00:00All right, 7-1-3-5-7-2-4-16, do you look at this defense,
00:06and I think this defense is largely going to return the guys that they have had
00:11and the important pieces.
00:13They may lose some parts here.
00:15We'll see what happens when it comes to the defensive line,
00:19especially the interior D-line.
00:21We'll see if maybe some linebacker stuff changes.
00:25But they'll largely be the same.
00:26But do you believe they can replicate what they did this past year?
00:32You think this defense, they can count on this again next year?
00:36Yeah.
00:37Yeah, look, I think you can count.
00:39I mean, the one part of the Texas defense that I think is a crapshoot is the health.
00:45They were unbelievably healthy this year,
00:49and I just don't know that it's smart to bank on that every single year.
00:53And so I think that part is a little bit of a gamble.
00:56But everything else, man, it is a convincing, convincing product
01:00when you look at this defense.
01:01Again, you've got the two corners that I don't believe are going anywhere.
01:05From a talent perspective, they're going to be as good, if not better.
01:08You've got two defensive ends that I would say Daniel Hunter is as good
01:12as you're going to get, which is plenty, 15 sacks or whatever it was, should be here.
01:16I mean, from a pass-rushing perspective, he's one of the best in the game.
01:25And then you've got Will Anderson, who, again, I know it's crazy to think,
01:28but he can get better in the coming years.
01:33Do you get a sense that Daniel may slow down?
01:35No.
01:36No, I don't.
01:37I mean, not anytime soon.
01:39I don't look at it and go, boy, father, times.
01:41So, you don't think Daniel does?
01:42Yeah, no, I don't think he does.
01:45You know, I think there's – Aziz is going nowhere.
01:48Your main communicator there is going nowhere.
01:50That Kalen Bullock is going to be significantly better.
01:53I think Reed, if Reed is going to be the answer next to Bullock, he'll be better.
01:57Obviously, now, can he stay healthy will be the key.
01:58Jalen Petrie is just getting better and better and better every year we watch him.
02:03So, yeah, man, I don't know why this defense can't play the first-place schedule last year.
02:07You're going to play a second-place schedule this year.
02:09So, you would think there's probably going to be some kind of drop-off there.
02:13Maybe not a ton, but some kind of drop-off there from an opponent perspective.
02:15And so, yeah, I don't see any reason why this defense doesn't replicate what they did, Ron.
02:23To me, when you see –
02:25And maybe one across the board in Demner, everything, maybe that is –
02:30But they're going to be a top-five defense, right?
02:32Yeah, I mean, here's the thing is when you see some of these great defenses,
02:36and it's either – whether it's secondary-driven or, you know, pass-rushed, defensive-line-driven.
02:43A lot of times it's one or two guys.
02:45And if one or two of those guys, either you lose them in free agency or they retire
02:49or Father Tom does jump on their back, then all of a sudden everybody around them, they're exposed, right?
02:56And I just don't believe that's the case with the Houston Texans.
03:00I mean, if it's not the defensive end rushing to the quarterback's left,
03:04it's the defensive end rushing to the quarterback's right.
03:05This year they did a tremendous job of rotating interior offensive line to be able to push the pocket.
03:10You look up, the linebackers all took a step from a speed perspective.
03:13And if it's not Kamari Lasseter making a play, it's Derek Stingley making a play.
03:17There's just so many pieces that are contributing to how this defense is elite.
03:23They're almost – they're – what word am I looking for?
03:29Like, one guy leaving is not going to impact – or getting hurt is not going to impact this team in a major,
03:36major way.
03:38And so, I just – I think they're – at this point in time right now where everybody's at in their career,
03:43I think they're – it's safe to say they're going to be as good, if not better,
03:47than the next year as they were this year.
03:49Yeah, they're going to be a dominant defense.
03:51I don't think they're – they're going to drop off because, like you said, man,
03:56I just – I don't know they have any guys that are going to – going to be different than they were last year.
04:04And they've got several guys that are probably going to be better.
04:06Yeah.
04:06And they – they've got a lot of ascending players.
04:10And the guys who – like, Aziz may be one that you think, does he take a step back?
04:15But he's still – still, Aziz is only 28.
04:17But you look at – you look at Aziz, is there a ton of fall-off with this?
04:21And I know there's not – I'm not saying – not disrespecting –
04:23He really improved his coverage skills this year.
04:25No question.
04:25He was better.
04:26He was better.
04:27But are you – are you shook as a Texans fan if all of a sudden EJ Speed is your middle linebacker
04:33doing all the communication?
04:34Or Henry Toa Toa is your middle linebacker doing all the communication?
04:38And now you've got to rely on Christian Harris and they've got to get him into the fold a little bit.
04:41Like, are you really just at a point where you're like, oh, my God,
04:43I don't know if you can weather that storm?
04:44Not minimizing, you know, him at all.
04:46Like, great player, Pro Bowl player, main communicator.
04:49I'll never minimize that on either side of the football.
04:51But the guys around them are so damn good that I just believe that their replacement would be –
04:59would be all right.
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