00:00:00
Speaker 1: What is happening, everybody? Welcome in to Monday Night Texans All Access.
00:00:04
Speaker 2: Appreciate you being with me, John Harris, football analyst, sideline reporter for your Houston Texans. We will take you right up to Monday Night Football Giants v. Rams in SoFi. And if you're the Giants, man, that's a tough road to hoe. You got a night, Monday night game on the West Coast. You got to fly back and then play on Sunday.
00:00:26
Speaker 1: Ooh, it's tough.
00:00:27
Speaker 2: But The Giants are a tough football team. They showed that in week one, beating the Cowboys. See what they've got tonight. That will follow our program this evening. And we kick it off with our good friend, our analyst on game day, one of the best you're going to find, Andre Ware.
00:00:45
Speaker 1: Here's our conversation with Dre.
00:00:46
Speaker 3: What do you think of the offense and what you have to work with right now with no Nico Collins for the time being?
00:00:53
Speaker 4: Yeah, I actually think that this can be duplicated and and he can actually grow from this and add to it. It's just going to take forcing maybe a decision that we talked about all offseason where this is a running team, this is a running team, this team is being built to run the football, so on and so forth. Well, when it's not working, you cannot continue to force that. Sometimes in games, teams have to rely on the other side of it, and I think when you cut him loose, especially in a setting where he's no huddle and he's just at the line of scrimmage and dealing, that's when I think C.J. 's at his best. And he was in those situations in the second half because he had to be, was forced to be. I'd have liked to see the pace kind of quicken itself. I thought a lot of time ran off the clock when they decided to get to that, and they were still huddling at one point in the game, and they were down by two scorers. That's when you get, I think, the best version of CJ. So absolutely, I think he can grow from this performance.
00:01:58
Speaker 2: Dre, what's a positive that you took out of yesterday going into the game? I mean, obviously there were questions, okay, is the defense going to show up like we know they can? What do we feel about the special teams, offense, et cetera, going in? What's a positive that you took out of the game yesterday that you feel will be a consistent thing for this team going forward?
00:02:22
Speaker 4: It wasn't special teams yesterday. It's a game out of a 17-game schedule that that happens. It's going to happen to the entire team where you're like, where did that come from? Yesterday, you got a component here or there, and then you're missing two components. Well, there's going to be a game that all three aren't working. And so just brace yourself for it. It's a 17-game schedule. It happens. But can you win when you're not at your best? And so That's the tough question that we kind of have to continue to navigate through. Can you win when you're not at your best? Can you win with C.J. when he throws for 300-plus yards and he's your leading rusher at 29 yards, but you come up short in some other area offensively? I'll ask you guys a question. Have we won games without Nico Collins before?
00:03:16
Speaker 3: Yeah, you did. I mean, you beat San Francisco last year without Nico Collins. You've done it before.
00:03:21
Speaker 4: The answer is yes. Yeah, it's been done before. So that expectation of, oh, woe is me and the sky is falling, we don't have Nico, they've won games and big games without Nico Collins before. So it's just a matter of stepping up. Somebody else has got to fill those shoes. I thought yesterday there were a couple of opportunities. As well as CJ played, he left some stuff on the field yesterday as well in terms of missing. Jared Wayne, missing Xavier Hutchinson. He hits those two, and it's a totally different deal. He hits one of those, and it's a totally different football game because of the vibe of the game and how it was flowing at the time that those were missed. He's up over 400 yards maybe if he hits just one of them.
00:04:05
Speaker 3: Dre, what do you do about a guy like Dexter Lawrence? And now you have to deal with Grover Stewart and DeForest Buckner this week. Okay, they're not Dexter Lawrence, but they're pretty darn good, and they've had their moments last night against the Chiefs. But what about Dexter Lawrence and the real difficulty in handling a big body like that? Jonathan Allen, too, yesterday just could not move them out of the way. They had some surge, and they made a big difference for the Bengals.
00:04:31
Speaker 4: I'm not sure we ran one draw play. Johnny may know because he's gone back and watched it. I haven't had that luxury yet. No, we didn't. You invite that guy up the field. You take advantage of his aggression. He wants to get up the field. Now they know you're throwing the football a little bit, especially in the second half. Invite him up the field and let him block himself and run the ball right underneath him. But big guys like that that you can't move, they want to be aggressive. They want to show you they can pass rush, and you have to take advantage of that. When they're three big stout guys in the middle– and you're not getting pushed, how long does it take you to learn from that to make an adjustment? You go into halftime, you have that talk, hey, we're going to just throw it the second half. 55 times, it could have been 65. But if there are plays that are positive plays or with positive intent, some of it yesterday just kind of felt and looked like this isn't going anywhere. And you knew it before. If they run the football against this look, it's not going anywhere. And we kind of bumped our heads that way a little bit.
00:05:38
Speaker 1: Draven, you bring up a great point.
00:05:41
Speaker 2: A draw, a draw is different from, I want to use the word deception.
00:05:46
Speaker 1: Offensive coaches are like, no, no, we're not deceiving anybody.
00:05:49
Speaker 3: You really are.
00:05:51
Speaker 2: But counters, any kind of misdirection is, That we, that we don't, that's not in the run game. Like we'll run power. We'll run zone. So we'll run some gap scheme stuff, but like a counter where you show it and then pull guys and then bring it back behind them. I mean, that might've been good against the guy like Dexter Lawrence. Like, Hey Dex, we're going this way.
00:06:11
Speaker 1: No, we're not. We're going this other way. There was none of that.
00:06:14
Speaker 2: It was, we're going to run zone. We're going to run to this spot. We're going to, here's where we go. Even when we ran our gap scheme stuff, it's the run duo. Like here it's right coming right here. There's really no deception. to what they did running-wise. And then at some point, they just decided, all right, look, we got to chuck it. And at that point, they decided to chuck it. So at that point, we talked about this a little bit as we were kind of popping in, Dre. Dalton Schultz, having the day he had, 12 for 140. No touchdowns, but he has the 12 for 140. I think we've seen the last couple of years that he's one of the better receiving tight ends in the league, but I felt yesterday he was the playmaker that they needed to have. He has that one-handed catch down the seam, which was really nice. Your thoughts about Dalton and what he can continue to bring to this offense?
00:07:00
Speaker 4: Yeah, he was magical yesterday, and we talked about it in the pregame a little bit about– Somebody having to step up and fill the shoes of Nico Collins. And it just felt like this was a game that, you know, he would have a big influence in and obviously did with 12 catches for 140. You just would like to see him get into the end zone at least one time to cap that thing off. And that's almost the perfect afternoon. But he's been consistent. He's one of the most consistent weapons or more consistent weapons that this team has. He's a better blocker at the line of scrimmage. They've been able to split him out and take advantage of mismatches. In space, he's such a good space player. That grab over the middle was just sick. Now, if he catches the corner route before that, then, you know, it's a crazy, crazy day because he had a chance with that one to turn it up the field and get much more, if not score. But it's been fun watching him become a true Texan and be a big, big part of what they do in the passing game. Just got to keep it going.
00:08:06
Speaker 3: Okay, here we go. The dreaded, hated, despised Indianapolis Colts. They are next. They're in the crosshairs Sunday at Indianapolis. Texans facing the horseshoe. Dre, they're 0-2, but they looked a lot better last night than they did the week before. I mean, they gave it to the Chiefs last night. They just could not close the deal. Put up 30 points in an overtime loss at Kansas City. Jonathan Taylor looking good. Daniel Jones looks pretty good despite coming back from the injury. Your thoughts on Indy coming up on Sunday.
00:08:38
Speaker 4: Yeah, they've got a couple of issues of their own in terms of losing receivers. I think they lost Alex Pierce. yesterday to that same foot area where he's He had off-season surgery, so he may be down for a while, if not the remainder of the season. But guys have stepped up. Laquan Treadwell stepped up. Josh Downs played big. So big that he had me searching the fantasy waiver wire to see if I could pick him up this morning. Because I know he's going to be their number one at some point. So he stepped up. And you mentioned Jonathan Taylor. Ty Warren is a weapon. So it doesn't get– my point is it doesn't get any easier from Buffalo to Cincinnati to now– Indianapolis. You just don't have the flashy name at quarterback and Daniel Jones, but you certainly got a flashy runner. That's capable of taking over a football game and embarrassing you. This guy's had some of his best performances against the Texans. And I'm talking about Jonathan Taylor.
00:09:38
Speaker 5: Yep. Yeah.
00:09:39
Speaker 2: You, you went exactly to the spot I was thinking. It's like, and he's had those games against the Texans. And I remember that the Saturday night, 2023, when we were there, He's running rough shot over us in the third quarter. And I'm like, this game, this is not looking good. And then he tweaked his ankle and came back. And then we finally kind of got our bearings.
00:09:58
Speaker 1: And like, oh, man. Dre asked this of Andy a little while ago, and I'll ask you as well. Just as a player.
00:10:05
Speaker 2: Getting out of town, how important do you think that is, just kind of leaving the noise behind and going and having a game at a different spot? It's just, you know, it's you. It's the team, the coaches, the staff. How good is that you think this week that they can just go to Indy, get out of town, and kind of just focus everybody together one time and get a win over the Colts?
00:10:26
Speaker 4: I think it benefits a lot, especially individual players. And by that, I mean everybody's different. Some family members, whatever, they know your schedule to a T when you're home. And so they know when you can pick up the phone. They're blowing up your phone for tickets and this and that. And you've got to deal with that stuff during the week. When you're on the road, it's the unknown. They have no idea when you're meeting, when you're traveling, when you're on the plane, when you can pick up. And those are distractions, as simple as they sound. And you're like, well, they're losing games because of that. No, those things matter because... It's more mental than it is physical. Physical talents, yeah, they are what they are, but every team has good physical football players. It's the mental aspect of the game. Can you overcome it? So getting out of your ordinary routine is really good. It's good for you sometimes. And then, you know, just feeling like it's us against their entire stadium. And there's a pride element that kicks in with that and that you enjoy. I enjoyed playing on the road because I needed that chip on my shoulder. Oh, you don't like us? Okay, well, we're going to show you. And that's just the extra motivation that you get when you're on the road for games. So I think this is the perfect time to kind of get away from it, get on the road, and go win a football game.
00:11:45
Speaker 3: Okay, things that make me feel better. The AFC South is led– by the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are 1-1. They lost to Denver. Another thing that makes me feel better, only because I am this bitter and I need something to just get me out of this mood, the Chargers at 0-2 with Mike McDaniel coaching that offense, and everyone thought it was going to be really great, and they're 0-2, losing to the Cardinals, and then the Raiders, and both at home. Now, we all know the Chargers at home is kind of like a residency in L.A.
00:12:14
Speaker 5: Anyway.
00:12:14
Speaker 1: Oh, it was loud for the Raiders yesterday.
00:12:16
Speaker 3: Oh, it's their home.
00:12:17
Speaker 5: Really loud.
00:12:18
Speaker 2: L.A.
