The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Aaron Reiss Joins Matt To Talk Texans v Titans and Tampa Bay

Episode Date: December 17, 2019

Aaron Reiss of The Athletic joins Matt and Ross to discuss Texans v Tampa Bay and Jameis Winston as the team tries to clinch the AFC South

Swing and a miss, Walk him out. This is AJ Hinch of your Houston Astros. Your teams, your town, your voice all day. Sports Talk 790 is your home for your home teams. On the Texans beat right now, Aaron Reese, the athletic. You can find him on Twitter at Aaron J. Reese. All right, we're going to go backwards this week.

So Bill O'Brien at his press conference yesterday was asked at the very end about the health and well-being of J.J. You were there. Can you read between the lines for us? You know, I think the only thing to read there is that obviously he's not closing the door on it, which I think is significant, right? But I also don't know if it's certain to happen. You know, kind of other talks to will and past week. And it seemed like he was still pretty far away. You have, you know, he boxes to check before he get to the point of actually getting on the field.

So, and we'll see. You know, obviously, there's. just had much season left. But if they did add in, even if they go on, you know, kind of limited reps or whatever, you know, I think that could be huge for the Texans because their pass rush has really just fallen off and caught off of that lot. Yeah, it's 20, throw off your Twitter this morning, 27th in the NFL overall in pass rush. And that includes games with why. Yeah, I was going to say, I was going to say this isn't just because JJ's not there.

So you answer this question to the audience. Why, where has the pass rush gone in 2019, generally speaking? You know, I think Woody Marzbois got off to a hot start, and he was probably bound to aggress anyway. You factor in that he was suddenly had more attention attracted to him. I think Jacob Martin kind of is, you know, he's a good speed rush or situational pass rush, but I don't know if necessarily when suddenly you need him to be kind of a, you know, maybe your number two pass rushes around the team or one of the top ones if he's ready for that role.

So I just think they just don't have really the guys for it. I don't know how much more it is than that. I mean, if you want more than that, I mean, obviously the secondary has been up and down at times this year and not fully healthy. And so when you're also not covering people well, that doesn't help. But, I mean, at the end of the day, even when the secondary does cover well,

they're not necessarily getting to the quarterback. I think it was the game tying throw, Tanna Hill made to A. I mean, he had forever to make that throw. That he did. Visiting with Aaron Reese of the Athletic here on the Matt Thomas show. So all of us are in agreement. This is a very schizophrenic football team.

Highs are high, low, low. There's no consistency. I think Rodney Harrison even alluded to it on the Sunday night pregame show. They have way more to play for than for James Winston to just add and to stockpile his stats to get a new contract. I think he's going to come back for the Buccaneers. So I don't even think this is an audition for him. So with that said, the Texans, with much more to play for, should go to Tampa Bay. they are the better team on paper

and should win that game to win the AMC South. But there's still a lot of hesitancy and people are really buying into that. What say you about this weekend's matchup? Well, I think James... First of all, I think James has something to play for if you can get to the 30-30 club of 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions.

I think that would be pretty awesome. Now, listen, we don't need your tongue in your cheek when you're coming on my show. It's all about information here, my friend. You're on the beat. No opinions allowed. Yeah, I mean, I think that they obviously, they do have more to play for, and you would think that this would be a week that they would show up.

But, you know, a lot of these weeks would be weeks that you would think they'd show up. And I do think the one thing about James is, you know, despite all the interceptions stuff, he can't torch anybody. And that is a problem. I don't think this is necessarily a great match for them, although the secondary was at least a little better. The past week's really kind of the issue. I think the Texans like going against quarterbacks that love to throw interceptions.

always figured out a way, even the last couple of years, to win the turnover battle. And for the most part, they have done that this year, although this year hasn't been nearly as pronounced as previous years. Is that because Father Thomas catch up in that secondary, or is it because of the lack of the pass rush, combination of both? Why haven't they been nearly as aggressive enforcing turnovers as they have in previous years? Yeah, I mean, I think turnovers, obviously, are kind of random to some degree.

So I think that is part of it. I think secondary talent is not as really. totally there. And that probably does kind of limit what sort of chances Ramirez Cornell wants to take in terms of

how he brings pressure and stuff like that. So it's kind of interrelated, but I, a lot of it kind of think you know, turnovers are somewhat unpredictable. Justin Reed makes the huge hit

that forces the turnover that turned into the Whitney Merciles interception. Justin Reed every week, Aaron, makes those type of plays. He did it against Garner, Minchue,

earlier this year, Jacksonville, but he's also a walking shoulder injury. Is that just how he plays? Is there something fundamentally wrong with his tackling? Because I feel like the next time he goes for yet another shoulder tackle, he's going to end up being gone for a significant period of time. I just feel like he has, I don't know what if it's a technique or if it's just coincidence, but he just feels like he's the next hit away from missing a long period of time.

