait to see the way
they use Stanley was Courtland Sutton because their receivers have
(09:13):
stepped up for the Broncos, but and they's been scoring
a lot of points, but there's still a defensive team
that gets after the quarterback and probably one of the
reasons for ten is as great as he is is
because they get so much pressure on the quarterback.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
John It's a surprise to me that Dobbins is who
he is to the Broncos this year, considering they signed
him June eleventh. I mean they waited a long time.
He was coming off the injury with the Chargers. You know,
Chubb was out there as well before that. Texans signed
Chubb for less than half the money that Dobbins signed
with the Broncos for. And I don't know what the
Texans knew about the Joe Mixon situation at the time.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
I didn't even want to go there.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
I'm just saying, what a surprise it is that they
kind of take a flyer of sorts on and now
he's this bell cow again for this team in this
particular season leading the West thoughts JK.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Dobbins from just down the road, Lagrange, and that kid
has had two major injuries and he's come back from
both and he has not lost his speed.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
That's amazing.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
He's still a breakaway threat with a big average per carry,
and he's one of those guys capable of big plate
every time he gets the ball. So it was a
great move by their personnel department. Sean Payton has finals
say on everything, and they had no idea he was
going to be this good. If they known that, they
would have signed him way before June when he was
(10:41):
just hoping to catch on with the team that would
give him a chance, and that has worked out great.
Speaker 5 (10:47):
I'm happy for him.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
Because of all the difficulties he's overcome physically and.
Speaker 5 (10:54):
It was a.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
Smooth move by them. And the Texans have played against
him before. They know they have to contain a running
game that's tied for third in the NFL and it's
led by JK.
Speaker 5 (11:06):
Dobbins.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
General Sean Payton, head coach at Denver Broncos. I don't
really know anyway or asked this question other than what's
been the impact that he has brought to that organization?
What have you seen from Afar and what has he done?
Knowing what he did with the Saints, are you surprised
at all that Denver is in the position that they
are right now just three years into his run in Denver.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
We kind of forget or overlooked the fact he was
the first coach interviewed by the Texans when they hired Jamaica,
and I'm so glad they hired Jamiko. Well, Peyton's a
great coach. He can be a great paint in the
butt for a lot of people around him. And I
had no idea they be this goodness fast. Remember when
(11:54):
the Dolphins put seventy on him his first season, Yeah yeah,
and everybody, oh my god, what's the man?
Speaker 5 (11:59):
What's they got?
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Fire events Joseph and they stayed the course and he
did not fire Georgia.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
What's the jam Peyton?
Speaker 3 (12:09):
George paydenho gave all that money to Russell Wilson on
that contract because Peyton's known to be really good at
what he does, and Sean Payton has final say on everything,
and he wasn't going to get that coming to Houston
because Neck Cassario is in his contract that he is
finals say on all personnel things. But you can't deny it.
He's done a great job. He got a quarterback that
(12:32):
he likes to fince his system, and a lot of
people thought he was nuts taking Bownicks where he did.
Most people said he's a second round pick, some lower
than that, and bow Nicks has done a tremendous job,
and Peyton has done a tremendous job coaching him and
calling the plays.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
Do you think that the Broncos, no matter what happens
this weekend, do they hang out.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Of the West.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Here the Chiefs are five and three, playing the Bills
breathing down their neck, Bronco six and two.
Speaker 5 (13:01):
What do you think I think the Chiefs?
Speaker 3 (13:04):
The Chiefs are gonna win the division. I don't think
they're going to Super Bowl, but they are playing really well.
They've got everybody healthy. They still don't have that Look
at rookie left tackle who disappeared, Josh Simmons. They say
he'll be back at some point, and they've been able
to overcome it. And you know, let's face it, benrim
(13:27):
Mall is playing great again.
Speaker 5 (13:29):
You know they are.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Buffalo has owned them in regular season and they have
owned the Bills in the playoffs. So the Chiefs need
to pretend that this game Sunday is a playoff game
and see if they beat the Bills in what may
be the first of two games.
Speaker 5 (13:45):
Again.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
I love watching these teams get together, but I do
think Denver's gonna I think the Broncos are better than
the Chargers. We could see three teams from the AFC
West getting in the playoffs, but I don't think they're
going to win the division. I don't think they're as
good as the Chiefs.
Speaker 6 (14:02):
General.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
The Ravens are two and five, yet they are the
betting favorite by Vegas. They are the only team with
a minus number as the prediction would go four winning
the division in the North at two and five, with
the Steelers four and three. The Bengals are four and four.
(14:25):
I believe something along those lines, three and five, whatever
it might be. Would you make the Ravens the prohibitive
favorite right now to go win the AFC North?
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Absolutely I would. And what I'm trying to figure out
Tyler Hundley played the last game and he played really well.
And are gain a lot of criticism John Arbaugh, Why
in the world did you play Cooper Rush? Texans just
beat up Cooper Rush big time for the second year
in a row.
Speaker 5 (14:55):
And Hundley, remember one year, actually went to the Pro Bowl.
He must have been like.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
The a.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
Replacement, but he did play well. Signdee Jackson's back. They
need some of their big guys back on defense. Ricard
their fullback, came back. Derrick Henry scored two touchdowns and
I think they're gonna win the division. Steelers are four
and three and they're getting blasted because their defense is
just not good. It's not good like it should be,
(15:25):
like it has been. And they pumped so much money
into a TJ.
Speaker 5 (15:29):
Watt.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
He's not getting a quarterback like he used to. So
I think Baltimore is going to beat him now. Texans
fans need the Steelers to play their best game and
to beat the Colts in Pittsburgh. Everybody's speaking the Colts
to win at Pittsburgh. I can't remember the last time
that happened ever since I've been covering the NFL, that
(15:51):
everybody was speaking of Steelers to lose in Hall when
they had a winning record.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
Yeah, this is wild, But what do you think? What
do you think happens in that game? Do the Colts
come back to earth again? We thought they were doing
it when they lost to the Rams. Didn't work out.
They're seven and one and we need Pittsburgh to do
the job.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Got to be big Steeler fans, no matter how ugly
their uniforms are, and I'll tell you I don't. I'm
not picking against the Colts. The Colts have just looked
too good They've passed every test. And Johnathan Taylor has
been incredible. Texans know that very well how great he
can be. And you know, people talk I hear all
(16:32):
the time about what a great offensive coach Kevin O'Connell
is at Minnesota, and I'm sure he is in a
play caller. But he let Sam darnl go, and he
let Daniel Jones go, and he kept JJ McCarthy. And
right now Sam Darnold's playing great, Daniel Jones is playing great.
McCarthy's about to start because he's been hurt. He's only
(16:53):
played what like two quarters in two years. He has
got to come through and be the quarterback they thought
he was going to be last year. But you talk
about having a lot of butt on egg on your face,
they're going to have a order of three fried eggs
on her face.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
But don't you guys think that this is a management
failure because they didn't have a good backup to McCarthy,
who was an unproven player, and they had to go
out and get Wentz. We were there in the preseason.
Wentz was not even a glint in their eye at
the time. They just thought, oh, McCarthy will be fine.
I don't know what they thought. Really, they had Ripping
as a backup, they had Prosmer as a backup, and
they still a Prosmer in the building here.
Speaker 5 (17:28):
How much what it had coused to Capt Daniel Johns.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
I don't know. It's a good question what.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
They gave him? What fourteen million in Andy? Yeah, you know,
McCarthy doesn't.
Speaker 5 (17:37):
Cost you any money. They just made a big mistake.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
Unless McCarthy becomes the quarterback they thought he would be
when they drafted him in the first round last year.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
Gino smitht and the Raiders are taking on the Jaguars
in Las Vegas. General, Do the Raiders have a shot
to knock off the Jaguars out in the desert?
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Rock Bowers getting healthier?
Speaker 6 (17:58):
How about that?
Speaker 5 (17:59):
Yeah, and that would be great if they did. The
Raiders are awful.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
They haven't been able to use Ashton Jenny like they
want to because they're behind all the time. He can't
get the ball in the second half. Geno Smith's been terrible,
throws way too many interceptions, and the defense has not
been good.
Speaker 5 (18:21):
They're talking about do they.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Trade Max Crosby try to get you know, a haul
of draft choices, And they say No, I'm not impressed
with Jacksonville. I just I'm just not If they win,
it doesn't matter to me. I think the Texans are
gonna beat them, should have beaten them the first time.
But I just you know Chip Kelly. Remember when the
Texans talked to Chip Kelly and got out that Chip
(18:45):
Kelly was being paid six million a year maybe more
to be the offensive coordinator.
Speaker 5 (18:52):
Boy, he may wish he back at Ohio, the Ohio State.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Yeah, interesting Chargers at Titans. I don't care about the
game as much as I just want the Titans to
pull off a monumental upset somehow. But what are the
early indicators on what the Titans are going to do
with the head coaching vacancy there general, we still have
over half the season ago. Well, they're almost there, they're
eight games in. What do you think I.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Think that they're going to hire somebody who's an offensive
coach who has called plays, not somebody like they had
in Callahan Ryan Callahan who had never call plays.
Speaker 5 (19:27):
They want to proven play caller.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
And if it's a former head coach, there's a lot
of people there wanted to be Mike McCarty. A lot
of people there wanted to be Arthur Smith. Arthur Smith
was there with four different head coaches. They know him well.
He went to Atlanta. He did not have a quarterback.
He's done a pretty darn good job with Aaron Rodgers
and Pittsburgh. You hiding his deficiencies. They can't throw the
(19:51):
ball down the field anymore. It wouldn't surprise me if
it's Arthur Smith. But that's why I think they wanted
to be a former head coach who's called plays and
can help help cam Ward. And then they'll use their
first off season under general manager Mike mcgon's. You know,
their second off season, they're gonna have a lot of
(20:12):
money to spend and try to do like the Patriots did,
use that money wisely, get a lot of good free
agents that maybe the new coach can help turn them
around quickly.
