Texans All-Access: Liberty White Out Monday Night vs Buccaneers - DeMeco Ryans Interview & Game Preview

Join Marc Vandermeer and John Harris for an exclusive Friday edition of Texans All-Access as the Houston Texans prepare for their highly anticipated Monday Night Football home opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This comprehensive episode features in-depth interviews with key members of the Texans organization as they break down Week 2 preparations and game strategy.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Happy Friday. Everybody, Welcome into Texans All Access. I say
Friday because it's hard to imagine it's Friday. It feels
so much like a Thursday. It has not felt like
a Friday, even though we are playing on Monday. So
Friday is supposed to feel like a Thursday because we're
playing on Monday when we regularly play on Sunday.

Speaker 2 (00:17):
You got all that. That's a Mark Vanmer special.

Speaker 3 (00:20):
There, and now you know why I do it, Johnny,
and today it's really hitting us hard, hard, but it's
just us. Everybody else is like, dude, it's Friday. I'm
pumped up for the weekend. Okay, I've got the Cougars tonight,
I've got the Aggies Tomorrow. Longharms are playing somebody right,
but they have tip. Oh they have you tip. Yeah,
that's right, they have you Tip. I was actually offered
tickets by my buddy and sorry I can't go, but

(00:43):
appreciate the offer. Thank you. No, I mean they're playing
you tap and I've got things and whatever. I know
I would be here tomorrow.

Speaker 1 (00:49):
Canell. We forget practice. That's why I keep forgetting. You're
coming in tomorrow.

Speaker 4 (00:54):
Van.

Speaker 1 (00:54):
I'm interviewing to meek. Saturday is a Friday exactly.

Speaker 3 (00:58):
It's our regular Friday, so we're working tomorrow. But it's
fun because it's week two. And Matt Burke, who's gonna
be on later, talked about this with us. Yeah, it's
nice to have the extra day, but we kind of
want to play just to get the taste out of
our mouths. That's the hardest. I think we all feel
that way. You want to get a dubbed so badly.
I wish it was Jacksonville because they deliver so well

(01:18):
so often. And as I say this next week, they're
probably gonna use it as bulletin board material. But it's
the Buccketeers. Got to find a way to get it, Johnny.

Speaker 1 (01:26):
Yeah, there's no question. You got to find a way
to get it on Monday night. And again we said
this at the beginning of the week. We would say
this in every show, every time that we could remind
you of six pm, Monday night, we're going to so
a wear white after Labor Day, which apparently is some
sort of fashion faux po which I never understood. It's

(01:48):
in the North, it's Texas. It's fine. You could do whatever,
wear white, wear white and be in your seat by
five forty five. Yeah, that'd be nice. Be the difference
in the game. Oh, I like that, be the be
the difference.

Speaker 3 (02:02):
Sohnny, you just came up with our marketing slogan together,
the difference. Be the difference. You can make a difference,
you can use I'll let you use it. Thank you.
I'm gonna go upstairs and tell me Frolman, who's also
going to be on the show tonight, YEP, that we
have come up with a great slogan, be the difference,
because it does mean a lot to the guys, and
they do have a tremendous show plan for you around
the game. And I still feel like I joked about

(02:24):
it earlier this week, people are going to open up
their app at three o'clock. Oh my gosh, the games
at seven. But yeah, that's no joke because a lot
of people, not everybody and certainly not the listeners of
this program, because you're all die hard fans, but a
lot of people come to the games. A certain percentage.
They're not following it inch by inch the way we
are and the way a lot of the die hards are.
They're like, yeah, I'd like to go to the game

(02:46):
somebody gave me tickets, or I bought tickets or whatever.

Speaker 2 (02:49):
It's a night game.

Speaker 3 (02:49):
It's Monday Night football that starts at seven twenty seven something.
I'll just show up at seven something. No, you won't
because it'll be halftime. Let's get there at five forty five.

Speaker 1 (02:59):
Yes, forty five, and just make sure it's six o'clock.
There are probably a few people on the radio crew
we need to talk to about six o'clock kickoff.

Speaker 3 (03:10):
Oh my gosh, you're right. I just thought of that.

Speaker 1 (03:12):
Wait what we probably need to remind some people like, hey,
six o'clock Monday night.

Speaker 2 (03:18):
Oh, I thought it was seven six a clock.

Speaker 3 (03:21):
What's one that I football doing at six o'clock? Who
am I? Who am I imitating?

Speaker 1 (03:27):
What is Monday night football doing at six o'clock?

Speaker 5 (03:30):
Get off my lawn?

Speaker 2 (03:32):
Exact.

Speaker 1 (03:33):
It's a double header with the Chargers and the Raiders,
but we get the good Monday Night crew. In fact,
when I drove in this morning, I don't know how
many trucks are out there Mark ten, Well, I don't
think it's ten. It's not it's eight to ten. It's somewhere.
There are a lot of damn trucks with.

Speaker 3 (03:49):
This game, I feel like Amazon brings more because they
have money to burn. Yeah, Amazon, Eh, what is it?
What's another three hundred grand for another truck and a
full crew exactly? So what listen, I know what these
things cost. It's not exactly three hundred, but I know
it's this the production I'm going to estimate this, Johnny,

(04:10):
between Joe Buck and Troykman, who are a huge percentage
of this. And who's doing the sideline? Is it Lisa
Salters or Monday Night? I think it's Lisa.

Speaker 2 (04:20):
Yeah, Lisa.

Speaker 3 (04:21):
What is Aaron Andrews these days? She's a shot Fox.
He's on sure Fox. Anyway, I still look at Joe
Buck and I think Fox. It's he's so well branded.
I think the baseball too. That's why I think about Joe.

Speaker 1 (04:32):
I think about him doing baseball, so I think about
I think about the Fox aspect of that.

Speaker 3 (04:36):
Yeah, of course, But anyway, I think the production bill
on a game like this is at least five million,
five million to produce Monday Night Football Man, So that
shows you how important it is to the Disney people. Now,
the Amazon people, I'm sure they are somewhat concerned with
profitability for this, but especially the first year. They're like,
let's just spend what it takes and we'll figure it

(04:57):
out later.

Speaker 2 (04:59):
They've got better games.

Speaker 1 (05:01):
Last night's game, oh it was Commander's Packers was a
good It was a very entertaining game. And obviously there's
some there's some Texans' eyes that wanted to see what
a certain left tackle was going to do last night
for the Washington Commanders, and then he satisfied all those
Textan eyes when you had a false start. But I
don't want to overreact to one game, because that's one

(05:21):
thing I preach against all the time. You never overreact
to one game. But they played two games now again
both of them are at home. But the Packers defense
is on a different level. And I know when you
had Michael Parsons that should happen, but he sometimes the
right piece gets dropped in the right defense and all

(05:42):
of a sudden, all the pieces now fit perfectly. And
I think that's what Parsons has done for them, is
that now the piece is off, they're not asking Rashaun
Garry to rush too much. They're not asking Lucas Vans
to be Micah Parsons. Basically, Lucas Vans can just be
Lucas Vans and then there's Parsons and Laraimy did not

(06:02):
have a great game, which was kind of interesting to watch.
I don't want I don't want it to be that.
I don't want to root against Laramie. Laramie was was
always good to us.

Speaker 2 (06:14):
Larimer, I don't want to do that.

Speaker 1 (06:15):
But you know, for those people, especially up in Washington,
I find it interesting. Sean was talking about this morning
that as soon as Laramie had to false start and
second and five, you got two texts immediately from a
couple of Washington DC radio hosts.

Speaker 3 (06:27):
Oh really, yeah, Oh is this why you traded him?

Speaker 2 (06:31):
Yes, I heard him say that this morning and I
was driving. I just trom off the road laughing.

Speaker 1 (06:36):
So I was like, yeah, that's that's that's what happens
when you know people around the league and there's a
trade or there's movement, or this guy's signs there like yeah,
like yesterday, yesterday, or day before Buffalo Bill signed Cam Johnston.

Speaker 3 (06:50):
Yes they did. Yeah, I noticed that.

Speaker 1 (06:52):
And so I got a text from Sall like, hey man,
what can you tell me about Cam? And I was like,
love Cam. You guys will love Cam. He he bombs
it like hits it. I mean that guy is in
a good athlete. I remember him being I think his
charity was animals. Animals, Yeah, dogs, And so I tell
them all that and so so I was like, oh man, great, okay, cool.

(07:15):
And it's like, you know, you share notes, you know,
round the league. So the radio sharing notes last night
I thought was was pretty interesting. But the Packers didn't
lose Jayden Reid. They're Jaden Reid, not our Jaden Reid.
Their Jaden Reid wide receiver is going to be out.
Looks like, look, he broke his collar bone. Looks like
he's gonna be out for if not the season, for
a while for a while. But they've got plenty I

(07:38):
think of receiving weapons. Stucker Craft played really well. I
think the Packers are.

Speaker 3 (07:42):
Going to be a tough out and the Washington's got
some injury issues Austin Eckler Keeley's and slow down on
the Jade and Daniels sophomore slump thing, all right, because
we know how that feels here. Yeah, let things play
out a little bit. I know, opening with the Giants
is nice. Week one is weird, and we can't stick
our chests out about anything after another point offensive output

(08:02):
in the last game. And it is weird that the
entire league will play before we see the Texans again
on Monday Night, except for the Chargers and the Raiders.
It is kind of a weird phenomenon. But that's what
you're dealing with here.

Speaker 1 (08:11):
Yeah, And that's what happens when we'll play on Monday night.
The last time that we played on Monday night here
in this building. In fact, I went back and I
was I started in the silence at twenty fourteen. I
remember when you first brought me along. I remember you
saying to me, this is a really cool job. You
get to be down on the sidelines for like Monday
night football and all. And I was like, I mean,

(08:33):
I had already processed all that, but it was like
hearing you say it was like, really really cool. Been
on the sidelines for twenty seven games since twenty fourteen,
twenty seven night games. Twenty seven twenty seven night game
sounds like a lot.

Speaker 2 (08:45):
It sounds like a lot.

Speaker 1 (08:46):
But over the course of this is you know, my
twelfth year, so a couple of years.

Speaker 2 (08:52):
Oh kind of makes sense.

Speaker 1 (08:53):
For a while, we always had a Thursday game, and
then there were years where we had three or four
you know, night games over that stretch from twenty fourteen
through twenty till now. What was your favorite night game
home were away? Favorite night favorite night game home were
Away that entire stretch. My favorite night game was probably

(09:14):
at the Bengals in twenty fifteen.

Speaker 3 (09:15):
Yeah, ten to six victory when they were when we
were left for dead and they were undefeated. That is
an unforgettable game. That is absolutely the Bob McNair tribute game,
you know, is my favorite call with the Lamar Miller
ninety seven yard touchdown run and that night was magical
honoring mister McNair. But I think my favorite one, the
one I'll remember forty years from now, when I'm thirty

(09:41):
years from now, the one I'll remember is that Cincinnati game.
I think. I think the game itself, I always remember
that McNair moment forever, but the game itself that up
against it, the season's over. Oh wait a minute, no,
it's not. Because we held the Bengals to six points
in their building. They were undefeated at the time.

Speaker 2 (10:01):
You know, the night game that we tend to forget.

Speaker 3 (10:03):
Okay, tell me there's probably a big one I'm forgetting.

Speaker 1 (10:05):
Yeah. Yeah, because it was a year in which we
played fifteen noon games. I take it back, we had
one after the game Colts twenty twenty three on the Saturn.

Speaker 3 (10:15):
I almost look at that as a postseason game. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (10:18):
And that's the good point.

Speaker 3 (10:19):
That's unforgettable as well, because you know the Nico Collins
bomb and Demiko afterwards, and this wasn't part of our broadcast,
but it was part of the video afterwards in the
hallway leading to the locker room. Yeah, and the exhale
and the lookie had in his face. I get chills.
I'll never forget that image. So I was I was
just down.

Speaker 1 (10:38):
You can see me in the background because I because
they've got this long corridor in Indies locker room. And
so Demiko, Demiko, he had gone and stopped. He had
stopped right there, and so I could see him. I
didn't realize the camera was on him, but I could
see him. I look down there and I could just
see him kind of bow his head and I could

(10:59):
only imagine what was going through, you know, his head
at that particular moment, because guys were coming in, so
they'd hug him and then I'd hug the guys and
Motor came in. Remember Devin Singletary coming ahead that touchdown.
But just I loved that game for so many reasons.
I think the biggest one was we went deep on
the first play. Yeah, we just went deep and just

(11:21):
said we're putting our steak in the ground. They kick
a field goal, and we've looked at this playoff week.
We think it's there. We're taking the shot.

Speaker 3 (11:29):
I think they need some of that now, yeah too,
to get back back.

Speaker 2 (11:32):
That's kind of why I'm bringing.

Speaker 3 (11:34):
Up the bravado brazenly, just not necessarily chucking chucking it deep,
but doing something dramatic and having the confidence that you're
gonna click on it. I like that a lot. I'm
glad you brought that up, and they need to figure
out how to channel that moving forward.

Speaker 1 (11:51):
Absolutely, bravado, swagger, confidence, whatever you want to call it. Man,
they gotta have it for this one. Speaking of Mark,
it's time to get into our game. Pre let's go, Johnny.

