The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Brian Billick: Texans Have 'Plenty Of Time To Get That Rhythm' Before Playoffs

Episode Date: November 27, 2024

Brian Billick, Super Bowl-winning head coach and NFL commentator, joined "The Matt Thomas Show with Ross" to preview the Houston Texans traveling to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars in an AFC South matchup. The Texans are coming off a disappointing 32-27 loss to the Tennessee Titans but still hold a two-game lead in the division. "There's plenty of time to get that rhythm," Billick said. Billick also gave his Super Bowl predictions and discussed the possibility of Deion Sanders coaching in the NFL.

is one of the most respected coaches and broadcasters you'll find out there. We speak of Brian Billick, Super Bowl 35 champion head coach with us here on the Matt Thomas show with Ross. Coach, it's Matt and Chris here. Thanks for joining us. And I would like you to be an amateur therapist for the Houston sports fans because they're winging out right now. This Texan football team is, needless to say, underperforming the last handful of weeks. As you watch them occasionally and how much you are, what are you seeing right now that maybe you didn't see earlier in the season?

Well, they just got to hang tight because the AFC in particular is clustered pretty tight. There's a lot of capable teams. Certainly Kansas City is the lead at 10 and 1, but they've shown some vulnerabilities as well. So there's Kansas City, Buffalo, Pittsburgh. I throw Houston into that mix, Baltimore, and even the charges. They're all right there. I could give you three reasons why everyone, each one of them is going to the Super Bowl. I give you three reasons why they're not.

Clearly, Houston, and this is a game of momentum. And right now they just don't have the momentum. That's the biggest thing that would have to concern you. They've shown signs of it. C.J. Stroud has been spectacular at times. The last little bit, the interceptions, the inconsistency is a concern, but that doesn't mean that you can't get it back because they certainly have shown the signs of it, particularly early in the season.

And there's plenty of time to get that rhythm, to be that team that finishes strong, particularly knowing that you have the capability in what is a wide open conference to go to the Super Bowl, you can still make a run at this thing. So they have a time to get that momentum back, but they got to kick it in pretty quick here. Brian Billick is with us. He is here courtesy of ex-tech pads, and we'll be talking more with him about that coming up in a couple of minutes. Coach, the offensive line has been a season-long issue between formation issues, holdings, pass protection,

And my philosophy has been, and you obviously know this significantly better than anybody that's in our audience, I feel like part of the regression for CJ this year is his inability to step into throws. I think he's a little more hesitant. I don't think he trusts his line. Every quarterback, as you know, coach, has to feel pressure. But I feel like this has really become something that has affected the timing and the fluidity of CJ's throws. Or last year, even when there was a little bit of pressure, he was able to dance a little bit, get around it, and still make some great throws. and I just feel like some of those plays that were those mind-blowing wow plays aren't a part of this year's offense.

And there's no question that when you're struggling with the offensive line, for whatever reason, whether it's injury, you have different guys in and out of the lineup, as a quarterback, even though you support those guys and you want to feel good about it, when that's in the back of your mind on every play you drop back to pass, that's not good because it gnaws away at your focus that you've got to have down the field. And so that is a reason, a big part of the reason why Steve J. Strau may not be quite as comfortable in the pocket. Or you realize, you know, you talk about that pervertible clock that goes off in your head as to how long I can be in here before. That speeds up and it speeds up probably more arbitrarily than it should. And he starts to get more jittery in the pocket even when he is solid in the pocket. And that affects everything about the timing.

So he's got to kind of get that back or they've got to get him outside the pocket. a little bit more by design just to let him settle down so that he can make, like you say, those eye-popping plays we were used to seeing. Talking with Coach Brian Billick and coach the OC Bobby Sloick, he's getting a ton of criticism this year when it comes to the Texans' offense. They've been great scoring in the first half with the second half of games. The offense just has bogged down. Six times this year they have failed to score a second half touchdown.

As a former play caller yourself, what's the reason for that? Is it getting too conservative because you've got a lead? is it the other defense making halftime adjustments? What have you seen? What would cause the offense to bog down the second half like it has this year? Well, it's the flow of the game as much as anything. And if you are struggling in an area, you go over the course of the entire game. It's going to show up.

You can maybe hide it or the flow of the game allows you to hide it in the first couple series or even in a first half. If you've got a couple nice series, you've got a nice rhythm, maybe your defense is playing well. and just a natural flow of the game. But when you've got to go to an entire 60 minutes, then those flaws are going to show up at some point. It's just like the quarterback that on a 25-throw game,

he can be spectacular, but what does he do on a 45-throw game when he has to really put the game on his shoulders? And that may be the case, but by the time you get into the second half, now some of the inequities you have or some of the issues have are definitely going to show up at some point. Yeah, it is a challenge. I don't know that it's a difference in play-palling or the approach that you're taking or your lack of adjustments.