Yeah, you know, I don't know if actually the Texans had wanted to change anything about kind of the way he gets himself. Obviously, Brian Gain is no longer the GM, but last year when Disreed was a rookie, I wrote a story kind of about that he was the sure of tackler and the secondary and why that was and what that kind of led to the Texans like him and stuff like that. So I think that's a huge part of his value, obviously, is not quite as good at this year versus last. And I do wonder if the shoulder injury is playing through as something to do with it. But, I mean, yeah, you're right. He has double it all season.

I wrote something yesterday of how, you know, he practices in a red jersey, like a quarterback. Yeah. If you see him in the locker room, he's still wearing this kind of brace. He's constantly got it on. It straps kind of like across his whole chest and stuff. So, I mean, it certainly seems like something he's playing through a lot of pain. I mean, O'Brien would say, you know, everyone's playing through something right

now. And that probably is true. But I did think it was kind of crazy that it's on that right shoulder, and that's the shoulder that he's off the ball for him. and what was, you know, arguably the biggest play of the game. Staying with injuries. Is Wolf Fuller back, or is it how that hamstring feels at, say, 11 o'clock before noon kickoff? You know, I think last week they felt pretty good about Fuller that he was going to come back,

and I don't know how much of the – I mean, they say, you know, the game time decisions are how he'll feel that day. That probably is terrific. He doesn't feel up to it. And it's not going to go. But, I mean, last week, even, they felt pretty good about him earlier in the week. And so I would imagine that they feel okay about him this week, too. All right, so Tampa's got their two top receivers out. The Texans feel like they're pretty healthy.

What else on the injury front of I miss so far? Anybody of huge concern going to the game with it being a short week? Yeah, but Norick McKinney. He suffered a concussion towards the end of the game when the game was kind of already decided for the most part or during that final Tennessee touchdowns rise and left the game late. So, you know, O'Brien said he didn't necessarily rule out the idea that he would still be able to play on Saturday,

even though it's the short and week. But that would be the one to watch. Obviously, Texan would still have that kind of him inside. But, you know, who would replace McKinney, probably Peter Collin-bye. That's not a household name under any circumstance. Not at all. No, no, no.

It's a special team guy. You just say that three times fast. Okay, so let's do playoff scenarios here. Let's say they finish off business and they beat the Buccaneers to win the AFC South. I don't think, unless Kansas City gets upended at Chicago, that there's much room for the Texans to improve in Week 17.

Have you gone through the variety of scenarios? Are they pretty much locked in the number four spot once they clints the division? Yeah, I think they basically need some help from the Chiefs or, you know, a collapse with Patriots. Obviously, they play the Bulls, I don't imagine they lose the Dolphins. Although, you know, weird things always happen between the Patriots and Dolphins and Dolphins. Maybe they would. But, yeah, for most part, it seems like they're pretty much locked in. I think they have something like last time I checked with like a 10% chance maybe at the 3-seat.

Okay, so with that being said, and I know that if you bothered asking this to Bill O'Brien the day, he would yell at you. What does your gut tell you about the types of guys that might sit out week 17, although in some respects might allow Tennessee to sneak in the playoffs, which would then mean they may face the Titans in the playoffs a week after? That's where things get really can get crazy. Yeah, yeah, that's true. You know, I don't know if they're necessarily, I mean, I guess when they already coached the division,

you see how things end up this week. But, you know, if you look at all scenarios, I think they would still kind of be in play for the three seed. And so, you know, they'd have to determine if that's what they care about. I mean, I guess if I was going to have to pick anyone who I would think who would sit out, probably will full of right. He's like the one guy that seems kind of needs the sort of load management here on this team. And so that would be the position to see out to me. Maybe someone in the secondary, too.

because, you know, they've been banged up all year. If you take a game off, that might be useful. Justin Reed, for example, but he obviously is super valuable for this team. And like you mentioned, you don't necessarily want to help Tennessee get in the playoffs. I don't know if that's a sort of team you want to face again. All right. So your gut tells you that Texans are going to go to Tampa Bay and win this game. I don't care if they do it comfortably or not.

They're going to win it. Yes or no? Yeah, my gut tells me that they're going to win. I don't know if they'll necessarily be comfortable. I think it'll be an exciting game and, you know, and all that. but I think they will win. Very good. Thank you very much, Aaron, for the time, safe travels at Tampa,

and we'll visit again next week. Thanks. You got it, Aaron Reese from The Athletic at Aaron J. Reese. On Twitter, if you want to follow him and his insights on the National Football League when it comes to your beloved Houston Texans.