00:12:18
Speaker 3: Is a Raider town. I've said it.
00:12:19
Speaker 4: Mm-hmm.
00:12:20
Speaker 3: The Raiders probably own L.A. more than the Rams do.
00:12:23
Speaker 5: That's right.
00:12:23
Speaker 3: But, Dre, what do you think of that from afar when you look at the Chargers and Herbert and McDaniel, and it's just not working so far?
00:12:31
Speaker 4: Yeah, I know Jim's a winner, and he's probably going through it more than anybody. I've known Jim for a long, long time, and he's just one of the more competitive individuals I've ever had a chance to meet. And so this is not sitting well with him. He is wanting to get this thing fixed if you scratch your head because Last year, the reason that they didn't go farther than they did or advance further than they did, injuries. And now they're a bit healthier, way more healthy this season than they were last year. Yet they start the season that way. So I expect them to kick it in. I expect them to start to win games. And they'll be a player contending for a playoff spot in the AFC by season's end.
00:13:16
Speaker 3: Don't you think with the 17 games, this is for both of you, I know it's only one more game, but it does buy you that one extra opportunity and it widens the path a little bit more. So when you do start 0-2, and in last year's case 0-3, you do have a little tiny bit more margin for error because you have another opportunity to play a game.
00:13:36
Speaker 4: Either plays you in or plays you out one of the seasons it could also uh could also put you know shovel the dirt on you in terms of uh one that one more opportunity but i get what you're saying and it is you know i i've i like the 16 game schedule i liked it for a lot of reasons you don't that may be a time for symmetrical different conversation for a different day yeah but uh I, it does provide you that it's just that, Hey, let's not, let's not take the Wayne fonts approach that we got 15 more of them, you know, and you keep losing and you know, we got 13 more and we got, you know, 12 more. That's the approach he had. And then soon, sooner or later, a couple of weeks roll by and you don't have the opportunities that you had in week two. So get this thing fixed, get it buttoned up and start to put string together wins. That's, I say it all the time. It's what Coach Pardee told us when I was playing for him at Houston. Successful seasons are made on winning streaks. How many winning streaks can you put together in a 17-game season? And it seems easy, but until you're in it and you're 0-2 and now you're trying, but there's always a place to start, especially this early in the season, and it's right now for the Texans.
00:14:53
Speaker 2: So I sent this to Mark, Dre, I was thinking about this on Saturday, and I sent this to Mark.
00:15:00
Speaker 1: Here are starts. Starting in 2017.
00:15:04
Speaker 4: Oh, geez.
00:15:05
Speaker 1: Here are starts.
00:15:05
Speaker 3: Okay, go ahead.
00:15:06
Speaker 1: 2017, we went 0-1. 2018, we went 0-3.
00:15:06
Speaker 5: 2019, 0-1. 2020, 0-4.
00:15:06
Speaker 1: 2021, we won the first one, then lost eight in a row. 2022, we went 0-3-1.
00:15:08
Speaker 3: 2023, 0-2.
00:15:08
Speaker 1: 2024, we got off to a good start.
00:15:10
Speaker 5: 2-0.
00:15:10
Speaker 1: We didn't finish as well. We went 2-1-3. Then 2025, 0-3.
00:15:12
Speaker 3: And then 2026, 0-2.
00:15:31
Speaker 2: All right, but look at this. But how many of those years did we make the playoffs? 18, 19, 23, 24, 25. Yeah, so rough starts.
00:15:39
Speaker 1: It's crazy.
00:15:40
Speaker 3: But good finishes relatively. At least you get to the postseason most of the time. So let's take that again, and maybe you can find lightning in a bottle here. Dre, college football circuit quickly here.
00:15:52
Speaker 4: One second real quick, Mark. That needs to be addressed, those slow starts. That information right there, that window of time, that Johnny just talked about. How do you change that? A study needs to be done. What are we doing? What did we do? How did we start the years that we went to the Greenbrier? Something has to be adjusted because you can't continue to do it that way. And I'm a believer that if this team is going to win a Super Bowl or get to a Super Bowl, it's going to be because you have home field advantage. And you can't have starts like that and get home field advantage.
00:16:27
Speaker 3: See, I thought about Greenbrier. Does the weather wear these guys out? Do they take a long time to get their legs under them? That's the study.
00:16:36
Speaker 4: Yeah, that's part of the study.
00:16:38
Speaker 3: Well, but it hasn't helped because Greenbrier in 17, all right, that was a weird year with the hurricane and everything. Greenbrier in 18, you start 0-3. You rebound, but you start 0-3. Green Bay, you went there in 19. You start 0-1. But 19 was relatively a pretty good start to the season, Johnny. Two years ago, you got off to a good start. You were in Cleveland. Maybe that's the thing. We've got to go to Cleveland every year.
00:17:01
Speaker 1: Got to go to Cleveland, yeah. Got to go to Nick's high school. Sounds like it's working for Sean Watson.
00:17:04
Speaker 5: Yeah.
00:17:05
Speaker 1: Cleveland for everything.
00:17:06
Speaker 4: For everything.
00:17:07
Speaker 3: Got to go to Nick Casario's high school, get off to a good start. I figured out the formula.
00:17:11
Speaker 1: We can all go hang out at Bob Evans with Rasheen Ali's mom.
00:17:14
Speaker 3: I mean, last year, go to Greenbrier.
00:17:15
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:17:16
Speaker 3: Last year, Greenbrier 0-3.
00:17:18
Speaker 4: 0-3?
00:17:18
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:17:19
Speaker 3: So that doesn't work, apparently. And I hate to say it because I love the Greenbrier. Let's go to Cleveland. That's it. That's going to solve everything. Dre, what about Ole Miss Saturday night? That was kind of special to see that atmosphere and see the hate watch that was taking place across the nation with Lane Kiffin. A very interesting college football atmosphere.
00:17:39
Speaker 4: I sipped on the Kool-Aid a little bit with LSU and Lane and thought they were going to go in there, and I actually thought they were going to run away with the game, to be quite honest, because LSU had looked so dominant. But that kind of shows you that it's tough. It's tough to go in those SEC environments and win football games, and every week it's a big-time heavyweight fight. Ole Miss, I thought, yeah, they're okay, but I don't know that they'll be able to hang around in the second half against LSU. They were dominant at times in the game. I have mad respect and new respect for Trinidad Chambliss and the way he operates. They put the game on his shoulders and said, go win it for us. They weren't running it a lot, the starting running back. He went out, the kid that came in ran hard around the goal lines, but It was on Chambliss' shoulders, and he delivered. And he made some throws that I honestly didn't know that he was capable of making. So I have a newfound respect for him.
00:18:40
Speaker 1: Yeah, he was tremendous. I was just listening coming back from my game.
00:18:45
Speaker 2: Dre, I know they ended up losing on Friday night to Texas Tech, but I think Willie Fritz has got these Cougars moving in the right direction. Connor Wigman with a great drive to get the touchdown, then came up inches short of the two-point conversion. I know it ended up being a loss to Texas Tech, a moral victory, whatever, but I feel like Willie's got that thing going in the right direction. I know you called the first game against Oregon State. What are you seeing from the Cougs, and how proud are you as a Coug alum to see them just go to battle, especially in.
00:19:12
Speaker 1: A tough place like Lubbock, and almost pull that one out?
00:19:15
Speaker 4: Yeah, very proud. I mean, I was on pins and needles. I watched every down of that game. I don't know if I've done that in a while.
00:19:23
Speaker 3: But I was engaged.
00:19:25
Speaker 4: They were entertaining. They played hard. They played tough. You just can't go into a place like that and turn it over. And I think that was the difference in the Kentucky A & M game where they went in, took care of the football, and walked out of a very tough environment with a win. But I thought the Cougars– and I'll say this because I said it yesterday. If that game is in Houston– he's in for the two-point conversion.
00:19:53
Speaker 5: Yes.
00:19:54
Speaker 4: If they love it, he's going to be short. So that's just how I.
00:19:58
Speaker 1: Play, where the game is.
00:20:00
Speaker 4: Being played, and we play on when he scores a two-point conversion. But it was an entertaining game, and I could not be more proud. And I'm not into moral victories either, but this is going to set them up. Some losses give you momentum. and let you know that, hey, we are a playaway. Look, guys, this is one, two, three plays in the game where we turned it over twice here, a couple of fumbles, and we didn't get this done. Otherwise, we win this football game. We turn the momentum in our favor, and we win the football game. I think the Cougars, and I don't know that that's the last time those two teams will play this season they may very well be in the big 12 championship.
00:20:38
Speaker 3: Game yeah i thought it was a big night for the big 12 you know it was a good looking game you had the national window you had two ranked teams going at it the coogs and the big 12 you know 20 years ago this was a dream to be in a league like this to have that kind of window and unfortunately couldn't pull it.
00:20:54
Speaker 4: Out i think i thought connor wigman showed the country that uh He needs to be in the quarterback conversation when you're talking about the best around the country because he competed his tail off. He ran when he needed to. He made plays and throws when he needed to. It's a fun game to watch. The big tight end from UTSA, he played his tail off. It's just a fun, fun group to watch. And defensively, they start forcing a few more turnovers. One kid had a great one-handed interception, and they were going back and forth about that. But just the overall game itself was just fun to digest.
00:21:36
Speaker 3: All right, Dre, looking forward to Sunday already. Let's hope for a better result. Thank you, my friend.
00:21:41
Speaker 4: Hey, where are we eating when we get there? It's Indy, right?
00:21:45
Speaker 3: Yeah, I know, but we'll talk. I know, but it's a little sticky wicked as far as the location, okay? I got a plan. I got a plan.
00:21:56
Speaker 4: Okay.
00:21:57
Speaker 3: We'll discuss offline.
00:21:58
Speaker 5: All right.
00:22:00
Speaker 2: Yes, it is Indy, and we will have a good time if the Texans come home with win number one on the 2026 season. All right, coming up next, our good friend Indy Kalou is going to step in the seat and give us some knowledge from what he saw from the trenches.
00:22:19
Speaker 1: And this one against the Bengals. That's next on Texans All Access. What's going on, everybody?
00:22:23
Speaker 2: Welcome back to this Monday edition of Texans All Access from the Hyundai Texans Radio Studio. I'm John Harris, and it's time to catch up with our good friend N.D. Kalou, which, by the way, his son now plays at the University of Florida, and that's helpful for a little later in this conversation with our good friend N.D.
00:22:42
Speaker 5: Kalou. Let's go.
00:22:43
Speaker 3: N.D., How you doing?
00:22:45
Speaker 5: How are y'all? What a strange game. Like, I'm watching that game with the defense playing the way they're playing and the movement of the ball, Mark and John. I was, like, excited. I was like, yeah, this is what, you know, this is what I'm expecting. Then after a while, I'm like, oh, we haven't scored. Like, it was just weird because I felt like they were hitting on all cylinders in regards to moving the ball. And then, obviously, the rush was where it needed to be. We didn't see that last week. But then when I look up at the scoreboard, I'm like, something's just not adding up.
