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Speaker 1: Welcome into the Deep Slam Podcast presented by Infinity.
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Speaker 2: Count on a.
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Speaker 1: Powerful and secure Wi Fi connection for all your devices Exfinity x Fly Can your Internet do that? All right?
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Speaker 2: Welcome in. It's week six and got a great podcast for you.
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Speaker 1: We've got tight end Dalton Schultz and we also go behind enemy sidelines and talk about the New Orleans Saints.
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Speaker 2: What can we expect from them?
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Speaker 1: They're coming off a humongous win against New England at New England. They handed them a thirty four to nothing blowout in New England. So these Saints are coming into Houston and they want to add on to that win total. Meanwhile, the Texans want to get their second win at home. They had a great win last time against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they're in the thick of this NFC South battle, four straight.
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Speaker 2: NFC South teams.
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Speaker 1: They've got the Saints, then they've got a buy and then it will be Tampa Bay and then it'll be Carolina and that'll be a wrap for the NFC South.
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Speaker 2: So the Texans hope to get a win on Sunday.
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Speaker 1: But first, Exfinity delivers the fastest Internet in Houston.
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Speaker 2: So you can do more of what you love.
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Speaker 1: Stream the game on a powerful and secure Wi Fi network, and keep your home team happy with a reliable connection for all your devices Exfinity x Fi.
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Speaker 2: Can your Internet do that?
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Speaker 3: All right?
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Speaker 2: Let's get it kicked off with Dalton Schultz.
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Speaker 1: We've seen him catch touchdowns in recent weeks. So last week against Atlanta he had a team high seven catches, sixty five yards and the loan touchdown of the game. And then he caught his first touchdown as a text in the week before against the Pittsburgh Steelers right here at home. And I don't think anybody thought that first touchdown would be thrown to him from running back Mike aka Motor Singletary. So we talk about the touchdown Selly. I think it's going to be different. According to Schultz, he's gonna change it up every single week. Hopefully we see a lot more of those touchdown celebrations. And it is National Titands Day later this month. But I think that these titands think that everyday to be tight in this day because we are so grateful for what they do, both the blocking scheme as well as the receiving game. So had a really fun conversation with Schultz. We talked about everything from growing up in Utah to going to Stanford to playing as a cowboy, when Jason Witten came out of retirement and how that affected him, and then of course signing here with the Texans, what he liked about this team and what he likes about c. J. Stroud and the offense.
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Speaker 2: We really it's a nice, juicy.
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Speaker 1: Long interview because we covered all sorts of topics.
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Speaker 2: So let's get right into it.
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Speaker 1: We'll get the podcast started right here with Dalton Schultz on The Deep sm Podcast presented by Xfinity.
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Speaker 4: Okay, Hi, I'm Dalton Schultz.
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Speaker 1: This is Deep Slant MM so official. I love it, crushed it. Okay, Dalton Schultz on The Deep Slant presented by Xfinity. Dalton, First of all, I love your Instagram handle Bingham Baller nine? Is it Bingham? Okay? Being your high school in your town that you grew up in. Also, it's not so there's like eight ballers ahead of you.
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Speaker 5: Yeah, I'm the ninth one. You know, it's a deep list. You know Twitter was now nine is nine as like my favorite number?
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Speaker 4: Everyone?
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Speaker 5: Oh okay, okay, yeah, I were nine since high school. So that's kind of where it originated.
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Speaker 1: You grew up in Utah, you were nine in high school. You tight end in high school as well, You've always been a tight end, okay, you know so well.
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Speaker 5: I grew up like my like eight to thirteen, I was a center, like a guard, okay, and then like when I hit thirteen, dropped a bunch of weight, made weight for like my last year of Little League because we had.
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Speaker 1: The X man ual, okay, which I don't know if people know, I don't know.
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Speaker 5: So it's like if you're over a certain like weight threshold, they put an X on your helmet, you can't carry the ball. I got under that threshold so I could be like outside linebacker tight end. And then I got to high school and then like became a you know, a tight end, a tight end tight end. We had enough players on our team where we could like kind of platoon style. Sure, So I mean we had eleven on offense and then eleven on defense.
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Speaker 1: So in Utah, yeah, wow, we were.
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Speaker 4: One of the Yeah we were a bigger school.
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Speaker 1: And you say that big high school powerhouse in Utah.
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Speaker 4: Yeah, you know we're necessarily back then.
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Speaker 1: But yeah, okay, so then you you went to Stanford. So Stanford was your first any other schools that.
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Speaker 3: You were.
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Speaker 5: Like in state, I probably would have gone to Utah. Not a b y U guy at all. I know, it's like the Holy War then, Okay. I wanted to get out of the cot or not of the country, of the state.
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Speaker 1: The country country too.
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Speaker 5: Yeah, and so like I wanted to like pursue a place that would kind of benefit me, you know, not only in the football side, but like the academic side.
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Speaker 1: Yeah.
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Speaker 5: You know Stanford, I mean you can't. You can't really beat it, no, especially you know when I was coming out, and like I mean they were kind of in the in the you know, mix for national title contention, and so yeah, I think that was just like a no brainer for me. So I was like, dude, like this is amazing. You guys used three four tight ends at a time, like run the ball, well, throw the ball well, Like, yeah, I want to be a.
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Speaker 4: Part of it.
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Speaker 1: You don't need like an engineering degree or anything like that.
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Speaker 5: It was a BS though, it was I did get a BS. It was an STS, which is Science Technology and.
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Speaker 1: Society, Science Technology and Society.
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Speaker 5: Yeah, so that was like one of the majors that like you could kind of like it was a little more flexible than some of the other ones, and so like I was able to kind of like make my own course plan and course loaded, and I structured it around completely structured around like video game design. So I took like as many like programming slash design courses that were totally focused on like making games video games.
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Speaker 1: That you would have done you think had you, I would have done.
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Speaker 5: Something in the industry. Really was either that or like architectural something or another. I think those are the two, like ass but the aspects of learning that appealed to me the most because I was like, dude, I'm in college playing football.
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Speaker 4: This is amazing, but like.
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Speaker 1: You're getting an amazing degree at the same time school stuff.
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Speaker 5: It's like, I'm going to do something that is like fun, So like learning is not, you know, a chore on top of all this running and lifting.
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Speaker 1: It's techy and it's creative at the same time.
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Speaker 5: It's a Silicon Valley. I was like, is this like the perfect set? But they didn't have a game design that, like.
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Speaker 1: You set up for the NFL. Instead, for you, it was a solid backup backup in the NFL, all right, so you get drafted by the Cowboys, and I was reading a little bit about your history. I mean you had a bit of a tough road early on. I mean, even though you were draft picked for the Cowboys, you had to sort of work your way up on the depth chart, right.
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Speaker 5: No, for sure, I played, I want to say, my first game, I played like three or four snaps and then I ended up like healthy scratching for the next five and then and then you know, I think our starter went down, he broke his wrists, and then like I was kind of like moved up and got some more playing time and more playing time, and then it was like, you know, I finished a year like getting a pretty solid amount of playing time, like a few catches, like nothing crazy, but you know, I was like, okay, I'm ready to kind of like you know, take me take more of a you know, role in the offense. And then guy Jason Witten comes back, Like dude, It was honestly was like I say, I say this completely seriously, like it was probably the best thing that really happened to me, was like.