Speaker 3 (12:02):
The Buccaneers Monday Night football, as you pointed out, first
Monday night game at NRG Stadium since twenty eighteen, and
it's a big one Week two already last year Week two,
we had a primetime game with the Chicago Bears that
was coming off a win. Now we have the tougher
Buccaneers coming off a loss. Gotta get this one. It's
gonna be tough.

Speaker 2 (12:21):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (12:21):
And the Bucks are coming off a great win against
the Falcons. I know they probably thought they could play better,
but they got the victory on the road. Got little
help from the Falcons, but a Mecca Buka, the rookie
and we talked a lot about in the draft process,
had a great ballgame. Mike Evans is still Mike, and
Baker is playing about as well as he has played
in his career. The defensive line is a little janky

(12:43):
right now because they got some moving parts with some injuries.
But you know, you gotta move via Vea on the
defensive side and hopefully you can get after that secondary.

Speaker 3 (12:49):
Yeah, And got to play a team that has a
great organization, something special going on. If they win the
division this year, the Buccaneers, that's five consecutive division championships
in the NFC. First time that's happened in the NFC
since the Cowboys did it a long time ago. All Right,
three things to watch in this one. You mentioned Beata Vea,

(13:10):
the human vending machine, moving him around, preventing him from
wreaking havoc in your backfield, or just stuffing the run.
That's got to be number one for me. I imagine
it is for you too.

Speaker 1 (13:19):
Absolutely, the more I've thought about this offensive line, mark
the Texas offensive line, I feel like it's an offensive
line that's going to be better run blocking than maybe
pass blocking, because you get some you have some younger
guys in obviously Ariante Ersrie in there. You'd like to
see them go forward a little bit, and so then
you run into this guy and trying to move him
is an absolute nightmare.

Speaker 3 (13:40):
In the game.

Speaker 1 (13:41):
Two years ago, they didn't move him at all, and
they really kind of just threw their hands up and went,
we can't run the ball, let's throw it.

Speaker 2 (13:47):
And then they had a lot of success throwing it.

Speaker 1 (13:48):
But if they can Movevey or at least occupy him
a little bit, they'll be that much more successful in
the run game.

Speaker 3 (13:55):
Top five team against the run last year and against
the Falcons that kept going. Robinson at great game catching
the football for Atlanta, but not running the football. Now
I've got this Baker in the pocket. Got to keep
them contained and pressure him. So I'm gonna guess that's
what you were gonna say, But that's really important trying
to keep Baker. He's not gonna be stationary, but you

(14:16):
need to find a way to get pressure on him.
If he's able to run around, he can really hurt you.

Speaker 2 (14:20):
He really can.

Speaker 1 (14:20):
And what I worry about with Baker and especially quarterbacks
Lamar Josh. One of the things we know, they're so
good running the ball that can get out of there,
that can make something happen. But once they start to
get out of the pocket, they're keeping their eyes down field,
running at the last possible second. So if all of
a sudden you see, oh, Baker's running, and all of

(14:41):
a sudden you start flying up as your secondary guy,
and then oh, he throws one over your head. You
have to stay plastered to the receivers once he breaks
out of the pocket, because he's still thinking about throwing.
That's key. Now he might take off and run, but
he's still thinking about throwing until the last possible minute.
So as we used to say, keep him in the well,
envelop him, make his make your eye, make his eyes

(15:03):
go to where the rushers are and lose that site downfield,
and if you do that, I think you got a
pretty decent shot of getting after them. And look, you
got to stop their run game two. But from the
standpoint of Baker, that is the run game you really
have to stop. You can't let him throw for two
fifty but then he runs for sixty, You can't. I

(15:23):
mean that's almost like an extension of the passing game,
like you really threw for three ten when you add
in his scramble yard. So you definitely don't want to
do that at all. Develop him the well and you
got a pretty good shot.

Speaker 2 (15:35):
I've slowing him now.

Speaker 3 (15:36):
Will and Danil got to set the edge do their thing.
This offense last year good running and throwing because of
Lucky irving his ability to run the football. What do
you have? It's a third thing to watch out for.

Speaker 1 (15:47):
My third thing is essentially the edge protection. The two tackles,
whether it's Cam Robinson, Arianta RASII, if they move guys,
if Titus moves out to tackle either way, the edge
has got to be protected a little bit better. Now
you're not seeing vers in Byron Young, You're you're seeing
some guys off the edge that are good hasan reddit good,
speedy and fast, but not a powerhouse like Verse. And

(16:09):
then the other side, Yeah, Yadabi is a little bit
more of a powerhouse and he's a good player. They're
not young in Verse, but the two tackles have got
to play at a much higher level, protecting and keeping
them out of CJ. Stroud's view so that he can
step in throw. When he was able to just step
and throw out of the pocket against the Rams, he
was beautiful. It was it looked great, it was effective.

(16:32):
He made great throws, he made accurate throws. Give him
the time to do that.

Speaker 3 (16:35):
I've got an honorable mention thing to watch. I think
it's very important third down offense and it's related to
what you just said two for nine last week. Got
to keep things going. Got to get closer to at
least fifty percent in this game on third downs. Quick game.
Whoever's available to catch a pass, please do it quickly
with that element of the game, because last week you

(16:58):
saw it was very difficult to wait for things to develop,
and can't do it this week either.

Speaker 1 (17:01):
Can I do another honorable mention on top of that,
do another Yes, kick return game's got to be.

Speaker 3 (17:07):
Much better Okay, good.

Speaker 1 (17:09):
The kick return game has got to be much better.
We can't start series at the twenty yard line. They've
got to be a lot better. And I'm not just
talking about returners. The front's got a block a little
bit better. There's too much leakage. The one that Treymont
did field he feeled the ball at the eighteen yard line,
he got to the twenty three. Like, there's gotta be
more in the kick return game coming out of this game.

(17:31):
They've got to They've got to win that battle, win
that field position battle, especially at home.

Speaker 3 (17:35):
Okay, Mattress Firm, sleeper of the game. Mattress Firm, the
official sleep partner of the Houston Texans.

Speaker 5 (17:40):
Who do you have?

Speaker 1 (17:41):
Well as we got we got on a plane on Sunday,
we had one healthy tight end on the roster. Kate'st
over going on ir There was one. Now Harrison Bryant
ends up going on to the roster. But the one
that has been there and have been there for three years.

Speaker 2 (17:56):
Is Dalton Schultz.

Speaker 1 (17:57):
And Dalton had a couple of moments against the Rams.
He's got to be more of those moments. He's got
to be a guy that picks up three four, maybe
even five catches for first down to keep drives alive.
He's got to get himself open and they've got to
have that connection and the connection twenty twenty three, twenty
twenty four wasn't quite there with CJ and Dalton as
it was the year before. They've got to get back

(18:18):
to that, and I think this is one of those
games where there's still be a focus on Nico. There'll
be a focus on the other receivers and pass catchers,
but Dalton Schultz can be one of those guys that
can leak out. You can catch your route to get
a first down and do that a few times. If
he can keep drives alive, that ends up being big.

Speaker 3 (18:34):
My sleeper is Christian Harris. He's got to make a
play in this game. He'll be matched up from time
to time on cade Otten. I would imagine that's gonna
happen in certain situations and an opportunity for him to
make a play, especially you are able to get some
pressure on Baker Mayfield. Go get that ball, Christian, get
a pick, Jarrett Loose, do something, make a big hit.

(18:54):
I believe that this linebacking corps has to shut down
this way if they're running the football, it's over yp
you have to stop the run similar to what you
did last week, and then make it about Baker and
do you beat him or not on the defensive side
of the ball. That's your game preview Texans and Bucks Monday,
and I don't forget six pm early start time and

(19:14):
wear white Liberty white out. We need it go Texans.

Speaker 6 (19:18):
All right.

Speaker 1 (19:19):
That'll do it for our game preview. You can go
check out Are the Thoughts on YouTube and also anywhere
in hus Texans dot com. You get our podcast, you
can hear anything we want to say about this game.

Speaker 2 (19:28):
Coming up next defensive coordinator Matt.

Speaker 1 (19:31):
Burke, even though he loves Liverpool, we love him and
he's joining us next to Tuexans All Access tiping everybody
walking back this Friday issue of Texans All Access. I'm
your host, John Harris, football analyst, sideline reporter, and proud
graduate of Brown University. And I say that because our
next guest is not and he thinks his Ivy League
university is better than mine. I'll let him have it

(19:53):
because he's a defensive coordinator and a good friend of ours,
and that is Matt Burke. Coach Sat down with us
in studio today and gave us his thoughts about week
one to week two what he's seen from Henry TOA
toa in this game against the Buccaneers.

Speaker 3 (20:07):
Defensive coordinator Matt Burke joining us in the hun Day
Texans Radio studio. Coach, Welcome to the New Digs.

Speaker 5 (20:12):
Thanks you man, This is this is impressive in here.
You guys are upgrading.

Speaker 3 (20:15):
Yeah, and I know you feel like we didn't invite
you in here soon enough, but it's only week two, so.

Speaker 5 (20:19):
Here you are.

Speaker 2 (20:20):
We did watch you last week and you had things.

Speaker 5 (20:22):
To do, appear save your big guns.

Speaker 3 (20:24):
Yeah, what's it like having an extra day to prepare
and it's only week two, but you could use the
extra day following the opening day full game of activity
because you had preseason training camp, preseason games. But the
guys don't play a full game.

Speaker 7 (20:39):
Right, Yeah, no, sure, And you know everyone always says
like the biggest leap in the seasons between week one
and week two. You know, you kind of finally put
it out there, played a full game, seeing kind of
what it is, and then you know, hopefully making big
big steps as you kind of move forward into the
rest of the season. So have an extra day to
kind of work through some of that stuff and things
that popped up. You know, on the flip side of it,

(20:59):
it can get you know, you're chomping at the bit,
especially after a tough loss to get back out there
and you want to kind of get get it, get
a chance to get it going again. So a little
double sided coin there, but nice to have the opportunity
to really like work through everything and and and be
focused on on some of the stuff we need to
get better at.

Speaker 2 (21:14):
Coach, how much do you take out of two years
ago facing them?

Speaker 1 (21:17):
I you know, I know it's a different offensive coordinator,
so a new guy calling things. It's game two, but
not the same offensive personnel. In a sense, how much
can you take out of a game from a couple of.

Speaker 7 (21:26):
A little bit, you know, a little I wouldn't say
a ton. You know, there's some carryover from scheme, carry
out from some personnel. So I mean, I think there's
just it's you know, we look at stuff like that.
I feel like it's informational as much as anything of
just like okay, hey little reminder, Oh maybe that's something
that you know, they like that worked against us, or
something that we like that worked against them or you know,
I don't know that again with there were two play

(21:48):
callers past that, right, and again some different personnel on
both sides of the ball. So uh but you know
I said this, I think last week, you know, when
we're preparing week one and you have all that information
from the year before, history of those things, like, you know,
there's a fine line between information overload and but just
like having some awareness. So I think like as we
dig into trying to gather as much information and be

(22:09):
as uh, you know, make this game as predictable as
we can in whatever sense that is that you know,
you try to take in all those things for sure.

Speaker 3 (22:15):
How do you handle the look team because whoever was
imitating Matthew Stafford last week, okay, good, now you have
to be Baker Mayfield, so you have another acting job
to do. How do you handle all that code?

Speaker 7 (22:26):
Yeah, I think those are like there's again another fine
line of just not being too silly with it and
trying to like be too specific and just you know,
our guys understanding sort of the types of plays that
we're going to see and the looks that we're gonna get,
and you know, our our coaches and scouts do a
great job. Scout team guys do a great job of
trying to give us, you know, the proper looks and
you know you're never gonna be perfect on mannerisms or style,

(22:49):
and especially you know those two guys that are like
such great off schedule quarterbacks and you know, no look
throws and those sort of things. That's that's hard to
really like accurately depict some of that stuff. But as
long as the structure things are right and our defense
is seeing the looks that they need to see, I
think that's what we're trying to get done.

Speaker 1 (23:04):
You mentioned earlier, coach, from week one to week two,
that's usually where the biggest change or leap is made.
If there's one thing that you wanted to see with
your defense, absolutely, without question, no doubt, this happens moving
forward into week two.

Speaker 2 (23:17):
What would you want it to be?

Speaker 7 (23:19):
I think it's the same that we've been preaching. Is
the precision, you know. I think we have a very
talented defense. I do, and I think our separation is
just the precision of the fine lines of like can
we be on our details? Like I would be highly
surprised if anyone questions, our effort in our physicality and
the style that we play. Now it's like, okay, can
you for sixty plays, seventy plays, whatever the number is,

(23:42):
can you focus and be on it, like on your
details to the finest extreme for the whole game, and like,
let's see what that looks like. So I think that's
been really the messaging of just okay, let's just knock
out these however many plays. That is, you know, again,
you can play great for fifty plays, but if there's
eight ten plays that you're a little bit off on
something or maybe that's the play right. And again, you
know last week was an NFL game. Those are two

(24:03):
good teams that are playing against each other in a
good environment. It's the same this week. Right, We're gonna
have a good team coming in here on Monday night football,
Like those five or six plays can be the difference.
So like, can we can we lock in and be
focused on the details of your responsibility and your job
for that whole stretch and then see what that looks like.

