- 18 hours ago
ITL reacts to the Houston Texans making their selection with Keylan Rutledge—what do we think? The guys break down the fit, upside, and what it says about Houston’s draft strategy moving forward.
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00:00This was a guy you mentioned multiple times.
00:02I mean, he was no...
00:03Is he my guy?
00:04I was going to say, he...
00:06He's my pet cat?
00:06Unless you're a guy, bro.
00:07No, no, no.
00:09Unless you broke up with Kenyon Sadiq.
00:11See, but the thing about Kenyon Sadiq is...
00:13See, you got a promo with Kenyon Sadiq.
00:15That's true. No, you're right.
00:16But here's the thing about Kenyon Sadiq as it relates to me,
00:18seeing as we've been talking about relationships and such in football.
00:21Kenyon Sadiq is the one that got away,
00:23and it always felt like the one that got away.
00:25It's just like, oh, man, the timing was never right between you and her.
00:28That was Kenyon Sadiq.
00:29I just kept looking, and I was like, nah.
00:31Like, I mean, I feel like the Texans are an attractive person.
00:35However, you know, Baltimore is over there.
00:37You know, Baltimore is the jock over there.
00:40And, you know, there's Carolina over there.
00:42And lo and behold, who thought that the New York Jets would come up
00:45and have a little bit of attractiveness for Kenyon Sadiq?
00:48I don't know how attractive he found them.
00:49We'll hear that audio later in the program.
00:51But, yeah, that one always felt like the one that was going to get away.
00:53This Keenly Relich?
00:54Oh, yeah, this felt like the girl next door.
00:56And, buddy, the story was settled in an odd way.
01:00Like, it wasn't cut and dry, interestingly enough,
01:02because obviously the Texans made a slight trade-up.
01:05So if you had trade-up on your boards,
01:07I hope that you go to the ticket window and cash in your ticket
01:10because they move up two spots from 28 to 26.
01:13That is all part of the story of this.
01:15So hit us up on the base power text line, 713-572-4610.
01:19Also, appreciate you to the Moe Carey and Drew Lourich for the live streams.
01:21We keep it 100.
01:22YouTube page of Sports Radio 610.
01:24The Twitch chat is 610 Houston.
01:25What are your thoughts on the player?
01:27How much did the trade-up affect that?
01:29What do we think?
01:31On the player, absolute perfect fit for what they're looking for.
01:35We'll see how he plays.
01:36But all signs on how he plays, program-changing type guy.
01:40I mean, he's swarmy, as everybody likes to say.
01:43You know, big-time leader.
01:44Helped change the entire Georgia Tech program.
01:47He and the quarterback from A&M, Haynes King, were the two guys that were—
01:52There was a couple of Hayneses because there was Haynes King
01:54and then there was Marcus Haynes.
01:56Like, lifted the program.
01:57Those two guys were widely regarded as guys that lifted the entire Georgia Tech program.
02:02And all three of those dudes, the law firm of Haynes, Haynes, and Keelan Rulich,
02:05and I imagine a lot more on that team.
02:07Tough sons of guns.
02:09That's what I'm saying.
02:10Tough sons of guns.
02:12Absolute road grader in the run game, which fits the profile of what the Texans want to do.
02:16Strong off the field, which fits the profile of what the Texans want to do.
02:21One of my favorite things about offensive linemen, and I'm no John Harris,
02:24but when I'm looking at offensive linemen, do I like that guy or not,
02:26is what they do downfield.
02:28Because, you know, it's easy.
02:30I shouldn't say easy.
02:30But it's one thing to do your job, make the block, pass, protect, or whatever,
02:36and then the play's over.
02:37But he's the kind of guy that goes and finds more, and then finds more, and then finds more.
02:43Nasty.
02:43That's exactly the profile.
02:45And it's just sort of like a poor man's way to gauge an offensive lineman.
02:49That's how I do it.
02:49Every time you see this guy on the field, he's going looking for more.
02:53You know how I like to qualify that.
