WEBVTT - Men in the middle make the show | Texans All Access 0:00:01.080 --> 0:00:02.120 This is a young team. 0:00:02.600 --> 0:00:05.160 We're on the cuz they're hungry to get better. 0:00:05.559 --> 0:00:08.440 Peers running rice tend barrels this way down the forty 0:00:08.440 --> 0:00:09.200 one yard line. 0:00:09.240 --> 0:00:10.560 We want to run by Piers. 0:00:10.720 --> 0:00:12.719 These are the type of guys, the type of men 0:00:13.000 --> 0:00:14.440 that we want in our locker room. 0:00:14.560 --> 0:00:16.560 Ten or top betch christ Jan Harris. 0:00:16.640 --> 0:00:20.000 Game day is every day love the energy. 0:00:19.920 --> 0:00:22.840 Nicked up by Stateley Pultrey. 0:00:23.200 --> 0:00:25.320 Texans out football on the pit. 0:00:25.760 --> 0:00:27.800 And if you want it, you gotta go work. 0:00:29.120 --> 0:00:32.159 No, it's Texans all xcess. 0:00:33.880 --> 0:00:34.920 So let's work, baby. 0:00:34.960 --> 0:00:39.199 Welcome in Thursday night, Texans All Access. Now, usually you 0:00:39.200 --> 0:00:42.080 hear Mark Vanruy's voice, but Mark has been out, as 0:00:42.080 --> 0:00:44.320 I've noted all week long. 0:00:44.720 --> 0:00:46.280 He's gonna make it up to me next week by 0:00:46.440 --> 0:00:47.120 just being there. 0:00:47.159 --> 0:00:49.000 But that's okay. We're having a good time night. John 0:00:49.000 --> 0:00:51.839 Harris Football on a Syeline reporter, Gonna be joined by 0:00:51.880 --> 0:00:53.920 Christian Kirksey a little bit later. I've an interview that 0:00:53.960 --> 0:00:58.560 we did on media Days, catching up with the middle 0:00:58.600 --> 0:01:01.160 imbacher Christian Kirksey. I wonder what his role is well'st 0:01:01.760 --> 0:01:03.840 our guest. I don't even know if it's our guest. 0:01:04.160 --> 0:01:06.840 I texted him today just to make sure that he 0:01:06.920 --> 0:01:09.920 wanted to come on tonight with me, and that's John McClain, 0:01:10.000 --> 0:01:12.679 and he said, absolutely, I'm a Thursday institution. I hated 0:01:12.760 --> 0:01:15.160 say quite like that, but I kind of got the point. 0:01:15.200 --> 0:01:17.679 Good evening, John McClain, the general, How are you doing. 0:01:17.600 --> 0:01:17.920 My friend? 0:01:19.280 --> 0:01:22.319 I'm doing great. And I did not say institution. I 0:01:22.400 --> 0:01:26.280 said I'm ready to go every Thursday night. I don't 0:01:26.319 --> 0:01:29.360 even know why it would have crossed your mind that 0:01:29.480 --> 0:01:32.920 I wouldn't want to come on just because Mark's not on. 0:01:34.040 --> 0:01:36.520 No general, I was hoping. I just wanted to check 0:01:36.560 --> 0:01:39.240 in with you, and I'm glad that year you're definitely here. 0:01:39.240 --> 0:01:42.479 I've got Christian Kirksey coming on later, and I've got 0:01:42.480 --> 0:01:44.480 a lot of people that have stopped me and asked 0:01:44.480 --> 0:01:49.360 me about what's Christian role? What's Christian's role this year? 0:01:49.440 --> 0:01:51.800 Christian Kirksey, because obviously gott to be clear. Christian Harris, 0:01:52.080 --> 0:01:54.520 what do you think his role is John this year? 0:01:55.000 --> 0:01:57.400 A does he make the team? Be If he does 0:01:57.520 --> 0:01:58.800 make the team, what is his role? Do you think 0:01:58.840 --> 0:02:02.720 he's a starter? Do you think he's he's a complimentary 0:02:02.760 --> 0:02:05.000 piece on sub package? What do you think Christian Kirksey's 0:02:05.080 --> 0:02:07.680 role is in twenty twenty three for this team. 0:02:08.440 --> 0:02:11.919 I believe it's only a matter of time. For you've 0:02:11.960 --> 0:02:16.079 got two Alabama linebackers starting, and since they're gonna play 0:02:16.200 --> 0:02:21.120 Nickel most of the time, Touto and Harris would be 0:02:21.200 --> 0:02:25.720 starting a linebacker. And you know, Nick Casario talked to 0:02:26.560 --> 0:02:30.880 Henry like crazy when he