Speaker 3 (24:20):
How hard is that to coach? Though? Do you have
them do that part? Because it's the Lawrence Taylor Craze
Dogs thing. You want them to be like that. You
mentioned you want them to be precise as well. There
is a fine line. How do they handle that?

Speaker 5 (24:32):
Yeah, I think, I just I think you can be both,
you know what I mean.

Speaker 7 (24:36):
We never want to take you know, we talk about
we don't want to put seatbelts on the guys like
we want to play with the seatbelts off and flying.
I mean, that's our style and that's our brand of football.
But can you do it, you know, in the proper
leverage or can you do it with the eyes in
the right place and not? Again, we don't feel like
we have to cheat to make plays, like the players
are going to come to you if we're all working
together and in the right right position. So I think

(24:57):
the precision part comes from being in know doing your responsibility,
knowing whatever the call is and what your job is,
and then doing it in the right manner. Am I
in the right leverage, am my eyes in the right place?
Am I looking at the right thing whatever that may be.
Then that allows your swarm to come out and allows
your teeth to come out, because then when you're confident
and you know you're in the right spot and you
know what you're doing, now you can go play fast

(25:18):
and go play physical, and go run and hit. So
I don't think they're mutually exclusive.

Speaker 2 (25:22):
Well, Anderson Junior and his growth in year three, coach,
what have you seen from him?

Speaker 7 (25:27):
Yeah, I feel I get a little Anderson question every
every time in front of any sort of mic.

Speaker 5 (25:31):
I mean, as you should should No, I mean I
think just.

Speaker 7 (25:37):
He's a guy that, for I would I would consider
already a great player to really focus, to have the
focus to want to get better at things, and not
just you could roll the ball out right there tomorrow
and will say I'm a good player.

Speaker 5 (25:52):
I can go play ball. But that's not how he
approaches things.

Speaker 7 (25:54):
And so to me to see his growth and how
he's really trying to refine his pass rush, I've said
this in the past.

Speaker 5 (26:00):
I think he's already an elite edge setter.

Speaker 7 (26:02):
As a defensive end in the run game, and you know,
for him to really spend a lot of time his
off season really focus on again the precision in his
past rush and really refining some moves and some change
ups from how he was rushed in the past, I think, uh,
that's really shown to me throughout training camp and everything else.
And obviously had production last week with a sack and
hopefully that that keeps going. But I think there's just

(26:25):
been a lot of growth of his focus and working
on his past.

Speaker 3 (26:27):
Rush. Well, we always hear about Will being a great example.
Do what he does and you're doing it right. I
gotta think Daniil is like that too. Maybe not a
vocal I don't know what he's like behind the scenes coach,
but it seems like he doesn't say a whole lot,
but he does a whole lot. He's been playing at
a very high level for so long.

Speaker 5 (26:43):
Yeah, yeah, for sure.

Speaker 3 (26:44):
It's uh.

Speaker 7 (26:45):
And I would say frankly like I think I know
people know who he is, but I think he probably
goes underrecognized because he's not a big personalities he. I mean,
he literally could go whole practice not really say much.
He just shows up, but he works every day. I
don't know if he's ever missed a practice since I've
been here, you know, so he just show up day
in and day out, works his craft. I do think
that's rubbed off on Will a little bit, Like I
think those guys sort of feed off each other. And

(27:07):
I said this again and at other times this year,
like I think.

Speaker 5 (27:10):
For a guy whatever.

Speaker 7 (27:12):
This year he is in the league now, nine ten
years whatever, it's been like, he got better this offseason.
He's a better run player for us than he was
last year. And the techniques we play like are unique
to some of the things we do, and so I
think last year he was growing into that. But like
I've seen him get better in certain areas too. So
I thought he rushed really well last week to production essay,
wasn't there there was you know, they were trying to

(27:32):
mitigate our rush obviously up front, which a lot of
teams do. But man, for guy that just let me,
you know, talk about a lunch pail guy. He doesn't
say anything. It just shows up to work every day.
I mean he epitomizes that. And so really really fortunate
to have a few guys like that in that room.

Speaker 1 (27:45):
Coach feels like the more we watch Henry TOA TOA,
you not only see him, but you feel his presence.
I mean you talk about being physical, Like the first
person that flashes the mind is Henry with how he
was flying around. What's the growth you see him going back?
What he I remember him telling us you's sitting right there.
He's like you know, man, I was a fifth round pick.
I played with a chip on my shoulder all the time,

(28:07):
and it feels like that's just continued. But it feels
like he's getting to be a better linebacker. Kind of
the things that you guys wanted to see. What have
you seen from h Yeah this year for sure, I
would start with that.

Speaker 7 (28:16):
I mean, you know, and he's Pepper throughout his career here,
even he's had some ups and downs from an injury standpoint,
he's miss time, he's been in and out. So like,
I think it's cool this this offseason to have that
just continuous growth as he came back in camp, I
would say he's molded himself in a pretty complete linebacker
again a third year in our system. From a mental
and knowledge standpoint, he plays multiple spots for us.

Speaker 5 (28:39):
But that part of it that you.

Speaker 7 (28:40):
Talked about, I would say, you know, you look at
our defense and everyone's always gonna say, you know, A
Z's from a physical standpoint and Kamar, you know, with the.

Speaker 5 (28:49):
Front, all the guys up front.

Speaker 7 (28:50):
But I would say, like, Henry's really mold himself to
one of our more physical players at that position and
really on the defense in general. So I think that
I think he's had a really really steep growth curve honestly,
even sort of from training camp to this point, and
he's really become a fully complete linebacker in my opinion.

Speaker 3 (29:08):
All Right, you talked about week one to week two
and CJ. Gardner Johnson. Here's week one to week two
with him and the band. It's like he got a
new saxophone player. And how's it going to be that
transition into week two now that you've had a little
water under the bridge there.

Speaker 5 (29:20):
Yeah, same, And he missed some of that time in camp,
you know what I mean.

Speaker 7 (29:23):
So again, just really trying to like get him up
to speed on on everything, you know what I mean.
I think we've tried to pick some spots to help
him out some, but you know, he's a gamer, so
like I feel like just when it shows up, when
the lights come on, and that's sort of when ceed shines.
So it was good to see him get out there
and do some of those things for so. I think, again,
the more just sort of reps he gets under his belt,

(29:45):
the more he's going to grow.

Speaker 5 (29:46):
And grow and grow into the system for sure.

Speaker 1 (29:48):
As you prep for the Bucks kind of mini scouting
report coach, But as you get there, their offensive line
is kind all over the place because you don't know
if Works is going to play. Maybe he practiced a
little bit, but he hasn't played yet. Then you've got Godwin.
He started practice, but you don't know yet. How do
you kind of prep for a team when you've got
guys that are key to their offense but you don't

(30:09):
know they're questionable or they're limited in practice. How do
you kind of go about that as you're prepping for
a team.

Speaker 7 (30:14):
Yeah, you can't totally concern yourself with that, you know
what I mean? And you know, they didn't have worse
last week, and they played well up front, and I
would say they do a really good job as a unit.
You can see the coordination and communication upfront. So weather
worse lies in there. I mean, he's a good player,
so I wouldn't discount that. But I think just as
a whole, from like an operation standpoint, that it was

(30:35):
pretty smooth for them last week, and so I don't
think anything of that. I mean, you can't go chasing ghosts,
you know, So I think whoever it is, receivers linemen,
like we just got to you know, we're looking at
the scheme and if something comes up when we know
we know, like what's ever happening on Monday, that we'll
have plans for all those guys.

Speaker 5 (30:52):
But I think, you know, you just can get.

Speaker 7 (30:54):
Down a rabbit hole chasing ghosts and trying to speculate
on what's going to happen. Like at the end of
the day, like we're going to play our style and
play our techniques and whoever lines up across from us.

Speaker 5 (31:02):
What they do is what they do and they get
to deal with us too.

Speaker 3 (31:05):
So coach Johnny was talking trash about Liverpool before he
got in here, so I don't want to.

Speaker 2 (31:09):
I was not because I was not talking about I was.

Speaker 3 (31:12):
I was not kidding. I'm kidding big acquisition though, right
for for your guys.

Speaker 7 (31:17):
Yeah, we'll see, we'll see you get we got we
actually have JJ Watts Club on Sunday.

Speaker 5 (31:21):
We got Burnley.

Speaker 1 (31:24):
I haven't talked to Jay yet about it, but well
there's probably no trash talking now because he knows what's
about that.

Speaker 3 (31:29):
Unfortunately for interesting Monday night football.

Speaker 1 (31:32):
Ye how, because there are a lot of young dudes
in that locker room, they're like, no Sunday night football.

Speaker 2 (31:39):
I mean, that's what they grew up with, but a
lot of us grew up with.

Speaker 8 (31:41):
No.

Speaker 2 (31:42):
Monday Night was like the premiere night.

Speaker 1 (31:44):
How cool is it for for you guys to be
playing on Monday Night and your estimation.

Speaker 5 (31:48):
My story time, we got time. Of course.

Speaker 7 (31:50):
My first Monday night game was my my friend date myself.
My firste of league was four. I was with the
Tennessee Titans, and my first Monday night game was at
Lambeau no way, and yeah, it was like week four
or five. Uh, and I never forget. I walked out
there and two things.

Speaker 5 (32:06):
It was. It was Madden and.

Speaker 7 (32:08):
Some are all, well, still doing Monday night football. So
there on the little sideline, I saw John Madden for
the first time, and I know this is gonna this
is what's gonna date me. It was the first time
I'd ever seen the skycam.

Speaker 5 (32:17):
They were only using.

Speaker 3 (32:18):
It like the wild camp.

Speaker 7 (32:19):
Yeah, and so I walked out and I was like,
what the hell is that thing? And then John Madden's
over there. I meant Lambeau for the first time, Like
it was. I'll never forget that my whole life. We
actually think you have to look this up. I think
we picked far off like four times or something.

Speaker 5 (32:32):
That game we end up had a pretty big win.
But yeah, it's cool.

Speaker 7 (32:36):
I mean, it's it's it's such like a confluence of
events here with obviously with the home opener two here,
you know, so I know that's gonna be like a thing,
and it's the first time we get to really put
on in front of front of each town. And then
having the Monday Night and the lights, I mean, the
trucks are already starting to pull up out here. So uh,
you know, you can downplay it all the time, which
we do. It's another game and we get to focus

(32:57):
on what we need to do, but uh, really anticipate
the pretty live atmosphere. It's always cool to you know.
And again, you know, like when we're here, like last week,
we're in the office prepping for this week, and everyone
puts Monday Night on on the TVs in the building,
and so you know a lot of people are watching
and hopefully our guys show out.

Speaker 3 (33:13):
Outstanding coach, thanks a lot, good luck, pressure, guys.

Speaker 1 (33:16):
It certainly is not a segment with Matt Burke unless
he's poking at the bear. The brown bear that is
me and I'm a man City guy. He's a Liverpool guy.
It's way it goes. He's a Dartmouth grad. I'm a
Brown grad. So we don't really agree on much other
than the fact that we both want to see this
team do very, very well. I was sitting right next
to him during the interview, and when I asked him

(33:37):
that question about Henry toit too, I could see his
eyes kind of light up, and I thought that was
really cool. I just feel like Henry has made more
strides than almost every player I've seen from year one
to year two to year three. I mean, he was
flying around on Sunday, had the sack. I think he
had seven eight tackles, and he just probably a really

(33:58):
good ballgame, I thought. And now keeping everybody integrated at that,
you know, at linebacker position with Christian HARRISJ Speed, et cetera.
But you gotta get the bucks in third and long
to be able to kind of use all your linebackers
on a lot of different spots and different things.

Speaker 2 (34:12):
So we'll see what the Texans are able to do.

Speaker 6 (34:15):
Now.

Speaker 1 (34:15):
A guy that could play a role in all that
is a rookie, but he's a fun rookie to watch.
That's Jalen Smith, Jay Rock from La played his first
game out in La Man with a smile that brightens
up any room, joins us next right here at Texans
All Access.

Speaker 2 (34:32):
What's happened everybody?

Speaker 1 (34:34):
Welcome back to a Friday edition of Texans All Access
from the Texans Radio Studio. I'm your host, John Harris,
football analyst, satheline reporter for your Houston Texans Draft night.
Friday night, Day two, Texans got a third round pick
cornerback USC Jalen Smith. And I know there are a

(34:56):
lot of people happy about that selection. I was happy
about that selection. Frank Ross was happy about that selection,
the defensive staff. And then you got a chance to
meet Jalen Smith here and what an absolute sweetheart, just
a really easy going guy. But out on the field man,
he plays with his heart on his sleeve. Good friends
with Kaylen Block and now gotten to be good friends

(35:17):
with Kamari last Dar. He goes through all of that
with us right here. Jalen Smith's first time with us
on Texans All Access in this season.

Speaker 2 (35:26):
Here's Jay Rock with market myself here.

Speaker 3 (35:28):
On the hun day Texans Radio Studio. Jalen Smith joining us.
The rookie not a rookie anymore? Do you still feel
like a rookie one game in? You've been here all
throughout the offseason. How do you feel, Jaalen.

Speaker 9 (35:40):
I still feel like a rookie, I'll tell you that day,
you know, but I feel like I'm settling in really well.
The team has embraced me, you know, with open arms,
coaching staff, you know, everybody. So it's been great. But
I'm getting a little older into the system. Note, So
it's been good. I'm getting real comfortable.

