A Lot Has Changed for the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts Before Sunday’s Showdown

A Lot Has Changed for the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts Before Sunday’s Showdown

Colts week. Colts week. Colts week. Colts week. Colts week. Texans versus Indianapolis Colts this weekend. Sunday. The return of CJ Strad. Demo versus Shane Stiken. Volume five. Texans looking to keep two paths in the playoffs and get in the division race. So, there’s a lot going on. It is SNL. Andrew Locker and Cody Studs are with you. Happy Thanksgiving week to all. Warning, the grocery stores are very wild right now. I will say it is it is it is a Black Friday vibe. Thought I would get there early today. I did very Black Fridayish. I walked away with a black eye and about 20 uh 20 stab wounds. It’s it’s very it’s very crazy on the grocery streets. But yeah, the grocery stores to be avoided until Friday morning and then it’s regular retail places that should be avoided. Yes, it’s uh it’s it’s a crazy vibe. It’s crazy Colts week. I I I wanted to we have a couple of things to get into uh when it comes to the Texans and the Colts. But you asked this question right off the top. Who’s had their perception change more in two years, Daniel Jones or CJ Strad? This is I’m gonna go with Daniel Jones. And and the reason I’m going with Daniel Jones is because two years ago it looked like it was going to be a disaster in New York. Obviously a year ago he got the he got the walking papers and he bounced around. He’s on a practice squad and then the Colts sign him as a reclamation project and here we are right now and the Colts have essentially signaled to us that he’s going to be their quarterback for the next few years. Now, they don’t have to make some sort of massive investment and they could do something else and they could certainly wait for these last few games to play out before they do any of that. But the way that they operated with their first round picks, it signaled to me that they believe not only he’s the guy, but he’s the guy that can keep them in the playoff hunt and maybe take them where they haven’t gone uh since Pton Manning was there. And that just to me is wild because this guy was a castoff and and the the bane of Giants fans existence two years ago. Yeah, I I would I would maybe say CJ just because CJ was the toast of the NFL two years ago and CJ was the most popular in demand type of guy and now you’re kind of at a point where you don’t know if you feel comfortable giving him franchise quarterback money. It’s it’s going to happen, but you don’t know if you’re closer to what we saw yesterday with Brock Perie uh and what we’ve seen with Trevor Lawrence or if you’re kind of creeping up on the Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Mahomes kind of feel. And that’s kind of me because Daniel Jones, I still think the jury’s out. I I need to see a little bit more than a good half season from him. But I would say CJ Strad. And I think we can kind of uh connect this to the first time CJ Strad faced the Indianapolis Colts to Sunday and just what the vibe is. And and I actually look back at CJ’s debut against the Colts as the moment where he kind of established himself as someone who looked like acted like a franchise quarterback. And in that game, he had a hurt shoulder. The offensive line was depleted. Both tackles I think were out. And he went out there and threw for damn near 400 yards. Got roughed the f up. I think he got sacked seven times, including the the final play of the game, which wasn’t even a sack, but he got flung to the ground by Deorest Buckner. And you look at how you felt about that guy after that game. And I I’ve overromanticized that game maybe into where it is now. I don’t want to say he’s broken. I just want to say like that same spirit that we saw in that early on it it does not seem to be at least at certain points in the se in in his career since it doesn’t seem to be the same the same spirit that we saw when he when he first faced the Indianapolis Colts. Yeah. I mean he he he went from two years ago to yep, he’s a franchise guy, franchise quarterback, Texans got him one to now there’s more questions. that that to me is the biggest thing is there were a lot less questions at the end of 2023 and there’s a lot more questions now here in 2025 and he’s certainly got an opportunity to walk back into that starting job and answer some of those questions and climb back into that franchise conversation and get to a point where all of us would be thrilled or happy or excited that that he got a big contract extension and we wouldn’t be sitting there scratching our head like oh we’re not sure if our guy’s going to be worth it like I don’t know the 49ers are doing with Brock Perie, the Jaguars are doing with Trevor Lawrence as you mentioned those a couple of examples. So yeah, that first start and I remember you I mean you were kind of the one that had the story about hey got there early and and had to do all the the workouts and the stretches and the rehab to get his shoulder to where he could even play. and the defense didn’t do him any favors early on and then he kind of lit it up there in the second half and really turned the corner and and took off uh from that moment on and that was the start of 2023’s really incredible season and haven’t seen that level of consistency since 2023. Yep. I I’m with you. And that’s that’s the thing is, you know, you’re talking about is he closer? Someone in the chat said he’s better than Trevor Lawrence. No like nobody’s nobody’s disputing that. But when it comes