00:23:15
Speaker 3: It didn't add up, and I'm looking at this game like, as I match it up with last week's game, N.D., You played two AFC contenders. You didn't handle it well. Obviously, you lost both games. The only solace I have is these are good teams. You have yet to play your best game. I firmly believe the Texans will play better. You get better as the season goes on. That's allowed, right? You're allowed to improve. We've seen it happen with this team before, and they've got to figure out a way to do it, correct? Correct.
00:23:47
Speaker 5: Especially when the teams don't treat preseason the way they used to treat it, where your starters get meaningful minutes in preseason games. So when the season opens up, it's not like the first time you're getting true live action. So I think that's a part of the reason you see some good teams start slow. They're all in the same boat as far as how they handle preseason so I'm not making any excuses at all and then that's how you also get a chance to see all three phases because last week you know against Buffalo it was the defense that didn't really step up and this week I felt like the defense played pretty good ball and the offense obviously when you put up six points you don't score a touchdown if you're a true pro as an offensive player you look and say you have to get better And the special teams wasn't where it needed to be. So, you know, sooner or later, and it better be sooner than later, they're going to have to put all three phases together and not just have one or two out of the three phases play well.
00:24:44
Speaker 1: Is it my question? I'm sorry. I've gotten to the fourth down in inches.
00:24:47
Speaker 3: Oh, you're watching it on tape? Don't watch it, Johnny.
00:24:50
Speaker 1: I can't. Stay with us. I'm done. I'm cooked. Remember what I showed you in the break?
00:24:56
Speaker 5: I know. All right.
00:24:57
Speaker 3: Happened two plays before this. Johnny.
00:25:00
Speaker 1: Indy, I've got to take a breath.
00:25:02
Speaker 3: I need some nitrous oxide here in studio.
00:25:04
Speaker 1: Indy, I'm going to ask you this. This is kind of a fun question in some sense.
00:25:07
Speaker 2: But watching Sexy Dexy yesterday, do you remember an enormous athlete.
00:25:14
Speaker 1: That you played against or played with?
00:25:17
Speaker 2: That just could take over the game due to his sheer size and power the way that.
00:25:22
Speaker 1: Dexter Lawrence can. Was there somebody that you remember?
00:25:25
Speaker 2: Because the only guy I can really kind of think of that even comes close is Vince Wilfork, I guess. But this dude is just a different type of animal. Do you remember the biggest and most impactful guy that you watched, studied, or played alongside?
00:25:44
Speaker 5: Ooh, that's a good question. Here's the thing about Dexter Lawrence. For some reason, I don't know if he looks bigger in the Bengals uniform, but when I was watching the game, I was like, I don't remember him being that big. And then on the tackle for a loss on the fourth down, I was like, look, I knew he was a dominant player. I knew he was a beast, but I didn't remember him being that big and to be that big and can move like that. As you're asking that question, John, I'm like, I can't think of someone that large. Like, I was thinking of Hollis Thomas, but he was short, but he weighed a lot, you know, 330, 340, but very fast, you know, for a guy that weighs 330 pounds, but he was only 6'1. But Lawrence, and I don't have his height, his measurables in front of me, but just watching it, he looked like he was about 6'5, 6'6, 340 pounds, you know, moving like that. I'm sure it will come to me, but I don't remember. There were big guys that I watched coming out of the Southwest Conference, like Sam Adams, but they just eat up blocks. But Dexter Lawrence, he's making plays. He's using his quickness, and he's not just eating up blocks. He's out there using his athleticism as well. Can you imagine trying to block an athletic 6'5, 340-pounder?
00:27:02
Speaker 2: I don't want to block an athletic 6'3, 140-pounder out of this stage. I mean, this guy, I mean, his, I should mark a play during the break. I tried to run outside zone away from him. He ran it down. Then on the fourth down play, he's over the nose. He's a straight-up nose on Evan Brown. He ran that down. He not only defeated blocks, but he ran the plays down from behind, which I find fascinating because Wilk Fork is really the only guy I could think of That would do it. But Wilford was, like Indy said, Vince was really kind of a run, you know, plugger. You know, he wasn't that. He wasn't a guy that, I mean, you probably, Indy, could play Dexter Lawrence at a three technique in an even front and just let him penetrate and he'd go to work.
00:27:54
Speaker 1: Like, you don't have to play him over the nose. He'd play anywhere.
00:27:58
Speaker 5: You could easily put him at a three technique and on rundowns, you have to have some other heavy guys to justify. You could even play him in a five technique. You know, if you feel like it's going to be a rundown. You know what? One name that, forgive me if he's listening, which I know he's not. I can't believe I forgot Big Daddy Dan Wilkinson. You know, I play with Big Daddy Dan Wilkinson in Washington. And for those that don't know, this was a defensive tackle who's a number one overall pick. And That was the first time, John, it was early in my career, but where I really saw a big guy that could move. It was fun to watch. This was a guy that was huge, and he could move. And another name you'll know, Sean Rogers. Oh, yeah. That's another big guy that could move. But yeah, Dexter Lawrence, I was shocked. I was shocked that I didn't realize how big he was, even though I've watched him for years.
00:28:55
Speaker 3: Andy, I am here to give the people hope because that's what I do. I am the Norman Vincent Peale of Sports Talk Radio. I always have been.
00:29:02
Speaker 1: Here we go.
00:29:03
Speaker 3: You're 0-2, but they've dug themselves out of this before.
00:29:07
Speaker 1: C.J.
00:29:08
Speaker 3: Stroud's throwing the ball pretty well here. 353 yesterday. And look, that final drive aside, I know they were down two touchdowns at the time, but they moved the ball pretty well through the air despite not having Nico Collins. Schultz had a career day. And I think this is something you can build around. You start to get a takeaway or two. You hang on to the football. You convert and don't miss execute those critical situations with the field goal botch snap spot. and missing the field goal in the fourth and inches. If you get a couple of those instead of missing all three, it might be. a different situation. Moving forward, you do have some things you can build on, especially with Stroud throwing the ball well.
00:29:45
Speaker 1: Thoughts?
00:29:46
Speaker 5: No, absolutely. It would be ridiculous to lose hope, you know, and to change your expectations after starting 0-2. And I'm sure there's people sitting in their cars in their office listening and rolling their eyes. But at the same time, it would be ridiculous if you were 2-0 to feel like, Oh, it's time to book my hotel for the Super Bowl. It's still very early in the season. And you have to look. We saw it last year. They started 0-3 and then they, you know, they had that historic run. You don't ever want to dig yourself in that hole. But at the same time, it allows you to understand that. They can get out of this. They can turn their fortunes around. They're going to have an Indianapolis Colts team. You're talking about a division rival who lost a very close, very entertaining game to Kansas City. So you're going to get another team that feels like their back's against the wall. Once you start winning and get the bad taste out of your mouth, then the fans, you know, they can really get excited about the season. But I'm with you, Mark. Not so much to try to convince people to stay excited about the team, but my thought is It is early in the season. CJ Stroud is flinging that ball around. But at the same time, they have to figure out a way to get more than six points on the board week in and week out. You can never have a game where you're not scoring a touchdown. You're only scoring a couple of field goals and the expectations to win. But I do believe they have the horses to get the points on the board, to put the points on the board. And for me, it's just all about playing those three phases the same day. Last week, defense didn't show up this week. Defense showed up, but offense didn't show up. Special teams didn't show up. I think this coaching staff can get this team to play all three phases at the same level, and then we're going to be talking about victories.
00:31:26
Speaker 2: Indy, how satisfying, how sigh of relief did you feel? Okay, these guys are still as great as we thought they were. Seeing Daniil Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., really get the pressure on Joe Burrow yesterday when the Bengals decided, nah, we're good. We're just going to let our big hulking tackles go against them. How good was it to see those two guys really give the pressure and get the pressure on Joe Burrow?
00:31:53
Speaker 5: Great, great to see. I won't say released because guys with that physical talent, it's not like you, you know, you're not sitting there wondering, John, and I know you weren't wondering like, oh, do they lose a step? Are they not as good as they were last year? You just knew it was a matter of time. It was very satisfying to see. I mean, when Daniel Hunter had his sack, when he literally was just a speed rush around the horn, I was for some every play, I'm focused on a defensive lineman or offensive lineman. And that play, I happened to be focused on him live. And it was just a thing of beauty. And it was all about his getoff. And that's what he can do every single play. And not just the sacks, but the disruptive plays. So they're picking up now. We didn't see it last week, but now they're picking up where they left off last year. And I love the fact that you had a lot of activity when it comes to the rush from the inside, from the interior line. I mean, they got it to the game as well. So that was satisfying to watch. And that's the expectation. That's the expectation I have from the front four every single time they play.
00:32:55
Speaker 3: Andy, what about playing the Colts this week? Back in the division, familiar foe. We always talk about division games. You know them. They are, you have a feud with them. It's the Hatfields and the McCoys, and the Colts are the Colts. You know what it's like to go up there and face this squad. So many familiar faces. It's got to help to be in this brawl with a team that you know so well, that you have such familiarity with.
00:33:23
Speaker 5: No, absolutely. But unfortunately, that goes both ways. You know, Indianapolis is saying the same thing about the Texans, about they understand what it means to play the studs, Daniil Hunter, Will Anderson that we just talked about. So if their offensive coordinator is worth anything, you know, he's already been thinking about how they're going to try to slow that down. But I'm with you, Mark, especially coming off two losses and coming off a loss that this game against the Bengals where, again, The offense didn't show up and there's going to be some concerns. If you get a win against a divisional foe that's playing pretty good ball, that kind of just wipes away the bad feeling. It helps you with the standings. Look, this isn't basketball. This isn't baseball where you have 80 plus games. Every single game counts, especially those division rivalry games. So, yes, you drop one to Buffalo, you drop one to Cincinnati. If they go into Indianapolis and get that dub, that's going to be a good feeling on the way home. That's going to be a good feeling saying, OK, we're still in this and we're right where we need to be as far as the overall goals of getting into the playoffs.
00:34:28
Speaker 1: The last thing that I want this team to be is 0-3 for Dallas. Week four. Oh, God.
00:34:33
Speaker 2: Along those lines, Indy, with this game at Indy, to get kind of just out away from everything, get away from, you know, any noise or whatever.
00:34:46
Speaker 1: It's his town. Obviously, you're going to hear it during the week.
00:34:47
Speaker 2: But just the fact that you play the game on Sunday in a different building. away from home. Do you think that helps in some regard that you feel like, okay, it's us against the world kind of thing that, you know, look, we, the, the Colts fans will make noise or whatever, but you know, if the offense doesn't get a, you know, a drive going on the first drive, you know, the crowd, you know, crowd here might boo and show displeasure or whatever. Do you think it's good that they're getting on the road and playing the Colts in Indy at this point with it too, with Owen too, do you.
00:35:18
Speaker 1: Think it helps that they are going on the road to face Indy?
