1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,239 Speaker 1: Hello, Tech sends, and welcome to the program. Mark Vaermer 2 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:06,560 Speaker 1: with you tonight. Tech sends all access in the general 3 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:09,039 Speaker 1: from the Houston Chronicle. John McClain joins us here from 4 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:11,959 Speaker 1: the Hunday Texans Radio studio across the half from the 5 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:15,920 Speaker 1: locker room, which still exists sort of because they're knocking 6 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:18,960 Speaker 1: down walls and renovating a general. How are you tonight, Mark, 7 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: I like to come over here. When we used to 8 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:25,279 Speaker 1: be quiet, when the players were gone and everybody was 9 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:29,720 Speaker 1: on vacation. But now because so many things are being redone, 10 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:33,519 Speaker 1: it's a little livelier than it is in regular season 11 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: with all this construction, all this construction which has to 12 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:40,200 Speaker 1: take place now because once the players get back, coaches 13 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 1: get back, you can't do it. Although you'll have a 14 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:45,080 Speaker 1: couple of extra weeks at the Greenbrier in the beginning 15 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 1: to do some tweaks. They need to redo the media room. 16 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:50,879 Speaker 1: That's all the rooms not being redone. Oh really, specifically 17 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 1: the Chronicle office, which you stole from us a few 18 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:56,639 Speaker 1: years ago. I'm sorry about that, and hen redone then 19 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 1: you moved in here. So the least they could do 20 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 1: is redo that room over there. What we are would 21 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 1: you like some decorations and things like that. Last year 22 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:08,960 Speaker 1: during the rodeo, they stole my big great chair I'd 23 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 1: set in from the get go, and it disappeared. Rodeo 24 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:14,960 Speaker 1: always comes in and they take over all the rooms. 25 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:18,120 Speaker 1: They change a lot. I look everywhere from my chair, 26 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:22,280 Speaker 1: usually like our refrigerator will be in here, and there'll 27 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:24,759 Speaker 1: be chairs in the closet. I went up and down 28 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:29,399 Speaker 1: the hall, I went everywhere. Somebody did off with my 29 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 1: big gray easy chair that I use for ever. I 30 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 1: just liked him a great chairback. Well, you know, it's 31 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:38,680 Speaker 1: funny because you're here more than any other media member. Obviously, 32 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 1: you're here all the time. You're here every week doing this. 33 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 1: You taught to Bill O'Brien, Brian Gaine, etc. And so 34 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 1: you feel it, you see it. It's funny. I was 35 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: talking to our interns and rookies the other day, internal 36 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 1: kind of thing and just sort of veteran senior managers, 37 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 1: me and a couple of others and Greg Risom, Jennifer Davenport. 38 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: We were talking to the rookies and the interns and 39 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 1: I said, look, I almost pinched myself off every day 40 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: coming to work in a football stadium, you know, we 41 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 1: work in a football stadium. But even me as much 42 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: as I love this, every once in a while I'll 43 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:08,839 Speaker 1: just catch a glimpse of the bowl because very often 44 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 1: those doors are closed. They're doing events in there, and 45 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 1: you don't see it. But when you see the seats 46 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 1: and there's no field down right now, but you just 47 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 1: feel the bugs being here. And a lot of people 48 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 1: probably have the same kind of experience driving by the 49 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:21,639 Speaker 1: stadium on the South Loop or Kirby or wherever. How 50 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 1: do you feel about that? I know that you're very 51 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:25,800 Speaker 1: grateful to be a part of this industry. Well, first 52 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 1: of all, when I go by Kirby or six ten 53 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:33,360 Speaker 1: or Fan in whatever way I'm going, I always look 54 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 1: over to stadiums and I start with the Dome because 55 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 1: I'll start going to the Dome when it opened, and 56 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:41,960 Speaker 1: my parents would bring my brother down here to watch 57 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:45,079 Speaker 1: the call forty fives for three years and we got 58 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:47,120 Speaker 1: to kind of see the astrodome going up just for 59 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: one weekend each summer, and then when the Dome opened 60 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 1: we came. We can only forward one week in There 61 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 1: are all these little mottails around here, and course, as kids, 62 00:02:57,120 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: you can't wait to get into swimming pool, especially when 63 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:03,799 Speaker 1: it's hot. And can you imagine playing baseball outdoors here? 64 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:06,760 Speaker 1: I didn't think anything about it, but my parents, you know, 65 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:10,639 Speaker 1: kids don't, but my parents complain constantly about the heat, 66 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 1: the humidity and the mosquitoes. But back then, beer was 67 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 1: in bottles and it's really cold. And they never made 68 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 1: us leave early because they know how much we go 69 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:22,799 Speaker 1: to two games and they know how much it meant 70 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:24,839 Speaker 1: to us. We didn't have much money, but my dad 71 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 1: made sure we got a coke and popcorn and maybe 72 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 1: a hot dog, cracker Jack's whatever at a cold forty 73 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 1: five Colt forty five game. And I know, since they're 74 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 1: both dead, they wouldn't want me to say if this live. 75 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 1: They drank a lot of cold beer, and of course 76 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 1: I'd snug a taste one time and hated it and 77 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 1: have no interest. And they're always putting that cold bottle 78 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 1: up against their face. And now the idea of sitting 79 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 1: outside at this time of year for nine innings and 80 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 1: we got we get there hour hour and a half early, 81 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 1: all those hours doesn't appeal to me. Well, let me 82 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 1: ask you this. The way that that stadium was configured, 83 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 1: I would hope that home plate. If you're a batter, 84 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 1: you're facing east right, so that way in the evening, 85 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: the sun setting behind the stands. And yeah, the players 86 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: have to deal with it more than anything. But at 87 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: least the stands would be sort of sheltered once it 88 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 1: got past seven. There was no roof. No. Yeah, and 89 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 1: uh and I'll tell you an interesting story. And I'm 90 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 1: sorry if I've told you again, but we're talking for 91 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:32,840 Speaker 1: the listeners. Yeah. Um um. One time Bob McNair called 92 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 1: me and he asked me if I could meet him 93 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 1: in the parking lot of the Dome, the Murworth's entrance, 94 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 1: and I said sure, and so I came over inner 95 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 1: construction construction was being put up. Everything was about ready 96 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 1: to start on the stadium. So we walk and we walk. 97 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 1: I'm following Bob and he stops and I stopped and 98 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 1: I said, what's up? He said, see this circle. There 99 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: was a circle and we're standing in the parking lot 100 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 1: and I said, what's the big deal. He said, well, 101 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 1: they tell me this is going to be the logo 102 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:13,160 Speaker 1: on the fifty yard line. Oh my, And I'm like whoa. 103 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 1: And so we're just kind of standing there with their 104 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 1: hands on our hips, kind of turning a circle, looking 105 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:22,480 Speaker 1: trying to imagine what the stadium could possibly look like 106 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 1: when it's just a thing on the ground with all 107 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 1: the construction crews coming in, and it was just fascinating. 