Speaker 4 (20:25):
You got a dollar from I'm giving a dollar to
each of you, as I always do.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
There we go, thank you.
Speaker 6 (20:31):
But here's your condition.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
Okay, no Chiefs, oh boy, no Eagles, No Chiefs, No Eagles.
Speaker 4 (20:39):
I want you to go to Vegas and put it
on the best team in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Right now, where do you spend your dollar? General?
Speaker 3 (20:48):
You go first well, my super Bowl picks were Detroit
and Buffalo. They still look like they could. I'm going
with Dan Campbell the Haggie, and I'm going with the
Lions with that button.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
I'll tell you what, if the Broncos win this week
and look good, I might put it on them, But
I don't want to even speak that into being in
an imaginary sense, so let's not even go there. I'm
with Detroit here. I think the Lions. I know it's
not perfect all the time, but when push comes to shove,
you get close to the endpoint of the regular season
(21:21):
into the playoffs. They are an experienced team of the postseason.
Didn't go well last year, but they've been there enough.
And you know, you could say the same thing about
the Bills. They've been there so many times now the
Bills that it feels like they got to sneak their
way into a super Bowl somehow, I think. But I'll
never go against the Chiefs, but you didn't allow me to.
Speaker 5 (21:39):
So what about we pick an underdog, my good underdog.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
I'm not picking this Seattle, Okay, good good.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Seattle's defense was great and I think their offense is good.
And if I had to put money and make some
good money, because Lions are not going to make you
good money.
Speaker 5 (21:58):
I would put it on Seattle.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
And if you had said Colts, I would have thrown
up a little bit. But I will say this, I'll
ask this general. Do the Colts sustain this? And I'm
not talking about going fourteen and three. I'm talking about
winning the division with thirteen victories or more and looking
good going into the postseason, possibly the one seed, two seeds,
(22:21):
something like that. Are they able to sustain this in
the long run?
Speaker 2 (22:25):
What do you think?
Speaker 3 (22:26):
I just can't buy into Daniel Jones being a quarterback
who can do that, but he might do it. They've
done it so far as long as Johnson Taylor's healthy,
and their offensive line is doing a great job of
front blocking and past protecting. But one injury to like Taylor,
and I'm not saying they're toast. You know, they can
(22:48):
win the division without winning that many games. They kind
of remind me of some other teams that had were flat,
had great wrecords but were flashing Pans Carolina, the Earth
Panthers went fifteen and one, but they do every The
Colts do everything well, but the Texans get them twice
(23:10):
and they get a chance to beat them two times,
including that last game of the year. Based on the
way they're going, the old TBD could be prime time.
Speaker 4 (23:19):
Okay, So General's thought on his dark horse, so to speak,
Seattle Mine, and I actually might put my dollar on
them the Rams.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
If I get pookin the coop back healthy, I might
go with the Rams good one if the defense is healthy.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
That's because they always play second half of the season
much better.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
All right, John, very special day at NRG Stadium. We've
got about one hundred legends coming back for the Houston Texans,
the former players, and Janie McNair gets into the ring
of honor.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
Your thoughts on that happening.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
I'm at Janis at our house in nineteen ninety seven
when I went over to interview Bob and Janis for
the first time at not metem and I went into
the wrong house, Charlie Thomas's next door, and Charlie and
the housekeeper answered and said, he's on his waist, said
just beat patient. I went in, looked around, and finally
(24:09):
I said, have you see my photographer? She said photographer?
I said, yeah, from the chronicle. She goes a chronicle,
I said, yeah, we're here to interview Bob and Janis McNair.
Oh my god, they live next door. I run to
the front door opened, and she said, where'd you say
you were from? I said, you better forget you ever
met me, because Charlie will fire you if he is
(24:30):
you let a stranger in his house. And I went
over next door. Of course, there's those yards on River
Oaks Boulevard.
Speaker 5 (24:37):
Are so big. And I walk in and Bob's like
tapping his watch, and my photographer's Howard Castleberry's like, where
the bleep have you been?
Speaker 3 (24:47):
And then when I tell him what I'd just done,
they got such a great kick out of it. And
it was a great interview, and Janis is so deserving
to be reunited up there with Bob forever, with JJ
and Andre and more to come.
Speaker 5 (25:01):
And it's going to be a great day for a
great lady who is the epitome of a Southern bell.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
Awesome general, great stuff. As always, thanks so much for joining.
Speaker 5 (25:12):
Us, Yes, thank you very much, as always.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
All right, coming up, Who's Better?
Speaker 1 (25:17):
We've got a special version of it for you, plus
part two of the Houston Methodist Testosterone segment.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
So you don't want to miss that as well.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
It's Texans Radio in the hun Day Texans Radio Studio,
Mark Vandermaer and John Harris with you as we are
getting closer to Sunday's showdown with the Denver Broncos. And
because it is Thursday at this time, that means we're
going to play the game called Who's better?
Speaker 2 (25:41):
Johnny Ready, let's go.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
Okay, better chance to get a head coaching job now?
Speaker 2 (25:49):
Pay attention.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Oh boy, we've had two defensive coordinators in each of
the last two weeks who are former head coaches and
can be again because they're doing a.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Terrific job overall.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
Rob Solid with the sound Francisco forty nine ers Texas
took care of that unit on Sunday, and Vance Joseph
doing an outstanding job with the Denver Broncos, former head
coach with that particular team actually, which is kind of weird.
But who's got a better chance of getting another head
coaching job?
Speaker 4 (26:18):
Ooh, that's a good one. My instant reaction is solid, okay,
because Robert did have I mean with the Jets when
you look at it and go, when you step back
and go, he won seven games with the Jets. Yeah,
right now, that looks really good. Yeah, and he did
it two years in a row. And he did it
the one year twenty twenty three when Rogers was supposed
(26:42):
to be the guy that put them over the top
and he gets hurt three plays into the season.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
I thought he did a hell of a job in
that game that night.
Speaker 4 (26:48):
Against Buffalo and still won seven with all that was
against him. And now look at the Jets in ag
trying to get them out of the Abyss. So my
instant reaction is Sola, because there will be some team
going you know what. He just can't win with the Jets,
and yet he had fourteen wins in two years.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
So my gut tells me Robert.
Speaker 4 (27:12):
But Vance has his defense doing the sexy things that
people are gonna love to see. I think what people
are gonna miss with the Niners is, even though we
did a good job shredding him the other day, that
with injuries to Bosend to Warner, he's keeping that defense together.
I mean, they were lights out against the Falcons, lights
(27:36):
out against the Falcons. So I think he's doing some
of his best coaching right now. Vance's defense just produces
sacks and havoc plays, and that's gonna get people's attention.
I think a little bit more. That said, I would
hire Robert just because I think winning as a head
coach when you look at that he did it with
(27:57):
the Jets, So I would give him.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
I would give him.
Speaker 4 (28:00):
Just a small, short, small leg up over Vance.
Speaker 6 (28:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
I think so too. I think Sala is gonna get it.
I think Sala with a chance to pick another offensive
coordinator his first one didn't work out so well. We
were talking about this the other day, the fact that
he'll get another shot, yep, with a different market. I'm
still surprised Aaron Glenn took the Jets job. I mean,
I'm not talking behind his back. I'd tell it to
his face, saying I don't understand, and I'm sure there
(28:26):
was a good reason why he wouldn't take the New
Orleans job. Maybe there was never an offer coming. I
don't know, but I would assume there would be. And
that's a family business. It just feels different there where
there might be a little less pressure. I mean, all
NFL coaching jobs have a ton of pressure. Oh but
maybe a little bit less, maybe a little more gentle media.
Maybe you're not gonna have all this altercation stuff, not less.
(28:48):
So yeah, the New York media is his freaking brutal
so I mean Sala knew that too. Anyway, Hopefully it
all works out for ag. Sala gets a shot. Hopefully
Vance Joseph gets a shot. Demiko is singing his praise
is yesterday at the podium talking about what a great
defensive coordinator he is. Obviously he was here as a
defensive backs coach when Demiko was still here at linebacker,
(29:10):
and Vance took over for Gary Kubiak after he had
yet another mini stroke in twenty sixteen, and he took over.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
The next couple of years.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
Okay, next one here, Okay, better quarterback. You got to
pick one. And I think I asked you something like
this last week. But the week's continue, so we have
to reset these questions. You got bow Knicks for Denver
Johnny who's thirty seven years old.
Speaker 6 (29:37):
He's not.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
And you have Drake May in New England.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
These are second year guys who are doing well for
their teams. I mean we're talking about first place teams
in their divisions. May looks good, Knicks looks good. I
think you picked May last time, but you get another
shot at it here with Bow Knicks, who is eleven
touchdowns and five picks on the season, may still may.
Speaker 6 (29:58):
Still may okay.
Speaker 4 (30:00):
And I think the reason I say that is I
think both of them have played at pretty high level.
I think Bo had a better rookie year for a
few reasons. I think that Drake has been better this year.
Speaker 6 (30:15):
For a few reasons. But they're pretty close.
Speaker 4 (30:17):
And so I go back ultimately to where I had
them placed in my draft analysis, and I had Drake
way ahead of Bow. Now I think Bo has shown
When I went to go see Bow at the Senior Bowl,
I went to the Senior Bowl not to see Bo,
and it was actually kind of fun to go to
the Senior Bowl and not have to worry about quarterbacks.
So I was able maybe to look at the quarterbacks
a little bit easier that year because I wasn't worried about.
Speaker 6 (30:40):
Any of them becoming Texans.
Speaker 4 (30:42):
And I just remember watching Bo Nicks and the Senior
Bowl going that isn't gonna fly in the NFL. Man,
Holy cow, he can't hit the broad side of a barn.
