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00:00Football in H-Town is on the rise.
00:05I love Danico Ryan's man, I tell you what.
00:07H-Town, I'm back.
00:08Our guy B. Scott has all the latest from the gridiron.
00:13I don't see no bitches nowhere around here.
00:15It's time for your weekly Texans report.
00:18I ain't laying down for nobody.
00:20On the drive with Sterner and Hughley.
00:26Alright, welcome in.
00:27Playoff edition Texans report.
00:29Every single Wednesday at 440.
00:33B. Scott joins us here.
00:35And Brandon, some news coming across right off the bat here.
00:39Oh yeah?
00:40As you jump on with this, according to Aaron Wilson.
00:47Many people were surprised.
00:50Was released in favor of bringing Daryl Taylor back off of IR.
00:55The Texans are re-signing safety.
00:58Kavon Wallace to practice squad.
01:00Alright, good for him.
01:02Good for him.
01:03I'm so excited.
01:04To the practice squad.
01:05Does that mean he will press?
01:07Does that mean he'll be a part of the playoff roster coming up on Monday?
01:12But many people were wondering, a few people were wondering about that situation.
01:19And he is back on the practice squad.
01:21Dude, they have been piecemealing together that position literally the entire year.
01:27Right?
01:27The other safety was supposed to be CJ Gardner-Johnson.
01:31They released him early in the year.
01:33And since then, it's been a hodgepodge of MJ Stewart until he got injured.
01:39And then they had the rookie Jalen Rhee out there until he got injured.
01:42And now they've just been trying to piece together that position ever since.
01:46And look, they've been able to figure it out and still be, if not the league's top defense,
01:52among the top defenses in all of the league, despite having a question mark at the safety
01:56position opposite of Kalen Bullock.
02:00So for me, it's kind of a non-factor, a little bit of a non-story.
02:03Like for me, unless you're telling me that they're replacing Kavon Wallace with Gerald Wallace
02:07or Ben Wallace or Rasheed Wallace, I don't really too much care.
02:12We'll have to hear about it.
02:15They've done enough.
02:17Wallace from the wire, like any Wallace at this point.
02:22Any Wallace.
02:22And look, I was saying this before we started.
02:27It is relevant to the end of this is the one position on an elite defense where I can't
02:33tell you and you can't tell me who actually plays that position for the team.
02:37Because it's been such a revolving door.
02:39And so to that degree, it's relevant.
02:41But again, I would reiterate the point that they have figured out a way to work around it.
02:44Well, I mean, look, if Reed's coming back, I mean, you're talking about one of their guys
02:48from jump that they drafted.
02:50You're talking about a guy that's been in the building with this defense, learning the
02:53defense, communicating the defense for an entire season, not just a handful of however
02:57long Kavon Wallace has been here.
03:00So, I mean, that would make sense, right?
03:02They think highly of Reed and they want to put him in there.
03:04To me, the crazy part is I guess depth isn't a problem.
03:09I was under the impression that depth would be a slight issue and just kind of, hey, man,
03:14this guy played for a couple weeks.
03:15Now you can be on the P squad.
03:16But I guess with Miles Bryant back there is still your quality depth at multiple positions.
03:21And so really all you're looking for is that starter.
03:23Yeah.
03:23It sounds like until Jalen Reed is ready to go, that Kavon Wallace is going to be an option
03:30to bring up from the practice squad, right?
03:32And so I think that they believe that if they advance, you know, if Jalen Reed's not available
03:37to play in this game, if they advance, they probably anticipate that he would be available
03:40to play in the next game.
03:41If he's not available to play in this game, then Kavon Wallace is somebody that they could
03:45activate as soon as, you know, Saturday, Sunday, whenever it is.
03:49I know the game is Monday night.
03:50So right before the game, he might be a standard elevation, but we're talking about a practice
03:54squad elevation guy for a spot, the one kind of kink in the armor that they got.
