The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Jets Take Down Texans, Playcalling Is An Issue, O-Line Gives Up Sack After Sack

Episode Date: November 1, 2024

Ross Villarreal of "The Matt Thomas Show with Ross," alongside Stan Norfleet of "Next Up" and Adam Clanton of "The A-Team," break down the New York Jets defeating the Houston Texans 21-13 on Thursday Night Football at MetLife Stadium. C.J. Stroud was sacked eight times and completed a career-worst 37% of his passes for 191 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in the Texans' third loss of the season. Ross, Stan and Adam discuss the disappointing playcalling from offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, react to breaking news that left guard Kenyon Green is out with a dislocated left shoulder, recap the Rockets defeating the Dallas Mavericks on the road and more on this "Anything Goes Friday."

Launch timers. This is the Matt Thomas show. 12-1 in H-Town. Gangstrippers! And welcome into a Friday edition of the Matt Thomas show with Ross. As it came out of your mouth. Tell me how she was... Does she...

Yeah, clip that. Now, we know you like it hard. Can I say semi fart? So he had to go work somewhere. You didn't just say I'm in the family business? Yeah, he's like, I'm going there to do suction and don't care. Sometimes she lets me touch her. I got a lot of ass to chew today.

Long battle with multiple sclerosis. Oh, Kansas State alum as well. No way. Oh, my God. You seriously got me on that. That's terrible. Damn. You lied and I bought into it.

I'm sorry. We like to have a lot of fun on this show. It is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. And I dare I say, the best Friday show open in the business. Shout out to Connor McGovern for putting that together every single week. During this time slot, I concur. I did what I could. I don't have the Matt Thomas PA pipes with the Good Morning strippers.

It was a valiant effort. Thank you, I appreciate it. You put up a better effort than the Texans guards last night. Well, we will get to that. Stan Northfleet. Thank you for hanging out. Matt Thomas is out. It is the Matt Thomas show with.

Ross without Matt Thomas. He is doing his ring dunking with his son, who is at Texas A&M. Are you aware of the ring of dunking a tradition? I know they have a thing with their rings. It's supposed to mean something. Well, the Aggies are obsessed with their rings. They get them from Jawstons and it's

something that they're really into. So what is the dunking component? Yes. So when they get their ring, it is tradition. I don't know when this tradition started. You put the ring in the bottom of a beer pitcher full of beer and then you chug the pitcher. This is my understanding. if Aggie wants to correct me, this is my understanding.

And so when you get to the bottom of the picture, you time it, and then you get the bottom of the pitcher, yeah, and you get your ring. And then you've officially earned your Aggie ring. So why not just put the ring on and drink the beer? Because it's, I don't know, it's something. Look, this is the thing. All these college traditions that we talk about and how dumb some of them are. Like, for example, Texas is against OU is, hey, oh, you sucks.

It's 12.05 and OU sucks. Yeah, these are not super creative because 19 and 20-year-old drunkards came. up with them. So among the Aggie traditions, which like bearing their dogs near the stadium is weird, can't touch the grass, weird, dog barks in class, class is over, weird. If a dog barks in class,

the Aggie. The, the, uh, what's her name? Revely. Uh, yeah. Among those traditions, which some of them are weirder than others, this is actually like makes sense. It's just like a bunch of broskeys are getting around and chugging beer. However, Matt's son does

not drink. So what is he He's going to do sweet. He's going to do sweet tea, I believe. Oh, this is absurd. I don't know. You've got to talk to Peyton. At least do non-alcoholic. Hey, talk to Peyton. I love Peyton. I like Peyton way more than I like Matt. So that's where Matt is now. They bring the, I went to one for one of my high school friends.

When I was in college at UT, I went to college station because one of our friends, it's like a big deal for them. They're getting their ring done. We had a cat party. And this is you graduated ring. Yes. Okay. I don't know if this has something to do with like the academy. It's a whole thing.

Yeah. The priest blesses the ring. No, just kidding. I'm just kidding. I was like, wait a bit, beer and priests. Okay. Okay, so that's what Matt is doing. So he is out.

Stan is hanging out. We'll have Adam Clanton hanging out. I will be solo for hour number two. We're doing a Neapolitan edition of the program. You can get into the phone lines at 713-212-790. 7-1-3-2-5-7-90. So, Stan, I wanted to bring the people up with the regular Friday open. Now, unfortunately, we have to do it.

If there were any other day than Friday, we would have brought you down. and started the show this way. Give it to Mixin. Goes in for the touchdown. Second and 12. Rogers under pressure. He's one-handed caught. Wilson, touchdown.

This is what Garrett Wilson could do. It's one-handed grab. Pretty tight coverage. A risky effort by Petrie. He clearly goes for the football. And that's either going to make a play or you're going to give up a touchdown. Four man rush.

Rogers to the end zone. And Wilson, any one head to then stay in bounds. They say he was out. Out. Lasseter, covering on the plate. The knee, if it came down, he has to. Oh, what a catch.

Waiting for that other foot, this doesn't get down. The knee is close. That's what the crowd is reacting to. What a grab, the wonderful. hand in that oh my gosh ridiculous catch extra pressure going deep

here's his man has Adams touchdown we've got the bad cats down and out in New York City well more like the metal lands of New Jersey

East Rutherford MetLife Stadium the worst turf Stan North Fleet 21 to 13 The New York Jets Defeat the Houston Texans They were jetsing so hard

They tried to hand you that game They are They are dropping the ball Before they go into the goal line They are committing roughing the punters On 4th and 21 They are committing Ruffing the Snappers

Which I don't think I've ever seen before. You get a knee to the face man. Poor John Weeks is over there. He's over there. I didn't know he was in UFC 309 over there. John Weeks. The Jets tried to hand you this game

over and over again and the Texans would not take it. They could not protect CJ Stroud. They were committing penalties. They were giving up pressures and sacks like crazy. And then

they're going, did Bobby Sloick explain why you want to go with C.J. Stroud, who can hardly walk singled up with a pass from Joe Mixing? That's no time to get cute. On second and seven down in the red area. This is what they called. What happened last night? What was, it was a Halloween, spooky, was there a magic spell? What, what was that last night? So part of the reason that I chose the judge. Jets. I said the Jets would win 2220. I said Aaron Rogers would do something late with the

football and give his team the chance to win the game. This was bad matchup, bad timing because of the short week, and then of course the injuries are part of the store. Now, I read something that

this was from who had this. This is from CJ. Nico is definitely a chunk of what we do, and of course, Steph as well. But at the same time, if things, even if they were out there, it wouldn't have helped. CJ is saying last night wasn't about missing Steph, and it wasn't about missing Nico. I totally agree with him. This is about that matchup. This offensive line is so porous. They are an absolute sieve, and they have worn down C.J. Stroud. And

they've reunited Aaron Rogers and once Aaron Rogers got in the groove it's just hard to stop him and those weapons. That's a very talented Rochester in New York. I think we poopoaded and some people did because of the record. But if you and Gordon out we went through the names

and then they had what three, four, I think they had five starters out of their 22. Yes they did. Like the coaching wasn't great the player, the the execution wasn't great.

CJ is flinching. Gordy's got him rolling out into a pass rush. It's just... And he's not been accurate. Even in some clean pockets. He was missing some throws last night. And that's something that's kind of cropped up in the last couple of weeks that we didn't really see

all of last year. And that is something I'm concerned about. Through nine games. Got this graphic from Sports Center. 11 and 4, touchdown the interception ratio, C.J. Stride. Last year was 15. and two. Yards per dropback, last year was up

1.4 yards per drop back. Sacks, 19 through 9 games last year, 30 through 9 games this year. 30 through 9 games. You don't know I say they play 8, they play 17 games. Yes. So he's approaching 60 sacks. Call it 55.

He's coming for you, David, Carr. He's coming for the record. 55 sacks. That's not just pressures. All right. All right. So we do have to take a break here. We are a little pressed on time because we went to two different show opens because that's how we roll on. And anything goes Friday on the Matt Thomas show with Ross but without Matt Thomas. Stan North Fleet is here. I am here. Ross via Regal. Any angle you want to get to. We got so much to cover with that game.

It was a 21 to 13 game. That sounds pretty mundane. But no, there's a ton of stuff to get to your thoughts. When I say to you, Texans lose in New York. They're six and three. And coming up next is the Detroit. Royt Lions on Sunday night football. How you feeling? 713, 212, 5790. 713, 212, 5790. A million angles to cover on this one. Don't go anywhere.

More, Matt Thomas. Now, on Sports Talk 790. 19 in the PM. Here on Sports Talk 790. It's the Matt Thomas show without Matt Thomas with Ross. V. Reel stand North Fleet with you. Phone lines open at 713.