went on with Sean Bender 0:02:30.960 --> 0:02:34.440 guest and Seth Payne. And for Nick to praise somebody, 0:02:34.840 --> 0:02:38.839 that's unusual. Anybody walked watched him at Alabama knows he's 0:02:38.880 --> 0:02:42.920 a tackling machine. He's smart, and he works hard. And 0:02:42.960 --> 0:02:46.959 those older guys make more money. And uh, you've got 0:02:47.000 --> 0:02:53.080 three veteran linebackers Lyttleton, Harryman and Kirksey, and is only 0:02:53.160 --> 0:02:56.839 I'm guessing they're going to keep two. And who who 0:02:57.000 --> 0:03:00.720 stays better play special teams? 0:03:01.120 --> 0:03:03.760 Yeah, and I don't I can't remember the last time 0:03:03.760 --> 0:03:05.720 any one of those three play special teams. Maybe Littleton. 0:03:05.720 --> 0:03:07.560 I think Littleton actually made the Pro Bowl one year 0:03:08.200 --> 0:03:11.200 on special team, so he might end up being that guy. 0:03:11.280 --> 0:03:14.200 And of course, Denzel Perramian's coming off an injury. Christian 0:03:14.280 --> 0:03:16.560 Kirkchi played all last year, so you know, injuries could 0:03:16.680 --> 0:03:18.279 could solve the issue unfortunately. 0:03:18.520 --> 0:03:18.840 General. 0:03:18.840 --> 0:03:20.200 I'll tell you this quick story for I get the 0:03:20.240 --> 0:03:25.640 matics question about Henry Toatoa. This was the training camp 0:03:25.919 --> 0:03:29.359 twenty twenty one, so his training camp twenty twenty one, 0:03:29.840 --> 0:03:32.360 and so I was off of my corner watching training camp, 0:03:32.840 --> 0:03:36.120 and I had one of the Texans scouts. 0:03:36.280 --> 0:03:38.520 Here's a scout, and we just happened to be talking. 0:03:38.600 --> 0:03:40.320 I said, you know, I asked where he had been 0:03:40.360 --> 0:03:42.200 and he said, oh, I was in Tuscaloosa, and oh. 0:03:42.240 --> 0:03:45.280 We start talking about all the different prospects and we're like, oh, man, 0:03:45.320 --> 0:03:47.240 thirty one is pretty good. Huh yeah, boy would be 0:03:47.240 --> 0:03:49.160 fun if you were a Texan. And he is will Anderson. 0:03:49.960 --> 0:03:51.760 We started talking about the prospects and we got to 0:03:51.800 --> 0:03:55.880 Henry to Atoa and he said, John, he's been calling 0:03:55.920 --> 0:03:59.160 the defense from day one. And so the scout or 0:03:59.160 --> 0:04:00.920 whomever was I was talking to had been there like 0:04:01.000 --> 0:04:03.960 day two or three. Tootoe was already in charge of 0:04:04.000 --> 0:04:06.880 the defense on day two. And that was with Christian 0:04:06.920 --> 0:04:09.360 Harris there at Alabama who had been there for I 0:04:09.360 --> 0:04:12.560 think two years prior, and Tooto had already taken control. 0:04:12.640 --> 0:04:15.560 Now he knew the defense from Tennessee. But the fact 0:04:15.560 --> 0:04:17.599 that he had already come in and was running that 0:04:17.640 --> 0:04:19.720 defense with all the alphas that they had on it, 0:04:20.240 --> 0:04:22.440 I thought that was a that was that was an 0:04:22.440 --> 0:04:25.560 incredible thing at that particular point. But keep an eye 0:04:25.560 --> 0:04:28.080 on Henry Toatoe. There's no doubt, General put it best. 0:04:28.320 --> 0:04:31.560 Those two Alabama linebackers could be back together. General, let's 0:04:31.560 --> 0:04:33.600 look at corner, because I've been thinking about corner. 