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00:00All right, the Texans draft is over, NFL draft is over,
00:04and the Texans have made their additions to this team through free agency
00:09as well as through the draft.
00:11I would say spread the wealth, B. Scott.
00:14I mean, no big splashes in free agency.
00:18I think probably the biggest splash in free agency across the board
00:21is probably David Montgomery.
00:23Oh, I would say Wyatt Teller.
00:25Wyatt Teller, you think, is bigger, older, veteran player that was okay.
00:27Yeah, two-time All-Pro.
00:29Fair?
00:30Yeah, but I'd say it's between those two, though.
00:35And didn't they trade for Montgomery technically?
00:38Or am I wrong on that?
00:39Yeah.
00:40Did they?
00:40Yeah, because they sent Drew Scruggs in that deal.
00:42That's correct.
00:43You're right.
00:43Yeah, so I'm not trying to split hairs.
00:45No, no, no, fair, fair.
00:46But, yeah, so I would say Wyatt Teller, though.
00:48Fair.
00:49The point is, right, is just across the board, you look at,
00:53instead of going out and signing one free agent for $20 million a year,
00:57they went out and got a couple of different offensive line additions
01:00at the $10 million number a year.
01:02Instead of trying to acquire one of the top running backs that you're going to
01:04pay $12 to $14 million to, they went out and got David Montgomery,
01:08who is more, from an identity perspective,
01:10what they want to instill on this team offensively.
01:14I think if you look across with Foster Moreau,
01:15instead of going out and making a big move for a tight end,
01:17they went out and got a journeyman tight end that they believe,
01:20I think knows the system, should know the system to some degree,
01:24but they know what they're getting in him.
01:26You look at the draft, no big splashes.
01:29I think they went interior offensive line, interior defensive line,
01:32and then a tight end that not real sure exactly what role he fits exactly,
01:39precisely, still a lot to be seen.
01:41But the point is, is it just not a lot of splash.
01:44Not a lot of splash with what the Texans have done,
01:47but I've said this before, whether it's free agency or it's a draft
01:51or it's big picture how the Texans have built this team, B. Scott,
01:56you've got to give credit where credit's due.
01:58With Nick Casario and D'Amico Rhines, this is as solid a group,
02:03as high a floor for a team as there is, I think, in the NFL.
02:07And so they've done a hell of a job of eliminating voids,
02:14eliminating weaknesses, eliminating need spots on this team,
02:20but you're never going to be able to eliminate them all.
02:24There's still a few left across the board.
02:27And Jonathan Alexander, with the Chronicle, he actually gave me this idea.
02:34He wrote an article about the holes that are remaining in this Houston Texans roster.
02:39Jonathan Alexander does a great job, big fan.
02:40But he's actually got my wheels to turning on this.
02:44Your thoughts on after draft, after free agency, the 2026 Texans right now,
02:49where could you see maybe some vulnerabilities in this roster?
02:52Yeah, I think it's a credit to the team building process to begin with
02:56that they didn't really need to make a big splash, right?
02:59Like, they've got a pretty good team already.
03:01And so I don't want to say that you're just piecing it together along the margins
03:06because these were some glaring needs, right, the interior offensive line,
03:10even the interior defensive line, fixing the run game,
03:13so going out and getting a running back.
03:15All of that was important to do.
03:17But just the fact that they were already, like, the floor was already high.
03:22You know, they were top eight finished in the last three seasons,
03:24so they're doing something right.
03:26So from that standpoint, I like the approach.
03:28I like the fact that they are already a good team just trying to get better.
03:32When we talk about holes, I think of a couple of weaknesses that the Texans still have.
03:39I would look at running back as, like, the depth of it and say,
03:45okay, you've got David Montgomery, you've got Woody Marks.
03:49I'm okay with that pairing.
03:51But after that, are you – is it Jawar Jordan?
03:55Are you good with just two running backs that you feel good about?
03:59Or how do you feel about Jawar Jordan?
04:01And how do you feel about a British Brooks contributing to that group?
04:05I would say the backup defensive end, like the backup edge rusher.
04:09I like Dylan Horton, but I'm not really sure what you have beyond the obvious guys,
04:15the big-time guys, Daniel Hunter and Will Anderson, Jr.
