July 18, 2025 • 46 mins
Marc Vandermeer and John Harris break down the ultimate "camp disruptors" - under-the-radar Houston Texans players poised to crash the roster party and create roster headaches for coaches - in the good way. Featuring exclusive interviews with OL Zach Thomas (named after NFL legend Zach Thomas) and LB Jamal Hill on their year-two development under DeMeco Ryans. Deep dive into potential breakout stars like WR Jared Wayne, RB JJ Taylor, rookie DT Junior Tofuna, and Casey Toohill's pass-rushing potential. Plus a tribute to Brian Braman and analysis of which sleepers could force tough 53-man roster decisions. Essential listening as training camp begins next Wednesday.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, Texans, Welcome to the show. Hope everybody's weekend is
getting off to a good start. No matter what you're doing,
many of you are working, and I always like to
highlight that, Johnny, I always like to highlight the people
who are working throughout the weekend, either paying their dues
or this is just what they do, they work on
the weekend. Hey, we're here tonight. I don't want to
call it work. We're talking about football. It's super cool.
(00:20):
We're super blessed to be able to do this. And
camp starts on Wednesday. We've reminded you of that very often.
If you don't know that by now, camp starts on Wednesday,
So players report Tuesday. Here we go, it's here. It's
football season. A couple of teams are already in camp,
and by next week everybody's going to be doing it.
So I can't wait. I know you feel the same way,
(00:43):
my friend. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Absolutely, And you're starting to see and this is always
one of the things that we talk about. You know,
the day before, two days before, which guys are going
to end up on NFI, which guys are going to
end up on the pup list. You know that start
the year and I remember obviously there was a long
narrative and it was a loud narrative of oh man,
(01:04):
Christian Harris is on this pop list. You know, it'll
be okay, it'll be fine. And well that turned into
he came back after the first preseason game for like
thirty minutes of practice and then we didn't see him
again until they were like four games left in the year.
But those lists are always interesting because a guy can
be on there from not pass a conditioning test and
the next day he's off and he's fine. You know,
it could be you know, something that lingers. You know,
(01:26):
obviously something happened to Christian last year. But that's always
the list that I'm always interested in seeing because you know,
it tells you what might have happened in the last
five weeks while the guys were away from the building.
And hopefully it won't be a situation like Najie Harris
is going to be out for a while because of
fireworks incident or whatever he had. But that's always the
list that I'm always clamoring to see, Like, Okay, when
(01:48):
is that coming out? I don't really want to see it,
but all right, we got to know who is it
that won't be practicing at the beginning of the year,
and there are always going to be guys that are
kind of ramping up their availability. You know, they might
not practice the first day, but they know the next
couple they might. They might be you know, guys they've
got some season vets on this team now that might need,
(02:08):
you know, training camp to be a little bit of
a what's the right way of saying this kind of
show and tell, but not every day like they show
and they tell everybody I'm still good. Then they get
a day off and you'll kind of get through training
camp that way. And I'm a firm believer Mark that, yes,
it's a period of time, but training camp is so
(02:29):
grueling that it does have an impact on you in November,
in December and on itto January. And I really think
understanding that it's a marathon not a sprint is something
that this staff takes a lot of great pride in,
try to stay pride in, but you know, you got
to get work done too, So there's kind of that
balance you got to find to be able to do
that and hopefully to meet going this coaching staff will
(02:51):
be able to do that.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Matt Najee Harris with the fireworks, saying, this reminds me
around the fourth we had some fireworks stuff that was
purchased by the matriarch of the household. Let's be clear
on this, And I was not I was not going
to take part in this, but I felt like I
have to because the kids all want to see this stuff, right,
(03:14):
And it's the stuff that you buy. And my big
objection is and I could not have gotten farther away
and behind a car and stuff like that, which is
still not safe, right, But it's just pretty harmless stuff anyway.
But you know, these things are big and you light
them up, and I don't know what this thing's going
to do, and there's nobody to sue if something goes wrong,
And if something really goes wrong, what does that matter anyway,
(03:35):
if you'll lose a few filangies in the process.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
So I don't know.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
I'm not big on the home fireworks stuff. I do
like the exhibitions that are displayed by cities, although somebody
made a good hot take around the fourth These drone
shows are out doing the fireworks. They're totally outdoing firework shows.
It is so cool what you could do with drones,
fantastic displays. Anyway, I know we didn't come here to
(04:00):
talk about that. We didn't come here to talk about
this camp disruptors. Who are the guys, the flies and
the ointment. Oh yeah, everybody's got their fifty three man
roster projection, and I've this many receivers and this many
defensive linemen and these are the obvious guys. But who
are the guys who aren't so obvious? Who are going
(04:20):
to crash the party possibly and make life extremely difficult
on Nick Cassario and Demico Ryan's come cut down time,
especially if everybody's healthy. What are we going to do
about this guy? He crashed the party? So let's start
and we'll go through various position groups here. I know
who your guy is going to be for this first group,
(04:41):
but I want to hear it. Anyway, We've talked about
him numerous times. Let's go wide receiver. Who's going to
crash the party at wide receiver and make life extremely difficult?
The camp disruptor at wide receiver? Catch after cash, Oh
my gosh, impossible not to notice. We can't stash him anywhere.
We got make a tough decision. Who is it? Johnny
(05:02):
Well you know.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
It's Jared Wayne. That's a guy we've been talking about.
In fact that it popped up the other night. We
were talking with with John McClain about, you know, the
receiver position, and on paper, I mean, you said it, Nico,
Christian Kirk, Justin Watson, three cyclones. If you were betting
(05:24):
on six, that's a pretty good bet that that's going
to be the six. But Jared Wayne got a lot
of reps in the playoffs last year, especially in the
Kansas City game. Now, I know a lot of people
are like, well, you know, he didn't catch the ball.
I didn't do this, didn't do that. But if you
watched that game and you listen, and I one day
I let the game just roll. I just had it
on in the background, and so I'm listening to Joe
(05:45):
and Troy and there was a pass attempt to Jared
and CJ got heated up and so he threw it
behind Jared and could make the catch. But the camera
focused on Jared for a long time, and then they
talked about what the coaches were telling them about Jared
Wayne and guy six 's four, he's two ten. That
doesn't sound familiar. Then you're not paying attention. You know,
(06:06):
he's a small forward, he's Canadian, works his butt off
and can make a lot of acrobatic catches. He's got
a huge catch radius. And when you start to think
you know what you have at wide receiver, all of
a sudden, number fourteen makes a catch and you're like, WHOA,
where'd that come from? Holy cow, he just most that dude.
Oh he just went deep on that guy. He went
(06:27):
up over that guy. There were times in OTAs where
he made catches and made a couple of catches, and in fact,
there was one he made in the day of the
media was not out there, but we were able to
be out there on that day and he went up
over a defensive back and I thought, man, that's the
best catch I've seen during this offseason period. Like this
is wow. This is gonna be a really difficult cut.
(06:48):
And I think that he with some really good joint
practice opportunities with the three preseason games, three true full
preseason game opportunities, because keep in mind, all three of
our preseason games are inside, so they cannot be disrupted
like the Hall of Fame game was last year. So
you got three true opportunities for preseason games. Two joint
(07:11):
practice opportunities. Jared Wayne's gonna make his presence felt because
here's what's gonna happen. Jared Wayne is gonna get reps
against twos and threes at least to start.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Well.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
I know the Texas secondary is really really good. I
don't know if it's as deep as it is could.
But also you're gonna start doing it against the Panthers,
the Vikings, the Lions, and he's really gonna have opportunities
to show it off. And that's gonna start kind of
the clamor. Remember British Brooks last year, British Brooks fell
into that. We saw him early and we're like, hey man,
keep it eye on British Brooks. Don't know how this
(07:44):
thing all fits together, but you can't deny what that
guy's doing. And then preseason game after preseason game, he
was really good.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
That's the perfect camp disruptor right there, British Brooks. I'm
gonna pick Johnny Johnson maybe at receiver. And here's another one,
Braxton Barrios, who who has done some things in this league.
If he's healthy, he can all of a sudden start
bawling out and you're thinking, well, he's got experience, he's
Braxton Burrios. We get Alex Earl in the deal. No,
they don't think about those things, but they might think, hey,
(08:13):
it's impossible not to notice him. What he's doing on
this field. You know he can do it in a
game in all probability. Does he make life difficult? We'll
find out when camp begins. Another camp disruptor position group
and we're going to go over all of them running
back and I know who yours is. Go ahead, give
it to me, the running back camp disruptor who's going
(08:34):
to make life very difficult? Come cut down time.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Well, I mean everybody knows. I love what he marks
and what a he being a rookie. I don't know
if i'd say rookie is a disruptor. No, he's not.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
He's not cooking. You know the guy you know who
I'm thinking of.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
I know, I'm just delaying the inevitable. That's JJ Taylor.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
I thought you were gonna go, Jawar Jordan, I like you.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Are, absolutely like you are, but JJ Taylor went. He
gets his opportunities. He is flashy, he runs hard, he
makes people pay. I mean you could kind of put
juar and JJ in the same category in a sense,
they're just gonna do it different ways. Like JJ is
gonna do something, oh, you know, like he just hits somebody,
(09:17):
where Jaar is like, oh, Like there's a different kind
of reaction to the things that Juar will do. Juwar
is gonna probably, you know, with a jump cut, makes
somebody miss. He's gonna make a nice catch out in space.
JJ's probably gonna run through a tackler, you know, stiff
arm another guy he's just built like a bowling ball
butcher knives, So you could kind of put them both
in the same category. But I've seen and we've seen
(09:40):
JJ in preseason games and he lights it up and
the same kind of thing. JJ's not gonna get more
than likely reps against the other ones and maybe not
even the twos. So all of a sudden, you've got
this guy with a ton of NFL experience going against
threes and he could show it off. And I think
that's you know, when you're talking about disruption, that's what
you're tal talking about it, And I think JJ Taylor
(10:01):
definitely has that.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Now.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
I love Juar, I just think they'll do it in
different ways.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
I think Jawar, though With JJ, he's reliable, there's no
doubt you're right about everything you said. But with Jaar,
if he starts to do some things, you don't know
what the ceiling is. You feel like you know what
it is with JJ, and it's very reliable and you
can count on it and all that. But with Jawar,
we don't know how good he's gonna be if he
starts to really make some noise in camp. So I
(10:28):
like him as a camp disruptor. I'll give you one,
all right, So I'm gonna go there quarterback Slovis, Baby,
Can he be a camp disruptor? What if Slovas looks
really good and all of a sudden, Davis is looking
over his shoulder. I'm not saying it's gonna happen, but
it could happen. Stranger things have happened. He could be
(10:49):
a camp disruptor. I wouldn't predict it, but we'll all
be watching. Hey, we're gonna have the preseason games, we'll
be broadcasting them on radio and television, and we're gonna
get a chance to look at his progress.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Yeah. I don't know that there's any other I mean,
you can't really say anything about Graham Mertz. First of all,
you don't even know where Graham is with his ACL rehab,
so you can't throw Graham in there. And I you
know Davis Davis, I thought had a really good camp
last year. He didn't have a great OTAs mini camps,
and then he set out the last mini camp not throwing.
(11:22):
So I think from a quarterback perspective, that's probably the
logical one. So I think he's gonna get a lot
of looks early on, and you know he and Davis
are going to be more likely. They're gonna get a
lot of reps in those joint practices for sure, and
if they don't get them there, they're gonna get him
in the in the preseason games because you don't want
CJ playing that much and you don't know where Graham
Mertz is going to be in all this, so those
(11:43):
two might be carrying the preseason games for sure.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
I think Slowvis gets a ton of reps in the
preseason games, less in the joint practices, because CJ is
going to get his fair share, of course, because that's
what they're for to give the starters the reps. All right,
tight end, I don't think we have a disruptor here.
