The Killer B's: Joel Blank & Jeremy Branham
09/10 Hour 3 - What Texans' Weaknesses Did the Colts Game Plan Expose?
[MUSIC] Don't sweat technique. >> Broadcasting live for the Peritex Community Bank Studios. It's the Killer B's with Joel Blank and Jeremy Brannan on ESPN 97.5 and 92.5. >> He's blank, Iron Branham, we are the beast on ESPN 97.5 ESPN at 92.5. What did the Colts game plan tell you about the Texans weaknesses? Do any of these things concern you? Big deal, little deal, no deal. Where are we beginning here, Brian? What is the first thing in these game plan weaknesses that maybe the Texans were exposed? >> I mean, I think we got to start with what most people are talking about. And that's the breaks in the deep coverage. Obviously, the bomb to Alex Pierce for the touchdown. There was a couple more. It was a dueling, I believe, hit one. I think I'm pretty Ashton Newland pronouncing his name right. So what do we make of the breaks in the coverage? Is that something the Colts saw on film thought they could take advantage of some weaknesses in the Texans secondary, or is that no deal at all? >> I think we talked about it to a certain extent yesterday in the fact that because they were so focused on the quarterback and the running backs ability to run that maybe that led to some of the opportunities deep as well. But we're also forgetting from the standpoint of some of the deep balls that he just missed. I'm going to say right now it's a little deal that could be a big deal very soon. So I think there is a level of concern with me, but I'm not going to go big deal just yet. >> Yeah, I'll say medium deal when it comes to this. I thought Aziz al-Shire didn't have a good game. I know I saw some people who break down film like, oh, look at this specific play. I thought he was a step slow everywhere. Like the crossing route that led to a touchdown. He was the guy that was a step late getting to that pass. Okay, like whatever, like you can't get to every pass breakup, I understand that, but why are you going for the pass breakup? Like have the sense and the awareness. I'm not getting to this. Let me not go for the PBU and just make the tackle like give up 20 yards instead of giving up 60 yards in a touchdown. He also had one where he was playing spy and it looked like he was trying to guess where Richardson was going to throw the football and broke it around. It left the middle of the field wide open and Anthony Richardson ran for 20 yards. I thought he was a little slow getting to tackles too. So that's something I'm going to be watching with a Zee's Al Shire. So I think it was actually Al Shire on that specific touchdown that led to the secondary break. Now, I don't love the safeties like Jimmy Ward had two really bad plays. The first the touchdown, which they're in zone coverage, it looked like stingly thought they had safety over the top. Ward gets beat. The second one to Pierce where Ward was there, like Ward actually had that one covered okay, although a bad throw kind of let Ward be there. I think if it was led, Ward didn't have a chance. He didn't go make up the, doesn't break up the pass. So I would say the safeties are where I'm concerned and then I have my eye on his Zee's Al Shire. I would put this at a big deal because I know it's kind of being by some dismissed as well. You know, this was a game plan thing for Anthony Richardson, see if he can beat you deep. But Jimmy Ward, I mean, there's a reason Jalen Pichy got moved to dick a corner. I mean, they were, he had struggles and deep coverage. Same thing with Jimmy Ward last year. That's the reason they drafted the safety in the third round. So this is, this was a problem last year. It didn't seemingly get any better. We know the quarterbacks coming up with the text and schedule. Basically all of them who could go throw the ball more accurately than Anthony Richardson. So will they be 70 yard bombs in the air like it was? Alec Pierce? No, there's very few quarterbacks that can make that throw. But I think they do have a lot of things to shore up with their deep coverage. I think it was game plan specific though. I think it was part of it. But I think it was a lot of it because I think they were trying to condense the field. There's Richardson to be accurate over the top. They were trying to make everything tight to try to keep the running game in bay. I think a lot of it was game plan. I heard DJ on with the G's. And I think DJ was the one that suggested that Jimmy Ward go to nickel and move Petrie back to safety and Jimmy Ward's played nickel before. Jimmy Ward, to me, at this stage in his career, I don't think is a nickel back. They're probably both better in nickel. Yeah. I mean, you know what? You don't want Ward deep though. So I mean, if you don't want him deep, he's going to be on the field where you're putting him. Yeah. Maybe he shouldn't be on the field. He's going to be on the field. He's going to be on the field. I think he's your second best safety though. Well, he's also paid like he's going to be there. So they're going to be there. They extended him too. Right. The good news is I think Bullock should be pretty good. Yeah. You should have two picks of Henry Toa Toa hadn't deflected one to do the end zone. So let's see how they look like I mean, the Bears maybe not, but let's see how they look with like an established quarterback who's more of like a pocket passer before we like jumped to conclusions like the Emerald in week three. Yeah. I agree. Two, four, eight, four teams with a good deep ball thrower and our speedsters will torch us if Jimmy continues to play deep safety. They're going to put Jimmy in better spots whenever you have a good quarterback though. Like they're you have to game plan for the other team and you're always going to be you can't cover everything like you're going to be vulnerable in some areas. And I believe and I think Demico kind of alluded to it was that they wanted to make things difficult for Anthony Richardson close. They wanted to