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Speaker 1: To have him come back and learn under him, because I was just wondering emotionally, like you're like Okay, Jason Wenton's gone. When they need a guy, they need a tight end, you get drafted. Also, it's like and then he comes back, like we're watching it. It's like funny because I've never thought about that story from like a tight ends perspective. Learn one on the.
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Speaker 5: Team to be honest, like I think my rookieyear, like I just wasn't ready, Like mentally I maybe was, but like that leap from college to the NFL physically, especially when you're playing in the trenches all the time, Like dude, it takes a it takes a year or two to kind of get your feet under you to feel like, Okay, I can I feel comfortable blocking like one on one with like these huge day freaks. And so I think, you know, kind of having that a little bit of like you know, by to the apple my rookie year and then kind of taking a step back and like seeing what I mean, a walking Hall of Famer is able to like you know, kind of how he goes about his week. That was like, yeah, the best I'll say it again, is the best thing that happened for my career for sure.
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Speaker 1: What do you think was the biggest lesson that you learned from him, like being a pro obviously, but like anything else that you felt like you would not have gotten about the position or the game had he not come back.
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Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean, honestly, there's too much things to like put on anyone, Like I've learned so much like my film study habits like are literally just straight from him.
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Speaker 4: Like I asked.
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Speaker 5: I sat him down and ask him one day and I was like, hey, like, how do you how do you prepare? Like how do you watch film? What do you look for? Like what's your film schedule through the week? And he like walk me through it, And that's literally what I do that you do it. So I still, yeah, I still prepare watch film just like that. And then I mean just to like have an example of a guy who's just obviously been able to do it and do it at the highest level for as long as he did, Like you learn how to kind of carry yourself, and you learn how to practice and like things to do, things to like you know, necessarily like put a bunch of extra time into and things kind of not not to worry about. Like honestly, watching him do like the offense against Scout Team was like very valuable.
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Speaker 1: Is that right?
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Speaker 4: Because there's something there's some things that.
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Speaker 5: He was just like like he would lose on the block and I'd be like, oh, you know, did he just get he just got beat? And then he'd be in the film room He's like yeah, like that's the exact footwork that I'm taking into the game because like Dn's not gonna play like that.
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Speaker 4: So I don't care about this rep.
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Speaker 1: Oh interesting, Okay.
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Speaker 5: Like I'm and so seeing his focus on like how he would prepare, I mean that just helps you up.
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Speaker 1: I mean it sets you up nicely. You've had like back to back games with the touchdown. So can we talk about just your touchdown celebration with DJ Stroud because you didn't even throw you that touchdown was first all first all, let's we We'll talk about singletary in a minute. We'll talk about motor in a second, but just just your rapport with CJ. The touch He's going to sell it ration with everybody, and it seemed like you guys have your.
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Speaker 4: Own is like he's a big handshake guy.
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Speaker 1: Okay, so like so who came up with a handshake him. He's like, this is going to be our handshake dog, and so what is your hand? Can I ask you? Like you just got to see it. We'll run the clip here, but you did like this arm crossing thing, and then.
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Speaker 5: Like we'll see the next one. Like, now that you've called us out on it, you know what it's different, we have something in the back the next one.
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Speaker 1: Yeah, so he's I noticed that he's got different hands. I thought first I thought it was a West Coast thing, but then I was like, no, it seems like for every player, he's just got a different celebration. And he didn't even throw that touchdown. He was so happy for you. So yeah, how about how about motors skills at.
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Speaker 5: Oh my god, you talk about a ball like a ball coming from a running back to like he put it back spiral. I was like, did you keep throwing balls like that? I'm gonna have to buy you a watch or something.
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Speaker 1: And I heard that play did not go well in practice like he and then you weren't.
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Speaker 4: Yeah.
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Speaker 5: As soon as he overthrew it, I was like, oh it is about to No, it's about to work.
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Speaker 1: Oh okay.
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Speaker 4: As soon as you like threw it over my head and practice, I was like, oh yeah, we're.
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Speaker 1: Dial really Yeah, So that doesn't make you nervous that when you run a plane practice.
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Speaker 5: You know, it's like it's funny sometimes like the bad stuff that happens in practice like solidifies that it's going to be good for the game.
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Speaker 4: But yeah, because you get the bad rep out like.
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Speaker 5: Oh, you're like, you know, the defense does something and like you know, somebody messes it up and it's like, oh freak, like I missed my assignment.
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Speaker 1: Yeah, well, now you know you're going to be perfect in the game because like.
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Speaker 4: You had the you had the hard looking practice, you had the messed up.
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Speaker 1: I'm so curious because what if you have a great rep in practice, does it work the other way? No, it doesn't want to be.
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Speaker 4: Great in the game too.
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Speaker 1: Everything is always going to be great. I like that attitude. I like the positivity. All right, So CJ's your dog. You you guys worked a lot this off season together, like you guys got close and he's he has said some really great things that just about you being a security blanket for him. You're a veteran in the league. What is that like your relationship with him? A guy so much younger when you signed here, you didn't even know that he was going to be your quarterback.
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Speaker 5: Yeah, I think just like the scheme that we have, like the kind of the Shanahan offense, it's it's a lot of timing and rhythm, and like as soon as you know, we picked him and I was like, at the forefront of my mind is like we need to start building that rapport and that timing and that rhythm, because that's that's the most important thing that especially tight end can have with his quarterback is just you know, giving him a spot that he knows exactly where I'm going to be when I'm going to be there, and like I know exactly where he's going to put that ball on what looks. So that was definitely like something that I want to get started on like right away, because those things are those things take time to kind of grow and like build confidence in. And I think that you know, he's done a good job as anybody on preparing and you know, making sure that that he's right and his eyes are on the right spot and he's making the right throws. And I think just continuing to build that kind of rapport with each other is going to be you know key. I think that you know, when you have a guy that you can really count on and opens up the offense, regardless of where that position is, whether it's.
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Speaker 4: You know, receiver, running back, tied of in.
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Speaker 5: Like you know, you start building a good enough report with a guy, like teams are going to kind of hone in on that, and then you know other guys are going to be open.
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Speaker 1: So yeah, I remember you saying when you signed here, you actually were drawn to Demico because of the defense, right, because what you saw in the playoffs last year with the Cowboys.
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Speaker 5: He's got guys in the right spots all the time, like making plays, Like dude, it feels like it felt like every time we played them, like.
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Speaker 4: They knew exactly what we were doing.
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Speaker 5: And so it was like, you know, I just I'm a I'm a believer in just the scheme aspect, and so that was obviously.
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Speaker 1: Attractive on the defensive side of the ball.
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Speaker 4: Yeah, on both sides. Okay, Like I mean this is this is basically to San Francisco.
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Speaker 1: Coaches, Right, You're like, we're going to have the same scheme.
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Speaker 5: The same ideas, and so I think that, you know, for sure, that was attractive to me because.
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Speaker 4: They've given they've given me issues. You know what I mean so, I mean.
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Speaker 1: It's it's pretty fortunate you got to stay in the state of Texas, right because Dallas to Houston especial, like with the first move, Yeah, I was, you know, you spent your whole career in Dallas in the NFL.
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Speaker 5: So I think are the first move being you know, only four hours away, like in terms of just driving, Yeah, it's not even an hour flight four hour drive, right, Like that's easy.
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Speaker 1: I mean you can fly like one hundred times a day to Dallas. I mean not one hundred, but there's a lot of money.