03:59Yeah.
04:00Let's, let's get more into things that are going to determine the outcome of the game.
04:02What is your, what are you looking at that potentially is the, the biggest factor in this game
04:16and, and, and being around these guys, D'Amico and them, what, what, what's the feel of the
04:21biggest thing in your mind that you're looking at at this game, that that's a factor in this
04:26game against the season?
04:27So Clint, we talk a lot on this show about the rubber meeting the road.
04:33This is the ultimate rubber meets the road matchup for me.
04:36I mean, like, think about it.
04:38This is the game where the changes, the key changes that you made in the off season, the
04:43big ones, this is the game where that's going to be ultimately put to the test, the offensive
04:48coordinator.
04:49Like what are the things that you have the most questions about, about aside from the
04:52fact that they don't have a clear safety aside from Caleb Bullock, right?
04:56What are the things that you are most concerned about the offense and the person that's leading
05:01that offense, that being Nick Cayley, the play caller.
05:03That was a key change that the Texans made in the off season, firing their offensive coordinator
05:06who they did have some success with and replacing them with an unknown.
05:10And even up to this point, nine game winning streak, 12 wins on the season, third straight
05:16season into the playoffs, we still have these relevant questions about the offensive coordinator
05:21and the play caller going into this game.
05:23So what kind of game is Nick Cayley going to dial up?
05:26That's been a question going all the way back to the off season and remains a question up
05:29until now.
05:30And then the offensive line, which has been better throughout this winning streak.
05:34But at the same time, I think it has its weaknesses.
05:37It's been unhealthy at times.
05:39And then just flat out, this is a worse matchup from an offensive line standpoint, from a protection
05:44standpoint, from a pass standpoint, this is a worse matchup than the Ravens would have
05:50been.
05:50When you're talking about Heisman, TJ Watt, they've got the rookie on the inside.
05:55Of course, Karen Hayward, who is going to make a Hall of Fame bid.
05:58They got at least no less than four guys that are going to be tough to block up front.
06:03So that's what is going to come down to me.
06:05The changes that the Texans made in the off season, are they going to pay dividends in
06:09this game specifically?
06:10Oh, and by the way, they're looking to get their first road playoff victory in a D'Amico
06:15Ryan's era.
06:16What do you think of Pittsburgh, just from a standpoint?
06:19Because I think if you look at the box scores, you look at the stat line from this year, I
06:22think it's easy to kind of probably get overconfident, to be honest with you.
06:28But when you look at this group, I mean, they've been inconsistent, underperformed on both sides
06:31of the football for a good chunk of the year.
06:33I mean, what do you think this, of the defense, let's start with the defense in particular.
06:40How good do you think they can be?
06:41Or do you think they are what their stats say they are?
06:43So I think that the Steelers are honestly a lesser version of the Texans.
06:49Like I think that, and that's the reason why there's some confidence on my end that
06:53the Texans can and should win this game.
06:55But to be clear, like, it's not like the Steelers are out of this thing.
07:00They're hosting this game, and they are a similar outfit, a team that can wreck a game
07:05up front on the defensive side.
07:07And they got a quarterback that, like an offense that is uninspiring overall, but a quarterback
07:12that can dial it up.
07:13So you asked about the defense.
07:14We were just hitting on this a moment ago.
07:16T.J. Watt, I know he's banged up, but he's still T.J. Watt.
07:19And we understand how the Watts get after it.
07:21They got motors like none other.
07:22You got Heisman on the other side.
07:24You got on the inside the rookie from Oregon, and, of course, I mentioned Cam Hayward.
07:32That's four guys right there that, again, are going to be tough to block.
07:35Now, they don't have the secondary that the Texans have, so if they're able to block it
07:39up, I trust that the weapons, especially based off of what I've seen from the Texans as of
07:44late, that they can get the ball out to their weapons if they can block this thing up, and
07:48they should be able to move the ball and hopefully get in the end zone more than they kick field
07:52goals, which has been an issue for them throughout the season.