So when he got to the Broncos picking number twelve,
I think they overdrafted him. But one of the things
I read that summer was Bo Nicks was and had dope.
He dove into everything Sean Payton wanted from him. Offensively,
(31:04):
he learned to playbook. He knew it inside and out
by the time he got back for training camp. He
has a confidence and he could deal with Peyton. You know,
Peyton can be kind of tough on quarterbacks and Nix
is the perfect kind of temperament to be able to
do that.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
So I think they're good fits in both locations. But
to me, Drake.
Speaker 4 (31:24):
Can how do I put this, Drake can save a
play from being completely and totally blown up by doing
something athletically that I don't think Bo can. Bo can
save plays somehow, some way. There's a magic to him
saving a play. I think Drake can do it with
just a little bit more athleticism. They're very, very close,
(31:45):
but I'm gonna go with Drake. I just have always
liked Drake over Bow since I started studying as draft prospects.
Speaker 6 (31:52):
So I'm gonna stick with that. I'm gonna stick with Drake.
Speaker 2 (31:54):
May Okay, we'll see it all works out next.
Speaker 1 (31:58):
More quarterback on better career JJ McCarthy cam Ward, who's
gonna have the better career cam Ward or JJ McCarthy.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
I actually saw.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
One of the hot take shows have the underneath the
lower third, Yeah, the graphics saying, can JJ McCarthy lead
the Vikings to the playoffs? And I thought, I reckon,
we're asking that question right now? Are you familiar with
what's happened so far? It's not even the four games season,
he's played two games. It gets who they play this weekend,
the Lions on the road. Have fun with that. I mean,
(32:33):
I don't root against any of these guys because well,
cam Ward, I want him to lose some titan Okay, yeah,
but you know, God bless them. But I think the
JJ McCarty at the Lions thing is a tall order.
They're gonna drop the three and five playoffs? Are you
know it's playoffs really for them?
Speaker 2 (32:49):
I don't see it.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
But anyway, your thoughts, who's gonna have the better career?
So we got to go.
Speaker 2 (32:53):
Beyond this year.
Speaker 4 (32:55):
I'm gonna go with JJ McCarthy, And I think there's
a couple of There are a couple of reasons why,
and actually I don't think any of them have to
do with.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
The play on the field. Because he's coached by the
greatest coach ever.
Speaker 4 (33:07):
Well, yes, that's that's one part of it, but it
also leads to another part. There's a lot more stability
in Minnesota, yeah, than there is in Tennessee. You think about,
you know what, Jetta's there with Jordanadison there, with an
offensive line that they spent some money on, They spent
draft picks, guys that have been around for a little bit,
and Kevin O'Connell quest he's a really good GM. I mean,
(33:27):
look at Tennessee. Tennessee's been a mess. It's been a
head coach or a GM every other year.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
If they can hire somebody really good.
Speaker 4 (33:34):
Now they could, they could, but it's just another year
of change for cam Ward at that point. Now, change
did Drake May some good? I know he's not in
this one, but we talked about him a second ago.
Change did Drake May a lot of good? Because they
brought in Josh McDaniels, who has done a great job.
Speaker 2 (33:50):
JJ's played too.
Speaker 4 (33:51):
Cam Ward's played three times as many games as J. J.
McCarthy as and JJ was drafted in twenty twenty four.
I just think that stability and talent around McCarthy will
make him better than cam Ward basically flying solo. That's
essentially what he's doing in Tennessee. His top receiver is
Calvin Ridley. Calvin Ridley's what a top twenty receiver in
(34:12):
the league. If that I'm talking about Jettis and Addison,
those guys you can make case are both top twenty
two of them, not to mention the TJ Hockinson, Aaron
Jones in the backfield. So I just think there's a
lot more around McCarthy where he can do positive things
and have a positive impact on the Vikings and they
can win games. But he doesn't have to carry him.
(34:35):
Cam Ward has to cape up for the Titans to
win cape up, and I don't know that that is
ultimately a successful way of doing things.
Speaker 2 (34:45):
It's going to take a while.
Speaker 4 (34:46):
It's going to take two years or so for the
Titans to put the right amount of decision makers, head coach,
talented wide receivers and complete offensive line for cam Ward
to hit his highest level. Now as players came Ward
as I think more arm talent, he's got more get
(35:08):
out of the pocketability to make plays there.
Speaker 6 (35:11):
But it's close.
Speaker 4 (35:12):
Enough that right now I would take JJ McCarthy one
hundred times out of one hundred.
Speaker 2 (35:17):
Okay, let me throw Caleb Williams in here.
Speaker 1 (35:20):
Oh as well, when you look at these three second
year quarterbacks plus cam Ward a rookie quarterback, if you
had to pick right now, I mean, Caleb has Ben Johnson,
but it's not really clicking yet. Yeah, at times it
looks okay, but it's not really clicking yet. I actually
heard one of the hot take shows talking about, well,
Jared Goff in his first year with I'm whoa hit
(35:40):
the brakes here, we're talking Jared Goff worked with McVeigh
and going to a super Bowl. You know, I know
that they kind of gave up on him because they
traded him. But they traded him because they had a
chance to get Matthew Stafford, a proven winner, and Goff,
although he'd won a lot of games, wasn't to their liking.
And Goff really got it going with Ben Johnson, but
Goff was much more of the finished product. Caleb Williams
(36:03):
is still a rookie, coming on his second year quarterback,
coming in with a new coordinator and all that.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
Anyway, throw him in the mix.
Speaker 4 (36:10):
Caleb is kind of a conundrum because there are times
I watch Caleb and it I feel like I'm watching
a guy being a maestro in that offense kind of
move guys around, boom, He's slinging around.
Speaker 6 (36:24):
It looks good.
Speaker 4 (36:25):
But he's also doing that against you know, say the Cardinals,
or you know some team with a defense that's not
not very good, and he's just being a maestro. It's
almost as if when the other team that he's facing
is either favored in a game or one of the
top teams in the league, it's almost as if he
wants to go in the booth and go become Superman.
Speaker 2 (36:47):
It's like, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Speaker 4 (36:48):
Just be Caleb, Just be Caleb. Just follow follow the plan.
You got enough weapons around. Your offensive line is pretty good.
Your running game is actually better than people think. Just
rely on those weapons. You don't have to cape up,
you don't have to be Superman. You don't have to
hold the ball twenty seconds in the backfield and spin
around from eight different guys.
Speaker 2 (37:09):
Just follow what Ben Johnson's coaching you do.
Speaker 4 (37:11):
And I think that Caleb gets those points where there
are games where he's like, Okay, follow the game plan.
Speaker 6 (37:18):
I'm good.
Speaker 4 (37:18):
Then I think there are some games where for him
he feels like I gotta make a play. I gotta
make a play. I had to make a but and
I got it. It's like, no, you don't, you don't
just sitting there. I think there are some habits that
have to be broken in Chicago with him. From that standpoint,
not every play has to be a thirty five yard
(37:39):
highlight reel going on Sports Center.
Speaker 6 (37:41):
Play.
Speaker 1 (37:41):
Okay, here's another one for you. Best option at the
trade deadline for the Houston Texans position groups. Acquire an
offensive lineman, acquire a running back, acquire any other position
you want, or do nothing. I know this is tough.
(38:02):
Let's just leave the do nothing out of it, but
let's just play. Make a trade. You're gonna acquire something, Okay,
either O line, running back, or another position. What's it
gonna be. I am forcing you to acquire somebody.
Speaker 4 (38:17):
I think the interesting one of the three is running
back because we still don't know what Joe Mixon's status is.
Speaker 2 (38:25):
If there was any indication that Joe could come.
Speaker 4 (38:27):
Back in the next three to four weeks, which I
don't know if that's possible, I have no idea even.
Speaker 2 (38:32):
The final three four games of the regular season.
Speaker 4 (38:34):
Yeah, I think I would say, Okay, running back good.
The tight end position, I would say is one that
I would like to target because even though Dalton has
played the best ball of his career, I want somebody
that comes in to help Dalton.
Speaker 2 (38:54):
That's not all on Dalton that he's the only guy.
Speaker 6 (38:56):
Now.
Speaker 4 (38:57):
I think Harrison Brian has done some good things. I
still think that was a good trade. By the way,
John met you got traded again to New York Jets.
I think Harrison Bryant can do some things and has
done some things in this offense.
Speaker 6 (39:07):
The more comfortably he.
Speaker 4 (39:08):
Gets, but I still feel like that's a position where
we still miss Brevin Jordan. We miss Kate Stover now
again talked about Joe Mixon with running backs. If you
feel like you can get Kate Stover back in the
next how many ever weeks, then maybe that's one that
you maybe stay away from so.
Speaker 2 (39:28):
That then brings you to offensive line.
Speaker 4 (39:31):
I feel like, even what you have on the offensive line,
if there is a way to upgrade on the offensive line,
absolutely take a look. And I would say that every
year every year. If there's an opportunity to upgrade the
offensive line. You know, but John, it's playing a little
bit better. They only gave up two quarterback hits and
no sax against the Niners. Understand that, but we also
(39:54):
know that the attrition on the offensive line happens as
the more more plays they run on, the more snaps
they have, more games they play, you're gonna lose a
guy to injury, You're gonna lose some of that depth.
So finding a guy that you feel I can come
in here and accentuate the offensive line, I think is
absolutely to me the one that would take press sense.
Now again, if if you knew more about Joe, if
(40:18):
you felt good about Caid, then I feel like then
those two you can go, all right, well, those might
be two guys that you can bring along later when
you really need it. But offensive line, I feel like,
just offensive line in general, always always, And so that
one takes pres sense to me.
Speaker 1 (40:32):
All right, one more quick one. All right, what was
the best Halloween costume you ever had? You got to
reach back.
Speaker 4 (40:41):
There was a poster many many years ago. Posters are
really cool in the eighties, yes, and they used to
have the Costacos posters, and then every shoe company you
did posters, and Nike used to do posters.