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Speaker 5: I think there's a little bit more math to do there, I mean, right, I mean more forty five minutes, fifteen twenty minutes change over twenty four hours in a day. I don't know.
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Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's it's very easy to get to Dallas and back. So what do you I've lived in Dallas. I lived in Dallas briefly, and there's like this big rivalry between the two cities. What have you thought about that just coming from Dallas to Houston, because you have been on the other side of it. People in Dallas, what they think about Houston Houstonians in Dallas.
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Speaker 5: To be honest, like I haven't felt that really like and I could just be out of touch, like I don't know, I don't feel I don't feel like any animosity like.
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Speaker 1: From wow to be honest, Okay, okay, I don't know.
00:15:04
Speaker 4: We're going to give you a little bit of yes, please somebody.
00:15:07
Speaker 1: I give you some time before you start feeling what about text Mex. You you have some bold opinions on text Mex. Still not a text Mexic guy.
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Speaker 5: There's actually one there's one Text Mex place that I really like in Houston.
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Speaker 4: Now, it's in Dallas called e Bar.
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Speaker 1: Okay, bar is fantastic bar. And it's a text Mex place. And so what is the dish that won you over to text Mex a little bit? I guess you do the way.
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Speaker 5: They do stuff like their tacos are kind of a little bit more on like the authentic Mexican side. Oh and then they have like this caso that's just it's a white case like it's Tex Mexican.
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Speaker 1: Really really good, okay, really really bad for you, really bad for you. Okay, So your your weakness is what cuisine? Then if it's not Tex.
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Speaker 4: Mex sushi or Mexican food.
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Speaker 1: Okay, sushi your Mexican a big sushi Oh yeah, okay, yeah, and you grew up in Utah. So where did you start eating sushi?
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Speaker 4: I started in like high school?
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Speaker 1: Maybe interesting?
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Speaker 5: No, I take that back. It's funny. My first sushi role was actually at Wild Wild Oats, which not many people I'm sure will know Wild It's basically like a whole foods ish type store.
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Speaker 1: Okay in Utah.
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Speaker 5: Yes, and I want to say, I want to say they had more around the country, but yeah, they So they made sushi and my mom like slowly like, hey.
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Speaker 4: You want to try it?
00:16:27
Speaker 5: Yeah, Like it was just tune of rolls at the start, and there was oh my god, what is it called an eerie Yeah? Tofu like it's like a bean rap that they put in the middle.
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Speaker 4: Fantastic.
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Speaker 1: Okay, so you're a big sushi fan, all right, So sushi getting there with the text mex What about family. You've got a couple of kids, Yeah, okay.
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Speaker 2: Are the kids?
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Speaker 4: My kids are five and two?
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Speaker 1: Okay, so my boy just turned five and then so.
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Speaker 5: He's in kindergarten now, and then we've got a two year old who's very much in the middle of two year old.
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Speaker 1: Awesome. What's the best part of terrible twos?
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Speaker 5: The best part of terrible twos the nice parts, like the most entertaining, the crazy energy all over the place, makes you really appreciate the like ten minutes of like snuggles you get like before they're quiet, like or like last game, last home game, they were down and I came out and like I turned the corner and I just hear Daddy, I found you and like it's my daughter.
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Speaker 4: And she runs up. Ah, those moments are great.
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Speaker 1: So they they're old enough to watch you, and you have to know that you play football.
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Speaker 4: Yeah, they don't.
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Speaker 5: They still I don't think they get like how cool it is necessarily Like I don't think they'll get that.
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Speaker 1: And you can probably do anything at this stage and they would think it's poor.
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Speaker 5: And so I think like getting to the point in my career where they kind of understand, like how you know rare it is to be able to be in this position will be cool. But like it's been so nice come home, you know, especially when they're in the area, just to like it doesn't matter what you did, doesn't matter what happened in that game.
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Speaker 1: Like they don't know if you've no Okay, so my.
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Speaker 5: Boy actually does if you scored her if we won the first game we came back and he's like, Dad, you lost. Yeah, yeah, you lost the Ravens because they had more points.
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Speaker 1: Like yeah, less, thanks appreciate it.
00:18:26
Speaker 2: That's so adorable.
00:18:27
Speaker 1: All right, So I wanted to wish you an early happy National tit Ands Day. Do you celebrate how do you celebrate your big holiday? Touchdowns?
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Speaker 4: Okay, touchdowns in the end zone?
00:18:38
Speaker 1: Okay, what's your Do you have a favorite play?
00:18:41
Speaker 4: Yeah? Block release, catch bike okay, any play with that?
00:18:45
Speaker 1: Any what can you tell us what that is?
00:18:47
Speaker 4: Yeah?
00:18:47
Speaker 5: You block and then you release and then you catch it.
00:18:52
Speaker 1: Like he's literally gonna describe what the play is called. I thought I was thinking more details, but.
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Speaker 4: Now it's all the details.
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Speaker 1: That's very block catch release okay, soase block release catch I've already messed up the play block release catch. I'm wishing you lots of touchdowns for National high Ends Day. It was a pleasure sit don't chat with you.
00:19:09
Speaker 4: Thanks.
00:19:11
Speaker 1: National tight Ends Day that's the fourth Sunday in October. But we're going to celebrate it all month long, all season long, and we love what we're seeing out of the tight ends so far through five games. Hope to keep that momentum going and they'll get another chance on Sunday when the Texans host the New Orleans Saints, and we get a chance to go behind enemy sidelines. Talk about this Saints team that's kind of hot here in recent weeks to get back Alvin Kamara. They've got Derek Carr on a bit of a roll, and they've got a defense that is stout ranked in the top ten in a number of statistical categories.
00:19:45
Speaker 2: So we're going to catch up with Chrissy Freud and find out what this Saints team is all about.
00:19:49
Speaker 1: We're going behind enemy sidelines and joining me once again Chrissy Freud, she covers the Saints for SI dot Com. Always have a good time catching up with Chrissy. Chrissy, here we are on the regular season. It's like we blink and we're already in the thick of it. So how are things looking in New Orleans?
00:20:03
Speaker 6: Yeah? I think that they're looking good. I mean, the Saints have had so many games that come down to like a touchdown or less, and most of them decided between one or two points. So you get the sense that the team is kind of about to turn the corner and it's kind of so close yet so far away, win or lose.
00:20:20
Speaker 3: It's we look at the defense.
00:20:22
Speaker 6: The defense has played pretty stoutly throughout pretty much the entire season, but then the offense seems to finally have started clicking, and it's kind of the question of is it play calling? Is Derek Carr getting better? So we're just trying to find some consistency. But yet it's interesting just how much the time is flown by. I mean, we're already past midseason in college football.
00:20:40
Speaker 1: It is crazy, and I mean I think you mentioned the Saints putting things together. I mean they're coming off as complete of a win as they could have possibly had, thirty four to nothing at New England. What do you think was more impressive in the win? Was it the offense or the defense?
00:20:53
Speaker 6: I think the defense is something that is I mean, they've shown good things all year long, but to pitch a shutout obviously makes a very big statement. But the thing about this game that we've been saying is temporary expectations. It's so interesting to me because the New England Patriots and the Alabama Crimson Tide are kind of they were synonymous, and it seems like the mighty have fallen. At the same time, the Patriots beating the Patriots is no longer making a statement this is a team that is borderline self destructing. But whenever we looked at that game, the thing that made it complete to me was the way that some of the underrated defensive players kind of came into their own a little bit with a bit of a different type of opportunity against a team like the Patriots. But then also Pete Carmichael has said time and time again, I've got to get better. I've got to get better, but things have never really gotten better, and this time we see it. So Derek Carr seems to be playing better. This is I think his most complete game of the season coming off of that shoulder injury too, which makes an even bigger.