212-790 7-13-212-5-790 as I mentioned a lot of things to get to with that game 21 to 13 the Texans lose to the Jets last night let's start here Stan why did Kenyon Green continue to start games as this season went along and it was very clear that he was not up to the task I was going to say something. I have one theory. So quite frankly, the coach, and D'Amico is a great dude. And D'Amico preaches positivity. And D'emico is, you know, we're a family, and I don't just give up on your time. Never throw anyone in the bus.

Yeah. So I think it was belief in what he wanted to see versus what he was seeing. It made no sense to start Kendrick Green. I mean to start Kenyon Green. Nick Casario should have asked, D'Amico, please don't do this. Because now look at the scenario. Josina Anderson reported that for weeks now,

Kenyon Green has been on the trade block. Yes. With one team in the NFC East in particular. Yes. Very interesting. She says for a couple weeks. So let me get this straight. You're going to put Kenyon Green out there on a short week

versus Quinn and Williams and Javon Kim. law. Yes. And now that he's hurt, not only can he not play, but now he's damaged goods and you can no longer trade him. He shouldn't have played. They should have pulled him. Do not play him. And that's where my theory comes in. Who drafted Kenyon Green in the first round? How do GMs feel about their first round picks? You have to hit on your ones. So if a GM who believes in a first round pick, would he not push for his guy to get every single benefit of the doubt

and refuse to trade him away? Well. Now, I don't know that. I'm just thinking. Josina reports that there have been conversations. So clearly Nick is comfortable having the conversation behind closed doors. The other thing that I would say that I don't necessarily buy into the theory Nick has control over draft

and free agency. Right. And then DeMico has, what is it? Com Blanche over who plays and who doesn't. Actually who takes the field. So I lean more, Damico, what are you seeing in Kenyon Green? This team has been one of the most penalizing

the offensive line, allowing some of the most pressures, the most sacked. There was no evidence that D'Mecke, can point to that says this is offensive line. This combination of five is the best five he should go out there with. And he always

goes in front of the medians like, hey, we need to focus on the good reps from Kenyon Green. And to an extent, there's no NFL lineman that gets beat every single snap. Because otherwise he's a professional. He gets sacked 30 times. Yes. And that doesn't happen.

Some good play. Right. He does. But the bad far outweighs, like going into, last night. Shaq Mason and Kenyon Green have both given up the same amount of sacks. Five. Yeah. We just don't talk about Shaq. Yeah, but I think Shaq is more consistent.

I think he can have the bad plays as well. I thought he did a good job last week. I mean, going up against Grover Stewart and DeForest Buckner, I mean, that's about as tough as it's going to get. While they were giving up some pressures and Shaq was,

I thought, for the most part, I feel like in tough matchups, Shaq Mason can hold his own, he will get beat, but he can hold his own. And I feel like the opposite, I feel like Kenyon Green will get beat way more than he will hold his own. I think it's Kenyon and juice. Yeah, juices. I think

it's both of those guys together. Now, Laramette Tunzel and Titus last night. I had something in here about Timmy Tunsel was getting beat, yeah. What did I see? I saw a nugget somewhere. I believe it was out of the Chronicle. Let's see if I can get to that here real quick. Here we

go. Here we go. Houston had just two sacks, none in the second half. Okay. Okay, that was their defense. Da-da-da-da-da. Okay, so that's not what I want. Oh, here it is. Okay. Regardless if Kenyon or Kendrick Green were at left guard. Kendrick Green

Dang it. Kenyon Green He allowed a sack and three pressures prior to leaving the game due to the injury. Kendrick Green comes in. They go 14 plays, not it y'all has touchdown. But Kendrick Green leaves the game giving up six pressures and a sack in his own right.

So even the back up. Yeah. I saw something else. Titus Howard. Titus Howard, there was a sack and a half attributed to him. The Jets had eight sacks divided up amongst, I believe it was six dudes. So it was enough for everybody. Everybody was eaten by the Jets there.

But six players had at least half a sack for the Jets. So we know what the problem is? What's the solution? How does this get better? How do we go forward? Thank goodness Aidan Hutchinson is no longer on the Lions because you don't want to say good on injuries, but you know what I'm saying?

Thankfully the Texans don't have to face him and that defense front seven isn't as fierce for the Detroit Lions with him gone. They're still good. They're still really good. But I'm not even thinking about them necessarily. It's like when you get into the playoffs and like you want to face Chris Jones

and the Chiefs and George Carloff this and what they have over there. Melibke and Baltimore, we're Oway and those guys coming off the edge calvin. So, like, here are the options that I think are on the table when they're meeting as a group over at NRG today. Okay. Clearly, you can't trade Kenyon right now.

Are we going to put Patterson when he can clear his Cushing Protocol? Are we going to put him in at the left guard? Or do we put Patterson at Center and move Juke's the left guard? Do we start Kendrick Green? At left guard. It's got to be something. Do we move Titus Howard from right tackle to left guard? And Blake Fisher manned the right tackle spot.

And Cacereo's got to ask himself, what draft assets do I have to go make a trade for a guard? And is that a trade for this year? Is that a sign, like trade and then sign that person to a deal? What does that look like? Who is that person? Yeah, I don't know exactly who. who the guards are going to be available on the trade market. Andrews Pete is out there.

Nate Davis in Chicago. Andrews Pete, how old is he now? He's not that old. Okay, really? I don't think he's that old. Andrew Pete's probably 30, 29. Okay, yeah, he's 30. All right.

It feels like he's been around forever, but okay, I like Andrews Pete. Has been inconsistent. Former first rounder, has been nicked up. Three-time pro bowler. He was with the Saints, and then I think he wound up in Denver or somewhere. With the Raiders, right? Okay, Raiders, yes. Raiders don't have it.

anything going on? Andrews Pete, Ben Davis in Chicago, Nate Davis, excuse me, in Chicago, is someone that has come up. There's a guy that plays for the Carolina Pan. There are guards out there that have been thought to be on the move. What is it going to cost you? Do they even jail with what Sloick wants to do? I don't know. All right. Speaking of Bobby Slick, we've got to get to a break here. We do have to have a conversation about him. How are you feeling about Bobby Sloick and his play calling and his job? He's doing as an offensive coordinator for the Houston Texans.

Last year, got to keep Bobby Sloke. He is getting interviewed by the Falcons. No, please don't go. Stay, Bobby, stay. Now this year, everybody hates Bobby Sloick. What do you think? 713-212-5-790. 7-13-212-5-7-90.

I will answer that question. Stan will as well. When we come back here on the Matt Thomas show without Matt Thomas with Ross. Back here on the Matt Thomas show. without Matt Thomas with Ross. Matt is out. He is in College Station for his son's ring dunking. Congratulations to Peyton Thomas for getting that done. Congratulations.

We got stuff to talk about here. And you actually shook me to my core, Stan, because we were talking about possible playoff matchups for the Texans. And I'm like, let's see. Because they're going to make the playoffs. They're going to make the playoffs. They're going to win a division. As a division winner, you will host a game.

So like right now, I think. I just looked at it. They've dropped overnight from the two seed to the four seed. Okay. So the four seed would host the five seed. Let's see. Let's just have some fun with it. If I something like I could find. The Denver Broncos right now looking like

the five seed. If the Broncos were the five coming to NRG this Sunday, I want to believe most people would pick the Texans over the Broncos in a playoff game. I would pick the Texans. All right.

Then at that point, it becomes, you know, however, everything else plays out. Oh, Steelers are the champ right now. Steelers will be the TLC, yeah. So, Kansas, one, Pittsburgh, two, Buffalo three,

Texans at four. Chargers? Oh. Broncos, five, Ravens, six, Chargers, seven. Of course, this will change after the games on Sunday. But, like,

this is why I'm not complete, it's the same thing. It's like the Astros conversation all over again. My foot is not off the bandwagon. No. I've got one leg firmly planted

for very different reasons. But it doesn't look good right now. And will CJ make it to that point? I'll tell you where I am. I came into the season thinking they were going to make a step forward and I'm now at the point where I say they're what they were last year. A good, not great team.

I used the term last night on social media for the Texans and specifically CJ that I hadn't used all year. first time I used it last night. The word was regressed. I don't think they've regressed. I do. I absolutely do. Because I think, especially if they're fully healthy, I think they're better than them.

The offensive line, this is the five they want. This is the five they drafted and paid. I threw this number out during our show. The Texans have $131 million in guaranteed money, currently on the books to the five offensive linemen that started last night. I think the offense. Second most in the league. I think with Kenyon Green out, they're going to be better up front.