108 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 1: And then when Charlie Keshley was hired and they had 109 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:33,599 Speaker 1: it building over on sixty ten, you could go in 110 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:38,279 Speaker 1: the lounge area and see the clock counting down the days, 111 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:40,599 Speaker 1: and because it was on the top, you could see 112 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 1: the construction going on in the stadium. That was fascinating. 113 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 1: And then maybe a night before, a couple of nights 114 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:51,480 Speaker 1: before that Miami preseason opener, I came over here and 115 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 1: I walked out onto that logo where Bob and I stood, 116 00:05:56,680 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 1: and they were doing things like flushing toilets and everything 117 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,719 Speaker 1: getting ready for that game. And I took out my 118 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 1: cell and I called Jeff Fisher, the Titans coach who 119 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:09,599 Speaker 1: had been the Oilers coach through the move and Floyd Race, 120 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:14,040 Speaker 1: and they had really suffered with a bad stadium, bad facility, 121 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 1: And I said, guys, I said, let me tell you 122 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:20,600 Speaker 1: where I am. And I told him and they couldn't 123 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 1: imagine it either. And then of course the Miami game 124 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 1: was a couple of nights later. But so I remember 125 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:30,159 Speaker 1: those things when I come by here and and it's 126 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 1: it's some I can't wait now that the Dome is 127 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 1: going to be renegated, renovated with that him, it's plan. 128 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 1: I can't wait till it's done. And because I want 129 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:42,160 Speaker 1: to go back and seeing the Dome because so much 130 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:45,720 Speaker 1: of my career was spent there. And Monday night we're 131 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: having the Robert Brazil roast with all these oilers coming 132 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:52,040 Speaker 1: back in Hall of Famers, and that's where I covered 133 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:56,120 Speaker 1: all of them. And one time in two thousand and 134 00:06:56,160 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 1: eleven or twelve, it was either Brooks Read or J. J. 135 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 1: Watt asked me that if I would go with them 136 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:07,680 Speaker 1: sometime on a golf cart inside the dome, would I 137 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 1: tell them the history and all that? And I said hell, yeah, yeah, 138 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 1: I said, I tell you a lot of great stories. 139 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:15,720 Speaker 1: And then but we couldn't get in at that point. 140 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 1: They're afraid the RUF was gonna fall in our heads 141 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 1: or something. Anyway, today JJ could probably get the redone 142 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 1: right like right now if he wanted to go fund 143 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 1: me kind of thing. And I started thinking of all 144 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 1: the things when they asked me that I would tell 145 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 1: him about that stadium, what had happened to where and 146 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 1: all the things that had gone on besides football, And 147 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 1: but here's where Elvis stood. Here's where Elvis stood. Beatles 148 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 1: Mummed Ali knocked out. Wait wait the Beatles. I thought 149 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: they were at sam Houston collise In. But didn't they 150 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 1: come to the Dome. I don't think so. Their last 151 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 1: tour was sixty five maybe six. Cattlest Park was their 152 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 1: last concert. Okay, well you're right, because then they would 153 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 1: add to ben here of the year. It was Oh boy, 154 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 1: I pulled that out of thin freaking You're probably right. 155 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 1: I know they were. Sam used them, calls them those 156 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 1: way before I got here, so I do. I never 157 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 1: get tired of walking up to the stadium, walking in 158 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 1: the stadium, and I always always look over at the dome. 159 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 1: Well it's uh, it's something to see. Now the renovation. 160 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:17,560 Speaker 1: Is it gonna be a parking garage or something else? Yeah, 161 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 1: they're they're elevating the floor because people. It always aggravates 162 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 1: me when I see people go or hear them go. 163 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 1: Small boy, the dome is so small, it's like a 164 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 1: parking tree. And I said, yeah, that's the first floor 165 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 1: is underground. And unless they've been there, they wouldn't know that. 166 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 1: But they're elevating that and um um so now they 167 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 1: they they they're doing it. More power to them. I 168 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:45,000 Speaker 1: hope it works out the way they want. And uh 169 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:48,160 Speaker 1: so I'm assuming like everybody else that there's a lot 170 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 1: of people from Houston get a big kick out of 171 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:54,440 Speaker 1: coming by this complex, no matter which angle they're taking. Sure. 172 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:57,680 Speaker 1: Uh my first experience in the stadium, I toward it. 173 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:00,600 Speaker 1: And Bill Van rise Down, the program director sports radio 174 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:02,920 Speaker 1: sixtent at the time, showed me the TV booth and 175 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:06,079 Speaker 1: said this is the radio booth. In fairness to him, 176 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:08,560 Speaker 1: I mean it was just a total construction zone. Who knew. 177 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 1: I thought this a pretty good view. And then we 178 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 1: went up to the press box and the elevators weren't working, 179 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:16,760 Speaker 1: so we tell them where booth is. The TV booth 180 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 1: is on the suite level. Okay, so it's a really 181 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 1: nice view, but I don't complain. I like being up 182 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 1: high where we are. We're above eye. I don't know 183 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 1: how you see. What you see is binoculars, but I 184 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:31,960 Speaker 1: use bnoculars from anywhere because I like to get in 185 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:34,839 Speaker 1: tight and see what's going on, you know, It's kind 186 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 1: of like when you call a game here, you are 187 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:39,840 Speaker 1: sort of above it, so he thinks you see things 188 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:41,679 Speaker 1: open up a little bit more than you would say 189 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:43,559 Speaker 1: it New England, where you are low, but you're you're 190 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:46,079 Speaker 1: almost too low there for my view. You're almost too low. 191 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 1: You have sort of an obstructed view when they're on 192 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: the near sideline because players are actually blocking the sideline. 