02:55It's one of the quaint folksy ways that I actually like, that I appreciate using.
02:59He throws dudes out the club.
03:00He throws guys out the club.
03:01He's just, I am going to block you until you are in the dirt or until the ref comes and
03:05takes me off you.
03:06Yeah.
03:07That is the way that he plays.
03:08This is, I think that's one of the biggest statements about this pit,
03:12is that we are seeing a commitment.
03:16Yeah.
03:16Maybe I should even say a charge to make sure that the disparity of swarm between defense and offense is
03:24mitigated.
03:25Yes.
03:25Right?
03:25That they, obviously they went inside Wyatt Teller.
03:28He is that type of dude.
03:29They brought in Braden Smith.
03:31He has that capability.
03:33This is them addressing the one spot on this, of the 22 starters where you go,
03:38I'm not sure if that's a starting caliber dude.
03:41Yeah.
03:41That's how I read it.
03:42Yeah.
03:42Right?
03:43Keelan Rutherford, who we'll hear from as well.
03:45He made it flat out clear when he got up on the, he got on the microphone talking to,
03:50I don't even remember in what case, but he was like, I could play anywhere on the interior, center included.
03:55And I was like, yeah, that sounds like, that sounds like what we're doing here, big dog.
03:58Now there's still very much the capability that he is a, he is a succession plan at one of these
04:03guard spots, right?
04:03That's where he naturally plays.
04:05But the idea that you can get a dude who's big physical can continue to help you in the run,
04:09which is the charge.
04:11In fact, Nick Casario said it flatly.
04:12We're going to run the football this year.
04:14How many times in the NFL do you hear somebody flatly tell you what their plan is in that way?
04:18Right?
04:19This felt like a very clear, we want to address the physicality of this offensive line.
04:24We want to continue doing that.
04:25And we want to address the one position that we weren't sure that we had starter quality style, starter quality
04:29playing play at boom.
04:30Here we go.
04:31Let's go play football in terms of commitment.
04:32When you look at everything the Texans have done and this first round draft pick, including the Seahawks, including some
04:38other teams,
04:39no team in the NFL is going to be more committed to running the ball than the Houston Texans zero.
04:43They, they, they, you know, it's all, they've proved it with their actions more, more so than their words.
04:49They've, they brought in a guy that, you know, as I mentioned is a run blocking specialist,
04:53but he's really good against the pass as well.
04:55By the way, it looks like straight out of central casting too, you know, redhead, shaved head, beard, big burly
05:02dude, all that stuff.
05:04But, but he, the Texans are going to be committed to the run.
05:07And you have to realize also this to me was, was kind of one of the big keys.
05:12They traded up to get him.
05:14And we talked about it yesterday.
05:15Let's talk about it.
05:15And we talked about it yesterday.
05:17If they trade up, because that was the big rumor, it's because they are specifically targeting one or two guys.
05:24They did it, but that's exactly what they did.
05:27You know, it's funny.
05:27I did not have much consideration for the small trade up, which is what ultimately happened.
05:31You move up two spots.
05:33In fact, I'll, let me get the, the, the breakdown of this trade once more so that we're, we're, you
05:38know, covering this the way that we probably should.
05:42But they traded that 28 pick, they traded 69, which was, you know, one of those, it was a third
05:47round pick, the early third round pick and 167 later in the draft for this 26 pick and 91, which
05:54is later in the third round.
05:56So they still have a third rounder, but it's later in that.
05:58And then they add, what is that, a fifth round pick to it as well when they send, send the
06:03package out.
06:04I consider it because a lot of the scuttlebutt had been a move up into like the teams that he
06:08was calling around and searching for that.
06:10Do you like the place of the selection for Keelan Rutledge?
06:14Because I think that the player thing is easy, right?
06:16The way to see him fitting into what the Texans do, especially when you talk about, I thought that Ron
06:22and Clint had a great point yesterday, right?