I think you have Joe Mixing this year. You didn't have him last year. I think you're better on that side as well. You have a better runner. Dalton Shultz has regressed. Yeah. Up until last night, Tankdale has regressed. Yeah, but he looked great last night.

He looked good last night. You're going to get Nico Collins back. You're not winning games with Tankdale having the night he had last night. I think they're about where they were last year. 10 and 7, divisional round. That's what it's... Oh, you're saying overall. Yeah.

So I had them at 10 to 7 coming into the season anyway. Yeah, I think I had 11 and 6. In fact, when the schedule comes out, like, they're on pace to what I thought it would be. On paper, when the schedule came out, and I looked at it, I said, okay, that's a loss at the Jets in week 9. The only thing that's different, I had the Texas beat Minnesota at Minnesota in week three. I didn't see that coming. 34 to 7? What was the final?

They got banged by 27. Yeah, whatever it was. Okay. So a thing that is a constant from last year is Bobby Sloick. Man, this dude. Go ahead. Joe Mixing doesn't touch the ball the first six plays to start the game. Unbelievable.

Joe Mixing doesn't touch the ball the remaining two minutes and 48 seconds in the game when you're down two scores. And Gordon and I have a difference in philosophy. You still have timeouts. You still have the two-minute warning. You still have the sideline. you still can clock the ball. You need Joe Mixing to put your field goal kick in better position. Like Joe Mixing can still score.

He's your best offensive player. He also should never be throwing the ball to C.J. Stroud. What the hell was that? What on one on DJ Reed? Second and seven down in the red area and you're doing what? Now, I don't think, I like Bobby Sloica still. And I like a lot of the play designs. I like the run designs.

And I think that, I mean, there were open gaping holes for Joe Mixing that. game, but I think we all expected him to run the ball 30 plus times. He ran it 24 times in that game. Seven of those 24 were in the second half. Seven? You let a half a football go by where your

best offensive player touched the ball seven times or had seven carries. Really? And he didn't touch it down the stretch when you needed yardage and points. Bobby Sloick has moments. I remember saying this in the press box last year for the

Denver, I'm sorry, the Cleveland Browns game. I said, oh, Bobby Sloak is in his bag today. Yes. How many times have we said that this year? A few. Week one up and indie, that looked good. That was the best. Like early on in the season, they ran a couple endarounds with Stefan Diggs,

and then they did, so they put that on tape, and then later on a few weeks later, they would fake the end around, and so it would be wide open for Joe Mixing to go off tackle, stuff like. I think he's a smart guy. I think he has good play designs. I just think situationalally, sometimes he tries to be too cute, like we talked about, with this. CJ Stroud can hardly walk. If C.J. Shroud is going down multiple times on the turf, and look, it's fun.

You've got this red zone play, and you've been practicing it for however long. And you look, I can't wait to get this one out. Look, everybody's going to think how smart I am. Put it in your back pocket when your quarterback number seven is getting crushed and can hardly walk. How can you call that play the way that he saw him walking around in that game? He was the only receiver over there. He didn't even give him an opportunity to fake like somebody else was going on. This was me when that play was happening.

No, they're not. No. Are they going to do it? Are they going to- They did it? Why would they do that? I didn't have an issue with the formation. Yes.

I had an issue with Joe. By the way, Joe Mixing has actually thrown for a touchdown. I do believe that was in the Super Bowl. when he was in Cincinnati. But I was like, Joe, don't you throw that? Joe, you're throwing. On second and seven. Yes.

With Joe Mixing in my backfield. And Joe mixing at the time, what did he have last night? Four point something per? What did Joe have? The end of four and a half, I think. 4.4, I think. Mixing was doing 4.4. I'm giving the ball to Joe mixing.

I have three words for that. Time and place. That was not the time. That was not the place. But that's what play calling is. Yes. So look at what, look at the difference in what, The play caller in New York did versus the Texans.

Play call in New York, Aaron Rogers is getting the bejeezes knocked out of him. De Nico Archery sacked them twice in the first half. Aaron Rogers has the worst half of football in the history of his career. They come out, heavy dose of breeze home, and Aaron Rogers starts getting the ball out of his hands in 2.22 seconds, according to next-gen stats. Bobby Sloak has seven, what is it, seven second half touchdowns in the last eight games or something like that. That's bad. That's bad.

Touchdowns. They got outscored 21 to 6 in the second half. Royce Southside. Your thoughts on Bobby Sloak. Not very good. Does the playbook seem like it's missing some things? draw plays, screenplays. I don't see any of that kind of action going on.

They do run the end-round reverses. This is not a great screen team. I think he doesn't have the confidence in the screen. They ran a few against Green Bay. The timing is not right. CJ can get the ball out there, but then like the linemen and the receivers and like the pathway on the screen to get down the field

after you catch the ball. They don't have a lot of confidence in that. They don't have a lot of confidence in that. They don't have, yeah, Titus Howard or Shack on the right side. Yeah, getting in space. Also, Bobby Sloat. I mean, this is a dude that's, what was it? Was it third and two versus the Colts?

And this man ran out of the shotgun, some toast to Joe Mixing. This is a man in Green Bay that ran hurry up to the line of scrimmage to run Daria Goumahle up in the A-GAPs. This is the stuff Bobby Sloane is doing. And this is what Royce is talking about. Go ahead, Royce. So do you think CJ is going to actually make it to the end of the season after last night's performance? They act like, because let's be clear. And Ross, I'm sorry if I'm talking too much on your show.

Everything that happened last night, we've seen it the previous multiple weeks. Certainly the previous too. So last night didn't shock me. CJ getting hit like that. It's there if you want to look at it. is CJ going to finish the season? Not like last night. Because they're going to have

Michael Parsons is going to look at that take. What's he going to do? You mentioned Buffalo, I mean Baltimore. You mentioned Kansas City. There are other defenders here. PJ Watt, Cam Hayward, Pittsburgh Steelers. If the Ravens win that division

and the Steelers have to come to town, I'm scared. I'm very scared. Do you think Bobby Sloak is offensive coordinator for the Texans in 25. I will say, I'll put it this way. I don't think he gets fired. No. So I will say he's either hired away. He's not getting a job.

He might. If you're an owner right now, you're hiring Bobby Sloat. He was one of the hottest names of the planet last year. And now he's not. And of course he's not. Because here's what owners are going to look at. Wait a minute. You got more groceries this year, but the meal looks and tastes worse.

Is there more grocery? This team is healthy. Yeah, they're not healthy. Stephon Dix's ACL. Nico Collins wasn't there. Listen to what I'm saying. Steph just went down.

Right. Healthy, this is a top five, maybe seven roster in the league. And their offensive scoring has been average all year. Yeah, and also because they've had issues

with the offensive line. Kenyon Green keeps. That's under his watch. It's Bobby Sloak's fault. Kenyon Green keeps going out there and blowing blocks? Bobby Sloak is the office. Offensive coordinator. He is responsible.

That's how football works. I don't know if that's how football works. He's the one. Okay, you can make him responsible, but it's not his fault. It's his fault. Kenyon Green is getting trucked by Quinn and Williams. That's his fault? When Domingo and Bobby sit down at the conference room table and D'Amico asked Bobby, all right, walk me through what you're thinking. Hey, I really want to run this play with Joe.

Okay, D'Amico's going to ask him, who's in the game? I can't run this with Kenyon in the game. We've got to take Kenya out for me to do this. You can't. You have to. Like the way that Domeico Ryan's has the belief in Kenyon Green, unfortunately Bobby Slovak has had that same belief. You can't draw plays up saying we're going to have a complete sinkhole in left guard.

I mean, you could try, but it's going to throw off your game plan. It's going to throw off the whole, it's going to throw off everything. I refuse to believe. Like, I only going to run to the right team. That's going to be on tape. And teams are going to see that. So, I mean, I refuse to believe Bobby and the brain trusts over their coaches, sit down and come up schematically and say,

we're going to put the quarterback in the team in the best possible position. with Kenyon Green and juice scrugs blocking like that. I don't believe that. Okay. So I believe there were other recommendations and Domingo vetoed them. Okay. Why he vetoed them? I don't know.

I don't know either. But I know ultimately D'Miko is held responsible for the production and performance of the 48 men or the 22 that go out there to play at a time. Well, I think Kenyon Green is going to be out. We'll see. And I think that will make the Texans offensive line better. Okay, we are late for a break here on Sports Talk 790. It is the Matt Thomas show without Matt Thomas with Ross and with Stan Northfleet hanging out. You want to get in 713-212-5-790.

7-13-212-5-7-90. Much to continue to discuss on the Texans and the Jets last night. And we'll do it after the short break. Back to the Matt Thomas show on Sports Talk 790. For the corner. Home of your Astros. It's back. Welcome back.