00:35:22
Speaker 5: Man, that's a great point. And you're 100% correct in bringing up, like, sometimes it's good to just get away, even in life. And it's not an indictment on the Texan fans, but we all heard the boos when they weren't happy. So it's good to say, you know what, we need to get away, go fix ourselves, and come back. So I kind of like the way you framed that picture, John. And I do think... There's something to that. You know, like you said, during the week, if they follow social media, which I'm sure they do, if they listen to the radio, they're going to hear it.
00:35:53
Speaker 4: C.J.
00:35:54
Speaker 5: Stroud, you know, he's going to hear all the negative talk, but he's a starting quarterback of an NFL team. He just has to have a roll off his back. But there is something about... getting away being a visitor playing on the road when things aren't going your way and when you've disappointed the home base for two weeks in a row yeah there's something to be said about just saying you know what let me go fix myself before i come back home i'm i'm sure there's some men out there who've had to do that in their personal lives so yeah the texans going on the road getting it up against the colds that that's going to make the next homecoming that much.
00:36:28
Speaker 1: Sweeter Great stuff from N.D.
00:36:31
Speaker 3: Kaloud.
00:36:31
Speaker 1: Love catching up with N.D. every single week during the season.
00:36:35
Speaker 2: My co-analyst on preseason games, I love standing up there next to him. He's such a great guy, such a great analyst, knows ball, very respectful, just such a great dude, N.D.
00:36:45
Speaker 5: Kaloud.
00:36:46
Speaker 2: All right, coming up, another guy that fits that category, Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle.
00:36:50
Speaker 1: We'll catch up with you next right here on Texas All Access. All right, let's do it. Final segment of.
00:36:55
Speaker 2: This edition of Texas All-Access before we turn it over to Westwood One and Giants v. Rams on Monday Night Football. So let's get it done with Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle.
00:37:06
Speaker 3: Let's get to Jonathan Alexander from the Houston Chronicle now. J.A., great to have you aboard. And your thoughts overall, your 30,000-foot view of yesterday and moving forward for the Texans.
00:37:17
Speaker 6: Yeah, I mean, you know, it was good to see the Texans' defense bounce back but there's still things that are not happening on both sides of the ball far too much inconsistency we know that the texas defense is at its best when it is forcing turnovers and it has not done that yet you know i don't think that'll happen all season but that's been one issue and the offense really sorely misses nico collins they need him back on the field because they're missing their best deep play threat. That makes things a lot easier for the offense in general. The Texans have a lot to work on and a lot to figure out in these next few weeks.
00:38:03
Speaker 2: Jonathan, would you say the special teams the last couple weeks more of a blip or is it starting to become more of a trend that worries you?
00:38:14
Speaker 6: Yeah, I'm glad you brought that up because I didn't mention special teams. I thought that really helped as equally as the offense cost them the game. And to me, I think that's been two weeks in a row where you've seen the special teams struggle. Particularly in week one, we saw the kick return and punt return struggle. And even Jalen Nord didn't have a good game. But yeah, to me, this is looking like a trend. It's not indicative of Frank Ross-led special teams units. But when I look down, This special teams roster, I see a lot of young players who may be still learning. So special teams really does affect the game. So I think that's been one of the issues for sure.
00:38:54
Speaker 3: All right. Now, what about Stroud? What are you seeing so far? He's third in the league in passing yards. Obviously, you want to put the ball in the end zone, but there are some things working well, despite the fact that Nico missed yesterday's game and who knows how much more.
00:39:10
Speaker 6: Yeah, I think when you factor in all of those factors, I think stride has played pretty well so far. I think if he has his best weapon and Nico Collins, he looks a little bit better and he took care of the football. Um, and, and if he can continue to be that and he gets his best weapon, then I think the offense will be a lot better. Um, But overall, I think Stroud's play has made good decisions. I thought he made a lot of good decisions in last week's game. They've just got to figure out a way to move the ball when they get in the red zone. I mean, the run game didn't give him any help. I think he ran four plays in the red zone and gained four yards. And obviously that didn't happen. There seemed to be some miscommunication with the receivers as well. A lot of young guys playing significant playing time for their first game. I thought C.J. Stroup played pretty well.
00:40:00
Speaker 2: Jonathan, on Thursday night we watched the Bills smoke the Lions, and I think people in Houston were like, hey, okay. You know, we lost to a team that might be really, really, really freaking good. And then we watched Sunday night after knowing, oh boy, we need a big performance against Indy. Indy may not be that good. The Ravens smashed him at home. So then we watch on Sunday night. We're like, oh, maybe the Colts are a lot better than we think. What are your thoughts about the Colts going into week three?
00:40:32
Speaker 6: Yeah, I mean, I think the Colts are a team that can beat you. I also think that. They're a team that can be beaten. Their defense hasn't looked good so far. And so maybe that helps the Texans or that goes in the Texans' favor. But, man, their offense is always going to be good as long as Shane Steichen is coach and Jonathan Taylor is healthy. You know, that's the one area that would probably scare me. You know, the fact that Jonathan Taylor is playing at a high level and the Texans' defense really hasn't stopped running backs. You know, I think both the Bills and the Bengals went away from the run at a certain point, and not because they weren't having success, but because the passing game started to do well. So, you know, this is really a 50-50 game at this point. I don't think it's a guaranteed win or anything like that.
00:41:25
Speaker 3: No, I wish it was, but that's not the way it works in the NFL.
00:41:29
Speaker 1: I wish the Colts stunk.
00:41:30
Speaker 3: Well, let me ask you this. How good do you think the Bengals are? How good are the Bills? I mean, we talked about the Bills, and Johnny just mentioned it Thursday night, what they did to Detroit, even though they gave up some points at the end relatively. But the Bengals, with this improved defense, I mean, we might be looking at a Super Bowl contender. I'm not going to get too far ahead of myself here, but it's two weeks in, and they're both 2-0. What do you think of those two teams that the Texans lost to?
00:41:54
Speaker 6: I mean, I thought they lost to two of the top teams on their schedule. You know, I think normally the Texans match up really well against the Bills. Even though I think the Bills are good this year, I think the Texans match up really well against them, and they always will, I think, even in the playoffs. You know, they don't have to deal necessarily with that cold weather anymore if they face them. And I think the Bills are much improved. What they did to their defense will do a lot for this team. I think they'll 100% be a playoff team. I don't know if they'll beat out the Ravens, but I definitely think they'll be a playoff team. So I think Texas lost to two good teams. And I think week three will be a really good test of where they actually are.
00:42:42
Speaker 1: Yeah, this league is weird. There are four 2-0 teams in the AFC.
00:42:46
Speaker 4: Four.
00:42:48
Speaker 1: The Texans lost to both.
00:42:50
Speaker 4: Right.
00:42:50
Speaker 1: The Bills and the Bengals. The other two.
00:42:54
Speaker 1: Are the Raiders.
00:42:56
Speaker 6: And.
00:42:57
Speaker 1: Why am I blanking on the other one? I'm looking.
00:43:00
Speaker 3: I'm looking. Who else is 2-0?
00:43:02
Speaker 5: Oh, Chiefs. Oh, yeah, of course.
00:43:03
Speaker 1: Yeah, Chiefs and Raiders.
00:43:05
Speaker 2: So you don't play either one of those in the AFC West. I think the most confounding team in the league right now is this.
00:43:11
Speaker 1: I almost called him San Diego. The Los Angeles Chargers.
00:43:15
Speaker 2: Who would you also add to that group, Jonathan, of teams where you go, man, what the heck is going on with this team through two weeks?
00:43:25
Speaker 6: Yeah, I would definitely say the Chargers are the top of my list as well. A lot of people were saying that they looked really good in the preseason with their offensive line finally being healthy, but they just look horrible. To me, the Broncos bounced back. I didn't expect them to lose so bad to the Chiefs, but they did bounce back this past week with the win. If we If we look at all of those teams, then I'd definitely say the most confounding team is the Chargers.
00:44:03
Speaker 3: Yeah, well, and you were talking about the Ravens with the AFC North situation going on with the Bengals ahead at 2-0 of everybody. But the Ravens get beat by the Saints, except you don't know how good the Saints are. The Saints probably have a lot of offense and clearly 24 points on the board against the Ravens, and they had a great fourth quarter again. They had a great fourth quarter last week against the Lions. The bottom line here, Jonathan, is, correct me if I'm wrong, two weeks in, it's really hard to make full assessments of anybody because everyone's still feeling their way around.
00:44:37
Speaker 6: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, you look at the Patriots last year. They lost their season opener to the Raiders, and then they make it to the Super Bowl, and the Raiders are among the worst teams in the league. I mean, injuries are a huge part of this game, and injuries can swing teams in– wrong or good direction um you know each year we saw um you know some teams lose quarterbacks and then fall off so you know who knows maybe the texans face some teams um that that lose their top players and then win some games that you might not expect them to win um you know it happens every year.
00:45:19
Speaker 3: Jaguars, let's just quickly go over this because they go to 1-1 after losing at Denver. Trevor Lawrence throws a pick. No touchdowns for him. They don't run it as well as they want. They have a tough time, mile high. I guess it's not that much of a shock right now, but are they still the team to beat in the AFC South? They have the best record right now.
00:45:40
Speaker 1: I get it.
00:45:41
Speaker 3: Everybody else is 0-2, but your thoughts two games in on them.
00:45:46
Speaker 4: Yeah, I do.
00:45:48
Speaker 6: I mean, I think they're neck and neck with the Texans. I don't think one team is better than the other. To me, it just depends on how they handle their schedules and who has the tougher schedule. The Jaguars had the easier schedule last year. On paper, the Texans have an easier schedule. I think they're about as even as you can.
00:46:06
Speaker 4: Be with the Texans. So, in a sense, they are.
00:46:10
Speaker 6: The team to beat, but the Texans, to me, are right there with them.
00:46:15
Speaker 2: Giants-Rams tonight, Monday Night Football. It sounds sexy. Is it sexy? Is this going to be a Rams blowout, or do you think that the Scataboo-Jackson-Dark connection can maybe go to L.A.
00:46:27
Speaker 1: And get a win with no Miles Garrett on the Rams side?
00:46:31
Speaker 6: Yeah, I mean, I think it'll be a closer game. I think the Rams will still win, but I think what John Harbaugh has done with his team, I think he's made them more formidable players. and they have talent with Malik Mabers as well. And defense, I like their Giants defense as well. So I don't think it's going to be some blowout, but I do think that the Rams are far more talented than what the Giants have.
00:46:55
Speaker 3: All right, Jonathan, what do you have going out of the Chronicle for us this week?
00:47:00
Speaker 6: We had an analysis from the game.
00:47:03
Speaker 5: On Sunday.
00:47:04
Speaker 6: We had about three stories together between me, Peter Warren, and Matt Young, so please check those out.
00:47:10
Speaker 1: Yes, do that for sure. All right, appreciate it, guys.
00:47:14
Speaker 2: J-A-N-D and Andre Ware for joining us.
00:47:17
Speaker 1: We'll see you tomorrow, buddy. And as always, go Texans.
