- 7 months ago
Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle hands out his Texans regular-season awards, and ITL reacts to what feels fair, what doesn’t, and what stands out the most.
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00:00Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle, you know, beat writer, Cubs and team does a great job doing so,
00:05put together 10 regular season awards for the Houston Texans.
00:10And, you know, obviously in looking towards to cap off the regular season and kind of spin it forward
00:15as to what it taught us about them heading into the playoffs.
00:19And I'm not going to hit all 10. I don't know that we have time for that.
00:21But I wanted to pepper you with a few of them and see how you match up
00:25and how you kind of look at that as we get ready for this playoff adventure for the Texans.
00:31Yeah, this is one of those where kind of like Figgy's mixtape, I deliberately did not look at the list.
00:35I want to just gut reaction for these, what, 10 categories you said?
00:40And I won't hit all 10, but I'll just kind of pepper some of them and play along with us.
00:44713-572-4610, do you agree? Who would you put up for these awards?
00:48The easy one, the one that you have to do whenever you put up any awards for anything.
00:52Who's the MVP of this Texans team this year?
00:55It's relatively easy, not as easy as it may seem.
00:59I'm going to say Will Anderson Jr. is the MVP of this team.
01:03Any disagreement, Fig? Nope.
01:05That's where Jonathan Alexander went, right?
01:07He obviously pointed to the idea that clearly did not break a sack record like Myles Garrett this year,
01:12but incredibly valuable leader of the defense.
01:17Emotionally, in some ways, he has it spiritually.
01:20He's that. Still getting better.
01:22I think it's closer than most people would say, simply because Derrick Stingley does as much for him as he does for Derrick Stingley.
01:29I think Derrick Stingley would be my number two, and pretty close.
01:32Yeah, that's the beauty of what this defense is.
01:34You could make arguments for...
01:38Those two?
01:39Four? I think you got four. Maybe a possible? Four and a possible, Fig?
01:43Any on the offense?
01:45Not for me.
01:46I would say...
01:47Yeah, it's going to be hard to make the case on the offense.
01:50I'll put my four in order, see if they align with you.
01:52I would say Will Anderson one, Derrick Stingley two, Aziz Alshair three, and probably Kamari Lasseter four.
01:58No Daniil Huntser there?
02:00Ooh.
02:03No.
02:03I mean, yes, but not in the top four, yeah.
02:06Okay.
02:06Yeah.
02:07I think that this one was obvious.
02:09Well, it felt obvious to me.
02:10Biggest surprise?
02:12Biggest Tommy Togia.
02:13That's the one.
02:14Yeah.
02:14And it shouldn't have been, to some degree, they made it clear their expectations or their...
02:19Yeah, but still, you didn't expect this.
02:21Right.
02:22Reggie didn't expect this.
02:23Right.
02:24His ability to not only be a contributor and a consistent contributor, but a contributor at this level.
02:29Remember when...
02:30I still vividly remember being in that tent out there at the Houston Methodist Training Center,
02:35you know, where we did our media availability, when D'Amico said that.
02:38And I felt the visceral reaction from everybody, all the media there, because we were like,
02:43all right, what are we doing?
02:44But he has proven not only to be right, D'Amico Ryans, in calling Togia, and Casario has echoed this,
02:49the most consistent player on this team.
02:51And that felt like that was high praise just off the strength of...
02:54There's a lot of dudes who consistently bring this...
02:57He is so consistent, you know, and that could be consistent on a low level.
03:01No, no, no.
03:01He's consistent on a pretty high level, and now you need it.
03:04It's going to be super important.
03:05You need it more.
03:06You need it more, because now you've lost Tim Settle.
03:09You've lost Mario Edwards to season-ending injuries.
03:12And unfortunately, that's the case, but he's been able to step up and give you a lot of what you lost from them.
03:18Seth made a great point this morning that one of the things that you missed with those other guys
03:21is the ability to penetrate, you know, and really create pressure on the quarterback
03:25and maybe get some sacks.
03:27Yeah.
03:27They've gotten...
03:28I've seen a little bit more and more of that from the pairing of Rankin's and Togia as we go as well.
03:33So, he's been such a surprise, such a good one, in fact, and that's why everybody was so damn happy to see him getting the injury.
03:40I think a successful year would have been serviceable.
03:43You know, if he were just serviceable, that would have been a good year.
03:46So, absolutely, he's the biggest surprise.
03:47I remember, in fact, we had him on, you know, at our table at camp, and I remember after...
03:53I might have even told you this, but I told someone, man, I hope he makes the squad.
03:58Man, I hope he makes the team.
04:00Yeah, he made the team.
04:01Was that somebody's pet cat?
04:04We didn't have him as a pet cat.
04:05I don't think we had him as a pet cat.
04:06I don't believe that we got that low.
04:08That would have been a good pet cat.
04:09It would have been a good one.
04:09Are we already...