Other than and Luke Leche really emerging, He's a draft choice.
I hate to put rookies in as camp disruptor possibilities
(12:08):
because hey, they were drafted for a reason. You feel
like they can possibly contribute. I know he wasn't drafted high,
but he was drafted, so I'm thinking that it's probably him.
We know that Brev can do a lot of things
for this team. I think they have high hopes for
what he can contribute in twenty twenty five. But I'll
go with Lache for lack of a better option.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Yeah, I think you're right on it. There really isn't.
I mean, I think if you know, again, we don't
know what Brev's situation will be. We hope he's cleared,
but you know, Brev with the ACL, Graham Merch with
the ACL, don't know what he didn't want was going
to be. And I think those would be your candidates
for it. But I think Lache is. I think if
you think if you talk about camp disruption for him,
(12:51):
I know when I watched him on film, I felt like,
you know why in line tight end, But man, he's
got some soft, beautiful hands and he can go at
the football, So I wouldn't be surprised if he disrupts
the tight end position in that group with just the
ability to make some big plays down the field because
he's pretty athletic and he's got some soft hands to
(13:12):
go up and get the.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Football at tight end. So all right, let's go to
offensive line. I got one in.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Particular that I mean, honestly, anybody in the offensive line
kind of qualifies into this category if we're being honest,
But I think Jalen Thomas, and I've mentioned it before,
he's a guy that when you see him, he's thick,
he's strong, He's just got to stay healthy. And I
(13:40):
felt like last year in camp we were kind of
seeing like maybe could this could he be pushing for
maybe not a starter spot, but a definitive interior offensive
line spot on a fifty three mins roster and he
got hurt and it's like, oh dang, okay. And I
know not a lot of people were paying a ten,
but I was seeing him go with the first group
(14:02):
and I'm like, okay, are they they give him some
serious consideration? So if Jalen's come back healthy, in good shape,
I mean Jalen Thomas interior offensive line position. And look,
he's played I think almost every line position. I think
when we did the interview with him, I think he
told us he had done he had played almost every
line position there was, So that gives him the versatility.
So from a disruption standpoint, you got some versatility. It's
(14:26):
got some strength, some bulk. Jalen Thomas can be a
disruptor on the offensive line.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
What about Ladarius Henderson as a possibility?
Speaker 2 (14:34):
You know, it's funny, Yeah, with Ladarius, it feels like
people have been talking about him since Nick mentioned him,
and so it's almost as if there's an expectation level
now of Ladarius as opposed to he's kind of lying
in the weeds and then boom, here he comes. But yeah,
I think Ladarius could fit in there as well. But
I just think people's expectation expectations have kind of gone
(14:56):
through the roof because Nick mentioned him and then everybody
including Le's start talking about him, and so, yeah, I
think there's a little bit of mystery to his game,
but because his name was mentioned so often, I think
they're just expectations now that people are expecting him to meet.
I think Jayleen Thomas people will still go who So
that's the kind of meat. Like a camp disruptor is
(15:18):
somebody you're not even thinking's going to make the roster.
Like the namesake of this award should be Khalil Davis,
because you remember Khalil Davis over in twenty three. He got
there the first week of training camp and within like
an hour he was tearing dudes up on the one
on ones. Was like, that's a disruptor. So I think
(15:39):
I think Jayleen Thomas would be a little bit more
of that than Ladarius would be.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Boy, Khalil Davis, I mean, that's that's a blast from
the past. But it's not too long ago, right, And
let's see, is he with the forty nine ers now?
I think possibly? Okay, I think he's not here. Yeah,
we know that he's not here. MP disruptors guys who
are flies in the ointment. I'll give you a veteran
on the offensive line who, if healthy, could really make
(16:07):
things interesting. If he's totally healthy, Trent Brown is here, right,
And if Trent Brown is out there all of a sudden,
well wait a minute, we weren't even thinking that he
would be available. I don't know what they're thinking. Maybe
they assume he's going to be available. I have no
idea what's being discussed in the football offices, but if
Trent Brown is fully healthy and playing well, they're gonna
(16:28):
have some tough decisions to make. Because it's Trent Brown.
You know, he can do some things in this league.
He's done some things in this league, and we had
other plans. But he's available, and I don't know what's
going to happen, but I think that's a good veteran
disruptor possibility. Let's flip to dec Johnny, what do you
like on the defensive line as far as disruptors, which
(16:49):
it feels like defensive tackle is one gigantic disruptor group
in a way, the way things have been handled and
the way people have performed over the years. Tommy coming
in here last year, Reckon shot from time to time.
I mean, heinis has been around here, but I can't
call him a disruptor. However, he could make life uncomfortable
(17:12):
for some veterans. He is a veteran himself now going
into year four, but he could make life interesting if
he's fully healthy and performing at his highest level in
training camp.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
My guy here, and it's odd of this, I mean
I just said a little while ago, I wouldn't put
a rookie, but honestly, everybody on that defensive line the
if rotated. We've seen him so much. We saw even
Tommy Togii, you know, who made plays throughout the last
half of the year or more and was just really,
really good. I'm gonna give you a rookie, Junior Tafuna,
(17:45):
not drafted out of Utah. He is a unit. And
I remember watching him at Utah. I just thought, you know,
he's kind of shorter, squattier, sawing about the Senior Bowl
up close and I'm like, oh, he's bigger than I thought.
But then getting to stand six inches away from him
down at practice and going, dang, he's bigger than you think.
(18:05):
Doesn't wear any flair, no tape, no elbow pads, and
then he just goes out any balls. And I think
he's got an opportunity because he'll go against some threes
that I think he can dominate. I think Junior Tafuna,
the rookie out of Utah, could make a little bit
of noise. And you know, look, Conte Hamilton was drafted
(18:26):
in the seventh round, but there's not a lot of
difference between the two just from an on field standpoint.
So those two have got a really good opportunity to
show what they can do. They're gonna get a lot
of reps to be able to do it because you're
gonna want to keep Settle, Fatakasi, Rankins, Mario, these veterans.
You're gonna want to keep them healthy and rested. So
that means a lot of reps for these rookies, especially
(18:49):
third and fourth quarters in preseason games. That gives them
an opportunity. And I think Junior Tafuna in particular will
be a guy that stands out for that reason.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
How bad a defensive end a draft choice? But are
they writing them off? And they by that I mean
media and such. Are we underestimating what Dylan Horton could
possibly be? They drafted him for a reason. Could he
be a camp disruptor at defensive end? And I'll give
you another one as well, Casey two Hill, who we
(19:20):
caught up with in the studio during mini camp. That's
a guy who's been around the block. He's going into
year six here in the NFL. But you never know. Again,
it's camp. Things happen. It's not like togy I was
some rookie no one ever heard of. He's he had
three years in the league various places. But what about
defensive end disruptor possibilities in training camp?
Speaker 2 (19:41):
I'm glad you mentioned Casey two Hill. We'll get to
dial in a second. To me, this is what this
category is all about, because Casey two Hill can play.
I only think people really understand how good this dude
actually is, and they got him for really nothing. He
is long, big, He's a Ryan Reynolds clone. If you
(20:01):
took Ryan Reynolds and pumped him up like the old
rebox shoes. I think Casey two Hill is gonna have
people looking around going, hey, who's ninety four? Two Hill?
We been here. I can just hear us at practice
with Andre and Andre going hey, Johnny, who's ninety four.
(20:21):
I could just hear it and like he's good, Like, yeah,
I know, he's good. Casey two Hill. Now, Dylan is
an interesting one because for the first camp since well
in two years, he's seemingly he's not fighting cancer, so
he's not having to rehab. He's just building his body
(20:43):
and getting ready for an NFL season. And I think
that's gonna make Dylan that much more of a factor,
and especially as a disruptor because he's long, he's two
hundred and sixty five, two seventy uh, he's physically smart,
and he's relentles and we saw that in the first
half of twenty three before he was struck down. I
(21:04):
think last year he was just playing catch up all year,
just like I want to get on the field to
do whatever I can. But man, he didn't have that
opportunity to get ready for the season. He's like he
had to beat that other opponent cancer before he could
kind of start thinking about the Chiefs, the Ravens, you know,
and everybody else we played. So I think he's going
(21:24):
to be in not much better shape. I think they
definitely saw something in him, and we saw something in
him early in his rookie campaign, but he was kind
of like a fledgling deer. He just kind of arms
and legs kind of all over the place, not really
knowing exactly where he's going. I think now he's kind
of honed in, he settled down, and I think he's
gonna end up being a force and a disrupt in
his camp too.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Okay, let's go to linebacker here. I'll give you one
disruptor possibility, and he's a draft choice. Year two. Jamal Hill,
we had him in studio and Hill in fact, we'll
hear him later on in this show. Jamal Hill, you
know that he's talked a lot with Demiko. He's coached
by a head coach who is a linebacker, and now
(22:06):
he's there with Bill Davis and his gang, and I
just have a feeling that he's going to do some
things in this camp that are going to open a
lot of eyes. Now it's very thick at linebacker. We
know that Heck, you sided e J. Speed, If Harris
is healthy, Oh my gosh, it's just a cornicopia of linebackers.
But Jamal Hill was drafted by this team, so you
know they want to give him a long look.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
Last year during camp, you could tell I would watch
Jamal and you could tell his head was spinning and
he would come over the sidelines and Demiko would just
be giving it to him. Dimico coached Jamal Hill hard,
and Jamal Hill never it didn't look like he got
down on himself. He just kept kind of plugging along learning.
(22:49):
It was great when we got a chance to talk
to him. You know, he's got that linebacker spirit Demiko
looks for. I think Jamal Hill is a great one
in that category. Now it might have to prove it
on spec teams, but that's okay. Be disruptive on special teams,
and then those third and fourth quarters are yours. Then
go make some plays out on the field. You'll start
getting everybody's attention at that point if you haven't had
(23:11):
it already. And because of the injury history of the
linebackers that start for this team, you are gonna get
plenty of opportunities if you're Jamal Hill or another guy,
Nick Neeman, guy we haven't talked about a whole lot
of vet came over from Kansas City and the Chargers
coming over to Houston. He's a good long I mean,
(23:33):
he looks kind of like EJ. Speed in the sense
he's tall and he's long, just like EJ. I think
the guys beyond Christian Disease Henry are gonna be very
intriguing to watch the linebacker. If I'm being honest, everybody's
gonna have eyes on Christian. If he's in practice, they're
gonna want to know what he's doing. If he's out
of practice, everybody's gonna be like, oh, what's going on
(23:53):
with I think Christian's gonna be the storyline of linebacker. However,
go beyond that and take a look at Hey, how's
speed fitting in? What about nickname? And can he be
one of those linebackers. We know our guy Jake Hanson
is going to be a factor because when he's relied upon,
he's gone out there and made place from his rookie
year all the way through now and then on special teams.
But Jamal Hill is the guy that I think, to me,
(24:15):
for me, there's that much more curiosity because I don't
know that we really saw the true him last year.
I think we'll get more of a true viewing of
him this year in his second year.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
All right, let's go to the secondary.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
Now.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
I'm wondering if we're allowed to classify Jalen Smith as
a camp disruptor considering how high he was drafted and
his pedigree and what he's already done in Ota. So
maybe he doesn't qualify. Johnny, but a lot of people
haven't heard of him, and you've raved about him or
about his potential anyway, and he's got to meet that potential.