Speaker 1: What is happening, everybody? Welcome in to Monday Night Texans All Access.
00:00:04
Speaker 2: Appreciate you being with me, John Harris, football analyst, sideline reporter for your Houston Texans. We will take you right up to Monday Night Football Giants v. Rams in SoFi. And if you're the Giants, man, that's a tough road to hoe. You got a night, Monday night game on the West Coast. You got to fly back and then play on Sunday.
00:00:26
Speaker 1: Ooh, it's tough.
00:00:27
Speaker 2: But The Giants are a tough football team. They showed that in week one, beating the Cowboys. See what they've got tonight. That will follow our program this evening. And we kick it off with our good friend, our analyst on game day, one of the best you're going to find, Andre Ware.
00:00:45
Speaker 1: Here's our conversation with Dre.
00:00:46
Speaker 3: What do you think of the offense and what you have to work with right now with no Nico Collins for the time being?
00:00:53
Speaker 4: Yeah, I actually think that this can be duplicated and and he can actually grow from this and add to it. It's just going to take forcing maybe a decision that we talked about all offseason where this is a running team, this is a running team, this team is being built to run the football, so on and so forth. Well, when it's not working, you cannot continue to force that. Sometimes in games, teams have to rely on the other side of it, and I think when you cut him loose, especially in a setting where he's no huddle and he's just at the line of scrimmage and dealing, that's when I think C.J. 's at his best. And he was in those situations in the second half because he had to be, was forced to be. I'd have liked to see the pace kind of quicken itself. I thought a lot of time ran off the clock when they decided to get to that, and they were still huddling at one point in the game, and they were down by two scorers. That's when you get, I think, the best version of CJ. So absolutely, I think he can grow from this performance.
00:01:58
Speaker 2: Dre, what's a positive that you took out of yesterday going into the game? I mean, obviously there were questions, okay, is the defense going to show up like we know they can? What do we feel about the special teams, offense, et cetera, going in? What's a positive that you took out of the game yesterday that you feel will be a consistent thing for this team going forward?
00:02:22
Speaker 4: It wasn't special teams yesterday. It's a game out of a 17-game schedule that that happens. It's going to happen to the entire team where you're like, where did that come from? Yesterday, you got a component here or there, and then you're missing two components. Well, there's going to be a game that all three aren't working. And so just brace yourself for it. It's a 17-game schedule. It happens. But can you win when you're not at your best? And so That's the tough question that we kind of have to continue to navigate through. Can you win when you're not at your best? Can you win with C.J. when he throws for 300-plus yards and he's your leading rusher at 29 yards, but you come up short in some other area offensively? I'll ask you guys a question. Have we won games without Nico Collins before?
00:03:16
Speaker 3: Yeah, you did. I mean, you beat San Francisco last year without Nico Collins. You've done it before.
00:03:21
Speaker 4: The answer is yes. Yeah, it's been done before. So that expectation of, oh, woe is me and the sky is falling, we don't have Nico, they've won games and big games without Nico Collins before. So it's just a matter of stepping up. Somebody else has got to fill those shoes. I thought yesterday there were a couple of opportunities. As well as CJ played, he left some stuff on the field yesterday as well in terms of missing. Jared Wayne, missing Xavier Hutchinson. He hits those two, and it's a totally different deal. He hits one of those, and it's a totally different football game because of the vibe of the game and how it was flowing at the time that those were missed. He's up over 400 yards maybe if he hits just one of them.
00:04:05
Speaker 3: Dre, what do you do about a guy like Dexter Lawrence? And now you have to deal with Grover Stewart and DeForest Buckner this week. Okay, they're not Dexter Lawrence, but they're pretty darn good, and they've had their moments last night against the Chiefs. But what about Dexter Lawrence and the real difficulty in handling a big body like that? Jonathan Allen, too, yesterday just could not move them out of the way. They had some surge, and they made a big difference for the Bengals.
00:04:31
Speaker 4: I'm not sure we ran one draw play. Johnny may know because he's gone back and watched it. I haven't had that luxury yet. No, we didn't. You invite that guy up the field. You take advantage of his aggression. He wants to get up the field. Now they know you're throwing the football a little bit, especially in the second half. Invite him up the field and let him block himself and run the ball right underneath him. But big guys like that that you can't move, they want to be aggressive. They want to show you they can pass rush, and you have to take advantage of that. When they're three big stout guys in the middle– and you're not getting pushed, how long does it take you to learn from that to make an adjustment? You go into halftime, you have that talk, hey, we're going to just throw it the second half. 55 times, it could have been 65. But if there are plays that are positive plays or with positive intent, some of it yesterday just kind of felt and looked like this isn't going anywhere. And you knew it before. If they run the football against this look, it's not going anywhere. And we kind of bumped our heads that way a little bit.
00:05:38
Speaker 1: Draven, you bring up a great point.
00:05:41
Speaker 2: A draw, a draw is different from, I want to use the word deception.
00:05:46
Speaker 1: Offensive coaches are like, no, no, we're not deceiving anybody.
00:05:49
Speaker 3: You really are.
00:05:51
Speaker 2: But counters, any kind of misdirection is, That we, that we don't, that's not in the run game. Like we'll run power. We'll run zone. So we'll run some gap scheme stuff, but like a counter where you show it and then pull guys and then bring it back behind them. I mean, that might've been good against the guy like Dexter Lawrence. Like, Hey Dex, we're going this way.
00:06:11
Speaker 1: No, we're not. We're going this other way. There was none of that.
00:06:14
Speaker 2: It was, we're going to run zone. We're going to run to this spot. We're going to, here's where we go. Even when we ran our gap scheme stuff, it's the run duo. Like here it's right coming right here. There's really no deception. to what they did running-wise. And then at some point, they just decided, all right, look, we got to chuck it. And at that point, they decided to chuck it. So at that point, we talked about this a little bit as we were kind of popping in, Dre. Dalton Schultz, having the day he had, 12 for 140. No touchdowns, but he has the 12 for 140. I think we've seen the last couple of years that he's one of the better receiving tight ends in the league, but I felt yesterday he was the playmaker that they needed to have. He has that one-handed catch down the seam, which was really nice. Your thoughts about Dalton and what he can continue to bring to this offense?
00:07:00
Speaker 4: Yeah, he was magical yesterday, and we talked about it in the pregame a little bit about– Somebody having to step up and fill the shoes of Nico Collins. And it just felt like this was a game that, you know, he would have a big influence in and obviously did with 12 catches for 140. You just would like to see him get into the end zone at least one time to cap that thing off. And that's almost the perfect afternoon. But he's been consistent. He's one of the most consistent weapons or more consistent weapons that this team has. He's a better blocker at the line of scrimmage. They've been able to split him out and take advantage of mismatches. In space, he's such a good space player. That grab over the middle was just sick. Now, if he catches the corner route before that, then, you know, it's a crazy, crazy day because he had a chance with that one to turn it up the field and get much more, if not score. But it's been fun watching him become a true Texan and be a big, big part of what they do in the passing game. Just got to keep it going.
00:08:06
Speaker 3: Okay, here we go. The dreaded, hated, despised Indianapolis Colts. They are next. They're in the crosshairs Sunday at Indianapolis. Texans facing the horseshoe. Dre, they're 0-2, but they looked a lot better last night than they did the week before. I mean, they gave it to the Chiefs last night. They just could not close the deal. Put up 30 points in an overtime loss at Kansas City. Jonathan Taylor looking good. Daniel Jones looks pretty good despite coming back from the injury. Your thoughts on Indy coming up on Sunday.
00:08:38
Speaker 4: Yeah, they've got a couple of issues of their own in terms of losing receivers. I think they lost Alex Pierce. yesterday to that same foot area where he's He had off-season surgery, so he may be down for a while, if not the remainder of the season. But guys have stepped up. Laquan Treadwell stepped up. Josh Downs played big. So big that he had me searching the fantasy waiver wire to see if I could pick him up this morning. Because I know he's going to be their number one at some point. So he stepped up. And you mentioned Jonathan Taylor. Ty Warren is a weapon. So it doesn't get– my point is it doesn't get any easier from Buffalo to Cincinnati to now– Indianapolis. You just don't have the flashy name at quarterback and Daniel Jones, but you certainly got a flashy runner. That's capable of taking over a football game and embarrassing you. This guy's had some of his best performances against the Texans. And I'm talking about Jonathan Taylor.
00:09:38
Speaker 5: Yep. Yeah.
00:09:39
Speaker 2: You, you went exactly to the spot I was thinking. It's like, and he's had those games against the Texans. And I remember that the Saturday night, 2023, when we were there, He's running rough shot over us in the third quarter. And I'm like, this game, this is not looking good. And then he tweaked his ankle and came back. And then we finally kind of got our bearings.
00:09:58
Speaker 1: And like, oh, man. Dre asked this of Andy a little while ago, and I'll ask you as well. Just as a player.
00:10:05
Speaker 2: Getting out of town, how important do you think that is, just kind of leaving the noise behind and going and having a game at a different spot? It's just, you know, it's you. It's the team, the coaches, the staff. How good is that you think this week that they can just go to Indy, get out of town, and kind of just focus everybody together one time and get a win over the Colts?
00:10:26
Speaker 4: I think it benefits a lot, especially individual players. And by that, I mean everybody's different. Some family members, whatever, they know your schedule to a T when you're home. And so they know when you can pick up the phone. They're blowing up your phone for tickets and this and that. And you've got to deal with that stuff during the week. When you're on the road, it's the unknown. They have no idea when you're meeting, when you're traveling, when you're on the plane, when you can pick up. And those are distractions, as simple as they sound. And you're like, well, they're losing games because of that. No, those things matter because... It's more mental than it is physical. Physical talents, yeah, they are what they are, but every team has good physical football players. It's the mental aspect of the game. Can you overcome it? So getting out of your ordinary routine is really good. It's good for you sometimes. And then, you know, just feeling like it's us against their entire stadium. And there's a pride element that kicks in with that and that you enjoy. I enjoyed playing on the road because I needed that chip on my shoulder. Oh, you don't like us? Okay, well, we're going to show you. And that's just the extra motivation that you get when you're on the road for games. So I think this is the perfect time to kind of get away from it, get on the road, and go win a football game.
00:11:45
Speaker 3: Okay, things that make me feel better. The AFC South is led– by the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are 1-1. They lost to Denver. Another thing that makes me feel better, only because I am this bitter and I need something to just get me out of this mood, the Chargers at 0-2 with Mike McDaniel coaching that offense, and everyone thought it was going to be really great, and they're 0-2, losing to the Cardinals, and then the Raiders, and both at home. Now, we all know the Chargers at home is kind of like a residency in L.A.
00:12:14
Speaker 5: Anyway.
00:12:14
Speaker 1: Oh, it was loud for the Raiders yesterday.
00:12:16
Speaker 3: Oh, it's their home.
00:12:17
Speaker 5: Really loud.
00:12:18
Speaker 2: L.A.
00:12:18
Speaker 3: Is a Raider town. I've said it.
