October 25, 2024 • 9 mins
The Houston Texans were forced to settle for short passing plays in the 24-22 defeat at the hands of the Green Bay Packers. The only explosive play the Texans completed at Lambeau Field was a 28-yard completion to Dalton Schultz across the middle of the field. “When your quarterback starts to get hit, that is what you are going to do... if you still want to have a pass game, you have to find a way to still move forward and not backwards," offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said. The Texans pass protection allowed four sacks and seven quarterback hits, adding to a season total of 20 sacks. "The offensive line has got to turn things around," Houston Chronicle writer Jonathan Alexander said. Alexander joins Next Up to preview the Texans' hosting the AFC South rival Indianapolis Colts for their NFL Week 8 matchup. The Texans return to NRG Stadium after struggling on the road against the Packers. "They have a lot of their issues on the road," and "they've been having a lot of trouble with communication." Despite multiple injuries, the Texans defense and special teams were able to create three turnovers against the Packers. The Texans will be without Azeez Al-Shaair and Jimmie Ward against the Colts, but Henry To'oTo'o returned to practice from a concussion, and Kamari Lassiter is expected to play Sunday. "Having Kamari Lassiter back is huge," as the Colts have multiple weapons returning to an offense that favors deep passing plays. Alexander also comments on the NFL trade deadline approaching November 5. "The Texans should be buyers" to keep up with other strong AFC teams continuing to upgrade.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Indianapolis coats in town. With no further ado, we go
to the guest line on a bit behind on the clock.
I want to make sure that we take advantage of
the time that we have. You hear them on the
station and on the show regularly become quite popular on
the media circuit here in the city covering the Texans.
Courtesy of the Houston Chronicle Jonathan m Alexander j and May.
(00:21):
Good morning to you, sir. Let's get ready for week eight?
What say you?
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Absolutely? I'm ready for it. It'd be a good game.
Texas really offensive line gotta turn things around if they
want to win, for sure.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
You mad at me for how verbal, how vocal, how
demonstrative I have been in demanding calling for Bobby slock
and that old line to be better. You mad at
me about that? What am I missing here?
Speaker 2 (00:49):
No note at all? I think it is within reason.
I mean, you know, you look at the Texans when
they came into the season. They were supposed to have
a five headed monster. This offense was supposed to be
one of the best in the NFL with various weapons.
Nico Collins Stefan Die's Joe Mixon. Now, of course, Nico
Collins hasn't played, but you expect more from guys like
(01:11):
Tank Dell and for him to have a zero yard
game and for the offense to have taken a step back,
particularly the offensive line. You know, that's an indictment on
on body Stock and the rest of the offense. So
they definitely have to be better, all right.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
I think that as we put the Green Bay game
behind us and focus on what's in front of us.
Obviously the AFC South is up for grabs. Do you
have confidence I want to ask two questions, sorry, do
you have confidence that the Texans will look more like themselves?
But at the same time, if we look around the league,
(01:47):
how many teams look the way they looked in Week one?
What do you think we will see from this Texans unit?
Given who looks like they will and won't be in
the lineup on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Yeah, I think the Texans will have improvement this week.
I think when you look when you break down the issues,
and I have a story in our Sunday paper when
you break down the Texans issue, they have a lot
of their issues on the road against teams with loud environments.
You look at the Vikings and we was it Week three,
the Colts, even Week one the Packers in Week seven,
(02:20):
the Texans have given up their most sacks in those environments.
They give with four sacks each in those games. I
think they've been having a lot of trouble with communicating,
figuring out, getting everybody on the same page. When they've
played at home, they've only given up six total sacks
and that's three games, so an average is two per game.
They'll play at home this week, I think they'll be
a lot better. And I think that's been a huge
(02:42):
folks of theirs throughout the entire week of practice, they
were embarrassed and they don't want to look that way
again in a very pivotal game on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Yeah, they should be embarrassed. Jonathan Alexander, the Houston Chronicle
joining us here on next up. Appreciate his time on
a Friday, and I think about we'll get to the
trade deadline here in just a little bit. All right,
What are we hearing? Some dudes practiced yesterday? I saw
some defensive starters come back. We know Nico remains out.
(03:11):
What did the injury report? What jumped out at you
as we think.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
About who's gonna play Yeah, I think what jumped out
that mean was Henry Toldtold who practiced on Wednesday but
didn't practice on Thursday. That would seem to indicate that
perhaps he's probably taking a step back into concussion protocol.