(24:52):
But here we are, it's going to be training camp
on Wednesday, and this is it six and a half
weeks to show your stuff and show that you can
contribute greatly during the regular season.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Yeah, I think with the secondary, we know, we know
what that that five looks like, we know what that
five is gonna be. I think beyond that, a guy
like Jalen Smith is very intriguing because he's got natural
cover skills. He has natural cover skills of guys in
the slot, and he can also do some different things
(25:26):
from the slot. USC. He did a good job blitzing
off the edge when he was at USC because he
would kind of you had good timing and just timed
it up boom, he would hit it perfectly. But then
this past year, you know, he's more a primitive corner,
very comfortable in coverage. Look, if we talk about, you know,
games that Texans lost last year, you know, we we
(25:48):
lost those games in a sense because well, we had
trouble covering Garrett Wilson in the slot, We had trouble
covering Devontae Adams in the slot. We made some mistakes
in other games. You know, watch your conquo is running
kind of wide open, you know, is that a result
of not having Jalen Petrie out there. I don't know.
But either way, if you have a guy on Jalen
Smith that can really truly go out there and and
(26:11):
take on a receiver, and and and look, I think
the flexibility with Jalen two is something that can go
with Kamari because more you want staying on your on
the best receiver. So then you figure out the other two. Hey,
what's a better matchup? Is it better for Kamari to
go inside with a guy and leave Jalen Smith outside,
or Hey, leave Jalen Smith out or inside and let
(26:32):
Kamari stand the outside and we'll just lock up these three,
give him help with CJ and and Kaylin over the
top or whatever we're gonna do. Uh in a way
we go. I just think having that third cover guy,
a young dude with some potential. And that's why to me,
Jalen Smith could be that guy. The disruptor I'll bring
up because I think he can do it in different ways.
(26:53):
Is also a rookie, but he was he drafted a
little bit later. It was Jalen Reid out of Penn State.
I think Jalen's got a chip on his shoulder the
side of Energy Stadium. I think he was very disappointed
that he was drafted in the sixth round. I think
he was very surprised by that talking to our buddy
Drew Doherty about that. Drew talked to him right after
draft and you could tell he was chomping at the
(27:13):
bit to prove that there was no reason for him
to have gone as late as he did on that
Saturday at the draft. So I think Jalen Smith, Jayleen Reid,
and the other thing too with him is he's physical.
So you know in preseason when there's a guy kind
of lightening dudes up and then on special teams you
see it, You're like, oh, okay, I need to watch
(27:35):
thirty four Jalen Reid. I need to keep my eyes
on that guy. And I think Jalen Reid will have
opportunities on special teams to be able to do some
of those same things.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
Yeah, he's thick. He looks like one of these safeties
who could almost now he's a few sandwiches away and
a few weeks in the weight room away from being
one of those linebacker safety type guys. But I would
not want to be hit by him or any of
these guys.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
For that matter.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
Let's just be honest. Jalen Reed is gonna knock the
snot out of some people in preseason games because, hey,
rookies don't get the memo. They are playing all out.
That's why I like the second half of preseason games
when the rookies get out there. I mean, the rookies
are out there in the first half too, I get it,
but those rookies who really want to make the impression.
(28:19):
That's fun to watch. And we'll be here to display
the entertainment on ABC thirteen and sports radios extent in
the entire network as we bring in the game. You're
gonna be at the booth. Can't wait for that. Huh
it's coming up.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
Yeah, it's coming up. It'ould be good. Like I said,
all three games are inside, so no weather disruptions, you know,
maybe just a little bit of sunlight shining through like
last year, but that was I think a roof thing.
But it'll be fine. I'm looking forward to that. Indi
and Kevin are great to work with. They're my TV
family and our TV family and Shelby as well. Our
(28:52):
TV family gets together only for about a month a year,
but then I get back with my real family for
the rest of the year and looking forward to that
and being with you and Drey and Robert Naarn and
getting our games going. We start in La against the
La Rams, the first regular season game in Sofi Stadium.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
And by the way, urp Brian Braman and oh yeah,
be's to his family and my gosh, just so terrible
passing from cancer this week, not even forty years old.
And he did some things for the Houston Texans. Good
contributor to this franchise and others as well. I mean
when you look at Braman, he played for the Eagles,
the Saints, the Eagles again in twenty seventeen, and he
(29:33):
had a nice run. Here was one of those guys
who just made big plays. He always found a way
to make the big play. And they found him at
West Texas A and M. Like I said, good contributor
here and it's just a sad story this week.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
Johnny, Yep, no doubt Brian Braman one of the I
would say characters that makes it sound bad, but you know,
the long hair, the ability to make plays on special teams,
the maniacal effort. He was just lauded. And when you
go to social media, and you see so many form.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
Teammates saying things in his honor and saying what a
great guy.
Speaker 5 (30:05):
He was.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
Not a great player, not you know anything about his
football building, but it was all about what a great
guy he was and what a great teammate he was,
and that that speaks volumes. So Brian Bradman arip I
know the people in Philadelphia really loved him and he
was instrumental on that twenty seventeen Super Bowl championship team.
So rip to Brian, and thoughts are with his family
and friends for sure.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
Okay, continuing with the program, let's get into this with
Camp disruptors. We've got a couple of them coming your way,
Zach Thomas along the offensive line and as we mentioned,
Jamal Hill linebacker. They are on the way next here
on Texans Radio. Back to it here the Hyundai Texans
Radio studio, which is still being fixed up, so we're
sort of mobile all around the building. Doesn't matter. We're
(30:49):
still bringing the show to you with all the fun,
all the frolic frolic We've got camp starting on Wednesday,
there will be no frolic. There will be interviews though,
and the highlight or the topic rather of segment one
with many highlights. Camp disruptors, guys who could really make
life interesting for Nick Cassario and Damico Ryan's come cut time,
(31:12):
and guys who aren't really on the tip of the
tongue necessarily when you're talking about position group stars, but
they want to make an impression. This is what camp
in the preseason games. This is what it's all about. Right.
Zach Thomas is an offensive lineman. Now, I know what
you're thinking. I know that name, Zach Thomas, Red Raider,
Miami Dolphin. My gosh, Zach Thomas. No, this is offensive lineman,
(31:34):
Zach Thomas. But guess what, there's something in common here
and it comes up early in the conversation with Zach Thomas.
Texans ol. Does that happen sometimes though? With Zach Thomas
NFL great.
Speaker 4 (31:48):
Actually all the time.
Speaker 1 (31:49):
I'm sorry, sorry, Zach.
Speaker 6 (31:50):
Well, it's actually where I got my name back in
I can't remember what year was, well obviously not, but
my dad was watching the NFL and that was that
was where he got the.
Speaker 1 (32:00):
Next let's real Zach together with Thomas and we got.
Speaker 2 (32:03):
Literally named after Zach Thomas.
Speaker 1 (32:04):
Yeah, holy cow, Yeah, that's that's really cool.
Speaker 5 (32:06):
Now, your brother has also played in the NFL CAM,
your brother cam. You both won San Diego State?
Speaker 2 (32:11):
Correct?
Speaker 1 (32:11):
Correct?
Speaker 5 (32:11):
Are you both from California? Both from San Diego, California?
We just had Casey two Hill in here. Were you
trying to do the math on that thing? He's probably
a little bit older than you guys, But was that
was Casey? Somebody you knew when you guys were in
San Diego?
Speaker 4 (32:24):
No, our our paths didn't cross until we both got here.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
Okay, all right, cool?
Speaker 5 (32:28):
So I'll ask the same question that I asked him.
Maybe it's not even abate at this point, but in
and out versus waterburger?
Speaker 2 (32:35):
Am I going to get an answer that shocks me?
Or is this in and out all the way?
Speaker 4 (32:38):
It's in and out all the way? So I thought
it's in and out all the way.
Speaker 5 (32:40):
Californians are so strong about in and out.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
But I'm kind of their sight too, I kind of
in and out as much.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
So.
Speaker 5 (32:47):
Offensive line. We've been talking about the offensive line for
a long time.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
Zach. You came over.
Speaker 5 (32:52):
Probably what middle last year, I think, to the Texans,
what can you tell us about this offensive line going
into twenty twenty what's new. Obviously Pop takes over as
the offensive line coach. What can you tell us about
the offensive line just as a group, and then obviously
some of the things that maybe you're working on to
get ready for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 6 (33:13):
Yeah, I mean, I think we have a great group
of guys in this room. I think Pop's doing a
great job so far. One thing I do know is
we have a lot of work to do, and we're
gonna stay at work, and I think when we get
to the other side of the camp we should see
some great results.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
Is it hard to get it all together? I'm obviously
work in progress, right, because without pads you can only
do so much. What can you do without pads? What
really is the focus when you're not in pads?
Speaker 6 (33:41):
I mean, the focus when you're not in pads is
I mean ce X's and O's it's hand placement, footwork.
I mean, I think football is a lot harder without
the pads on.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
So a lot harder without the pads on.
Speaker 6 (33:55):
From a technical standpoint, Yeah, okay, correct, I mean you
just have to be more on the dots and yeah,
I mean it's it's harder to pass, block, run, block,
do all that.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
I always thought you must get a lot more bumps
and bruises sometimes. I mean, the pads are there to
protect you, but once the pads are on, guys are
gonna hit harder. Is there a way to put the
pads on and tell them to sort of lighten up
but being pads anyway, But that's not.
Speaker 4 (34:18):
Gonna that's not happening.
Speaker 2 (34:19):
Yeah, absolutely not so, Zach.
Speaker 5 (34:21):
When you get here last year in twenty twenty four,
I imagine that's gotta be tough in a sense because
you know, in training camp, you put the pads on,
you have practices in training camp where you can really
get after it. You get here middle of the year
and a lot of it is about getting ready for
the next team. You don't hit as much, you don't
get the opportunity to kind of show what you can do,
especially as an offensive lineman.
Speaker 2 (34:41):
It's that kind of a tough period to.
Speaker 5 (34:43):
Kind of kind of get through because you didn't quite
have that or those practice opportunities that you will get.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
In training camp preseason games.
Speaker 4 (34:50):
Oh absolutely.
Speaker 6 (34:52):
I mean, coming in midway through the year, I mean,
I'm learning the playbook, I'm learning in different techniques.
Speaker 4 (34:57):
I'm learning. I mean I'm learning people's names in the
the cafe. In the cafe. Yeah yeah.
Speaker 6 (35:03):
It's also not the easiest to get around in this facility,
So I think from that standpoint, uh, there's a lot
that goes into it. And just uh, I mean, at
the same time, you're still preparing for a new team
each week. So not only am I learning the plays,
but I'm also learning about the guys I'm going against, right.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
Zach Thomas joining us. But you come into the league
in twenty twenty two and now you're going into year four,
So a lot of work to do when you go
to different organizations and you really want to fit and
you want to make an impact, and you've got to
adjust along the way with different teams Bears, Rams, Patriots
and yeah.
Speaker 4 (35:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (35:36):
So what is the key or one of the keys
to being able to do that, because clearly you know
you're here, You're still here the NFL.
Speaker 6 (35:44):
SAC Yeah, I mean, I think it's about being flexible.
I mean a lot of teams shared characteristics. But at
the same time, you're still learning all new all new
techniques and plays and all kinds of stuff, meeting new
people along the way. I wouldn't trade Mikes rants for anything, though,
what's coach.
Speaker 2 (36:01):
Pop em like?
Speaker 4 (36:03):
What's he been like?
Speaker 5 (36:03):
Yeah, what's it been? What's it been like to have
him kind of leading the charge? I love having him.
Speaker 6 (36:09):
He he's he's gonna he's gonna get us in shape.
He's he's gonna have us doing I'm excited to see
where this group goes because, uh, it's good. He shows
us all the old film from New England and all that.