04:10Well, I feel like we can't pet cat him next training camp.
04:13I feel like he's out of the running for pet cat circumstances.
04:17Most underrated player on this team this season?
04:20Most underrated player.
04:22Oh, and before I move any further, somebody said wrong on, I'm guessing, the MVP, or maybe
04:27it's...
04:27I'm guessing MVP.
04:28They said it's Kaimi Fairbairn for being the highest scorer.
04:32So, I see you, and I appreciate that.
04:33I have two options here that I'm thinking about.
04:36Well, that's options.
04:37There's a tie.
04:38I want to see if you nail this.
04:40Dude, if I nail this, I'm going to say Jalen Petrie.
04:44Yes.
04:45Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
04:46Not underrated.
04:47Not underrated.
04:48Sorry, I'm thinking about another award.
04:49I'm going to say Jalen Petrie and, ooh, ooh, Trent Brown.
04:59I want to see...
05:00You missed on both accounts, but that doesn't mean that you're wrong.
05:03It's subjective.
05:05However, is Jonathan Alexander wrong here?
05:08He goes with Daniil Hunter and Kamari Lasseter.
05:11I think he's wrong.
05:12Yeah.
05:13He's underrated?
05:14Yeah.
05:15No.
05:15Nah, man.
05:15I think my guys are underrated.
05:17I'm going to claim that as a victory.
05:21Don't we all, right?
05:22That's how it goes.
05:22But it is fair to point out that Daniil Hunter finished the season third in the league, 15 sacks.
05:28In a season in which you had the leader having 23, it's easy to forget, especially because of Daniil's demeanor.
05:36In fact, it's easier now to even see why Daniil Hunter is not as appreciated around the league because he skates under the radar so much.
05:42He's got a 15-sack season and Daniil Hunter has not gotten the love that he so rightfully deserves.
05:50And it's easy for Will Anderson Jr.
05:52He was the number three pick that season where you get him and you trade it up.
05:56So, people around the league see him.
05:58He's effervescent personality.
05:59All of these things.
06:00Leader, boisterous, always has a smile on his face.
06:04Daniil Hunter just as much is the other side of that claw that I think makes teams or puts teams in a vice grip.
06:11I mean, he's underrated on a national scale, so maybe that's what he's looking at.
06:14The Kamari Lasseter thing is interesting, though.
06:17He gave a lot of acclaim this year.
06:18I think around the league, people love him.
06:21I think Mina Koms has said on a number of times that he is her favorite player to watch.
06:25She voted for him for All-Pro.
06:26And it's deservedly so.
06:28Yeah.
06:28And it speaks to how well he does and how important he is.
06:33But, yeah, I think you went with Petrie and you went with who was it?
06:36Trent Brown.
06:36Trent Brown.
06:37I think Trent Brown is a good one here.
06:40Why did you bring up Trent?
06:42We've seen it.
06:42I think I said this yesterday, maybe the day before.
06:45You can point to an exact moment in time when this offensive line started getting better.
06:50It's when Trent Brown got on the field.
06:52Yeah.
06:52It's funny you said that because I was kind of thinking the same thing with Ed Ingram.
06:56Mm-hmm.
06:57Where I'm like, but.
06:58He's had a little bit of a decline.
06:59Yeah, but I don't think, yeah, even though he was in the lineup, the offensive line was
07:04still bad.
07:04Yes.
07:05It wasn't like they approved when he stepped in.
07:08Mm-hmm.
07:08You know, I've had a certain infatuation recently with Sheldon Rankins.
07:12Yes.
07:13That's been a name that's come up.
07:14I would throw his name up here as well.
07:15Yeah, that's a good one.
07:16Because for me personally, I still maintain that the containing quarterbacks thing got
07:21fixed when Sheldon Rankins was like, okay, so I guess this is my responsibility.
07:24I got you.
07:25Yeah.
07:25And I thought that that cleared up.
07:27Most versatile.
07:27That's fair.
07:28Most versatile?
07:30Ooh, boy.
07:31I'm going to say Miles Bryant?
07:35That is, I feel like he technically fits.
07:37How do you like Titus Howard?
07:42Oh, layup.
07:43Yeah.
07:43I just forgot about him.
07:45Yeah, I just forgot about him.
07:46And it's easy, too, on this offensive line.
07:48His versatility is also, it can't be taken for granted in finding a decidedly about average
07:55offensive line performance.
07:57You need him to fill stopgaps a number of times when you're trying to figure some things
08:03out.
08:03And he's handled himself incredibly well.
08:06I mean, just this game, he slides back out to right tackle.
08:08He's going over to, he's played three positions and played them pretty well.
08:12And that was absolutely necessary for you to make this happen.
08:15Yeah, no, that's a great answer there.
08:16Best newcomer?
08:18Best newcomer?
08:20I guess we have to say Jaden Higgins.
08:24That's one that you could throw up there?