0:04:33.640 --> 0:04:36.640 On one second, John, excuse me. I watched a lot 0:04:36.640 --> 0:04:39.840 of Alabama games because I wanted to see Bill O'Brien 0:04:39.920 --> 0:04:42.520 what he did with the offense. And when I saw 0:04:43.000 --> 0:04:46.080 how great Briance Young was, I watched him again this 0:04:46.240 --> 0:04:48.599 year because I thought there was a good chance Texans 0:04:49.040 --> 0:04:52.520 would be drafting Briance Young. And I remember when they 0:04:52.520 --> 0:04:55.920 were on defense keep hearing too to Tea Too was 0:04:56.000 --> 0:04:58.919 a tackle toa Tod chased him out of bounds, and 0:04:59.000 --> 0:05:01.160 I was thinking, I wonder how he spell his name, 0:05:01.800 --> 0:05:04.000 and so I looked at it up and I thought, man, 0:05:05.040 --> 0:05:07.280 I'm sure a'b doesn't come to the Texan shot the 0:05:07.279 --> 0:05:11.599 announcin spell his name. And I'm wondering now, because it 0:05:11.720 --> 0:05:14.440 was should have been a great pick. Why was he 0:05:14.480 --> 0:05:17.520 available in the fifth round. He played for Nick Saban. 0:05:17.920 --> 0:05:22.839 He starred for Saban, And why did he last until 0:05:22.839 --> 0:05:25.560 he did? And I'm glad they jumped all over him 0:05:25.560 --> 0:05:28.039 when they had the opportunity. Why do you think he 0:05:28.160 --> 0:05:29.720 was available at the fifth. 0:05:30.200 --> 0:05:32.960 I think one of the things, general is just size. 0:05:33.440 --> 0:05:36.200 I think that's one thing. I mean, you see him, 0:05:36.200 --> 0:05:37.800 I mean he looks pretty thick. I mean, his lower 0:05:37.800 --> 0:05:39.840 body's pretty thick. But he I think he only meag 0:05:40.680 --> 0:05:43.320 measured at two hundred and twenty seven pounds. Now, we've 0:05:43.360 --> 0:05:48.320 seen linebackers shrink in the NFL basically, I mean that's 0:05:48.360 --> 0:05:50.120 the way it seems. I mean, we no longer have 0:05:50.240 --> 0:05:53.760 the Ted Johnson's or the Benardrick McKinney's, or the Bryan Cushings. 0:05:53.800 --> 0:05:56.760 I mean, we don't have two fifty five anymore. In fact, 0:05:57.240 --> 0:06:00.479 Pine Seule's brother, Noah Sewell, was up at Oregon in 0:06:00.600 --> 0:06:02.440 twenty twenty two, twenty twenty one. 0:06:02.480 --> 0:06:03.760 He was two hundred and sixty. 0:06:03.560 --> 0:06:06.760 Pounds and they're like, bro, you you got to lose 0:06:06.760 --> 0:06:08.960 some weight. He ended up measuring at the combine at 0:06:08.960 --> 0:06:11.920 two forty one. And so I think, you know, that's 0:06:11.920 --> 0:06:14.159 about the sweet spot for some linebackers. But I think 0:06:14.520 --> 0:06:16.160 for to a toy it was just the fact that 0:06:16.200 --> 0:06:18.159 he ended up at two twenty five to twenty seven. 0:06:18.200 --> 0:06:20.440 I mean, he's not the biggest guy in the world, 0:06:21.240 --> 0:06:23.320 and so I think there were some people that probably 0:06:23.400 --> 0:06:27.080 feared that a little bit. But I'm look, I'm We've 0:06:27.120 --> 0:06:29.000 all seen players that end up falling for some reason. 0:06:29.040 --> 0:06:31.360 Look Charles Amene who a few a few years ago 0:06:31.400 --> 0:06:32.880 when you go the fifth round and he was the 0:06:32.880 --> 0:06:35.040 big twelve defensive player of the year, came to Houston, 0:06:35.640 --> 0:06:38.039 showed what he can do. Then over the next couple 0:06:38.040 --> 0:06:39.880 of years you saw kind of why. All right, I 0:06:39.880 --> 0:06:41.919 can see why. You know, he doesn't love to play inside, 0:06:41.960 --> 0:06:43.120 he's not as physical inside. 0:06:43.120 --> 0:06:45.240 So maybe some of those things show up for Henry Toyotoa. 0:06:45.320 --> 0:06:47.840 But as far as what you get from look if 0:06:47.839 --> 0:06:50.800 the if all you get from him is subpackage and 0:06:50.920 --> 0:06:53.400 special teams to start as a rookie or even in 0:06:53.440 --> 0:06:56.120 the first two years, I mean, that's pretty solid. Gettinghim 0:06:56.120 --> 0:06:58.960 on day three, you know, there's no question about that. 0:06:59.000 --> 0:07:01.000 But gener when we're talking, I was thinking about the 0:07:01.000 --> 0:07:01.840 second okay, all. 0:07:01.839 --> 0:07:07.080 On, I got something else. Oh okay. I looked up 0:07:07.200 --> 0:07:10.520 all of the forty nine ers defensive starters at linebacker 0:07:10.560 --> 0:07:13.800 and the