I mean, we have New England some some New England
roots here, sure so and obviously that uh, that organization
I think did pretty well.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
Yeah I did.
Speaker 4 (36:29):
I'm excited to see where he takes us.
Speaker 5 (36:30):
It's funny you said it that way because you're not
the first offensive lineman that said we will be in shape.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
Which I which you chuckle at.
Speaker 5 (36:38):
So I would imagine that's maybe an offensive line thing
we would understand. But is that is that a focus
of Yeah, we're we're gonna have ourselves in cardio shape
and hitting shape and all that ready for a game
so we're not out of shape and then done it
by a defensive line. But you're not the first one
to say that, So has that been like a big
focus for him and for you?
Speaker 1 (36:57):
Guys.
Speaker 4 (36:57):
I think that.
Speaker 6 (36:58):
Yeah, no, it's a big focus. He wants us to
be in better shape than the defensive line.
Speaker 4 (37:03):
I know that. I will say that. Like, like, if
you watch the.
Speaker 6 (37:07):
The the ebbs and flows of the NFL game, you
see the same alignment out there every.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
Single place, defensive line coming in, A.
Speaker 4 (37:15):
Defensive line comes in and out right.
Speaker 6 (37:18):
So for us to be in better shape, be able
to pass, block, run block, do it all longer, harder, faster,
I think we're gonna be in a pretty good spot.
Speaker 1 (37:28):
Now. That's what you just pointed out, though I was
gonna mention that, Yeah, it's the same five guys Ideally,
unless there's an injury, it's not like, oh so and
so is tired, let's put in the other let's have
a guard change now. But that speaks to how together
the five have to be right when the D line
can just because they're just trying to destroy the interchangeable.
Speaker 4 (37:50):
The old line is one solid unity working together.
Speaker 1 (37:54):
A lot of work goes into that.
Speaker 5 (37:56):
Okay, on the best offensive lines that you have been on,
what has been the overriding trait to that group has
been talent, has been camaraderie, chemistry, knowledge and playbook. What's
been the overriding trait on the best offensive lines you've
been in your.
Speaker 2 (38:15):
Whole football career is act.
Speaker 5 (38:16):
What would you say is the overriding trait consisted amongst
the best offensive lines you've been on.
Speaker 6 (38:23):
I'd pray have to go with chemistry. I mean, it's
not it's not always the easiest to take one alignment
out of the mix and put a new one in.
Different guys work together differently. Sure guys have different different
strengths in their game that work well with the players
next year. Yeah, So I would definitely say it has
(38:44):
to do with who you're working with and how you
can build off one.
Speaker 1 (38:47):
An Absolutely very good Zach, Thanks so much for joining us.
Good luck.
Speaker 4 (38:50):
I appreciate you, guys, Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (38:53):
All Right, there's Zach Thomas, Texan's offensive lineman, a camp disruptor.
We'll find out soon enough as camp starts with will
be on the field live eight am on Sports Radio six'
Ten texans App odyssey app all the apps and set
and set will be out. There it'll be a lot of.
Fun reggie And john will be out. There can't wait
for camp to get. Started Jamal, hill linebacker was drafted last,
(39:16):
year wants to make a big impression this. Year we'll
hear from him next year On Texans All. Access Final
lap around The track here tonight On Texans radio And
John harris AND, i as we've mentioned, before had the
pleasure of interviewing forty players in one day Around Mini,
camp and we've been airing those for you throughout the
entire break Between mini camp and training, camp which starts On.
(39:37):
Wednesday if you were late for, class it starts On.
Wednesday And Jamal hill one of those. Players Jamal hill
drafted last year as a linebacker for this, team hoping
to do some big things this, year and we caught
up with him during his first visit to the Hun
Day Texans radio.
Speaker 7 (39:52):
Studio, sir thank you for having.
Speaker 1 (39:53):
Me let's make it.
Speaker 2 (39:54):
MAST i would remember.
Speaker 1 (39:55):
That, SEE i don't know.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
WHY i just.
Speaker 1 (39:59):
Felt Like i've talked To jamal maybe on the field
of training jab or, something AND i just, yeah one
of those things and it just becomes a. Bore we're, Glad,
yeah we're. Glad you're you just knocked out the monitors, Too. Johnny,
YEAH i don't, know but it's. Okay been in the
weight room.
Speaker 7 (40:13):
Too.
Speaker 1 (40:13):
MUCH i know that's what it, is all, Right so
but for you coming into this, year it's got to
be a lot more comfortable probably a bad, word but
a lot more singularly focused BECAUSE i don't have to
worry about a pre draft stuff and everything like. THAT
i can just go would be a.
Speaker 8 (40:28):
Good pro, sir definitely going in a year, two just,
knowing knowing what to, expect knowing what the team expects
from us as, players and just knowing specifically what Coach
demko expect from.
Speaker 7 (40:40):
Me so looking forward to.
Speaker 2 (40:42):
It and what Does dmiko expect from?
Speaker 6 (40:44):
You?
Speaker 2 (40:44):
Jamal in your, words what what what does he want from?
Speaker 8 (40:48):
You just be fast and, violent real, Simple just be
fast and violent every TIME i want the field and
show Everybody i'm the best player on the.
Speaker 1 (40:54):
Field does he keep the? DEFENSE i hate to say,
simple but in a way where you can really just
channel your aggression and athletic ability without having to overthink.
Speaker 8 (41:06):
THINGS i, MEAN i guess it's definitely like a learning
curve when you first get into.
Speaker 7 (41:10):
It so but, yeah once you, learn it's pretty, SIMPLE i.
Speaker 5 (41:14):
Guess so at that point when you think, Back, jamal
like at this point last, year you're just kind of
finishing up a couple Weeks, ota it's got mini, camp
your head, Spinning you're coming off the, draft you're in draft,
training you finish the season In, oregon it's like the
whirlwind three hundred and sixty five days. Later how much
more comfortable are you just with? Everything how different are
(41:38):
you from when you walked in after those first OTA's
last year to where you are?
Speaker 7 (41:41):
Now?
Speaker 8 (41:41):
Yeah, WELL i definitely. Know we don't like using the
word comfortable around.
Speaker 7 (41:45):
Here that's a good. Point, yeah definitely.
Speaker 8 (41:46):
MORE i feel like, calmer just a calmer, mind just
LIKE i said, earlier knowing what to expect on What
i'm getting, into being more comfortable with my, Guys LIKE
i pretty much got the same, room give or take
a couple of.
Speaker 7 (41:59):
People but, Uh i'm. Ready i'm. Excited, yeah ain't gonna.
Speaker 1 (42:02):
Lie so how did you evolve from safety to? Linebacker
how did that process go throughout high? School then you
go To.
Speaker 8 (42:09):
Oregon so going into my last year At, oregon actually
having like a conversation With Dan lannon And Tash loupoy
just about like my future. LIFE i was gonna, LEAVE
i was gonna come back and Coach landa actually brought it.
Up he was, like, MAN i think he would be
a great, linebacker AND i was, LIKE i don't know
what you're talking. About play, linebacker like And i'm Not
(42:30):
finna LIKE i told him, initially LIKE i didn't want
to like bank my last year of college on like
a hope of doing something, different SOMETHING i never travel.
Before but you, know just sitting now with my family
a lot of prayer thought about. IT i was a
little upset at first Cause i'm just Like i've been
doing something my whole. Life now Like i'm at this
junction point And i'm gonna try to do something. Different so, yeah,
(42:53):
Uh that's HOW i felt about it at. First and
THEN i had a spring to kind of get it
under my belt before to see and. Started AND i
feel like that SPRING i took like A i guess
starting from the, ground LIKE i took a big step
in the right direction as far as learning how to
play the linebacker, position and it's got me. Here SO
i Appreciate landon And kostas loop With.
Speaker 5 (43:15):
Okay so my guess is that one of those guys
used to be the defensive coordinator At georgia and maybe
that's how he got connected with you because you're From
georgia and then you go play your college ball At.
Speaker 2 (43:27):
Oregon that's not a path a lot of guys.
Speaker 1 (43:29):
Follow more guys are.
Speaker 5 (43:31):
Doing it, now but not one that a lot of guys.
Follow So i'll just make it very. Simple why why
did you go From georgia all the way out To?
Speaker 1 (43:39):
Oregon?
Speaker 8 (43:40):
Uh mario cristball at the. Time, okay he can, sell
so he could sell order to. Anybody, yep that's my.
Gotto LIKE i love him and his, family his, wife
like they took me and my family in like whatever we.
Needed he made SURE i was straight across the, country
like he made sure he told my mom that like
he's gonna come all the way out, here like he's
never gonna just, be you, know by, hisself like he
(44:01):
always gets me like if he ever needs. Anything and
he kept his. Words SO i definitely Say, mario chrispa
And Dante.
Speaker 1 (44:07):
Williams, yeah, yeah Because i'm looking at your career path
here And oregon all the. Way you, know these, days
it's a surprise when somebody stays at one school for that.
Speaker 7 (44:16):
Long, YEAH i don't.
Speaker 8 (44:18):
KNOW i feel like everybody's situation is, Different BUT i
signed up to be a part of a program UNTIL
i graduated and fulfill my dream to go to THE.
Nfl SO i feel like it was my obligation to
do that for that.
Speaker 5 (44:30):
University learning From, dimico learning From. Billy what's that been? Like,
uh it's been. Fun shuck a.
Speaker 8 (44:38):
Why, yeah they coached me, hard like they always on.
Me they always tell me that's. Good, yeah it's a
great problem to. Have like it's not fun always in that.
Moment but like they always tell, me like the skies and,
limiting like they they tell me straight.
Speaker 7 (44:54):
Up they're not gonna sell me.
Speaker 8 (44:55):
Short so anything That i'm doing that's not, here like
they're gonna tell me great, Up LIKE i need to do.
Speaker 1 (45:00):
More what are you gonna do with the time off
prior to training?
Speaker 7 (45:04):
Camp training some? More ya get ready for training?
Speaker 8 (45:07):
Camp but, yeah obviously take some time to, uh spend
time with my family back In, georgia a little time to,
myself and then right back to it.
Speaker 2 (45:16):
Training we trained back, Here we trained just away for the, bill.
Speaker 7 (45:20):
A little bit here and a little bit In.
Speaker 2 (45:22):
Georgia what do you think About?
Speaker 5 (45:23):
Houston had you had any experience In houston at all.
Speaker 7 (45:26):
Before it and it's actually.
Speaker 8 (45:28):
Crazy like before the, draft just talking with my, mom
LIKE i actually told, her, MAN i want to go
to The. TEXAN i want to play For Miko ryans just,
because like he a linebacker coach AND i never been
To houston and you, know it's a team on the
rise and you, know another good season last year and
everything came full.
Speaker 7 (45:44):
Circle so so.
Speaker 2 (45:45):
You never you've never been To.
Speaker 5 (45:46):
Houston, no, okay for, well you grew up In, georgia
so practicing this heat is not. Bad but what did
you what did you think about training? Camp it's not.
Speaker 8 (45:55):
Bad, yeah it's way more humid than like people talk.
About so in that, humidity that's like that's worse than the,
Heat like, YEAH i.
Speaker 5 (46:05):
Mean is that one of the biggest adjustment periods for
guys that are not from?
Speaker 7 (46:08):
Here definitely the. Humidity, yeah oh, man that's.
Speaker 1 (46:11):
It but we're playing sites that's not a dry. Heat
jamal thanks a lot for being with.
Speaker 7 (46:15):
Us we thank you for having.
Speaker 1 (46:17):
Me there's our interview with Linebacker Jamal. Hill a camp.