00:21:51
Speaker 3: Statement in my opinion.
00:21:53
Speaker 6: But we have to see if this is going to carry over into this week against a team like the Texans, and then the team's down the stretch as well. So it's just going to be interesting to see if if the Patriots game is reflective more of the Patriots being a poor team this year or of the Saints having turned the corner in a big way after just having I think lackluster is a bit too complimentary of the way the offense has been well.
00:22:17
Speaker 1: I mean, it seems like I'm glad you brought up Derek Carr. We did not see him in the preseason at all, but in recent weeks with Alvin Kamara coming back, it seems like he's sort of found his rhythm. I mean, what have you seen from Carr in his progress through these first few games.
00:22:30
Speaker 6: I think the thing that's been good with Derek Carr as of late is that he's performing in the red zone.
00:22:37
Speaker 3: The Saints were having some issues.
00:22:39
Speaker 6: In the red zone and he didn't throw the ball very often, but I think that he did a better job of taking care of it. The thing about Derek Carr that we discussed the last time we talked about him, and that comes up in conversation every single time, is that awful touchdown to interception ratio. It's been an issue regardless, and people talked about, well, maybe with the change of scenery it will be better. But the thing to look at before is whenever he was with the Raiders, the only.
00:23:03
Speaker 3: Team he's ever been with. Yes, it's one team but.
00:23:06
Speaker 6: Over that time period, there were changes within the coaching staff, changes in the roster. There were times that there was a lot of talent around him and times that there wasn't. But the one thing that rained true was that Derek Carr had a poor touchdown interception ratio, and I think that he's doing a better job taking care of the ball. And then we're realizing I mean, everyone who looked at this team knew that the absence of Alvin Kamara was going to be an issue.
00:23:27
Speaker 3: It was going to be a negative.
00:23:29
Speaker 6: I mean, whenever you lose a player like that, that's a big deal. But he's playing vintage Alvin Kamara at the same time that Derek Carr seems to be settling into whether at the same time that Pete Carmichael hopefully can repeat twice in a row, some decent play calling on his end, and so all those things coming together the Saints offense, it's not explosive, but it's giving reason for optimism. And then coupled with that defense, which is one of the best not only in the division but in the NFL, I think that we could see something really good coming out of this team if they can just establish some consistency.
00:24:02
Speaker 1: Yeah, you mentioned Alvin Kamara. He's coming back after serving his three game suspension, so we saw him use more in the passing game against Tampa Bay and then more in the running game against New England. So you know, what have you made of his role? Do you expect that to change week to week or is it still just evolving in this offense.
00:24:20
Speaker 3: I think to an extent it's evolving.
00:24:22
Speaker 6: It's going to come down to I think that Pete Carmichael is going to look back kind of some of the things that worked as far as play calling.
00:24:28
Speaker 3: I mean, this is to.
00:24:29
Speaker 6: Score thirty four points. The way that the Saints did this pass game is a huge upswing whenever you look at the total, the total points scored and the way that the offense was performing in previous games. So I think he's going to look back at that game plan. But whenever I look at draft prospects, whenever I look at Alvin Kamara, whenever he's at his best, that's the epitome of what you want to model a running back after and today's modern NFL. You want someone you can depending on whatever the game plan calls for the kind of defense you're facing, you want someone that you know that you can trust through the air, on the ground and as a blocker, and a running back that can't do all those things will never be a lead at the NFL level, and it's kind of something that I feel like we use as just kind of the bar for evaluation of a running back. But I think that he ran quicker and ran harder in this game than he has in a long time. I don't know if it's just kind of he's got some extra juice to him because he's served that suspension, but I think we're going to see some really good things from him, and it's been huge having him back for this offense.
00:25:27
Speaker 1: All right, let's switch gears talk a little defense. They've obviously shined through five games. They ranked fourth overall in the NFL. I'm sure those Patriots numbers have helped their ranking some, but just a lot of coaching changes on that side of the ball. But what do you think has been the biggest factor in their success this year?
00:25:43
Speaker 6: I think third downstops have been a big deal. I mean, especially in these close games. It's, like I said, every single game except for this one and then the loss of the bucks for the Saints has come down to the wire, and in situations like that, being good on third down is so important. Whenever they faced the Patriots, they held the Patriots to one of fourteen on third down. So I think that that's been a very big thing. And then also the combined passer rating against the Saints this year so far.
00:26:09
Speaker 3: Sixty six point one, extremely low.
00:26:12
Speaker 6: So this is the Saints are doing a good job of getting to the quarterback and a good job of forcing teams off the field at the end of their drive. So I think that just all around, that's been a really solid defensive unit.
00:26:22
Speaker 2: All right.
00:26:22
Speaker 1: In that back end, we see Tyren Matthew, who we've got some familiarity with here in Houston. So the Saints get back their safety and Marcus May. So what should we expect now that that tanum is back together on the field.
00:26:35
Speaker 6: Really good things from the secondary and more takeaways. I think these are two of the greatest players in that position across the league, some guys who are super established. So I think that the Saints as far as ball hawking and takeaways go, you're going to see Enoptick there.
00:26:48
Speaker 1: All right, good stuff, Christy. I know you cover a lot of sec you cover a lot of college ball. What else are you working on this week?
00:26:54
Speaker 6: Quarterback everything, A lot of interviews in the Hobber that haven't been published because I think anyone on the media knows it takes five hundred years to transcribe everything. I finally, I was one of the last people to finally get a transcription app and it has saved my life.
00:27:09
Speaker 3: Like I've been making things so difficult on myself.
00:27:11
Speaker 6: So a lot of quarterback beature stories coming out, a lot of quarterback rankings, and of course covering this game with takeaways and all the analysis as well.
00:27:19
Speaker 1: My draft season is going to be here before we know it. Great stuff, Chrissy. Always a pleasure catching up with you.
00:27:24
Speaker 3: Awesome, Thank you.
00:27:26
Speaker 1: Noon kick off against the Saints here at NRG Stadium. It is the last game before the bye week and then the Texans will be back at home to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So a little bit of back to back NFC South action. You can get your tickets at Houston Texans dot com slash tickets and be sure to like subscribe these podcasts. If you like what you're hearing, lead me a comment, let me know what you think and These will be rolling here throughout the season, so thank you so much for listening, and as always, go Texans.
Speaker 1: Welcome into the Deep Slam Podcast presented by Infinity.
00:00:07
Speaker 2: Count on a.
00:00:08
Speaker 1: Powerful and secure Wi Fi connection for all your devices Exfinity x Fly Can your Internet do that? All right?
00:00:14
Speaker 2: Welcome in. It's week six and got a great podcast for you.
00:00:17
Speaker 1: We've got tight end Dalton Schultz and we also go behind enemy sidelines and talk about the New Orleans Saints.
00:00:23
Speaker 2: What can we expect from them?
00:00:24
Speaker 1: They're coming off a humongous win against New England at New England. They handed them a thirty four to nothing blowout in New England. So these Saints are coming into Houston and they want to add on to that win total. Meanwhile, the Texans want to get their second win at home. They had a great win last time against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they're in the thick of this NFC South battle, four straight.