To what is this? This is the Matt Thomas show without Matt Thomas with Ross. Fleece is hanging out. Stan Norfleet hanging out. Appreciate you for that on a post-Texans loss. Look, I guess maybe I shouldn't be as angry as I am because I predicted 19 to 16 jets. I thought it was going to be low scoring. You're missing all the pieces. You're giving up so many pressures. Quentin Williams versus Kenyon Green. We talked about that yesterday. Well, you are one of the people trying to tell me Aaron Rogers is washed. I got that on my phone lines. Aaron Rogers doesn't have anything left.

Those receivers hadn't done a damn thing. Well, you were right in the first half. How about now? I think he is still, he's not anywhere close. Obviously not anywhere close to where he was. The question is, where would you put him in a pecking order of quarterbacks in this league? I wouldn't even do that for me. And I know where you're going and I'll follow you there.

For me, it's real simple. Aaron Rogers is good. enough to beat the Texans last night. Yes, he was. And that was also, I mean, Gareth, some things, now a lot of things went to Texans' way, which we talked about. You got the roughing the punter. You got the ruffing the snapper.

You got the Malachi Corley drops the ball. That was the only turnover you forced in that game. Oh, you technically on the stat line, it goes down as a forced turnover. But he dropped the ball. You forced zero turnover. So you should be down seven zip. Yes. So that game could have gone even much worse, but you did the things that went against you were the Kimey Fairbairn?

Miss two. Miss two. That definitely hurt. And Garrett Wilson, I mean, that's one of the all-time great catches. I mean, that was insane. He went full Michael Jordan jump in. Or do you remember when Marshawn Lynch jumped in the end zone? Grabbed his genitalia?

Yes. That's what he, like, he went. full Michael Jordan jump. That was incredible catch. It wasn't as being compared because it's New York. The Garrett Wilson catch is being compared to Odell Beckham Jr. Even Garrett Wilson said and I agree,

Odell came down with two feet and the ball was going to land out of bounds. It was a better catch. Garrett kind of high pointed it whereas Odell was falling down. It's a great catch. No question. Absolutely. It took a special catch.

The defense was great in the first half. run in the second half. Will Anderson Jr. changed how they had coverage. When you're able to get pressure with Will Anderson Jr. and DeNico Archerie and Daniel Hunter, Tim Settle has been really good. Yes, he has.

Edward Jr.'s absence. When you can't get pressure with four, and now you have to add a fifth or a sixth rusher, sometimes a seventh rusher, you leave guys back there in compromised situations, meaning man coverage or you've got a single high safety, a rookie in Kalin Bullock.

Smartly, Aaron Rogers and whoever else calling the plays over there, they motioned and by formation put the Texans at a disadvantage. And the disadvantage was they caught Jalen Petrie playing not as a nickel defender, but playing as a nickel corner. Two different things. I know we say nickel. Whether you're nickel, star, or the money position, They're kind of doing some different things based on the defense.

Point being is Will Anderson not being there. D'Amico must dial up more pressure, leaves those guys on the island versus a pretty good cast of characters at receiver and running back. They got beat. Yeah, Will Anderson's really been coming on, unfortunately that he had to go out in that one. All right. What is it with him in his ankles? It's always his ankles.

Let's tape him up a little better. I don't know. Maybe he's got weak. Maybe he's got Steph Curry. I was going to say hanging out with stuff? I don't know. Both men of the faith? Maybe.

I don't know. Jacob on the north side. What's up? Hey guys, thanks for taking my call. I was kind of surprised today to hear so many people shocked in the performances yesterday. I don't think there's been a single game, and maybe I'm mistaken, but I don't think there's been a single game all season long where we've had our full complement of offensive weapons. I mean, at minimum, even game one of the season, I believe Damien Pierce, yeah, he's a running back two,

but he was out in game one, if I'm not mistaken. No, Pierce got three carries. He averaged five yards of carry week one at the Colts. Did he get hurt in that game or no? Uh-uh. He just didn't get a ton of carrots because everything was going to Joe Mixing. Okay. So Joe Mixing had the 30 carries for 159. Nico had over 100 yards receiving and Steph Diggs had those two reds on touchdowns.

So week one, to your point, that's the most we've seen of everybody at one time healthy. Right, right, right. So we've seen signs over the rest of the season of deficiencies. And the offensive line, I mean, they're not much different than they were last year. It's basically the same personnel. And it wasn't great last year. So I don't know why anybody would expect that it was going to be any different this year. And it's getting progressively worse as the season moves on.

You know, we had a glimpse of hope when Patterson came in for the one series before he was concussed. But Kenyon Green is a turnstile. And I don't think his future is going to be very bright with the Texans. But to your point earlier in the previous segment about Sloick and should he or should he not be fired or whatever, I just, it's kind of hard to put it all on him when he's not the guy making the hires, right? He's not the guy bringing in the talent. He's managing what he has. And he's got a lot of hurt players and an offensive line made up of, you know, six and seventh round draft picks.

I'm sorry. My bad, Jacob. You're writing what you said, Ross, a bit of breaking news. Uh-oh. Can we get a breaking news sound? Okay, so, you know, the Matt Thomas system is one through five as nuclear war. One is fairly innocuous. How many are you calling for here, Sam?

It's both one and five. One and five? That doesn't make sense. It will. This is 36 seconds ago, according to our Texans insider at 790, Aaron Wilson. Oh, boy. From this morning, Texans Guard, Kenyon Green, suffered a dislocated left shoulder per league sources. I would not presume, my words, not Aaron, that we will not see Kenyon Green versus the Detroit Lions a week from this.

Sunday for about a red day Sunday night football in front of the nation. This location. Now, what I would like to see, and I imagine that Aaron is doing his due diligence there, Kenyon Green missed all of last year because of the shoulder. You remember Nick Casario famously saying

it was a matter of if not when the shoulder came out. Is this the same shoulder? I don't know. Is this the surgically repaired shoulder? I mean, a quick Google search. So it's the left shoulder now. What shoulder? Kenyon Green

surgery. Well, we'll let you search that, but we do have to get to a top of the hour. You can get out of here anyways. Thanks for hanging out, Stan. Yeah, for sure, bro. Went by quick. Appreciate it. All right.

So I'm going to be flying solo in the second hour, which means I need a co-host. It can be you if you want to get in for a couple of minutes on the phone lines. If you'd like, coming up at 2 o'clock, it will be Adam Clanton as well. We're talking Texans and New York Jets. How are we feeling about Bobby Sloick and the Texans' offense? Kenyon Green, dislocated shoulder. Now probably going to be out. Does that fix all their offensive line problems?

I don't think so, but we can talk about it. 713-212-790. The phone number 7-13-212-5-790. Our number two of the Matt Thomas show without Matt Thomas with Ross coming up next. Launch timers. This is the Matt Thomas show. 1.02 p.m. here on Sports Talk 7. Ross Viery out with you

here on the Matt Thomas show without Matt Thomas with Ross. That is me. 713-212-5-790 is the phone number if you'd like to get in. 7-13-212-5-7-90. Thanks to stand North Fleet for hanging out. Adam Clanton will come in around 2 o'clock

unless he's going to be late and he's going to blame traffic or make up some sort of lame excuse. I don't know he's washing his Halloween costume. Who knows what he's going to be up to. But we'll figure out what's going on when he gets here. But in the meantime, you can get in at the phone lines at 713-212-5-790. So we mentioned in the last segment, Kenyon Green, injured reserve with a shoulder injury, Ian Rappaport, providing some clarity in the last few minutes, at least, on Twitter.

There is, at least, he says, a chance of a late, late return, depending on how rehab goes and where the Texan season stands. So out indefinitely and possibly for the season for Kenyon Green. And I don't want to celebrate injuries. I'm not happy that Kenyon Green got hurt. And I wanted him to do better and go out there. And as Damico Ryan said, there were some reps that he was winning and he was looking good sometimes. But far too often, he was getting pushed around.

And you knew coming into the game that if you were going up against one of the best, best de-tackles in football on the other side that they were going to get the better of Kenyon Green over and over and over again. We saw it with the Colts and Grover Stewart and DeForest Buckner, depending on who was lined up on them, as far as those matchups and losing those. And we talked about it as well with this matchup of Quinn and Williams. Now, look, sometimes you do have to tip your cap to the other guys. Quinny Williams is a freak of nature.

That dude is super good. He's strong, fast, good detackle. he's going to beat up a lot of guards in the NFL. But you know coming in when it's Kenyon Green that it is just going to be a long night and he is going to lose much more often as far as the reps than other guards out there. And do you have a better chance with Kendrick Green? I'm not exactly sure. We'll see what happens because Stan went through the stats.