secondary, their age where they were drafted, in 0:07:13.880 --> 0:07:18.920 their size, and all the linebackers were twenty for anywhere 0:07:18.960 --> 0:07:22.200 from two twenty five to two point thirty. Damiko wants 0:07:22.240 --> 0:07:24.840 them to be able to run, and of course they 0:07:24.960 --> 0:07:28.200 got to be able to hit. And they all said 0:07:28.200 --> 0:07:31.320 that he worked really hard in coverage. So I can't 0:07:31.320 --> 0:07:33.840 wait to see him get into training camp, especially to 0:07:33.960 --> 0:07:36.240 joint practice. Okay, what do you want to ask me 0:07:36.280 --> 0:07:37.200 about the secondary? 0:07:37.680 --> 0:07:39.040 Yeah, no doubt and keep and eye. 0:07:39.240 --> 0:07:40.920 Drake Greenlow was the guy that went to seventh round 0:07:41.000 --> 0:07:42.560 ended up being a stud for the forty nine ers. 0:07:42.560 --> 0:07:43.120 It still is. 0:07:43.200 --> 0:07:46.360 So that's kind of the guy Henry Toatoa can probably emulate. 0:07:46.440 --> 0:07:48.600 So we'll see that. But I was thinking about secondary. 0:07:48.640 --> 0:07:52.080 Derek Stingly looked. I thought, really really good OTAs Uh 0:07:52.120 --> 0:07:54.320 and mini camp the other side. 0:07:54.440 --> 0:07:55.640 I mean, obviously Stephen. 0:07:55.320 --> 0:07:57.320 Nelson played pretty well last year, but they went on 0:07:57.320 --> 0:08:00.200 and got Shaq Griffin. Do you see that as a 0:08:00.280 --> 0:08:03.640 true training camp competition, John, with Stephen Nelson and Shaqgriffin 0:08:03.840 --> 0:08:06.920 or do you think that No, it's Nelson for sure, 0:08:06.960 --> 0:08:10.200 and Griffin is the guy that might slide inside if 0:08:10.200 --> 0:08:13.000 they've got to do some things on passing downs. How 0:08:13.040 --> 0:08:15.360 do you think they play that spot opposite Derek Stingley 0:08:15.360 --> 0:08:18.920 With Shaqgriffin now in the fold alongside Stephen Nelson. 0:08:19.960 --> 0:08:21.880 I'm glad you brought that up. John. I have a 0:08:21.960 --> 0:08:25.480 column posted this morning of sports Radio six ten dot 0:08:25.520 --> 0:08:28.560 com ten Things We Learned, and I said, what was 0:08:28.600 --> 0:08:33.000 Stephen Nelson and Sheldon Rankins? Thinking Nelson's in the last 0:08:33.080 --> 0:08:41.120 jer's contract? Sorry about that? You're still there? Yeah, I'm 0:08:41.160 --> 0:08:45.480 still here and he turned thirty years old ninth season. 0:08:46.160 --> 0:08:49.560 You don't stay away when you have a new coaching staff, 0:08:50.120 --> 0:08:53.760 news system. And of course the coaches will never say 0:08:53.800 --> 0:08:56.680 this because it's voluntary. You don't have to be there. 0:08:56.840 --> 0:08:59.840 You can just show up for the mandatory mini camp. 0:08:59.840 --> 0:09:03.640 But I'll guarantee you if it's a tie, the tie 0:09:03.760 --> 0:09:05.439 is going to go to the guy that was here 0:09:05.480 --> 0:09:08.280 busting his butt all the time for the new coaches, 0:09:08.320 --> 0:09:11.400 a new coordinator. I just think it was very foolish 0:09:11.760 --> 0:09:14.760 in this situation. If you're Laramie Tonsel, you're the best 0:09:14.800 --> 0:09:16.680 player on the team, you don't have to be there. 0:09:17.040 --> 0:09:20.600 You slide right in, you start, You're another have another 0:09:20.679 --> 0:09:24.080 Pro Bowl and all Pro season. But for guys who 0:09:24.120 --> 0:09:27.880 are thirty are approaching thirty, like Nelson and Rankins, I 0:09:28.679 --> 0:09:31.920 think you're playing with fire. Now. These science kill Griffin 0:09:31.960 --> 0:09:34.600 because Nelson wasn't there, and so they had to start 0:09:34.640 --> 0:09:37.480 him because he wasn't there. But if Nelson comes back 0:09:37.600 --> 0:09:41.600 the way they're loyal to veterans who've been here. I'm 0:09:41.640 --> 0:09:44.960 sure he's going to go to camp number one outside 0:09:45.040 --> 0:09:49.920 opposite Stingley. But if he doesn't play like he did 0:09:50.000 --> 0:09:53.480 last year, and he played well last year, then Griffin 0:09:53.520 --> 0:09:56.600 and if he does perform, he'll be starting. I saw 0:09:56.600 --> 0:09:59.720 a thing last week Pro Football Focus today at the 0:09:59.760 --> 0:10:03.520 top ten slot corners in the NFL. Last year, tavia 0:10:03.679 --> 0:10:06.520 Or Thomas was four, and he had more snaps in 0:10:06.600 --> 0:10:09.720 the slot than any of the other top ten. Now 0:10:10.240 --> 0:10:13.960 that's because Desmond King had to go outside because Stingley 0:10:14.080 --> 0:10:17.400 was hurt so much. And so I'm wondering, now, who's 0:10:17.400 --> 0:10:21.559 gonna be the slot corner if all those guys are healthy. 0:10:21.720 --> 0:10:25.320 But I'm guessing it's gonna be Nelson with Griffin trying 0:10:25.320 --> 0:10:29.120 to beat him Outdred Griffin still knew, you know, he's 0:10:29.320 --> 0:10:32.520 he's learning a lot. They signed him late, but if 0:10:32.520 --> 0:10:35.040 Nelson plays like he did last year, I expect him 0:10:35.320 --> 0:10:36.080 to be the starter. 0:10:37.400 --> 0:10:39.280 John, What do you think the role is for Desmond King? 0:10:39.760 --> 0:10:43.400 Because he's a guy that he's played that inside spot 0:10:43.880 --> 0:10:45.680 in twenty twenty one, he played the inside spot for 0:10:45.720 --> 0:10:47.600 like three or four games, then he went outside and 0:10:47.640 --> 0:10:50.000 played outside pretty much the rest of the season. Last 0:10:50.080 --> 0:10:53.120 year with some you know injuries, you know, when Steven 0:10:53.160 --> 0:10:56.080 went down a little bit, but mainly when Sting went down, 0:10:56.360 --> 0:10:58.640 Desmond slid back out there, and obviously it played a 0:10:58.640 --> 0:11:00.200 lot of his own and a lot of covered you know, 0:11:00.240 --> 0:11:04.559 cover two, cover four, but does make some plays when 0:11:04.559 --> 0:11:06.960 he's out there. Do you think he is solely an 0:11:06.960 --> 0:11:07.560 inside guy? 0:11:07.640 --> 0:11:07.880 John? 0:11:07.920 --> 0:11:10.839 Do you think he can slide outside in certain situations? 0:11:11.080 --> 0:11:13.360 How do you look at Desmond King's role, especially with 0:11:13.440 --> 0:11:14.680 Tap Thomas coming back as. 0:11:14.559 --> 0:11:19.600 Well, with the way coaches love versatility, the fact he 0:11:19.640 --> 0:11:21.880 can do both as a feather and his cat. He 0:11:21.920 --> 0:11:25.440 can return too. You know, I would imagine that Tank 0:11:25.559 --> 0:11:28.719 Dell is gonna be the returner because watching him in 0:11:28.760 --> 0:11:33.080 the off season program, even though nobody was hitting hitting him, 0:11:33.200 --> 0:11:37.800 he's got that extra gear and he's just so quick. 0:11:37.920 --> 0:11:42.320 He makes such quick cuts and he accelerates. He's so explosive. 0:11:42.800 --> 0:11:45.360 I can't wait to see him in games, can't wait 0:11:45.400 --> 0:11:48.160 to see him in the joint practices. But I think 0:11:48.240 --> 0:11:52.079 it's gonna be tough at Corner. They'll keep five, I'm guessing, 0:11:52.640 --> 0:11:56.160 and Corner has definitely got better depths in safety. 0:11:57.240 --> 0:11:59.800 Yeah, there's no doubt, don't I don't mind the safety 0:11:59.800 --> 0:12:03.360 grew with Jalen and Jimmy and then MJ and Eric. 0:12:03.400 --> 0:12:06.040 I mean, you've got some experience combined with some youth 0:12:06.120 --> 0:12:09.360 back there, but beyond that, you're Baylor, Bear, Grayland Arnold. 0:12:09.360 --> 0:12:10.760 That could be a guy to look at at safety. 0:12:10.760 --> 0:12:13.040 I think he's moving back to safety. I don't say 0:12:13.040 --> 0:12:14.920 full time. I don't know if anybody ever does anything 0:12:14.960 --> 0:12:17.080 full time when they're not a full starter. I mean, 0:12:17.120 --> 0:12:20.080 you play basically wherever you think you can play generally. 