Disruptor will find out if he is won next. Week
camp Starts. Wednesday can't. Wait we'll be on the field
live at eight am On Sports radio six' ten Shot
and seth, Before that Reggie and. John after can't wait
for all. Of it area, forty five can't wait for
that that's coming up, next here have a, great night.
(46:37):
Great Weekend, go texans
Hello, Texans, Welcome to the show. Hope everybody's weekend is
getting off to a good start. No matter what you're doing,
many of you are working, and I always like to
highlight that, Johnny, I always like to highlight the people
who are working throughout the weekend, either paying their dues
or this is just what they do, they work on
the weekend. Hey, we're here tonight. I don't want to
call it work. We're talking about football. It's super cool.
(00:20):
We're super blessed to be able to do this. And
camp starts on Wednesday. We've reminded you of that very often.
If you don't know that by now, camp starts on Wednesday,
So players report Tuesday. Here we go, it's here. It's
football season. A couple of teams are already in camp,
and by next week everybody's going to be doing it.
So I can't wait. I know you feel the same way,
(00:43):
my friend. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Absolutely, And you're starting to see and this is always
one of the things that we talk about. You know,
the day before, two days before, which guys are going
to end up on NFI, which guys are going to
end up on the pup list. You know that start
the year and I remember obviously there was a long
narrative and it was a loud narrative of oh man,
(01:04):
Christian Harris is on this pop list. You know, it'll
be okay, it'll be fine. And well that turned into
he came back after the first preseason game for like
thirty minutes of practice and then we didn't see him
again until they were like four games left in the year.
But those lists are always interesting because a guy can
be on there from not pass a conditioning test and
the next day he's off and he's fine. You know,
it could be you know, something that lingers. You know,
(01:26):
obviously something happened to Christian last year. But that's always
the list that I'm always interested in seeing because you know,
it tells you what might have happened in the last
five weeks while the guys were away from the building.
And hopefully it won't be a situation like Najie Harris
is going to be out for a while because of
fireworks incident or whatever he had. But that's always the
list that I'm always clamoring to see, Like, Okay, when
(01:48):
is that coming out? I don't really want to see it,
but all right, we got to know who is it
that won't be practicing at the beginning of the year,
and there are always going to be guys that are
kind of ramping up their availability. You know, they might
not practice the first day, but they know the next
couple they might. They might be you know, guys they've
got some season vets on this team now that might need,
(02:08):
you know, training camp to be a little bit of
a what's the right way of saying this kind of
show and tell, but not every day like they show
and they tell everybody I'm still good. Then they get
a day off and you'll kind of get through training
camp that way. And I'm a firm believer Mark that, yes,
it's a period of time, but training camp is so
(02:29):
grueling that it does have an impact on you in November,
in December and on itto January. And I really think
understanding that it's a marathon not a sprint is something
that this staff takes a lot of great pride in,
try to stay pride in, but you know, you got
to get work done too, So there's kind of that
balance you got to find to be able to do
that and hopefully to meet going this coaching staff will
(02:51):
be able to do that.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Matt Najee Harris with the fireworks, saying, this reminds me
around the fourth we had some fireworks stuff that was
purchased by the matriarch of the household. Let's be clear
on this, And I was not I was not going
to take part in this, but I felt like I
have to because the kids all want to see this stuff, right,
(03:14):
And it's the stuff that you buy. And my big
objection is and I could not have gotten farther away
and behind a car and stuff like that, which is
still not safe, right, But it's just pretty harmless stuff anyway.
But you know, these things are big and you light
them up, and I don't know what this thing's going
to do, and there's nobody to sue if something goes wrong,
And if something really goes wrong, what does that matter anyway,
(03:35):
if you'll lose a few filangies in the process.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
So I don't know.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
I'm not big on the home fireworks stuff. I do
like the exhibitions that are displayed by cities, although somebody
made a good hot take around the fourth These drone
shows are out doing the fireworks. They're totally outdoing firework shows.
It is so cool what you could do with drones,
fantastic displays. Anyway, I know we didn't come here to
(04:00):
talk about that. We didn't come here to talk about
this camp disruptors. Who are the guys, the flies and
the ointment. Oh yeah, everybody's got their fifty three man
roster projection, and I've this many receivers and this many
defensive linemen and these are the obvious guys. But who
are the guys who aren't so obvious? Who are going
(04:20):
to crash the party possibly and make life extremely difficult
on Nick Cassario and Demico Ryan's come cut down time,
especially if everybody's healthy. What are we going to do
about this guy? He crashed the party? So let's start
and we'll go through various position groups here. I know
who your guy is going to be for this first group,
(04:41):
but I want to hear it. Anyway, We've talked about
him numerous times. Let's go wide receiver. Who's going to
crash the party at wide receiver and make life extremely difficult?
The camp disruptor at wide receiver? Catch after cash, Oh
my gosh, impossible not to notice. We can't stash him anywhere.
We got make a tough decision. Who is it? Johnny
(05:02):
Well you know.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
It's Jared Wayne. That's a guy we've been talking about.
In fact that it popped up the other night. We
were talking with with John McClain about, you know, the
receiver position, and on paper, I mean, you said it, Nico,
Christian Kirk, Justin Watson, three cyclones. If you were betting
(05:24):
on six, that's a pretty good bet that that's going
to be the six. But Jared Wayne got a lot
of reps in the playoffs last year, especially in the
Kansas City game. Now, I know a lot of people
are like, well, you know, he didn't catch the ball.
I didn't do this, didn't do that. But if you
watched that game and you listen, and I one day
I let the game just roll. I just had it
on in the background, and so I'm listening to Joe
(05:45):
and Troy and there was a pass attempt to Jared
and CJ got heated up and so he threw it
behind Jared and could make the catch. But the camera
focused on Jared for a long time, and then they
talked about what the coaches were telling them about Jared
Wayne and guy six 's four, he's two ten. That
doesn't sound familiar. Then you're not paying attention. You know,
(06:06):
he's a small forward, he's Canadian, works his butt off
and can make a lot of acrobatic catches. He's got
a huge catch radius. And when you start to think
you know what you have at wide receiver, all of
a sudden, number fourteen makes a catch and you're like, WHOA,
where'd that come from? Holy cow, he just most that dude.
Oh he just went deep on that guy. He went
(06:27):
up over that guy. There were times in OTAs where
he made catches and made a couple of catches, and in fact,
there was one he made in the day of the
media was not out there, but we were able to
be out there on that day and he went up
over a defensive back and I thought, man, that's the
best catch I've seen during this offseason period. Like this
is wow. This is gonna be a really difficult cut.
(06:48):
And I think that he with some really good joint
practice opportunities with the three preseason games, three true full
preseason game opportunities, because keep in mind, all three of
our preseason games are inside, so they cannot be disrupted
like the Hall of Fame game was last year. So
you got three true opportunities for preseason games. Two joint
(07:11):
practice opportunities. Jared Wayne's gonna make his presence felt because
here's what's gonna happen. Jared Wayne is gonna get reps
against twos and threes at least to start.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Well.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
I know the Texas secondary is really really good. I
don't know if it's as deep as it is could.
But also you're gonna start doing it against the Panthers,
the Vikings, the Lions, and he's really gonna have opportunities
to show it off. And that's gonna start kind of
the clamor. Remember British Brooks last year, British Brooks fell
into that. We saw him early and we're like, hey man,
keep it eye on British Brooks. Don't know how this
(07:44):
thing all fits together, but you can't deny what that
guy's doing. And then preseason game after preseason game, he
was really good.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
That's the perfect camp disruptor right there, British Brooks. I'm
gonna pick Johnny Johnson maybe at receiver. And here's another one,
Braxton Barrios, who who has done some things in this league.
If he's healthy, he can all of a sudden start
bawling out and you're thinking, well, he's got experience, he's
Braxton Burrios. We get Alex Earl in the deal. No,
they don't think about those things, but they might think, hey,
(08:13):
it's impossible not to notice him. What he's doing on
this field. You know he can do it in a
game in all probability. Does he make life difficult? We'll
find out when camp begins. Another camp disruptor position group
and we're going to go over all of them running
back and I know who yours is. Go ahead, give
it to me, the running back camp disruptor who's going
(08:34):
to make life very difficult? Come cut down time.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Well, I mean everybody knows. I love what he marks
and what a he being a rookie. I don't know
if i'd say rookie is a disruptor. No, he's not.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
He's not cooking. You know the guy you know who
I'm thinking of.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
I know, I'm just delaying the inevitable. That's JJ Taylor.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
I thought you were gonna go, Jawar Jordan, I like you.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Are, absolutely like you are, but JJ Taylor went. He
gets his opportunities. He is flashy, he runs hard, he
makes people pay. I mean you could kind of put
juar and JJ in the same category in a sense,
they're just gonna do it different ways. Like JJ is
gonna do something, oh, you know, like he just hits somebody,
(09:17):
where Jaar is like, oh, Like there's a different kind
of reaction to the things that Juar will do. Juwar
is gonna probably, you know, with a jump cut, makes
somebody miss. He's gonna make a nice catch out in space.
JJ's probably gonna run through a tackler, you know, stiff
arm another guy he's just built like a bowling ball
butcher knives, So you could kind of put them both
in the same category. But I've seen and we've seen
(09:40):
JJ in preseason games and he lights it up and
the same kind of thing. JJ's not gonna get more
than likely reps against the other ones and maybe not
even the twos. So all of a sudden, you've got
this guy with a ton of NFL experience going against
threes and he could show it off. And I think
that's you know, when you're talking about disruption, that's what
you're tal talking about it, And I think JJ Taylor
(10:01):
definitely has that.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Now.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
I love Juar, I just think they'll do it in
different ways.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
I think Jawar, though With JJ, he's reliable, there's no
doubt you're right about everything you said. But with Jaar,
if he starts to do some things, you don't know
what the ceiling is. You feel like you know what
it is with JJ, and it's very reliable and you
can count on it and all that. But with Jawar,
we don't know how good he's gonna be if he
starts to really make some noise in camp. So I
(10:28):
like him as a camp disruptor. I'll give you one,
all right, So I'm gonna go there quarterback Slovis, Baby,
Can he be a camp disruptor? What if Slovas looks
really good and all of a sudden, Davis is looking
over his shoulder. I'm not saying it's gonna happen, but
it could happen. Stranger things have happened. He could be
(10:49):
a camp disruptor. I wouldn't predict it, but we'll all
be watching. Hey, we're gonna have the preseason games, we'll
be broadcasting them on radio and television, and we're gonna
get a chance to look at his progress.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
Yeah. I don't know that there's any other I mean,
you can't really say anything about Graham Mertz. First of all,
you don't even know where Graham is with his ACL rehab,
so you can't throw Graham in there. And I you
know Davis Davis, I thought had a really good camp
last year. He didn't have a great OTAs mini camps,
and then he set out the last mini camp not throwing.
(11:22):
So I think from a quarterback perspective, that's probably the
logical one. So I think he's gonna get a lot
of looks early on, and you know he and Davis
are going to be more likely. They're gonna get a
lot of reps in those joint practices for sure, and
if they don't get them there, they're gonna get him
in the in the preseason games because you don't want
CJ playing that much and you don't know where Graham
Mertz is going to be in all this, so those
(11:43):
two might be carrying the preseason games for sure.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
I think Slowvis gets a ton of reps in the
preseason games, less in the joint practices, because CJ is
going to get his fair share, of course, because that's
what they're for to give the starters the reps. All right,
tight end, I don't think we have a disruptor here.
Other than and Luke Leche really emerging, He's a draft choice.