193 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 1: So if a player is a catch along the sideline 194 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:56,600 Speaker 1: right below you, you really can't tell if they're feed 195 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:58,280 Speaker 1: are in or not. You can't see them, so you 196 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:00,680 Speaker 1: wait for the call. Anyway, the woe is me. I 197 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:02,719 Speaker 1: love calling the games wherever I am. I got one 198 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 1: more story. Ye, the NFL owners had a meeting here 199 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 1: at the stadium before the first season. It was in 200 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:12,080 Speaker 1: the offseason. The stadium was being say it would have 201 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:16,720 Speaker 1: been in March and or maybe May. Stadium was going 202 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 1: to open in August. They had hand owners on the 203 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 1: club level and I remember I was talking to Jerry 204 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 1: Jones and he walks over and he opens the door, 205 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 1: takes a couple of steps out into the stadium, looks around, 206 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:38,120 Speaker 1: goes oo, I gotta get me one of these, oh boy, 207 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:41,440 Speaker 1: And man, I remember going to Texas Stadium, thinking this 208 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:44,199 Speaker 1: place should be awesome. This is Texas Stadium. I've seen 209 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:46,440 Speaker 1: it on television my whole life. I've never been in here. 210 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 1: This is going to be great, and oh my gosh, 211 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:51,559 Speaker 1: what a dump. It reminded me of the Texas version 212 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:54,360 Speaker 1: of the Orange Bowl in a way. Probably the Cotton 213 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 1: Bowl is a better example of the Texas version of 214 00:10:56,920 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 1: the Orange Bowl because I was very familiar with that facility, 215 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 1: of course, but Texas Stadium, shot, you're a drenched route 216 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:05,679 Speaker 1: when you call a game there. I mean, you were 217 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:08,520 Speaker 1: up in the rafters. It's humid. It's crazy. And I 218 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 1: never knew that the interior of the dome part of 219 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 1: Texas Stadium was so it was just like two by 220 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 1: fours in a you know, curved whatever. That material was 221 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:20,720 Speaker 1: thrown on top of it. It's too bad. You never 222 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:24,800 Speaker 1: were an old Cleveland stadium. Oh Cleveland. They didn't have 223 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:27,560 Speaker 1: an elevator for a long time, so you would have 224 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:30,839 Speaker 1: to walk up the steps. Sometime they would have ice 225 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:33,679 Speaker 1: on him. And they had a pr guy named Nick 226 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 1: Wallet who was really old. He was in great shape, 227 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:38,960 Speaker 1: and we believed it was because he had to walk 228 00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 1: up those steps and then when you got up in 229 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:44,240 Speaker 1: the press box, you had to they'd built a radio 230 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:48,560 Speaker 1: booze out over on that you had to go up 231 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:51,240 Speaker 1: to the roof of the press box, and then they 232 00:11:51,320 --> 00:11:54,439 Speaker 1: built a walkway like going out to the fifty and 233 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: then there was just a row of booze for radio, 234 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 1: and I think they were open, and I went up 235 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 1: there to do pre game, and plus I like jumping 236 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:06,839 Speaker 1: over a rail walking out on the roof on the end, 237 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:10,520 Speaker 1: and then watching the fans come from downtown into the 238 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 1: stadium and wondering why these people are crazy. It's so 239 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 1: called up here. Why wouldn't we want to stay home? 240 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 1: But when you were broadcasting, you were literally over the 241 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:22,280 Speaker 1: field where if somebody was on the sideline by you, 242 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 1: you would have to lean forward and look down while 243 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 1: you were broadcasting. That was a dump after a while, 244 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 1: but a lot of history. It had a lot of history. 245 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:36,080 Speaker 1: And one of the funniest signs I've ever seen was 246 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:41,079 Speaker 1: when Art Modell and Will Build. Art Modell announced he's 247 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 1: moving the team, and then oilers played there and that 248 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:47,560 Speaker 1: there were so many signs about him, and it was 249 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:51,040 Speaker 1: the language was terrible, and the people nothing they could do. 250 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 1: A form around the stadium. But in the stadium a 251 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:56,240 Speaker 1: sign would pop up and they'd go get him, and 252 00:12:56,760 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 1: somebody trucked aside down in front of arts booth where 253 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:05,240 Speaker 1: it hung but you couldn't reach out and get it. 254 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:07,640 Speaker 1: And it was one of these it kind of turned 255 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:13,559 Speaker 1: and on both sides it had three words arts of fart, 256 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:18,400 Speaker 1: oh my gosh, and it turned, and people say as 257 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:21,400 Speaker 1: they saw it, they would cheered. At one point there 258 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 1: was some executive climbing out on the edge reaching for 259 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 1: it to try to get it, and eventually somebody came 260 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 1: up above them and got it. But people were like 261 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 1: that sums it up. And I felt that there was 262 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:37,199 Speaker 1: a lot worse than that. But I've never seen a 263 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 1: stadium where so many fans took so many signs that 264 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:45,960 Speaker 1: were so ugly and violent, nasty because their team was 265 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:49,000 Speaker 1: being taken away. The La Rams played at the coliseum 266 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 1: still and before they move into it is apt by 267 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 1: the way, they're redoing some of it because the USC 268 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 1: is still gonna play there. I don't know how they 269 00:13:56,800 --> 00:14:00,720 Speaker 1: even recruit with dressing rooms like that. I don't just 270 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:04,280 Speaker 1: it's amazing. I guess the tradition, and it's on campus 271 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:07,839 Speaker 1: and the cold draw well, but man, we couldn't even 272 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 1: go into the dressing rooms and interview players last year. 273 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 1: They're so bad. There's some sort of stadium cam that 274 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:15,120 Speaker 1: I found online where and you could search it, I 275 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:18,840 Speaker 1: guess listeners. But I saw the renovation taking place. They're 276 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 1: redoing a lot of seats and things and the field too, 277 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 1: and it looks like, I mean, I'm having a hard 278 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 1: time believing it's gonna be ready in what seven eight 279 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: weeks when you have to play there for the preseason game. 280 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 1: But I would imagine they'll do it somehow. But did 281 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 1: you feel any buzz going in there this past season? 282 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:35,640 Speaker 1: I know the Texans were injured at the time, he 283 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 1: had no Deshaun Watson, but as far as being in 284 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:40,400 Speaker 1: that building again, because I know you've covered other NFL 285 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 1: games there, I think I've told you this story, but 286 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:45,560 Speaker 1: one of their executives told me afterwards that if Watson 287 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 1: played there, so you know, tennants was what like fifty 288 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 1: five or sixty that was sold another thirty thousand seats 289 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 1: because he'd gotten so much attention out there. Yeah, going 290 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:58,440 Speaker 1: back to Clemson and everything he'd done with the Texans 291 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 1: was on all the shows const they're talking about him 292 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 1: on the talk shows, and I thought that was interesting 293 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 1: because it's hard to gaze and so many teams sell 294 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:10,840 Speaker 1: out even though people don't always show. But I thought 295 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:13,120 Speaker 1: that was just amazing that they thought they could have 296 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 1: sold thirty thousand more tickets because of Watson. And remember 297 00:15:17,120 --> 00:15:20,760 Speaker 1: when we were there, they were building that soccer stadium 298 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 1: next door, just like our soccer stadium downtown, the Spider Web, 299 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:29,720 Speaker 1: the exact same thing, maybe bigger. And it would drive 300 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:31,760 Speaker 1: me crazy if I was playing there and I see 301 00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:35,960 Speaker 1: this expensive soccer stadium going up next door, and they're 302 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:39,280 Speaker 1: not doing more for the football stadium that has so 303 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:43,040 Speaker 1: much unbelievable tradition, a lot of tradition, there, no doubt. Okay, 304 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 1: AFC South, I want you to tell me what the 305 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:49,680 Speaker 1: record will be of whoever wins the division. All right, 306 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 1: you can tell me that. Next tell me the record. 