dominate the running game. They didn't want Richardson to pop free there, Jonathan Taylor to pop up there. And I think that they aired on the side of keeping everything tight and they were willing to live with Anthony Richardson beating him over the top, which he did a couple of times, but he was also wildly inaccurate a couple of times. Yeah, I think that I agree that they were really trying to contain both guys in the run game. And I think that a lot of the times you alluded to the the lanes opening up a lot of times that backside lane opened up for both guys, but for primarily for Richardson and that cost them. But overall, I thought they did a great job with that and you pay the price sometimes when you do that. And I thought that's where we saw where they could have gotten picked apart even more than they did deep. What else? We saw the Colts have some success and Pat Russian the pastor for Saxon today and what stood out to me most when you know watching replays and cut ups of the game is they had a lot of success on the games, the stunts, the twists, attacking the interior offense align where I mean, Laramie Tunsel obviously won the best in league. Shaq Mason obviously didn't have a great game, but we came into the season expecting that interior offense align to have the biggest question marks amongst that group. So we saw the Colts attacking with stunts and twists. Is that a problem going forward to me? This is a big deal because you're talking about your most valuable weapon and CJ Stroud and the fact that yes, they got some past protection that allowed some guys to avoid hitting CJ Stroud. I just feel like this is a big as good as they were at run blocking. I have concerns about that way they pass blocked. And I believe that that is something that should be a big deal simply because you have your most valuable asset back there and he is the guy that they're going to get to. I think it's a big deal they got to focus on. I'll go you little deal. I thought they protected really well most of the game and the Colts have a good front four. The plays where they allowed pressure usually wasn't them getting manhandled, although Titus Howard had that happen a couple of times, two to three times. Who's usually passing off coverage and I think that the more they play together, you also have some inexperienced guys in the middle outside of Shaq Mason, juice scrubs played his first game as the starting center played left guard last year, which was out of position for him. Kenyon Green hasn't played a football a real regular season football game in two years. He's only in his third year, really his second year. So I think that stuff is easy to correct. I actually saw them get better at it as the game went on. I think it's very correctable. I think it's a little deal. All right. Last one. After obviously had a lot of questions in the pre draft process and once the Texans drafted them about, could he play on the outside? Did he have the speed to play on the outside? We saw a few times him get tested when he was stuck one on one coverage, didn't have the safety help. Most notably, when 80 Mitchell burned them on a double move and last year had to reach out get the legal contact to prevent the touchdown, thankfully Richardson threw it over his head. We saw the Colts attack it. Was that a big deal? Little deal? No deal. That teams are going to continue to attack last or where they could get them one on one coverage. I think that teams are going to continue to attack him. I think it's a little deal for now that could become a bigger deal because you know who's not behind him and the fact that we knew he was going to make mistakes as a rookie. We know that he's going to, you know, he's going to learn some lessons and you're going to give up some points because of some of those lessons at a certain point. You didn't have to give up the points, but you hope that he learned some lessons already. I think it's a little deal right now and I'm hoping as he gets more games under his belt that he's going to get better and better, but it could be a big deal in a few weeks. Medium deal. They're going to attack lasseter like you have to like you have stingling on the other side. If you're looking to attack any of your corners, especially if you're looking at the outside corners, it's going to be lasseter. You can maybe attack over the middle to a petri. I think I think a lot of teams are going to try to stay away from stingley. Now the Texans do play zone. So like you can get some stuff, playing zone. It's not man on man. A lot of times. So I'll say medium deal. I think lasseter is going to be fine. I think he's going to be pretty good. I heard this on John Lance. We know Lance has some connections to the indie front office with his relationship with Chris Ballard, but there seem to be some notes coming out that the Colts didn't really believe in lasseter's long or long distance speed and wanted to test that right away. So it will be interesting to see obviously Texans didn't seem to really have a problem with the speed. We know the Giants love them from their board that leaked out, but it'll be interesting to see what these other teams who scattered them in the pre draft process, think of his speed and how much they're willing to test him one on one. I just don't think lasseter's going to play a whole lot of one on one. Oh, I know they play a lot of zone, but what do they say about zone? So every zone turns into a main coverage at some point. You're going to have to pick up someone to run with them. But very seldom do you not have safety help over the top. Well true, but with the Texans safety was the Jimmy Ward and Jalen Petrie and some of the guys that bust their coverage like we saw in the deep play plays that went against them against the Colts, even though he has safety help, it might not be help. Yeah, but that's Anthony Richardson. Like it's so unique like if this was like give me a good pocket passer that doesn't run much. Well, my homes, my homes can