08:26Would you throw up Ariante Urssery?
08:28It's either one of those two.
08:29It's either one of those two.
08:31Urssery's starting more, of course, playing more.
08:33So maybe he does get the edge.
08:35Yeah.
08:35Yeah, I think Urssery is, we have not really done a lot of, oh, there's Urssery not quite
08:41looking.
08:42Early on, but that was kind of expected.
08:46That is a rookie doing rookie things.
08:48And then very quickly.
08:49A second round rookie.
08:50He has settled into being a pro in the National Football League.
08:53Yeah.
08:53That is admirable at what has, you know, at times been looked at as the most difficult
08:59spot, at least on the offense, and left tackle.
09:01And remember, you had Cam Robinson there.
09:03Yeah.
09:04So I don't think people would expect him to be the start and left tackle week one.
09:08Cam Robinson told him, hey, let me go.
09:09Mm-hmm.
09:10Yeah.
09:10There's clearly nothing for me to do here.
09:13That's right.
09:13Nick Casario said, y'all got this.
09:15Nick Casario said, my bad.
09:16I thought you was going to be the starter, bro.
09:18I'd trade you somewhere else.
09:19Yeah, exactly.
09:20So yeah, no, that one absolutely stands there.
09:24And then most improved was one that came in here.
09:28Most improved.
09:29And I found this answer to be interesting that Jonathan threw up here.
09:32Woody Marks?
09:34That's actually a really good answer.
09:35I like that.
09:38Although the season improved quite a bit.
09:40He threw up his ease here.
09:42And I think it's because of the coverage.
09:45And the coverage aspect, he has a couple of interceptions.
09:48And one of them obviously kind of falls into it.
09:50But he's also had some really big breakups.
09:52He has not been able to be attacked in the same way.
09:55And that was a thing I vividly remember last year,
09:57talking about the linebacker's inability in coverage.
10:01That has not been the case to the same degree.
10:03That's part of what's made this defense.
10:05Where would they be if Woody Marks didn't improve?
10:08Yeah, that's a good question.
10:10Or I don't know.
10:10How much do you view the Woody Marks as improvement or opportunity?
10:15Because remember, early on, it was giving Nick Tull the ball a lot.
10:17Yeah, I look at that as opportunity.
10:19Yeah.
10:19He took that opportunity, and they couldn't take him off the field.
10:22Yeah, yeah.
10:23What about, I was thinking of Henry Toto.
10:26Do you feel like he kind of improved this year?
10:28He was good last year, but I think he has improved.
10:31I mean, he's wearing the green dot when Aziz is not out there.
10:34You know?
10:35But we cannot forget that we also, when Aziz wasn't out there, we were like,
10:37ooh, I missed Aziz.
10:38Yeah, there was some drop-off.
10:40I think that he benefits from Aziz.
10:42Aziz lets him slot into the role that he needs to play,
10:46which is one of aggression, one of speed, one of quickness,
10:49and one of support to Aziz.
10:51I think taking that green dot off his helmet, I think, helps.
10:55Yeah.
10:55And all of that slots in the way that it needs to.
10:57And honestly, I feel like he's keeping Chris Harris off the field.
11:01Yeah.
11:02Texters are coming in.
11:03EJ speed, versatility.
11:05Yeah, playing a little rush in when, was it Barnett that just needed a breather?
11:09Or was it Horton?
11:10Newcomer, Trent Brown.
11:12Trent Brown, yeah.
11:12Yeah.
11:13Especially because it's not just the fact that he's gotten in and played.
11:17You definitely love the veteran presence that we thought he was mostly here for.
11:20You can't overlook what he's done in helping everybody acclimate to what the system was.
11:27And here you are with an offensive line that is serviceable,
11:30which if you go back to training camp when we were watching this,
11:34that felt like that was a lofty goal.
11:36And they've somewhat achieved that here.
11:38So, yeah, shout out to Jonathan Alexander for those awards.
11:41Real quick, biggest disappointment of the year.
11:43Well, that one feels pretty evident.
11:46Christian Kirk.
11:48That's actually a good answer.
11:49Yeah.
11:50I think C.J. Gardner-Johnson hits pretty hard because that was your first swipe.
11:55Yeah, but Christian Kirk is still here.
11:56Yeah.
11:57But you've had to try and iterate a number of times to fix that safety spot
12:02to the point where that safety spot is still a question as of yesterday
12:06as Kayvon Wallace gets waived.
12:08So, I think that C.J. Gardner-Johnson definitely hits.
12:11But I think also it tells you that this team is not going to settle for less
12:14in any way, shape, or form.
12:15Correct.
12:15And so, that is interesting.
12:17And they've stood on that all the way to this point.
12:19Like I said, all the way until yesterday when Kayvon Wallace gets waived.
12:22So, shout out to Jonathan Alexander and the Chronicle for a very interesting set
12:25of awards given out to Texas players for the regular season.
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