00:12:19
Speaker 4: Mm-hmm.
00:12:20
Speaker 3: The Raiders probably own L.A. more than the Rams do.
00:12:23
Speaker 5: That's right.
00:12:23
Speaker 3: But, Dre, what do you think of that from afar when you look at the Chargers and Herbert and McDaniel, and it's just not working so far?
00:12:31
Speaker 4: Yeah, I know Jim's a winner, and he's probably going through it more than anybody. I've known Jim for a long, long time, and he's just one of the more competitive individuals I've ever had a chance to meet. And so this is not sitting well with him. He is wanting to get this thing fixed if you scratch your head because Last year, the reason that they didn't go farther than they did or advance further than they did, injuries. And now they're a bit healthier, way more healthy this season than they were last year. Yet they start the season that way. So I expect them to kick it in. I expect them to start to win games. And they'll be a player contending for a playoff spot in the AFC by season's end.
00:13:16
Speaker 3: Don't you think with the 17 games, this is for both of you, I know it's only one more game, but it does buy you that one extra opportunity and it widens the path a little bit more. So when you do start 0-2, and in last year's case 0-3, you do have a little tiny bit more margin for error because you have another opportunity to play a game.
00:13:36
Speaker 4: Either plays you in or plays you out one of the seasons it could also uh could also put you know shovel the dirt on you in terms of uh one that one more opportunity but i get what you're saying and it is you know i i've i like the 16 game schedule i liked it for a lot of reasons you don't that may be a time for symmetrical different conversation for a different day yeah but uh I, it does provide you that it's just that, Hey, let's not, let's not take the Wayne fonts approach that we got 15 more of them, you know, and you keep losing and you know, we got 13 more and we got, you know, 12 more. That's the approach he had. And then soon, sooner or later, a couple of weeks roll by and you don't have the opportunities that you had in week two. So get this thing fixed, get it buttoned up and start to put string together wins. That's, I say it all the time. It's what Coach Pardee told us when I was playing for him at Houston. Successful seasons are made on winning streaks. How many winning streaks can you put together in a 17-game season? And it seems easy, but until you're in it and you're 0-2 and now you're trying, but there's always a place to start, especially this early in the season, and it's right now for the Texans.
00:14:53
Speaker 2: So I sent this to Mark, Dre, I was thinking about this on Saturday, and I sent this to Mark.
00:15:00
Speaker 1: Here are starts. Starting in 2017.
00:15:04
Speaker 4: Oh, geez.
00:15:05
Speaker 1: Here are starts.
00:15:05
Speaker 3: Okay, go ahead.
00:15:06
Speaker 1: 2017, we went 0-1. 2018, we went 0-3.
00:15:06
Speaker 5: 2019, 0-1. 2020, 0-4.
00:15:06
Speaker 1: 2021, we won the first one, then lost eight in a row. 2022, we went 0-3-1.
00:15:08
Speaker 3: 2023, 0-2.
00:15:08
Speaker 1: 2024, we got off to a good start.
00:15:10
Speaker 5: 2-0.
00:15:10
Speaker 1: We didn't finish as well. We went 2-1-3. Then 2025, 0-3.
00:15:12
Speaker 3: And then 2026, 0-2.
00:15:31
Speaker 2: All right, but look at this. But how many of those years did we make the playoffs? 18, 19, 23, 24, 25. Yeah, so rough starts.
00:15:39
Speaker 1: It's crazy.
00:15:40
Speaker 3: But good finishes relatively. At least you get to the postseason most of the time. So let's take that again, and maybe you can find lightning in a bottle here. Dre, college football circuit quickly here.
00:15:52
Speaker 4: One second real quick, Mark. That needs to be addressed, those slow starts. That information right there, that window of time, that Johnny just talked about. How do you change that? A study needs to be done. What are we doing? What did we do? How did we start the years that we went to the Greenbrier? Something has to be adjusted because you can't continue to do it that way. And I'm a believer that if this team is going to win a Super Bowl or get to a Super Bowl, it's going to be because you have home field advantage. And you can't have starts like that and get home field advantage.
00:16:27
Speaker 3: See, I thought about Greenbrier. Does the weather wear these guys out? Do they take a long time to get their legs under them? That's the study.
00:16:36
Speaker 4: Yeah, that's part of the study.
00:16:38
Speaker 3: Well, but it hasn't helped because Greenbrier in 17, all right, that was a weird year with the hurricane and everything. Greenbrier in 18, you start 0-3. You rebound, but you start 0-3. Green Bay, you went there in 19. You start 0-1. But 19 was relatively a pretty good start to the season, Johnny. Two years ago, you got off to a good start. You were in Cleveland. Maybe that's the thing. We've got to go to Cleveland every year.
00:17:01
Speaker 1: Got to go to Cleveland, yeah. Got to go to Nick's high school. Sounds like it's working for Sean Watson.
00:17:04
Speaker 5: Yeah.
00:17:05
Speaker 1: Cleveland for everything.
00:17:06
Speaker 4: For everything.
00:17:07
Speaker 3: Got to go to Nick Casario's high school, get off to a good start. I figured out the formula.
00:17:11
Speaker 1: We can all go hang out at Bob Evans with Rasheen Ali's mom.
00:17:14
Speaker 3: I mean, last year, go to Greenbrier.
00:17:15
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:17:16
Speaker 3: Last year, Greenbrier 0-3.
00:17:18
Speaker 4: 0-3?
00:17:18
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:17:19
Speaker 3: So that doesn't work, apparently. And I hate to say it because I love the Greenbrier. Let's go to Cleveland. That's it. That's going to solve everything. Dre, what about Ole Miss Saturday night? That was kind of special to see that atmosphere and see the hate watch that was taking place across the nation with Lane Kiffin. A very interesting college football atmosphere.
00:17:39
Speaker 4: I sipped on the Kool-Aid a little bit with LSU and Lane and thought they were going to go in there, and I actually thought they were going to run away with the game, to be quite honest, because LSU had looked so dominant. But that kind of shows you that it's tough. It's tough to go in those SEC environments and win football games, and every week it's a big-time heavyweight fight. Ole Miss, I thought, yeah, they're okay, but I don't know that they'll be able to hang around in the second half against LSU. They were dominant at times in the game. I have mad respect and new respect for Trinidad Chambliss and the way he operates. They put the game on his shoulders and said, go win it for us. They weren't running it a lot, the starting running back. He went out, the kid that came in ran hard around the goal lines, but It was on Chambliss' shoulders, and he delivered. And he made some throws that I honestly didn't know that he was capable of making. So I have a newfound respect for him.
00:18:40
Speaker 1: Yeah, he was tremendous. I was just listening coming back from my game.
00:18:45
Speaker 2: Dre, I know they ended up losing on Friday night to Texas Tech, but I think Willie Fritz has got these Cougars moving in the right direction. Connor Wigman with a great drive to get the touchdown, then came up inches short of the two-point conversion. I know it ended up being a loss to Texas Tech, a moral victory, whatever, but I feel like Willie's got that thing going in the right direction. I know you called the first game against Oregon State. What are you seeing from the Cougs, and how proud are you as a Coug alum to see them just go to battle, especially in.
00:19:12
Speaker 1: A tough place like Lubbock, and almost pull that one out?
00:19:15
Speaker 4: Yeah, very proud. I mean, I was on pins and needles. I watched every down of that game. I don't know if I've done that in a while.
00:19:23
Speaker 3: But I was engaged.
00:19:25
Speaker 4: They were entertaining. They played hard. They played tough. You just can't go into a place like that and turn it over. And I think that was the difference in the Kentucky A & M game where they went in, took care of the football, and walked out of a very tough environment with a win. But I thought the Cougars– and I'll say this because I said it yesterday. If that game is in Houston– he's in for the two-point conversion.
00:19:53
Speaker 5: Yes.
00:19:54
Speaker 4: If they love it, he's going to be short. So that's just how I.
00:19:58
Speaker 1: Play, where the game is.
00:20:00
Speaker 4: Being played, and we play on when he scores a two-point conversion. But it was an entertaining game, and I could not be more proud. And I'm not into moral victories either, but this is going to set them up. Some losses give you momentum. and let you know that, hey, we are a playaway. Look, guys, this is one, two, three plays in the game where we turned it over twice here, a couple of fumbles, and we didn't get this done. Otherwise, we win this football game. We turn the momentum in our favor, and we win the football game. I think the Cougars, and I don't know that that's the last time those two teams will play this season they may very well be in the big 12 championship.
00:20:38
Speaker 3: Game yeah i thought it was a big night for the big 12 you know it was a good looking game you had the national window you had two ranked teams going at it the coogs and the big 12 you know 20 years ago this was a dream to be in a league like this to have that kind of window and unfortunately couldn't pull it.
00:20:54
Speaker 4: Out i think i thought connor wigman showed the country that uh He needs to be in the quarterback conversation when you're talking about the best around the country because he competed his tail off. He ran when he needed to. He made plays and throws when he needed to. It's a fun game to watch. The big tight end from UTSA, he played his tail off. It's just a fun, fun group to watch. And defensively, they start forcing a few more turnovers. One kid had a great one-handed interception, and they were going back and forth about that. But just the overall game itself was just fun to digest.
00:21:36
Speaker 3: All right, Dre, looking forward to Sunday already. Let's hope for a better result. Thank you, my friend.
00:21:41
Speaker 4: Hey, where are we eating when we get there? It's Indy, right?
00:21:45
Speaker 3: Yeah, I know, but we'll talk. I know, but it's a little sticky wicked as far as the location, okay? I got a plan. I got a plan.
00:21:56
Speaker 4: Okay.
00:21:57
Speaker 3: We'll discuss offline.
00:21:58
Speaker 5: All right.
00:22:00
Speaker 2: Yes, it is Indy, and we will have a good time if the Texans come home with win number one on the 2026 season. All right, coming up next, our good friend Indy Kalou is going to step in the seat and give us some knowledge from what he saw from the trenches.
00:22:19
Speaker 1: And this one against the Bengals. That's next on Texans All Access. What's going on, everybody?
00:22:23
Speaker 2: Welcome back to this Monday edition of Texans All Access from the Hyundai Texans Radio Studio. I'm John Harris, and it's time to catch up with our good friend N.D. Kalou, which, by the way, his son now plays at the University of Florida, and that's helpful for a little later in this conversation with our good friend N.D.
00:22:42
Speaker 5: Kalou. Let's go.
00:22:43
Speaker 3: N.D., How you doing?
00:22:45
Speaker 5: How are y'all? What a strange game. Like, I'm watching that game with the defense playing the way they're playing and the movement of the ball, Mark and John. I was, like, excited. I was like, yeah, this is what, you know, this is what I'm expecting. Then after a while, I'm like, oh, we haven't scored. Like, it was just weird because I felt like they were hitting on all cylinders in regards to moving the ball. And then, obviously, the rush was where it needed to be. We didn't see that last week. But then when I look up at the scoreboard, I'm like, something's just not adding up.