run though, he can run. He doesn't look to run like Williams is kind of mobile. I heard we'll run a little bit like I'm trying to think of guy of teams that will be on the Texans schedule like I don't want to say say Arnold, okay, borrow like if you wanted to go, but the sensing on their schedule this year, I think, yeah, they're on the schedule. Okay, they play the north. If you like if you're playing borrow and you have chasing Higgins, your game plan in the secondary is so much different than when you have Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor. So much different. So like looking at the Texans defense in 60 minutes against the Colts, they're not going to look anything like that in 60 minutes against the Bengals. Nothing like that. I think it's going to be interesting. The real true judge could be the second time you play the Colts to see like how much Lassner's grown and got comfortable and you know, and the fact that you're still playing a team that's going to run, be run dominant and how much are you are the adjusters going to maybe if the Colts indeed had that same game plan, but I mean, he completed what 11 passes nine. Yeah, like I mean, last year didn't allow much now it wasn't because last year was all pro it was because Anthony Richardson stinks and their game plan was let's force him to be inaccurate and beat us over the top and I just you're not going to see that against Cincinnati. You're not going to see it against the Bears. Yeah, you would hope not. I mean, wait, the Bears don't really have I mean, Roma doomsday is going to be out. Keenan Allen's not going to be like going to be out out. Well, I don't think they made it official, but it certainly seems to be leaning that way. Oh, I didn't. Can't play the bank. Keenan Allen. Yeah, they do play the Bengals. I don't. You sure? Yeah, I'm looking right now. Well, they don't I knew they didn't play the AFC nor. By far, I mean, I swear I thought it was much conviction. Yes, they do. I thought they did. I thought they did. I stayed corrected. But yeah, it'll it'll be it'll be interesting to watch. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that is something to keep an eye on. Like I'm not dismissing that. It could be a problem. I am not dismissing that we do have to watch it, but to act like the game plan against the Colts is going to be the same game plan is when they play, you know, a wounded Jordan love, not the same when they played Jared Goff, not the same. Right. Rogers, not the same. I think you up the level of concern on the pass rush simply because I think the bears are coming after him. The bears got a good pass rush. They got a good defense. And I think that they've got to make the adjustments quickly. Yeah. Yeah, that's going to be a fun matchup to watch. Yes, for sure. Houston Texan offense versus that bear defense. All right. 713780 ESPN. Maybe we named some of those players who are rusty for the Texans this past week. CJ Strauss said that after the game the other day that there's some guys were rusty. Who was rusty? 7137803776, it's the bees on ESPN 97 five and ESPN 92 five hey sports betters. It's Brian. I'm here to tell you about my favorite sports book and casino that's bet us.com football is back. So it's time to get in on all the action. 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Get that knowledge with expert analysis picks and predictions on all major sports on their very own bet us TV get started today bet us.com or give them a call 1 800 my bet us bet us where the game begins. >> You found the killer beads live for the Veritex community bank studios, here's Joel Blanken, Jeremy Branham. >> All right, time to give away some tickets to go see the buy you bucket. You stand and rice is going to be a great time Saturday night. U of H taking on the house the buy you bucket, celebrating Houston with his hometown rivalry that if really plays hard hitting action unforgettable moments tickets started just $15 dollars through U H cougars.com slash tickets are called 713 go Cougs now to get your tickets come early be loud and wear red. The first caller to tell Brian who the last Houston cougar quarterback to be drafted was wins a pair of tickets to see Houston rice on Saturday 7 1 3 7 8 0 3 7 7 6 who was the last Houston court the Houston cougar quarterback drafted in the NFL draft 713 7 7 7 7 7 7 6. Go Cougs, go Cougs. So CJ Strauss said after the game on Sunday that some guys were rusty some some players were rusty here is strout talking about it. >> I feel like honestly we definitely did have a ton of great things but we definitely have some things to work on but I mean this is week one is everybody's rusty. We are everybody's rusty I'm not going to name any names. >> Okay so you didn't throw anybody under the bus that was very nice of him not to throw anybody under the bus but the killer bees will the killer bees will throw people under the bus now it is to be to be fair CJ strout a little bit later on he kind of clarified on who was rusty I think he was taking a shot at the officials listen to a CJ. >> We want everybody's rusty so I'm rusty we're rusty is is the whole you know I think the officials told us one thing but you know we got another and it's up to us to really make the situation my job you know what I mean so I got to be better right there and that's something we can definitely learn from you know what I mean I definitely don't think it's in the world but those points could have cost us you know what I mean so we definitely got to be better. >> So Strauss probably talking about the official and the white cap whenever he said it's very interesting about I'm curious now what exactly they told them. >> Well the official and the poor port said that he told Strauss the ball would be ready to play and the clock would wind on the ready to play you could see them having a conversation to that's why I'm going yeah I mean from a from a sideline perspective the only thing that could have been confusing for them to not expect that