00:00:49
Speaker 2: NFC South teams.
00:00:50
Speaker 1: They've got the Saints, then they've got a buy and then it will be Tampa Bay and then it'll be Carolina and that'll be a wrap for the NFC South.
00:00:57
Speaker 2: So the Texans hope to get a win on Sunday.
00:01:00
Speaker 1: But first, Exfinity delivers the fastest Internet in Houston.
00:01:04
Speaker 2: So you can do more of what you love.
00:01:06
Speaker 1: Stream the game on a powerful and secure Wi Fi network, and keep your home team happy with a reliable connection for all your devices Exfinity x Fi.
00:01:14
Speaker 2: Can your Internet do that?
00:01:15
Speaker 3: All right?
00:01:16
Speaker 2: Let's get it kicked off with Dalton Schultz.
00:01:18
Speaker 1: We've seen him catch touchdowns in recent weeks. So last week against Atlanta he had a team high seven catches, sixty five yards and the loan touchdown of the game. And then he caught his first touchdown as a text in the week before against the Pittsburgh Steelers right here at home. And I don't think anybody thought that first touchdown would be thrown to him from running back Mike aka Motor Singletary. So we talk about the touchdown Selly. I think it's going to be different. According to Schultz, he's gonna change it up every single week. Hopefully we see a lot more of those touchdown celebrations. And it is National Titands Day later this month. But I think that these titands think that everyday to be tight in this day because we are so grateful for what they do, both the blocking scheme as well as the receiving game. So had a really fun conversation with Schultz. We talked about everything from growing up in Utah to going to Stanford to playing as a cowboy, when Jason Witten came out of retirement and how that affected him, and then of course signing here with the Texans, what he liked about this team and what he likes about c. J. Stroud and the offense.
00:02:26
Speaker 2: We really it's a nice, juicy.
00:02:29
Speaker 1: Long interview because we covered all sorts of topics.
00:02:31
Speaker 2: So let's get right into it.
00:02:33
Speaker 1: We'll get the podcast started right here with Dalton Schultz on The Deep sm Podcast presented by Xfinity.
00:02:39
Speaker 4: Okay, Hi, I'm Dalton Schultz.
00:02:40
Speaker 1: This is Deep Slant MM so official. I love it, crushed it. Okay, Dalton Schultz on The Deep Slant presented by Xfinity. Dalton, First of all, I love your Instagram handle Bingham Baller nine? Is it Bingham? Okay? Being your high school in your town that you grew up in. Also, it's not so there's like eight ballers ahead of you.
00:03:02
Speaker 5: Yeah, I'm the ninth one. You know, it's a deep list. You know Twitter was now nine is nine as like my favorite number?
00:03:08
Speaker 4: Everyone?
00:03:08
Speaker 5: Oh okay, okay, yeah, I were nine since high school. So that's kind of where it originated.
00:03:13
Speaker 1: You grew up in Utah, you were nine in high school. You tight end in high school as well, You've always been a tight end, okay, you know so well.
00:03:19
Speaker 5: I grew up like my like eight to thirteen, I was a center, like a guard, okay, and then like when I hit thirteen, dropped a bunch of weight, made weight for like my last year of Little League because we had.
00:03:30
Speaker 1: The X man ual, okay, which I don't know if people know, I don't know.
00:03:33
Speaker 5: So it's like if you're over a certain like weight threshold, they put an X on your helmet, you can't carry the ball. I got under that threshold so I could be like outside linebacker tight end. And then I got to high school and then like became a you know, a tight end, a tight end tight end. We had enough players on our team where we could like kind of platoon style. Sure, So I mean we had eleven on offense and then eleven on defense.
00:03:52
Speaker 1: So in Utah, yeah, wow, we were.
00:03:55
Speaker 4: One of the Yeah we were a bigger school.
00:03:56
Speaker 1: And you say that big high school powerhouse in Utah.
00:03:59
Speaker 4: Yeah, you know we're necessarily back then.
00:04:03
Speaker 1: But yeah, okay, so then you you went to Stanford. So Stanford was your first any other schools that.
00:04:09
Speaker 3: You were.
00:04:11
Speaker 5: Like in state, I probably would have gone to Utah. Not a b y U guy at all. I know, it's like the Holy War then, Okay. I wanted to get out of the cot or not of the country, of the state.
00:04:22
Speaker 1: The country country too.
00:04:23
Speaker 5: Yeah, and so like I wanted to like pursue a place that would kind of benefit me, you know, not only in the football side, but like the academic side.
00:04:34
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:04:34
Speaker 5: You know Stanford, I mean you can't. You can't really beat it, no, especially you know when I was coming out, and like I mean they were kind of in the in the you know, mix for national title contention, and so yeah, I think that was just like a no brainer for me. So I was like, dude, like this is amazing. You guys used three four tight ends at a time, like run the ball, well, throw the ball well, Like, yeah, I want to be a.
00:04:56
Speaker 4: Part of it.
00:04:57
Speaker 1: You don't need like an engineering degree or anything like that.
00:05:01
Speaker 5: It was a BS though, it was I did get a BS. It was an STS, which is Science Technology and.
00:05:06
Speaker 1: Society, Science Technology and Society.
00:05:09
Speaker 5: Yeah, so that was like one of the majors that like you could kind of like it was a little more flexible than some of the other ones, and so like I was able to kind of like make my own course plan and course loaded, and I structured it around completely structured around like video game design. So I took like as many like programming slash design courses that were totally focused on like making games video games.
00:05:34
Speaker 1: That you would have done you think had you, I would have done.
00:05:36
Speaker 5: Something in the industry. Really was either that or like architectural something or another. I think those are the two, like ass but the aspects of learning that appealed to me the most because I was like, dude, I'm in college playing football.
00:05:49
Speaker 4: This is amazing, but like.
00:05:51
Speaker 1: You're getting an amazing degree at the same time school stuff.
00:05:53
Speaker 5: It's like, I'm going to do something that is like fun, So like learning is not, you know, a chore on top of all this running and lifting.
00:06:00
Speaker 1: It's techy and it's creative at the same time.
00:06:03
Speaker 5: It's a Silicon Valley. I was like, is this like the perfect set? But they didn't have a game design that, like.
00:06:08
Speaker 1: You set up for the NFL. Instead, for you, it was a solid backup backup in the NFL, all right, so you get drafted by the Cowboys, and I was reading a little bit about your history. I mean you had a bit of a tough road early on. I mean, even though you were draft picked for the Cowboys, you had to sort of work your way up on the depth chart, right.
00:06:24
Speaker 5: No, for sure, I played, I want to say, my first game, I played like three or four snaps and then I ended up like healthy scratching for the next five and then and then you know, I think our starter went down, he broke his wrists, and then like I was kind of like moved up and got some more playing time and more playing time, and then it was like, you know, I finished a year like getting a pretty solid amount of playing time, like a few catches, like nothing crazy, but you know, I was like, okay, I'm ready to kind of like you know, take me take more of a you know, role in the offense. And then guy Jason Witten comes back, Like dude, It was honestly was like I say, I say this completely seriously, like it was probably the best thing that really happened to me, was like.
00:07:08
Speaker 1: To have him come back and learn under him, because I was just wondering emotionally, like you're like Okay, Jason Wenton's gone. When they need a guy, they need a tight end, you get drafted. Also, it's like and then he comes back, like we're watching it. It's like funny because I've never thought about that story from like a tight ends perspective. Learn one on the.