It was like something like six pressures in a sack or something not like that allowed by Kendrick Green last night. So whatever it is, they're going to have to be better at the left guard spot than they have been. And Kenyon Green, according to our friends over at Pro Football Focus, has been the worst, the worst guard in football. I don't know. They have some kind of snap threshold. They had him 77th out of 77 before. Now they have him 73 out of 73.

Maybe because he played an extra game and that puts some people out of quality. and they'll be back next week. I don't know. The bottom line is, Kenyon Green has been graded as the absolute worst guard in football by those metrics. So you're hoping to improve there

and get better and give up fewer pressures. Maybe you're going to have some easier matchups up front than you have had in the last couple of weeks, but it's not even about what you have in the next couple of weeks. It's about going into the playoffs. And I would be deathly afraid

of, I mean, some teams you could possibly face in the AFC playoffs. Mention the Kansas City Chiefs. They're the one seed right now. The AFC goes through them. You want to go to Arrowhead with Steve Spagnolo and the Mad Hatter stuff he does with disguising coverages and guys coming late and stunts and all that type of stuff, which the Texans have not shown an ability to block this year. And you're adding that loud Arrowhead crowd with guys like Chris Jones and George

Carl Loftus? That sounds like a problem. Pittsburgh Steelers with Cam Hayward and T.J. Watt up front. Does that sound like fun? Los Angeles Chargers have, which Bosa do they have? Joey Bosa and Calil Mack are playing at a high level this year for that Chargers defense is really good. You go up against a really good defense. I have huge questions about the Texans' ability to score points consistently against that team, especially if you're going to be down, Stefan, digs, which you are because he's torn his ACL. So, yeah, there are major problems right now for the Houston

Texans. And the offensive line, it starts there. So what's going to happen? Where do they go from here? You do get the extra days off. Some time to heal up, some time to game plan, some time to figure out what you are going to do with your offensive line.

Now that you know that Kenyon Green has to have shoulder surgery, And you got to do some retooling. And you've got to figure out a way to score as many points as the lions are going to score on you. It's going to be tough. They should be getting James and Williams back. I think it was a two-game suspension for, what was it, PEDs or performance-enhancing or substance abuse. I don't remember.

I think it was performance enhancing for Jameson. It doesn't matter. But the Texans offensive line, that's where it starts. And then I mentioned Bobby Sloak. We were talking about him as an offensive coordinator for the Texans. I put the Twitter poll up. I hope Bobby Sloick isn't on Twitter. You don't have to go on there, buddy.

At Sports RV if you want to vote. I made it very simple. Bobby Sloick as an offensive coordinator, and I know recency bias. If I had put this up after, I don't know, say they had gone and won and scored 29 points in week one against the Colts and Joe Mixon looked great. You're probably going to get a different answer.

Week to week. People are reactionary. We're prisoners of the moment. That's how we are. people talking about the Texas not even making the playoffs and stuff like that. Stop. They're still going to make the playoffs, I think. But Bobby Sloick, not doing so hot on this poll.

76% voting not good and 24% voting good for Bobby Sloick. And as I said with Stan, I like Bobby Sloick. I would vote good on this. I'm with the minority. I know we're all upset. And you got to stop with the cute. the time and a place, again, as I'll go back to you. You cannot, when C.J. Stroud is getting beat up the way that he has

and looks like he's walking gingerly on the field, and he did look like he kind of got his strength back and wasn't limping as much later into that game, but still at the end of the day, put that back on the shelf. Put it back in your back pocket. That play where you're going to run Joe Mixing and a wildcat, and then you're going to have, you're going to have CJ Stroud singled up and have him run a goal line fate?

I mean, I was in disbelief watching that happen. I was like, what are they doing? Okay, they're getting cute, cool. They're going to run with Joe Mixon. I'm down with the run with Joe Mixing, whatever you want to do. And then Joe Mixen starts pulling up to pass it. And I'm like, oh, my God, there's no way. There's no way.

Oh, he threw it. Oh, maybe that was a pass interference. But it didn't matter. It was incomplete. And that play was set up to fail. when C.J. Stroud was walking around the way that he was. It just, it was a ridiculous play call. It wasn't the time or place when you're on second and seven in the red zone,

and that's what you do? I couldn't believe it. So that was a horrible decision, getting too cute. I do question, not running Joe Mixon in any of the first six plays, not running him much in the second half when you had been gashing them on runs for the most part to where Joe Mixon had another 100 plus yard game

with a touchdown for the Texans. And I mean, it's twofold. You're gashing them with the run. And when you're running Joe Mixon, you're not dropping back with CJ Stroud, meaning he is not going to get hit and pressured or sacked or take any sort of damage. He hands off the ball and you let Joe Mixon do his thing.

So the benefits. twofold there and it didn't happen enough in the second half. But I do like Bobby Sloick overall. I understand. He's the Shanahan tree and that's the thing too. It's like established the run. The whole Shanahan's philosophy starts with that. And they didn't establish the run in the beginning. Now you could tell me and I'm sure he would that, yeah, well the jets are expecting us to establish the run too. So we were going with something a little bit different. And they were moving the ball somewhat in that first drive before stalling out.

But sometimes you've got to keep it simple. And too often last night, Bobby Sloick didn't do that. The Jets tried to hand you that game. Malachi Corley handed the ball off at the goal line to try and hand you that game. And you couldn't take advantage.

There have been times where the Texans did take advantage of the team handing them the game, talking about the Colts and the way that they handled their two-minute drill, talking about the bills and the way they handled things at the end of that game where they ran a couple of times, or sorry, where they ran three straight times at the end of that game, Bill's gift wrapping that one, you've taken advantage of some gift wrappings.

And quite frankly, the Jets tried to gift wrap that one for you last night. You didn't take it. And you can't afford to do that in the NFL. Now you're 6 and 4. If you go, you're going to tell me you'd be the craziest thing ever if they went and lost to the lines at home and then lost on the road to the Cowboys. and you're sitting there at 6 and 5. I'm not going to tell you that's crazy.

So you're in a tough spot. You needed that one last night, and you didn't get it. 713-212-5-790. The phone number here on Sports Talk 790. 7-13-212-5-7-90. Those are you on hold. I promise we will get to you next, but it's time for a quick break. Adam Clinton coming up at 2 o'clock, but right now it is the Matt Thomas show.

Without Matt Thomas with Ross. Matt Thomas returns. on Sports Talk 790. D-Skills H-Town on Twitter. Crazy that he, talking about Bobby Sloick, was talked about for head coach positions last year and will get fired this year. Life comes at you fast.

I really don't think he's under as much fire as you all think he is. I really don't. I think the Texans are happy with him. I think a lot of the problems they feel like are with the personnel and with some communication issues on the offensive line. Kenyon Green has been one of the worst on the planet. The offensive line has given up a lot of pressures.

Now, you can put some of that on the offensive coordinator. Maybe they need to, I don't know, motion to tie in to get behind Kenyon Green and help him in certain matchups or do running away from him or something like that, running away from Kenyon Green. But you can't run right every single play. You just can't do that. Then teams are going to know what you're doing. We're talking about the smartest players and smartest coaches on the planet playing chess matches with each other. but inexplicable to me to call that play in that situation in the condition in which C.J. Stroud was where he is clearly not 100%

to run him out on a route. Like put him out there, sure, if he just stands there while Joe Mixon runs up the gut, I'm down. Whatever. But to put him out there and actually have him run. run a route and ask him to possibly jump up and catch a ball when he got whipped on the shin and he could hardly walk for the second half? Unbelievable. Unbelievable play call right there, in my opinion.

713-212-5-790. The phone number here on the Matt Thomas show without Matt Thomas with Ross. Matt Thomas is alive and well. He just tweeted me, have a seat, sports RV. And it is a big, one of those big novelty chair. chairs with an Aggie logo on it. And it says howdy. Good for them. I hope things are going great

over there in College Station. As I mentioned, 713, 212-5790 is the phone number. Oh, real quick. I did want to play this in the last segment, but I got off on a rant and then I forgot. And here is D'emico Ryan's. What's going on with that upfront O-line, D'Amico? No, this is my computer, I think, is having issues. Let me do this.

What's happening up front? We watch the film and see what it is, But obviously we give up eight sacks and, you know, every drop back or pass situation it looks like, you know, we're in scramble mode. So it's just not good enough when we can't operate on time. And we've got to get that fixed. So, yeah, not sure he's got to watch the film. But here's also on the Wildcat play. Here's what Demico Ryan said to say about that. Yeah, that play there, you know, you know, Joe takes the ball and he's, you know, simulating the run there and trying to get.

get a throw to CJ. You know, didn't get the look that we want, didn't execute it the right way. Everybody, trick players are great when you execute them, right? And then everybody's a genius when you run trick play. It doesn't work. Then everybody's looking like why you call the play. So you take a chance on those plays. If they work, great.