307 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 1: You don't even have to pick the winner, but we 308 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:57,080 Speaker 1: can hypothesize about that. But I'm thinking that the record 309 00:15:57,200 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 1: might not be what other people think. And we'll talk 310 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 1: about other things related to the Houston Texans, of course, 311 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 1: and go around the league as always with the general 312 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:24,840 Speaker 1: in studio, I'm Texans All Access Sins all Access Keeping 313 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:27,640 Speaker 1: your company on a Thursday evening with the General John McClain. 314 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 1: I'm Mark Vandermer, Texans All Access from the Hunday Texans 315 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:35,160 Speaker 1: Radio studio here at NRG Stadium. All right, General, first segment. 316 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 1: I wanted to get to this, but we talked about 317 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:40,480 Speaker 1: stadiums and NRG Stadium and some of the places around 318 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:42,720 Speaker 1: the league. The Texans are playing app by the way, 319 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:46,680 Speaker 1: Before we get into the record of the AFC South champion, 320 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 1: whoever that might be, John Harris and I talked about 321 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 1: the road schedule. I'm thinking this road schedule, it's kind 322 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:55,800 Speaker 1: of brutal. You know, a lot of people think based 323 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:58,640 Speaker 1: on this and that records of teams in years past. 324 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 1: I always think that's a very tough way to evaluate 325 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:03,360 Speaker 1: a schedule because when you look at opening on the 326 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:05,359 Speaker 1: road against two playoff teams and one of them a 327 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:08,600 Speaker 1: Super Bowl participant, When you look at going to the 328 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:11,800 Speaker 1: Northeast four times, and I don't think the Giants are 329 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:13,600 Speaker 1: gonna be as bad as they were, right. I don't 330 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:15,320 Speaker 1: know about the Redskins, but that could be a tough 331 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 1: out and you're playing the defending Super Bowl champions second 332 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:21,680 Speaker 1: to last week of the season at their place, with 333 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:24,120 Speaker 1: maybe a whole lot on the line, I'm thinking gets 334 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:27,640 Speaker 1: a pretty tough road schedule on paper. The Texans having 335 00:17:27,640 --> 00:17:31,240 Speaker 1: the easiest schedule in the league. That's that's that's because Washington, 336 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:37,480 Speaker 1: the Giants, Denver South Yep, Well no South anymore. No, 337 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 1: you're right, no, because I think that's still Cleveland, Indie. 338 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:45,440 Speaker 1: Well yeah, Indy, thank you, Andrew, you have the easiest 339 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:48,760 Speaker 1: schedule on paper, but that always changes, or we wouldn't 340 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:52,879 Speaker 1: have half the league with new playoff teams every year. Right. Um. 341 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:59,159 Speaker 1: I think I feel his way now, just because I 342 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:02,560 Speaker 1: will never this that based on what's happened the last 343 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:06,440 Speaker 1: two times Texans have played at Foxborough, there's a chance 344 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:08,840 Speaker 1: they're gonna win this game. If they win this game, 345 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:11,480 Speaker 1: I think they would definitely beat Tennessee and start two 346 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:14,399 Speaker 1: and ozho before they played the Giants here, And can't 347 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:17,880 Speaker 1: you imagine how crazy people would be over the Texans 348 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:20,160 Speaker 1: if they did that. But realistically, if they go one 349 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:23,879 Speaker 1: and one, that'd be great. But they got the Patriots respect. 350 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:26,600 Speaker 1: They did not have the Patriots respect when they were 351 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 1: playing them when shab was here, and they kind of 352 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:32,840 Speaker 1: looked down on everybody, but in that playoff game, one 353 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:36,240 Speaker 1: score game in the fourth quarter before Oswaldo started throwing 354 00:18:36,280 --> 00:18:39,880 Speaker 1: interceptions and then having a rally to win last year 355 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:44,120 Speaker 1: on Brady's miraculous drive and passed the Cooks after Watson 356 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 1: had staked them to a lead. So I think the Denver, 357 00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:50,600 Speaker 1: you know, Denver wasn't very good last year. I don't 358 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:53,640 Speaker 1: think I think Van's Joseph will be the first coach 359 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:56,879 Speaker 1: to get fired if they struggle with Hugh Jackson at 360 00:18:57,080 --> 00:19:01,200 Speaker 1: number two. So Case, hm, that'll be a great game 361 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:05,280 Speaker 1: going against Case and Cleveland. Cleveland's gonna be better. So yeah, 362 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:08,440 Speaker 1: I don't think there easy yeah, oh yeah, that's right. 363 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:10,640 Speaker 1: But there's a lot of teams that are trying to say, 364 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:12,160 Speaker 1: oh yeah, but look you get to play the four 365 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:15,679 Speaker 1: and twelve Texans. But then people are going, whoa, you know, 366 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:19,200 Speaker 1: looking players they got back. I think it was Albert 367 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:23,639 Speaker 1: Breer and his Thursday column on MMQB, he said that 368 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 1: he think they were. A question was will the Jaguars 369 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:28,679 Speaker 1: win a division? He said he was going with Houston 370 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 1: based on all the things about players being health even 371 00:19:32,119 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 1: especially with Watson. Ye as far as the records last year, 372 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:40,159 Speaker 1: Jacksonville's ten and six Tennessee nine and seven. I believe 373 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 1: because the division's gonna be tougher that it wouldn't surprise 374 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:46,960 Speaker 1: me if the Texans and Jaguars finished ten and six 375 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:50,600 Speaker 1: and the Titans nineteen seven or eight and eight. So 376 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:53,160 Speaker 1: I'm gonna say the record to win the division's gonna 377 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 1: be ten and six. I don't see anybody going like 378 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:59,760 Speaker 1: thirteen and three or twelve and four, considering how tough 379 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:02,680 Speaker 1: I believe the division will be, especially if Andrew Luck 380 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:05,359 Speaker 1: comes all the way back. Yeah, you think about the 381 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 1: beating each other up factor in this division. It's stronger 382 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:11,359 Speaker 1: than ever. And I'll say that this is the AFC 383 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:13,560 Speaker 1: South did not exist until two thousand and two when 384 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:15,560 Speaker 1: the Texans came into the league. That's when they divided 385 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:18,639 Speaker 1: the conference into four divisions. There was an AFC Central 386 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 1: still the year before the Texans entered the league. I 387 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:24,879 Speaker 1: think this is the toughest the division has ever been. Now, 388 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:28,200 Speaker 1: there were years early on where it was top heavy 389 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:31,880 Speaker 1: with the Colts and Peyton Manning and with Steve McNair, 390 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:34,720 Speaker 1: and at one point there were combps. Right, wasn't McNair 391 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:41,399 Speaker 1: a compp in the same division. That's impressive. So you 392 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:43,960 Speaker 1: could say, wow, they're so top heavy. The Jaguar still 393 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:46,520 Speaker 1: at Mark Brunell, but you know what, he was playing 394 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:49,040 Speaker 1: on a subpar team and the Texans word expansion team. 395 00:20:49,119 --> 00:20:52,159 Speaker 1: So I think top to bottom, especially if Luck plays, 396 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:55,439 Speaker 1: then it's the toughest this division's ever been. So what 397 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:56,840 Speaker 1: do you think the record is going to be for 398 00:20:56,880 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 1: the winner? I think it's ten and six. Also, that 399 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:02,719 Speaker 1: sounds about out right. I would not be utterly shocked 400 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:04,679 Speaker 1: though if nine and seven does it based on the 401 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:07,600 Speaker 1: fact that you're gonna have a little bit of a comeback. 