I hate to put rookies in as camp disruptor possibilities
(12:08):
because hey, they were drafted for a reason. You feel
like they can possibly contribute. I know he wasn't drafted high,
but he was drafted, so I'm thinking that it's probably him.
We know that Brev can do a lot of things
for this team. I think they have high hopes for
what he can contribute in twenty twenty five. But I'll
go with Lache for lack of a better option.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Yeah, I think you're right on it. There really isn't.
I mean, I think if you know, again, we don't
know what Brev's situation will be. We hope he's cleared,
but you know, Brev with the ACL, Graham Merch with
the ACL, don't know what he didn't want was going
to be. And I think those would be your candidates
for it. But I think Lache is. I think if
you think if you talk about camp disruption for him,
(12:51):
I know when I watched him on film, I felt like,
you know why in line tight end, But man, he's
got some soft, beautiful hands and he can go at
the football, So I wouldn't be surprised if he disrupts
the tight end position in that group with just the
ability to make some big plays down the field because
he's pretty athletic and he's got some soft hands to
(13:12):
go up and get the.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Football at tight end. So all right, let's go to
offensive line. I got one in.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Particular that I mean, honestly, anybody in the offensive line
kind of qualifies into this category if we're being honest,
But I think Jalen Thomas, and I've mentioned it before,
he's a guy that when you see him, he's thick,
he's strong, He's just got to stay healthy. And I
(13:40):
felt like last year in camp we were kind of
seeing like maybe could this could he be pushing for
maybe not a starter spot, but a definitive interior offensive
line spot on a fifty three mins roster and he
got hurt and it's like, oh dang, okay. And I
know not a lot of people were paying a ten,
but I was seeing him go with the first group
(14:02):
and I'm like, okay, are they they give him some
serious consideration? So if Jalen's come back healthy, in good shape,
I mean Jalen Thomas interior offensive line position. And look,
he's played I think almost every line position. I think
when we did the interview with him, I think he
told us he had done he had played almost every
line position there was, So that gives him the versatility.
So from a disruption standpoint, you got some versatility. It's
(14:26):
got some strength, some bulk. Jalen Thomas can be a
disruptor on the offensive line.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
What about Ladarius Henderson as a possibility?
Speaker 2 (14:34):
You know, it's funny, Yeah, with Ladarius, it feels like
people have been talking about him since Nick mentioned him,
and so it's almost as if there's an expectation level
now of Ladarius as opposed to he's kind of lying
in the weeds and then boom, here he comes. But yeah,
I think Ladarius could fit in there as well. But
I just think people's expectation expectations have kind of gone
(14:56):
through the roof because Nick mentioned him and then everybody
including Le's start talking about him, and so, yeah, I
think there's a little bit of mystery to his game,
but because his name was mentioned so often, I think
they're just expectations now that people are expecting him to meet.
I think Jayleen Thomas people will still go who So
that's the kind of meat. Like a camp disruptor is
(15:18):
somebody you're not even thinking's going to make the roster.
Like the namesake of this award should be Khalil Davis,
because you remember Khalil Davis over in twenty three. He got
there the first week of training camp and within like
an hour he was tearing dudes up on the one
on ones. Was like, that's a disruptor. So I think
(15:39):
I think Jayleen Thomas would be a little bit more
of that than Ladarius would be.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Boy, Khalil Davis, I mean, that's that's a blast from
the past. But it's not too long ago, right, And
let's see, is he with the forty nine ers now?
I think possibly? Okay, I think he's not here. Yeah,
we know that he's not here. MP disruptors guys who
are flies in the ointment. I'll give you a veteran
on the offensive line who, if healthy, could really make
(16:07):
things interesting. If he's totally healthy, Trent Brown is here, right,
And if Trent Brown is out there all of a sudden,
well wait a minute, we weren't even thinking that he
would be available. I don't know what they're thinking. Maybe
they assume he's going to be available. I have no
idea what's being discussed in the football offices, but if
Trent Brown is fully healthy and playing well, they're gonna
(16:28):
have some tough decisions to make. Because it's Trent Brown.
You know, he can do some things in this league.
He's done some things in this league, and we had
other plans. But he's available, and I don't know what's
going to happen, but I think that's a good veteran
disruptor possibility. Let's flip to dec Johnny, what do you
like on the defensive line as far as disruptors, which
(16:49):
it feels like defensive tackle is one gigantic disruptor group
in a way, the way things have been handled and
the way people have performed over the years. Tommy coming
in here last year, Reckon shot from time to time.
I mean, heinis has been around here, but I can't
call him a disruptor. However, he could make life uncomfortable
(17:12):
for some veterans. He is a veteran himself now going
into year four, but he could make life interesting if
he's fully healthy and performing at his highest level in
training camp.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
My guy here, and it's odd of this, I mean
I just said a little while ago, I wouldn't put
a rookie, but honestly, everybody on that defensive line the
if rotated. We've seen him so much. We saw even
Tommy Togii, you know, who made plays throughout the last
half of the year or more and was just really,
really good. I'm gonna give you a rookie, Junior Tafuna,
(17:45):
not drafted out of Utah. He is a unit. And
I remember watching him at Utah. I just thought, you know,
he's kind of shorter, squattier, sawing about the Senior Bowl
up close and I'm like, oh, he's bigger than I thought.
But then getting to stand six inches away from him
down at practice and going, dang, he's bigger than you think.
(18:05):
Doesn't wear any flair, no tape, no elbow pads, and
then he just goes out any balls. And I think
he's got an opportunity because he'll go against some threes
that I think he can dominate. I think Junior Tafuna,
the rookie out of Utah, could make a little bit
of noise. And you know, look, Conte Hamilton was drafted
(18:26):
in the seventh round, but there's not a lot of
difference between the two just from an on field standpoint.
So those two have got a really good opportunity to
show what they can do. They're gonna get a lot
of reps to be able to do it because you're
gonna want to keep Settle, Fatakasi, Rankins, Mario, these veterans.
You're gonna want to keep them healthy and rested. So
that means a lot of reps for these rookies, especially
(18:49):
third and fourth quarters in preseason games. That gives them
an opportunity. And I think Junior Tafuna in particular will
be a guy that stands out for that reason.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
How bad a defensive end a draft choice? But are
they writing them off? And they by that I mean
media and such. Are we underestimating what Dylan Horton could
possibly be? They drafted him for a reason. Could he
be a camp disruptor at defensive end? And I'll give
you another one as well, Casey two Hill, who we
(19:20):
caught up with in the studio during mini camp. That's
a guy who's been around the block. He's going into
year six here in the NFL. But you never know. Again,
it's camp. Things happen. It's not like togy I was
some rookie no one ever heard of. He's he had
three years in the league various places. But what about
defensive end disruptor possibilities in training camp?
Speaker 2 (19:41):
I'm glad you mentioned Casey two Hill. We'll get to
dial in a second. To me, this is what this
category is all about, because Casey two Hill can play.
I only think people really understand how good this dude
actually is, and they got him for really nothing. He
is long, big, He's a Ryan Reynolds clone. If you
(20:01):
took Ryan Reynolds and pumped him up like the old
rebox shoes. I think Casey two Hill is gonna have
people looking around going, hey, who's ninety four? Two Hill?
We been here. I can just hear us at practice
with Andre and Andre going hey, Johnny, who's ninety four.
(20:21):
I could just hear it and like he's good, Like, yeah,
I know, he's good. Casey two Hill. Now, Dylan is
an interesting one because for the first camp since well
in two years, he's seemingly he's not fighting cancer, so
he's not having to rehab. He's just building his body
(20:43):
and getting ready for an NFL season. And I think
that's gonna make Dylan that much more of a factor,
and especially as a disruptor because he's long, he's two
hundred and sixty five, two seventy uh, he's physically smart,
and he's relentles and we saw that in the first
half of twenty three before he was struck down. I
(21:04):
think last year he was just playing catch up all year,
just like I want to get on the field to
do whatever I can. But man, he didn't have that
opportunity to get ready for the season. He's like he
had to beat that other opponent cancer before he could
kind of start thinking about the Chiefs, the Ravens, you know,
and everybody else we played. So I think he's going
(21:24):
to be in not much better shape. I think they
definitely saw something in him, and we saw something in
him early in his rookie campaign, but he was kind
of like a fledgling deer. He just kind of arms
and legs kind of all over the place, not really
knowing exactly where he's going. I think now he's kind
of honed in, he settled down, and I think he's
gonna end up being a force and a disrupt in
his camp too.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Okay, let's go to linebacker here. I'll give you one
disruptor possibility, and he's a draft choice. Year two. Jamal Hill,
we had him in studio and Hill in fact, we'll
hear him later on in this show. Jamal Hill, you
know that he's talked a lot with Demiko. He's coached
by a head coach who is a linebacker, and now
(22:06):
he's there with Bill Davis and his gang, and I
just have a feeling that he's going to do some
things in this camp that are going to open a
lot of eyes. Now it's very thick at linebacker. We
know that Heck, you sided e J. Speed, If Harris
is healthy, Oh my gosh, it's just a cornicopia of linebackers.
But Jamal Hill was drafted by this team, so you
know they want to give him a long look.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
Last year during camp, you could tell I would watch
Jamal and you could tell his head was spinning and
he would come over the sidelines and Demiko would just
be giving it to him. Dimico coached Jamal Hill hard,
and Jamal Hill never it didn't look like he got
down on himself. He just kept kind of plugging along learning.
(22:49):
It was great when we got a chance to talk
to him. You know, he's got that linebacker spirit Demiko
looks for. I think Jamal Hill is a great one
in that category. Now it might have to prove it
on spec teams, but that's okay. Be disruptive on special teams,
and then those third and fourth quarters are yours. Then
go make some plays out on the field. You'll start
getting everybody's attention at that point if you haven't had
(23:11):
it already. And because of the injury history of the
linebackers that start for this team, you are gonna get
plenty of opportunities if you're Jamal Hill or another guy,
Nick Neeman, guy we haven't talked about a whole lot
of vet came over from Kansas City and the Chargers
coming over to Houston. He's a good long I mean,
(23:33):
he looks kind of like EJ. Speed in the sense
he's tall and he's long, just like EJ. I think
the guys beyond Christian Disease Henry are gonna be very
intriguing to watch the linebacker. If I'm being honest, everybody's
gonna have eyes on Christian. If he's in practice, they're
gonna want to know what he's doing. If he's out
of practice, everybody's gonna be like, oh, what's going on
(23:53):
with I think Christian's gonna be the storyline of linebacker. However,
go beyond that and take a look at Hey, how's
speed fitting in? What about nickname? And can he be
one of those linebackers. We know our guy Jake Hanson
is going to be a factor because when he's relied upon,
he's gone out there and made place from his rookie
year all the way through now and then on special teams.
But Jamal Hill is the guy that I think, to me,
(24:15):
for me, there's that much more curiosity because I don't
know that we really saw the true him last year.
I think we'll get more of a true viewing of
him this year in his second year.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
All right, let's go to the secondary.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
Now.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
I'm wondering if we're allowed to classify Jalen Smith as
a camp disruptor considering how high he was drafted and
his pedigree and what he's already done in Ota. So
maybe he doesn't qualify. Johnny, but a lot of people
haven't heard of him, and you've raved about him or
about his potential anyway, and he's got to meet that potential.