I don't think it's totally bad. He was still in
the building, but it might mean that he might not
play on Sunday, which is why they brought in Devin
White because they are very thin at linebacker, and Devin
(03:38):
White has a history of froma All Pro player, pro bowler,
he can play real well. He can adapt to any system,
so I think you bring him in for those depth purposes.
But yeah, I think that was the thing. That Another
thing was Kamari last Yer practice for the second day
in a row, and that is going to be huge
because they were starting to struggle at cornerback opposite of
Derek Stingley. So you get one of your best players
(03:59):
back and you hope that helps you against the Colts
passing game that's really good on deep passes and has
a lot of their weapons back with Josh Downs, Alec Pierce,
Michael Pittman, so they're going to be multiple out there.
So having come out of the last in the back
is huge.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
I want to stay right here on this Devin White
deal because you and I come from another city. Obviously,
we were on the beat there in Carolina and Charlotte,
and we saw Tampa in the NFC South on a
very regular basis. You said when I asked about Devin
White just then rotational piece, how much do you think
Devin White plays on Sunday percentage just now?
Speaker 2 (04:36):
You know, Yeah, I think it'll probably be minimal, probably
below twenty five percent, just given this is his first
week in the Texan system. I think it was important
for them to bring him in early enough because they
do have a short week against the Jets, and you know,
players get hurt and you need as many bodies as
(04:57):
you can when you have those short week games. So
I think he will probably be play minimal this week,
just giving the fact he's only practice for two days
going on three today, and then you'll probably see him
tick up more as the weeks going and as he
gets used to the system that they're playing.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Talk with Jonathan m Alexander the Houston Chronicle on the
Texas Beat joining us here for a couple more minutes,
and we appreciate it having him every time we can
get him. I made the statement to start the show
the Texans because of injuries and the poor performance of
the offensive line, c J. Stroud for right now is
(05:36):
no longer the most valuable player on the team. That
distinction for me goes to Joe Mixon. I do believe
they can ride Joe mixing the victory on Sunday. It
may not be the thirty for one fifty nine that
he had up in Indianapolis in Week one, but I
think writing Joe Mixon does so many things simplify. If
(05:58):
the passing game takes pressure off CJ. Stroud, it allows
them to kind of get their legs back up under
them and gives Bobby some time to stabilize this thing.
We know CJ. Strott is getting hit as much as
except well, I think they're only two of the quarterbacks
getting hit more than CJ. Right now, you agree with
that this thing is about Joe Mixon, or should be
about Joe Mixon right now?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
I agree with some of it, and I disagree with
a little bit. And well, I still think CD Shott
is their most valuable player. However, Joe Mixon is very
much up the top as far as how important he is,
and they need to continue to ride him to take
some of that pressure off of CJ. Stroud. But make
no mistake, CJ. Strott has to be better in order
for this team to win. And it's tough right now.
(06:41):
Without Nico Collins, you're missing your most explosive weapon. Obviously,
Bobby Sawyck has developed this offensive round Nico Collins in
the passing game, they have to do a lot better job.
But yeah, they have to ride Joe Mixon. The Coats
struggle and stopping and run the second wors in the league.
Panthers are the only worst team in the league get
stopping the run, and you saw Joe Mixon was able
to run for one hundred fifty nine yards in that
(07:01):
Week one performance. He could have success again. But if
you were able to ride him, that takes pressure off
of c. J. Strout and allows him to potentially first
and maybe hit some passes in that play action game,
which they haven't really done much in recent weeks.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
All Right, Dimiko said there was going to be no
everything is on the table to address the offensive line.
Do you anticipate and I through out earlier in the week.
Others have followed. Does Titus go to left guard. Do
we see Blake Fisher get some reps in there? Do
you pull Kenyon Green out and put Kendrick Green in?
(07:36):
Do you think this offensive line the starters look different.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
On Sunday at noon, not this Sunday. I think you'll
see the same iteration of the starting line this week.
But if they struggled this week, then yes, I could
see those moves that you mentioned happen next week because
they cannot allow this to continue to go on if
they want to be successful. So as I think it'll
(08:00):
stay the same, but I do think that that is
the possibility you could see those same moves if they
struggle this week.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
All right, final question, we'll get you out of here
on this one. You have an article up in the
Chronicle about the Texans being buyers at the deadline. Some
are saying they could be sellers. I saw something on
the four Letter Networks site. Tell the people a fault
on that and we'll wrap up here.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Yeah. I just had the opinion of rote a column
that I think the Texans should be buyers. They're in
a position this year. In years past they were sellers
and guys who stayed pat and didn't make moves. But
just giving the fact that the AFC, the rest of
the AFC, like the Chiefs and the Ravens and the Bills,
are getting better, I think the Texans need to keep
up if they want to win a Super Bowl. They've
already put their chips in by trading for guys like
(08:47):
Stefan Diggs, and I think they need to continue that.