Speaker 2 (35:53):
Did it help a little bit?

Speaker 1 (35:55):
Let's say you're kind of a little cheat, but you
had Kaylin here, Kaylyn and kind of going through and
been here that kind of helped you a little bit
each other.

Speaker 4 (36:03):
So well, one hundred percent with Kaylin Solomon Byrd.

Speaker 9 (36:06):
Yeah, it's right, a couple of guys that you know
have been in the system already that can kind of
give me some nuggets to kind of you know, pick
up the defense and pick up the special teams and
everything like that.

Speaker 4 (36:13):
So it's been good.

Speaker 6 (36:14):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (36:14):
How is it out there Sunday against the Rams versus
say preseason action? Because everyone talks about, well you have
practice to the preseason games and that speed change and
then you have preseason games to the regular season games.
How was that transition for you, Jail?

Speaker 9 (36:27):
Oh man, it was great. It's it's a great experience
for me. I say, just the stages are getting a
little bit bigger, a little bit brighter, speeds obviously getting faster.
You know, a lot of good guys on the field
running at the same speed at the same time. So
it's been great though, you know, good experience, you know,
watching my older guys, you know, show them, show me
how it's done.

Speaker 4 (36:46):
And so I think that's just been.

Speaker 1 (36:47):
The key first game of your NFL career. And you
go back home. What was that experience like? And oh,
by the way, we end up staying at your rivals campus.
Basically what was out of How is it we get
from that standpoint?

Speaker 4 (37:02):
Roller coaster of emotions? You know what I'm saying. You know,
we was over there with the baby Blue Bruins.

Speaker 9 (37:07):
You know what I'm saying. It was it was cool
to you know, get back home. You know what I'm saying.
I've seen my family, see my you know, my friends
and everything like that. It was good man, It's a
dream come true, you know what I'm saying. You you know,
make it to the next level and you obviously get
to come back home with in front of your family
and your friends.

Speaker 2 (37:21):
It's great.

Speaker 4 (37:21):
It's a good experience, man, something that I dreamed of.

Speaker 1 (37:23):
So in Texas high school football here when it gets
to the playoffs, there's a weekend where they play like
four or five games in this building. They play championship,
they play it in Jerry World. Had you ever played
in so Far? Did you ever get to a point
where you got to play in so Far?

Speaker 2 (37:37):
Was the first time?

Speaker 4 (37:38):
That was my first time?

Speaker 6 (37:38):
Yeah?

Speaker 9 (37:39):
Yeah, first time, And that was my first time actually
being in so Far really yeah, yeah, so it was.
It was a surreal moment for me.

Speaker 3 (37:44):
That first time, for a lot of people. In fact,
what is practice like for you now that we're in
the regular season, Because we've seen the training camp practices,
Iron sharpens, Iron ones against the ones, twos against the twos,
But during the regular season it's different. You have scout team,
you have you have to get ready for the opponent,
what they look like on the field. What is it
like for you, jailing.

Speaker 9 (38:03):
Man, showing up every day doing my job man, at
the best I can, and that's you know, bringing full effort,
bringing full attention, you know, being communicative and being a
sponge as well. You know what I'm saying, understanding what
you know, what coach wants and what he wants us
to you know, succeed for the for that following game.
I think that's the main key for me, is keeping
the clean slate, focusing on the task at hand, and
that's just getting the job done.

Speaker 3 (38:25):
You say you say clean slate, so they grade you
throughout practice, right, Do you mean that, don't make those
errors in practice and take that to the field for
game day? Is that the idea when you mean when
you say clean.

Speaker 9 (38:37):
Slate, Well, no, I say, I say clean slate, you know,
just off my mindset. So that's like, you know, anything
happens good or bad, you know, good plays, bad plays.
I'm always just gonna be levelheaded and I'm okay, I'm
gonna stay right in the middle, you know what I'm saying,
Never get too high and never get too low on
myself knowing that you know what I'm saying.

Speaker 4 (38:51):
We all got a job at hand.

Speaker 3 (38:53):
Right, Chila.

Speaker 1 (38:54):
There's one thing to learn defensive scheme, et cetera. But
then all the different special teams groups that you're on Yeah,
now you play a lot of special teams that at
C but now you've got to prepare I would imagine
for the special teams in addition to getting ready for
the defense.

Speaker 2 (39:08):
How how I don't say, how tough is that?

Speaker 1 (39:11):
But you got to do two different things where some
guys will only study defense.

Speaker 2 (39:15):
What's it been like for you?

Speaker 1 (39:16):
Kind of getting prepared, making sure that you're solid and
all your special teams, put all your defensive assignments as well.

Speaker 4 (39:21):
Right, I think it's been a good challenge for me.
You know what I'm saying. Coaches put a lot of
stuff on my plate, and that's that's great for me.

Speaker 2 (39:26):
That's a good thing.

Speaker 9 (39:27):
Yeah, I love it, you know what I'm saying. It's
coming in as a rookie. You know, you want to
just make an impact, and that's wherever so just coming in.
I just want to make an impact us as fast
as I can, as quick as I can. Coaches did
a good job as far as you know, keeping me
up to speed and you know, keeping everything you know smooth.

Speaker 3 (39:42):
We talked about call and who else has been an
influence on you, helpful to you, whether it be in
your position group or not. Maybe it's somebody from another
position group, maybe somebody on offense. What can you tell us?

Speaker 4 (39:51):
I'll give you about I can give you a list
of guys. I started with.

Speaker 9 (39:55):
Will Will be in my locker, my locker buddy. He's always,
you know, checks on my mental every day every morning.
You know, you're doing good, a little bro, you're doing
like just little things like that, you know, different different
position group, different body type.

Speaker 4 (40:07):
So's it's just a lot.

Speaker 9 (40:08):
Of it's a confidence booster, you know. You know, you
got guys in the in the room like that. Obviously
d Stings like my big bro man since I got here,
since the day I got the call. He was the
first person to text me. So that's probably the guy
I say like mostly is he's took me in and
kind of just like helped me, you know, throughout this whole,
this whole process, and you know, I give kudos to

(40:28):
him for sure. And then obviously Kamari, you know, Kamarai
and Kaitlin, those are the guys that I kind of
you know, surround myself with h and they kind of
just helped me, you know, show me exactly what the
ropes are and how to how to become a pro.
And I think that's been you know, my group for sure.
Shout out to Scoop too, the schools my guy too. Okay, yeah, Scoop,
that's right, that's right. You mentioned Will?

Speaker 1 (40:49):
Is it for you when you sit next to him
and you're talking him just like we're talking and we're
having a discussion.

Speaker 2 (40:54):
You're talking to Will Anderson Junior.

Speaker 1 (40:55):
But then you get on the field and you're like, Yo,
that ain't the guy sitting next to man, That dude
is at a different level.

Speaker 2 (41:00):
That's the terminator. That's what Landerson Jr. But that's the
terminator over there.

Speaker 4 (41:03):
Story of my life.

Speaker 6 (41:04):
Man.

Speaker 4 (41:04):
You go out there and you be like, man, this
is the this is the league. Man, this is the NFL.

Speaker 9 (41:08):
You know you got guys that's that's have soft spoken,
that's super soft spoken off the field, and you know,
you would never you would never expect him to go
across and you know, look at him and he's hitting
the quarterback in his face every play. So it's just
you know, that type of that type of Swiss Man's,
super humble, super huber.

Speaker 3 (41:22):
God had promised this is the last time I'm going
to ask you about the Snoop Dog. First of all,
You've probably answered as many questions about this as USC
or the NFL or anything else right throughout.

Speaker 2 (41:35):
Your career for sure.

Speaker 9 (41:37):
And I say, man, Coach Snoop Man, it was he
was like a great a great leader for me, a
great role model. I think he kind of helped me
becoming pro before becoming a pro and before knowing what
the pro was.

Speaker 4 (41:48):
You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 9 (41:48):
Coach Snoop just he done a great job as far
as putting his sports, putting everything in line, and for me,
it kind of showed me how to carment, like like
put everything in in space. Like I can focus on school,
I can focus on football, I can focus on being
a family guy.

Speaker 4 (42:04):
Like It's just how coach newp did. It was. It
was tremendous And I definitely give.

Speaker 1 (42:08):
Them those speaking of your guys back at USC to
an over to start the year and putting up some points.
How you feel about your Trojans this year in the
Big Ten? How weird was that to be in the
Big Ten after all those years of playing in the
West Coast and all of a sudden you're playing Nebraska
and IO won all these different What was that kind
of like.

Speaker 4 (42:26):
Man, my first year.

Speaker 3 (42:27):
It was.

Speaker 4 (42:28):
It was crazy.

Speaker 9 (42:28):
It was a change, I'll tell you that, man, just
you know in four hour five hour flights. Yeah, yeah,
I think that was the biggest change for me. And
then just offensive styles. Man, They're like, you go from
the fact twelve, this is a lot of air raid.
They're gonna try to they're gonna try to throw the
ball off. And then you're going against like the cam Wards.
And each week you got the cam Ward, you got
your door. Then you go back and you play against
DJ like just all in one league. So I mean,

(42:51):
go from that, and then you go for a heavy
run pass like a heavy run league, and you gotta
like unlock them the past almost like if you don't
stop the run, run.

Speaker 1 (43:00):
It for all four quarters.

Speaker 9 (43:01):
And so that was the biggest difference for me otherwise
than just the traveling.

Speaker 1 (43:05):
I remember you guys playing Michigan at Michigan and they
must have run like fifty times that game.

Speaker 2 (43:11):
I mean, I don't even think the guy through them.

Speaker 9 (43:13):
I remember one play I'll lined up and press and
I'm like, yo, it was about the third quarter.

Speaker 4 (43:19):
No pass attempts yet anything. I'm like, you guys gonna
throw the ball.

Speaker 9 (43:22):
He's like dude, we're at the University of Michigan. I
was like, oh, now that, No, that explains it.

Speaker 3 (43:28):
That kind of help through it. I get through it
all that game. It's got to help you for the NFL.
I mean, Damica wants you to tackle hard, be physical
as a corner. So that's got to help you prepare.

Speaker 9 (43:38):
Yea, and being like the type of guy I love
to tackle. I like to be physical. I like to
put my put my nose in it. And you know
what I'm saying, make plays for sure.

Speaker 3 (43:47):
All Right, Houston, so far, this is something I will
ask you because as you live here longer, you're gonna
get to know the city better, have different impressions. It's
gonna build. How's it been so far for you being
in h town?

Speaker 4 (43:58):
Man, I got no complaints.

Speaker 9 (44:00):
Man, it's been great, great vibes, man, over all, the people,
the environment, you know, the food obviously, I mean I've
been eating.

Speaker 6 (44:07):
So good here.

Speaker 4 (44:10):
But nah, man, it's a great environment.

Speaker 10 (44:12):
Man.

Speaker 4 (44:12):
The people were great.

Speaker 1 (44:13):
Man.

Speaker 9 (44:13):
It's super A lot of support around the team and man,
this has been great man for sure.

Speaker 3 (44:17):
All right, Jell and thanks a lot for joining us.

Speaker 4 (44:19):
Good luck, man, Thank you, appreciate you having me.

Speaker 1 (44:21):
I hope that young man remade the Texan for a very,
very long time. Of course, we always love the guys
that give us good content, but we like the guys
to combine giving us good content and giving us good
play out on the field. Be interesting to see how
the Texans attack the wide receivers for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
More than likely you know, Chris Godwin, but likely for sure,

(44:42):
likely a Mecca Buka and Mike Evans, also Sterling Shepherd.
It's gonna be a good match up with the Texans
corners against the Tampa Bay wide receivers. And of course
don't forget Kate Aughton who had that touchdown that gave
them the lead two years ago, right before CJ went
down to hit Tank for the winner. Kate I made
one hell of a catching zone, which hopefully he doesn't
do again. I'd rather not see Kate otten, but got

(45:04):
a feeling we're going to. But is there a possibility
of not seeing some guys.

Speaker 2 (45:10):
In this game.

Speaker 1 (45:11):
Well, let's take a look at the injury report from today.
Let's look to your Texans first, same three guys dnps.

Speaker 2 (45:18):
One piece of good news.

Speaker 1 (45:20):
Outside of that, Jake Andrews, Braxtonberio as Christian Kirk did
not participate, not expecting to see them on Monday night.

Speaker 6 (45:28):
But Ed Ingram, who had been.

Speaker 1 (45:30):
Very very good at training camp missed the last game
against La Rams. He was a full participant in practice today.
That is great news. Now the news on the other
side for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now we knew about
Tristan Wurf's way back when it was not thought that

(45:50):
he was going to play in this game. He is
practicing in a limited capacity. Don't know if that leads
to him playing. I don't think so. Bubb find out
a little bit more during the week. He's limited participate
in practice. Mike Evans had a rest day today. But
Chris Godwin, who is working back from the dislocated ankle
from last year, missed practice today. So he had been

(46:12):
limited on Wednesday or Thursday. Excuse me, but he was
DNP on Friday. My guess would be and Ian Rappaport
retweeted or tweeted this on earlier this week that they
don't expect Chris Godwin to be ready to week five
or six.