very scenario was was that they called time out but then they even said they gave the time out back. >> Yeah I mean I don't know what happened there now the white cap said that he told Strauss that the clock was going to wind but he also told everybody that he was confused and didn't know what's going on he said that live to the stadium so but we're going to take this as Houston Texan players that were rusty we'll throw people under the bus who do you think was rusty on Sunday. >> I'm going to say this I'm going to start with CJ Stroud. I thought CJ Stroud was a little rusty I thought the fact that we talk about the pics that weren't that could have been that should have been that he got away with I think that showed a little rust I think that the deep balls that showed a little rust I think from a timing perspective I think CJ is the first guy that is capable and does look in the mirror and point the finger and he made in the second comment he alluded to it that him him being included I would start with the fact that as good as CJ was some of the mistakes we saw that they elude they escaped would make him a little rusty. >> I mean CJ CJ admitted it yeah I mean CJ said that I felt like I was a little rusty the two deep throws were under thrown and like those are low percentage plays but we've kind of grown spoiled to CJ completing those or looking a little bit better on them and then yeah very reckless with the football like both of those plays were extremely reckless with the football some people are defending them with that for it with the the holding I think the holding was actually drawn by tanked L going back and watching I think it was tank that drew the holding so like that was further back in the end zone same side of the field but further back in the end zone so like I in my mind Stroud had zero clue that that was there was a flag on the field yeah and I think that the other one where everybody's giving him his flowers for the scramble getting out to the to the right hand side and then throwing that kind of looping pass over the middle that Nico ended up catching for that first down yeah dangerous dangerous I didn't really think so I thought it was dangerous because it was floating there was no one around though well there I there was a guy coming from the right hand side he just couldn't get there quick enough I just I'm leery of that throw because I've seen multiple green bay quarterbacks make that throw too many times and have it bite him well you get shots better than any green bay quarterback that's ever existed going that far yet but I will say this as good as he is and as much accolades as he got for that throw that throw scared the crap out of me when he yeah I mean I don't like crossbody throws but I didn't think that there was a whole lot of traffic there for him I'm gonna put Titus Howard like Titus Howard didn't play a ton of football last year he played a good amount but he got hurt a little bit as well playing right tackle full time now and he'd be the first person to tell you that I didn't think he played a good game of the five offensive lineman I thought Titus Howard was clearly the worst so he'd be the first guy I have on the who was rusty list totally agree with that I mean just watching him and watching the game twice and I didn't watch the L 22 that you watched but I saw enough to realize that for a guy that's compensated where he's compensated and what you're expecting from a guy like that you didn't get that from him in week one so if you want to call that rusty absolutely there was a couple of times whenever he he like I pushed like kind of got like bull rushed back in the end there was one time that Titus Howard's actually just out yeah like whenever they stay yeah and there was one running play where Titus Howard didn't touch a soul didn't touch a single person like he he missed the first level runs into the second level and the linebacker jukes him out of his shoes that's didn't touch it yeah he was not good yeah no totally agree with that I think that's why I think that's why I believe Fisher might be the starting right tackle by week eight just saying another rusty for you Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Ward's got to be on the list I mean I don't care if you think he's washed or because he or he made the he's a veteran you need to get better angles you need to make better reads and then whether you're a step slow or not you have to be in the right position Jimmy Ward you let's hope it's just rusty yeah I had him I had him on my list to hopefully there were hopefully was the game plan airing on the side of condensing the field but he is older we didn't love him last year the extension was kind of curious yeah hopefully you're yes hopefully hopefully that's something that he'll he'll ease our mind when he comes to that he was on my list too I mentioned this a little bit earlier as he's Al Shire I thought he was a step late on everything like this guy was supposed to come in and be the dude I didn't see that step late on everything when Rogue I mentioned on the spy allowed a big play up the middle split second late on the deep cross that went for a touchdown split second late on the Anthony Richardson touchdown run I thought he was I thought it was a half step short all game long hopefully that's kind of that's not a really a new scheme for him I mean it's different from the scheme he was under last year but he's very familiar with D'Amico scheme hopefully it's the new team hopefully maybe who's like trying to compensate for Henry Toowo Toowo and when Christian Harris is back they'll compliment each other better I'm not like you know out on a Z's Al Shire it's just something I noticed and something I'll be keeping my eye on I think one of the things why it's probably more relevant to talk about this is this is where you need that position to step up big when you have a quarterback and a running back that that you know find the gaps find the holes you are supposed to be the guy that