to paying the franchise quarterback and what we’ve been talking about for years, is he closer to Trevor Lawrence or is he closer to Josh Allen? I think that’s really is he closer to Brock Pury and Trevor Lawrence or is he closer to like Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes? That’s really kind of the the question and the situation you find yourself in. And regardless of what the answer is, it becomes more difficult to for the surroundings. But at that time it was a no-brainer. At this point you actually got to at least think about it just based on what we’ve seen and surroundings can have to do with it have to do with it too. But I just look I I just go back and and at the time I was just completely impressed with how CJ handled himself in a losing effort. And and I really look at that as kind of the turning point of that season where the season could have gone a number of ways. And I think him going out there and battling hurt and performing the way he did and carrying himself the way he did afterwards, I think it did wonders. And I think without that performance, I don’t know that he has the rookie season that he had. So I just I I at the time I thought it was an awesome performance and then boom, Bobby Slowick slowly creeps his way out and now we kind of kind of wonder if the surroundings are there. And that’s the other thing, like Brock Party is getting paid like a franchise-ish quarterback because of his surroundings. I think we can agree. Trevor Lawrence is getting paid because of his talent. And that’s that’s just kind of the the in between things. So sometimes that kind of happens, but we’ll see how CJ finishes this season. And the the good good the good news is there’s no like verdict on what you have to decide. Yeah, that that that that 2023 Colts game, you know, he got going there in the second half and then marched into Jacksonville and and CJ himself this year mentioned that was where the switch kind of flipped for him as an offense in 2023 and they and they beat the Steelers ass and it was all historic from there. [Music] Swarm. Shout out to Chris Loan. Happy Thanksgiving to you, my friends. Thank you, Chris. Uh Risque A Barber says Texans plus 164 to make the playoffs. That’s a It’s a tough bet. I I did see the uh the swing where if they win this Sunday, then I think the percentage goes down to 26% or if they lose, it goes down to 26% and if they win it, it’s in the 70s. If they lose 26, they win, it’s in the 70s. Wow, that’s a huge swing. That’s a huge swing. Yeah, actually put that up. It’s one of those things that uh I don’t I don’t Was the swing even that significant in the the Bills game? I remember seeing something in the Bills game. I think it was like maybe it was maybe it was around that. But yeah, it was fat. Well, it you you you mentioned it with the with the additional avenue like you beat Indianapolis and the FRA and the division avenue opens up to you. Uh if you don’t beat Indianapolis, the division avenue goes away. Let’s talk about this tight end uh crunchtime stretch, which you’ve brought up uh so well. And I think this is the this is going to be the biggest challenge for the Texans defense where if you’re trying to find flaws in the defense, I think the middle and and that area of coverage is such a thing. But you’ve laid out this this tight end stretch and I think you’ve done so very well. And I think that’s going to be that could be what determines the fate of the Texans as they go down this tough stretch. Yeah. So, they get Tyler Warren this week and and you know, here are the stats and the numbers for these guys. We get Tyler Warren, he’s third, I think, in receiving yards amongst tight ends, three touchdowns on the year, and his stats don’t really explain how useful he is to the Colts. Like, they’ve used him so many different ways. Uh, he basically never has a negative play. Uh, he can affect the run game with his blocking and his and his toughness. And so you get him this week and right after that you get future Hall of Famer who’s bounced back after a really bad down year last year in Travis Kelce. After that about the only thing to worry about on the Arizona Cardinals is statistically the best tight end in football, Trey McBride. after that, Brock Bowers, who was the best rookie tight end ever a year ago and is still having a good season despite the fact that the Raiders are falling apart. That rookie out of uh LA with the Chargers is good, Gadson. And then you get Tyler Warren again, and they had some success against George KD, but I don’t I don’t know that that was all the Texans as much as it felt like a little bit of inability of the of the 49ers in that game. But these tight ends, that’s a you don’t really have a tight end solver uh unless Demo Ryan comes up with some sort of game plan. And obviously when you put attention on those guys, what does it take away from everybody else? Yeah. And and that’s I I I think Tyler Warren is the big key this week. And I and I’ve said this I’ve I’ve hammered this home. I I I I think Tyler Warren is the it was the scariest thing to happen to the Texans in the draft was was Tyler Warren. And I don’t even think it was close. Uh Cam Ward going to the Titans, that’s cute. Um the Jags trading up for Travis Hunter, that’s cute. Like they made early splashes, but Tyler Warren falling to the Colts was the most significant thing. And I think he can be lipstick on the pig of any quarterback that they have in Indianapolis, which is really what they’ve what they’ve basically had since Shane Stiken’s been there. It’s basically just been damaged goods and