If they don't, hey, not so great. I agree with that sentiment in theory. But again, I will say as it was playing out, I was shocked that they threw to C.J. Stroud because of the physical state he was in. Like, he was limping around. He was hurt multiple times and gone down and shaken up in that game. Not the time, not the place. David and Cyprus, what's up? Hey, Ross, man. Love you guys show, man. You guys crack me up. Thank you.

Thank you. Yeah, I agree with that play call was just horrible, man. That wasn't the right situation. Everybody watching the game, knew and Strachman. went out, you know, to receiver, that he was probably going to, going to get the ball. That was ridiculous. Play the call at that situation.

It just didn't make any sense at all. If they wanted to pitch it to, to the runner back hand and throw it back to the straw, they wouldn't be more sense. They had, receiving and throwing the ball. That just didn't make any sense at all. Then on the offensive line, I agree,

you know, we got over green. You never see anybody get hurt. But, you know, secretly we all were like thinking okay yeah yeah go ahead uh but uh one thing i noticed last night to uh ross was just a tackling tackling tackling was horrible last night uh number 43 i forgot i forgot he met he missed several tackles that that should have been uh uh tackles for laws or short yardage but uh at one at one play when uh when errin rogers ran for the first down. It was like, Amher was winning in slow motion and

like, we couldn't tackle the guy. It didn't make any sense, man. Just to tackle this night was just horrible. Yeah, I felt like there were definitely some some bad angles tank. And thank you, David. Appreciate you getting it. Let's start with all the points that you hit, starting with the out. I mean, we're in agreement. I mean, was there

anybody at home? Like, if there's one person who was on their couch watching that game or on their phone on Prime Video or on, like Adam Schuster, if you were on meth streams, did you see Adam Schaefter? going to meth streams and he posted a video of the game last night. If you're on an illegal stream, and I won't name any others, because, well,

we don't need the DOJ taking away our freedom. So I'm just kidding. But anyways, wherever you were watching that game, illegally, legally, or otherwise, when you saw that play, when you saw Joe Mixen run to the right, you're like, okay, well, this play looks like it's getting blown up. Then he pulls up to throw, and I'm like, Oh my gosh, no way. Is there a person on the planet that thought that was a good idea?

That thought that was going to work out? Could have had the penalty called. We do have to say that. But still, that was a head scratcher. And then, yeah, on the offensive line, no, we're not going to celebrate Kenyon Green being out with his shoulder injury. Also, we do have to remember that while Kenyon Green has been out there and he had been not good, that the Texans get to see the other options in practice. And it very well could have been that the Texans are thinking of themselves in their O-line meeting room,

maybe when the O-line members are out. Like, yeah, we don't like Kenning Green, and he's not any good, but he's better than Kendrick Green, and he's better than Jared Patterson at that spot. So we got to keep putting him out there. It is what it is. So we'll see. We've seen last year that Kinder Green can be solid. Jared Patterson and a very, very small sample size can be good as well.

But we're going to find out at the end of the day. That's the interesting thing and that's the beauty of it of sports. I'm going to sit here in front of this microphone and talk about this offensive line over and over. They're going to go out there. They're going to play and they're either going to perform or they're going to not. It's going to happen. We will see whatever shuffling they try to do with juice grugs, Jared Patterson, and Kendrick Green.

Because Kenyon Green, if he had not heard, he dislocated his shoulder. He's going to go on IR. Will he come back? That will be, that is TBD, according to Ian Rappaport. He said you can't rule out the possibility of him coming back at the end of the season. If his replacements are playing well, then he probably won't. I don't know. I mean, what kind of scenario, it's funny the way that Ian Rappaport worded this.

as he said there is at least a chance of a late, late return depending on how rehab goes and where the Texans season stands. As if everybody's like, man, we need to batten down the hatches until Kenyon Green can get back. Man, he's going to save our season. Hold on, folks, one more week till Kenyon Green is back. I don't think that's going to happen.

Or if it does, the Texans are probably in very bad shape and like battling it out with the Colts for the AFC South. But Kenyon Green, bottom line, expected to be out for the season or a very, very late return depending on where the Texans are. Oh, he says Texan season.

Maybe he's talking about playoffs. Okay, I'll shut up. That's what he means. Deep into the playoffs or Super Bowl or something like that. But even then, I'd be like, Kenyon Green, go ahead and sit this one out. Here, Cancun's nice this time of year. Why don't you go over there?

So, Kenyon Green, out for the foreseeable future for the Houston Texans. Okay, time for a quick bottom of the hour break here on Sports Talk 790. It is the Matt Thomas show without Matt Thomas. He is in College Station. I am here. My name is Rosvia Real. Adam Clanton's coming up at 2 o'clock.

You can get in if you'd like it. 713-212-5-790. 7-13-212-5-7-90. You know what? I'd like to personally apologize. It's Cam Whitmore. We haven't mentioned the Rockets once. They got a nice win in Dallas over the...

the Mavericks getting up big in that game, I think by over 20. Mavericks came rallying back late, but the Rockets pull out a 108 to 102 win. You go 2 and 1 on a road trip in San Antonio and Dallas. That means you are crowned. These are the rules. I don't make the rules. I just follow them. These are the rules.

You are crowned. The best team in Texas. Rockets 3 and 2 now on the season. Jalen Green leading the way overall with 23 points on 21. That's fine. 15 points from Tari East and 10 from Amen Thompson. They were big off the bench as the Rockets got the win. They'll be next in action here on Sports Talk 790.

This Saturday coming up against a Golden State Warriors, that game will be at Toyota Center. Their tour of Texas has done three straight home games here against the Warriors, Knicks and Spurs. And I'll be with you for the Rockets launch pad Saturday, 6 o'clock here on Sports Talk 790. But we're still on the Matt Thomas show without Matt Tom. Thomas with Ross. That's me. Phone lines open at 713-212-5-790. We got Adam Clanton coming up at 2 o'clock. We've been talking a lot about Texans, very little.

Well, just those couple of minutes I gave you about the rockets. But, I mean, a national television, yes, it was on prime video, but we're still going to call it national television loss. It was a slow game in the first half. Jets really got it going there in the second half. Texans had opportunity after opportunity. Jets tried to gift wrap that game for them. And, well, they couldn't get it done.

They gave up eight sacks. They lost. They're now six and three. Back to the drawing board with the Detroit Lions coming into town. Yikes for Sunday night football. 713-212-5-7-90. Doug, South Padre has been holding patiently. Doug, go ahead.

The floor is yours. I got two questions for you about slow-explay column, and they're both different. First one, three games in a row now. We've had the ball with the first half winding down, very little time left, between the 30 and the 35. And instead of running the ball and taking your three points, Stroud takes a deep drop, he gets sacked, we're out of field goal position. It would have cost you the game against the Colts, except they turn around and gave you the ball right back with that stupid pass with, what, 20 seconds left. Against Green Bay, those three points would have won the game. And then last night, you would have gone in the halftime with a two-score lead.

and they do it every single time. When they should run, they pass. Now on the flip side, and this is my second question for you, when they get down to anywhere from the 15 to the 8 chance to score, six times in a row now, they just hand the ball off, get zero yards, then Stroud has to drop back to pass, he gets blitzed, they lose yards. Last night watching that game, when they got down to the 8-yard line, and it was their first chance to score, I said to my wife,

you watch the first play is going to be mixing up the middle for no game, which it was. So you watch the second play, he's going to drop back, and he's going to get sacked. Not only did he get sacked, he fumbled the ball, and they scored. And it's just a casual guy. I'm not a coach.

But if I can call these plays sitting on my couch, I'm sure that the opposition can. So I guess my question for you is, why on earth do we give up the three points when there's very little time left? You could just run the ball up the middle, kick the field, go, take the points. And then on the flip side,

every single time we get down to the red zone, it's a hand off your first leg. So you want them to hand the ball off at the end of halves, and you want them to pass the ball in the red zone? If you had an offensive line that could protect Stroud, obviously, because it's always third and eight, third and nine, third and eleven, when you end of the half, and that's happened for three games in a row. He takes a deep drop, he gets sack, and you're out of field goal position.

Yeah, they're not trying to take a sack in those situations, Doug. Yeah, they're like last night, it was third and, yeah, I hope so. It was starting 10 at the end of the game. I mean, at the end of the half there, they were, what, like a 30-something yard line? They were trying to get closer. Yeah, they were trying to get closer, and they're trying to get a touchdown.