is the that line of defense that comes up and shuts it down and that's where I think you had to be a little bit leery of his performance last week eight seven five five says LT was rusty he got a forty two zero and my poor football focus grade I thought he looked fine but they looked fine everybody wants to make too big of a deal of the one penalty I think it's just look at the the entire body of work can you say he could be better yes but was he bad no I thought he was really good blocking the penalty I give him a little bit of grace on because it would have been a delay of game anyways and it would have also been a legal motion anyways so I give even if he doesn't jump that plays gonna be penalized eight seven five five says tank was rusty I didn't see that I didn't really either I didn't and I saw that burst and I saw that speed and I saw that when he touches the football he's electric I did not see that I didn't see that either I think the offensive pass protection was rusty remember that one play when he got sacked he had five guys on him that was more miscommunication and just like not sliding coverage like they had the numbers there it's just you had two guys blocking one free rusher because they didn't pass the coverage along I think they got better late in the game and I think that's going to only improve now continuity matters here let's like why it would be very nice if these guys can just play with each other all year long pause did you when you watch y'all 22 notice what evidently D'Amico noticed more than me and that was that Robert Woods was a great blocker I tweeted that you did because I heard him say that and I was like really I think I assumed that was the reason that he was on the team was just they they used him in blocking situations and then I listened to him with the coffee with the coach thing yeah with the you know rock and roll and John Harris right and yeah he was he he he said that Robert Woods was textbook clinic yeah he was going off and I said that he would I didn't pay attention to it he said that he he showed the team that he showed the team that hey this is what we do he's like this is this is who we are you know he's not getting the football but he's playing self as football to try to win games for us fair enough so yeah he they love Robert Woods in the blocking game which maybe we underrate whenever we're putting our 53 man rosters together I think that as long as you know he's got that going for him as well the fact that he can be a backup receiver that's proven that he'll go over the middle he can make some tough catches and that he's worthy of it maybe that explains a little bit more on the whole kind of curious at the time Noah Brown goes and wood stays see it sims seemed rusty on the putt return calling for fair catch with no one even remotely close to him fair probably ball security in that spot though they had the lead in that spot but I went that bad no one else returned upon no you did not okay no you want to carry it over to week two all right we'll roll it over this is a good I mean I didn't know he's gonna be active I didn't either so that's why I was curious I was gonna wait a minute I missed something so there might not be another guy that returns upon but yeah we can roll it over a space city kev y'all the only thing they all are smart about is football and sports stuff that's not true I'm not smart about anything the Texas do not play the bangles this year I had to be hard on you because I love you that wasn't us that was Brian I agreed with him I'm partly to blame I agreed with him I thought they played him again why that was on me I am the star made me for car record today I blunder that one a couple of rotten apples ruin the entire batch and today the rotten apples are Brian and blank in your voice some people say this is sexy I'm not one of them I would hope not thank goodness I would hope not yeah sometimes I sound sexy when I sound like this Brian said I sounds like I know more football city really liked it he says he didn't say that he said I sound like I know more football yeah no like if he had told me about will love us with that voice I would have believed him I sound like a coach has been yelling at his team all game yeah a little bit I sound like I sound like a football guy I sound like the mikko post game did y'all hear the mikko post game yeah he couldn't talk yeah he sounded like me he sounded like Dane Campbell a post game he did that's like Doc Rivers Doc Rivers does it and then it never goes away the entire season and then all of a sudden you give him a year off or he goes to ABC and he could talk again yeah it's weird how about the San Francisco drama Jordan Mason Kyle Shanahan Christian McCaffrey what do we make of it all it's the beast on ESPN 97 5 and ESPN 92 5 ESPN 97 5 you found the killer bees live for the Veritex community bank studios here's Joel Blankett Jeremy Braddock it is the base he has been up 75 ESPN 2 5 7 1 3 7 8 0 3 7 7 6 7 3 0 8 you sound like you've changed smoke to pack of camel wide unfiltered don't threaten me really good time shout out to Damien Pierce good to see him get some yards after the down year last year I want to see more of Damien Pierce I never thought I'd say that I wanted to cut a couple weeks ago I just don't want mixing touching the ball 30 times I don't think it's sustainable no I think that that's the beauty in all of this as like a secondary level of excitement for what Nixon was able to do was in the small sample size that we did see Damien Pierce we saw at least a glimmer of hope in the fact that all of the hype he was getting from the team and everybody internally during the preseason that there might be some truth to it that there might be a way for him to be a serviceable backup and be a guy that on the depth chart is higher than a guy that I was very high on in in Cam acres so I hope that he gets more touches and continues to show you get you know four plus yards a carry and can capitalize on the line that would be