pigish quarterbacks. So, I think a tight end can be a good equalizer. And when we watched the draft and when we were streaming during the draft, that was by far the the most significant thing that happened. And I think that’s that’s played out beyond more even even before Travis Hunter got hurt. It it was by far it might have been one of the more significant things to happen maybe in the AFC like offseason wise because I I I do think there’s a lot of stuff that Tyler Warren does that that is even beyond the statistics and and all that. So I can’t believe they let it happen but it happened. It’s here and it’s it’s this tough tight end stretch. You’re going to get a two-piece combo of that. Yeah, we could we could thank the Chicago Bears for being total idiots and drafting not Tyler Warren at tight end and Coloulson Lovelin. Lovelin’s had some decent moments, but he ain’t Tyler Warren. And then we can also thank the dumb asses in Miami for drafting an anonymous defensive tackle. Like I I get that their defensive tackle, but they traded away Janu Smith. They saw that offense click with John Smith and Tyler Warren. John Smith on steroids and it’s like now let’s draft Kenneth Grant and he’s been like the 86th best defensive tackle in football this year. So good job. That’s why you suck, Miami. My theory, my theory is that the Miami Dolphins owner or GM or whatever, they got FedEx stock for trading John Smith to his buddy Arthur Smith. And that’s why that’s why they made that move. I wouldn’t put it past that crooked bastard that owns the Miami Dolphins for doing that. Remember when he tried to get Brady and Bellich and all that kind of different stuff he’s done before? Yeah, the yacht or whatever the hell that was. Uh Stephen Ross, is that his name? Yeah. Yeah, Stephen Ross. Yeah, that’s that was just a a wild happening. Trill kick X on the chat says, “What would CJ have to do to get pulled Sunday?” Nothing. He He’s not getting pulled. Yeah, they get hurt. Like, he’s not he’s he’s the quarterback. They’re going to ride it out. They got to figure out what’s going on with CJ. If they get him right, that would be great. But there’s there’s nothing that’s going to happen for CJ Stra to get pulled on Sunday. I I would go as far and this I’m speaking for me. I’m not saying the Texans would do this. I think he has 12 quarters of immunity. So, three games, 12 quarters of immunity before I even have the thought about Davis Mills. I the No, it he’s he’s the quarterback through like through and through. They got to figure something out. And that’s I agree and that’s what I want to have happen and that’s what I hope happens. But I’m I’m saying I’m giving him 12 quarters of immunity before I say or think or tweet or Instagram or Telegram or anything about Davis Mills. I can’t believe this next question is being asked. It’s actually kind of fascinating given the overall body of work, but it’s not as asinine of a question as it appears based on what we saw before CJ went down. And the question that you’ve asked is will Nico Collins benefit or be hurt by the return of CJ Strad? I I feel like it’s a very it’s a very valid and real question just because of the way that that it felt like CJ Strad was almost beholden to the structure of that offense when it when it did have some success like hey spread it around dink and dunk get it out of your hands and it just like I just remember in the San Fran game it’s like you know wow they really spread it around and I know that they didn’t have Nico Collins for that game, but like that was like, oh, like CJ threw for 300, two touchdowns. Uh the interception didn’t matter cuz it’s at the end of the half it almost mattered, but it didn’t. And but but they really spread that football around. Like that’s kind of the way it’s supposed to look. And I’m just like, well, I kind of liked when Davis Mills just threw the thing to Nico Collins like 25 times in two weeks. Like I kind of like that. Maybe do that more. And then, oh, wouldn’t you know it, there was a giant offensive struggle when they couldn’t find a way to get Nico Collins the football this past week. Like, yes. It’s it’s it’s wild how all of us can watch the games and just be like, “Yeah, when 12 gets the ball, their offense is way better.” And Nick Kaye can be like, “I just can’t get the ball to Nico.” It’s like, ah, I watch every team get the ball to their guy except for Nico Collins sometimes. Yeah. And and you look at you look at what was going on w with CJ. There was there was a couple of seven target games there was eight and then the rest of the targets it was four three times and then three twice. And you wonder how defenses are playing but in the Mills games it was seven nine and then three against Buffalo. So I I do wonder if there’s going to be a little bit more of a smart adjustment by coaches to focus more on Nico Collins. But the the one thing I will say, we know that CJ Strad and Nico Collins have shown for a long time that they’re they can get on the same page relatively easy. And it would kind of be nice if Nick Kay something that he takes away from that Buffalo game is whatever happened for Nico Collins to have three targets can’t happen. Like that means I got to throw him the ball sideways, whatever. Like that that cannot happen. And hopefully that’s something they figure out. It’s something that De Mo is pretty open about. We need to throw the ball to Nico. It’s not It’s not a, “Hey, well, let’s see who the open man is.” It Demo Ryan has said it with his chest. We got to get the ball to Nico. And And he and he and he tries to sort of disarm the