Speaker 6 (40:51):
And Converse used to do posters.
Speaker 4 (40:53):
Yeah, and Converse did a poster of Don Mattingly and
it was called Hitman and he was in a pinstripe
suit and his bat was like a gat like a
gallon gun, you know. And it was a playoff being
a mafia guy. And I love that Dom Matowy poster.
So you dressed up as I went as the hit Man.
Nobody knew who I was. Suit hose, the suit to everything,
(41:16):
and then I had a bat. I was walking around
school with my eastern bat, you know. So yeah, that
was that was my best I went as the hit Man.
Uh you know, tongue in cheek is you know, Dom Mattingly,
But yeah, I got to walk around school with my
eastern bat and you know, picks wings whenever I wanted to.
Speaker 6 (41:31):
It was awesome.
Speaker 2 (41:31):
Those posters were something else.
Speaker 6 (41:33):
They were so good.
Speaker 1 (41:34):
In the shoe shoe shine so good, Darryl Dawkins, Chocolate
Thunder from the Planet loved Tron. I mean that is
on a poster that is just wild.
Speaker 2 (41:43):
The best poster I think there ever was.
Speaker 6 (41:46):
And you'll know this one. George Gervin.
Speaker 4 (41:48):
Yeah, the ice Man sitting on a throne of ice
he's got a couple of basketballs on her.
Speaker 2 (41:52):
I mean, that is the coolest, the coolest.
Speaker 1 (41:55):
All right, interesting, I'll share mine tomorrow maybe. But coming
up the medical report, it's not really that, but Houston
Methods Minutes with more on the testosterone subject that came
up last week. This is good stuff from the doctors
at Houston method is next here on Texans Radio. Great
to have you listening to Texans Radio. If you just
joined us, Where have you been? Have you been late
(42:16):
to class? Well, this whole show will be up in
podcast form right afterwards on the Odyssey app, which you
should undoubtedly have. Maybe you're listening on it right now,
and later on Spotify, Houston Texans dot com and anywhere
else you get podcasts. And in this segment, we'd like
to go medical sometimes but with us slant toward what
you're interested in and what about all these testosterone commercials? Now,
(42:39):
last week we had doctor Akhil mcthigy talking about the
basics of testosterone TRT therapy. This week part two of
that conversation. Let's start out with the injections. What's it
all about?
Speaker 7 (42:51):
Yeah, so injection is a very common form of testostroone
therapy management. The most common is once a week, very
easy done at home, either into that thy muscle or
gluias muscle. There's also longer acting forms of testosterone that
we can inject in the clinic. Patient typically comes in
once every ten weeks for that form of testosterone. There's
(43:13):
also pellets that we can place into the glueas muscle.
This is a very good option for men who don't
want to be injecting weekly themselves at HOMER, don't want
to be coming into the clinic often. There's pellets that
we can place into the glueas muscle about every three
to four months, and that's a very good option for
long acting testosterone. There's also several other forms other than injections.
(43:33):
That includes nasal sprays, gels, as well as oral tablets.
Oral tablets is something that's new on the market. There's
three FDAF oral tablets now that are very safe and
you know, enjoyed by patients.
Speaker 1 (43:49):
So, once you're on TRT as they call it, is
that for life or how does that work? Can you
go off of it and boost your levels naturally after that?
Speaker 2 (43:59):
Or it does not work?
Speaker 7 (44:01):
So that's a very good question. So anytime I'm starting
someone on testoster mode, I typically recommend a three to
six month trial, and that's to see if there's any
symptom improvement or improvement in their lab results. There are
men who, let's say have low normal testoster with symptoms.
We get started on testofser and they don't have any
(44:21):
improvement in their symptoms. I typically recommend stopping testosterone at
that time. However, if we do see improvement in symptoms,
what I typically recommend is lifestyle changes in addition to
testosterone replacement therapy. Oftentimes these guys are low energy, very
hygh fatigue, unable to make it to the gym, not
sleeping well. If I get them started on test offerom
(44:43):
for three to six months, they're able to get to
the gym, able to work out, build muscle mass, sleep better,
and then we see a natural boost in their testosceral level.
So at that point, after three to six months, we
can discuss potentially stopping and contooing just healthy lifestyle changes. However,
there are some men that have been fit from continued
therapy and it can and sometimes be a lifelong thing
(45:04):
once started.
Speaker 1 (45:05):
How hard is it to boost your natural production again
after you go off t RT that's a.
Speaker 7 (45:12):
Very good question as well. So that one of the
downsides of testops from replacement therapy is our body senses
we're getting it externally and it shuts down our own production.
So once that happens, it is it can be difficult
to jump start system. However, we have strategies to boost
our own system. Uh. That's that's several different horrible medication
(45:34):
regimens that boost our own production of testops from once
it's stopped. So that's something that we get into in
the in the clinic as well. But there's medicines such
as clomate and ACG that we often give once if
someone is trying to come off of testosterone, and that
helps it boost our own production. So we have the
we have several different strategies that we can utilize for
(45:56):
three to six months to rejump start our system once
testops to stop.
Speaker 1 (46:00):
That's great information, doctor, thanks so much for joining us.
We appreciate it all right, thanks for having me. That's
doctor Kiel mcthigy from the Houston Methodist Men's Health Center
Skurlock Tower, Houston Methodist dot org for more information. It's
the official healthcare provider of the Houston, Texans. Houston Methodist
leading medicine. All right, there's doctor Akil mcthigy of Houston
(46:22):
Methodist on testosterone, the official healthcare provider of the Houston Texans.
Houston Methodist leading medicine. And thanks so much for the
general John mcclaim for being on the show. Johnny Harris
and I played Who's Better again. The whole show's in
podcast form on the Odyssey app right after we close
this one out, Thursday Night Football on the way. You
don't want to miss that. You don't want to miss
tomorrow's show, which is loaded Tomko Ryans, Danny Barrett, the
(46:46):
assistant head coach, is going to be on a player
to be named later. Tons of other stuff all happening
tomorrow at six. Have a great night everyone, Go Texans,
Hello Texans, Welcome to the show. It's a big one
with the game against the Broncos coming up in three
days at NRG Stadium, a noonkick as hot Denver comes
into town first place in the AFC West. This is
after the NFC West first place team tied for first
anyway at the time, came in here and the Texans
(00:22):
took care of business. So we'll see altogether what happens
on Sunday. It'll be live here at noon. Mark Vandermain
and John Harris with you, joined by the Hall of
Fame writer John McClain, the general in the house. So John,
let's start out here your thoughts on what it's going
to take to knock off the Broncos, who I'm not
(00:42):
gonna call them a big surprise necessarily, but I guess
it is that they lead the division and have done
so well overall against the competition they faced at the
midway point of the season. Well for them, it's coming
up at halftime Sunday.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Your thoughts. Good evening, Good evening.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
They just pounded the Cowboys, which is good. Of course,
they've been scoring a whole lot of points in the
last five quarters. That miraculous come back two weeks ago.
I think it was against the Giants, and then in
a way, they just obliterated Dallas, and I think this
is one of the biggest games we've seen in regular
(01:18):
season that did not mean clinching the playoffs, because if
they win this game, that would give them four out
of five, and then they host Jacksonville, and I think,
no matter what happens here, they're going to beat Jacksonville.
Then they're going to go to Tennessee. Might be depleted
because of the trade deadline, but it wouldn't matter. They're
(01:41):
going to beat Tennessee. So if they could win this game,
then I think they they're going to win the next two.
And I know Tamiko Ryans hates said when you look ahead,
but that's what fans do, and everybody's looking at this
game and the next two. Now, the fact is they
beat the forty nine Ers. Forty nine Ers defense was
(02:03):
missing a lot of key players, just like the Texans
offense was missing a lot of key players, and they
beat the Ravens whose defense was decimated. Now they're going
against the defense that leads the NFL in sacks with
thirty six and is allowed the fewest with eight that's
the first time I think I read in history that
(02:24):
after eight games a team had done that. Indianapolis has
allowed one more, and you know, the Texans have allowed
what fifteen and they have sixteen. Well, the Broncos have
thirty six sacks led the NFL last year Advance Joseph
boy At some point, Vance is on the verge of
being fired and now he has turned it around and
(02:46):
he is doing a great coaching job. So if the
Texans win this game, they're certainly capable of winning it.
If they do, they're going to get so much positive
feedback locally and nationally. And they still have those two
games left for the Calls, who play at Pittsburgh, which
to me has been a big disappointment. More money spent
(03:09):
on their defense than any in the league, and there's
nothing special about the Steelers defense. But the fact is
this is a big game. If they win it, it
could turn around their season.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
But there is something special about Broncos quarterback Bo Knicks
general In the fourth quarter against the Giants, they put
up thirty three. Last week against the Cowboys, they put
up forty four. That's seventy seven points in five quarters.
That projected over a full game is sixty points a game. Yes,
the Cowboys have a sieve for a defense. The Giants'
(03:43):
front front is pretty good and shut them out for
three quarters. What are your thoughts about bo Knicks as
kind of the next level guy being how good he
is now versus where you thought he might be. What
are your thoughts about bo Knicks coming in on Sunday?
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Well, I just mentioned about the Broncos leaguing the league
in sacks and fewest sacks allowed. Detexans have a pretty
good double going there themselves. They've allowed the fewest points
per game and they're number one in defense. So I
don't know that bow Knicks has gone up against a
defense like this. I hear so much and you do
too about Drake May Drake May this, Drake May that.
(04:21):
How come we're not earn more about bow Knicks. Bo
Nicks has played great too. He's he can run, he
can throw, He fens perfectly. In Sean Payton's offense, they
run the run the ball well. They're tied for third
in rushing and their defense is certainly not chevy. All
those sacks have helped them ranked fifth overall, tenth against
(04:44):
the run, seventh against the pass, so it seems like
this would be a defensive oriented game.
