00:00Also looking forward to the Texans OTAs beginning tomorrow.
00:03We talked about this a little bit yesterday, but John obviously was not here,
00:06so we'd love to get his thoughts on what are the, let's say, biggest storylines
00:10or the things you're looking for the most.
00:12And, of course, we couch this with that OTAs, you're not going to get all the answers.
00:15You can only see so much or find out so much.
00:18But with that said, what are some of the things that you will be looking for
00:22or hoping to see or get answers on here over the next week or two?
00:26One thing you're going to see is the rotations early on.
00:29I mean, not the entire practice or OTA is available to watch.
00:34But it's interesting because you kind of get a hint of what the coaching staff
00:39really believes these players are going to do.
00:41Because they might not end up at that position or in that rotation on the depth chart,
00:46but they're going to start them there because they really want that to happen.
00:49You know, they really feel so.
00:52I mean, I'm going to start, and I think it's number one by a long shot
00:56outside of the quarterback position, which we'll get to later.
00:59But center, I mean, I want to know.
01:02I could easily see them trotting out Keelan Rutledge for the first few reps that we see.
01:10And I think that's going to be key.
01:12Yeah, I think this is a big one because even if they're not in pads
01:15or they're not getting – just seeing how they line up,
01:18how they use the offensive linemen, even if any sort of rotations,
01:22what does the second unit look like, that sort of stuff, the personnel,
01:25you should be able to find that out.
01:27And, of course, that's the big question.
01:29And most notably, as you said, on the offensive line,
01:30it's about that center position.
01:32So, for me, that is probably number one in terms of what I'm curious about
01:36but what we can actually get some answers on here the next couple of days,
01:39even if they're in shorts and a tank top or something.
01:41Just seeing how they work together, how they're using that group of five,
01:46what the units look like, and especially at the center position.
01:48Do you think they're going to try that out with Keeneland first?
01:50I could easily see it happening.
01:52Keep in mind, and I'm glad you said that because every coaching staff,
01:56not just the Texans, they kind of tip their hands.
01:59You know, they always say everything's a competition.
02:02You know, it doesn't matter if you're a first-round pick or an undrafted guy.
02:05If you win the job, you win the job.
02:07And that's true, but there are biases built in with those draft picks.
02:11You know, they just immediately – they want that draft pick to succeed.
02:16That's why general managers, including here, you know, shout-out to Kenyon Green,
02:20will hang on to a particular draft pick far longer than they probably should have.
02:27And that's why when they line those guys up,
02:29I figure I could absolutely see go out there first team.
02:32Now, maybe not, you know, get all the reps, split them with the veteran that they respect,
02:37Jake Andrews, but I could see him going out there.
02:39Yeah, I could see – I think he's going to be the day-one starter at center,
02:42but I could totally see them pulling the New England move, you know, the veteran going out there first.
02:48They love Jake Andrews.
02:49Yeah, yeah, so I could see him seeing this being his job to lose pretty much.
02:54But there's biases there, you know?
02:56Yeah.
02:56And for me, honestly, it's just like, you know, just seeing him there to begin with
03:00because it is that move to center.
03:02So even if it's not – if it's not the first unit out there,
03:05just seeing him there in general would be – well, obviously would be a big part
03:09in trying to figure out how this is all going to come together.
03:11And it starts tomorrow at the OTAs.
03:13Yeah.
03:13That's a big one for me.
03:14Another one that you had I would also agree with is on the offensive side of the football,
03:19but specifically with the wide receivers.
03:22And with all of this – I've almost – you know, we've talked about this before,
03:26of my hater reputation.
03:28And with all of my pushback, I probably sound like a Tank Dell hater,
03:31but I continue to say that I can't count or expect on anything from him
03:35until we actually see him out.
03:37Anything we get from Tank Dell is gravy.
03:38So for me, seeing these young wide receivers and how this wide receiver room looks
03:43in the meantime behind Nico Collins is the other big part of this offense.
03:47Yeah.
03:47The OTAs, you can kind of describe it as one of the most important,
03:52unimportant things in football because we all know that, you know,
03:58OTAs, you tend to forget about them, you know, by the time the regular season starts,
04:01that they even did those.
04:02But OTAs are a sign health-wise of where certain players are.