combo, too, when he kind of like jokes about it like, “Yeah, we we kind of want to get the ball to Nico.” And then he gets real serious about, “Yeah, we got to make sure that he’s getting the football.” It’s like, “Oh, okay.” Like, yeah, he’s kind of joking, but he’s also very serious about getting Nico Collins that football. And that’s the thing too is just like I believe there are useful elements of this offense that even if the ball goes to Mico and it doesn’t result in a reception, it still makes that opposing defense care, think as you know, use assets to get ready for it and maybe it opens up things for I mean CJ’s return hopefully means something good for Jaylen Null. It seems like they have really good chemistry. Uh and and hopefully that clicks from from the word go here this week. So, I’m I’m intrigued to see if this will be a positive for Nico Collins for when in CJ Stout’s return. All right. What are the Texans going to do at running back? And this is my question. I think we can take this a step further. I’m not just saying when it comes to Chubb and Woody, but I mean, is let’s let’s say that they need another running back. Is are we a situation away from Jaward Jordan being active? Like, what are they doing? They said bye to I’m I’m asking. They said bye to Damian Pierce. like what what does the running back room look like right now? They got three and one of them you feel really good about, but there doesn’t seem to be a lot of depth. Yeah, they probably could use another body or two at that position. You’re right about that. Yes, I you know I I like to be some Gerard Jordan a couple years ago, but or last year, whatever it was, uh but it didn’t it hadn’t quite shown up there. There’s got to be some veteran body kicking around that they could add if they had to throw that guy on the practice squad and let him get used to everything. And I I don’t know. There any former Patriots on that are free agents? Was sure Rex Burkehead’s done? Is Ben Jarvis Green Ellis still in football shape? How does Nick Kayley feel about him? Who knows? Uh, who will last longer, Shane Stiken or Demetique Orions? This is a wild ass question that you’re asking here. I, you know, this this these two are are clearly to me the two best coaches in the AFC South. I there’s not anybody Tennessee could go and hire that that immediately gets in the conversation. And Cohen probably has a little bit of prove it runway that he’s got to go down before he gets there. But with these two kind of matching wits at the top of the AFC South and I I don’t believe the Colts are going anywhere. Even if they do invest in Daniel Jones, to me that still puts a that puts a cap on where they can go. Not necessarily, you know, takes the bottom out from under him. It’s like I I feel like there’s a chance to Ryan is going to outlast Stikken just because if they kept hitting the wall in Indianapolis, they’d change a bunch of different things, then they’d eventually have to change Stikken. But I I like him a lot as a coach and I think these two guys are going to duel for a very very long time before either one of them are shown the door. Yeah, I think Stiken’s found himself in quarterback hell and he’s actually done a good job. He actually has more regular season wins than De Mo, believe it or not. I know De Mo has won the division in the playoff games. Shane Stiken actually has more wins with Anthony Richardson, Mshu, the ghost of Joe Flacco, like he and uh Daniel Jones. So, he hasn’t found his quarterback. I think if he does find a quarterback, I think it could be pretty dangerous. But I think I think Demo outlast him because I think there’s like a sentiment with Demo and I think there would be a clear path towards a regime change where you can separate Demo from Cacerio. I don’t know that you separate Ballard from Stiken. But I think Stiken’s a good coach. I think he’s done a good job with the card that he’s been dealt. Uh PP on the chat says 2816 Texans dub. What y’all think? That would be a hell of a dub. Wouldn’t mind it. wouldn’t hurt my feelings. That would be a hell of a dub. Uh, next question from Cody. Could Jonathan Taylor become the next boogeyman for the Texans? This is this is like to me like he’s had some really impressive performances in losses against the Texans. Um, and it just feels like if they’re going to beat the Houston Texans, it’d be one of those games where, okay, the Texans didn’t stop Jonathan Taylor. I like I don’t see Daniel Jones going out there and dicing up this defense, but if the Colts are going to take down the Texans, it feels like it’d be the start of there’s always a boogeyman in this matchup. For forever, it was Pton Manning, Ty Hilton, um, and and Nico Collins in in the past couple of times that he’s been out there against the Colts. I just wonder if if Taylor if this spot with this defense, how good they’ve been, how good they’ve been against running backs, how good they were against McAffrey, who’s the only guy that’s really, you know, I in Taylor’s stratosphere this year. And it’s like, oh, if Jonathan Taylor got loose on this Texans defense, like, okay, great. The Colts got another boogeyman for the Texans. Yeah, it look I mean his best performance was definitely week 18 of of 2023 where he was banged up, he got hurt. Some say he shouldn’t have been on the sidelines. I would say that the running back should probably catch that pass. It was a pretty good play call. Uh but it it’s I I I just I I find it hard to believe that someone is just going to roast a Demo Ryan’s defense because there was a time where Derrick Henry was that guy. And