Speaker 5 (04:52):
I think the.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Key for the Texans, if you can shut down Christian McCaffrey,
you can shut down the Broncos running game. The Texans
were outstanding against McCaffrey, and the next key is the
Texans have to do a better job scoring in the
red zone. They were terribly against the forty nine ers.
They beat up the Niners so bad that game should
(05:15):
not have been close, but getting down close to the
go line and Kami Fairbarah kicking four field goals was
not good. I don't think they could do it against
the Broncos.
Speaker 5 (05:25):
You know, CJ.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Stroud, great game, offensive line, all the pass protectors, great game,
but boy, it hurts when you can't run the ball
in close and they've only got three rushing touchdowns or
one good day, which equals one good day for Jonathan
Taylor who's had three and three games. So I think
the red zone, of course, shutting down a running game,
(05:48):
getting after bownecks.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
So, John, when you look at CJ. Stroud, you mentioned
not being as good as they needed to be in
the red zone or wanted to be in the red zone.
Last week, they did what they needed to beat the
forty nine.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Ers, but overall that felt like a.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Basketball player having a twenty five to thirty point game.
What did you make of it? Where's it going from here?
With he and this offense?
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Well, I also think you know, they put forty four
on the Ravens, and so he played pretty well in
that game, and they go up hered Seattle, which has
a great defense, and they struggled big time. He looked
so comfortable. He had two or three passes that were
just great, I mean great throws. I think if that
(06:33):
long pass down the right sideline to Harrison Bryant had
been to a wide receiver, he'd have been a step
or two faster and it would have been a touchdown.
But Stroud just looked so much more confident, and he
knows when he's being protected.
Speaker 5 (06:48):
Now, they got rid of the ball quick. That is
the whole key.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
If you had the Broncos backfoot hits the ground, don't
hold it, get it out. And we got to see
the young guys make I didn't know Xavier Hudsons and
had that kind of speed to turn the corner the
way he did on his thirty yard touchdown. They had
those big plays. You know, Chunk plays what he marks,
twenty three yard run, fifty yard catch, Xavior had a
(07:14):
thirty yard touchdown. They looked like a big play offense.
And they did it without Nico and Nikom's back, and
obviously he's starting going to be the main receiver. If
Christian Kirk was back. I still rather see Jalen Knowle.
I rather see Nola's apartment returner. I rather to see
Nola's a slight receiver, because that kid has big play capability.
(07:35):
And we have to mention a player who did really
well before he got hurt, Braxton Barrios, including a great
third down catch. Seeing Stroud spread the ball to all
those receivers was a thing of beauty because he got
it out quick, and he got it out confidently, and
it just seemed that his confidence grew as the game
(07:56):
went on.
Speaker 4 (07:57):
General, it appears that Patrick's ten to second will not
play in this game, and you just mentioned it. Nico
and Christian hopefully will be back in this game for
the Texans. As you look at that difference, they lose,
Sir Tan, Texans get back potentially Nico and Kirk.
Speaker 6 (08:19):
What do you think it means?
Speaker 4 (08:21):
On top of what they did against the forty nine
ers to get those two back, But no Cirtan on
the other side.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Obviously, that'd be like taking out Derek Stanley Jr. It
would be a huge blow and leave a hole.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
In the defense.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
He's the defending NFL Defensive Player of the Year and
certain was playing great. But not one player is going
to cost you. Look at Niko, he was out Sunday
and they beat the pants off the forty nine ers
without him, and a lot of receivers made big plays.
I'd still rather see Jalen Noel and Christian Kirk. Kirk's
(08:53):
been hurt a lot. I don't think he's going to
get any better in his bad but I think Noel
will get better. And I love the way stra outspread
the ball. But they're gonna have to double Niko. They
can't put cirtin on him and have him got him
all over the field. Can't wait to see the way
they use Stanley was Courtland Sutton because their receivers have
(09:13):
stepped up for the Broncos, but and they's been scoring
a lot of points, but there's still a defensive team
that gets after the quarterback and probably one of the
reasons for ten is as great as he is is
because they get so much pressure on the quarterback.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
John It's a surprise to me that Dobbins is who
he is to the Broncos this year, considering they signed
him June eleventh. I mean they waited a long time.
He was coming off the injury with the Chargers. You know,
Chubb was out there as well before that. Texans signed
Chubb for less than half the money that Dobbins signed
with the Broncos for. And I don't know what the
Texans knew about the Joe Mixon situation at the time.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
I didn't even want to go there.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
I'm just saying, what a surprise it is that they
kind of take a flyer of sorts on and now
he's this bell cow again for this team in this
particular season leading the West thoughts JK.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Dobbins from just down the road, Lagrange, and that kid
has had two major injuries and he's come back from
both and he has not lost his speed.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
That's amazing.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
He's still a breakaway threat with a big average per carry,
and he's one of those guys capable of big plate
every time he gets the ball. So it was a
great move by their personnel department. Sean Payton has finals
say on everything, and they had no idea he was
going to be this good. If they known that, they
would have signed him way before June when he was
(10:41):
just hoping to catch on with the team that would
give him a chance, and that has worked out great.
Speaker 5 (10:47):
I'm happy for him.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
Because of all the difficulties he's overcome physically and.
Speaker 5 (10:54):
It was a.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
Smooth move by them. And the Texans have played against
him before. They know they have to contain a running
game that's tied for third in the NFL and it's
led by JK.
Speaker 5 (11:06):
Dobbins.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
General Sean Payton, head coach at Denver Broncos. I don't
really know anyway or asked this question other than what's
been the impact that he has brought to that organization?
What have you seen from Afar and what has he done?
Knowing what he did with the Saints, are you surprised
at all that Denver is in the position that they
are right now just three years into his run in Denver.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
We kind of forget or overlooked the fact he was
the first coach interviewed by the Texans when they hired Jamaica,
and I'm so glad they hired Jamiko. Well, Peyton's a
great coach. He can be a great paint in the
butt for a lot of people around him. And I
had no idea they be this goodness fast. Remember when
(11:54):
the Dolphins put seventy on him his first season, Yeah yeah,
and everybody, oh my god, what's the man?
Speaker 5 (11:59):
What's they got?
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Fire events Joseph and they stayed the course and he
did not fire Georgia.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
What's the jam Peyton?
Speaker 3 (12:09):
George paydenho gave all that money to Russell Wilson on
that contract because Peyton's known to be really good at
what he does, and Sean Payton has final say on everything,
and he wasn't going to get that coming to Houston
because Neck Cassario is in his contract that he is
finals say on all personnel things. But you can't deny it.
He's done a great job. He got a quarterback that
(12:32):
he likes to fince his system, and a lot of
people thought he was nuts taking Bownicks where he did.
Most people said he's a second round pick, some lower
than that, and bow Nicks has done a tremendous job,
and Peyton has done a tremendous job coaching him and
calling the plays.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
Do you think that the Broncos, no matter what happens
this weekend, do they hang out.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Of the West.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Here the Chiefs are five and three, playing the Bills
breathing down their neck, Bronco six and two.
Speaker 5 (13:01):
What do you think I think the Chiefs?
Speaker 3 (13:04):
The Chiefs are gonna win the division. I don't think
they're going to Super Bowl, but they are playing really well.
They've got everybody healthy. They still don't have that Look
at rookie left tackle who disappeared, Josh Simmons. They say
he'll be back at some point, and they've been able
to overcome it. And you know, let's face it, benrim
(13:27):
Mall is playing great again.
Speaker 5 (13:29):
You know they are.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Buffalo has owned them in regular season and they have
owned the Bills in the playoffs. So the Chiefs need
to pretend that this game Sunday is a playoff game
and see if they beat the Bills in what may
be the first of two games.
Speaker 5 (13:45):
Again.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
I love watching these teams get together, but I do
think Denver's gonna I think the Broncos are better than
the Chargers. We could see three teams from the AFC
West getting in the playoffs, but I don't think they're
going to win the division. I don't think they're as
good as the Chiefs.
Speaker 6 (14:02):
General.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
The Ravens are two and five, yet they are the
betting favorite by Vegas. They are the only team with
a minus number as the prediction would go four winning
the division in the North at two and five, with
the Steelers four and three. The Bengals are four and four.
(14:25):
I believe something along those lines, three and five, whatever
it might be. Would you make the Ravens the prohibitive
favorite right now to go win the AFC North?
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Absolutely I would. And what I'm trying to figure out
Tyler Hundley played the last game and he played really well.
And are gain a lot of criticism John Arbaugh, Why
in the world did you play Cooper Rush? Texans just
beat up Cooper Rush big time for the second year
in a row.
Speaker 5 (14:55):
And Hundley, remember one year, actually went to the Pro Bowl.
He must have been like.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
The a.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
Replacement, but he did play well. Signdee Jackson's back. They
need some of their big guys back on defense. Ricard
their fullback, came back. Derrick Henry scored two touchdowns and
I think they're gonna win the division. Steelers are four
and three and they're getting blasted because their defense is
just not good. It's not good like it should be,
(15:25):
like it has been. And they pumped so much money
into a TJ.
Speaker 5 (15:29):
Watt.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
He's not getting a quarterback like he used to. So
I think Baltimore is going to beat him now. Texans
fans need the Steelers to play their best game and
to beat the Colts in Pittsburgh. Everybody's speaking the Colts
to win at Pittsburgh. I can't remember the last time
that happened ever since I've been covering the NFL, that
(15:51):
everybody was speaking of Steelers to lose in Hall when
they had a winning record.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
Yeah, this is wild, But what do you think? What
do you think happens in that game? Do the Colts
come back to earth again? We thought they were doing
it when they lost to the Rams. Didn't work out.