(24:52):
But here we are, it's going to be training camp
on Wednesday, and this is it six and a half
weeks to show your stuff and show that you can
contribute greatly during the regular season.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Yeah, I think with the secondary, we know, we know
what that that five looks like, we know what that
five is gonna be. I think beyond that, a guy
like Jalen Smith is very intriguing because he's got natural
cover skills. He has natural cover skills of guys in
the slot, and he can also do some different things
(25:26):
from the slot. USC. He did a good job blitzing
off the edge when he was at USC because he
would kind of you had good timing and just timed
it up boom, he would hit it perfectly. But then
this past year, you know, he's more a primitive corner,
very comfortable in coverage. Look, if we talk about, you know,
games that Texans lost last year, you know, we we
(25:48):
lost those games in a sense because well, we had
trouble covering Garrett Wilson in the slot, We had trouble
covering Devontae Adams in the slot. We made some mistakes
in other games. You know, watch your conquo is running
kind of wide open, you know, is that a result
of not having Jalen Petrie out there. I don't know.
But either way, if you have a guy on Jalen
Smith that can really truly go out there and and
(26:11):
take on a receiver, and and and look, I think
the flexibility with Jalen two is something that can go
with Kamari because more you want staying on your on
the best receiver. So then you figure out the other two. Hey,
what's a better matchup? Is it better for Kamari to
go inside with a guy and leave Jalen Smith outside,
or Hey, leave Jalen Smith out or inside and let
(26:32):
Kamari stand the outside and we'll just lock up these three,
give him help with CJ and and Kaylin over the
top or whatever we're gonna do. Uh in a way
we go. I just think having that third cover guy,
a young dude with some potential. And that's why to me,
Jalen Smith could be that guy. The disruptor I'll bring
up because I think he can do it in different ways.
(26:53):
Is also a rookie, but he was he drafted a
little bit later. It was Jalen Reid out of Penn State.
I think Jalen's got a chip on his shoulder the
side of Energy Stadium. I think he was very disappointed
that he was drafted in the sixth round. I think
he was very surprised by that talking to our buddy
Drew Doherty about that. Drew talked to him right after
draft and you could tell he was chomping at the
(27:13):
bit to prove that there was no reason for him
to have gone as late as he did on that
Saturday at the draft. So I think Jalen Smith, Jayleen Reid,
and the other thing too with him is he's physical.
So you know in preseason when there's a guy kind
of lightening dudes up and then on special teams you
see it, You're like, oh, okay, I need to watch
(27:35):
thirty four Jalen Reid. I need to keep my eyes
on that guy. And I think Jalen Reid will have
opportunities on special teams to be able to do some
of those same things.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
Yeah, he's thick. He looks like one of these safeties
who could almost now he's a few sandwiches away and
a few weeks in the weight room away from being
one of those linebacker safety type guys. But I would
not want to be hit by him or any of
these guys.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
For that matter.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
Let's just be honest. Jalen Reed is gonna knock the
snot out of some people in preseason games because, hey,
rookies don't get the memo. They are playing all out.
That's why I like the second half of preseason games
when the rookies get out there. I mean, the rookies
are out there in the first half too, I get it,
but those rookies who really want to make the impression.
(28:19):
That's fun to watch. And we'll be here to display
the entertainment on ABC thirteen and sports radios extent in
the entire network as we bring in the game. You're
gonna be at the booth. Can't wait for that. Huh
it's coming up.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
Yeah, it's coming up. It'ould be good. Like I said,
all three games are inside, so no weather disruptions, you know,
maybe just a little bit of sunlight shining through like
last year, but that was I think a roof thing.
But it'll be fine. I'm looking forward to that. Indi
and Kevin are great to work with. They're my TV
family and our TV family and Shelby as well. Our
(28:52):
TV family gets together only for about a month a year,
but then I get back with my real family for
the rest of the year and looking forward to that
and being with you and Drey and Robert Naarn and
getting our games going. We start in La against the
La Rams, the first regular season game in Sofi Stadium.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
And by the way, urp Brian Braman and oh yeah,
be's to his family and my gosh, just so terrible
passing from cancer this week, not even forty years old.
And he did some things for the Houston Texans. Good
contributor to this franchise and others as well. I mean
when you look at Braman, he played for the Eagles,
the Saints, the Eagles again in twenty seventeen, and he
(29:33):
had a nice run. Here was one of those guys
who just made big plays. He always found a way
to make the big play. And they found him at
West Texas A and M. Like I said, good contributor
here and it's just a sad story this week.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
Johnny, Yep, no doubt Brian Braman one of the I
would say characters that makes it sound bad, but you know,
the long hair, the ability to make plays on special teams,
the maniacal effort. He was just lauded. And when you
go to social media, and you see so many form.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
Teammates saying things in his honor and saying what a
great guy.
Speaker 5 (30:05):
He was.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
Not a great player, not you know anything about his
football building, but it was all about what a great
guy he was and what a great teammate he was,
and that that speaks volumes. So Brian Bradman arip I
know the people in Philadelphia really loved him and he
was instrumental on that twenty seventeen Super Bowl championship team.
So rip to Brian, and thoughts are with his family
and friends for sure.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
Okay, continuing with the program, let's get into this with
Camp disruptors. We've got a couple of them coming your way,
Zach Thomas along the offensive line and as we mentioned,
Jamal Hill linebacker. They are on the way next here
on Texans Radio. Back to it here the Hyundai Texans
Radio studio, which is still being fixed up, so we're
sort of mobile all around the building. Doesn't matter. We're
(30:49):
still bringing the show to you with all the fun,
all the frolic frolic We've got camp starting on Wednesday,
there will be no frolic. There will be interviews though,
and the highlight or the topic rather of segment one
with many highlights. Camp disruptors, guys who could really make
life interesting for Nick Cassario and Damico Ryan's come cut time,
(31:12):
and guys who aren't really on the tip of the
tongue necessarily when you're talking about position group stars, but
they want to make an impression. This is what camp
in the preseason games. This is what it's all about. Right.
Zach Thomas is an offensive lineman. Now, I know what
you're thinking. I know that name, Zach Thomas, Red Raider,
Miami Dolphin. My gosh, Zach Thomas. No, this is offensive lineman,
(31:34):
Zach Thomas. But guess what, there's something in common here
and it comes up early in the conversation with Zach Thomas.
Texans ol. Does that happen sometimes though? With Zach Thomas
NFL great.
Speaker 4 (31:48):
Actually all the time.
Speaker 1 (31:49):
I'm sorry, sorry, Zach.
Speaker 6 (31:50):
Well, it's actually where I got my name back in
I can't remember what year was, well obviously not, but
my dad was watching the NFL and that was that
was where he got the.
Speaker 1 (32:00):
Next let's real Zach together with Thomas and we got.
Speaker 2 (32:03):
Literally named after Zach Thomas.
Speaker 1 (32:04):
Yeah, holy cow, Yeah, that's that's really cool.
Speaker 5 (32:06):
Now, your brother has also played in the NFL CAM,
your brother cam. You both won San Diego State?
Speaker 2 (32:11):
Correct?
Speaker 1 (32:11):
Correct?
Speaker 5 (32:11):
Are you both from California? Both from San Diego, California?
We just had Casey two Hill in here. Were you
trying to do the math on that thing? He's probably
a little bit older than you guys, But was that
was Casey? Somebody you knew when you guys were in
San Diego?
Speaker 4 (32:24):
No, our our paths didn't cross until we both got here.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
Okay, all right, cool?
Speaker 5 (32:28):
So I'll ask the same question that I asked him.
Maybe it's not even abate at this point, but in
and out versus waterburger?
Speaker 2 (32:35):
Am I going to get an answer that shocks me?
Or is this in and out all the way?
Speaker 4 (32:38):
It's in and out all the way? So I thought
it's in and out all the way.
Speaker 5 (32:40):
Californians are so strong about in and out.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
But I'm kind of their sight too, I kind of
in and out as much.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
So.
Speaker 5 (32:47):
Offensive line. We've been talking about the offensive line for
a long time.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
Zach. You came over.
Speaker 5 (32:52):
Probably what middle last year, I think, to the Texans,
what can you tell us about this offensive line going
into twenty twenty what's new. Obviously Pop takes over as
the offensive line coach. What can you tell us about
the offensive line just as a group, and then obviously
some of the things that maybe you're working on to
get ready for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 6 (33:13):
Yeah, I mean, I think we have a great group
of guys in this room. I think Pop's doing a
great job so far. One thing I do know is
we have a lot of work to do, and we're
gonna stay at work, and I think when we get
to the other side of the camp we should see
some great results.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
Is it hard to get it all together? I'm obviously
work in progress, right, because without pads you can only
do so much. What can you do without pads? What
really is the focus when you're not in pads?
Speaker 6 (33:41):
I mean, the focus when you're not in pads is
I mean ce X's and O's it's hand placement, footwork.
I mean, I think football is a lot harder without
the pads on.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
So a lot harder without the pads on.
Speaker 6 (33:55):
From a technical standpoint, Yeah, okay, correct, I mean you
just have to be more on the dots and yeah,
I mean it's it's harder to pass, block, run, block,
do all that.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
I always thought you must get a lot more bumps
and bruises sometimes. I mean, the pads are there to
protect you, but once the pads are on, guys are
gonna hit harder. Is there a way to put the
pads on and tell them to sort of lighten up
but being pads anyway, But that's not.
Speaker 4 (34:18):
Gonna that's not happening.
Speaker 2 (34:19):
Yeah, absolutely not so, Zach.
Speaker 5 (34:21):
When you get here last year in twenty twenty four,
I imagine that's gotta be tough in a sense because
you know, in training camp, you put the pads on,
you have practices in training camp where you can really
get after it. You get here middle of the year
and a lot of it is about getting ready for
the next team. You don't hit as much, you don't
get the opportunity to kind of show what you can do,
especially as an offensive lineman.
Speaker 2 (34:41):
It's that kind of a tough period to.
Speaker 5 (34:43):
Kind of kind of get through because you didn't quite
have that or those practice opportunities that you will get.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
In training camp preseason games.
Speaker 4 (34:50):
Oh absolutely.
Speaker 6 (34:52):
I mean, coming in midway through the year, I mean,
I'm learning the playbook, I'm learning in different techniques.
Speaker 4 (34:57):
I'm learning. I mean I'm learning people's names in the
the cafe. In the cafe. Yeah yeah.
Speaker 6 (35:03):
It's also not the easiest to get around in this facility,
So I think from that standpoint, uh, there's a lot
that goes into it. And just uh, I mean, at
the same time, you're still preparing for a new team
each week. So not only am I learning the plays,
but I'm also learning about the guys I'm going against, right.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
Zach Thomas joining us. But you come into the league
in twenty twenty two and now you're going into year four,
So a lot of work to do when you go
to different organizations and you really want to fit and
you want to make an impact, and you've got to
adjust along the way with different teams Bears, Rams, Patriots
and yeah.
Speaker 4 (35:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (35:36):
So what is the key or one of the keys
to being able to do that, because clearly you know
you're here, You're still here the NFL.
Speaker 6 (35:44):
SAC Yeah, I mean, I think it's about being flexible.
I mean a lot of teams shared characteristics. But at
the same time, you're still learning all new all new
techniques and plays and all kinds of stuff, meeting new
people along the way. I wouldn't trade Mikes rants for anything, though,
what's coach.
Speaker 2 (36:01):
Pop em like?
Speaker 4 (36:03):
What's he been like?
Speaker 5 (36:03):
Yeah, what's it been? What's it been like to have
him kind of leading the charge? I love having him.
Speaker 6 (36:09):
He he's he's gonna he's gonna get us in shape.
He's he's gonna have us doing I'm excited to see
where this group goes because, uh, it's good. He shows
us all the old film from New England and all that.
I mean, we have New England some some New England
roots here, sure so and obviously that uh, that organization
I think did pretty well.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
Yeah I did.
Speaker 4 (36:29):
I'm excited to see where he takes us.
Speaker 5 (36:30):
It's funny you said it that way because you're not
the first offensive lineman that said we will be in shape.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
Which I which you chuckle at.