04:08So if you're looking at Tank Dell and you're wondering, you know,
04:12they say we'll see and we'll evaluate and all that.
04:15If he's not out there, that's not nothing.
04:19That's not nothing.
04:21I mean, because, you know, coming off the injury and everything else,
04:23they would like for him to at least be out there when there's no pads, you know.
04:26So, yeah, Tank Dell is a big one for me.
04:30Yeah, and if he is out there for me as the one that has been pushing back on it all
04:34along,
04:34that would be a step in the right direction of, okay, you know,
04:37maybe he will be available even as soon as week one,
04:40and you can expect to get something from him.
04:41But I've got to see him actually out there participating, moving in that direction.
04:44And until we get there, I'm still skeptical of how close he is
04:48to actually playing a big enough part in this offense.
04:52So not only to Tank Dell, but then also these other young receivers.
04:55The whole room, really.
04:56Right.
04:57Outside of Nico, seeing how they progress with another offseason,
05:01most notably Higgins and Null from year one to year two.
05:04What does that step look like?
05:05Because I think it's going to have to be a pretty big one for this offense.
05:08No, I do.
05:09And then the other one that we were – it's funny because you jotted down –
05:13we were talking about this earlier and you said your thoughts
05:15and it was pretty much right in line with what I was saying yesterday.
05:17But the other one just kind of popped up this weekend with the EJ speed injury
05:21and now suddenly we might have some more eyes on that linebacking position this week.
05:25Yeah, that to me – again, we don't really worry about the defense,
05:29but you don't want to see these types of things stacking up.
05:34Because the linebacker position was one that we talked about in terms of the draft.
05:39Are they going to bring in – are they going to draft a linebacker, et cetera?
05:43EJ speed, what was it, a peck?
05:46Was it a peck or a quag?
05:48It was a soft tissue tear.
05:51Surge is going to be out five months.
05:53So who's the other linebacker?
05:55Who's the other linebacker?
05:57Woodass.
05:59Woodass would be one.
06:00Now they did sign a guy or reportedly sign a guy this morning.
06:05It was reported, Casey Osai, as a linebacker.
06:09But that's also a sign of like, hey, we need some warm bodies here, man.
06:13This is my only concern for the defense is once the depth is tested.
06:17I have no worries about the defense in general or the starting 11.
06:21But we talked about this last week of trying to rotate guys at the defensive end
06:24and how they might not have the ability or the depth to do that.
06:28And now at linebacking position, you suddenly lose EJ speed
06:32and you have some questions about who is going to be that guy to fill in.
06:35And look, EJ speed, because of how often teams use multiple –
06:38or they use nickel or dime, you know, EJ speed's not on the field as much.
06:42But he was on for 45% of the defensive snaps last year.
06:46So it's a pretty big role.
06:48And that's the only concern is that this is already starting now in May.
06:51If you lose another guy or two on this defense,
06:54suddenly maybe it loses some of its teeth.
06:57It's not the best defense in the league.
06:59It's my only concern for this defense is if the depth gets tested.
07:03And this is the first part of that.
07:04And that's a little test.
07:05And that's a little test.
07:06They bring in Osai, by the way, it was a quad, torn,
07:09and having surgery or had surgery.
07:11He's going to be out five months.
07:13So, you know, behind Toto and Alshair, you're looking at Woodaz,
07:17Jake Hummel, Jake Hanson, and now Osai.
07:20That's what you got to look for.
07:22That's a little tricky.
07:23Honestly, I was kind of looking at that before this.
07:25Exactly.
07:26Yeah, that's why I was kind of pushing back on Reggie.
07:28I'm like, eh, I don't know if I'm that comfortable.
07:31I don't have to line back in higher.
07:34Yeah.
07:34Yeah, I'm with you.
07:35So, we'll see.
07:36Those are the big – I'm in agreement.
07:38Those are probably the big three things to look for.
07:40And then, of course, the quarterback.
07:41It's always the quarterback with C.J. Stroud.
07:42But we are going to dive deeper into Stroud later on this afternoon.
07:47So, we'll save it for that.
07:48But, of course, Stroud is part of the storyline with OTA starting tomorrow.
07:51How does the quarterback look?
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