They're seven and one and we need Pittsburgh to do
the job.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Got to be big Steeler fans, no matter how ugly
their uniforms are, and I'll tell you I don't. I'm
not picking against the Colts. The Colts have just looked
too good They've passed every test. And Johnathan Taylor has
been incredible. Texans know that very well how great he
can be. And you know, people talk I hear all
(16:32):
the time about what a great offensive coach Kevin O'Connell
is at Minnesota, and I'm sure he is in a
play caller. But he let Sam darnl go, and he
let Daniel Jones go, and he kept JJ McCarthy. And
right now Sam Darnold's playing great, Daniel Jones is playing great.
McCarthy's about to start because he's been hurt. He's only
(16:53):
played what like two quarters in two years. He has
got to come through and be the quarterback they thought
he was going to be last year. But you talk
about having a lot of butt on egg on your face,
they're going to have a order of three fried eggs
on her face.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
But don't you guys think that this is a management
failure because they didn't have a good backup to McCarthy,
who was an unproven player, and they had to go
out and get Wentz. We were there in the preseason.
Wentz was not even a glint in their eye at
the time. They just thought, oh, McCarthy will be fine.
I don't know what they thought. Really, they had Ripping
as a backup, they had Prosmer as a backup, and
they still a Prosmer in the building here.
Speaker 5 (17:28):
How much what it had coused to Capt Daniel Johns.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
I don't know. It's a good question what.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
They gave him? What fourteen million in Andy? Yeah, you know,
McCarthy doesn't.
Speaker 5 (17:37):
Cost you any money. They just made a big mistake.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
Unless McCarthy becomes the quarterback they thought he would be
when they drafted him in the first round last year.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
Gino smitht and the Raiders are taking on the Jaguars
in Las Vegas. General, Do the Raiders have a shot
to knock off the Jaguars out in the desert?
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Rock Bowers getting healthier?
Speaker 6 (17:58):
How about that?
Speaker 5 (17:59):
Yeah, and that would be great if they did. The
Raiders are awful.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
They haven't been able to use Ashton Jenny like they
want to because they're behind all the time. He can't
get the ball in the second half. Geno Smith's been terrible,
throws way too many interceptions, and the defense has not
been good.
Speaker 5 (18:21):
They're talking about do they.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Trade Max Crosby try to get you know, a haul
of draft choices, And they say No, I'm not impressed
with Jacksonville. I just I'm just not If they win,
it doesn't matter to me. I think the Texans are
gonna beat them, should have beaten them the first time.
But I just you know Chip Kelly. Remember when the
Texans talked to Chip Kelly and got out that Chip
(18:45):
Kelly was being paid six million a year maybe more
to be the offensive coordinator.
Speaker 5 (18:52):
Boy, he may wish he back at Ohio, the Ohio State.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Yeah, interesting Chargers at Titans. I don't care about the
game as much as I just want the Titans to
pull off a monumental upset somehow. But what are the
early indicators on what the Titans are going to do
with the head coaching vacancy there general, we still have
over half the season ago. Well, they're almost there, they're
eight games in. What do you think I.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Think that they're going to hire somebody who's an offensive
coach who has called plays, not somebody like they had
in Callahan Ryan Callahan who had never call plays.
Speaker 5 (19:27):
They want to proven play caller.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
And if it's a former head coach, there's a lot
of people there wanted to be Mike McCarty. A lot
of people there wanted to be Arthur Smith. Arthur Smith
was there with four different head coaches. They know him well.
He went to Atlanta. He did not have a quarterback.
He's done a pretty darn good job with Aaron Rodgers
and Pittsburgh. You hiding his deficiencies. They can't throw the
(19:51):
ball down the field anymore. It wouldn't surprise me if
it's Arthur Smith. But that's why I think they wanted
to be a former head coach who's called plays and
can help help cam Ward. And then they'll use their
first off season under general manager Mike mcgon's. You know,
their second off season, they're gonna have a lot of
(20:12):
money to spend and try to do like the Patriots did,
use that money wisely, get a lot of good free
agents that maybe the new coach can help turn them
around quickly.
Speaker 4 (20:25):
You got a dollar from I'm giving a dollar to
each of you, as I always do.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
There we go, thank you.
Speaker 6 (20:31):
But here's your condition.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
Okay, no Chiefs, oh boy, no Eagles, No Chiefs, No Eagles.
Speaker 4 (20:39):
I want you to go to Vegas and put it
on the best team in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Right now, where do you spend your dollar? General?
Speaker 3 (20:48):
You go first well, my super Bowl picks were Detroit
and Buffalo. They still look like they could. I'm going
with Dan Campbell the Haggie, and I'm going with the
Lions with that button.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
I'll tell you what, if the Broncos win this week
and look good, I might put it on them, But
I don't want to even speak that into being in
an imaginary sense, so let's not even go there. I'm
with Detroit here. I think the Lions. I know it's
not perfect all the time, but when push comes to shove,
you get close to the endpoint of the regular season
(21:21):
into the playoffs. They are an experienced team of the postseason.
Didn't go well last year, but they've been there enough.
And you know, you could say the same thing about
the Bills. They've been there so many times now the
Bills that it feels like they got to sneak their
way into a super Bowl somehow, I think. But I'll
never go against the Chiefs, but you didn't allow me to.
Speaker 5 (21:39):
So what about we pick an underdog, my good underdog.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
I'm not picking this Seattle, Okay, good good.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Seattle's defense was great and I think their offense is good.
And if I had to put money and make some
good money, because Lions are not going to make you
good money.
Speaker 5 (21:58):
I would put it on Seattle.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
And if you had said Colts, I would have thrown
up a little bit. But I will say this, I'll
ask this general. Do the Colts sustain this? And I'm
not talking about going fourteen and three. I'm talking about
winning the division with thirteen victories or more and looking
good going into the postseason, possibly the one seed, two seeds,
(22:21):
something like that. Are they able to sustain this in
the long run?
Speaker 2 (22:25):
What do you think?
Speaker 3 (22:26):
I just can't buy into Daniel Jones being a quarterback
who can do that, but he might do it. They've
done it so far as long as Johnson Taylor's healthy,
and their offensive line is doing a great job of
front blocking and past protecting. But one injury to like Taylor,
and I'm not saying they're toast. You know, they can
(22:48):
win the division without winning that many games. They kind
of remind me of some other teams that had were flat,
had great wrecords but were flashing Pans Carolina, the Earth
Panthers went fifteen and one, but they do every The
Colts do everything well, but the Texans get them twice
(23:10):
and they get a chance to beat them two times,
including that last game of the year. Based on the
way they're going, the old TBD could be prime time.
Speaker 4 (23:19):
Okay, So General's thought on his dark horse, so to speak,
Seattle Mine, and I actually might put my dollar on
them the Rams.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
If I get pookin the coop back healthy, I might
go with the Rams good one if the defense is healthy.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
That's because they always play second half of the season
much better.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
All right, John, very special day at NRG Stadium. We've
got about one hundred legends coming back for the Houston Texans,
the former players, and Janie McNair gets into the ring
of honor.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
Your thoughts on that happening.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
I'm at Janis at our house in nineteen ninety seven
when I went over to interview Bob and Janis for
the first time at not metem and I went into
the wrong house, Charlie Thomas's next door, and Charlie and
the housekeeper answered and said, he's on his waist, said
just beat patient. I went in, looked around, and finally
(24:09):
I said, have you see my photographer? She said photographer?
I said, yeah, from the chronicle. She goes a chronicle,
I said, yeah, we're here to interview Bob and Janis McNair.
Oh my god, they live next door. I run to
the front door opened, and she said, where'd you say
you were from? I said, you better forget you ever
met me, because Charlie will fire you if he is
(24:30):
you let a stranger in his house. And I went
over next door. Of course, there's those yards on River
Oaks Boulevard.
Speaker 5 (24:37):
Are so big. And I walk in and Bob's like
tapping his watch, and my photographer's Howard Castleberry's like, where
the bleep have you been?
Speaker 3 (24:47):
And then when I tell him what I'd just done,
they got such a great kick out of it. And
it was a great interview, and Janis is so deserving
to be reunited up there with Bob forever, with JJ
and Andre and more to come.
Speaker 5 (25:01):
And it's going to be a great day for a
great lady who is the epitome of a Southern bell.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
Awesome general, great stuff. As always, thanks so much for joining.
Speaker 5 (25:12):
Us, Yes, thank you very much, as always.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
All right, coming up, Who's Better?
Speaker 1 (25:17):
We've got a special version of it for you, plus
part two of the Houston Methodist Testosterone segment.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
So you don't want to miss that as well.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
It's Texans Radio in the hun Day Texans Radio Studio,
Mark Vandermaer and John Harris with you as we are
getting closer to Sunday's showdown with the Denver Broncos. And
because it is Thursday at this time, that means we're
going to play the game called Who's better?
Speaker 2 (25:41):
Johnny Ready, let's go.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
Okay, better chance to get a head coaching job now?
Speaker 2 (25:49):
Pay attention.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Oh boy, we've had two defensive coordinators in each of
the last two weeks who are former head coaches and
can be again because they're doing a.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Terrific job overall.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
Rob Solid with the sound Francisco forty nine ers Texas
took care of that unit on Sunday, and Vance Joseph
doing an outstanding job with the Denver Broncos, former head
coach with that particular team actually, which is kind of weird.
But who's got a better chance of getting another head
coaching job?
Speaker 4 (26:18):
Ooh, that's a good one. My instant reaction is solid, okay,
because Robert did have I mean with the Jets when
you look at it and go, when you step back
and go, he won seven games with the Jets. Yeah,
right now, that looks really good. Yeah, and he did
it two years in a row. And he did it
the one year twenty twenty three when Rogers was supposed
(26:42):
to be the guy that put them over the top
and he gets hurt three plays into the season.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
I thought he did a hell of a job in
that game that night.