0:12:20.080 --> 0:12:22.320 The other night I had on Kenyon green Mark and 0:12:22.320 --> 0:12:24.520 I did and we talked to Kenyon. 0:12:24.679 --> 0:12:26.160 He's a he's a man. A few words. 0:12:26.160 --> 0:12:28.199 He doesn't have a whole heck of a lot to say, 0:12:28.960 --> 0:12:31.880 and I think that's just natural for him. But how 0:12:31.960 --> 0:12:34.560 much and I'm not saying he's feeling this, But how 0:12:34.640 --> 0:12:37.240 much pressure do you think there is for Kenyon to 0:12:37.280 --> 0:12:42.160 be successful this year? Yes, it's his second year, but 0:12:42.360 --> 0:12:44.760 given how year one went for him, whether he was 0:12:44.760 --> 0:12:47.600 banged up or just not playing exceptionally, well, how much 0:12:47.600 --> 0:12:49.800 pressure do you think there is on Kenyon Green to 0:12:49.920 --> 0:12:52.880 perform at a relatively high level in just year two. 0:12:54.600 --> 0:12:57.000 Well, he better be feeling the pressure because he's got 0:12:57.040 --> 0:12:59.760 it on him. You know, when they used the fifteenth 0:12:59.760 --> 0:13:01.920 pick on him and he flashed a little bit, he 0:13:01.960 --> 0:13:04.560 missed some time, and then it looked like the more 0:13:04.640 --> 0:13:07.640 time went on, the war teams figured out he could 0:13:07.679 --> 0:13:12.000 be bull rushed. And I'm guessing that he's worked like 0:13:12.120 --> 0:13:16.040 crazy on his upper body. But when you're recovering from 0:13:16.120 --> 0:13:20.120 knee surgery, you know, so much of your strength comes 0:13:20.160 --> 0:13:24.800 from your butt and your legs, and when you're recovering 0:13:24.840 --> 0:13:27.240 from knee surgery, can't work on it. And I know 0:13:27.360 --> 0:13:29.240 he wants to be back. It would mean a lot 0:13:29.320 --> 0:13:32.640 to them if he could come back and be close 0:13:32.679 --> 0:13:35.040 to full speed. I'm going to guess they're going to 0:13:35.120 --> 0:13:37.440 take it easy on him like they did Steingley and 0:13:37.840 --> 0:13:41.040 Christian Harris and other guys. But he is under a 0:13:41.040 --> 0:13:44.200 lot of pressure. Because of where he's from, Houston, A 0:13:44.280 --> 0:13:47.800 and M first round pick, he has the ability. I 0:13:47.920 --> 0:13:52.000 think that Shaq Mason, who I'm told is a tremendous 0:13:52.080 --> 0:13:54.960 guy off the field, and I wrote in this column 0:13:55.000 --> 0:13:58.560 that I thought two offensive captains could be Robert Woods 0:13:58.559 --> 0:14:03.520 and Shaq Mason. And I think Mason will help him 0:14:03.520 --> 0:14:06.400 a lot. But he knows he got embarrassed at times 0:14:06.480 --> 0:14:10.280 last season. He doesn't want to see Washington again. He 0:14:10.320 --> 0:14:13.280 won't have to for four years, but he was broad 0:14:13.320 --> 0:14:17.000 here because he's talented and he's a good run blocker. 0:14:17.280 --> 0:14:20.600 Jack Mason's a good run blocker. They want to run 0:14:20.680 --> 0:14:25.320 the ball with Demiko and Bobby Sloweck. That's the first 0:14:25.360 --> 0:14:28.560 thing they want to do, and that'll sure help CJ. Stroud. 0:14:28.680 --> 0:14:31.640 So I think Kenyon Green he's too talented not to 0:14:31.680 --> 0:14:36.000 bounce back, and since most players improve their most between 0:14:36.040 --> 0:14:38.600 their first and second season, I look for him to 0:14:38.640 --> 0:14:39.480 be a different player. 0:14:41.040 --> 0:14:43.200 John one of the I can't remember how long ago 0:14:43.240 --> 0:14:44.960 Mark and I do this, and I just had this thought. 