00:07:26
Speaker 5: Team to be honest, like I think my rookieyear, like I just wasn't ready, Like mentally I maybe was, but like that leap from college to the NFL physically, especially when you're playing in the trenches all the time, Like dude, it takes a it takes a year or two to kind of get your feet under you to feel like, Okay, I can I feel comfortable blocking like one on one with like these huge day freaks. And so I think, you know, kind of having that a little bit of like you know, by to the apple my rookie year and then kind of taking a step back and like seeing what I mean, a walking Hall of Famer is able to like you know, kind of how he goes about his week. That was like, yeah, the best I'll say it again, is the best thing that happened for my career for sure.
00:08:11
Speaker 1: What do you think was the biggest lesson that you learned from him, like being a pro obviously, but like anything else that you felt like you would not have gotten about the position or the game had he not come back.
00:08:22
Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean, honestly, there's too much things to like put on anyone, Like I've learned so much like my film study habits like are literally just straight from him.
00:08:31
Speaker 4: Like I asked.
00:08:32
Speaker 5: I sat him down and ask him one day and I was like, hey, like, how do you how do you prepare? Like how do you watch film? What do you look for? Like what's your film schedule through the week? And he like walk me through it, And that's literally what I do that you do it. So I still, yeah, I still prepare watch film just like that. And then I mean just to like have an example of a guy who's just obviously been able to do it and do it at the highest level for as long as he did, Like you learn how to kind of carry yourself, and you learn how to practice and like things to do, things to like you know, necessarily like put a bunch of extra time into and things kind of not not to worry about. Like honestly, watching him do like the offense against Scout Team was like very valuable.
00:09:16
Speaker 1: Is that right?
00:09:17
Speaker 4: Because there's something there's some things that.
00:09:18
Speaker 5: He was just like like he would lose on the block and I'd be like, oh, you know, did he just get he just got beat? And then he'd be in the film room He's like yeah, like that's the exact footwork that I'm taking into the game because like Dn's not gonna play like that.
00:09:31
Speaker 4: So I don't care about this rep.
00:09:32
Speaker 1: Oh interesting, Okay.
00:09:33
Speaker 5: Like I'm and so seeing his focus on like how he would prepare, I mean that just helps you up.
00:09:40
Speaker 1: I mean it sets you up nicely. You've had like back to back games with the touchdown. So can we talk about just your touchdown celebration with DJ Stroud because you didn't even throw you that touchdown was first all first all, let's we We'll talk about singletary in a minute. We'll talk about motor in a second, but just just your rapport with CJ. The touch He's going to sell it ration with everybody, and it seemed like you guys have your.
00:10:01
Speaker 4: Own is like he's a big handshake guy.
00:10:05
Speaker 1: Okay, so like so who came up with a handshake him. He's like, this is going to be our handshake dog, and so what is your hand? Can I ask you? Like you just got to see it. We'll run the clip here, but you did like this arm crossing thing, and then.
00:10:20
Speaker 5: Like we'll see the next one. Like, now that you've called us out on it, you know what it's different, we have something in the back the next one.
00:10:27
Speaker 1: Yeah, so he's I noticed that he's got different hands. I thought first I thought it was a West Coast thing, but then I was like, no, it seems like for every player, he's just got a different celebration. And he didn't even throw that touchdown. He was so happy for you. So yeah, how about how about motors skills at.
00:10:42
Speaker 5: Oh my god, you talk about a ball like a ball coming from a running back to like he put it back spiral. I was like, did you keep throwing balls like that? I'm gonna have to buy you a watch or something.
00:10:53
Speaker 1: And I heard that play did not go well in practice like he and then you weren't.
00:11:00
Speaker 4: Yeah.
00:11:01
Speaker 5: As soon as he overthrew it, I was like, oh it is about to No, it's about to work.
00:11:05
Speaker 1: Oh okay.
00:11:05
Speaker 4: As soon as you like threw it over my head and practice, I was like, oh yeah, we're.
00:11:08
Speaker 1: Dial really Yeah, So that doesn't make you nervous that when you run a plane practice.
00:11:12
Speaker 5: You know, it's like it's funny sometimes like the bad stuff that happens in practice like solidifies that it's going to be good for the game.
00:11:20
Speaker 4: But yeah, because you get the bad rep out like.
00:11:22
Speaker 5: Oh, you're like, you know, the defense does something and like you know, somebody messes it up and it's like, oh freak, like I missed my assignment.
00:11:29
Speaker 1: Yeah, well, now you know you're going to be perfect in the game because like.
00:11:33
Speaker 4: You had the you had the hard looking practice, you had the messed up.
00:11:36
Speaker 1: I'm so curious because what if you have a great rep in practice, does it work the other way? No, it doesn't want to be.
00:11:41
Speaker 4: Great in the game too.
00:11:43
Speaker 1: Everything is always going to be great. I like that attitude. I like the positivity. All right, So CJ's your dog. You you guys worked a lot this off season together, like you guys got close and he's he has said some really great things that just about you being a security blanket for him. You're a veteran in the league. What is that like your relationship with him? A guy so much younger when you signed here, you didn't even know that he was going to be your quarterback.
00:12:06
Speaker 5: Yeah, I think just like the scheme that we have, like the kind of the Shanahan offense, it's it's a lot of timing and rhythm, and like as soon as you know, we picked him and I was like, at the forefront of my mind is like we need to start building that rapport and that timing and that rhythm, because that's that's the most important thing that especially tight end can have with his quarterback is just you know, giving him a spot that he knows exactly where I'm going to be when I'm going to be there, and like I know exactly where he's going to put that ball on what looks. So that was definitely like something that I want to get started on like right away, because those things are those things take time to kind of grow and like build confidence in. And I think that you know, he's done a good job as anybody on preparing and you know, making sure that that he's right and his eyes are on the right spot and he's making the right throws. And I think just continuing to build that kind of rapport with each other is going to be you know key. I think that you know, when you have a guy that you can really count on and opens up the offense, regardless of where that position is, whether it's.
00:13:06
Speaker 4: You know, receiver, running back, tied of in.
00:13:08
Speaker 5: Like you know, you start building a good enough report with a guy, like teams are going to kind of hone in on that, and then you know other guys are going to be open.
00:13:16
Speaker 1: So yeah, I remember you saying when you signed here, you actually were drawn to Demico because of the defense, right, because what you saw in the playoffs last year with the Cowboys.
00:13:25
Speaker 5: He's got guys in the right spots all the time, like making plays, Like dude, it feels like it felt like every time we played them, like.
00:13:32
Speaker 4: They knew exactly what we were doing.
00:13:34
Speaker 5: And so it was like, you know, I just I'm a I'm a believer in just the scheme aspect, and so that was obviously.
00:13:42
Speaker 1: Attractive on the defensive side of the ball.
00:13:43
Speaker 4: Yeah, on both sides. Okay, Like I mean this is this is basically to San Francisco.
00:13:48
Speaker 1: Coaches, Right, You're like, we're going to have the same scheme.
00:13:50
Speaker 5: The same ideas, and so I think that, you know, for sure, that was attractive to me because.
00:13:56
Speaker 4: They've given they've given me issues. You know what I mean so, I mean.
00:13:59
Speaker 1: It's it's pretty fortunate you got to stay in the state of Texas, right because Dallas to Houston especial, like with the first move, Yeah, I was, you know, you spent your whole career in Dallas in the NFL.