I know it’s a small sample size, but Demo Miko kept him in check relatively well uh when when he’s seen Derrick Henry with the Titans. Now, Ravens kind of hit or miss, but Demo Miko’s done a pretty good job with that. So, I I don’t know that Jonathan Taylor is necessarily going to be the the boogeyman. If you ask me who the current boogeyman is for the Texans, I think it’s John Harbaugh uh or Lamar Jackson or or someone in Baltimore. They the Texans have done a pretty good job. Demo is three and one against the the Colts. Um so I I don’t I don’t think so. I think they’ll be able to keep Jonathan Taylor relatively in check. Uh so I don’t if there is going to be a boogeyman, I don’t think it’s going to be him. That that would be that’s that’s like as I kind of think about paths to victory like Jonathan Taylor having a huge day against a Texans defense that really hasn’t been abused by a running back this year. Uh that to me would be the the path to victory there for the Colts. Jaylen Petri, he’s probably going to play this week. What is his impact when he’s back? I I think he’s going to be challenged. I I I could see Shane Stiken challenging Jaylen Petri. Uh he obviously helps. I I do find it interesting how effective the Texans were against the Bills uh without Petri. Uh, but he he obviously makes your defense better, I think. But I do go back to the original question that we had on this on this discussion about the Colts and like the tight end, the vulnerability that that I think you kind of connect that to Petri. This is going to be his biggest test and he’s going to have his hands full assuming that he’s lined up against the opposing tight end. And I would assume that that is going to be the case pretty often. Like I I feel a lot better about Jaylen Petri doing what he’s asked to do than Miles Bryant trying to do what Jaylen Petri did. I just still don’t feel great about Petri’s had a really solid season and teams haven’t picked on him as much as we have thought they were going to pick on him. Uh but this feels like the type of opponent with DS and with Warren that they may try to pick on Jaylen Petri. may try to pick on uh those linebackers and and get that non coverage expert part of the defense and really kind of but if Petri’s having a a good day that really and you you you add that level of player when Petri’s having a good day into what we saw with Buffalo and that’s a really that’s a really good I mean it’s a it’s a really good addition for already good defense. Yeah. And and they they they talk about how important he is. He was having a pretty good year uh before he went down. Uh what are the Colts going to do with Anthony Richardson? One of the one of the biggest moments of Stiken versus Demo. There have been a few. Um I would say the the winner go home is number one. I would say number two most epic moment is the Anthony Richardson tap out. That was I think October of last year. Uh we’re we’re over a year there. Uh Anthony Richardson I I would say they let him go sooner rather than later. Maybe they get like a day three draft pick for someone that wants to kick the tires, but I I would say Anthony Richardson is probably in his last season with the Colts this year. Now, when you hear Daniel Jones has that hurt fibula, we might see him on the field. Uh, which would be interesting uh with with how frustrating at times he’s been for Shane Stiken. I I am I’m very interested to see if there’s somebody that’s gonna think Anthony Richardson’s got like oh like oh yeah we’ll we’ll figure something out with Anthony Richardson like oh we we’ll we’ll we’ll take a swing at him and just kind of see like there’s got to be some team out there that’s that’s got to be like oh yeah we we could fix him Shane Stiken one of the best coaches in football couldn’t fix him but we’ll fix him. Yeah we saw the Cowboys kick the tires on Tre Lance. like crazier things have happened um than that. Like for sure there there’s been a thing. But but I I just like the Anthony Richardson thing is just kind of amusing. It was kind of amusing leading into the draft. By the way, speaking of which, his uh college teammate Damen Pierce, I did a I did a call in today in Kansas City. They were asking for like a scouting report on Damen Pierce. This is Carrington Harrison. He’s like, “What?” I mean, he was he just knew I would be honest about it. So, it was like just a 4-minute hit and I was just like, “Yeah, he doesn’t have good vision. I think he’s worn out. He gets hurt.” They’re like, “Well, can he catch?” I was like, “Not really. Uh, he’s not really good pass blocker.” Not a great kick returner. Pretty nice guy, though. But Kansas City, maybe they can revive his career, but yeah, not not seeing a lot from Damen Pierce. I can’t believe that many people are talking about Damen Pierce ending up on the on the Chiefs. Yeah. I don’t know. Cody is in witness protection if y’all didn’t know. He’s in he’s in the He’s got the feds on him. He’s been It’s been It’s been a long It’s been a long process for Cody, but he’s in witness protection. So, uh pour one out for Cody Stoots. We’ll see what happens with his uh with his dial up his his AOL AOL instant messenger. If you need to hit Cody up, it’s Cody Stoots at aol.com. [Music] Swarm. Jay France says, “Great meeting you guys at Spanky’s.” Uh, great Jay fans, excuse me. Uh, great meeting you, my friend. Uh, we’re going to be back at Spanky’s this upcoming month. We’re also going to be in another part of town that we’ll tell you about on Friday. But yeah, Spanky’s gatherings aren’t going anywhere. Shout out to the greatness that