07:54Going back to the question that I have about the game, like, are they going to be able
07:57to, like, right those wrong, so to speak?
07:59But from a defensive standpoint, I'm looking at those guys up front as that being, and
08:04I think you guys have talked about this throughout the show, that being, like, the key matchup,
08:07and I think it's the key matchup, honestly, on both sides, right?
08:11Blocking the guys up front for Pittsburgh is the key matchup for the Texans.
08:16And then, likewise, and Mike Tomlin has talked about this, and we know this as people who
08:20have watched every snap of the Texans, blocking Will Anderson to Neil Hunter and everything
08:24that the Texans got up front is going to be key for a Steelers team that's trying to protect
08:29a 40-plus-year-old quarterback who's on his last leg and only really has one weapon, and
08:34we talked about this, DK Metcalf, one real threat to speak of.
08:38Speaking of that, and speaking of Metcalf, they haven't had him, right?
08:41And their offense, it looked really bad against Cleveland.
08:44They seem to find something against Baltimore.
08:47We've watched Baltimore.
08:48Their defense got a little bit better, but it still was not up to par.
08:53They cannot rush the passer with a down.
08:55At all, right?
08:55That's a big difference.
08:58But DK Metcalf's going to be highly motivated, and as a player that has had big success in
09:03this league, how big is the addition of him to this offense now for the Texans on their
09:12defense?
09:12Like, I mean, the Texans have faced some good receivers.
09:16Is this a big thing that changes a lot?
09:19Yeah, I think without DK Metcalf, they have no chance.
09:23Like, I understand that they won this game against Baltimore, and it was a hell of a game.
09:27Baltimore kind of gave it to them at the end by not knocking on that field goal.
09:29It could have just been easy if they had done that.
09:31But, no, I think without DK Metcalf, they have no chance.
09:35I think with DK Metcalf, they absolutely have a chance, right?
09:38And then to the conversation y'all were having earlier about what do you do with him?
09:43Do you go with the more physical corner, or at least kind of stylistically and brand-wise,
09:48that's what Kamari Lasseter is.
09:50That's how he's made his name so far in the league, of being a more physical corner.
09:53Or, to your point, Clint, Derek Stingley Jr. is actually the bigger corner, and, of course,
09:59the better, more accomplished, the all-pro guy.
10:01I would just trust that more so against a DK Metcalf.
10:04But as far as how big of a deal is, I think it's a tremendous deal.
10:07Because it's the, like, DK Metcalf, not a perfect receiver, but a game-breaker,
10:11somebody that can change the game.
10:12I don't feel like they really had that outside of Friar move.
10:16I mean, other than that, man, they're out there with Marquez Valdez, Scantlin,
10:20Scotty Miller, Adam Thielen.
10:22I mean, these were the guys that were running routes for them the other night.
10:25Yeah.
10:25So, like, this is going to be a different thing now that they have DK Metcalf out there.
10:28It'll be up to the Texans on how they defend them.
10:30Does he change the way that the Texans approach defense?
10:34I don't think out of the gate it does.
10:37I don't think out of the gate it does.
10:38I think you let it become a problem before you make it a problem, you know,
10:42that kind of approach.
10:43But, I mean, the reality of it is, is if you look at who the Texans,
10:48what offense has been gotten by is the explosive play.
10:51And if you look at kind of who's gotten them and how it's been done,
10:55it's things that DK Metcalf can do well.
10:59And Aaron Rodgers.
11:00Like, think about this.
11:03Could you not see back-breaking plays be the Aaron Rodgers, the infamous,
11:08if you're a Texans fan, infamous Aaron Rodgers back-shoulder throw?
11:12To DK Metcalf.
11:14Like, the type of play, and Clint, you know this as a quarterback,
11:18like, the type of play that can be perfectly defended,
11:20but if it's perfectly executed, there's not much of a defense for it.