402 00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:10,199 Speaker 1: Maybe for the Jags, Hey, maybe they take off from here. 403 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:13,480 Speaker 1: I don't know, but everybody, Doug Marone said himself, no one, 404 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:15,520 Speaker 1: We're not going to sneak up on anyone. That's what 405 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:19,000 Speaker 1: it was. No one's gonna be yeah saying well, the Jaguars, 406 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:20,560 Speaker 1: this should be an easy out, I mean, come on, 407 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:23,120 Speaker 1: And they probably weren't saying it at all last year 408 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:25,199 Speaker 1: after seeing what they did to the Texans and the opener. 409 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:27,680 Speaker 1: I mean, the horse was out of the barn week one, 410 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:29,240 Speaker 1: and what are the odds that they're only gonna lose 411 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:33,320 Speaker 1: one starter? Yeah, that's the other thing. They had the 412 00:21:33,359 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 1: opposite situation of the Texans utter total lucky health. Texans 413 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:41,600 Speaker 1: had unlucky lack of health. So that could really change. 414 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 1: And a real X factor here is with the Titans. 415 00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:45,800 Speaker 1: You know, you had a winning team, a team that 416 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:47,719 Speaker 1: won a playoff game. You have Mike Brabele coming in, 417 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:52,159 Speaker 1: new coordinators, completely new situation. You had Dion Lewis some 418 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:55,000 Speaker 1: other additions as well that could be really interesting. Malcolm Butler. 419 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:57,119 Speaker 1: I'm not saying he is a world beater, but you 420 00:21:57,240 --> 00:22:01,240 Speaker 1: have a lot of different additions to that organization that 421 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:04,359 Speaker 1: could really help it out. Who is the best quarterback 422 00:22:04,359 --> 00:22:06,720 Speaker 1: in the division? Is it Luck? If fully healthy, I 423 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:08,560 Speaker 1: think you have to give it to him. But if 424 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 1: Luck is not quite there, Yeah, Mariota has to prove 425 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:18,000 Speaker 1: he can stay healthy for a full season and he 426 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:23,800 Speaker 1: has yet to do that. And um also, the Titans 427 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:26,320 Speaker 1: defense should be a lot better. First two draft choices 428 00:22:26,320 --> 00:22:33,840 Speaker 1: were defense for Sean Evans linebacker Honor Landry. People that wanted, 429 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:36,399 Speaker 1: they know what I'm saying, Honor Landry instead of Harold 430 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:40,639 Speaker 1: because Vince Young and asked him Honor, So Landry's nickname 431 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:46,400 Speaker 1: in Nashville, his honor people yeah. They they introduced him 432 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:49,760 Speaker 1: when he signed his Harold Honor Landry. Well, he's got 433 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:51,720 Speaker 1: a good Yeah. I guess he's got a good sense 434 00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:54,480 Speaker 1: of humor about it. But their pass rush should be better. 435 00:22:55,080 --> 00:22:57,159 Speaker 1: You know, they've got a lot of pieces in place, 436 00:22:57,359 --> 00:23:00,879 Speaker 1: and uh, everybody here thinks Rabel is going to be 437 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:03,120 Speaker 1: a hell of head coach and so we'll see. It's 438 00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:06,199 Speaker 1: if he knows too, he's replacing a guy went to 439 00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:09,320 Speaker 1: the divisional round of the playoffs and nobody expected it, 440 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:11,720 Speaker 1: and he knows he's got to win or those people 441 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:15,160 Speaker 1: turn on him fast. Well, Dean pas as his defensive coordinator, 442 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:17,360 Speaker 1: and I've said him many times, that's probably the smartest 443 00:23:17,359 --> 00:23:19,719 Speaker 1: movie he's made, getting him to come out of retirement, 444 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:22,560 Speaker 1: doesn't have to coach defense. Getting Matt Lafleur I thought 445 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:25,000 Speaker 1: was good too. I can't remember if I told his story. 446 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:28,720 Speaker 1: I asked Sean McVeigh at the combine about I said, 447 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:31,119 Speaker 1: that was a really classy thing you did let la 448 00:23:31,119 --> 00:23:34,080 Speaker 1: Fleur out of his contract to go be the offensive 449 00:23:34,119 --> 00:23:39,440 Speaker 1: coordinator and play caller because they calls the place. He said, truthfully, 450 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:42,280 Speaker 1: he's a really good friend of mine. And we just 451 00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:44,600 Speaker 1: played DFC South if we were playing him this year, 452 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:46,920 Speaker 1: I wouldn't have been so generous. Oh there you go. 453 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:49,240 Speaker 1: He wouldn't have wanted to go against him. So he 454 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:51,480 Speaker 1: he thinks Matt Lafleur, who was here for two years, 455 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:54,600 Speaker 1: is going to be a really good offensive coordinator when 456 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:57,480 Speaker 1: he's calling the place. Well, we'll see, because he hasn't 457 00:23:57,520 --> 00:23:59,719 Speaker 1: done it. And you know they've talked about it, of 458 00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:02,960 Speaker 1: course with the rams in those rooms and here's what 459 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:04,679 Speaker 1: I would have called and whatever. I don't know if 460 00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:06,119 Speaker 1: he would come out and say it like that, but 461 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:08,760 Speaker 1: you know, they have those kinds of discussions when Kubiak 462 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:11,840 Speaker 1: was here and Kyle Shanahan was here. I mean, Koubyak 463 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:14,120 Speaker 1: was a play caller, but he would say, let let 464 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:16,560 Speaker 1: Kyle take a couple of series here and there. I mean, 465 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:19,920 Speaker 1: I don't know exactly how he delegated that sort of thing, 466 00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:22,080 Speaker 1: but I think that was a very hard thing for 467 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:25,440 Speaker 1: Gary Kubiak to let go of calling plays. Every head 468 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:28,399 Speaker 1: coach who was an offensive coordinator called plays. Wants to 469 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:32,560 Speaker 1: call plays, they just do. Defensive coordinators don't call plays 470 00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:36,800 Speaker 1: when they're head coaches, just offense. Remember when the Texans 471 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:41,359 Speaker 1: beat the Bears here under Kubiak, Lovey Smith was a coach, 472 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:44,960 Speaker 1: and afterward Gary comes in the news conference. He's got 473 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:46,879 Speaker 1: this smirk on. He said, I met, y'all didn't know 474 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:50,040 Speaker 1: let Kyle call the plays? Did you? That's how would will? 475 00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:52,080 Speaker 1: You didn't tell us? And then I said, hey, if 476 00:24:52,119 --> 00:24:53,560 Speaker 1: y'all would have lost, would you have come in here 477 00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:59,600 Speaker 1: and told us that? Yeah? That was two Yeah, that 478 00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:02,120 Speaker 1: was the season. Finaley enabled them to go eight and eight. 479 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:05,000 Speaker 1: That was the five and one finish after they started 480 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:08,440 Speaker 1: three and seven that year. But they just they loved 481 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:11,359 Speaker 1: to do it. Mike Shannon told me when Kubiak was 482 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:14,159 Speaker 1: hired here, he'll start off want to do everything, but 483 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:16,520 Speaker 1: then he's gonna learn you have so much on your plate. 484 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:19,359 Speaker 1: You have to learn to delegate if you want to 485 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:21,919 Speaker 1: have a chance to be successful. But I understand it 486 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:24,440 Speaker 1: because as a coach, you want control of the game. Now, 487 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:27,480 Speaker 1: defensive coordinator, you brought it up. They buy in large 488 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:29,880 Speaker 1: tend not to do it that way. They don't call 489 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:32,320 Speaker 1: the defense, and I don't know why that would be 490 00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:36,000 Speaker 1: one way with that type of position and not the other. 