is Spanky’s. Homemade dough, homemade sauce, and really the the home home base for SNL. We had people from Austin, San Antonio, Georgia, obviously Houston. It’s a fun time. And my god, I pigked out per the us. Yeah, we have a lot of fun when we go to Spankies. So, appreciate everybody uh visiting with us in Spanies and coming out and if you make the trip to come out to Spankies, you picked a great one. We had a blast on that show and great to see Mlan out there and all the people from the audience from all across the country because as you mentioned, Georgia in there as well. And Cody used that TDCU Texans debit card. It came in handy because we bought everyone’s first drink. And not only can Cody buy your drinks at Spankies, the greatness that is Spanky’s Sharpstown, by the way, pasta day today. I think it’s like $7 pasta, lasagna, spaghetti, all of it. Fetuccini Alfredo, $7 pasta at Spanky’s. Uh, but Cody can also get 15% off his Texans gear with that TDCU Texans debit card. Yeah, they got great deals for you at TDCU. Membership’s required. They’re insured by the NCUA. But there are so many benefits and perks to being a member at TDCU, including that Texans debit card. You get 15% off the online team store. You could get exclusive access to events at NRG Stadium. tdcu.org/texans has all the information there for you. You can start getting signed up right there online. You just have to be a resident of the state of Texas to be a member at TDCU. And then the perks start coming your way, the different kinds of checking accounts and savings accounts. If you want to have your business accounts with them, they’d be happy to have your business accounts over there at TDCU. They could do more with your money at TDCU. So, trust them with your cash and uh your credit union is not just a slogan. They mean it and they work for you constantly giving you all the fantastic perks when you’re a member at TDCU. Yippers, shout out to the greatness that is TDCU. Shout out to the greatness that is Spanky. Shout out to the greatness that is Colts week. Colts week. Trey Calhoun on Z chats. Swarm. Uh Trey says, “I’m honestly afraid of us making the playoffs because if we do that, it means our offense did just enough not to lose games and we bring back Kaye for another year.” Here’s my thing, and I I get what you’re I I get what you’re saying. Like, could they be blinded by that? But I I I don’t see how they could look at it that way given the fact that they made the playoffs last year, they won the division last year, and they proactively made a change. So I I don’t like Bobby Sloic didn’t get that luxury after one good year. I I don’t know that you can look at it that way, but you could be right and they could and they could just say we don’t want to switch OC’s for the third straight year. Quite frankly, I wouldn’t hold it against Demo Ryan. I I’ll tell you right now, I wouldn’t hold it against De Mo Ryan’s if he switched again because I think this was a compromise. I think it’s clear this was a compromise to go back to the Patriots way. But if CJ Stroud hasn’t made progress from year two to year three, you got to evaluate it and you got to figure out what the hell the situation is. So, it shouldn’t be that way, but you could be right. That would be just enough to justify it. But I will say this, if it looks like it did last week, I don’t think De Mo Ryan is gonna let that fly. No. No, not at all. And your point about Bobby is the biggest one is they fired a guy after they went to the playoffs because the offense was in in the way last year. And if this guy has shown the inability to elevate and you don’t believe in him, like time’s a ticket. Like you don’t it’s you you you don’t have like this great giant long runway to figure out the offense. Like it needs to get good and it needs to get uh better faster. And if they got to move on the McNairs don’t have a problem writing a check and making somebody go away. They’ve done that tons of times. So see you later Nick Kaye. Have another offensive coordinator search and we can go over all four plus candidates that I’ll put on the eventual OC list. This is this is Cacerio’s hire. Like Nick Kayley is Cacerio’s hire and Bobby was Dikos and I don’t fault the Bobby Hire and I and and the Kaylee hire was fine at the time. I didn’t know he was running New England offense. I thought this was going to be more Rams. So I look it’s it’s not as simple as you know oh my god De Mo what are you doing? Because quite frankly, I think the reason that they made the playoffs last year and were able to win a playoff game was because of Demo and his side of the rock. And if it happens this year, it looks like it’ll be his side of the rock, too. So, I I think this would be a Cacerio thing, but who knows? I I I do we’ll we’ll visit it when it happens, but right now, I’ve just laid it out. It was get to five and five. It’s it’s get to 10 wins at this point, and then we’ll adjust accordingly and really win this game. It it opens up a hell of a lot more avenues uh for you. Two paths. 