great 8 7 5 5 I don't know if I'm the only one feeling like this overreacting but I'm still concerned about that safety position fair Ward might lose his job to Bullock see I think it would be Murray before award think Murray would lose his job before ward oh for sure I mean it's already in an already tell I mean Murray and Bullock play the same amount of snaps Ward played the most snaps of the three I think Bullock is going to take Murray's job and they extended award yeah all the clues tell us first of all I think the other thing is that I think Jimmy Ward's health is going to play into this pretty significantly too I just don't believe that he's going to stay healthy for the entire I don't like doing the whole injury thing but I don't want to see it happen but I think that just we've got to see more but I would be more intrigued to say yeah Bullock I think Bullock snaps are going to continue to go up and up and up more what when you see more what I got to see more of what Jimmy Ward can or can't do I mean haven't we seen enough of Jimmy Ward like if anybody that we've seen enough snaps would be Jimmy Ward well but but but basically last week I don't care if he is healthy last week I wasn't super enamored with Jimmy Ward to where I could see Bullock maybe they tried Bullock and Murray or maybe maybe DJ's onto something and you're going to see Bullock and and Petri back there and they're going to experiment with other guys at the nickel I don't think so see I was surprised when he said that but I just you know I'm not a big Jimmy Ward fan I was and I was totally against the extension they did Aaron Wilson reported that Desmond King was going to sign to the practice squad today and then it didn't happen so what's your guy don't know what I don't know what to make of that what did you make of this drama coming out from Monday night football yesterday Jordan Mason had a really good game over 100 yards filling in for Christian McCaffrey McCaffrey was a late scratch was listed as questionable on the injury report on Saturday was questionable questionable after Friday's practice Mason was asked immediately after the game when did you know you were starting Jordan Mason said Friday everybody flipped out here's Kyle Shanahan saying in the presser that he did not tell Mason that Jordan said after the game he was told on Friday night he was going to start when did Christian start feeling alright I never told Jordan he's going to start I'm told me he had to be ready a bunch but I might have been Bobby or somebody trying to pump them up but I knew he was going to have to play a lot I told him that he was going to have to wasn't going to be like usual he was going to be a number two back that was splitting a lot of the time but now he didn't know he for sure was doing that till today okay I should have some sort of setback on Friday no he didn't have a setback I mean it was it was on and off throughout the week he was able to practice throughout the week just it was always bothering him to a degree and sometimes it goes away sometimes it comes back and today was bothering him a little too much to where we didn't feel good about it apparently has the Achilles strain but so Shanahan though we didn't tell him that at least I didn't and then here is Jordan Mason now talking to the presser all the people in the press conference and he was upset I like the media apparently that question right there is why I'm at that's why I don't like really talking to media because you say one thing wrong and then you know I don't know you skip that question he's not happy with me I don't blame him listen I'm not not media so but he he kind of let the cat out of the bag to by say you say one thing wrong but I think that overall teams are going to give up their game plan they're not going to let you know that Christian McCaffrey is not playing they're going to let your the second string running back no there's a pretty good chance that you're going to play all of or the majority of the the first running back snaps that's how that's how football goes now I know it means up it's a bigger deal because of gamblers and fantasy football people but I think overall in every sport in professional sports this is going on all the time and whether you flat out said it or Shanahan said it or his running back coach said it or whatever and how they said it believe me there was a game plan where they were talking about him being the starter now you can get fined by the NFL for injury report manipulation and that's what everybody screaming here I want I don't like how Kyle Shanahan handled this like you kind of threw your running back out of the bus like this guy just had the the career game for himself and he's upset about you know the some question that he answered on the field after the game I didn't love that Shanahan threw him under the bus and then secondly like Jordan Mason can be told he's a starter on Friday that doesn't mean that Christian McCaffrey has to be out of the game in no way did they incriminate themselves even if they told Jordan Mason that he is starting on Friday you can have five plays in the in the playbook for Christian McCaffrey he's not starting like it that does not add up to Jordan Mason is a starter Christian McCaffrey is out so like everybody's flipping out about this and I think that it's much to do about nothing I think the reason why they're flipping out though has nothing to do with how the football team carries on the way you just said I think it has everything to do with fantasy football it depends on who's it depends on who's griping like because there are a healthy amount of betters that are not happy about it there are healthy amount of Christian McCaffrey owners who are not happy about it but then you have your media and your florios who are always trying to stir stuff up we're like oh look at San Francisco injury report manipulation like maybe they did that but just because they said or Jordan Mason said he was told Friday that he was starting