491 00:25:36,320 --> 00:25:39,159 Speaker 1: Bill Belichick, though, you got a feeling that he's in 492 00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:41,680 Speaker 1: a at very least the big calls with Matt Patricia 493 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:45,359 Speaker 1: last year and moving forward, what I like about Belichick 494 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:50,400 Speaker 1: and that two part Football Life on NFL Network, which 495 00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:53,360 Speaker 1: was fascinating twenty nine seasons. He was miked and they 496 00:25:53,359 --> 00:25:56,720 Speaker 1: were and they were you got to hear Billy, let's 497 00:25:56,720 --> 00:25:59,879 Speaker 1: do this, Billy, Billy, don't do that. So Brian was 498 00:26:00,160 --> 00:26:03,840 Speaker 1: calling the plays from the press box, and most TED 499 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:06,879 Speaker 1: coaches will always listen, and if they want to change something, 500 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:13,679 Speaker 1: they'll change something. And and and I remember Jeff Fisher 501 00:26:13,760 --> 00:26:17,040 Speaker 1: told me one time he'd say, like Okay, I tell 502 00:26:17,119 --> 00:26:19,960 Speaker 1: him like, okay, don't throw it here, run it, or 503 00:26:20,040 --> 00:26:21,880 Speaker 1: I don't care if it's nap men in front, run it. 504 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:24,800 Speaker 1: Didn't call the play, just call the strategy. And I 505 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:26,520 Speaker 1: don't know how many of them do that because we 506 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:30,120 Speaker 1: don't have access to it. But I know Bill O'Brien 507 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:33,480 Speaker 1: he wants to know everything is going on, so I 508 00:26:33,560 --> 00:26:37,320 Speaker 1: know he keeps up with defense, special teams. I'm got seriously, 509 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:40,600 Speaker 1: he'll tell Romeo, don't do this, do that because he 510 00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:44,359 Speaker 1: has so much respect for Romeo Cornell as everybody does. 511 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:47,439 Speaker 1: And with Brad Ceeley coming in with special teams coaches 512 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:49,639 Speaker 1: and Brad you know, it was ten years with the 513 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:52,480 Speaker 1: Patriots of what three super Bowl rings? And I know 514 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:57,200 Speaker 1: O'Brian really has a lot of trust in him. So 515 00:26:57,280 --> 00:27:02,320 Speaker 1: he's got two seasoned coaches that he really respects. But 516 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:06,400 Speaker 1: you know there's people on the staff that'll suggest things 517 00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:09,360 Speaker 1: though Brian about calling. But of course he's one makes 518 00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:12,280 Speaker 1: Colin Watson being one of them. John, I know you 519 00:27:12,320 --> 00:27:14,480 Speaker 1: get asked and we talked about this a few weeks ago, 520 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:16,480 Speaker 1: but I just wanted to get your latest take now 521 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:18,600 Speaker 1: that OTAs a mini camp there in the rear view mirror, 522 00:27:18,640 --> 00:27:20,680 Speaker 1: you're in that break between mini camp and training camp. 523 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:23,720 Speaker 1: You get asked about JJ Watt what your expectations are 524 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:27,679 Speaker 1: in twenty eighteen, and I really feel like, you know, 525 00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:30,199 Speaker 1: he'll be back and he'll play. And my answer is 526 00:27:30,600 --> 00:27:32,600 Speaker 1: it's just a matter of does he stay on the field, 527 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:34,679 Speaker 1: because you know what, of course he'll be ready. Of 528 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:37,479 Speaker 1: course he's gonna do everything humanly possible, maybe super humanly 529 00:27:37,520 --> 00:27:40,919 Speaker 1: possible to get ready. It's a sixteen game schedule. We 530 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:43,320 Speaker 1: all know the pounding that he takes, double teams, whatever. 531 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:45,320 Speaker 1: It's going to be really interesting to see how he 532 00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:48,400 Speaker 1: holds up against this. I mean, I don't think when 533 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:51,200 Speaker 1: you look at a guy who's had two catastrophic injuries, 534 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:52,959 Speaker 1: the way he has I almost equated to the way 535 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:55,840 Speaker 1: Brian Cushing had those injuries, where they're just sort of freakish. 536 00:27:55,840 --> 00:27:58,320 Speaker 1: It's not like it's not like he just had this 537 00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:01,800 Speaker 1: soft tissue running by himself sort of stuff. Still, you 538 00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:03,439 Speaker 1: know he's gonna get a lot of contact, a lot 539 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:05,520 Speaker 1: of attention, and you want to see how he holds up. 540 00:28:05,560 --> 00:28:07,800 Speaker 1: He hasn't had that contact for most of the last 541 00:28:07,840 --> 00:28:10,760 Speaker 1: two years, which is good for his body. Yeah, he 542 00:28:10,840 --> 00:28:14,400 Speaker 1: hasn't been beaten up like he was the previous four years, 543 00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:19,440 Speaker 1: especially the last three. And unlike Brian Cushing, he didn't 544 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:22,520 Speaker 1: have to run and cover. So if you have a 545 00:28:22,560 --> 00:28:25,680 Speaker 1: problem with your will like JJ did left leg broken, 546 00:28:27,240 --> 00:28:30,840 Speaker 1: you don't have to sprint and run after somebody. He's 547 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:34,800 Speaker 1: chasing quarterbacks and running backs. I believe based on what 548 00:28:34,840 --> 00:28:38,360 Speaker 1: I've been told with people who have watched his rehab, 549 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:41,680 Speaker 1: they're really fired up. In a story I did on 550 00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:46,240 Speaker 1: O'Brien it's on Texas SportsNation dot com or website, that 551 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:51,640 Speaker 1: Bill said, I feel good about JJ, because JJ feels 552 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:54,840 Speaker 1: good about JJ. He has got a lot of confidence 553 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:57,840 Speaker 1: right now, and that comes from him seeing how well 554 00:28:57,880 --> 00:29:00,520 Speaker 1: he's healed and how fast. And they say fast, I 555 00:29:00,520 --> 00:29:02,200 Speaker 1: mean he got hurt in the fifth game last year, 556 00:29:02,280 --> 00:29:05,600 Speaker 1: so he's had a lot of time, and him and 557 00:29:05,800 --> 00:29:10,520 Speaker 1: Clowney and Watson, Martin, all these guys who've been rehabbing, 558 00:29:11,480 --> 00:29:14,280 Speaker 1: like Watson will be one hundred percent before you know. 559 00:29:14,320 --> 00:29:17,360 Speaker 1: He could done everything now. But there's no need to 560 00:29:17,360 --> 00:29:19,840 Speaker 1: put him out there the first day camp and to 561 00:29:19,960 --> 00:29:22,560 Speaker 1: have him go full speed like the guys who would 562 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:25,560 Speaker 1: never hurt, it wouldn't make sense. And Bill has always 563 00:29:25,560 --> 00:29:29,320 Speaker 1: been overly cautious on bringing back injured players. So there'll 564 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:31,880 Speaker 1: I think there'll be people in the media, fans, they'll 565 00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:35,200 Speaker 1: be like, oh my god, wait, didn't practice today. Remember 566 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:38,440 Speaker 1: last year he practiced one takeoff practice to take off. 567 00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:41,200 Speaker 1: I'm sure that's what they're gonna do. There's what goods 568 00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:42,840 Speaker 1: it do for him to be out on the practice 569 00:29:42,880 --> 00:29:45,680 Speaker 1: field anyway, it's nothing Romeo Candell is gonna tell him 570 00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:49,880 Speaker 1: he doesn't already know. And just being there and soaking 571 00:29:49,960 --> 00:29:52,960 Speaker 1: it all in the mental part, that's that's important, and 572 00:29:53,120 --> 00:29:56,240 Speaker 1: being out with his teammates. But and then Watson did 573 00:29:56,240 --> 00:29:58,880 Speaker 1: a lot of things in seven on seven and individual 574 00:30:00,400 --> 00:30:04,200 Speaker 1: that he would have done in eleven on eleven situational 575 00:30:04,240 --> 00:30:07,479 Speaker 1: football without being in eleven on eleven. And so he 576 00:30:07,560 --> 00:30:09,800 Speaker 1: did a lot of things that his was made mental. 577 00:30:10,320 --> 00:30:12,600 Speaker 1: You know, that's that's being a second year of quarterback. 578 00:30:12,640 --> 00:30:16,200 Speaker 1: That's so important for him. But one reason that that 579 00:30:16,320 --> 00:30:20,600 Speaker 1: O'Brien is so happy and everybody says he floats around 580 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:23,760 Speaker 1: here he's so happy, which he denies of course, is 581 00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:27,320 Speaker 1: uh is because I mean, think about the situation. He's 582 00:30:27,320 --> 00:30:31,040 Speaker 1: got Brian Gain, his general manager's good friend, he's bill 583 00:30:31,080 --> 00:30:33,840 Speaker 1: got a four year extension in a race, and he's 584 00:30:33,840 --> 00:30:36,480 Speaker 1: got Watson, He's got a kid. It could be a 585 00:30:36,520 --> 00:30:42,080 Speaker 1: phenomenal quarterback. The position is stabilized. And he told me, 586 00:30:42,120 --> 00:30:46,040 Speaker 1: he said, this is great for an organization. And he's 587 00:30:46,080 --> 00:30:49,480 Speaker 1: not going to be too effusive until somebody's reached that 588 00:30:49,600 --> 00:30:54,960 Speaker 1: elite stratosphere like Watton Hopkins. But he is pumped. He'll 589 00:30:55,040 --> 00:30:59,120 Speaker 1: he'll play it down, but he's pumped about the possibilities. 590 00:30:59,280 --> 00:31:01,800 Speaker 1: Might think about is just watching him work out after 591 00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:04,160 Speaker 1: practice with the trainers and all they're putting him through. 