I don't know that that's the case as much as it is. The true personality, your team is going to come out via the whole course of the game, particularly in the second half. D'Bico's been pretty a loyal guy, right? He brought Sloak with him over from San Fran, and he believes in him. And everything last year was awesome. We were praying that Sloak wouldn't get a head coaching job, and we could keep him here. And they were able to keep him. But at what point does it get bad enough you would consider making an in-season change?

And I bring that up because some people really believe in Gerard Johnson, who's the quarterback's coach. They think he's an up-and-comer as a play caller. Is that something you ever had to do in your career, fire and assistant in season? Yeah, yeah. And that's a tough. It's a tough one. And basically it comes down to what does your team think? Because the players know.

And the players have a sense of whether they believe in what they're doing. They're just fighting through the tough ones. you know, do they take on responsibility, you know, and at the end of the day, it's us guys. It's how we're playing. Or are there question marks? And you as a head coach can recognize that. It's really about how the,

it's kind of like you're starting quarterback. Did the play other players really believe in him? Or do you need to make a change there? Not that you need to make a change for C.J. Stroud. Talking about other situations, but that are questioning, well, do I make the change at the quarterback? It's the same way. How is the team responding to it?

What do they really see? And typically making that kind of change doesn't make a difference because it really isn't that. It's not necessarily the play calling. It's the players and how they're executing. But if you feel like a change would energize the players and give them something to hang their hat on, well, then that's something you have to consider as a head coach. Before we get to talking about X-TAC pads and a second coach, a final question. We're very curious about your perspective about how often you change your mind.

about who's going to represent each of the conferences. I'm all in Detroit over and over again, and then I watch Philadelphia dominate. Sequin Barclay was great against the Rams this past weekend. I think Detroit, Philadelphia, are headed for a collision course. As you mentioned, you could see the Texans being in that mix with Buffalo and Baltimore,

the way they played against the Chargers on Monday night, of course, Kansas City. If I was to hold your feet to the fire right now, who will be playing in New Orleans on the final Sunday of the season at this point? Well, in the NFC, you're right. It's those top two teams and they're playing consistent

they're playing physical, they have confidence and they have good teams like Minnesota that are close in record but right now the cream of the crop is Philadelphia and Detroit. In the AFC like I said it's to me it's a wide open deal they're all touching like I said I can make a case

for each of them to go and then also talk about the inadequacies Kansas City because the pedigree even though they're winning on very tight margins now they have that sense of destiny. They have that sense of confidence that they're never out of it. So clearly if you had to pick

right now, I don't know how you don't pick the pedigree of Kansas City. But by the same token, Baltimore at times has shown to be an absolute dominant team. I think Buffalo's a team that's a little under the radar sitting there at 9 and 2. It's hard to imagine that. But the way they're playing, the way Josh Allen's

playing right now, you know, they're a spectacular team. So those three teams right now, even though you'd have to lean towards Kansas City, because of the pedigree, I think Kansas City, Buffalo, and Baltimore, clearly are the ones that have shown on a most consistent basis to be the best team. Fitzburg, the defense is outstanding, but the offense is a little questionable for me to think that they're going to crack

and go all the way through the playoffs against, and having played through a Josh Allen, a Patrick Mahomes, and or Lamar Jackson to get to the Super Bowl. All right, before I let you run, Coach, we've got a lot of dads that are coaching youth football involved in football, and safety. We're always trying to make the sport as successful and popular and as safe as it can be. I know you've got a product you want to tell the folks

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need to go on to XTechpads.com. Check it out. Get the 20% discount between now and Monday. we get the players in the right paths. X-Techpads.com's a website. Last question, coach, Dion Sanders. Best for him if you were giving him advice, stay in the college ranks, or take a flyer on maybe becoming an NFL head coach in the not too distant future.

Well, Deion, he's doing a spectacular job. I knew he'd be a great coach. He's great for the college game, and I hope he stays there because of that because he's great for the players. He's great for the energy of the game. But if I'm, if I'm making a B-Law. line to the NFL because the college game right now scares me.

The NIL, the portal. You can see that's why so many coaches are getting out. Although he loves working with the players, and I respect that for him long term, I'd head for the hills. Coach Billick, it's always a pleasure to have you on this radio station. Thank you very much for the time, and best luck with X Tech Pads. Sounds great. Thank you. You got it, Brian Billick, with us here on Sports Talk 790.

I love perspective of guys that have been on the field doing it, and Brian has been a fantastic broadcaster and always good to get his insights.