Speaker 2 (46:28):
Well, this is week two. Now here's the other one.

Speaker 1 (46:31):
To keep an eye Luke get a Key, and I
know I'm saying that wrong, but they're starting right tackle, very.

Speaker 2 (46:37):
Very good player.

Speaker 1 (46:39):
He has not participated in practice either of the first
two days with a foot issue. If that's the case,
Ann Wurf's is out, more than likely they will play
their starting center, Graham Barton had left tackle. They will
play Charlie Heck allegedly at right tackle. This is definitely
something to keep in mind for the Buccaneer their issues

(47:00):
that tackle, going against Will Anderson Junior and Daniil Hunter
and not having Chris Godwin apparently, but we'll let that
play out. But that was your injury report for today's practice. Again,
you've got Braxton Bario's, Christian Kirk, and Jake Andrews. I
don't expect to see any of those, so really no
surprises there, but a good sign that ed Ingram was

(47:23):
back at practice fully and they had pads on today,
so made it through the practice in fuls. That was
good to see. The Bucks are dealing with some injury issues,
especially on their offensive line, so it's time for those
guys up front to eat all game long and show
them what Texas football is all about, all right, let's
get into the second hour, and we're gonna kick it

(47:45):
off with the pres The man himself, Mike Towman, joined
Mark and I in studio. You won't want to miss
It's got a lot of things to say about week one,
about the Liberty white out, everything happening with the night
game of Monday Night football.

Speaker 2 (48:00):
Oh, Mike Toman joins us next right here on Texans
All Access.

Speaker 1 (48:02):
All right, we got one our down, one hour left
to go. Right here on a Friday edition of Texans
All Access, which kind of feels like a Thursday, which
is gonna make Saturday feel like a Friday.

Speaker 2 (48:13):
That's all It happens.

Speaker 1 (48:13):
You move a day, move a game one day from
Sunday to Monday, and man, it just messes up everything
in a good way, I think. But man, it's gonna
be electric on Monday Night. I know Mark and I
are really excited about that. We talked about that at nauseum.
But I know one guy who is truly ready for
Monday Night, and that is Mike Toman, president of your

(48:34):
Houston Texans. Mike was kind enough to step in the
studio with Mark and myself, and that interview is right
for you now.

Speaker 3 (48:42):
In the Honday Texans Radio studio with us Mike Toman,
president of your Houston Texans. Welcome Mike, Hey, thank you, Mark,
good morning. What do you think of our studio? This
is your first visit to the new digs.

Speaker 10 (48:52):
I uh, it had this great energy when it walked in.
I thought it was just you guys, but it looks
like it's the Redo.

Speaker 3 (48:59):
It's not us, that's the surroundings, Mike, it is it is.
How excited are you Monday Night Football for the home opener?
This is very special?

Speaker 10 (49:07):
It is I can't think of a better way to
kick off this season. We feel really good. There's a
special energy I think in Houston. And to have our
home opener be on Monday Night Football nationally to bring
everyone back to NRG, I don't think you could line
it up better.

Speaker 1 (49:23):
Now, Marke and Iron are in a little different age demographic.
Monday night football was it when we were growing up,
Like Monday night Football. You want to be a Monday
n football. Sunday football was not quite there. It got there,
but Monday night football was it when you were growing up.
Was Monday Night football that special? Like, hey man, I
got to see at least part of this game before
you had to go to bed.

Speaker 3 (49:41):
That young, I mean, he's young. I know.

Speaker 8 (49:45):
I thought he was saying he was younger than you.
I was trying to understand where he was.

Speaker 1 (49:49):
I am younger than him, I am younger than him,
but you're younger than both of us. That said Monday
Night Football to you, how special was it when you
were growing up?

Speaker 8 (49:56):
There's nothing bigger? There is literally nothing bigger.

Speaker 10 (49:59):
I mean I think when you look at how special
it is won this game to the beginning of the
season and then three Monday Night football, Monday Night football
has always been the event, not only of the week,
it's what you look forward to during the season.

Speaker 6 (50:13):
All right.

Speaker 3 (50:13):
So I wanted to ask you, now that you've lived
through training camp and everything like that, saw the fans
out there preseason games, how was that for you? What
was your reaction to Texans fandom coming together with the
team all of that.

Speaker 10 (50:27):
Mike, I mean, I think we just have such a
special situation here in Houston. We have such a special
fan base, and I think what's going on with coach
in the locker room, I think it's really resonating and
it was great to see it all come together to
see the fans get to interact with the team as
we were going through training camp, and you really look

(50:47):
at that as a big indicator for special things to
come this season. It was fantastic from my perspective.

Speaker 1 (50:52):
Yeah, and I'm sure you've been pretty busy shaking hands,
meeting people, getting out there Texans fan base, et cetera.
But Monday night's going to be pretty darn cool. Let's
reiterate six o'clock. Let's reiterate six o'clock. And by the way,
get in your seats well before six o'clock. I know

(51:12):
I'm saying something that is very important to everybody, but
six o'clock kickoff, because you know there are gonna be
some people looking, gone, well, I thought it was setting.

Speaker 2 (51:19):
No, it's six o'clock.

Speaker 8 (51:20):
It's six o'clock, John. I appreciate you saying that.

Speaker 10 (51:22):
One of the things that we talk about a ton
is how do we find our competitive advantage?

Speaker 8 (51:27):
Like where is our competitive advantage?

Speaker 5 (51:29):
And one of the.

Speaker 10 (51:30):
Most unique things about Houston is it's the fans. I
think the players talk about a coaches talk about it.
For NRG to have everybody in their seats at kickoff,
not after kickoff, not like a couple, like to have
them in there before kickoff.

Speaker 8 (51:48):
The players feel it, we can get it rocking. And
at the end of the day, we want to win championships.
That is our charge. That is what we do. It's
deliver a world.

Speaker 10 (51:57):
Class fan experience and focus in on trying to win championships. Now,
we got to win football games first. I gotta win
Monday night and that's the focus. Step by step. The
key for the fans to be here early. And just
all I can express is it matters, like it's not
like here's a bumper sticker. We need our fans. It
really matters. That's our competitive advantage. So as we all

(52:20):
know Houston traffic five o'clock like plan accordingly.

Speaker 2 (52:24):
Yes.

Speaker 10 (52:24):
And the other thing I would say are the NRG
parking lots are big. So if you're sitting in there
and you're having a great time tail gating, which we love,
getting ready to come into the game, and you're like, oh,
kickoffs in five minutes, I can make it in the
next five minutes, you probably cannot unless you're already ticketed
through the gate. So please come early. It means a ton.
That is our competitive advantage. We're kinding on you to

(52:46):
be in early, to be in your white, to be loud,
and to really really put the pressure on the Buccaneers.

Speaker 3 (52:53):
I already promised us of coach, so you too, You'll
write a note for anybody who needs to get out
of work early, Right, we'll do that, Mike Toman I
got I have that shot, and I know you're gonna
be pulled in a lot of different directions before the game.
How will you spend the couple of hours before the game?
You're gonna go outside bud Light Plaza, the boulevard. How
are you gonna do this? Mike?

Speaker 10 (53:12):
Well, one of the things I love is, you know,
I really believe we have some of the best teammates
in our organization. So I love walking before our fans
arrive to see the preparation that's in place.

Speaker 8 (53:23):
So I will be doing that. I will be out
on bud Light Plaza.

Speaker 10 (53:26):
I'm gonna spend some time out on the tailgating as well.
I know the McNair's are going to make a visit also,
and then and then coming into the stadium and getting ready,
getting ready to receive everybody.

Speaker 8 (53:38):
That's really what I enjoy.

Speaker 10 (53:40):
Getting my steps in Mark I get my steps in
on game day.

Speaker 1 (53:44):
You also like to I know you like ball because
you like to watch pregame. Two do you like to
be down on the sidelines and watch pregame? So let's
go during a game. During a game, I would say,
how frustrating is it that you want to watch a game,
but people want to talk to you, They want to
meet you, they want to learn about you. Do you
get a chance to watch the game while it's going on?

Speaker 8 (54:05):
Yeah?

Speaker 10 (54:06):
No, So John, as you know, love being down on
the field with the team and watching and watching pre game.
I think you get a good sense. And it's such
a special, special sport we have here, and so that's
also a good reminder of we have a special team.
It's a special moment that we get to share with
everybody in the city. And so I do like to
be down there in the beginning. But I enjoy seeing

(54:28):
our partners and I enjoy seeing our fans, and so
spending time with them in this atmosphere is fantastic. I'll
sneak some views and try to make sure we're watching,
and then certainly as we get down towards the end
of the game, always want to be on the field
with Cal and Hannah being able to see the last
plays of the game and being able to be in

(54:49):
that spot where you can focus and and be and
be supportive of what the guys are doing on the field.

Speaker 3 (54:55):
We are looking for a liberty white out. So I'm
curious about the fit, Mike, because this is very importan.
You know, I've got a semi white jacket that I
can wear, and I know you've got some jackets that
I'm very envious of. So what do you How are
you gonna fit for Monday night? What are you gonna wear?

Speaker 8 (55:11):
Yeah, so I feel like this is a setup.

Speaker 10 (55:13):
I feel like there's been two setups, you say, this
demo thing and this coat thing. I am excited to
try to live up to some expectations. Some some of
my expectations I don't think can be reached by you, Mark,
but I'm gonna try.

Speaker 8 (55:29):
We're going I'm gonna support, We're gonna be in white,
white shirt, white coat. That's about as far as I've
thought in life right now.

Speaker 10 (55:38):
I don't blame, but excited to support absolutely the white out.

Speaker 1 (55:42):
For people that didn't get into the stadium for the
Panthers preseason game, what can people look forward to them
might be.

Speaker 2 (55:49):
New this year at Energy Stadium.

Speaker 10 (55:51):
I'm really excited for those who haven't been yet. I
think it will be a full sensory experience. You will
have a better visual experience with our upgraded video boards. Oh,
it will have a different level of visibility and formatting
and content that will ultimately make.

Speaker 8 (56:12):
The experience better. I think people will be able to
notice that.

Speaker 10 (56:15):
Also excited for the sound of it, as you know, John,
the fidelity, the christness, and you know, the unique piece
is how we've situated that it is to make sure
that there is level sound at every level of the stadium,
so you're getting the same sound experience at every portion

(56:36):
of the venue.

Speaker 8 (56:37):
And the other piece.

Speaker 10 (56:38):
That we always like there, we've upgraded the subwarffers and
so those big moments not only will you hear them,
but you'll feel them as we go through it. And
then you know, of course when you come to the experience,
you can't leave out food and beverage, and so you know,
we have over one hundred and twenty new menu items
through our great partners at air Mark that people will

(57:01):
be able to try and get into. We're keeping our
fan friendly pricing on our key items. I always like
to say beer and soda, keeping keeping the fan friendly
pricing on that. So we're really excited for everyone to
experience energy.

Speaker 8 (57:15):
We've been waiting for this moment.

Speaker 1 (57:17):
Yeah, everybody's all excited about the food except me.

Speaker 2 (57:19):
I don't get any of it.

Speaker 8 (57:20):
Why do you say that I see these all the
time when you're.

Speaker 1 (57:23):
Talking about Donald's sidelines during the game, I mean a
hot dog.

Speaker 2 (57:25):
I'm fired. I listen to these guys.

Speaker 8 (57:28):
I do not see them meeting.

Speaker 2 (57:30):
So I don't know, cheese hanging out of my mouth.
I'm trying to interview to Miko.

Speaker 3 (57:35):
This is very good, Mike. Over the course of the
spring and summer, there were articles out and you talking
about facilities and other things, stadium improvements, that kind of thing.
And I know we talked about improvements for Monday Night
football and the rest of it as this season progresses,
with the sound system, the video board and everything. But
bigger picture, is there anything else to share with the fans,
with the listeners, with the viewers about where the Texans

(57:55):
are headed in the future.

Speaker 10 (57:57):
Yeah, I mean, I think the great thing is that
there's a common read between all this and everything that
we've talked about. It is about making sure we find
our competitive advantage, and it is about making sure that
we're part of the community and we're delivering a world
class fan experience. Like you can count on us to
be consistent and driving those things. And so you know,
when we're thinking about a training facility, we've had some

(58:17):
great conversations, we have some mature conversations, and that's at
the focus of it is can we get a competitive
advantage for our team and our organization to perform at
the highest levels. Can we be a part of the community,
Can we make the community better, inspire hope in Houston
and the way that we Ultimately because we do those things,
we're helping to deliver or putting ourselves in a position

(58:40):
to deliver a world class fan experience. So we've been
spending a lot of time on those things. We've been
spending a lot of time on those things to make
sure we hit all those marks.

Speaker 8 (58:50):
And I'd say we're making great progress.

Speaker 10 (58:51):
Not only with the training facility as well as you
know what the future of energy part can be.

Speaker 8 (58:58):
We have some great partners with the Row Video. We're
really excited to approach us together.

Speaker 10 (59:03):
We have great partners with the county, and we've had
some really productive conversations.

Speaker 8 (59:07):
I'm really excited about what the future could be.

Speaker 3 (59:10):
That's awesome, great stuff to share. Mike, thanks a lot
for joining us. We look forward to Monday night where
your white be here.

Speaker 8 (59:16):
Early competitive advantage, Go Texan.