10 and hope you get in. 10 and hope you get in. Yes, that’s the uh that’s the motto for the Texans. We talk a lot about CJ uh CJ Strad. But Will Anderson, I almost said CJ Anderson. You might as well be able to say that. Um CJ Anderson, by the way, might be better running back than Damen Pierce right now. But I the compromise between the Texans when they probably were arguing two prospects and I think we discussed this heading into the draft and they compromised and went and got both. Uh it’s apparent Demo was probably the Will Anderson guy. Uh if you don’t believe me, let’s hear from the coach himself. I remember I wasn’t even look I wasn’t even thinking about Will at this time but I remember when Will’s a rookie at Alabama my older brother he he called me was like hey man whenever you get a chance this this guy from Alabama you need to get him on your team it’s like all right I’ll check him out and then who know like full circle moment like come when I had a chance to actually be in a position to draft him like yeah my brother was right he was spot on I needed to get number 31 and I’m happy he’s here with It’s It’s also crazy to be the Williams who were 31 in college, which was just He doesn’t care about a cool number, which is No, he made it cool, though. I mean, he was the immediate he was the immediate toast of the of the broadcast from the second he went there. Uh, so yeah, but yeah, it it was an interesting compromise. I I would I’d wonder what, you know, what it would look like had they not done that. and and either if if you don’t have the quarterback, you can be in Indianapolis’s spot right now. Like if you if you go with Will and not CJ, you could you could very easily be in Indianapolis’s spot. Maybe you get in the the draft the next year and you’re talking about maybe Caleb Williams, Drake May, or Jaden Daniels or something like that. Like maybe in like some alternate universe. But yeah, that and then if you take CJ and you don’t take Will, you know, maybe you’re talking about CJ and JSN and but but it is it was a good compromise and I think it was it it I think that was the first major compromise between Demo and Cacerio and then I think the Nick Kaye or organization whether it’s Cacerio or whatever and then I think the Nick Kaye hire was the next compromise. So, I think they’ve done a good job of compromising. Some some compromises better than others. I mean, I’m sure it uh one thing that I think is is funny about that story, too, is do Ryan’s even DC in in San Francisco yet. He was still just a linebacker’s coach. I mean, he probably could see where it was going to maybe be the opportunity for him. I’m sure his brother’s a big Bama fan, though. You know that that’s my thought is his brother was probably like watching Alabama games was like hey this guy’s going to be great for you when you’re when you’re a DC or maybe when you’re a head coach like in I mean you most of those Bama guys they walk on the field you know it’s going to be three three and go like Will Anderson from day one was probably a threeandgo guy and then certainly after what he did his second season he was definitely a going after the 2022. Yeah, no f no doubt about it. Uh James R160 on Z chat. Swarm. Can’t wait for Ohio State to win two playoff games. Yeah, I got a $100 bet. I said they wouldn’t win two playoff games. I don’t know why I did that. I think I was just talking crap. But this upcoming Ohio State like this like this version of Ohio State. Yeah, I took the under one and a half playoff wins. Yeah, it’s just whatever. Well, okay. So, they’re I mean they’re going to have a buy. That doesn’t count. You got to win two games, right? Right. But all the teams that had a buy last year lost. Yeah. Uh, is that true? Mhm. Who knows? I just made the bet. Why not? Point toss. See what happens. I mean, gosh, I wonder I mean, they could certainly get upset. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, because Ohio State beat Oregon, Texas beat Arizona State, Notre Dame beat Georgia, and Penn State beat Boise State. Okay, so there we go. All the teams with buys lost. So there you go. So it could definitely happen to Ohio State. I mean, they beat the number one last year. Uh we had Go ahead. I would not have taken that bet. That feels like a bad bet. Yeah, it it wasn’t great. It wasn’t great. Uh let’s do a little Thanksgiving hackage with uh Demo Rans. Diko Ryan’s asked about Thanksgiving dinner. Uh, and this is what Demo’s Thanksgiving hot take was. Cranberry depends on how good the dressing is. Can’t come out of the can. Yeah, it can’t come out of the can. No, the traditional uh the traditional I’m always the traditional for me it’s, you know, having the mac and cheese, the sweet potato pie. But as I told our guys too, I told them, “Hey, we can we can save that food for another another day this week.” I mean, we’re focused on the on the Colts. But happy Thanksgiving, everybody. Hope you guys enjoy that time with your family. We will be working. We But the Texans have Thursday’s typically their toughest practice. So tough practice Thursday for the Texans. Yeah, there’s not going to be as much uh eating. According to Trent Brown, he doesn’t eat. So, yeah, there’s that. I mean, I I’m If I ask Trent Brown, he might say, “Well, you know, I really don’t eat that much Thanksgiving.” Yeah. I don’t I don’t know that I really bought that from him, though. Yeah. It’s It is It is curious. Maybe Maybe what he eats he doesn’t think is a lot just because he’s always eaten a lot because he’s always been a large human. Yeah, it feels like you got to eat a lot like just to just to fill that tank. But that’s my excuse for why I eat so much. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Um, if you owned a team, would you act like uh Ers’s daughter? Carly Ers Gordon. I didn’t even know that was her name. Um, Carly Ers Gordon. Would you act like her? Would you put the headset on? So, she, for those who don’t know, she’s like the the main owner person now for the Colts after Jim Mercy died. and she sits or she stands on the sideline with a notebook and she gets to hear Shane Stiken’s conversations in her headset. So, she hears what happens and she’s talked about it a couple times like, “Oh, you know, we think that this guy didn’t do well and sometimes the coach messed up or this and that.” I I feel like Stiken can say it doesn’t bother him or what. This is your boss too close to you. Your boss should not observe you this close. Like whatever your field of work, your boss should not be observing you as close as she’s observing sty on the sideline with a headset. That feels like a little much. Well, she’s getting a lot of praise for it. She was early. It was like, oh yeah, let’s uh I I don’t have a problem with it. I I doubt she’s meddling. I think she’s maybe just like consuming. I don’t think she’s probably telling him what to do. I think it’s interesting. Um quite frankly, the bar is low. Like Jim Ersce, let’s just be honest, rest in peace, great character, but like on the back end, he was an absolute dumpster fire as an owner. So like the the bar is low. Like you could do a lot worse uh than whatever the hell she’s doing. So the bar he he he laid a good foundation there for her during his good years, but on the on the back end, the the gym situation not great. So she’s kind of got a little bit of leeway. And oh, by the way, they started out hot as hot as any team in the league. So, it was hard to criticize, but when if they start losing and stuff, I it probably becomes a little bit more of a bit. But I I would I don’t know if I would have the headset on. I would probably just be chilling. Like I I would probably I would probably just be chilling in the in the owner’s box, which brings me to my next question. What type of owner would the other person be? You You would be You’d be the chilling in the owner. You’d be chilling in the box as the owner and you’d have the G the GM sitting next to you and you’d be you’d be running him down if the guys he picked sucked. You’d be giving him a hard ass time. Oh, we’re having we’re having I I would have more media availability than Jerry Jones. Jerry Jones does two hits a week. I’m doing five. I’m doing five and I’m fire I’m firing up anybody and everybody in the owner suite. You would be Don’t say something stupid now. You would I to I’m gonna be totally honest with you. I would be Al Davis. I would be meddling in everything and I probably would not do a good job doing that. I would fire coaches quick. I would draft guys that I thought are awesome that probably would not be awesome. Although feels like a lot of my draft crushes from this past year have been pretty good football players. Tate Ratlitch. Um, but I would be Al Davis. I would be meddling in everything and guys would be they’d be walking down the hallways afraid to make me mad. I would probably be I I I don’t know that you would be Al Davis. I think you would be more um Let me think. I think you’d be more like Shod Khan. Like kind of involved but like just enough where it’s like uh he doesn’t do everything but he does enough. Yeah. You’re Shod Khan. I’m Shod Khan. Got my got my kid running a wrestling promotion and in the war room for draft day. Is he take over when when Shod Khan hands it down? My assumption is that the Jaguars will pass to him if if if something ever happened to Shod Khan. Oh my god. Which if he if he runs the if he runs the football team like he runs the wrestling show, it’s going to be a bunch of other players, other teams players that are way past their prime. Yeah. Oh my god. Uh Truth uh asks, “Why no Spanky’s Golf Gate?” Hey, we go where they tell us to go. We got Yeah, this is just kind of our home base. It’s kind of our home base. It’s good layout. Love it. We love the Spanies Golf Gate, though. Can’t uh complain about that at all. Any of them. They’re all great. There’s no doubt. All right. Well, tomorrow we got a practice. So, there is a practice. Um, when is Kaylee speaking, by the way? Is he speaking tomorrow? My assumption, my assumption for tomorrow is that we’ll get Demo Ryan’s, Nick Kaye, and CJ Strad at the conclusion of him passing concussion protocol. Okay. Okay. Yeah, because there’s no there’s no Thursday availability, which is typically coordinators. Okay. Yeah, because obviously we have a different a different layout now with what’s going on with with Thanksgiving. So they’ll be there but we will not. So correct. Um all right. Anyway, I think one year O’Brien had Thanksgiving availability. Yeah. And up. Who showed up? I did. Hey bro, Alpha Aaron here. Aaron was definitely there. Yeah. Yeah. I think that was in the area. Aaron goes to everything. I think he went to like six events this weekend. Like he was at Tim Settles, he was at Nico’s. He was at CJ’s. Like he was at every person’s like charity event. All of them. It’s it’s it’s it’s impressive sometimes. No, it’s beyond impressive. Like he he’s at every event. The events. Uh Ricardo says, “Location hint. We’re going to be at Spanky’s twice.” You already know where that is. Sharpstown. Location hint. Go ahead. North side. North side. Okay. Shout out to the north. Okay. We’ll tell you Friday. Yeah. We appreciate y’all for rolling through. Be sure to subscribe. Be sure to like. Be sure to ride along. Be sure to always remember when it comes to this Texan stuff, we’re all in it together. Eat good, sleep good, be good. We’ll talk again soon. Thanks for watching everybody. And just win, baby. As Cody Al Davis would tell you.

The Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts have had PLENTY of things change in the past two years. Landry and Cody discuss that and more ahead of Sunday’s AFC South showdown.

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