Speaker 4 (26:48):
Against Buffalo and still won seven with all that was
against him. And now look at the Jets in ag
trying to get them out of the Abyss. So my
instant reaction is Sola, because there will be some team
going you know what. He just can't win with the Jets,
and yet he had fourteen wins in two years.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
So my gut tells me Robert.
Speaker 4 (27:12):
But Vance has his defense doing the sexy things that
people are gonna love to see. I think what people
are gonna miss with the Niners is, even though we
did a good job shredding him the other day, that
with injuries to Bosend to Warner, he's keeping that defense together.
I mean, they were lights out against the Falcons, lights
(27:36):
out against the Falcons. So I think he's doing some
of his best coaching right now. Vance's defense just produces
sacks and havoc plays, and that's gonna get people's attention.
I think a little bit more. That said, I would
hire Robert just because I think winning as a head
coach when you look at that he did it with
(27:57):
the Jets, So I would give him.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
I would give him.
Speaker 4 (28:00):
Just a small, short, small leg up over Vance.
Speaker 6 (28:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
I think so too. I think Sala is gonna get it.
I think Sala with a chance to pick another offensive
coordinator his first one didn't work out so well. We
were talking about this the other day, the fact that
he'll get another shot, yep, with a different market. I'm
still surprised Aaron Glenn took the Jets job. I mean,
I'm not talking behind his back. I'd tell it to
his face, saying I don't understand, and I'm sure there
(28:26):
was a good reason why he wouldn't take the New
Orleans job. Maybe there was never an offer coming. I
don't know, but I would assume there would be. And
that's a family business. It just feels different there where
there might be a little less pressure. I mean, all
NFL coaching jobs have a ton of pressure. Oh but
maybe a little bit less, maybe a little more gentle media.
Maybe you're not gonna have all this altercation stuff, not less.
(28:48):
So yeah, the New York media is his freaking brutal
so I mean Sala knew that too. Anyway, Hopefully it
all works out for ag. Sala gets a shot. Hopefully
Vance Joseph gets a shot. Demiko is singing his praise
is yesterday at the podium talking about what a great
defensive coordinator he is. Obviously he was here as a
defensive backs coach when Demiko was still here at linebacker,
(29:10):
and Vance took over for Gary Kubiak after he had
yet another mini stroke in twenty sixteen, and he took over.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
The next couple of years.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
Okay, next one here, Okay, better quarterback. You got to
pick one. And I think I asked you something like
this last week. But the week's continue, so we have
to reset these questions. You got bow Knicks for Denver
Johnny who's thirty seven years old.
Speaker 6 (29:37):
He's not.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
And you have Drake May in New England.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
These are second year guys who are doing well for
their teams. I mean we're talking about first place teams
in their divisions. May looks good, Knicks looks good. I
think you picked May last time, but you get another
shot at it here with Bow Knicks, who is eleven
touchdowns and five picks on the season, may still may.
Speaker 6 (29:58):
Still may okay.
Speaker 4 (30:00):
And I think the reason I say that is I
think both of them have played at pretty high level.
I think Bo had a better rookie year for a
few reasons. I think that Drake has been better this year.
Speaker 6 (30:15):
For a few reasons. But they're pretty close.
Speaker 4 (30:17):
And so I go back ultimately to where I had
them placed in my draft analysis, and I had Drake
way ahead of Bow. Now I think Bo has shown
When I went to go see Bow at the Senior Bowl,
I went to the Senior Bowl not to see Bo,
and it was actually kind of fun to go to
the Senior Bowl and not have to worry about quarterbacks.
So I was able maybe to look at the quarterbacks
a little bit easier that year because I wasn't worried about.
Speaker 6 (30:40):
Any of them becoming Texans.
Speaker 4 (30:42):
And I just remember watching Bo Nicks and the Senior
Bowl going that isn't gonna fly in the NFL. Man,
Holy cow, he can't hit the broad side of a barn.
So when he got to the Broncos picking number twelve,
I think they overdrafted him. But one of the things
I read that summer was Bo Nicks was and had dope.
He dove into everything Sean Payton wanted from him. Offensively,
(31:04):
he learned to playbook. He knew it inside and out
by the time he got back for training camp. He
has a confidence and he could deal with Peyton. You know,
Peyton can be kind of tough on quarterbacks and Nix
is the perfect kind of temperament to be able to
do that.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
So I think they're good fits in both locations. But
to me, Drake.
Speaker 4 (31:24):
Can how do I put this, Drake can save a
play from being completely and totally blown up by doing
something athletically that I don't think Bo can. Bo can
save plays somehow, some way. There's a magic to him
saving a play. I think Drake can do it with
just a little bit more athleticism. They're very, very close,
(31:45):
but I'm gonna go with Drake. I just have always
liked Drake over Bow since I started studying as draft prospects.
Speaker 6 (31:52):
So I'm gonna stick with that. I'm gonna stick with Drake.
Speaker 2 (31:54):
May Okay, we'll see it all works out next.
Speaker 1 (31:58):
More quarterback on better career JJ McCarthy cam Ward, who's
gonna have the better career cam Ward or JJ McCarthy.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
I actually saw.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
One of the hot take shows have the underneath the
lower third, Yeah, the graphics saying, can JJ McCarthy lead
the Vikings to the playoffs? And I thought, I reckon,
we're asking that question right now? Are you familiar with
what's happened so far? It's not even the four games season,
he's played two games. It gets who they play this weekend,
the Lions on the road. Have fun with that. I mean,
(32:33):
I don't root against any of these guys because well,
cam Ward, I want him to lose some titan Okay, yeah,
but you know, God bless them. But I think the
JJ McCarty at the Lions thing is a tall order.
They're gonna drop the three and five playoffs? Are you
know it's playoffs really for them?
Speaker 2 (32:49):
I don't see it.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
But anyway, your thoughts, who's gonna have the better career?
So we got to go.
Speaker 2 (32:53):
Beyond this year.
Speaker 4 (32:55):
I'm gonna go with JJ McCarthy, And I think there's
a couple of There are a couple of reasons why,
and actually I don't think any of them have to
do with.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
The play on the field. Because he's coached by the
greatest coach ever.
Speaker 4 (33:07):
Well, yes, that's that's one part of it, but it
also leads to another part. There's a lot more stability
in Minnesota, yeah, than there is in Tennessee. You think about,
you know what, Jetta's there with Jordanadison there, with an
offensive line that they spent some money on, They spent
draft picks, guys that have been around for a little bit,
and Kevin O'Connell quest he's a really good GM. I mean,
(33:27):
look at Tennessee. Tennessee's been a mess. It's been a
head coach or a GM every other year.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
If they can hire somebody really good.
Speaker 4 (33:34):
Now they could, they could, but it's just another year
of change for cam Ward at that point. Now, change
did Drake May some good? I know he's not in
this one, but we talked about him a second ago.
Change did Drake May a lot of good? Because they
brought in Josh McDaniels, who has done a great job.
Speaker 2 (33:50):
JJ's played too.
Speaker 4 (33:51):
Cam Ward's played three times as many games as J. J.
McCarthy as and JJ was drafted in twenty twenty four.
I just think that stability and talent around McCarthy will
make him better than cam Ward basically flying solo. That's
essentially what he's doing in Tennessee. His top receiver is
Calvin Ridley. Calvin Ridley's what a top twenty receiver in
(34:12):
the league. If that I'm talking about Jettis and Addison,
those guys you can make case are both top twenty
two of them, not to mention the TJ Hockinson, Aaron
Jones in the backfield. So I just think there's a
lot more around McCarthy where he can do positive things
and have a positive impact on the Vikings and they
can win games. But he doesn't have to carry him.
(34:35):
Cam Ward has to cape up for the Titans to
win cape up, and I don't know that that is
ultimately a successful way of doing things.
Speaker 2 (34:45):
It's going to take a while.
Speaker 4 (34:46):
It's going to take two years or so for the
Titans to put the right amount of decision makers, head coach,
talented wide receivers and complete offensive line for cam Ward
to hit his highest level. Now as players came Ward
as I think more arm talent, he's got more get
(35:08):
out of the pocketability to make plays there.
Speaker 6 (35:11):
But it's close.
Speaker 4 (35:12):
Enough that right now I would take JJ McCarthy one
hundred times out of one hundred.
Speaker 2 (35:17):
Okay, let me throw Caleb Williams in here.
Speaker 1 (35:20):
Oh as well, when you look at these three second
year quarterbacks plus cam Ward a rookie quarterback, if you
had to pick right now, I mean, Caleb has Ben Johnson,
but it's not really clicking yet. Yeah, at times it
looks okay, but it's not really clicking yet. I actually
heard one of the hot take shows talking about, well,
Jared Goff in his first year with I'm whoa hit
(35:40):
the brakes here, we're talking Jared Goff worked with McVeigh
and going to a super Bowl. You know, I know
that they kind of gave up on him because they
traded him. But they traded him because they had a
chance to get Matthew Stafford, a proven winner, and Goff,
although he'd won a lot of games, wasn't to their liking.
And Goff really got it going with Ben Johnson, but
Goff was much more of the finished product. Caleb Williams
(36:03):
is still a rookie, coming on his second year quarterback,
coming in with a new coordinator and all that.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
Anyway, throw him in the mix.
Speaker 4 (36:10):
Caleb is kind of a conundrum because there are times
I watch Caleb and it I feel like I'm watching
a guy being a maestro in that offense kind of
move guys around, boom, He's slinging around.
Speaker 6 (36:24):
It looks good.
Speaker 4 (36:25):
But he's also doing that against you know, say the Cardinals,
or you know some team with a defense that's not
not very good, and he's just being a maestro. It's
almost as if when the other team that he's facing
is either favored in a game or one of the
top teams in the league, it's almost as if he
wants to go in the booth and go become Superman.
Speaker 2 (36:47):
It's like, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Speaker 4 (36:48):
Just be Caleb, Just be Caleb. Just follow follow the plan.