06:24It feels weird to go into a first round in particular with a Texas team that wants to win right
06:28now and select a player that feels like they are for later, right?
06:32That they are a red shirt of sorts, or, you know, maybe we'll have to compete, but might not be
06:36a starter, right?
06:38This answers that.
06:39This is a player that can play right now for this team, but the place is, I think, the part
06:46of this that I think certain people might scoff at or certain people might pull back at.
06:50How did you feel about the place, whether it was the trade-up to 26 or just the idea that
06:54he's in the first round at all?
06:55When I think a lot of the lead-up, understanding, though, that, like, draft stock isn't actually a thing necessarily,
07:01right?
07:01Just because people say you should go in a certain place and then you go in another place is not
07:05the end-all, be-all.
07:06But a lot of people talked about him as maybe, like, a second-round pick, you know, possibly more interesting
07:11in getting into the higher portion of the second round.
07:13The idea that they not only picked him in the first round but moved up some spots to get him.
07:17Yeah, number one.
07:18How does that hit you?
07:18Number one, they loved him.
07:19That's the guy they wanted.
07:20That's what the trade tells us.
07:22Number two, regarding the trade, I thought it was a slight overpay, but, hey, that's the guy they want.
07:26And as you mentioned or somebody mentioned just a little bit ago, it may not feel so bad if he
07:33becomes, you know, a Pro Bowl guard or center or whatever.
07:36But moving from 69 to 91, 22 spots, that's no small thing.
07:42That's 22 players, you know, 21, 22 players that you can conceivably, you know, pass on or could have had
07:48or whatever.
07:48So it's no small thing.
07:49Slight overpay, but they got the guy they want.
07:52And then on your other point, I can just flat out tell you, Keelan Rutledge is starting week one.
07:57They drafted a starter.
07:58They drafted an interior lineman in the first round.
08:01That's a starter.
08:02Flat out.
08:03So that means that you're going to pretty much overhaul the entire offensive line.
08:09I don't mind it.
08:10This is the guy they wanted.
08:11They made the trade.
08:12Maybe a little overpay, but they got a guy that's going to start week one.
08:15Yeah, I think that this was – I had to take a little time to soul search.
08:20It was easier to soul search when I love the dude.
08:22I'm not worried about, like, who the dude is.
08:24And we'll talk more about that because it's fair for someone to go, how were you feeling when they selected
08:28Kenyon Green a few years ago?
08:30And we'll talk about that because that is a part of the conversation that needs to happen, especially with the
08:34– I mean, let's be honest.
08:35The doubt that exists in Nick Casario and the Texans front office at large, their capability of selecting offensive linemen.
08:44That's fair and we'll address that.
08:45But as far as the trade-up, I read the circumstance and it made me feel a little bit better,
08:49right?
08:49Because you were at 28 and you moved to 26.
08:52You jumped one team, right?
08:54You jumped the San Francisco 49ers who – then, after you jumped them, they move out.
09:00Now, maybe – for a moment, I was like, well, maybe someone else was trying to move up to 27
09:04ahead of the Texans to select Kenyon Rutledge.
09:07The team that ultimately steps up to that spot – and we can't know for certain that there wasn't a
09:12team that wanted to go to 27.
09:13Could have been another one.
09:14And the Texans went up and then – but it's the Miami Dolphins and they select someone else entirely.
09:18They don't even select an offensive lineman.
09:20So, in my mind, in the reading that I interpret this as, I think that it was the San Francisco
09:2649ers that had some appreciation for Kenyon Rutledge.
09:29And the Texans said, nope, we're going to go and get our guy.
09:34And I think I was also kind of emboldened on top of that, right?
09:38The idea that – you know, to kind of move away from the idea that maybe it was another team
09:42wanting to step – jump up for him.
09:44There wasn't – Chase Besantis is still on the board, right?
09:47Some of these – Emmanuel Pregnant is still on the board.
09:49The guys that you might think are guards in that similar vein of Kenyon Rutledge, interior offensive lineman in that
09:53similar vein,
09:54none of them came off in the immediate time after that, right?