Speaker 1 (59:18):
Like I said earlier in the show, my slogan, be
the difference.

Speaker 2 (59:23):
Be the difference.

Speaker 1 (59:24):
You have a chance of sitting in that crowd being
as loud as possible, making life miserable in Baker Mayfield.
After the game, Todd Bowles and Baker Mayfield need to
mention how loud this crowd is every time they go
under center.

Speaker 2 (59:39):
Be the difference.

Speaker 1 (59:40):
I came up with that. I came up with that.
That's my slogan. All right, Coming up next, let's talk
a little college football. My man, David Fletcher, GM of
Long Star Sports Entertainment, executive director of the Kinders Texas Bowl,
will join me. Saw college football. Just put in my veins, man,
give me some college football. That's next, the Texas All Access.
I know, Friday night that is typically reserved high school football,

(01:00:01):
but a big one over at TDCU. Koog's taking on
Colorado coach Brianantown to take on head coach Willie Fritz.

Speaker 4 (01:00:09):
Big game.

Speaker 1 (01:00:11):
Our guy Andre Ware is on that call on ESPN
this evening. So really cool stuff going on in college football.
So let's talk some college football. My man, David Fletcher
GM of Lone Star Sports Entertainment and also the executive
director of the Kinders Texas Bowl.

Speaker 2 (01:00:27):
It's time talking a little college football? Is do it
right now?

Speaker 1 (01:00:29):
GM, a Lone Star Sports Entertainment executive director of the
Kinders Texas Bowl. In fact, he's wearing a hoodie that
if that's an extra large I might have to fight
him for it. On the way outs, my man, David
Fletcher fletch, how are you doing.

Speaker 2 (01:00:43):
My friend?

Speaker 11 (01:00:43):
The fight is on. Johnny ain't getting this bad boy.
But good news, my man, stay tuned. You know, I'm
just not gonna reveal any secrets, but we may have
heard from the masses that you're not alone and we
need to help the staff out there.

Speaker 1 (01:00:56):
Yeah, yeah, you need to help him saying you need
to help the staff out speak looking of the Kinders
Texas Bowl. How about the fact that this is the
twentieth anniversary of the Kinders Texas Bowl.

Speaker 2 (01:01:07):
Hawesme is that.

Speaker 11 (01:01:08):
It's an amazing accomplishment and it's directly a result of
the support from this community here in Houston, college football hotbed,
a community that gives back so much, and we're really
proud to be honoring our twentieth year, twenty years of
Bigger in Texas and that's really the way that the

(01:01:30):
only way to describe this game. Bigger attendance, bigger crowds,
bigger energy, and bigger moments have occurred and that's something
that we know we're going to carry on into December twenty.

Speaker 5 (01:01:42):
Seventh, a Saturday night primetime game.

Speaker 11 (01:01:44):
When this year's Kinder's Texas Bowl takes place right here
at NRG Stadium.

Speaker 1 (01:01:48):
Fletch, what's been And I'm trying to remember the exact year,
but I remember when you announced it that the conference
partners were the Big Twelve in the SEC. It feels
like that marriage has been frankly awesome.

Speaker 2 (01:02:04):
To have those two conferences meeting in this game here.

Speaker 11 (01:02:07):
It's been transformational for our organization and for our community.
To say the least, I mean Big Twelve and SEC
to the biggest conferences in college football geographically, we're right
at the epicenter of those institutions, and for Houston. The
first matchup came in twenty fourteen, also was the first
year that I got to sit in this chair and

(01:02:29):
have got to watch the impact, and the impact has
been immense on Houston. You look at it since that,
we're the most attended Bowl game in the country outside
of the playoff games. We're a top ten game in
terms of visibility. Our broadcast partners at ESPN have done
a tremendous job putting us in windows, mostly in prime

(01:02:51):
time that really showcase Houston to a national stage. And
the experience we've been able to create with our two
partners has been incredibly impactful from a philanthropic side, over
almost three million dollars raised for Depelching Children's Center. But
I think the thing that's been most exciting is you
look at the quality of the teams, the players that

(01:03:12):
have come through an RG stadium around the game since
that matchup came together. And I mean the litany of
first round picks number one overall picks like Miles Garrett,
you know, longtime NFL stars. You know, I think back
to the twenty fifteen game, in particular Texas Tech LSU.
You get six first round picks, a little guy number

(01:03:33):
fifteen up in Kansas City, and Patrick Mahomes who's had
a pretty good career. On the other side, Leonard Fournette,
Jamal Adams just a key part and key.

Speaker 1 (01:03:42):
Yeah gotshaw yeah shoe team was Tredavius White was a
corner on that Tim White team was jacking.

Speaker 11 (01:03:49):
On the Texas tech side, you had Mahomes, Jaquem Grant.
So you know, just you know that that is one
example of many. Going back to last year's game LSU
and Baylor, I mean, the the quality of talent. Arguably
two of the best quarterbacks in the country this year
played in that game last year and in what was
a really really close and competitive game.

Speaker 1 (01:04:09):
I mean, take it a step further, the Week one hero,
if you will of college football is Gary Nutsmeyer yep
against Clemson. And then Week two you got to come
back up in Dallas with Zawyer Robertson. And for what
I love, there's a term that's used for you know,
on social media when a game gets a little crazy nowadays,

(01:04:32):
they say a game is drunk in some sense, and
that actually is a good thing because you're seeing things
in a game that just have your attention. And I've
done the last three years up in the booth with
Brett Dolan in every single one of those games. The
game seemingly kind of gone sideways at some point, but
it's become competitive is all get out. Where it was

(01:04:52):
Oklahoma State and A and him that, it was Texas
Tech and Ole Miss, and then it last year was
Lshue Baylor. Every game I had a moment where You're like, huh,
what's happening. I can't take my eyes off of this game.
And the talent has been absolutely fantastic. Jackson Dart was
a guy that played in this game. That's right, a
few years ago. Marcel Reid, who will play a big

(01:05:13):
role in the game against Notre Dame that's coming up
this weekend. He comes into the game on the second play,
and it's funny because a lot of A and M people.
I'm watching that game and I'm thinking, are we sure
that that guy that was in that got hurt in
their first play should have been in before Marcell Reid
because that dude was tremendous.

Speaker 5 (01:05:30):
And that was the twenty three game against Oklahoma States.

Speaker 11 (01:05:33):
So yeah, and that's what those two conference partners have
been able to do for us is consistently create an
incredible atmosphere, a competitive game on the field, and showcase
Houston as a destination for the sport. We're excited to
be able to do that again for our twentieth year
and twenty more plus going forward.

Speaker 2 (01:05:52):
Yeah, very very cool.

Speaker 1 (01:05:53):
Now you said Dayton Time, and there's a little burro
up my saddle about this one as it sits now.
But Dayton Time give it to the people again.

Speaker 11 (01:06:01):
Yeah, we're back in primetime. Are eleven time in thirteen years,
So you know, for us, that's always fantastic. The biggest
day of college football, actually the biggest day of football Saturday,
December twenty seventh here at NRG Stadium where the capper
to eleven football games that day.

Speaker 5 (01:06:19):
And I know why you're a little upset, Johnny.

Speaker 11 (01:06:21):
I know we are a little upset Texans and Chargers
somewhere in that calendar as well. But for our college
football fans, and really for football fans in general, couldn't
ask for a better window a Saturday. I can tell
you right now without getting too many details, you'll have
to go to Kinders Texas Bowl dot com to figure
it out here and we'll keep you posted, but we
are really working on making a true celebration of the

(01:06:43):
sport all day long here at NRG Stadium to culminate
with this game. We think it's the perfect atmosphere, a
great environment around the holidays to come and have some
fun out here.

Speaker 1 (01:06:54):
It's the one thing, you know. I love my job
on the sidelines. I love it, but when we have
like this was, Oh, we were in Kansas City last
year and we're playing Kansas City and that was the
first weekend of the college football playoff. Now those games
turned into absolute I mean they were complete duds, but

(01:07:16):
you had all this great college football going on, and
I got a quote.

Speaker 2 (01:07:19):
Unquote work that day in Kansas City.

Speaker 4 (01:07:23):
It was just a little cold.

Speaker 2 (01:07:24):
It's the same thing.

Speaker 1 (01:07:25):
I love being on sidelines and I love facing the Chargers,
but that day of that much football is going to
be I mean, we'll see some of it well, and
then again, we don't even know what we're playing that day,
so we'll see. But unfortunately I won't be here at
Texas Ball. But it's been such a great game over
the years. Fletch, do you have a game or two
that stand out to you where you're like, man, this.

Speaker 2 (01:07:47):
Is pretty cool.

Speaker 4 (01:07:47):
I know.

Speaker 1 (01:07:48):
The one for me is probably twenty fifteen because I
was when I wasn't called Texas LSU Texas Tech, and
when I wasn't calling a game, I was doing video
board stuff with Drew, and so I would come down
and I would stand on the sideline that would go
to each sideline, watch a little bit from the end
zones whenever they got close. But I would watch from
each sideline throughout the first half, and then I would

(01:08:09):
pick a side and kind of stay the rest of
the game. So I started off on the Texas Tech side,
kind of right near their bench, and so it's the
third possession. Texas Tech did absolutely nothing the first two possessions.
Third possession and it's like a third down and I'll
never forget it. Mahomes takes a snap and he starts
to move out of the pocket to the left towards us,
like he's running to his left, he's getting chased, He's

(01:08:30):
running nearly right at me, and all of a sudden,
he stops and doesn't stop. He just kind of like
he's throwing the ball from short over the first side,
arms it and he hits of all people, Kiki QT
across the middle in stride about twenty five yards downfield,
back to his right, and I just went, what did

(01:08:51):
I see? So a year later, when he is up
for draft discussion, I put him as I was at
the time. I was writing a little bit for the
Washington Post. I did mock draft, and so at number
two to San Francisco forty nine Ers, number one, I
had Miles Garrett going to Cleveland, YEP. Number two to
the Chicago Bears, I had Deshaun Watson. I'm sorry. To

(01:09:13):
the forty nine Ers. I had Deshaun Watson, which made sense.
Kyle Shanahan nobody, okay. Number three to the Chicago Bears,
I had Patrick Mahomes and it was based on watching
him up close that day and seeing him like this,
dude's special.

Speaker 2 (01:09:27):
I don't know what y'all are seeing, but that dude
doing those things.

Speaker 1 (01:09:31):
I don't see that, and I was seeing it with
the same eyes I would watch NFL quarterbacks down on
the sidelines right.

Speaker 2 (01:09:37):
It was ridiculous.

Speaker 1 (01:09:38):
And I remember my editor emailed me back that night
and said, you have Mahomes number three?

Speaker 2 (01:09:43):
You sure about this? I'm like, yep, print it.

Speaker 1 (01:09:45):
February twenty fifth, I think it was they printed that
and it was like a surprise at number three Chicago
Bears draft Patrick Mahomes and a lot of people were like, Oh,
that's not gonna happen. That's not going to do that.
And I was like, just watch and he's become who's
be in. A large part of that was just standing
on the sidelines. Is that game in twenty fifteen.

Speaker 11 (01:10:03):
Well, I think that was one of his coming out
parties for sure. I mean had a national stage. That
was a firecracker matchup. I mean, Texas Tech had a chance.
They were going back and forth. They were going back
and forth for full three quarters. Holmes throws an interception
in the end zone end of the third quarter, and
then and then the four net train turned on all
three touchdowns on the fourth quarter. The game looked lopsided,

(01:10:26):
but was such an incredible matchup throughout and and honestly,
you know, we've had so many of those. I don't
know if I could pick a favorite. But you mentioned
the Miles Garrett. You know, the next year, Miles Garrett
played in this game. In the game, played in this game,
despite the fact that everybody knew he was gonna be
the number one pick and I remember talking to Miles
about it. I remember talking to coach someone at the time.

(01:10:48):
You know, it was important for him to be there
for his teammates. It's important for him to take to
be here in what I would call, you know, the
home area right A and M right down the road,
great institution up ninety miles away. And you know, that's
what these games are about. They're an opportunity, the last
opportunity in many cases, whether it's because of graduation, transfer,

(01:11:09):
you know, situational, it's a lot of times the last
time these guys will play YEP, play together, and it
means something and it will continue to mean something even
with the evolution going on with college football. This game,
these games, college football, postseason, bold season matters, and we're
excited that Houston has embraced this over the last twenty
years so much. We're really thankful, I mean to say

(01:11:30):
the least, the Texans organization and you and many others
have helped to make that story for the teams and
the fans that come in a great one.

Speaker 5 (01:11:39):
And we get another opportunity to do that here this December.

Speaker 11 (01:11:41):
And I can promise you I know from my chair,
but certainly feel it for everybody else. Everybody's excited about
it and we can't wait to bring this one back.

Speaker 1 (01:11:50):
Early thoughts, we're two weeks in. Got games tonight, you
got klrad or you vased. I think it's gonna be
a fantastic game, But just kind of your early thoughts.
Two weeks into what we've seen. We've seen some good football.
We've seen some teams that, you know, kind of a
little shaky, and maybe they'll get there. Everybody thought Arch
Banning was gonna be everything his uncle's were.

Speaker 2 (01:12:11):
He's not quite that.

Speaker 1 (01:12:12):
Maybe yet, we'll see, but would have been kind of
your early thoughts.