And I think one of the areas is in the
secondary where they can improve and get better depth. So
that's why I think they should be buyers.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
All right, that's the voice of John m Alexander. Follow him,
won't you? J O. N. Letter m Alexander courtesy of
the Houston Chronicle, dropping by next up on a Friday.
Appreciate you, jam a man, Let me roll and do
the thing. I see you over at n r G
on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Absolutely appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Peach to you
Indianapolis coats in town. With no further ado, we go
to the guest line on a bit behind on the clock.
I want to make sure that we take advantage of
the time that we have. You hear them on the
station and on the show regularly become quite popular on
the media circuit here in the city covering the Texans.
Courtesy of the Houston Chronicle Jonathan m Alexander j and May.
(00:21):
Good morning to you, sir. Let's get ready for week eight?
What say you?
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Absolutely? I'm ready for it. It'd be a good game.
Texas really offensive line gotta turn things around if they
want to win, for sure.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
You mad at me for how verbal, how vocal, how
demonstrative I have been in demanding calling for Bobby slock
and that old line to be better. You mad at
me about that? What am I missing here?
Speaker 2 (00:49):
No note at all? I think it is within reason.
I mean, you know, you look at the Texans when
they came into the season. They were supposed to have
a five headed monster. This offense was supposed to be
one of the best in the NFL with various weapons.
Nico Collins Stefan Die's Joe Mixon. Now, of course, Nico
Collins hasn't played, but you expect more from guys like
(01:11):
Tank Dell and for him to have a zero yard
game and for the offense to have taken a step back,
particularly the offensive line. You know, that's an indictment on
on body Stock and the rest of the offense. So
they definitely have to be better, all right.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
I think that as we put the Green Bay game
behind us and focus on what's in front of us.
Obviously the AFC South is up for grabs. Do you
have confidence I want to ask two questions, sorry, do
you have confidence that the Texans will look more like themselves?
But at the same time, if we look around the league,
(01:47):
how many teams look the way they looked in Week one?
What do you think we will see from this Texans unit?
Given who looks like they will and won't be in
the lineup on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Yeah, I think the Texans will have improvement this week.
I think when you look when you break down the issues,
and I have a story in our Sunday paper when
you break down the Texans issue, they have a lot
of their issues on the road against teams with loud environments.
You look at the Vikings and we was it Week three,
the Colts, even Week one the Packers in Week seven,
(02:20):
the Texans have given up their most sacks in those environments.
They give with four sacks each in those games. I
think they've been having a lot of trouble with communicating,
figuring out, getting everybody on the same page. When they've
played at home, they've only given up six total sacks
and that's three games, so an average is two per game.
They'll play at home this week, I think they'll be
a lot better. And I think that's been a huge
(02:42):
folks of theirs throughout the entire week of practice, they
were embarrassed and they don't want to look that way
again in a very pivotal game on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Yeah, they should be embarrassed. Jonathan Alexander, the Houston Chronicle
joining us here on next up. Appreciate his time on
a Friday, and I think about we'll get to the
trade deadline here in just a little bit. All right,
What are we hearing? Some dudes practiced yesterday? I saw
some defensive starters come back. We know Nico remains out.
(03:11):
What did the injury report? What jumped out at you
as we think.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
About who's gonna play Yeah, I think what jumped out
that mean was Henry Toldtold who practiced on Wednesday but
didn't practice on Thursday. That would seem to indicate that
perhaps he's probably taking a step back into concussion protocol.
I don't think it's totally bad. He was still in
the building, but it might mean that he might not
play on Sunday, which is why they brought in Devin
White because they are very thin at linebacker, and Devin
(03:38):
White has a history of froma All Pro player, pro bowler,
he can play real well. He can adapt to any system,
so I think you bring him in for those depth purposes.
But yeah, I think that was the thing. That Another
thing was Kamari last Yer practice for the second day
in a row, and that is going to be huge
because they were starting to struggle at cornerback opposite of
Derek Stingley. So you get one of your best players
(03:59):
back and you hope that helps you against the Colts
passing game that's really good on deep passes and has
a lot of their weapons back with Josh Downs, Alec Pierce,
Michael Pittman, so they're going to be multiple out there.