00:23:15
Speaker 3: It didn't add up, and I'm looking at this game like, as I match it up with last week's game, N.D., You played two AFC contenders. You didn't handle it well. Obviously, you lost both games. The only solace I have is these are good teams. You have yet to play your best game. I firmly believe the Texans will play better. You get better as the season goes on. That's allowed, right? You're allowed to improve. We've seen it happen with this team before, and they've got to figure out a way to do it, correct? Correct.
00:23:47
Speaker 5: Especially when the teams don't treat preseason the way they used to treat it, where your starters get meaningful minutes in preseason games. So when the season opens up, it's not like the first time you're getting true live action. So I think that's a part of the reason you see some good teams start slow. They're all in the same boat as far as how they handle preseason so I'm not making any excuses at all and then that's how you also get a chance to see all three phases because last week you know against Buffalo it was the defense that didn't really step up and this week I felt like the defense played pretty good ball and the offense obviously when you put up six points you don't score a touchdown if you're a true pro as an offensive player you look and say you have to get better And the special teams wasn't where it needed to be. So, you know, sooner or later, and it better be sooner than later, they're going to have to put all three phases together and not just have one or two out of the three phases play well.
00:24:44
Speaker 1: Is it my question? I'm sorry. I've gotten to the fourth down in inches.
00:24:47
Speaker 3: Oh, you're watching it on tape? Don't watch it, Johnny.
00:24:50
Speaker 1: I can't. Stay with us. I'm done. I'm cooked. Remember what I showed you in the break?
00:24:56
Speaker 5: I know. All right.
00:24:57
Speaker 3: Happened two plays before this. Johnny.
00:25:00
Speaker 1: Indy, I've got to take a breath.
00:25:02
Speaker 3: I need some nitrous oxide here in studio.
00:25:04
Speaker 1: Indy, I'm going to ask you this. This is kind of a fun question in some sense.
00:25:07
Speaker 2: But watching Sexy Dexy yesterday, do you remember an enormous athlete.
00:25:14
Speaker 1: That you played against or played with?
00:25:17
Speaker 2: That just could take over the game due to his sheer size and power the way that.
00:25:22
Speaker 1: Dexter Lawrence can. Was there somebody that you remember?
00:25:25
Speaker 2: Because the only guy I can really kind of think of that even comes close is Vince Wilfork, I guess. But this dude is just a different type of animal. Do you remember the biggest and most impactful guy that you watched, studied, or played alongside?
00:25:44
Speaker 5: Ooh, that's a good question. Here's the thing about Dexter Lawrence. For some reason, I don't know if he looks bigger in the Bengals uniform, but when I was watching the game, I was like, I don't remember him being that big. And then on the tackle for a loss on the fourth down, I was like, look, I knew he was a dominant player. I knew he was a beast, but I didn't remember him being that big and to be that big and can move like that. As you're asking that question, John, I'm like, I can't think of someone that large. Like, I was thinking of Hollis Thomas, but he was short, but he weighed a lot, you know, 330, 340, but very fast, you know, for a guy that weighs 330 pounds, but he was only 6'1. But Lawrence, and I don't have his height, his measurables in front of me, but just watching it, he looked like he was about 6'5, 6'6, 340 pounds, you know, moving like that. I'm sure it will come to me, but I don't remember. There were big guys that I watched coming out of the Southwest Conference, like Sam Adams, but they just eat up blocks. But Dexter Lawrence, he's making plays. He's using his quickness, and he's not just eating up blocks. He's out there using his athleticism as well. Can you imagine trying to block an athletic 6'5, 340-pounder?
00:27:02
Speaker 2: I don't want to block an athletic 6'3, 140-pounder out of this stage. I mean, this guy, I mean, his, I should mark a play during the break. I tried to run outside zone away from him. He ran it down. Then on the fourth down play, he's over the nose. He's a straight-up nose on Evan Brown. He ran that down. He not only defeated blocks, but he ran the plays down from behind, which I find fascinating because Wilk Fork is really the only guy I could think of That would do it. But Wilford was, like Indy said, Vince was really kind of a run, you know, plugger. You know, he wasn't that. He wasn't a guy that, I mean, you probably, Indy, could play Dexter Lawrence at a three technique in an even front and just let him penetrate and he'd go to work.
00:27:54
Speaker 1: Like, you don't have to play him over the nose. He'd play anywhere.
00:27:58
Speaker 5: You could easily put him at a three technique and on rundowns, you have to have some other heavy guys to justify. You could even play him in a five technique. You know, if you feel like it's going to be a rundown. You know what? One name that, forgive me if he's listening, which I know he's not. I can't believe I forgot Big Daddy Dan Wilkinson. You know, I play with Big Daddy Dan Wilkinson in Washington. And for those that don't know, this was a defensive tackle who's a number one overall pick. And That was the first time, John, it was early in my career, but where I really saw a big guy that could move. It was fun to watch. This was a guy that was huge, and he could move. And another name you'll know, Sean Rogers. Oh, yeah. That's another big guy that could move. But yeah, Dexter Lawrence, I was shocked. I was shocked that I didn't realize how big he was, even though I've watched him for years.
00:28:55
Speaker 3: Andy, I am here to give the people hope because that's what I do. I am the Norman Vincent Peale of Sports Talk Radio. I always have been.
00:29:02
Speaker 1: Here we go.
00:29:03
Speaker 3: You're 0-2, but they've dug themselves out of this before.
00:29:07
Speaker 1: C.J.
00:29:08
Speaker 3: Stroud's throwing the ball pretty well here. 353 yesterday. And look, that final drive aside, I know they were down two touchdowns at the time, but they moved the ball pretty well through the air despite not having Nico Collins. Schultz had a career day. And I think this is something you can build around. You start to get a takeaway or two. You hang on to the football. You convert and don't miss execute those critical situations with the field goal botch snap spot. and missing the field goal in the fourth and inches. If you get a couple of those instead of missing all three, it might be. a different situation. Moving forward, you do have some things you can build on, especially with Stroud throwing the ball well.
00:29:45
Speaker 1: Thoughts?
00:29:46
Speaker 5: No, absolutely. It would be ridiculous to lose hope, you know, and to change your expectations after starting 0-2. And I'm sure there's people sitting in their cars in their office listening and rolling their eyes. But at the same time, it would be ridiculous if you were 2-0 to feel like, Oh, it's time to book my hotel for the Super Bowl. It's still very early in the season. And you have to look. We saw it last year. They started 0-3 and then they, you know, they had that historic run. You don't ever want to dig yourself in that hole. But at the same time, it allows you to understand that. They can get out of this. They can turn their fortunes around. They're going to have an Indianapolis Colts team. You're talking about a division rival who lost a very close, very entertaining game to Kansas City. So you're going to get another team that feels like their back's against the wall. Once you start winning and get the bad taste out of your mouth, then the fans, you know, they can really get excited about the season. But I'm with you, Mark. Not so much to try to convince people to stay excited about the team, but my thought is It is early in the season. CJ Stroud is flinging that ball around. But at the same time, they have to figure out a way to get more than six points on the board week in and week out. You can never have a game where you're not scoring a touchdown. You're only scoring a couple of field goals and the expectations to win. But I do believe they have the horses to get the points on the board, to put the points on the board. And for me, it's just all about playing those three phases the same day. Last week, defense didn't show up this week. Defense showed up, but offense didn't show up. Special teams didn't show up. I think this coaching staff can get this team to play all three phases at the same level, and then we're going to be talking about victories.
00:31:26
Speaker 2: Indy, how satisfying, how sigh of relief did you feel? Okay, these guys are still as great as we thought they were. Seeing Daniil Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., really get the pressure on Joe Burrow yesterday when the Bengals decided, nah, we're good. We're just going to let our big hulking tackles go against them. How good was it to see those two guys really give the pressure and get the pressure on Joe Burrow?
00:31:53
Speaker 5: Great, great to see. I won't say released because guys with that physical talent, it's not like you, you know, you're not sitting there wondering, John, and I know you weren't wondering like, oh, do they lose a step? Are they not as good as they were last year? You just knew it was a matter of time. It was very satisfying to see. I mean, when Daniel Hunter had his sack, when he literally was just a speed rush around the horn, I was for some every play, I'm focused on a defensive lineman or offensive lineman. And that play, I happened to be focused on him live. And it was just a thing of beauty. And it was all about his getoff. And that's what he can do every single play. And not just the sacks, but the disruptive plays. So they're picking up now. We didn't see it last week, but now they're picking up where they left off last year. And I love the fact that you had a lot of activity when it comes to the rush from the inside, from the interior line. I mean, they got it to the game as well. So that was satisfying to watch. And that's the expectation. That's the expectation I have from the front four every single time they play.
00:32:55
Speaker 3: Andy, what about playing the Colts this week? Back in the division, familiar foe. We always talk about division games. You know them. They are, you have a feud with them. It's the Hatfields and the McCoys, and the Colts are the Colts. You know what it's like to go up there and face this squad. So many familiar faces. It's got to help to be in this brawl with a team that you know so well, that you have such familiarity with.
00:33:23
Speaker 5: No, absolutely. But unfortunately, that goes both ways. You know, Indianapolis is saying the same thing about the Texans, about they understand what it means to play the studs, Daniil Hunter, Will Anderson that we just talked about. So if their offensive coordinator is worth anything, you know, he's already been thinking about how they're going to try to slow that down. But I'm with you, Mark, especially coming off two losses and coming off a loss that this game against the Bengals where, again, The offense didn't show up and there's going to be some concerns. If you get a win against a divisional foe that's playing pretty good ball, that kind of just wipes away the bad feeling. It helps you with the standings. Look, this isn't basketball. This isn't baseball where you have 80 plus games. Every single game counts, especially those division rivalry games. So, yes, you drop one to Buffalo, you drop one to Cincinnati. If they go into Indianapolis and get that dub, that's going to be a good feeling on the way home. That's going to be a good feeling saying, OK, we're still in this and we're right where we need to be as far as the overall goals of getting into the playoffs.
00:34:28
Speaker 1: The last thing that I want this team to be is 0-3 for Dallas. Week four. Oh, God.
00:34:33
Speaker 2: Along those lines, Indy, with this game at Indy, to get kind of just out away from everything, get away from, you know, any noise or whatever.
00:34:46
Speaker 1: It's his town. Obviously, you're going to hear it during the week.
00:34:47
Speaker 2: But just the fact that you play the game on Sunday in a different building. away from home. Do you think that helps in some regard that you feel like, okay, it's us against the world kind of thing that, you know, look, we, the, the Colts fans will make noise or whatever, but you know, if the offense doesn't get a, you know, a drive going on the first drive, you know, the crowd, you know, crowd here might boo and show displeasure or whatever. Do you think it's good that they're getting on the road and playing the Colts in Indy at this point with it too, with Owen too, do you.
00:35:18
Speaker 1: Think it helps that they are going on the road to face Indy?