04:19Now, we're kind of getting spoiled at this point, you know,
04:21talking about depth at edge rusher when you've got two of the best in the league.
04:25But you don't have a whole lot past that, right?
04:27And then I would give you one more.
04:30Love Trent Brown, and they brought him back as their backup right tackle.
04:33But is he a swing tackle or is he just a right tackle?
04:37And who is your backup left tackle?
04:38Who is your actual swing tackle?
04:41Is that Blake – is Blake Fisher just your backup left tackle?
04:44And Trent Brown's your backup right tackle?
04:46Are you good with that?
04:47So, I would say that, too.
04:48If something were to happen to Ariante Ursary, I would be worried.
04:51Yeah, I think most of them are depth plays, right?
04:54I mean, if something happens to Ariante Ursary, if something happens to Daniil Hunter,
05:00if something happens to David Montgomery, right?
05:03If something happens, part of this thing, I think is real, right?
05:09I mean, that's – you know, if something happens to David Montgomery early in the season,
05:12you're back to Woody Marks being your one.
05:15And, like you said, Jawar Jordan or British Brooks or somebody.
05:17Like, your running back position is in a tough spot.
05:20And that's if you're a big fan of Woody Marks.
05:25I believe Woody Marks is best fit to be a third-down, change-of-pace type back
05:31where you can utilize his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.
05:34And when I say catch it out of the backfield,
05:35I ain't talking about the little angle right over the middle.
05:37I'm talking about go out wide, and if you get a matchup, he can run a go-route kind of
05:39deal.
05:40The role that he should have with David Montgomery coming in here.
05:42Bingo.
05:43But you would hope.
05:43You would hope.
05:44I don't know.
05:45I think they're a little higher on him than – as a first- and second-down back
05:50than I think I would be.
05:52But, yes, the role that I would think – you know, if you – as good as he is in
05:56pass protection,
05:57boy, if he could really dedicate his time to be in that change of pace back,
06:00a third-down back, a two-minute back, you could get a much fresher Woody Marks
06:04when the game's on the line or when there is a huge scoring opportunity
06:07or a chance to play fast.
06:09I think that's the best for the Houston Texans.
06:12But, yes, to your point, the biggest needs right now on this team,
06:15I think across the board, obviously, are depth plays.
06:18I'm going to go with two that – that one is a depth play, but it's a rotational position,
06:21and the other – I still think – I still think the weapons on this team are a problem.
06:26I'm with you.
06:26I still think that you don't have – you know, when you look down the list right now,
06:32you could – I think the only – the only player that I would consider a weapon right now,
06:39and I'm talking about a guy you get to the line of scrimmage,
06:42whether the play's designed to go to him or not, and you get man coverage,
06:46or maybe you get a zone coverage that you like, I'm getting the ball to Nico Collins, damn it.
06:51Right?
06:52It's 12.
06:52It's Nico Collins, period.
06:54Beyond that, I think – now, I know people like certain players.
06:57Yeah.
06:58I mean, hell, I like Jalen Knoll.
07:00I like Jalen Knoll last year in OTAs and training camp.
07:04I like Jalen Knoll and what he's shown returning kicks and punts
07:07and all that job he does over here.
07:09I like him.
07:10I don't know what the hell he looks like at the receiver position over a 17-game season.
07:14Yeah.
07:14You know, I like Woody Marks.
07:16I like what Woody Marks can do out of the backfield with the explosiveness
07:19and stuff like that.
07:20We ain't seen it in this offense.
07:22Right?
07:22So, I think the weapons – most of the time when we have this conversation,
07:27I say weapons, and I go, okay, well, name them.
07:30Usually, Woody Marks is number two.
07:31And I'm like, well, yeah, but Woody Marks was on the field all year last year
07:35and it wasn't used like that.
07:37So, the point is, is when we get to Woody Marks so quick is the problem.
07:41Right?
07:41And so, this offense is dependent on them finding this year's Christian Kirk.
07:48I don't mean the player that he turned out, but I'm talking about a late addition.
07:51Right.