592 00:31:04,200 --> 00:31:06,040 Speaker 1: I mean, when you watch one of those you're thinking, Okay, 593 00:31:06,040 --> 00:31:09,640 Speaker 1: he's fine, never mind the football stuff. Somebody asked me, 594 00:31:09,720 --> 00:31:13,600 Speaker 1: why is J. J. Watt playing golf when he's rehabbing 595 00:31:13,640 --> 00:31:16,479 Speaker 1: a left leg. I said, well, first of all, he 596 00:31:16,560 --> 00:31:19,440 Speaker 1: doesn't play real well, I said, but you know he 597 00:31:19,520 --> 00:31:22,560 Speaker 1: shot I think he tweet he shot in ninety four 598 00:31:22,720 --> 00:31:27,000 Speaker 1: in Scotland, no Ireland. Not bad, well, he says, the 599 00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:29,440 Speaker 1: best he'd ever done. But just the fact that he 600 00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:31,760 Speaker 1: can get out there and swing and walk and bend 601 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:34,200 Speaker 1: over and get the balls out shows you what great 602 00:31:34,240 --> 00:31:37,800 Speaker 1: shapes he's great shape he is in returning from a 603 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:40,320 Speaker 1: broken leg. He would not be doing this if it 604 00:31:40,440 --> 00:31:43,360 Speaker 1: or any kind of course not, of course not. He 605 00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:46,920 Speaker 1: hadn't had a back issue now in over a year. 606 00:31:47,120 --> 00:31:49,000 Speaker 1: If you're gonna get hurt playing golf, you're gonna get 607 00:31:49,080 --> 00:31:51,840 Speaker 1: hurt doing anything. You're here, when do you have his 608 00:31:51,880 --> 00:31:56,000 Speaker 1: back surgery at the start of right after the last 609 00:31:56,040 --> 00:32:00,320 Speaker 1: back surgery was the second month of last of the 610 00:32:00,360 --> 00:32:04,400 Speaker 1: twenty sixteen seasons, right, ye, yeah, so his back has 611 00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:06,680 Speaker 1: not been an issue at all. He was swinging the 612 00:32:06,720 --> 00:32:09,000 Speaker 1: bat last year at his charity softball game at the 613 00:32:09,040 --> 00:32:11,440 Speaker 1: home run derby against Lechler and doing five. I was 614 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:13,480 Speaker 1: watching it thinking, oh, he must be feeling a lot 615 00:32:13,520 --> 00:32:16,920 Speaker 1: better based on things that he's doing in off season. 616 00:32:17,400 --> 00:32:19,720 Speaker 1: He's ready to go. It's just a matter when does 617 00:32:19,720 --> 00:32:22,160 Speaker 1: Bill turn him lose. And he wouldn't if he'd never 618 00:32:22,240 --> 00:32:24,760 Speaker 1: had a problem. He's still not gonna do much in preseason. 619 00:32:25,120 --> 00:32:28,560 Speaker 1: All right, John mcclin and I continue our conversation what's 620 00:32:28,560 --> 00:32:31,040 Speaker 1: going on north of the border because they're actually playing 621 00:32:31,040 --> 00:32:34,040 Speaker 1: football right now and around the National Football League. We'll 622 00:32:34,040 --> 00:32:58,920 Speaker 1: get to it our Texans All Access since John McClain 623 00:32:59,120 --> 00:33:02,040 Speaker 1: in with US today, Texans All Access. Mark Vandermer with 624 00:33:02,080 --> 00:33:04,280 Speaker 1: you from the Hunday Texans Radio studio General. Do you 625 00:33:04,320 --> 00:33:06,520 Speaker 1: watch CFL football ever it's on this time of you. 626 00:33:06,760 --> 00:33:10,160 Speaker 1: I do not watch CFL football, but I'm playing paying 627 00:33:10,160 --> 00:33:13,280 Speaker 1: attention to it because of Johnny Manziel. But he's not playing, 628 00:33:14,080 --> 00:33:17,040 Speaker 1: and June Jones is like, uh, he should be in 629 00:33:17,080 --> 00:33:19,000 Speaker 1: the NFL, And I'm saying, well, if he can't beat 630 00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:22,320 Speaker 1: out Jeremiah Mazzoli in Canada, and why should he be 631 00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:25,080 Speaker 1: in the NFL. Yeah, I believe at some point he's 632 00:33:25,120 --> 00:33:28,360 Speaker 1: gonna play, and then when he does, I'll certainly be watching. Well, 633 00:33:28,840 --> 00:33:30,840 Speaker 1: you know what, when you watch CFL football and I 634 00:33:30,880 --> 00:33:33,920 Speaker 1: know a lot of listeners don't, but when you do, 635 00:33:34,400 --> 00:33:36,760 Speaker 1: these offenses are no joke. I mean, you gotta really 636 00:33:36,840 --> 00:33:38,680 Speaker 1: understand what's going I love it. The way you can 637 00:33:38,760 --> 00:33:41,120 Speaker 1: have multiple people in motions. I don't like that part, 638 00:33:41,200 --> 00:33:43,680 Speaker 1: and they can go forward. They line up the slots 639 00:33:43,720 --> 00:33:48,240 Speaker 1: and boom they go forward. Is for defensive backs to 640 00:33:48,320 --> 00:33:51,720 Speaker 1: have guys coming at you when they're running. UH have 641 00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:54,400 Speaker 1: have running head stars. Well, when you only have three downs, 642 00:33:54,400 --> 00:33:57,080 Speaker 1: you need some advantages. And then they have the uh 643 00:33:57,320 --> 00:33:59,920 Speaker 1: obviously the wider field, longer field, and everything like that. 644 00:34:00,040 --> 00:34:03,160 Speaker 1: At they have the rouge. I actually enjoy It's funny 645 00:34:03,160 --> 00:34:06,040 Speaker 1: because Andre John Harris and I Andre were John Harris 646 00:34:06,040 --> 00:34:07,600 Speaker 1: and I we have this sort of text club when 647 00:34:07,600 --> 00:34:09,520 Speaker 1: a CFL game is going on, and we'll text each 648 00:34:09,520 --> 00:34:11,160 Speaker 1: other because this time of year, that's all you've got. 649 00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:15,239 Speaker 1: The second training camp begins, that ends, but until then, 650 00:34:15,400 --> 00:34:19,200 Speaker 1: it's football. It's a version of football anyway. And I 651 00:34:19,320 --> 00:34:22,840 Speaker 1: never really watched the Arena League, although a lot of 652 00:34:22,840 --> 00:34:25,359 Speaker 1: people are saying that the legalized gambling could bring it back. 653 00:34:25,400 --> 00:34:26,920 Speaker 1: I don't know if that works or not. Well, we 654 00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:30,399 Speaker 1: got the American Alliance coming ye in the spring. Then 655 00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:33,799 Speaker 1: we got to except fail coming in the spring competition 656 00:34:33,880 --> 00:34:36,960 Speaker 1: for the CFL. Yeah, it is actually for a CFL 657 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:38,960 Speaker 1: on American television. They're trying to do their best to 658 00:34:38,960 --> 00:34:42,000 Speaker 1: make it as palatable as possible. John, when does Tom 659 00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:46,640 Speaker 1: Brady retire? Come on, give me a date, like tomorrow? Did? 660 00:34:46,719 --> 00:34:49,920 Speaker 1: Tom Brady will play this season and next season, and 661 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:53,200 Speaker 1: at some point next season we'll start to see a 662 00:34:53,200 --> 00:34:56,480 Speaker 1: little deterioration, like he'll get rid of the ball quig, 663 00:34:56,520 --> 00:34:59,000 Speaker 1: it won't get there as fast. More passes will get 664 00:34:59,120 --> 00:35:02,480 Speaker 1: knocked down, like maybe intercepted like this week one. He 665 00:35:02,560 --> 00:35:07,239 Speaker 1: won't hit the wall, but you'll see a gradual decline 666 00:35:07,280 --> 00:35:10,360 Speaker 1: based on age. There's no shame in that. But remember 667 00:35:10,880 --> 00:35:12,920 Speaker 1: he just threw for five hundred and five yards in 668 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:15,879 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl. Oh my gosh, you're right. And so 669 00:35:15,920 --> 00:35:19,279 Speaker 1: the next time he's on the field this previous game 670 00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:21,319 Speaker 1: would have been for five hundred and five yards at 671 00:35:21,719 --> 00:35:25,279 Speaker 1: what was he forty forty one? I can't remember forty 672 00:35:25,400 --> 00:35:29,520 Speaker 1: and so unfortunately for the Texans, I don't think that 673 00:35:29,520 --> 00:35:32,120 Speaker 1: that decline will be when they played them. But on 674 00:35:32,160 --> 00:35:35,359 Speaker 1: the other hand, they had him beat last year. They 675 00:35:35,400 --> 00:35:39,799 Speaker 1: did defensively, it was they made some stops, but then 676 00:35:39,840 --> 00:35:41,359 Speaker 1: at the end they couldn't make the stop when they 677 00:35:41,400 --> 00:35:43,560 Speaker 1: needed it most. And I think that, you know, everyone 678 00:35:43,600 --> 00:35:45,800 Speaker 1: looks at well, you needed to score a touchdown instead 679 00:35:45,840 --> 00:35:47,640 Speaker 1: of a field. Yeah, obviously that would have helped, That 680 00:35:47,640 --> 00:35:50,640 Speaker 1: would have sealed the deal right there. But I still 681 00:35:50,680 --> 00:35:53,200 Speaker 1: stand by what Bill O'Brien did in that game, forcing 682 00:35:53,239 --> 00:35:55,239 Speaker 1: them to need a touchdown to beat you. And you 683 00:35:55,280 --> 00:35:57,359 Speaker 1: had multiple plays you could have would have should have made. 684 00:35:57,520 --> 00:35:59,160 Speaker 1: Hey it's Tom Brady. He does it to a lot 685 00:35:59,200 --> 00:36:01,840 Speaker 1: of teams. You know, I've figured up this week the 686 00:36:01,880 --> 00:36:05,920 Speaker 1: Texans could have like eight new starters. Both will be 687 00:36:06,040 --> 00:36:09,480 Speaker 1: new safeties. You're gonna have Justin Reid and Tyrn Matthew. 688 00:36:09,880 --> 00:36:12,320 Speaker 1: Remember Corey Moore didn't get over. He was a split 689 00:36:12,400 --> 00:36:15,480 Speaker 1: second late on getting there for Brandon Cooks, and a 690 00:36:15,480 --> 00:36:17,879 Speaker 1: lot of people think Cooks bobble the ball. It wasn't 691 00:36:17,880 --> 00:36:21,879 Speaker 1: a legit touchdown, but nobody's gonna change that in Foxborough 692 00:36:22,400 --> 00:36:25,319 Speaker 1: and so more had the would be pick as well. 693 00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:28,520 Speaker 1: It was pretty tough to make that play. The ball 694 00:36:28,600 --> 00:36:31,919 Speaker 1: was out in a previous play, a great throw by Brady. Yeah, 695 00:36:32,040 --> 00:36:36,600 Speaker 1: and so the fact that they came so close to 696 00:36:36,640 --> 00:36:39,000 Speaker 1: beating them, just as they did was Seattle and to 697 00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:43,400 Speaker 1: the greatest quarterbacks made miraculous comebacks. That tells me that 698 00:36:43,480 --> 00:36:47,160 Speaker 1: with Deshaun Watson playing, the Texans are capable of beating 699 00:36:47,200 --> 00:36:50,239 Speaker 1: anybody anywhere, and I don't care who it is. Yeah. Well, 700 00:36:50,280 --> 00:36:52,160 Speaker 1: like we said, it's gonna be a tough schedule. We'll 701 00:36:52,320 --> 00:36:55,440 Speaker 1: see how they handle it. But with me and Brady, 702 00:36:55,640 --> 00:36:57,960 Speaker 1: Me and Brady, John I was talking to John Harris 703 00:36:58,000 --> 00:37:01,560 Speaker 1: about this Marino's last season. You could see that he 704 00:37:01,600 --> 00:37:04,239 Speaker 1: was having inconsistencies. He was having a good game, a 705 00:37:04,280 --> 00:37:06,680 Speaker 1: bad game. He could still be Marino on occasion, big 706 00:37:06,719 --> 00:37:08,560 Speaker 1: comeback or something like that, a lot of yards, but 707 00:37:08,600 --> 00:37:11,000 Speaker 1: then some other games it was starting to deteriorate. I know, 708 00:37:11,080 --> 00:37:13,759 Speaker 1: different era, different quarterback, and he wouldn't wasn't working with 709 00:37:13,800 --> 00:37:17,759 Speaker 1: Alex Guerrero. Yeah, there wasn't that happening. But he wasn't 710 00:37:17,800 --> 00:37:19,600 Speaker 1: as old as Brady either. I mean, at some point 711 00:37:19,640 --> 00:37:21,640 Speaker 1: it goes for everybody, and we'll see what happens with 712 00:37:22,680 --> 00:37:26,759 Speaker 1: he's five. Yeah, that's out there. But I just I 713 00:37:26,800 --> 00:37:28,200 Speaker 1: don't know. I didn't think you would play this long, 714 00:37:28,320 --> 00:37:31,000 Speaker 1: So what should I say about it? Seems to me 715 00:37:31,320 --> 00:37:33,040 Speaker 1: one of the reasons he didn't come to the off 716 00:37:33,120 --> 00:37:36,280 Speaker 1: season program. He wanted to spend more time with his family. 