Speaker 2 (01:12:15):
A couple of weeks in the COLLG football season.

Speaker 11 (01:12:17):
I think everybody's feeling the impact of the new era
of college football, right transfers Nio. The the reality that
this universe is very different than it was even two
or three years ago.

Speaker 6 (01:12:29):
Yep.

Speaker 11 (01:12:29):
A lot of moving parts, a lot of things that
are different. Teams accordingly, are trying to get their feet
underneath them.

Speaker 5 (01:12:37):
I hear. I think. I think the reality is it's
a long season.

Speaker 6 (01:12:39):
You know that.

Speaker 5 (01:12:40):
That's another one that stands out to me. You mentioned Arch.

Speaker 11 (01:12:42):
Look, I'm in the University of Texas alum, a huge,
huge fan of of what we're doing in Austin. But
you know, the reality is that game was was an opportunity,
but it's not the only opportunity, and it didn't go
the way that Texas fans wanted, but it didn't push
Texas off their ultimate goals.

Speaker 5 (01:13:04):
And that's the case for a lot of teams.

Speaker 11 (01:13:07):
And what's happening in this early season, with the playoff
expanded and with the realities of the new college football structure.
I think the last thing is the energy, the excitement,
and the fervor is as big as it's ever been.
And you see that reflective not only in the on
field product, but certainly in the ratings and very much

(01:13:28):
so in the business of football. So for all its flaws,
for all its craziness, college football is here to stay
and stay in a big way. And I think that
the season that we have ahead of us has got
a lot of really interesting twists and turns ahead, including
like you said, hey.

Speaker 5 (01:13:47):
Look down the road tonight over at a U of H.

Speaker 11 (01:13:50):
Boy, Willie Fritz got that team off to a two
and oho start, got that team thinking about the right
things in a very competitive Big twelve.

Speaker 5 (01:13:58):
You know you would have said that a year ago.
That but you know, great coach.

Speaker 11 (01:14:02):
Certainly an opportunity there, and that's the case in many
many other programs where you get the right mix of things.

Speaker 5 (01:14:07):
It's early on. Teams are starting to see a path
and that's fun for everybody involved.

Speaker 1 (01:14:12):
Yeah, this is one heck of a weekend. Obviously, Texas
A and M goes through their dame. You got Florida
taken on LSU Florida after losing last week to a really,
really good USF team, got Tennessee taken on Georgia. Tennessee's
lost the last eight in a row to Georgia. Now
they get him a Knoxville. So this is one heck
of a college weekend. And who knows of those teams
we might see here at the Kinders Texas Bowl December

(01:14:35):
twenty seventh, Prime time Saturday night.

Speaker 2 (01:14:38):
It is a glorious Saturday of football.

Speaker 1 (01:14:40):
Hopefully the Texas will get a win over the Chargers
and then we can celebrate with all the college football
going on. My man David Fletcher will be right in
the middle of everything you talked about, all the people
that are important to this Fletch. This doesn't go if
you're not here. This game goes because you make it
as such. And I know you downplay that. I will
not because you do everything. You got a great team

(01:15:01):
around you, but you do everything to make this game
the game that it is. So appreciate you, brother, Thank
you so much for talking to college football.

Speaker 5 (01:15:08):
Johnny always appreciate it.

Speaker 11 (01:15:09):
Kinderstexas Bowl dot Com for the latest info we'll see
on December twenty seventh, and Johnny at checks in the
mail for that great endorsement.

Speaker 5 (01:15:15):
I appreciate you, bet, of course.

Speaker 2 (01:15:17):
Brother.

Speaker 6 (01:15:17):
There you go.

Speaker 1 (01:15:17):
One of my favorite people in this building right there,
David Fletcher, GM Lotzar Sports Entertainment, also the executive director
of the Kinder's Texas Bowl, and he is the main
driver why this bowl game works. Man, he is unbelievable
at his job. I love that dude. I love talking
to some college football with him. That was really fun. Now,
one of my other favorite people in this building is
Damika Ryans. And when I'm not feeling great, he sits

(01:15:41):
down next to us on a Monday or Tuesday whenever
we get a chance to him postgame, and we just
start chatting about the game about football, ball life. I
feel better. So it's a feel good Friday. That means
we close the show down with Demko Ryans. Got to
it's the only way you can do it. We do
it next right here in Texas All Access. We're go
one final segment this edition of Texans All Access from

(01:16:03):
the Honday.

Speaker 2 (01:16:03):
Texans A Radio studio.

Speaker 1 (01:16:05):
I'm your host, John Harris, football analyst, sideline reporter for
your Houston Texans In every Friday before a weekend game,
we'd like to feel good.

Speaker 2 (01:16:16):
We'd like to feel good vibes.

Speaker 1 (01:16:18):
And so I started playing Demico Ryans interview with Mark
and myself back in the twenty twenty four season at
some point, and we ended up winning. So it kind
of became kind of routine slash superstition, and so I'm
not stopping now. Here's Demiko Ryans chatting and talking about
the loss at LA, how to get better and things

(01:16:38):
to look forward to this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Speaker 3 (01:16:43):
In the Hyundai Texans Radio studio with head coach Demiko Ryans.

Speaker 6 (01:16:46):
Coach.

Speaker 3 (01:16:46):
Great to see it, thanks for beving me.

Speaker 6 (01:16:47):
You guys.

Speaker 3 (01:16:48):
All right here we go into week two with Tampa
Bay coming up just wrapping up the Rams game, which
was a couple of days ago. As we do this,
is there something you could take with with you? I
know there have to be a few things that you
liked that you saw that you want to use in
week two, and there's a lot you want to improve
as well.

Speaker 12 (01:17:04):
For sure, our team definitely did some really good things
all three phases. Guys did some nice, nice things, made
some nice plays. The takeaway is, hey, we're there in
the fourth quarter with a chance and opportunity to go
win the ball game. As bad as it may seem
as if we didn't play well or whatever, that looks
like we had an opportunity.

Speaker 6 (01:17:22):
And that's the NFL. Right.

Speaker 12 (01:17:24):
Eleven games last week came down to one score games, right,
And so when you look at it that way, like,
how are you gonna make the plays necessary to put
yourself in a winning seat when you're in that fourth quarter?
That's what I take from it. And the main thing
for us is how can we control the controllables? How
do we control those things that's tempo in and out

(01:17:46):
of the huddle to make sure we're at the line
of scrimmage we can make the right calls, checks, we
need to make we control that right.

Speaker 6 (01:17:52):
The penalt hands too high or your paths are not
low enough.

Speaker 12 (01:17:55):
We control that right if we control those things that
mitigate some of the penalties that we were making that
kind of shot ourselves in the foot. And now we're
in second and long, third and long, and those are
uphill battles that you just don't want to be in
in the game. So if we can come out this week,
control the controllables and just put ourselves in a position
and have a chance to compete, then let's see what happens.

Speaker 2 (01:18:17):
I knew we talked about this a lot.

Speaker 1 (01:18:19):
Coach of physicality defensively, was there What did you think
when you went back and watch a film offensively from
a physicality standpoint, there were a couple of times where
I was like, WHOA, that looked really good.

Speaker 2 (01:18:29):
Would you think when you went back and looked at it?

Speaker 6 (01:18:31):
Overall?

Speaker 2 (01:18:31):
Just the physicality of your team in general?

Speaker 6 (01:18:34):
Yeah, our team plays physical.

Speaker 12 (01:18:36):
You putting the tape on. You talked about the defense.
I mean, guys are hitting. I don't want to play
against our defense, but I mean the way Kamari comes
up and his has a corner, I mean, it's no
one better doing it. Henry playing physical Z like with
all our guys playing fields up front, offensive line thought
Titans playing physical. He had some nice finishes on some

(01:18:57):
play as well. Of course Kay was strained and then
playing physical as well. Unfortunate, you know, we'll miss him
for a little bit. But there there are glimpses of
physicality all throughout our tape, right, and that's how we
should play. That's what Texans football look like. Now. We
just got to clean up some of the other little
finer details and we'll be off in rolling.

Speaker 3 (01:19:18):
And you have two good defenses playing clutch ball at
the end because you got the ball out with diseases
hit and through the challenge flag didn't get that call,
so you had to throw the flag and you've probably
felt pretty confident about that at the time, got the
ball back, able to get it into scoring range. I
know it didn't work out ultimately, but you had to
feel good about that defensive takeaway.

Speaker 6 (01:19:37):
I felt outstanding.

Speaker 12 (01:19:39):
That was the one thing we talk about throughout the week,
like this game is going to come down to the ball,
right and we have to take the ball away. And
I'm always I'm on the the mic. I'm always talking
to the disease before the serious Hey, rememinder, we got
to get the ball, gotta get the ball, gotta get
the ball. Came down to that one. But we got
it at the right time, at a critical moment. And
then you see how the ball goes same for them

(01:20:00):
and their defense. Like the corner man now standing play.
Higgins goes up, he has the ball in his hands,
God takes the ball away. Great play by him. And
then their linebacker, I mean Dary is going down.

Speaker 6 (01:20:13):
To the ground.

Speaker 12 (01:20:14):
The ball is a little loose, he punches it exactly,
I mean at the pinpoint accuracy, like the outstanding play
by him. But that's the game. You have to protect
the ball, you have to attack the ball. And that's
always our main emphasis coach.

Speaker 1 (01:20:26):
When that play happened, that bootleg not talked about by anybody,
But Will Anderson shuts down the first guy going to
the flat. They forced him to go to Parkinson, so
he gets the ball. The ball comes out. The line
judge in front of us is waving incomplete, incomplete. From
that point to the point that you threw the challenge flag,
what was kind of going because I look to see
whether you're going to do it, and I saw your eyes.

Speaker 5 (01:20:48):
First go up.

Speaker 1 (01:20:49):
What was kind of the process of you deciding to
go ahead and throw the flag at that point?

Speaker 12 (01:20:54):
Yeah, it was an interesting play because as I see it,
you know, the ball is out, everyone is excited, and
I see as the line is coming, he waited for
a minute, right, he did it immediately say incomplet so
he was So I talked to him and that like,
what's your process? What are you right? And then he
was like he had to replay it in his mind

(01:21:16):
and that and I'm trying to look up on the screen.
Let me see if I get a replay, which obviously
you're in the away stadium get into replay and then man,
just from the guys upstairs also asking them, hey, what
did you guys see or can you guys see a replay?

Speaker 6 (01:21:31):
Like can you guys? Man?

Speaker 12 (01:21:33):
I mean, at that point in the game, time outs
didn't matter, like we needed to We needed that ball.
And the main thing also is you throw the challenge
flag there, because Daniel Hunt also that's the that's the play, Daniel.
If you watch the play again, Daniel is he's probably
the furthest guy from our sideline. He comes over and

(01:21:54):
he gets down, he gets the ball. So for us
having a clear recovery by our defense, we have to
challenge that.

Speaker 3 (01:22:00):
Way, right, Yeah, you have to make sure you get
that part.

Speaker 2 (01:22:02):
Yes, sure we had ball, but you don't.

Speaker 3 (01:22:05):
When I saw you.

Speaker 1 (01:22:05):
Look up at the board, I was like, man, I
know I want to say this.

Speaker 3 (01:22:09):
But I got that FI. Yeah, that was amazing stuff. Okay, offensively,
we saw some good things running the football. You were
able to get a good yard per carry number in
the game. I know you want it to be better
on third down though, so you get more of those opportunities, right.

Speaker 6 (01:22:24):
Yeah, for sure.

Speaker 12 (01:22:24):
I think Chub ran the ball really well. We tried
to mix it up with the back, so got Woody
some touches. Damian, Well, we're gonna try to lean in
with Chubb a little bit more.

Speaker 6 (01:22:34):
I think he deserves it.

Speaker 12 (01:22:35):
He's shown that he continues to He continued to get
better as the game went on. He saw him running stronger,
finishing plays in a physical manner. So we gotta get
him going a little bit more, right, and I think
he can. He can really help us. CJ did a
nice job helping that rushing average by scrambling a little bit.
Such a nice drive there before the two minute, I
mean during the two minute at half, he did a

(01:22:56):
really nice job scrambling to put usself in a position
to get points there. So I think offensive line just
stay after with our double teams being a hat on
a hat, that won't change. We're always want to get
a hat on the hat in a run game and
really emphasize our wie receivers getting in blocking and support players,
and that'll help our run game continue to thrive.

Speaker 2 (01:23:16):
Coach, you always said this about teams.

Speaker 1 (01:23:17):
If they're good at the end of half's end of games,
that's a that's a really good coaching staff.

Speaker 2 (01:23:21):
Well, you know how I feel about you. I think
you're great at what you do.

Speaker 1 (01:23:24):
But the fact that you give up the touchdown, which
I know bothered you because you had guys there to
make a play. But the way you responded in that
last two minute drill and then the way you responded
I think you got the ball just under four minutes
or at four minutes, and what you did to kind
of move the ball forward in that part. You work
on situations all the time at training camp and preseason.

(01:23:45):
Did you kind of feel like all that work you
saw in those two kind of last part of the
half and last part of the game drives from CJ
and the offense.