that does not mean that Christian McCaffrey is ruled out right and I think that both things when you talk about that I I I have total belief in the fact that they went to him and said hey as of now you're going to be the starter on Monday night Christian's dealing with some stuff now if he makes a recovery that could change but we need you to practice and get prepared like you are going to get the majority of the snaps I think that can be true football the football team doesn't give a rat's ass about any of the other stuff external to they need to get their number two ready to be their number one yeah yeah I make I don't like how Shannon went to the bus though I just shot Watson here's another thing like florios like hey they can try to get out of this contract because this new lawsuit or if there's any new damage or new information comes to light there's a potential out of the contract let's assume that they did the Browns get out of it to Sean Watson contract do you think anybody else would pick him up I think someone would try to pick him up as a backup as a backup with a chance to start especially if they get a bargain deal on him you invite that circus for a backup yeah because at the same time I think NFL teams still want to win games I think you look at a team like Las Vegas and you say in a Las Vegas situation look bottom line is if I'm really going to be screwed at the quarterback and I don't have the draft pick right now to get what I want if I've got a guy that I can bring in on a 12 or less 10 or 12 million dollar deal to see if he can compete to be a starter I think Davis would be a guy that says yeah great if he can still play football we can get him cheap and we got a chance out of one year deal to see what he's got we'll do it see okay 10 to 12 millions a lot for a backup quarterback he is not playing good football and I do think it's a lot of drama for a backup QB like Colin Kaepernick was never brought in because there's a lot of drama I think Tim Tebow at a point was too much drama to bring him in as a backup quarterback I don't think anybody would touch the shot I think Davis is the guy I think I agree with you that it's it's probably the one team with an owner that would probably kick the tires and look at it but I think that that one team exists I think the Raiders if this is all stuff from 2020 and not anything recent I and a lot depends on what happens now with this specific case too because this is a lot more severe than even what we were talking about with the other cases he was dealing with but if he escapes this case or and yet the Browns still are finding a way to wash their hands of it I think the Raiders would be a team to look at him I don't need you playing the NFL again where do you stand Brian yeah I don't think you will I would I wouldn't wouldn't rule out completely the few the few other teams that were apparently in on the in on the shot Watson before he got traded Cleveland like the Saints the Panthers who had a lot of this out now yeah Atlanta Atlanta would be out of it he they were in on it but we remember the Panthers and the Saints were reportedly you know as well I could see them making the phone call I mean Derek Carr isn't in the long-term future we know Bryce Young's not the long-term future is to Sean Watson a long-term future no but I there are a lot of teams that deceive themselves into taking these journeyman quarterback which is basically what the Sean would become at that point in thinking they can resurrect their career and be the emergency fix that they that they need at the position so because it only takes one it only took one team to think Johnny Manziel was the first round pick also the Browns he only took one team to think Tim Tebow was the first round pick I can see one team making the mistake Raiders is definitely possible I can also see the Saints of the Panthers but it's I would probably put the odds like 20 percent I don't think it happens but I wouldn't say it's zero more than half the quarterbacks in the league through for less than 200 yards touchdowns way down in week one you think this is a trend what do you think could lead to this trend I think a lot of it stems from less preseason games less opportunities to get the timing once we talk about CJ with rust I think that look defenses I think they do a lot in the in the training camps and in the preseason and especially in the in the joint practices I think the offensive guys really are never at full speed I think timings an issue I think that affects the passing game I've seen this too many times and now with less preseason games and less ability to get kind of true reps in I would say more like I would I would attribute it more to the fact that there's not enough reps in preseason and that you're not forcing your ones on offense to play enough I think it'll get better I don't think of this is I don't think this is the trend that something I'll do I'm with you on the preseason thing the NFL wants points this this won't not be a trend like they're gonna find ways to get offense texture says the nasty man in Vegas would be a hilarious combo it really would be Watson Vegas would be like a kid in a candy shop yeah it would be all right seven one three seven eight zero three seven seven six what are you nominating for the car wreck of the day what is your car wreck of the day seven one three seven eight zero three seven seven six it's the bees on ESPN 97 five and ESPN 95 hey before we go to the break a word for vanderford air if you need new air conditioning or you want your air conditioning unit tuned up before it gets too late and you run into a problem I give you the one company that I trust that's vanderford air.com I trust vanderford air.com because I love the fact that everything they do is guaranteed this is the kind of company you want to do business with because when a company provides services a lot of times they'll give you the verbal and tell you oh we'll fix it we'll get it exactly like new we're gonna do everything