And you can't, C.J. Stroud needs to be aware. You're not to take a sack in that scenario. Well, it's happened three games in a row. And if you had an offensive line, protect them, I would understand that. But I think it's why they send, you know, they just unleash the hounds after Stroud because they know he's going to pass.

You could do a draw play. You could do a quick screen, a quick hit your tight-in, whatever. But those deep drops, it's been them three times in a row. And then on the flip side, when they do get down near the goal line, first down, it's the best opportunity to pass and catch your defense possibly asleep. It's always hand up up the middle, no game. He's got a throw in second down. And once again, they're unleashing the hounds.

I just don't get it, man. It's odd watching it because it happens time and time again. Well, I just feel like whenever something, like, for example, the beginning of the game, Doug. That wasn't predictable to me. At the beginning of the game, they started with six straight pass plays. Did you think that was something? Was that something you predicted?

No, it was not. But my point being when they got down to the eight-yard line, I think it was a 10-yard line. It's like, okay, here we go again. We're going to hand off right off. We never pass when we get down near the goal line, kept the defense sleep. I'd have to see percentages on that.

I'm going to guess it's not 100. Thank you, Doug, and appreciate it. I will agree with your overarching point that is sometime the Texans can be a little too predictable. We talked about it at the end of that Green Bay game, where they ran a couple of times and then passed, where they should have been a little bit more aggressive. And I think, I don't know if it's a Bobby Sloick thing,

if it's a Domingo Ryan's thing, but it just, I would say it's also something that league-wide, the old cliche, when you get a defensive coach, is that we're going to run the ball, we're going to be conservative, we're going to win with our defense, and we're going to squeak out close games. And really, the last couple of years,

that's kind of been what Texans football has been. I've been winning a lot of one-score games in the last couple of years. A lot of that is because of C.J. Strout, a lot of that is because of good defense with D'Amico Ryan's and his guys, and stopping Anthony Richardson at the end of a game, and stopping Josh Allen and the bills at the end of the game, and winning in those situations, and then the Colts getting down to a hell Mary

and drawing up a good play at the end of that game and winning that one. There just hasn't been a whole lot of blows. They won with their defense, I think, at the end of the Jaguars game too, right? So it's, oh no, that was a, where was that a late comeback? It doesn't matter.

The point is they've been in a lot of close games. And yeah, I would say oftentimes they do play it a little bit too close to the vest. That's why I was surprised to see them run, excuse me, pass the ball six straight times to start the game last night. But that was Bobby Sloick, zinging when he think he's going to Zach. And, yeah, when they run the ball with Joe Mixen down in the red zone, they're looking to get touchdowns. And they've gotten the touchdowns with him a lot.

That's the thing you don't talk about. They've run on first, second, third downs in that red zone. Joe Mixon's got a lot of rushing touchdowns over the last several weeks when he's been healthy. So it does work running in the red zone. Very clearly, Joe Mixon has six touchdowns. on the season, he's played, what, five games, six games? So when he finishes a game and doesn't get hurt in the middle of it, he does a pretty good job. And he's getting to the end zone a lot for the Texans.

So to me, there can be an, I'm with you, there can be an error of predictability, but I still think overall the offense has been solid enough to win games, but I'm not going to even begin to try to defend that second and seven C.J. Stroud fade play. That was just ridiculous in the moment when it happened. I just couldn't believe that that was being called. But a year ago, we're talking about how great of a genius Bobby Sloick was and what a great job he's doing with C.J. Stroud and how he's getting hired. please don't hire him away Atlanta Falcons. Now?

Well, everybody hates him. He's the worst and such his life in coaching in the NFL and really college and anywhere. One minute you're hot, the next minute you are not. The good thing is a lot of football left for the Texans, a lot of points to be scored on the board and some things to be figured out. Certainly with the offensive line and improving this offense, Kenyon Green with that shoulder injury down for the season. will that make worse, things worse or better for the offensive line? I would think better, but remains to be seen. We shall see.

713-212-5-790 is the phone number if you'd like to get in here on the Matt Thomas show without Matt Thomas with Ross, but it is time for a break at 7-13-212-5-7-90. Those of you on hold, I promise we will get to you. We also got Adam Clanton come up at 2 o'clock or with you until 3 leading into the A team here on Sports Talk 7-9. Back to Matt Thomas. This is Sports Talk 790. Home of Astros baseball. A goal line fade with C.J. Stroud.

Who can hardly walk. Nine minutes left to go in the game. You are trailing at that point, 14 to 10. Nine minutes left in the fourth quarter. quarter. You have to have a touchdown in that situation. And then you get belled out for a roughing the snapper. And then you can't punch it in. A 27-yard field goal missed. My God. What a comedy of errors for both teams.

Are we going to chalk that up to mid-season Thursday night football? Or we're going to say the Jets and the Texans need to be better? I'm going to say the latter. 713-212-5-790. The phone number here on Sports Talk 790. and the Matt Thomas show without Matt Thomas, but it's with me. Ross. Connor McGovern is here as well.

And Adam Clinton will be joining us coming up at 2 o'clock. But right now, let's go on to the phone lines. Willie in Cyprus has been holding. What's up, Willie? Hey, appreciate your efforts and contributions as always Ross. Thank you. Bring some perspective of balance from a Texan fan. You know, in recent history,

I'd have to say the Cincinnati Bengals with Joe Burrow at the helm, and their makeshift offensive line that year. By the way, Joe McChin was the running back. That was the only team I knew that made a rally and kind of got it right in the middle of the season. So we do have some recent data to look at. That says, this is a levy

situation that the organization is going to probably have to choose where they're going to have to let water through. The plate calling, offensive line, you don't have a consistent threat. I mean, Nico may come back great, but that soft tissue. We know that's a variable. So,

It's not consistent. Past target makes shift office a lot. There's a conglomerative issues that on the fly, look, I'm not trying to be a pessimistic pain here, but let's just have expectations. I just see a season where we're going to have to see what they do on the fly, whether that's make an office trade or move. And again, I look at it from a standpoint. There's just a lot of host of bug here in mid-season.

So temper expectations, they can't get it done. There's good, consistent running back. but I'd say, you know, if teams are smart and the way the play calls Ben, pretty vanilla, they're going to start keying in on Joe Mix, and then what do you do there? So just temperate expectations, fans, and that's all I got. All right, thanks a lot.

Appreciate it, Willie, and, yeah, we'll see. They have some things to figure out. They have some time to go to the drawing board. The season is not over. The pressure rate is really ramped up in the last three weeks is where it has really gotten bad. And as far as,

of percentages. There's a guy I follow. He does, it's fantasy stuff that he does. His name is Ian Hartett's, but putting the pressure rate week by week by week. I'm not going to go through all of them, but just know the first six weeks, it was 35% and below. The worst

NFL in the league, the worst team in the NFL is 43% and they've been over that for three straight weeks. 52%, 46%, 48% pressure rate in the last three weeks. For CJ Stroud. and the Houston, Texas.

Some of that is on him. Some of that is in C.J. Stroud has not been perfect in this run. I don't think he's regressed, as some people are saying. I don't think he's a worst quarterback than he was last year. I've said this consistently this year, really in the last year, that C.J. Stroud's numbers, as far as five interceptions, that was misleading because he had a number of drops interceptions. There was a thought from me and others,

that there could be not a regression from CJ Stroud, but a situation where he hit the ground running so well that perhaps he was very close to his ceiling in year one and would be the same and more consistent to that ceiling in season two rather than busting through that and just on a meteoric upward trajectory, where in year two he's going to far surpass. I mean, how do you far surpass whatever it was? 23 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 10 and 7 record.

I mean, he was already hitting the scene, making a splash, as one of the top 10 quarterbacks in football. It would be close to unprecedented for him to be making such a leap in year 2 that he would just be the unquestion, I don't know, top three guy. It's not playing as well as Lamar Jackson. I mean, Pat Mahomes, we put his number one. He's having a terrible year, but that's another discussion for another time. But there have been some struggles from C.J. Stroud.

I still think he's really good. I still think he's great. I still think there are most weekends. There are a handful of times where you say, whoa, there's only a handful of people on the planet that could have just made that play that C.J. Stroud just made. Dirty pockets, moving around, pressure, finding guys, awful one foot, throwing the ball on a dime, 28 yards down the field like he. he did to John Mechie in that Colts game where you say I got to watch that again and again

I can't believe what I just saw. He does that. He makes special plays but he's been missing some plays that he should have made the last few weeks. A lot of that I do think is because of the pressure and duress he has been under and I don't

want him getting happy feet. I don't want him seeing ghosts back there as Sam Donald famously once said. So I think CJ Shroud's going to be great. I mean, he is great, and he's going to be fine, and I'm not worried about him as long as he's healthy, as long as he can walk. But you've got to keep him upright. Obviously, it goes without saying he is the number one most important ingredient to the Texans' future success. Not only this season, but in the future, but specifically talking about 24.