07:52Or, you're dependent on Jalen Knoll being to this offense
07:57what he's been to the special teams unit since he was drafted last year.
08:00Yeah.
08:00I mean, in a major, major way.
08:02Because I don't think you're going to get it from the tight end role.
08:04You may be banking on Brevin Jordan, as athletic as he is.
08:08But, again, we're talking about within this offense, the weapons.
08:13I just – I think they need something beyond Nico Collins
08:18for us to really, really get excited about not just having a good season,
08:24not just getting to the second round of the playoffs,
08:26but over the hump of we're going to make a run.
08:28Clint, I think it says a lot when we talk about weapons and some of the guys
08:32that we mentioned early on after Nico Collins are injured guys
08:36or guys that have been injured over the last –
08:38Tank Dale.
08:38Tank Dale.
08:39Brevin Jordan.
08:39These are guys whose knees have exploded, for lack of a better term,
08:43over the last couple of years.
08:44And we're talking about them possibly being your second, third,
08:47or somewhere in the mix of your best weapons.
08:49Right?
08:49And so that's part of the issue.
08:51I would say, like, even more specifically, like, I'm singing the same tune,
08:56but, like, speed.
08:57Okay?
08:58I think that's why we like Jalen Knowles so much.
09:00Yeah, absolutely.
09:00Because there's not a whole lot of speed on this offense,
09:03and he so clearly has it.
09:05It's just more an issue of route running and trust and repetition
09:10and dependability.
09:11Do you have – I think what they need, Clint, is dependable speed.
09:16Like, somebody that can take the top off of a defense,
09:18somebody that can threaten the defense.
09:20To your point earlier, like, when you get to the line of scrimmage,
09:22who are you worried about?
09:24Who's got your blood pressure running?
09:26Right?
09:26Like, they don't have enough of those guys.
09:29Honestly, to your point, they don't have more than one.
09:32Really, it's just Nico Collins.
09:33And past that, you just got to play defense,
09:35and you feel pretty good about what you got going.
09:37So, another game-changing weapon, specifically for me, speed.
09:43Again, to the Jalen Knowles point, that, somebody like him,
09:47a resurgence of Tankdale.
09:49I don't know where it's going to come from, Clint,
09:50but that would be when we talk about needs or weaknesses
09:52or things that they still don't have, that would definitely be one.
09:55I agree with you.
09:56If you want to simplify it down to just brass tacks, you're right.
10:00It's easy.
10:01It's explosiveness.
10:02It's twitch.
10:03It's overall speed.
10:06Who's going to run away from you on this offense?
10:09Who's going to get away?
10:10And we're talking about running away when the opportunity presents itself.
10:13I'm not even talking about just, hey, just that's different of a dude.
10:16I'm talking about, hey, you get man, or, hey, you get a crease
10:19because you got the right play dialed up.
10:21You know, that's the key.
10:23There's so much.
10:25And, look, Brady and them did it.
10:26So, I mean, it's hard to really, you know,
10:30I don't have a problem, obviously, beating a dead horse,
10:32but it's hard for a lot of people to understand.
10:34Like, Brady and them did it for a long time, man.
10:37Did a lot more and won a lot of games and won championships,
10:40doing more with less offensively.
10:43So much of it, and this is the fear I have for the Texans.
10:48So much of it is dependent on the system and the quarterback.
10:52So much of it, right?
10:53Instead of, hey, get to the line of scrimmage and versus this,
10:56look, we're going to flip a screen out here
10:57and get it in the hands of our best player.
10:59You know what I mean?
10:59Like, it's so much of it is the quarterback and the scheme
11:04that it is hard to lean into, man.
11:07And this is why smart football fans get annoyed
11:11when people try to compare them to the Patriots
11:14or by the notion that they're going to try to be like the Patriots
11:18or do what the Patriots did.
11:20That was some don't try this at home type of stuff.
11:22Like, the system and the quarterback,
11:25Clint, the quarterback was Tom Brady.
11:28The system was led by Bill Belichick
11:32and coached by Josh McDaniels, who, to my knowledge,
11:35with all due respect to Nick Caley,
11:37there's no Josh McDaniels type of offensive coordinator here
11:39and hasn't been one, right?