00:35:22
Speaker 5: Man, that's a great point. And you're 100% correct in bringing up, like, sometimes it's good to just get away, even in life. And it's not an indictment on the Texan fans, but we all heard the boos when they weren't happy. So it's good to say, you know what, we need to get away, go fix ourselves, and come back. So I kind of like the way you framed that picture, John. And I do think... There's something to that. You know, like you said, during the week, if they follow social media, which I'm sure they do, if they listen to the radio, they're going to hear it.
00:35:53
Speaker 4: C.J.
00:35:54
Speaker 5: Stroud, you know, he's going to hear all the negative talk, but he's a starting quarterback of an NFL team. He just has to have a roll off his back. But there is something about... getting away being a visitor playing on the road when things aren't going your way and when you've disappointed the home base for two weeks in a row yeah there's something to be said about just saying you know what let me go fix myself before i come back home i'm i'm sure there's some men out there who've had to do that in their personal lives so yeah the texans going on the road getting it up against the colds that that's going to make the next homecoming that much.
00:36:28
Speaker 1: Sweeter Great stuff from N.D.
00:36:31
Speaker 3: Kaloud.
00:36:31
Speaker 1: Love catching up with N.D. every single week during the season.
00:36:35
Speaker 2: My co-analyst on preseason games, I love standing up there next to him. He's such a great guy, such a great analyst, knows ball, very respectful, just such a great dude, N.D.
00:36:45
Speaker 5: Kaloud.
00:36:46
Speaker 2: All right, coming up, another guy that fits that category, Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle.
00:36:50
Speaker 1: We'll catch up with you next right here on Texas All Access. All right, let's do it. Final segment of.
00:36:55
Speaker 2: This edition of Texas All-Access before we turn it over to Westwood One and Giants v. Rams on Monday Night Football. So let's get it done with Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle.
00:37:06
Speaker 3: Let's get to Jonathan Alexander from the Houston Chronicle now. J.A., great to have you aboard. And your thoughts overall, your 30,000-foot view of yesterday and moving forward for the Texans.
00:37:17
Speaker 6: Yeah, I mean, you know, it was good to see the Texans' defense bounce back but there's still things that are not happening on both sides of the ball far too much inconsistency we know that the texas defense is at its best when it is forcing turnovers and it has not done that yet you know i don't think that'll happen all season but that's been one issue and the offense really sorely misses nico collins they need him back on the field because they're missing their best deep play threat. That makes things a lot easier for the offense in general. The Texans have a lot to work on and a lot to figure out in these next few weeks.
00:38:03
Speaker 2: Jonathan, would you say the special teams the last couple weeks more of a blip or is it starting to become more of a trend that worries you?
00:38:14
Speaker 6: Yeah, I'm glad you brought that up because I didn't mention special teams. I thought that really helped as equally as the offense cost them the game. And to me, I think that's been two weeks in a row where you've seen the special teams struggle. Particularly in week one, we saw the kick return and punt return struggle. And even Jalen Nord didn't have a good game. But yeah, to me, this is looking like a trend. It's not indicative of Frank Ross-led special teams units. But when I look down, This special teams roster, I see a lot of young players who may be still learning. So special teams really does affect the game. So I think that's been one of the issues for sure.
00:38:54
Speaker 3: All right. Now, what about Stroud? What are you seeing so far? He's third in the league in passing yards. Obviously, you want to put the ball in the end zone, but there are some things working well, despite the fact that Nico missed yesterday's game and who knows how much more.
00:39:10
Speaker 6: Yeah, I think when you factor in all of those factors, I think stride has played pretty well so far. I think if he has his best weapon and Nico Collins, he looks a little bit better and he took care of the football. Um, and, and if he can continue to be that and he gets his best weapon, then I think the offense will be a lot better. Um, But overall, I think Stroud's play has made good decisions. I thought he made a lot of good decisions in last week's game. They've just got to figure out a way to move the ball when they get in the red zone. I mean, the run game didn't give him any help. I think he ran four plays in the red zone and gained four yards. And obviously that didn't happen. There seemed to be some miscommunication with the receivers as well. A lot of young guys playing significant playing time for their first game. I thought C.J. Stroup played pretty well.
00:40:00
Speaker 2: Jonathan, on Thursday night we watched the Bills smoke the Lions, and I think people in Houston were like, hey, okay. You know, we lost to a team that might be really, really, really freaking good. And then we watched Sunday night after knowing, oh boy, we need a big performance against Indy. Indy may not be that good. The Ravens smashed him at home. So then we watch on Sunday night. We're like, oh, maybe the Colts are a lot better than we think. What are your thoughts about the Colts going into week three?
00:40:32
Speaker 6: Yeah, I mean, I think the Colts are a team that can beat you. I also think that. They're a team that can be beaten. Their defense hasn't looked good so far. And so maybe that helps the Texans or that goes in the Texans' favor. But, man, their offense is always going to be good as long as Shane Steichen is coach and Jonathan Taylor is healthy. You know, that's the one area that would probably scare me. You know, the fact that Jonathan Taylor is playing at a high level and the Texans' defense really hasn't stopped running backs. You know, I think both the Bills and the Bengals went away from the run at a certain point, and not because they weren't having success, but because the passing game started to do well. So, you know, this is really a 50-50 game at this point. I don't think it's a guaranteed win or anything like that.
00:41:25
Speaker 3: No, I wish it was, but that's not the way it works in the NFL.
00:41:29
Speaker 1: I wish the Colts stunk.
00:41:30
Speaker 3: Well, let me ask you this. How good do you think the Bengals are? How good are the Bills? I mean, we talked about the Bills, and Johnny just mentioned it Thursday night, what they did to Detroit, even though they gave up some points at the end relatively. But the Bengals, with this improved defense, I mean, we might be looking at a Super Bowl contender. I'm not going to get too far ahead of myself here, but it's two weeks in, and they're both 2-0. What do you think of those two teams that the Texans lost to?
00:41:54
Speaker 6: I mean, I thought they lost to two of the top teams on their schedule. You know, I think normally the Texans match up really well against the Bills. Even though I think the Bills are good this year, I think the Texans match up really well against them, and they always will, I think, even in the playoffs. You know, they don't have to deal necessarily with that cold weather anymore if they face them. And I think the Bills are much improved. What they did to their defense will do a lot for this team. I think they'll 100% be a playoff team. I don't know if they'll beat out the Ravens, but I definitely think they'll be a playoff team. So I think Texas lost to two good teams. And I think week three will be a really good test of where they actually are.
00:42:42
Speaker 1: Yeah, this league is weird. There are four 2-0 teams in the AFC.
00:42:46
Speaker 4: Four.
00:42:48
Speaker 1: The Texans lost to both.
00:42:50
Speaker 4: Right.
00:42:50
Speaker 1: The Bills and the Bengals. The other two.
00:42:54
Speaker 1: Are the Raiders.
00:42:56
Speaker 6: And.
00:42:57
Speaker 1: Why am I blanking on the other one? I'm looking.
00:43:00
Speaker 3: I'm looking. Who else is 2-0?
00:43:02
Speaker 5: Oh, Chiefs. Oh, yeah, of course.
00:43:03
Speaker 1: Yeah, Chiefs and Raiders.
00:43:05
Speaker 2: So you don't play either one of those in the AFC West. I think the most confounding team in the league right now is this.
00:43:11
Speaker 1: I almost called him San Diego. The Los Angeles Chargers.
00:43:15
Speaker 2: Who would you also add to that group, Jonathan, of teams where you go, man, what the heck is going on with this team through two weeks?
00:43:25
Speaker 6: Yeah, I would definitely say the Chargers are the top of my list as well. A lot of people were saying that they looked really good in the preseason with their offensive line finally being healthy, but they just look horrible. To me, the Broncos bounced back. I didn't expect them to lose so bad to the Chiefs, but they did bounce back this past week with the win. If we If we look at all of those teams, then I'd definitely say the most confounding team is the Chargers.
00:44:03
Speaker 3: Yeah, well, and you were talking about the Ravens with the AFC North situation going on with the Bengals ahead at 2-0 of everybody. But the Ravens get beat by the Saints, except you don't know how good the Saints are. The Saints probably have a lot of offense and clearly 24 points on the board against the Ravens, and they had a great fourth quarter again. They had a great fourth quarter last week against the Lions. The bottom line here, Jonathan, is, correct me if I'm wrong, two weeks in, it's really hard to make full assessments of anybody because everyone's still feeling their way around.
00:44:37
Speaker 6: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, you look at the Patriots last year. They lost their season opener to the Raiders, and then they make it to the Super Bowl, and the Raiders are among the worst teams in the league. I mean, injuries are a huge part of this game, and injuries can swing teams in– wrong or good direction um you know each year we saw um you know some teams lose quarterbacks and then fall off so you know who knows maybe the texans face some teams um that that lose their top players and then win some games that you might not expect them to win um you know it happens every year.
00:45:19
Speaker 3: Jaguars, let's just quickly go over this because they go to 1-1 after losing at Denver. Trevor Lawrence throws a pick. No touchdowns for him. They don't run it as well as they want. They have a tough time, mile high. I guess it's not that much of a shock right now, but are they still the team to beat in the AFC South? They have the best record right now.
00:45:40
Speaker 1: I get it.
00:45:41
Speaker 3: Everybody else is 0-2, but your thoughts two games in on them.
00:45:46
Speaker 4: Yeah, I do.
00:45:48
Speaker 6: I mean, I think they're neck and neck with the Texans. I don't think one team is better than the other. To me, it just depends on how they handle their schedules and who has the tougher schedule. The Jaguars had the easier schedule last year. On paper, the Texans have an easier schedule. I think they're about as even as you can.
00:46:06
Speaker 4: Be with the Texans. So, in a sense, they are.
00:46:10
Speaker 6: The team to beat, but the Texans, to me, are right there with them.
00:46:15
Speaker 2: Giants-Rams tonight, Monday Night Football. It sounds sexy. Is it sexy? Is this going to be a Rams blowout, or do you think that the Scataboo-Jackson-Dark connection can maybe go to L.A.
00:46:27
Speaker 1: And get a win with no Miles Garrett on the Rams side?
00:46:31
Speaker 6: Yeah, I mean, I think it'll be a closer game. I think the Rams will still win, but I think what John Harbaugh has done with his team, I think he's made them more formidable players. and they have talent with Malik Mabers as well. And defense, I like their Giants defense as well. So I don't think it's going to be some blowout, but I do think that the Rams are far more talented than what the Giants have.
00:46:55
Speaker 3: All right, Jonathan, what do you have going out of the Chronicle for us this week?
00:47:00
Speaker 6: We had an analysis from the game.
00:47:03
Speaker 5: On Sunday.
00:47:04
Speaker 6: We had about three stories together between me, Peter Warren, and Matt Young, so please check those out.
00:47:10
Speaker 1: Yes, do that for sure. All right, appreciate it, guys.
00:47:14
Speaker 2: J-A-N-D and Andre Ware for joining us.
00:47:17
Speaker 1: We'll see you tomorrow, buddy. And as always, go Texans.