Speaker 12 (01:23:53):
You definitely see it, and in those moments, you just
want to see your guys just have the confidence, been
here before, done it, know what to expect, and just
seeing our guys operate with confidence. Seeing our offense start
to drive down the field with even more confidence in
those two minute situations than some of the other moments
in the game is very encouraging to see what we're

(01:24:15):
capable of. We just have to put it together for
sixty minutes. But you're now very proud of our coaching
staff and our coaches for having our guys, you know,
being confident in those situations.

Speaker 3 (01:24:27):
Right CJ running the football coach, he makes plays that way,
made the play to get you in the field goal
range at the end of the half. I know you
don't want to see it all the time, but it
is a valuable weapon selectively.

Speaker 6 (01:24:37):
Yeah, it is a very great weapon.

Speaker 12 (01:24:39):
I mean when he does it the right way, like
stepping up in the pocket escaping, it unlocks a defense.
Right now, he's put on tape several times that he
will run, he can gain the first down. So what
do you do as a coverage player. Are you staying
back and coverage? Are you coming up to get the quarterback?
That's the part that you put defenders in a buying
if you want to come up now. He still has

(01:25:01):
the capability LA Chargers playoff game right, get it scrambled
and throw it down field as well. So him continuing
to work those where he can escape the pocket and
make you pay down field, that that thread is it's
hard to stop. So I encourage him to continue to
do whatever it takes for us to win games.

Speaker 1 (01:25:21):
Coach, rus are the guys on defense. We're guys that
were here last year for the most part. And then
CJ gets hurt and so he missed the preseason game,
so this is really the first time having CJ on
the field. What was that like with just communication movement?
I saw there was one play trying to remember which
one it was where CJ was on the fly like
pointing at Kaitlin because motion was going that way for

(01:25:41):
him to get up and CJ was going back. How
was kind of that communication with CJ that first game?
Would you think of the way you played the communication?

Speaker 12 (01:25:48):
It was solid. It was a couple of good moments
I'm not so great moments. Things we have to improve
on with our communication and just how we're operating in
the back end. So we got to see more improvement
from our from our secondary guys.

Speaker 3 (01:26:01):
What about the kickoff game? Coach Fairban had great day
kicking field goals and he was on his way to
AFC Special Teams play over the week. Maybe in that category,
but I know you want to see better performances out
of kickoffs and fielding the ball. But it is weird
with this landing zone and bad hops and do I
field it or not? And that kind of thing. How
do you address that?

Speaker 6 (01:26:18):
I think the NFL we got what we want right.
You gotta play that.

Speaker 12 (01:26:20):
You have to put your eyes on now because who
knows what will happen That ball hits the ground bouncing
all over the place.

Speaker 6 (01:26:28):
Man.

Speaker 12 (01:26:28):
We first off, as a kick return unit, we have
to feel the ball better. I think we put ourselves
in a negative spot too many times.

Speaker 6 (01:26:35):
By allowing the ball to roll in the end zone.

Speaker 12 (01:26:37):
He takes the touch back. Now we're at the twenty
yard line. So their kicker did a really nice job
of hitting some kicks.

Speaker 6 (01:26:44):
I have to give him that. Given credit, he had
some nice kicks. They were difficult.

Speaker 12 (01:26:47):
I'm not saying it's easy by any means, but we
got to just continue to work on that. And from
the kickoff perspective, like once the ball hits the ground,
we can take off. So our eyes we have to
be locked the loaded, ready to see. Once the ball
hits you got to take off. And we got to
do a better job of just avoiding blocks. We allowed
the play to get out, the big, big return, we

(01:27:08):
allowed it to get out. Luckily Darray drew a holding penalty,
but we still we can't allow that. Everybody got to
get all blocks and play faster and finished at the ball.

Speaker 3 (01:27:16):
Garrea, I'm not going to say you're an old school player,
but when you did play, the touchback was at the
twenty yard line. It's got to be weird for you
that now the twenty feels like I'm in my own
end zone.

Speaker 2 (01:27:26):
The thirty thirty five.

Speaker 3 (01:27:27):
It's crazy.

Speaker 6 (01:27:28):
Yeah, it does, old school player.

Speaker 1 (01:27:31):
Tell you what, when you see from behind the kicks
that Cardi made for the Rams, he looks like, who's
a modern day knuckleballer?

Speaker 2 (01:27:40):
I don't even know.

Speaker 1 (01:27:40):
I'd go to Joe Nicro That's why I would go
to that ball was moving all.

Speaker 2 (01:27:44):
Over the place and then boom it hits and you're like,
you got no idea.

Speaker 1 (01:27:47):
I mean even you played short stuff back in the day,
you have no idea where that ball is going once
it hits.

Speaker 2 (01:27:51):
I mean it was. It was incredible.

Speaker 1 (01:27:53):
Coach, you mentioned CJ and his ability to scramble, get
out of the pock, and do those things. The quarterback
we face Monday Night can do that a little bit too.
We saw him a couple of years ago in Baker Mayfield.
I know you probably not all the way into your
bucks prep at this point, but just from what you remember,
facing Baker and a guy just that has that mobility,
that has those guts in the two minute drill to
go down to make a play, there's a challenge on

(01:28:15):
Monday Night facing a guy like Baker.

Speaker 2 (01:28:16):
What are your early thoughts.

Speaker 6 (01:28:18):
Baker is playing the best of his career.

Speaker 12 (01:28:20):
He keeps their team in games because of his ability
to scramble and make plays down the field Passing wise,
They have arguably one of the best receivers to do
it in Mike Evans. He's he's productive every year.

Speaker 6 (01:28:34):
Every year.

Speaker 12 (01:28:34):
Every year he's making plays and he's still doing that.
To add the young kid a Buka from Ohio State.
He pops off the tape and he made some nice
plays versus Atlanta on on yesterday, So it's it's gonna
be a fun challenge. Well, Baker is a guy. We
got to find a way with a defensive line. You
gotta find a way to keep him in the pocket,
make him uncomfortable, right, make it difficult for him to see.

(01:28:56):
Make sure we're getting our hands up because he does
have a low trajectory throw, but we got to make
sure recover them and that starts a a week and
improve defensively from her last week to this week. Is
our eyes have to be right. We have to play
with great eye discipline. When we when we got loose
on some plays against the Rams, our eye, our eye
discipline was not on. So if we play that the

(01:29:17):
right way, make it as challenging as possible with our
d line getting at the Baker and we'll be in
a really good spot.

Speaker 3 (01:29:22):
It's a big contrast from week one. They're both really
good quarterbacks, but Stafford doesn't move around as much. He
does have that lightning rod delivery though, but Baker has
a pretty good arm as well.

Speaker 12 (01:29:32):
Yeah, Baker has a great arm, but that's the we
have to be ready. Now Stafford's is standing back in
the pocket like statue. Now we got a squirrel running
all over the place. We gotta be able to be
able to get him down. But I'm confident in our guys.
Played them before. He made some nice plays versus us.
We were able to bounce back and make some plays

(01:29:53):
versus them. It's gonna be a good battle. Todd does
a really good job. He's done a great job his
entire coaching career of mix up the pressure is making
it difficult for offenses. And you know they they've kept
some continuity. Although they lost Liam Cohen last year, they
just moved up Josh Grizzard and he's running the insame
offense right.

Speaker 6 (01:30:13):
He knows what Baker likes.

Speaker 12 (01:30:15):
You can tell they're doing similar things. It will be
a little different with the run game. We'll see more
gap scheme runs than we've seen before. A lot of
offensive linemen pulling all right, So we got to be
ready to fit those runs. That'll be a little different
for us, and they just got to be sound in
your coveragees.

Speaker 1 (01:30:31):
Cut, you mentioned it with Todd bowles and pressure packages,
and we know that you want to be successful on
first and second down so that you're not third and twelve.

Speaker 2 (01:30:38):
Do you not have penalties those kind of things.

Speaker 1 (01:30:41):
Is it that much more important because of how Todd
calls the defense and the pressure packages he brings to
be that much more on it, so you're not third
and twelve, you're third and two.

Speaker 2 (01:30:52):
If anything else, we.

Speaker 12 (01:30:53):
Have to have a heightened sense of urgency to make
sure that when that picture changes, because I spoken about
he does a really good job of really disguising the
blitzes so you don't know who's coming when they're coming.
But when that picture change, we have to be ready
to react and make the proper adjustments so we can
play on schedule. We can stay on track, get out man,
second and medium, right, third and medium. That's where we

(01:31:15):
want to operate, and that's where we'll thrive, and we'll
be able to sustain drives and we get longer drives.

Speaker 6 (01:31:21):
It's going to lead to points.

Speaker 3 (01:31:22):
Coach. Two years ago, we had noon start, noon start,
noon start every week. It was very routine. This year,
you start out West Coast, late game, get back late.
Now you have Monday night football and that's what happens
when you're a good team. You have these primetime games.
So how do you handle this week? We know you
gave the guys maybe a Monday breather of sorts, but
going through the week, you got to push everything back
a day to simulate a regular game week.

Speaker 12 (01:31:44):
Right now, we try our best when we have the
opportunity to simulate a regular game week right where we
have our Wednesday, Thursday, Friday practice model and then we
have a day before game. So we gave the guys
an extra day on Monday. Now we'll just we pushed
the week back so everything feels until the guys. Guys
should be rested and recovered from the from the west
coast trip and having these games at different times and

(01:32:08):
different days. Just tell when the ball is kicked off,
let's go, let's go play. It really doesn't matter you
try to get on this time schedule or it's a
little different, it's gonna be different.

Speaker 6 (01:32:18):
It's like, but you're.

Speaker 12 (01:32:20):
Playing football, right, Let's say, don't forget keep the main thing,
the main thing.

Speaker 6 (01:32:24):
Let's go play football.

Speaker 12 (01:32:25):
Great, whenever it's kicked off, whatever day is on, let's
go handle it the right way.

Speaker 1 (01:32:29):
And You know more than anybody having played defense in
this building, that this crowd can be your twelfth man
getting it, getting a hype, making Baker have to really
work to get communication. How important does the crowd become
jacked up on Monday night?

Speaker 5 (01:32:43):
Man?

Speaker 12 (01:32:44):
We need it big time, right especially defense, right man,
we can have our crowd loud, making it uncomfortable, making
it difficult for them to communicate. It's always an advantage.
There's always that twelfth man advantage. So we need that
always from our fans. We're here at home, got a
a lot of opportunities here at home to help the
team in a positive way.

Speaker 6 (01:33:04):
So we're looking forward to our fans doing that.

Speaker 3 (01:33:06):
For when the game starts at six six o'clock, I'm
gonna say the clamera, all right, coach, watch it there early.
He'll give you a notes, he can leave work early.
There you go. Sorry, made that promise for you, coach,
But along the lines of you saying, hey, when they
kicked the ball, we just got to be ready, right.
You were talking about injuries this way. You have some injuries,
no doubt you dealt with injuries. Week one this year

(01:33:27):
went into the game with some issues and more issues
creep up all the time in the NFL, but you
made the point you got to be ready to go.
It doesn't matter. I mean when you played here, you
were part of the next man up season of twenty eleven.
And you've had some next man up situations here already
in your first two years. And here we go again.

Speaker 6 (01:33:41):
Yeah, for sure. And that's that's what the NFL is
all about.

Speaker 12 (01:33:44):
And so many great stories of guys who took advantage
of their opportunity.

Speaker 6 (01:33:49):
When a guy went down, right, and.

Speaker 12 (01:33:52):
Tom Brady guy goes down, like there he is, like
you get your opportunity. And you know the other part
is you have so many they on this team. You
talk about practice squad guys or the second team guys,
like every guy believes they should be starting. Yeah, right,
and every guy believes they can do it. And I
just want my chance. So that's what the room is

(01:34:14):
made of. So it's so many guys that I can't
wait to see, Like what do you do with that opportunity?

Speaker 6 (01:34:19):
And when you get it, don't look back, like make.

Speaker 12 (01:34:21):
It yours, take that job, make it yours, and impact
the team in a positive way to make it better.

Speaker 3 (01:34:26):
All right. The Amagy Bank ask coach question of the week.
A listener wants to know, is there anybody you could
share with us that you talk to outside of the building,
A mentor of yours from time to time, whether it's
to get coaching advice or just life advice for coaching,
or however it would relate to the question.

Speaker 12 (01:34:42):
Coach coaching mentor is Johnny Holland Johnny Texas A and
m Aggie. So he's a guy who he coached me
here when I was with the Texans, and he's always
been a great friend, a great guy can talk to anytime. Always,
I mean you talk about life advice, coaching advice.

Speaker 6 (01:35:01):
He's the guy that I rely on.

Speaker 3 (01:35:03):
The most excellent coach. Thanks a lot for joining us.
Good luck you guys.

Speaker 1 (01:35:07):
Nothing makes me feel better than hear it from coach.
It's gonna be all good. That's that's what he makes
me feel. It's gonna be all good. And the show
was all good. Big thanks to Miko Ryans, gm Aloon,
Star Sports Entertainment, Executive Director of the Kinders, Texas Bolt,
David Fletcher, President of Texas, Mike Toman, Jalen Smith, Defense Coordinator,
Matt Burke, My Man Mark vandermir All, you guys back

(01:35:29):
at Sports Radio six' ten everybody, listening thank you so.
Much wear white game at six being there be, loud
AS i, said be the difference we'll see On, monday
and as, always Go, texans