that we say we're gonna do and then if they come up short you can't get them on the phone you can't get them to come back and you've got nothing to fall back on that says that they told you what they told you well that's not how they do it at vanderford air everything's guaranteed they're going to put everything in writing they're going to put some something in writing that says if we replace the part that you need it's this if we replace the entire system it's that it's all in writing and it starts with your phone call when you call them they guarantee you're not going to have to wait days on end for them to get through all the other customers they have on their call list they're going to tell you that within 24 hours that you calling them they're going to be there to see you that's phenomenal because I've been in those situations in the past where I needed an air conditioning company and I was told yeah we'll get you in three four five days based on how many other customers that we already have to see when we get through that's tough to take when you need and you know how important your AC is they don't do that hundred percent satisfaction guarantee on everything else that's the other big thing from the work that their workers are going to do to the parts that they use toward the systems that they replace everything's guaranteed from the comfort level that you're going to get the temperature that your unit's going to achieve the performance of the parts and the people that install it do everything's a hundred percent satisfaction guaranteed or your money back that's what you want in your back pocket when you deal with a company that's why I encourage you to save their phone number two eight one five five seven cool two eight one five five seven cool put it in your phone call them now maybe check your unit before anything does break down or when it does break down call them first because they're going to be there and make sure that your satisfaction lasts vanderfordair.com two eight one five five seven cool you're listening to the killer bees with Joel Blanken Jeremy Branham on ESPN 97 5 and 92 5 broadcasting live from the Veritex community bank studios. Spenser Aaron Getty on the mountain A for the Houston Astros 7 and 2 482 ERA goes opposite of JP Sears 11 and 10 with a 434 ERA Eric Eddy was awful awful in his last start after he was the august rookie of the year so Eric Eddy needs to be fast rookie of the year. It's been a long day Brian I'm limping the finish line. Can't you hear me? I hope you know that you're making fun of the club. You do kind of sound like that person. I sound good. You know who I think I sound like I think I sound like Pharrell on the bench. You got to go way raspy or fat. Pharrell on the bench. No you're not there yet. I think I sound Pharrell. You got to swallow a couple more razor blades and then you'll get Pharrell. But Eric Eddy needs to bounce back for his own regard and then secondly if he's trying to make a case for this playoff rotation. Yeah I'm concerned. I just I'm trying to think of numbers that I can feel good about. I'm going to say the A's. Yeah and by the way someone like the one guy's name that you criticized me when I said he looked like a real good player. He's been on fire. What's he is a brand for the guy at the top of the lineup. They got some guys playing some great baseball. Again people sleep because you say it's the A's. They have a better record than the Astros since the All-Star break. They have been playing their tails off. That's true. I think it's still true. They have the best record in the American League. I just had like the best records in space something. They were behind the A's in the American League from right after the All-Star break. The A's have been that good. Let's just let's fact check that. Go ahead. We only got like a minute left. The debates tonight. Let's get to the. I'm going to say six innings, three runs. I'll pass. I'll pass the A's. Will you be watching the debate? I will not lie but I watch. I am saying I love making fun of the debates. Absolutely. My wife's going to be watching. I'm sure she's recording it. I'm going to be watching the baseball game. All right. Let's get to the same. Well, let's get to the car wreck of the day. This is the car wreck of the day. Carrigan the day Blankers A's record. It's close though. It is close. Astros 27 and 20 A's 25 and 21. So in the last couple of days it changed. I remembered it from last year. You said they had the better record. You're right. I didn't say that. You weren't confident as I was. Don't move the goal post. You were as confident as I was in the Texas playing the Bengals, which is my nomination. Yeah. Not any Blankers. That was my bad. Although Blankers was way closer than Brian. The first one for me, Jason Kelsey, you're making your debut on national TV as a broadcaster on ESPN and you leave your garment bag in your truck and have to go to the mall and try and find a shirt that fits an offensive lineman. That's brutal. I'll go with the media for making Jordan Mason mad. The media should not make players mad. I was just going to go with the Niners in general. One by three possessions. Yeah, I know. Just putting Jordan Mason in the spot where that happened. Yeah. A couple of texts here. My fantasy football teams three of the four got worked. Russ start the year and then Keith, the dummy texture who called Jim Crane only gives extensions to white people. It's probably true. He only gives extensions to wasps. All right. What is what's winning here? I go Brian for the bangles. I earned it. I earned it. You guys can vote. I'll abstain because I agree with Brian. That's right. You did bangles part of it. I'll give it bangles win or Brian wins and then Blankers gets half a win for half a sec. Soccer matters coming up next nation's league recap. What's going on with the dynamo at home and the US national team lineup thoughts. Talk to you tomorrow, Houston. Soccer matters now on ESPN 97 5 ESPN 97 5 the birds.