Speaker 5 (36:38):
So I would imagine that's maybe an offensive line thing
we would understand. But is that is that a focus
of Yeah, we're we're gonna have ourselves in cardio shape
and hitting shape and all that ready for a game
so we're not out of shape and then done it
by a defensive line. But you're not the first one
to say that, So has that been like a big
focus for him and for you?
Speaker 1 (36:57):
Guys.
Speaker 4 (36:57):
I think that.
Speaker 6 (36:58):
Yeah, no, it's a big focus. He wants us to
be in better shape than the defensive line.
Speaker 4 (37:03):
I know that. I will say that. Like, like, if
you watch the.
Speaker 6 (37:07):
The the ebbs and flows of the NFL game, you
see the same alignment out there every.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
Single place, defensive line coming in, A.
Speaker 4 (37:15):
Defensive line comes in and out right.
Speaker 6 (37:18):
So for us to be in better shape, be able
to pass, block, run block, do it all longer, harder, faster,
I think we're gonna be in a pretty good spot.
Speaker 1 (37:28):
Now. That's what you just pointed out, though I was
gonna mention that, Yeah, it's the same five guys Ideally,
unless there's an injury, it's not like, oh so and
so is tired, let's put in the other let's have
a guard change now. But that speaks to how together
the five have to be right when the D line
can just because they're just trying to destroy the interchangeable.
Speaker 4 (37:50):
The old line is one solid unity working together.
Speaker 1 (37:54):
A lot of work goes into that.
Speaker 5 (37:56):
Okay, on the best offensive lines that you have been on,
what has been the overriding trait to that group has
been talent, has been camaraderie, chemistry, knowledge and playbook. What's
been the overriding trait on the best offensive lines you've
been in your.
Speaker 2 (38:15):
Whole football career is act.
Speaker 5 (38:16):
What would you say is the overriding trait consisted amongst
the best offensive lines you've been on.
Speaker 6 (38:23):
I'd pray have to go with chemistry. I mean, it's
not it's not always the easiest to take one alignment
out of the mix and put a new one in.
Different guys work together differently. Sure guys have different different
strengths in their game that work well with the players
next year. Yeah, So I would definitely say it has
(38:44):
to do with who you're working with and how you
can build off one.
Speaker 1 (38:47):
An Absolutely very good Zach, Thanks so much for joining us.
Good luck.
Speaker 4 (38:50):
I appreciate you, guys, Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (38:53):
All Right, there's Zach Thomas, Texan's offensive lineman, a camp disruptor.
We'll find out soon enough as camp starts with will
be on the field live eight am on Sports Radio six'
Ten texans App odyssey app all the apps and set
and set will be out. There it'll be a lot of.
Fun reggie And john will be out. There can't wait
for camp to get. Started Jamal, hill linebacker was drafted last,
(39:16):
year wants to make a big impression this. Year we'll
hear from him next year On Texans All. Access Final
lap around The track here tonight On Texans radio And
John harris AND, i as we've mentioned, before had the
pleasure of interviewing forty players in one day Around Mini,
camp and we've been airing those for you throughout the
entire break Between mini camp and training, camp which starts On.
(39:37):
Wednesday if you were late for, class it starts On.
Wednesday And Jamal hill one of those. Players Jamal hill
drafted last year as a linebacker for this, team hoping
to do some big things this, year and we caught
up with him during his first visit to the Hun
Day Texans radio.
Speaker 7 (39:52):
Studio, sir thank you for having.
Speaker 1 (39:53):
Me let's make it.
Speaker 2 (39:54):
MAST i would remember.
Speaker 1 (39:55):
That, SEE i don't know.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
WHY i just.
Speaker 1 (39:59):
Felt Like i've talked To jamal maybe on the field
of training jab or, something AND i just, yeah one
of those things and it just becomes a. Bore we're, Glad,
yeah we're. Glad you're you just knocked out the monitors, Too. Johnny,
YEAH i don't, know but it's. Okay been in the
weight room.
Speaker 7 (40:13):
Too.
Speaker 1 (40:13):
MUCH i know that's what it, is all, Right so
but for you coming into this, year it's got to
be a lot more comfortable probably a bad, word but
a lot more singularly focused BECAUSE i don't have to
worry about a pre draft stuff and everything like. THAT
i can just go would be a.
Speaker 8 (40:28):
Good pro, sir definitely going in a year, two just,
knowing knowing what to, expect knowing what the team expects
from us as, players and just knowing specifically what Coach
demko expect from.
Speaker 7 (40:40):
Me so looking forward to.
Speaker 2 (40:42):
It and what Does dmiko expect from?
Speaker 6 (40:44):
You?
Speaker 2 (40:44):
Jamal in your, words what what what does he want from?
Speaker 8 (40:48):
You just be fast and, violent real, Simple just be
fast and violent every TIME i want the field and
show Everybody i'm the best player on the.
Speaker 1 (40:54):
Field does he keep the? DEFENSE i hate to say,
simple but in a way where you can really just
channel your aggression and athletic ability without having to overthink.
Speaker 8 (41:06):
THINGS i, MEAN i guess it's definitely like a learning
curve when you first get into.
Speaker 7 (41:10):
It so but, yeah once you, learn it's pretty, SIMPLE i.
Speaker 5 (41:14):
Guess so at that point when you think, Back, jamal
like at this point last, year you're just kind of
finishing up a couple Weeks, ota it's got mini, camp
your head, Spinning you're coming off the, draft you're in draft,
training you finish the season In, oregon it's like the
whirlwind three hundred and sixty five days. Later how much
more comfortable are you just with? Everything how different are
(41:38):
you from when you walked in after those first OTA's
last year to where you are?
Speaker 7 (41:41):
Now?
Speaker 8 (41:41):
Yeah, WELL i definitely. Know we don't like using the
word comfortable around.
Speaker 7 (41:45):
Here that's a good. Point, yeah definitely.
Speaker 8 (41:46):
MORE i feel like, calmer just a calmer, mind just
LIKE i said, earlier knowing what to expect on What
i'm getting, into being more comfortable with my, Guys LIKE
i pretty much got the same, room give or take
a couple of.
Speaker 7 (41:59):
People but, Uh i'm. Ready i'm. Excited, yeah ain't gonna.
Speaker 1 (42:02):
Lie so how did you evolve from safety to? Linebacker
how did that process go throughout high? School then you
go To.
Speaker 8 (42:09):
Oregon so going into my last year At, oregon actually
having like a conversation With Dan lannon And Tash loupoy
just about like my future. LIFE i was gonna, LEAVE
i was gonna come back and Coach landa actually brought it.
Up he was, like, MAN i think he would be
a great, linebacker AND i was, LIKE i don't know
what you're talking. About play, linebacker like And i'm Not
(42:30):
finna LIKE i told him, initially LIKE i didn't want
to like bank my last year of college on like
a hope of doing something, different SOMETHING i never travel.
Before but you, know just sitting now with my family
a lot of prayer thought about. IT i was a
little upset at first Cause i'm just Like i've been
doing something my whole. Life now Like i'm at this
junction point And i'm gonna try to do something. Different so, yeah,
(42:53):
Uh that's HOW i felt about it at. First and
THEN i had a spring to kind of get it
under my belt before to see and. Started AND i
feel like that SPRING i took like A i guess
starting from the, ground LIKE i took a big step
in the right direction as far as learning how to
play the linebacker, position and it's got me. Here SO
i Appreciate landon And kostas loop With.
Speaker 5 (43:15):
Okay so my guess is that one of those guys
used to be the defensive coordinator At georgia and maybe
that's how he got connected with you because you're From
georgia and then you go play your college ball At.
Speaker 2 (43:27):
Oregon that's not a path a lot of guys.
Speaker 1 (43:29):
Follow more guys are.
Speaker 5 (43:31):
Doing it, now but not one that a lot of guys.
Follow So i'll just make it very. Simple why why
did you go From georgia all the way out To?
Speaker 1 (43:39):
Oregon?
Speaker 8 (43:40):
Uh mario cristball at the. Time, okay he can, sell
so he could sell order to. Anybody, yep that's my.
Gotto LIKE i love him and his, family his, wife
like they took me and my family in like whatever we.
Needed he made SURE i was straight across the, country
like he made sure he told my mom that like
he's gonna come all the way out, here like he's
never gonna just, be you, know by, hisself like he
(44:01):
always gets me like if he ever needs. Anything and
he kept his. Words SO i definitely Say, mario chrispa
And Dante.
Speaker 1 (44:07):
Williams, yeah, yeah Because i'm looking at your career path
here And oregon all the. Way you, know these, days
it's a surprise when somebody stays at one school for that.
Speaker 7 (44:16):
Long, YEAH i don't.
Speaker 8 (44:18):
KNOW i feel like everybody's situation is, Different BUT i
signed up to be a part of a program UNTIL
i graduated and fulfill my dream to go to THE.
Nfl SO i feel like it was my obligation to
do that for that.
Speaker 5 (44:30):
University learning From, dimico learning From. Billy what's that been? Like,
uh it's been. Fun shuck a.
Speaker 8 (44:38):
Why, yeah they coached me, hard like they always on.
Me they always tell me that's. Good, yeah it's a
great problem to. Have like it's not fun always in that.
Moment but like they always tell, me like the skies and,
limiting like they they tell me straight.
Speaker 7 (44:54):
Up they're not gonna sell me.
Speaker 8 (44:55):
Short so anything That i'm doing that's not, here like
they're gonna tell me great, Up LIKE i need to do.
Speaker 1 (45:00):
More what are you gonna do with the time off
prior to training?
Speaker 7 (45:04):
Camp training some? More ya get ready for training?
Speaker 8 (45:07):
Camp but, yeah obviously take some time to, uh spend
time with my family back In, georgia a little time to,
myself and then right back to it.
Speaker 2 (45:16):
Training we trained back, Here we trained just away for the, bill.
Speaker 7 (45:20):
A little bit here and a little bit In.
Speaker 2 (45:22):
Georgia what do you think About?
Speaker 5 (45:23):
Houston had you had any experience In houston at all.
Speaker 7 (45:26):
Before it and it's actually.
Speaker 8 (45:28):
Crazy like before the, draft just talking with my, mom
LIKE i actually told, her, MAN i want to go
to The. TEXAN i want to play For Miko ryans just,
because like he a linebacker coach AND i never been
To houston and you, know it's a team on the
rise and you, know another good season last year and
everything came full.
Speaker 7 (45:44):
Circle so so.
Speaker 2 (45:45):
You never you've never been To.
Speaker 5 (45:46):
Houston, no, okay for, well you grew up In, georgia
so practicing this heat is not. Bad but what did
you what did you think about training? Camp it's not.
Speaker 8 (45:55):
Bad, yeah it's way more humid than like people talk.
About so in that, humidity that's like that's worse than the,
Heat like, YEAH i.
Speaker 5 (46:05):
Mean is that one of the biggest adjustment periods for
guys that are not from?
Speaker 7 (46:08):
Here definitely the. Humidity, yeah oh, man that's.
Speaker 1 (46:11):
It but we're playing sites that's not a dry. Heat
jamal thanks a lot for being with.
Speaker 7 (46:15):
Us we thank you for having.
Speaker 1 (46:17):
Me there's our interview with Linebacker Jamal. Hill a camp.
Disruptor will find out if he is won next. Week
camp Starts. Wednesday can't. Wait we'll be on the field
live at eight am On Sports radio six' ten Shot
and seth, Before that Reggie and. John after can't wait
for all. Of it area, forty five can't wait for
that that's coming up, next here have a, great night.
(46:37):
Great Weekend, go texans
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