0:14:45.000 --> 0:14:46.760 I was walking back from practice and I was kind 0:14:46.760 --> 0:14:48.680 of watching players walk by, and I was like, man, 0:14:48.720 --> 0:14:51.280 that guy's got to play sixteen games this year. He's 0:14:51.280 --> 0:14:53.800 got to play a full schedule this year, and it 0:14:53.920 --> 0:14:58.000 got me thinking about what players the Texans can ill 0:14:58.040 --> 0:15:01.440 afford to lose. Obviously, minus quarterback, and we hope that 0:15:01.480 --> 0:15:02.640 CJ could play a whole season. 0:15:02.720 --> 0:15:04.640 We'll talk about him in just a second. 0:15:04.400 --> 0:15:08.720 But outside of quarterback, what two or three players do 0:15:08.840 --> 0:15:14.960 the Texans absolutely, without question, have to have for sixteen 0:15:15.040 --> 0:15:17.080 seventeen games, And hopefully if they're playing that many games, 0:15:17.120 --> 0:15:20.000 they're playing pretty well. But I would say the most 0:15:20.040 --> 0:15:22.440 indispensable players. Guys you can't do with that. I don't 0:15:22.480 --> 0:15:24.560 know how you want to phrase it, but essentially two 0:15:24.640 --> 0:15:27.480 or three players that in your mind, the Texans can 0:15:27.640 --> 0:15:30.960 ill afford to lose to have a successful season like 0:15:31.080 --> 0:15:32.880 they lose these guys, not that they're going to go 0:15:33.000 --> 0:15:35.400 over the over the edge and not have a successful season, 0:15:35.400 --> 0:15:38.200 but to be even more successful than maybe they think 0:15:38.240 --> 0:15:40.280 they've got to have these players. 0:15:40.280 --> 0:15:41.880 Who do you think those players are in your. 0:15:41.720 --> 0:15:45.440 Opinion, Jeremy Tonzo because he's the best player on the 0:15:45.440 --> 0:15:48.680 team and because he is the best pass blocker, one 0:15:48.720 --> 0:15:50.840 of the best in the league, and he protects the quarterback. 0:15:51.520 --> 0:15:55.080 Charlie Hagg's coming off with injury, he's been reabvid. Michael 0:15:55.160 --> 0:15:59.480 Dieter gonna be the guard until unless Kenyon Green comes back. 0:15:59.560 --> 0:16:04.440 Number two, Damien Piers. Damien Piers. We saw what happened 0:16:04.480 --> 0:16:07.120 to the running game last year when he missed the 0:16:07.240 --> 0:16:10.680 last four in parts of another one in the running 0:16:10.720 --> 0:16:13.280 Game went straight down the toilet, which is one reason 0:16:13.720 --> 0:16:17.200 Nick Casario signed Devin Singletary. And I look for that 0:16:17.320 --> 0:16:21.000 split to be about sixty forty with Singletary again most 0:16:21.040 --> 0:16:27.240 of the obvious passing situations, but with Pierce's style, physical 0:16:27.360 --> 0:16:31.840 style where he looks for trouble, and I think they 0:16:32.160 --> 0:16:36.440 can't afford to lose him. Defensively, they got one pass 0:16:36.520 --> 0:16:40.480 rusher who stands out, Will Anderson Jr. They could not 0:16:40.760 --> 0:16:43.080 afford to lose him. He's going to be their best 0:16:43.120 --> 0:16:47.800 defensive player, their best pass rusher. Favored to win NFL 0:16:47.960 --> 0:16:51.240 Defensive Rookie of the Year, because if you don't have 0:16:51.320 --> 0:16:56.640 pass rushers Derek Stanley, Jalen Petrie, those guys are put 0:16:56.720 --> 0:17:01.080 in such a predicament if you can't. I showed the quarterback, 0:17:01.440 --> 0:17:04.160 so I'm going to say, Will Anderson, I think. 0:17:03.960 --> 0:17:05.880 That's a good one. I said therek Stingly the other day. 0:17:06.520 --> 0:17:08.679 And I know this is a division that is I 0:17:08.680 --> 0:17:11.000 don't say dominated by the run. But you know Derrick 0:17:11.080 --> 0:17:13.880 Henry Travis e Tianna John to Taylor that you got 0:17:13.880 --> 0:17:15.080 to come up and stop the run. I don't think 0:17:15.080 --> 0:17:17.680 it's any question about that. But I think Stingley offers 0:17:18.480 --> 0:17:21.200 at full full health. I think he offers something different. 0:17:21.240 --> 0:17:23.000 I mean, we noticed how much bigger he was, how 0:17:23.080 --> 0:17:26.800 much thicker he was, But yeah, Will Anderson Junior, He's 0:17:26.840 --> 0:17:27.440 got to be the truth. 