00:14:10
Speaker 5: So I think are the first move being you know, only four hours away, like in terms of just driving, Yeah, it's not even an hour flight four hour drive, right, Like that's easy.
00:14:19
Speaker 1: I mean you can fly like one hundred times a day to Dallas. I mean not one hundred, but there's a lot of money.
00:14:24
Speaker 5: I think there's a little bit more math to do there, I mean, right, I mean more forty five minutes, fifteen twenty minutes change over twenty four hours in a day. I don't know.
00:14:32
Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's it's very easy to get to Dallas and back. So what do you I've lived in Dallas. I lived in Dallas briefly, and there's like this big rivalry between the two cities. What have you thought about that just coming from Dallas to Houston, because you have been on the other side of it. People in Dallas, what they think about Houston Houstonians in Dallas.
00:14:50
Speaker 5: To be honest, like I haven't felt that really like and I could just be out of touch, like I don't know, I don't feel I don't feel like any animosity like.
00:15:00
Speaker 1: From wow to be honest, Okay, okay, I don't know.
00:15:04
Speaker 4: We're going to give you a little bit of yes, please somebody.
00:15:07
Speaker 1: I give you some time before you start feeling what about text Mex. You you have some bold opinions on text Mex. Still not a text Mexic guy.
00:15:15
Speaker 5: There's actually one there's one Text Mex place that I really like in Houston.
00:15:20
Speaker 4: Now, it's in Dallas called e Bar.
00:15:23
Speaker 1: Okay, bar is fantastic bar. And it's a text Mex place. And so what is the dish that won you over to text Mex a little bit? I guess you do the way.
00:15:32
Speaker 5: They do stuff like their tacos are kind of a little bit more on like the authentic Mexican side. Oh and then they have like this caso that's just it's a white case like it's Tex Mexican.
00:15:43
Speaker 1: Really really good, okay, really really bad for you, really bad for you. Okay, So your your weakness is what cuisine? Then if it's not Tex.
00:15:51
Speaker 4: Mex sushi or Mexican food.
00:15:54
Speaker 1: Okay, sushi your Mexican a big sushi Oh yeah, okay, yeah, and you grew up in Utah. So where did you start eating sushi?
00:16:00
Speaker 4: I started in like high school?
00:16:02
Speaker 1: Maybe interesting?
00:16:03
Speaker 5: No, I take that back. It's funny. My first sushi role was actually at Wild Wild Oats, which not many people I'm sure will know Wild It's basically like a whole foods ish type store.
00:16:17
Speaker 1: Okay in Utah.
00:16:18
Speaker 5: Yes, and I want to say, I want to say they had more around the country, but yeah, they So they made sushi and my mom like slowly like, hey.
00:16:27
Speaker 4: You want to try it?
00:16:27
Speaker 5: Yeah, Like it was just tune of rolls at the start, and there was oh my god, what is it called an eerie Yeah? Tofu like it's like a bean rap that they put in the middle.
00:16:39
Speaker 4: Fantastic.
00:16:40
Speaker 1: Okay, so you're a big sushi fan, all right, So sushi getting there with the text mex What about family. You've got a couple of kids, Yeah, okay.
00:16:48
Speaker 2: Are the kids?
00:16:50
Speaker 4: My kids are five and two?
00:16:51
Speaker 1: Okay, so my boy just turned five and then so.
00:16:55
Speaker 5: He's in kindergarten now, and then we've got a two year old who's very much in the middle of two year old.
00:17:02
Speaker 1: Awesome. What's the best part of terrible twos?
00:17:06
Speaker 5: The best part of terrible twos the nice parts, like the most entertaining, the crazy energy all over the place, makes you really appreciate the like ten minutes of like snuggles you get like before they're quiet, like or like last game, last home game, they were down and I came out and like I turned the corner and I just hear Daddy, I found you and like it's my daughter.
00:17:32
Speaker 4: And she runs up. Ah, those moments are great.
00:17:35
Speaker 1: So they they're old enough to watch you, and you have to know that you play football.
00:17:39
Speaker 4: Yeah, they don't.
00:17:40
Speaker 5: They still I don't think they get like how cool it is necessarily Like I don't think they'll get that.
00:17:46
Speaker 1: And you can probably do anything at this stage and they would think it's poor.
00:17:49
Speaker 5: And so I think like getting to the point in my career where they kind of understand, like how you know rare it is to be able to be in this position will be cool. But like it's been so nice come home, you know, especially when they're in the area, just to like it doesn't matter what you did, doesn't matter what happened in that game.
00:18:06
Speaker 1: Like they don't know if you've no Okay, so my.
00:18:10
Speaker 5: Boy actually does if you scored her if we won the first game we came back and he's like, Dad, you lost. Yeah, yeah, you lost the Ravens because they had more points.
00:18:21
Speaker 1: Like yeah, less, thanks appreciate it.
00:18:26
Speaker 2: That's so adorable.
00:18:27
Speaker 1: All right, So I wanted to wish you an early happy National tit Ands Day. Do you celebrate how do you celebrate your big holiday? Touchdowns?
00:18:36
Speaker 4: Okay, touchdowns in the end zone?
00:18:38
Speaker 1: Okay, what's your Do you have a favorite play?
00:18:41
Speaker 4: Yeah? Block release, catch bike okay, any play with that?
00:18:45
Speaker 1: Any what can you tell us what that is?
00:18:47
Speaker 4: Yeah?
00:18:47
Speaker 5: You block and then you release and then you catch it.
00:18:52
Speaker 1: Like he's literally gonna describe what the play is called. I thought I was thinking more details, but.
00:18:56
Speaker 4: Now it's all the details.
00:18:57
Speaker 1: That's very block catch release okay, soase block release catch I've already messed up the play block release catch. I'm wishing you lots of touchdowns for National high Ends Day. It was a pleasure sit don't chat with you.
00:19:09
Speaker 4: Thanks.
00:19:11
Speaker 1: National tight Ends Day that's the fourth Sunday in October. But we're going to celebrate it all month long, all season long, and we love what we're seeing out of the tight ends so far through five games. Hope to keep that momentum going and they'll get another chance on Sunday when the Texans host the New Orleans Saints, and we get a chance to go behind enemy sidelines. Talk about this Saints team that's kind of hot here in recent weeks to get back Alvin Kamara. They've got Derek Carr on a bit of a roll, and they've got a defense that is stout ranked in the top ten in a number of statistical categories.
00:19:45
Speaker 2: So we're going to catch up with Chrissy Freud and find out what this Saints team is all about.
00:19:49
Speaker 1: We're going behind enemy sidelines and joining me once again Chrissy Freud, she covers the Saints for SI dot Com. Always have a good time catching up with Chrissy. Chrissy, here we are on the regular season. It's like we blink and we're already in the thick of it. So how are things looking in New Orleans?
00:20:03
Speaker 6: Yeah? I think that they're looking good. I mean, the Saints have had so many games that come down to like a touchdown or less, and most of them decided between one or two points. So you get the sense that the team is kind of about to turn the corner and it's kind of so close yet so far away, win or lose.
00:20:20
Speaker 3: It's we look at the defense.
00:20:22
Speaker 6: The defense has played pretty stoutly throughout pretty much the entire season, but then the offense seems to finally have started clicking, and it's kind of the question of is it play calling? Is Derek Carr getting better? So we're just trying to find some consistency. But yet it's interesting just how much the time is flown by. I mean, we're already past midseason in college football.