09:57So, there was at least the Texans who had this evaluation and maybe other teams who might like that position
10:03that also had that evaluation of this guy is a better guard or a better prospect than those other guard
10:09prospects.
10:09So, by that kind of – and maybe you're saying that I'm, you know, reaching or I'm doing mental gymnastics.
10:14Maybe that's the case.
10:15But ultimately, the way that I square all that is this was the guy that you had to go get
10:20and they didn't give up too much to go and get him and they made sure to get a first
10:24-round guy
10:25that, like you said, I think has a capability of starting week one.
10:28Everything you said, I agree with.
10:29The only other possibility, it was another team altogether that just said screw it
10:34and stayed where they were or moved back or whatever
10:35because maybe that's part of the reason that the Texans slightly overpaid.
10:40You know, there was another team that was wanting to get to 26.
10:44And, you know, the Texans basically said, all right, we'll give you 69, you know,
10:48and we'll drop to 91.
10:52So, that's a possibility.
10:53But overall, Nick Casario has a lot riding on this.
10:57Like, Nick Casario himself has – not that, you know, he's done a good job
11:01or hasn't done a good job or anything like that.
11:03I'm saying in terms of the offensive line, there is a lot riding on this.
11:06But beyond all that, the player himself is exactly – I mean, exactly what the Texans have been wanting.
11:16Yeah, I mean, and there's a ton of different places that you can go with it.
11:19We'll get to some of the people talking about the selection.
11:22I go back to Dane Brugler's, you know, the Beast draft profile for Keelan Rullage
11:29in which he talked to a scout who said, I think, that if the ACC had a Royal Rumble,
11:34this is the dude that would win out of the ACC.
11:37Brent Key, who is the head coach at Georgia Tech, who has coached a lot of football
11:42and is known for being a dude that, you know, has an expectation of his players in a unique way
11:47and has, you know, has coached some really tough guys, that there is not a tougher dude
11:52that he has coached in his career.
11:54Brent Key, those are things that you can hang your hat on.
11:57In fact, D'Amico Ryans – do you have this audio of D'Amico Ryans
12:00immediately after talking in the draft room, Figgy Fig?
12:03Because D'Amico in the war room, when he said this, I was like,
12:07this says everything you need to know about the way they felt about this draft.
12:27If you couldn't hear him, he goes, these are the types of guys that you want to get, right?
12:31And then he gave the patented D'Amico kind of like, that kind of chuckle.
12:35And I, you know, I'm not no D'Amico whisperer, but I'm going to do my best attempt.
12:39That one sounded to me like –
12:41Woo, got him.
12:41I'm so excited.
12:42Yeah, got him.
12:43I can't wait.
12:43Because nothing makes D'Amico Ryans is like – nothing makes his insides get warm more
12:48than seeing a dude who loves football, especially playing in a physical way.
12:52Yeah.
12:52And that is big red Keeler Rutledge to a tee.
12:55Yeah, big red.
12:56I like it.
12:57Yeah.
12:57All right.
12:57You're in the loop here on Sports Radio 610.
12:59Some people talking about, you know, if you believe he is the guy,
13:02you're going to get him in the first round for the fifth-year option.
13:04That's fair.
13:05A lot of people seemingly liking this, which I think is kind of the –
13:08it's kind of the bent for a lot of people.
13:11The night one of the draft, if your team selects a guy,
13:13you're going to lean towards liking him.
13:14But I think there's a lot of things to like with it.
13:16Still a lot of conversation to be had because a fair question,
13:19if he doesn't move to center, who does he start over?
13:21Does he start over Wyatt Teller?
13:22Does he start over Ed Ingram?
13:26I think those are fair questions.
13:27Ultimately, Nick Casario will say that you just throw him out there
13:30and let them compete and, you know, the cream will rise to the top.
13:32I think there's a lot of things to like with it.
13:32I think there's a lot of things to like with it.
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