717 00:37:36,520 --> 00:37:39,080 Speaker 1: They did a lot of things together. He did mention 718 00:37:39,160 --> 00:37:40,880 Speaker 1: that it's not like he was out on the West 719 00:37:40,920 --> 00:37:44,360 Speaker 1: Coast with his friends out there and Jazelle and the 720 00:37:44,440 --> 00:37:47,319 Speaker 1: kids are in New York and she's modeling. He's spent 721 00:37:47,400 --> 00:37:49,960 Speaker 1: a lot of time with his family and they traveled 722 00:37:50,000 --> 00:37:52,600 Speaker 1: and and I think that's important to him. And since 723 00:37:52,640 --> 00:37:55,680 Speaker 1: you can't do that during the regular season, why not 724 00:37:55,800 --> 00:37:58,359 Speaker 1: take off and do it in the off season when 725 00:37:58,400 --> 00:38:02,759 Speaker 1: you don't really need the mental part of the OTAs John, 726 00:38:02,800 --> 00:38:06,000 Speaker 1: who's the biggest challenge for the Patriots in the AFC East? 727 00:38:06,040 --> 00:38:08,279 Speaker 1: I mean Buffalo, you would say, based on record last 728 00:38:08,360 --> 00:38:14,160 Speaker 1: year playoffs, nobody, Nobody. Their biggest challenge in AFC. I 729 00:38:14,160 --> 00:38:18,160 Speaker 1: think will be Pittsburgh in the AFC, But in the division, 730 00:38:18,239 --> 00:38:22,920 Speaker 1: nobody's got a shot body, nobody. When's the last time somebody, Oh, 731 00:38:22,920 --> 00:38:25,880 Speaker 1: when Rex Ryan was coaching the Jets. Yeah, and the 732 00:38:25,920 --> 00:38:29,680 Speaker 1: Dolphins got it once with Chad Pennington and Tony Sperano. 733 00:38:30,120 --> 00:38:32,040 Speaker 1: That was a long time ago. It was a long 734 00:38:32,080 --> 00:38:36,759 Speaker 1: time ago, a decade Speranos were still on TV. That's 735 00:38:36,800 --> 00:38:41,239 Speaker 1: a different soprano. Yeah, you know, I was thinking about this, 736 00:38:41,560 --> 00:38:45,600 Speaker 1: Tony Sperrano and Tony Soprano. Yeah, and they were similar 737 00:38:45,680 --> 00:38:48,960 Speaker 1: actually so, although one of them is no longer with us. 738 00:38:49,600 --> 00:38:53,120 Speaker 1: The ten years ago thing though, it's been ten years 739 00:38:53,120 --> 00:38:55,680 Speaker 1: since the Tennessee Titans have won the AFC South and 740 00:38:55,719 --> 00:38:58,439 Speaker 1: they did it with Kerry Collins and finishing thirteen and three. 741 00:38:58,560 --> 00:38:59,920 Speaker 1: Vince Young was on the team, but I think he 742 00:39:00,080 --> 00:39:01,959 Speaker 1: was banged up that year and Collins ended up playing 743 00:39:01,960 --> 00:39:03,319 Speaker 1: and they just hung on to him as the start. 744 00:39:03,320 --> 00:39:06,600 Speaker 1: Isn't that amazing thirteen and three? Ye, Jeff Fisher was 745 00:39:06,640 --> 00:39:09,480 Speaker 1: still there. They got a lot of talent. John Robinson 746 00:39:09,560 --> 00:39:12,160 Speaker 1: has done a good job in free agency in the draft, 747 00:39:12,800 --> 00:39:16,080 Speaker 1: just as the Jaguars have. I think the jaguars undoing 748 00:39:16,080 --> 00:39:19,560 Speaker 1: will be the lack of consistency with Blake Bortles, and 749 00:39:19,640 --> 00:39:22,560 Speaker 1: that might affect that That could keep them. If the 750 00:39:22,600 --> 00:39:26,879 Speaker 1: Titans and the Texans are stay healthy, then I think 751 00:39:27,120 --> 00:39:29,200 Speaker 1: they're gonna put a lot of heat on them. Jacksonville 752 00:39:29,200 --> 00:39:32,400 Speaker 1: has the best defense, Texans have the best offense. All right, 753 00:39:32,440 --> 00:39:34,920 Speaker 1: So playing the NFC East, let's get back to this 754 00:39:35,000 --> 00:39:38,920 Speaker 1: for a moment. Obviously, the best bounceback opportunity belongs to 755 00:39:38,960 --> 00:39:41,120 Speaker 1: the Cowboys, you would say, or is it not? They 756 00:39:41,120 --> 00:39:45,160 Speaker 1: were nine and seven last year and with Ezekiel Elliott 757 00:39:45,440 --> 00:39:49,120 Speaker 1: missing six games and I think Elliott will lead the 758 00:39:49,200 --> 00:39:51,440 Speaker 1: league in rushing again, and I think number two will 759 00:39:51,480 --> 00:39:54,920 Speaker 1: be Sequon Barkley, but Elliott coming back and playing a 760 00:39:55,000 --> 00:39:58,320 Speaker 1: full schedule, I'm gonna pick them to win the division 761 00:39:59,080 --> 00:40:03,759 Speaker 1: going into the n SEE West. Here the Rams, They've 762 00:40:03,760 --> 00:40:07,520 Speaker 1: put together a lot of pieces acquisitions this offseason on 763 00:40:07,640 --> 00:40:09,479 Speaker 1: an already good team. A lot of people are gonna 764 00:40:09,560 --> 00:40:11,880 Speaker 1: pick them go to the the super Bowl. I'm not picking 765 00:40:11,920 --> 00:40:16,839 Speaker 1: Philadelphia because you know two times nobody's repeated since Ted 766 00:40:16,920 --> 00:40:20,799 Speaker 1: Johnson was with the Patriots and the Rams. I'm gonna 767 00:40:20,840 --> 00:40:24,399 Speaker 1: pick them. I just am to be different. The key 768 00:40:24,520 --> 00:40:27,280 Speaker 1: is will the forty nine Ers be a wild card team? 769 00:40:27,320 --> 00:40:30,480 Speaker 1: Because you look at the NFC South, which is probably 770 00:40:30,520 --> 00:40:33,160 Speaker 1: the best division from top to bottom. Will there be 771 00:40:33,239 --> 00:40:36,000 Speaker 1: a second team from the East? What about Minnesota and 772 00:40:36,040 --> 00:40:39,640 Speaker 1: Green Bay with Rogers bag? The NFC is good and 773 00:40:39,719 --> 00:40:42,360 Speaker 1: it's deep. It is deep the forty nine Ers, you 774 00:40:42,440 --> 00:40:44,400 Speaker 1: bring them up. You know a lot of talk about 775 00:40:44,400 --> 00:40:47,000 Speaker 1: Garoppolo having a bad practice or whatever, an OTA is 776 00:40:47,040 --> 00:40:49,080 Speaker 1: like this is this is news this time of year. 777 00:40:49,080 --> 00:40:52,120 Speaker 1: There's nothing else to talk about. Garoppolo gets picked off 778 00:40:52,120 --> 00:40:54,680 Speaker 1: in practice, it makes national Somebody reported that they may 779 00:40:54,719 --> 00:40:56,960 Speaker 1: have made a mistake with Mayfield because he didn't look 780 00:40:57,000 --> 00:41:00,360 Speaker 1: good in the OTA. I'm thinking, now, yeah, how whopid 781 00:41:00,440 --> 00:41:02,759 Speaker 1: can you be? Yeah? Well, I can tell you this 782 00:41:03,080 --> 00:41:06,800 Speaker 1: last year at OTAs with Watson, he was a third 783 00:41:06,800 --> 00:41:10,560 Speaker 1: teamer and not all the early practices looked so terrific, 784 00:41:10,960 --> 00:41:12,840 Speaker 1: and then they started to look a whole lot better. 785 00:41:13,040 --> 00:41:16,280 Speaker 1: And then we saw what we saw. He bipas Brandon Wade, 786 00:41:16,280 --> 00:41:18,759 Speaker 1: and Brandon was cut in the last roster reduction to 787 00:41:18,840 --> 00:41:23,919 Speaker 1: fifty three, and then they started Savage in the first 788 00:41:23,960 --> 00:41:26,799 Speaker 1: chance Bill Gott he put Watson in the rest was 789 00:41:26,840 --> 00:41:29,640 Speaker 1: his straight lace for six stars. One other note I 790 00:41:29,640 --> 00:41:32,680 Speaker 1: wanted to get you to elaborate on. You mentioned Vance 791 00:41:32,800 --> 00:41:35,239 Speaker 1: Joseph being under a lot of pressure here who would 792 00:41:35,239 --> 00:41:39,240 Speaker 1: take over in Denver because I'm hearing that Gary Kubiak 793 00:41:39,280 --> 00:41:42,279 Speaker 1: out of the scouting department. Well, here's the thing, I'm hearing. 794 00:41:42,360 --> 00:41:45,000 Speaker 1: Kubiak's at all the practices. He's talking to musk Rave 795 00:41:45,080 --> 00:41:48,040 Speaker 1: a lot. He's out there doing his not doing his thing. 796 00:41:48,120 --> 00:41:51,759 Speaker 1: But he's out there, real hands on. You know, It's 797 00:41:51,840 --> 00:41:55,880 Speaker 1: not just I'm in the scouting department. His presence is 798 00:41:56,040 --> 00:41:59,640 Speaker 1: impossible to ignore on that Denver Broncos practice field. It's 799 00:41:59,640 --> 00:42:01,239 Speaker 1: gotta be tough for Vans in a way to see 800 00:42:01,280 --> 00:42:03,800 Speaker 1: him looking over his shoulder. I don't know if Ronda 801 00:42:03,800 --> 00:42:05,359 Speaker 1: would let him do it. I'll go right there right now. 802 00:42:05,400 --> 00:42:06,560 Speaker 1: I don't know she would let him do it. I 803 00:42:06,600 --> 00:42:08,040 Speaker 1: don't know if the doctors would let him do it. 804 00:42:08,120 --> 00:42:09,640 Speaker 1: How many times do you need to be taken away 805 00:42:09,640 --> 00:42:11,920 Speaker 1: in a stretcher from your workplace before you realize, you know, 806 00:42:12,000 --> 00:42:14,399 Speaker 1: maybe I should not do this. And clearly he's made 807 00:42:14,400 --> 00:42:16,719 Speaker 1: that decision. But you know he wants to coach. He 808 00:42:16,760 --> 00:42:19,080 Speaker 1: was born to do it, and I don't know the 809 00:42:19,120 --> 00:42:21,360 Speaker 1: best way for him to do it. Maybe he should 810 00:42:21,360 --> 00:42:23,799 Speaker 1: be just running a franchise or something like that. But 811 00:42:24,040 --> 00:42:25,919 Speaker 1: I'm sure he's aching to get back to it. Maybe 812 00:42:25,920 --> 00:42:27,799 Speaker 1: not necessarily there, because you know, you hope of the 813 00:42:27,840 --> 00:42:30,320 Speaker 1: best for Vans if you're a supporter of that cause. 814 00:42:30,760 --> 00:42:33,200 Speaker 1: But he's got the chops to do it. Clearly, it's 815 00:42:33,200 --> 00:42:35,279 Speaker 1: just the matter of health and can he, you know, 816 00:42:35,320 --> 00:42:38,800 Speaker 1: maintain it if he's coaching. Fans and media would certainly 817 00:42:38,800 --> 00:42:41,479 Speaker 1: want it. I think Gary's best chance, Well he could, 818 00:42:41,560 --> 00:42:43,560 Speaker 1: he could have the job, he wanted it, but advanced 819 00:42:43,600 --> 00:42:46,760 Speaker 1: Joseph gets fired during the season. Do you ask Gary 820 00:42:46,800 --> 00:42:49,200 Speaker 1: we'll just take us through this season. Yeah, I don't 821 00:42:49,520 --> 00:42:52,359 Speaker 1: do that. It's you know, Gary hadn't been down there 822 00:42:52,400 --> 00:42:55,440 Speaker 1: for the calls and terminology and all those things. I 823 00:42:55,480 --> 00:42:57,160 Speaker 1: don't think they do it. I think they go with 824 00:42:57,200 --> 00:43:00,080 Speaker 1: one of their coordinators. Yeah, probably do that job. Do 825 00:43:00,120 --> 00:43:02,600 Speaker 1: you have going on to the chronicle. I believe my 826 00:43:02,719 --> 00:43:06,480 Speaker 1: Brian Gaine and Bill O'Brien season enders that we're on 827 00:43:06,560 --> 00:43:09,680 Speaker 1: Texas Sports Nation. We're going to be in a Sunday 828 00:43:09,760 --> 00:43:13,080 Speaker 1: Chronicle Aaron Wilson as a Deshaun Watson story up on 829 00:43:13,160 --> 00:43:17,000 Speaker 1: Texas Sports Nation. We are writing every day for Texas 830 00:43:17,000 --> 00:43:21,080 Speaker 1: Sports Nation. There's not one day that we won't have 831 00:43:21,320 --> 00:43:24,280 Speaker 1: multiple stories on there, as we have on all their sports. 832 00:43:24,680 --> 00:43:27,799 Speaker 1: And I feel really good about my sitting downs with 833 00:43:27,880 --> 00:43:32,480 Speaker 1: O'Brien and Gaine looking back a lot with Brian Gaine's 834 00:43:32,480 --> 00:43:35,799 Speaker 1: first off season, but with Bill O'Brien mainly looking ahead. John, 835 00:43:35,840 --> 00:43:37,680 Speaker 1: thanks a lot for John, Thank you very much. Mark. 836 00:43:37,840 --> 00:43:40,359 Speaker 1: That's the General John McClain and that's the show. Thanks 837 00:43:40,400 --> 00:43:43,480 Speaker 1: so much for listening. This will be available on iTunes 838 00:43:43,600 --> 00:43:46,000 Speaker 1: and Houston Texans dot com and tune in and wherever 839 00:43:46,080 --> 00:43:48,360 Speaker 1: fine podcasts are available, and go check out all the 840 00:43:48,400 --> 00:43:51,440 Speaker 1: other podcasts as well, the Deepest Land in the Lab 841 00:43:51,480 --> 00:43:55,279 Speaker 1: podcast and the Vandermeer's View stuff up there as well. 842 00:43:55,360 --> 00:44:06,920 Speaker 1: Have a great evening everyone, and go Texans.