00:20:40
Speaker 1: It is crazy, and I mean I think you mentioned the Saints putting things together. I mean they're coming off as complete of a win as they could have possibly had, thirty four to nothing at New England. What do you think was more impressive in the win? Was it the offense or the defense?
00:20:53
Speaker 6: I think the defense is something that is I mean, they've shown good things all year long, but to pitch a shutout obviously makes a very big statement. But the thing about this game that we've been saying is temporary expectations. It's so interesting to me because the New England Patriots and the Alabama Crimson Tide are kind of they were synonymous, and it seems like the mighty have fallen. At the same time, the Patriots beating the Patriots is no longer making a statement this is a team that is borderline self destructing. But whenever we looked at that game, the thing that made it complete to me was the way that some of the underrated defensive players kind of came into their own a little bit with a bit of a different type of opportunity against a team like the Patriots. But then also Pete Carmichael has said time and time again, I've got to get better. I've got to get better, but things have never really gotten better, and this time we see it. So Derek Carr seems to be playing better. This is I think his most complete game of the season coming off of that shoulder injury too, which makes an even bigger.
00:21:51
Speaker 3: Statement in my opinion.
00:21:53
Speaker 6: But we have to see if this is going to carry over into this week against a team like the Texans, and then the team's down the stretch as well. So it's just going to be interesting to see if if the Patriots game is reflective more of the Patriots being a poor team this year or of the Saints having turned the corner in a big way after just having I think lackluster is a bit too complimentary of the way the offense has been well.
00:22:17
Speaker 1: I mean, it seems like I'm glad you brought up Derek Carr. We did not see him in the preseason at all, but in recent weeks with Alvin Kamara coming back, it seems like he's sort of found his rhythm. I mean, what have you seen from Carr in his progress through these first few games.
00:22:30
Speaker 6: I think the thing that's been good with Derek Carr as of late is that he's performing in the red zone.
00:22:37
Speaker 3: The Saints were having some issues.
00:22:39
Speaker 6: In the red zone and he didn't throw the ball very often, but I think that he did a better job of taking care of it. The thing about Derek Carr that we discussed the last time we talked about him, and that comes up in conversation every single time, is that awful touchdown to interception ratio. It's been an issue regardless, and people talked about, well, maybe with the change of scenery it will be better. But the thing to look at before is whenever he was with the Raiders, the only.
00:23:03
Speaker 3: Team he's ever been with. Yes, it's one team but.
00:23:06
Speaker 6: Over that time period, there were changes within the coaching staff, changes in the roster. There were times that there was a lot of talent around him and times that there wasn't. But the one thing that rained true was that Derek Carr had a poor touchdown interception ratio, and I think that he's doing a better job taking care of the ball. And then we're realizing I mean, everyone who looked at this team knew that the absence of Alvin Kamara was going to be an issue.
00:23:27
Speaker 3: It was going to be a negative.
00:23:29
Speaker 6: I mean, whenever you lose a player like that, that's a big deal. But he's playing vintage Alvin Kamara at the same time that Derek Carr seems to be settling into whether at the same time that Pete Carmichael hopefully can repeat twice in a row, some decent play calling on his end, and so all those things coming together the Saints offense, it's not explosive, but it's giving reason for optimism. And then coupled with that defense, which is one of the best not only in the division but in the NFL, I think that we could see something really good coming out of this team if they can just establish some consistency.
00:24:02
Speaker 1: Yeah, you mentioned Alvin Kamara. He's coming back after serving his three game suspension, so we saw him use more in the passing game against Tampa Bay and then more in the running game against New England. So you know, what have you made of his role? Do you expect that to change week to week or is it still just evolving in this offense.
00:24:20
Speaker 3: I think to an extent it's evolving.
00:24:22
Speaker 6: It's going to come down to I think that Pete Carmichael is going to look back kind of some of the things that worked as far as play calling.
00:24:28
Speaker 3: I mean, this is to.
00:24:29
Speaker 6: Score thirty four points. The way that the Saints did this pass game is a huge upswing whenever you look at the total, the total points scored and the way that the offense was performing in previous games. So I think he's going to look back at that game plan. But whenever I look at draft prospects, whenever I look at Alvin Kamara, whenever he's at his best, that's the epitome of what you want to model a running back after and today's modern NFL. You want someone you can depending on whatever the game plan calls for the kind of defense you're facing, you want someone that you know that you can trust through the air, on the ground and as a blocker, and a running back that can't do all those things will never be a lead at the NFL level, and it's kind of something that I feel like we use as just kind of the bar for evaluation of a running back. But I think that he ran quicker and ran harder in this game than he has in a long time. I don't know if it's just kind of he's got some extra juice to him because he's served that suspension, but I think we're going to see some really good things from him, and it's been huge having him back for this offense.
00:25:27
Speaker 1: All right, let's switch gears talk a little defense. They've obviously shined through five games. They ranked fourth overall in the NFL. I'm sure those Patriots numbers have helped their ranking some, but just a lot of coaching changes on that side of the ball. But what do you think has been the biggest factor in their success this year?
00:25:43
Speaker 6: I think third downstops have been a big deal. I mean, especially in these close games. It's, like I said, every single game except for this one and then the loss of the bucks for the Saints has come down to the wire, and in situations like that, being good on third down is so important. Whenever they faced the Patriots, they held the Patriots to one of fourteen on third down. So I think that that's been a very big thing. And then also the combined passer rating against the Saints this year so far.
00:26:09
Speaker 3: Sixty six point one, extremely low.
00:26:12
Speaker 6: So this is the Saints are doing a good job of getting to the quarterback and a good job of forcing teams off the field at the end of their drive. So I think that just all around, that's been a really solid defensive unit.
00:26:22
Speaker 2: All right.
00:26:22
Speaker 1: In that back end, we see Tyren Matthew, who we've got some familiarity with here in Houston. So the Saints get back their safety and Marcus May. So what should we expect now that that tanum is back together on the field.
00:26:35
Speaker 6: Really good things from the secondary and more takeaways. I think these are two of the greatest players in that position across the league, some guys who are super established. So I think that the Saints as far as ball hawking and takeaways go, you're going to see Enoptick there.
00:26:48
Speaker 1: All right, good stuff, Christy. I know you cover a lot of sec you cover a lot of college ball. What else are you working on this week?
00:26:54
Speaker 6: Quarterback everything, A lot of interviews in the Hobber that haven't been published because I think anyone on the media knows it takes five hundred years to transcribe everything. I finally, I was one of the last people to finally get a transcription app and it has saved my life.
00:27:09
Speaker 3: Like I've been making things so difficult on myself.
00:27:11
Speaker 6: So a lot of quarterback beature stories coming out, a lot of quarterback rankings, and of course covering this game with takeaways and all the analysis as well.
00:27:19
Speaker 1: My draft season is going to be here before we know it. Great stuff, Chrissy. Always a pleasure catching up with you.
00:27:24
Speaker 3: Awesome, Thank you.
00:27:26
Speaker 1: Noon kick off against the Saints here at NRG Stadium. It is the last game before the bye week and then the Texans will be back at home to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So a little bit of back to back NFC South action. You can get your tickets at Houston Texans dot com slash tickets and be sure to like subscribe these podcasts. If you like what you're hearing, lead me a comment, let me know what you think and These will be rolling here throughout the season, so thank you so much for listening, and as always, go Texans.