You got enough weapons around. Your offensive line is pretty good.
Your running game is actually better than people think. Just
rely on those weapons. You don't have to cape up,
you don't have to be Superman. You don't have to
hold the ball twenty seconds in the backfield and spin
around from eight different guys.
Speaker 2 (37:09):
Just follow what Ben Johnson's coaching you do.
Speaker 4 (37:11):
And I think that Caleb gets those points where there
are games where he's like, Okay, follow the game plan.
Speaker 6 (37:18):
I'm good.
Speaker 4 (37:18):
Then I think there are some games where for him
he feels like I gotta make a play. I gotta
make a play. I had to make a but and
I got it. It's like, no, you don't, you don't
just sitting there. I think there are some habits that
have to be broken in Chicago with him. From that standpoint,
not every play has to be a thirty five yard
(37:39):
highlight reel going on Sports Center.
Speaker 6 (37:41):
Play.
Speaker 1 (37:41):
Okay, here's another one for you. Best option at the
trade deadline for the Houston Texans position groups. Acquire an
offensive lineman, acquire a running back, acquire any other position
you want, or do nothing. I know this is tough.
(38:02):
Let's just leave the do nothing out of it, but
let's just play. Make a trade. You're gonna acquire something, Okay,
either O line, running back, or another position. What's it
gonna be. I am forcing you to acquire somebody.
Speaker 4 (38:17):
I think the interesting one of the three is running
back because we still don't know what Joe Mixon's status is.
Speaker 2 (38:25):
If there was any indication that Joe could come.
Speaker 4 (38:27):
Back in the next three to four weeks, which I
don't know if that's possible, I have no idea even.
Speaker 2 (38:32):
The final three four games of the regular season.
Speaker 4 (38:34):
Yeah, I think I would say, Okay, running back good.
The tight end position, I would say is one that
I would like to target because even though Dalton has
played the best ball of his career, I want somebody
that comes in to help Dalton.
Speaker 2 (38:54):
That's not all on Dalton that he's the only guy.
Speaker 6 (38:56):
Now.
Speaker 4 (38:57):
I think Harrison Brian has done some good things. I
still think that was a good trade. By the way,
John met you got traded again to New York Jets.
I think Harrison Bryant can do some things and has
done some things in this offense.
Speaker 6 (39:07):
The more comfortably he.
Speaker 4 (39:08):
Gets, but I still feel like that's a position where
we still miss Brevin Jordan. We miss Kate Stover now
again talked about Joe Mixon with running backs. If you
feel like you can get Kate Stover back in the
next how many ever weeks, then maybe that's one that
you maybe stay away from so.
Speaker 2 (39:28):
That then brings you to offensive line.
Speaker 4 (39:31):
I feel like, even what you have on the offensive line,
if there is a way to upgrade on the offensive line,
absolutely take a look. And I would say that every
year every year. If there's an opportunity to upgrade the
offensive line. You know, but John, it's playing a little
bit better. They only gave up two quarterback hits and
no sax against the Niners. Understand that, but we also
(39:54):
know that the attrition on the offensive line happens as
the more more plays they run on, the more snaps
they have, more games they play, you're gonna lose a
guy to injury, You're gonna lose some of that depth.
So finding a guy that you feel I can come
in here and accentuate the offensive line, I think is
absolutely to me the one that would take press sense.
Now again, if if you knew more about Joe, if
(40:18):
you felt good about Caid, then I feel like then
those two you can go, all right, well, those might
be two guys that you can bring along later when
you really need it. But offensive line, I feel like,
just offensive line in general, always always, And so that
one takes pres sense to me.
Speaker 1 (40:32):
All right, one more quick one. All right, what was
the best Halloween costume you ever had? You got to
reach back.
Speaker 4 (40:41):
There was a poster many many years ago. Posters are
really cool in the eighties, yes, and they used to
have the Costacos posters, and then every shoe company you
did posters, and Nike used to do posters.
Speaker 6 (40:51):
And Converse used to do posters.
Speaker 4 (40:53):
Yeah, and Converse did a poster of Don Mattingly and
it was called Hitman and he was in a pinstripe
suit and his bat was like a gat like a
gallon gun, you know. And it was a playoff being
a mafia guy. And I love that Dom Matowy poster.
So you dressed up as I went as the hit Man.
Nobody knew who I was. Suit hose, the suit to everything,
(41:16):
and then I had a bat. I was walking around
school with my eastern bat, you know. So yeah, that
was that was my best I went as the hit Man.
Uh you know, tongue in cheek is you know, Dom Mattingly,
But yeah, I got to walk around school with my
eastern bat and you know, picks wings whenever I wanted to.
Speaker 6 (41:31):
It was awesome.
Speaker 2 (41:31):
Those posters were something else.
Speaker 6 (41:33):
They were so good.
Speaker 1 (41:34):
In the shoe shoe shine so good, Darryl Dawkins, Chocolate
Thunder from the Planet loved Tron. I mean that is
on a poster that is just wild.
Speaker 2 (41:43):
The best poster I think there ever was.
Speaker 6 (41:46):
And you'll know this one. George Gervin.
Speaker 4 (41:48):
Yeah, the ice Man sitting on a throne of ice
he's got a couple of basketballs on her.
Speaker 2 (41:52):
I mean, that is the coolest, the coolest.
Speaker 1 (41:55):
All right, interesting, I'll share mine tomorrow maybe. But coming
up the medical report, it's not really that, but Houston
Methods Minutes with more on the testosterone subject that came
up last week. This is good stuff from the doctors
at Houston method is next here on Texans Radio. Great
to have you listening to Texans Radio. If you just
joined us, Where have you been? Have you been late
(42:16):
to class? Well, this whole show will be up in
podcast form right afterwards on the Odyssey app, which you
should undoubtedly have. Maybe you're listening on it right now,
and later on Spotify, Houston Texans dot com and anywhere
else you get podcasts. And in this segment, we'd like
to go medical sometimes but with us slant toward what
you're interested in and what about all these testosterone commercials? Now,
(42:39):
last week we had doctor Akhil mcthigy talking about the
basics of testosterone TRT therapy. This week part two of
that conversation. Let's start out with the injections. What's it
all about?
Speaker 7 (42:51):
Yeah, so injection is a very common form of testostroone
therapy management. The most common is once a week, very
easy done at home, either into that thy muscle or
gluias muscle. There's also longer acting forms of testosterone that
we can inject in the clinic. Patient typically comes in
once every ten weeks for that form of testosterone. There's
(43:13):
also pellets that we can place into the glueas muscle.
This is a very good option for men who don't
want to be injecting weekly themselves at HOMER, don't want
to be coming into the clinic often. There's pellets that
we can place into the glueas muscle about every three
to four months, and that's a very good option for
long acting testosterone. There's also several other forms other than injections.
(43:33):
That includes nasal sprays, gels, as well as oral tablets.
Oral tablets is something that's new on the market. There's
three FDAF oral tablets now that are very safe and
you know, enjoyed by patients.
Speaker 1 (43:49):
So, once you're on TRT as they call it, is
that for life or how does that work? Can you
go off of it and boost your levels naturally after that?
Speaker 2 (43:59):
Or it does not work?
Speaker 7 (44:01):
So that's a very good question. So anytime I'm starting
someone on testoster mode, I typically recommend a three to
six month trial, and that's to see if there's any
symptom improvement or improvement in their lab results. There are
men who, let's say have low normal testoster with symptoms.
We get started on testofser and they don't have any
(44:21):
improvement in their symptoms. I typically recommend stopping testosterone at
that time. However, if we do see improvement in symptoms,
what I typically recommend is lifestyle changes in addition to
testosterone replacement therapy. Oftentimes these guys are low energy, very
hygh fatigue, unable to make it to the gym, not
sleeping well. If I get them started on test offerom
(44:43):
for three to six months, they're able to get to
the gym, able to work out, build muscle mass, sleep better,
and then we see a natural boost in their testosceral level.
So at that point, after three to six months, we
can discuss potentially stopping and contooing just healthy lifestyle changes. However,
there are some men that have been fit from continued
therapy and it can and sometimes be a lifelong thing
(45:04):
once started.
Speaker 1 (45:05):
How hard is it to boost your natural production again
after you go off t RT that's a.
Speaker 7 (45:12):
Very good question as well. So that one of the
downsides of testops from replacement therapy is our body senses
we're getting it externally and it shuts down our own production.
So once that happens, it is it can be difficult
to jump start system. However, we have strategies to boost
our own system. Uh. That's that's several different horrible medication
(45:34):
regimens that boost our own production of testops from once
it's stopped. So that's something that we get into in
the in the clinic as well. But there's medicines such
as clomate and ACG that we often give once if
someone is trying to come off of testosterone, and that
helps it boost our own production. So we have the
we have several different strategies that we can utilize for
(45:56):
three to six months to rejump start our system once
testops to stop.
Speaker 1 (46:00):
That's great information, doctor, thanks so much for joining us.
We appreciate it all right, thanks for having me. That's
doctor Kiel mcthigy from the Houston Methodist Men's Health Center
Skurlock Tower, Houston Methodist dot org for more information. It's
the official healthcare provider of the Houston, Texans. Houston Methodist
leading medicine. All right, there's doctor Akil mcthigy of Houston
(46:22):
Methodist on testosterone, the official healthcare provider of the Houston Texans.
Houston Methodist leading medicine. And thanks so much for the
general John mcclaim for being on the show. Johnny Harris
and I played Who's Better again. The whole show's in
podcast form on the Odyssey app right after we close
this one out, Thursday Night Football on the way. You
don't want to miss that. You don't want to miss
tomorrow's show, which is loaded Tomko Ryans, Danny Barrett, the
(46:46):
assistant head coach, is going to be on a player
to be named later. Tons of other stuff all happening
tomorrow at six. Have a great night everyone, Go Texans,
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