11:41So, like, the system, the quarterback,
11:44I mean, again, don't try this at home.
11:47The thing that's even more tried and true,
11:49as successful as the Patriots were,
11:51the thing that's more tried and true, speed kills, right?
11:54Speed kills, punching somebody in the mouth,
11:56which to their credit and how they've approached the offseason,
12:00it's still hurt to get punched in the mouth, right?
12:02That's tried and true.
12:03So, I'm glad they're kind of leaning more into that,
12:05and hopefully they lean more into that instead of,
12:08hey, we're going to make our quarterback be Tom Brady.
12:09Well, look, they've done a good job of solid across the board,
12:13raising the floor.
12:15They've done a really good job of filling voids
12:17and strengthening this roster through free agency
12:20and through the draft.
12:21We're just having a quick conversation about where the voids are.
12:24I think the other one for me, weapon,
12:25and I'm still going into your defensive lineman, right?
12:29Sheldon Rankins, Tommy Togiai, I'd forgotten about Logan Hall.
12:33They did get Logan Hall in here.
12:35Caden McDonald, those are your top four.
12:36Naquan Jones is in there.
12:38Junior Tafuna is still listed on the depth chart.
12:42I know there's, and I'm just looking at a random ESPN depth chart,
12:45so it may be missing one or two,
12:46but I still think there's some front line work to do
12:49at that interior defensive line position, Scott.
12:52I think there's some depth issue there.
12:55I'm actually, this is one of the reasons why I was really high
12:59on the McDonald pick, though, because I thought, like,
13:02if that works out perfectly, right,
13:05like he should be a plug-and-play starter,
13:07and now it's like, okay, Sheldon Rankins is probably
13:11who they trust the most, and Tommy Togiai is going back
13:14to being sort of a rotational piece instead of,
13:17and I love how he was kind of elevated
13:19and kind of got to get his moment last year,
13:22but if either one of those guys, right,
13:24like maybe it's Togiai who's a starter and it's the rookie
13:26who's kind of that rotational piece.
13:28That pick, to me, did help me feel better about their depth at that.
13:32Made me feel a lot better about their depth at that position
13:34at the very least.
13:35Yeah, I feel better about it,
13:36but you look at over the last year, two years,
13:40ideally, when they're healthy, the guys that have rolled through there.
13:43I mean, you got Settle, you got Foley Fadakas,
13:45you got Mario Edwards, you got somehow Tommy Togiai
13:48through injury, obviously, emerged.
13:50I mean, again, Sheldon Rankins, you got a bunch of guys
13:53that in a perfect situation, if everybody's healthy,
13:55you're going to roll four or five through there.
13:57It's definitely thinner now than it probably has been
13:59since D'Amico got here.
14:00Yeah, so I think there's still an opportunity there
14:03to add another depth piece, but again,
14:06McDonald, the McDonald lad, I agree heartily with you, B. Scott,
14:09just strengthens that defensive line,
14:10and I'm going to tell you, man, that's the one,
14:13if that dude right there, if they hit on that pick
14:16and that guy ends up being the steal of this draft,
14:18which is very possible, I don't know if it's likely,
14:21but it's very possible,
14:24and you potentially have a guy that could be a one-two punch
14:28with Will Anderson moving forward
14:30once you get tired of paying Daniil Hunter.
14:32Exactly.
14:32I hope they pay him as long as he's able to play,
14:34but when they don't, if you've got an inside presence
14:37along with Will Anderson,
14:38and you got him in the second round
14:39when he should have been drafted in the first round,
14:41look out, man.
14:42And Clint, in the meantime, while he's young,
14:44getting the game from Sheldon Rankins,
14:46this is going to be an underrated part of his development,
14:48getting to play next to Sheldon Rankins,
14:50soak up knowledge from him,
14:52but then also getting to play next to one of those
14:55badass edge rushers who is going to be hard to make look bad, right?
14:57Like if you just do your job,
14:59both of y'all are going to eat.
15:01Well, he's going to get a ton of opportunity inside there.
15:03With the attention that Daniil Hunter and Will Anderson get,
15:06the interior guys are going to get a ton of opportunity,
15:08one-on-ones to push the pocket.
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