0:17:27.440 --> 0:17:28.520 There's no question about that. 0:17:28.640 --> 0:17:33.520 John. There was a look controversy with Colin Cowherd this 0:17:33.560 --> 0:17:36.520 week who said that c J. Stroud and he'd been 0:17:36.560 --> 0:17:38.960 compared to Dak Prescott. I think Noah Brown was asking 0:17:38.960 --> 0:17:41.880 about that. It wasn't It didn't come out as hey, 0:17:41.880 --> 0:17:44.840 compare CJ to Dak. It's just Noah took the conversation 0:17:45.080 --> 0:17:47.879 in that direction. So Colin Cowherd picked up on that, 0:17:48.000 --> 0:17:50.280 of course reading headlines and started saying, no, c J. 0:17:50.359 --> 0:17:54.080 Stroud won't be as good essentially as Dak Prescott. And 0:17:54.080 --> 0:17:55.920 he went into reasons why, and then he used old 0:17:56.000 --> 0:17:58.119 old well he's no high to state quarterback, which I 0:17:58.160 --> 0:18:00.919 think is the worst argument you can ever use. Because 0:18:01.000 --> 0:18:04.520 Ohio State basically didn't have NFL type quarterbacks minus Dwayne Haskins, 0:18:04.560 --> 0:18:07.159 and that just didn't work out. Point being what you 0:18:07.200 --> 0:18:10.080 make of what Coward said that CJ. Stroud won't be 0:18:10.119 --> 0:18:13.920 as good as Dak Prescott. Your thoughts on that when 0:18:13.960 --> 0:18:14.520 you heard. 0:18:14.320 --> 0:18:17.720 That, That's one of the dumbest things I've ever heard, 0:18:17.760 --> 0:18:21.240 because you don't have a clue how good CJ. Stroud's 0:18:21.280 --> 0:18:23.360 going to be, and you don't have a clue how 0:18:23.400 --> 0:18:26.119 good Dak Prescott could get a whole lot better and 0:18:26.200 --> 0:18:29.840 be great consistently win super Bowls for the Cowboys. You 0:18:29.880 --> 0:18:32.560 don't know that. That's just kind of got thing. And 0:18:32.880 --> 0:18:37.080 I don't care give a hoot about what Colin Coward says. 0:18:37.480 --> 0:18:40.439 I saw the headlines. I paid no attention. I felt 0:18:40.440 --> 0:18:43.679 bad for Noah Brown since he played five seasons with 0:18:43.760 --> 0:18:47.560 Prescott and he was trying to be complimentary of Stroud. 0:18:47.840 --> 0:18:50.240 Now he'll be scared to say anything. By the way, 0:18:50.600 --> 0:18:55.640 the coaches really like Noah Brown. He can play all 0:18:55.680 --> 0:19:00.320 over the place, great size, he's not used up start 0:19:00.320 --> 0:19:03.760 thirteen games last season, and he played the best he's played. 0:19:03.840 --> 0:19:07.639 He came here for opportunity, But I thought, boy you 0:19:07.680 --> 0:19:10.119 talk about a stretch trying to make mountain out of 0:19:10.119 --> 0:19:11.760 a mowheel, that was it. 0:19:12.600 --> 0:19:16.480 That is that's June. That's June. Mini camps are over 0:19:16.520 --> 0:19:20.879 training camp. Not quite here, that's June radio talk right there. 0:19:21.119 --> 0:19:23.760 Compare those two. Some producer for his show is like, 0:19:23.920 --> 0:19:26.080 I got this, run this by Colin. He'll take this 0:19:26.119 --> 0:19:27.800 and run with it. And of course he's getting blasted 0:19:27.840 --> 0:19:30.400 because I just look at CJS Stroud and Dak Prescott 0:19:30.440 --> 0:19:31.360 is two different quarterbacks. 0:19:31.359 --> 0:19:33.000 But you know that's I don't know. 0:19:33.080 --> 0:19:37.040 I mean, there's some stylistically style things that are the same, 0:19:37.119 --> 0:19:40.600 but for the most part, man, I don't I don't 0:19:40.640 --> 0:19:41.199 quite see it. 0:19:41.280 --> 0:19:41.560 John. 0:19:41.640 --> 0:19:44.679 The NFL is having a really hard time getting a 0:19:44.720 --> 0:19:46.480 team for hard knocks. 0:19:46.880 --> 0:19:49.000 So I'll ask it as simply as I possibly could. 0:19:49.160 --> 0:19:53.240 It's hard knocks over in the NFL because teams won't cooperate. 0:19:54.320 --> 0:19:57.120