So having come out of the last in the back
is huge.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
I want to stay right here on this Devin White
deal because you and I come from another city. Obviously,
we were on the beat there in Carolina and Charlotte,
and we saw Tampa in the NFC South on a
very regular basis. You said when I asked about Devin
White just then rotational piece, how much do you think
Devin White plays on Sunday percentage just now?
Speaker 2 (04:36):
You know, Yeah, I think it'll probably be minimal, probably
below twenty five percent, just given this is his first
week in the Texan system. I think it was important
for them to bring him in early enough because they
do have a short week against the Jets, and you know,
players get hurt and you need as many bodies as
(04:57):
you can when you have those short week games. So
I think he will probably be play minimal this week,
just giving the fact he's only practice for two days
going on three today, and then you'll probably see him
tick up more as the weeks going and as he
gets used to the system that they're playing.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Talk with Jonathan m Alexander the Houston Chronicle on the
Texas Beat joining us here for a couple more minutes,
and we appreciate it having him every time we can
get him. I made the statement to start the show
the Texans because of injuries and the poor performance of
the offensive line, c J. Stroud for right now is
(05:36):
no longer the most valuable player on the team. That
distinction for me goes to Joe Mixon. I do believe
they can ride Joe mixing the victory on Sunday. It
may not be the thirty for one fifty nine that
he had up in Indianapolis in Week one, but I
think writing Joe Mixon does so many things simplify. If
(05:58):
the passing game takes pressure off CJ. Stroud, it allows
them to kind of get their legs back up under
them and gives Bobby some time to stabilize this thing.
We know CJ. Strott is getting hit as much as
except well, I think they're only two of the quarterbacks
getting hit more than CJ. Right now, you agree with
that this thing is about Joe Mixon, or should be
about Joe Mixon right now?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
I agree with some of it, and I disagree with
a little bit. And well, I still think CD Shott
is their most valuable player. However, Joe Mixon is very
much up the top as far as how important he is,
and they need to continue to ride him to take
some of that pressure off of CJ. Stroud. But make
no mistake, CJ. Strott has to be better in order
for this team to win. And it's tough right now.
(06:41):
Without Nico Collins, you're missing your most explosive weapon. Obviously,
Bobby Sawyck has developed this offensive round Nico Collins in
the passing game, they have to do a lot better job.
But yeah, they have to ride Joe Mixon. The Coats
struggle and stopping and run the second wors in the league.
Panthers are the only worst team in the league get
stopping the run, and you saw Joe Mixon was able
to run for one hundred fifty nine yards in that
(07:01):
Week one performance. He could have success again. But if
you were able to ride him, that takes pressure off
of c. J. Strout and allows him to potentially first
and maybe hit some passes in that play action game,
which they haven't really done much in recent weeks.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
All Right, Dimiko said there was going to be no
everything is on the table to address the offensive line.
Do you anticipate and I through out earlier in the week.
Others have followed. Does Titus go to left guard. Do
we see Blake Fisher get some reps in there? Do
you pull Kenyon Green out and put Kendrick Green in?
(07:36):
Do you think this offensive line the starters look different.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
On Sunday at noon, not this Sunday. I think you'll
see the same iteration of the starting line this week.
But if they struggled this week, then yes, I could
see those moves that you mentioned happen next week because
they cannot allow this to continue to go on if
they want to be successful. So as I think it'll
(08:00):
stay the same, but I do think that that is
the possibility you could see those same moves if they
struggle this week.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
All right, final question, we'll get you out of here
on this one. You have an article up in the
Chronicle about the Texans being buyers at the deadline. Some
are saying they could be sellers. I saw something on
the four Letter Networks site. Tell the people a fault
on that and we'll wrap up here.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Yeah. I just had the opinion of rote a column
that I think the Texans should be buyers. They're in
a position this year. In years past they were sellers
and guys who stayed pat and didn't make moves. But
just giving the fact that the AFC, the rest of
the AFC, like the Chiefs and the Ravens and the Bills,
are getting better, I think the Texans need to keep
up if they want to win a Super Bowl. They've
already put their chips in by trading for guys like
(08:47):
Stefan Diggs, and I think they need to continue that.
And I think one of the areas is in the
secondary where they can improve and get better depth. So
that's why I think they should be buyers.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
All right, that's the voice of John m Alexander. Follow him,
won't you? J O. N. Letter m Alexander courtesy of
the Houston Chronicle, dropping by next up on a Friday.
Appreciate you, jam a man, Let me roll and do
the thing. I see you over at n r G
on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Absolutely appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Peach to you
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