11:23Yeah.
11:23Well, he had a couple of those against the Ravens.
11:26That's what I'm saying.
11:26No question.
11:27And then, you know, you look at, you know,
11:29his ability to anticipate and get the ball out of his hand
11:32and lay it in zones or lay it in voids in defenses.
11:35I mean, you're going to have to do that at a high level against the Texans
11:37or you're not going to beat them.
11:38Like, you can't – like, some of these quarterbacks have to wait and see.
11:42Now, I'm not talking about the go-routes,
11:43but I'm talking about some of the in-breaking stuff.
11:45And, like, some of these young quarterbacks and some of the –
11:46hell, some of the older ones, they have to see it open before they throw it.
11:50And if that's the case, you've got to hold it an extra tick against the Texans,
11:52and you have no chance.
11:53Yeah.
11:53Right, so you look at, like, Aaron Rodgers' ability to have a complete control
11:57of the line of scrimmage, his ability this year to throw the quick game
12:01and the screen game and use Gainwell in the pass game.
12:03But really, his ability to anticipate and float the ball down the field
12:08to certain spots and give his guys chances, it just – it's not like –
12:12we were talking about it earlier.
12:13Like, with our defense, I mean, if you can make a big play in the first quarter,
12:18I mean, you apply pressure on the Texans in a way that you –
12:22most other teams don't feel it because the Texans' offense now has to go play.
12:25Yeah, I think the strategy, you can expect this,
12:29is going to be a dink and dunk type of thing,
12:31like a dink and dunk type of strategy.
12:33And when it is time to drop back and take your shots,
12:37who is going to have more time
12:39and who is going to make the most of said time?
12:41I think it's going to come down to that.
12:42All right, we appreciate you joining us.
12:45Hopefully next week we're talking about a win
12:47and preparing for the divisional round of the playoffs
12:51with the Texans on a Texans report
12:54and stave off that Rockets report.
12:58Let's see if we can –
13:00Man, those are going to be good too.
13:02They will.
13:03It's good times in Houston right now.
13:05Those are going to be fire too, so I'm ready for that.
13:07Might have to mix in an Astros report.
13:09All right.
13:10So a little E-My, E-May.
13:12I'm still working on that.
13:13Hopefully by the time we do an Astros report,
13:15I have my man's names pronounced correctly.
13:17It's different than E-May because E-May or Doka,
13:19so it's the opposite of that.
13:21Because every time they say E-May, I'm like,
13:23what about the Rockets now?
13:24Right.
13:25But they mean E-May.
13:25I mean, according to Sean Bajani, it's the opposite.
13:27It's M-E.
13:28M-E?
13:29Is it M-E?
13:30I thought it was M-I.
13:31I'm going to have to figure that out.
13:32I'm going to have to figure that out.
13:33It might be M-I might be right.
13:34I know it's not M-A is the point.
13:36Yeah.
13:36I'm going to try to get out there.
13:37That's E-Doka.
13:38Oh, wow.
13:39Yeah, that's right, Sean.
13:40I hear you.
13:40Yeah, I'm going to try to get out there to the,
13:41what do we call them, the AC box, the AC joint?
13:43What do we call them?
13:44The dyke.
13:45The dyke?
13:46The dyke, yeah.
13:47Yeah.
13:48When I get out to the dyke, I'm going to try to find out.
13:50There you go.
13:50All right, let's be Scott.
13:52Hey, check him out tomorrow.
13:53He'll be on In the Loop right at 11 o'clock.
13:5511 o'clock on In the Loop tomorrow.
13:57Check him out.
13:57You've been active on that pod, too, now.
13:59There you go.
13:59Yeah, man.
14:00B-Block podcast, In the Loop, The Drive.
14:02Come on, man.
14:02A bunch of different ways you can get with your boy.
14:03All over the place, boy.
14:04Five o'clock.
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