You need CJ Stroud, number one. You need Joe Mixen number two, if you ask me. All right. 713-212-5-790. Robert and South Houston has gone on the phones. What's up, Robert? Hey, what's going on, Ross? I just wanted to kind of say two things. I feel like with the Texans, it's like, you know how like when they were really good and they were going to the playoffs for like two, three, four years in a row with Matt Schaub

and the defense was really good, but they just didn't have that. I feel like it may be like championship pedigree. and I just feel like we're at the same place we were last year. I mean, if they lose to the Lions, right, they'll be six and four, which is where they were last season, six and four. And I just think, like, I honestly think they got a little bit worse. I mean, they got rid of some key defenders, right? Jonathan Gernard, and then there was another guy on defense they got rid of right now.

Blake Cashman? Yeah, so, I mean, it's just like, I feel. You brought in DeNeal Hunter and you brought in Aziz al-Shayr, which when he's healthy, he's been very good. So I don't think they slipped much from that standpoint. But go ahead, Robert. Right. But do you really, I mean, honestly, like, at the beginning of this season, did you, do you, did you really think that they could hang with, like, the Ravens at their best, the chiefs at their best? I mean, do you, do you put the Texans in that, in that level at that level yet?

No. No, I put them at, they're tier two right now. And even though they beat the bills head to head, I would say the way that both teams are playing right now. I mean, that was a few weeks ago. And really the bills kind of gift-wrapped that game for you, even though the defense did do a really good job against Josh Allen, but now they've added Mari Cooper, Kiann Coleman's playing better.

I would say, if you really put me on the spot, and it's like a neutral-site game, I would probably pick the Buffalo Bills right now. Right. I got you. Yeah, I just feel like, I mean, they just, they need something that, and I feel like, I mean, yeah, Stroud's in year two, so, and D'Amico's in year two, so, you know, they, they got to earn it, right?

The Chief didn't win three Super Bowls, you know, overnight. I mean, it was, there was growing pain with Alex Smith, and, you know, once they got my homes, that's what got him over the hump, you know, so, like, now it's like, we got to improve everywhere else except for quarterback, you know, and then, like, um, what, um, oh, God, um, your other co-worker, I forgot his name. I can't think of his name now. He said, you know, they got a, no, no, no, the, uh, Adam Hwexler.

No, Northern McGovern. He, he was just saying they got a, you know, they got it, they got to improve. I mean, it's just, yeah, yeah, thank you, Robert. Appreciate it. We got to get to the top of the air break here. But yeah, that's what I said. I expected them, I didn't expect them to make a leap to where I'd be like, oh, number one team in the AFC, Texans, watch out.

I expected them to kind of be in that conversation. with the Chiefs and the Ravens and the Steelers. And when they were sitting there at six and two, I was feeling like, okay, yeah, but this game was bad. You've got a sample size of three straight weeks of allowing an extremely high pressure rate. You've got the injuries cropping up.

Stefan Diggs has come down. You get Nico Collins back. That will be huge. So the team can improve. There's a lot of football left to be played. But right now, it's feeling like last year. And last year was great because it was a surprise. It was like, oh, my God.

Gosh, we thought they were going to, what was their win total? Six and a half or something like that? They won 10 games. So I predicted incremental improvement I had them at 11 and 6. Right now they're looking like about last year. 10 and 7 division around because you get out classed by a better team. That's what it feels like. And unfortunately, that stagnation can, can, even though it's up from a level of where we were a couple of years ago,

the level of expectation has changed. And the Texans are not up to the expectation of this year to this point, despite the 6 and 3 record. They have a positive point differential by one single point. So that screams mediocrey. It just does. After nine games, you got a differential of one. That is mediocre. All right, quick break here on the Matt Thomas show without Matt Thomas with Ross.

Those of you on hold, we'll get to you in the next hour. We also got Adam Clinton coming in. And you on the phone lines. We're talking some Texans football. I love it. Let's get in. 713, 212.12. 790.

713, 2125.790. Launch timers. This is the Matt Thomas show. 2.0.2 with the PM here on Sports Talk 790. Where in the world is Adam Clanton? Let me check. He hadn't even said anything. Hopefully he's alive.

Oh, man. I thought you had him on a remote or something. Okay, well, there he is. Adam Clanton, your reaction to last night's Texans game. Oh, man. What were you thinking when you saw that CJ Stroud split out wide and Joe Mixen loaded up to throw the ball at him? Oh, man. And then your reaction, Adam Clanton, to Kimee Fairbair missing that field goal.

Oh, man. All right. Thank you. That's great analysis. That's why we bring you in, Adam. We do really appreciate it. 713-212-790 is the phone number if you'd like to get in. 713-212-5-7. Oh, the real Adam Clan is here. Okay. We don't should... Oh, man. Yeah, I know. That's my reaction to. Oh, man. You're early, man. We appreciate you. 203. That's early. I'm on that Ross Vireel schedule where I show up just in time. Hey, hey now. I was here early today when Matt's out. When I just have to kick my... You know, it's the easiest job in the world. I just kick my feet up and make fun of Matt for three hours.

And when he's out, I got to actually get to work. Isn't it amazing you get paid for that? It's... I say it and I don't want to say it so our bosses can hear, but I have the best job in the world. I'm so lucky. I mean, come on. Except for nights like last night where we got to come in and talk about that. No, I love it. Let's go. Let's yell.

What are you thinking, Bobby Slowick? Okay, anyways, I've been talking about it for a couple of hours. I'll just go ahead and lay it out and then lay out for you, Mr. Clanton, because I know, well, just judging from your text last night, you're not happy with the performance from the Texans last night. But they drop a ball at the one-yard line when they should have had a touchdown. They're committing roughing the punters on fourth and 21. They're roughing. Their poor John Weeks is taking a knee to the chest like he's in a John Wick movie. And then you are crashing and burning as the Jets try to hand you that game. They try to hand you that game.

You lose. You're six and three, and the lions are next up on the docket. Well, it's easy to sit there and say, hey, this line is offensive trash. That's the only problem there is. But you just eloquently laid out so many other things that were gift-wrapped in the Texans favor. I saw your tweet, by the way, about dropping the ball when you get to the goal line. Like, what are we even doing in 2024? How does it keep happening?

Well, I'm like, there's no one in the building. It's a very large building. There's no one in the building that has a better sense of where you are on that football field than you if you have the football, right? Like, they can be a line judge or any sort of official that's trailing you on the play. There can be a tackler. It doesn't matter. you have the best idea of where you are on the football field. And so how this is still happening in 2024 is beyond me because all you've got to do is hang on to it.

In his case, a split second longer and it's a touchdown. Not even. Yeah, just wrap it up. You're just getting the habit of this. But doesn't that. Hand it to the official every time. You should go. You should get a meeting room.

You get all 53 plus the practice squad, IR, everybody. Hey guys, hand the ball. Do not do it. You can celebrate. You can cartwheel. You can do whatever you're going to do. At the rookie symposium, after they tell you not to get, you know, tied up in honeypot situations and, you know, whatever else. Crap falls are out there from a-

Where are your prophylactics, have a fall guy. If your bookie is going to take money out of your account and place bets, make sure that MLB loves you. Remember that Chris Carter audio? Make sure you have a fall guy. Gosh. It's like, but he was right. Like, that's the crazy thing about it. Well, make sure you, yes, put that up on the PowerPoint presentation.

You score a touchdown. First thing you do is you hand the ball to an official and then do whatever planned choreographed celebration you got. Find the 4K cam and do all that stuff after you hand the ball to somebody. It's just incredible that that was one of several things that happened. And by the way, I know that the defense had its moments. last night from a standpoint of all they gave up a big play here they'd be first of all another tweet of yours i enjoyed hey at sports r v full jordan on the catch i mean that was just that was absolutely incredible you got to throw your hands up on that one no there's nothing you can do he first

of all he caught it with one hand secondly he managed to keep his shin in bounds for the second step um i look jelan petrie lost his step wouldn't a matter on devonte adams he burned him That's just a guy. Caleb Bullet could have got over there faster. Yeah, that's true. But at the end of the day, Devante Adams said, I'm going to put my physical God-given abilities up against yours, and yours aren't as good as mine.

And so you just have to tip your cap at that point. But it doesn't mean that you, I mean, I get why JJ Watt thought what he did going into this game, and I get why he was tweeting what he was tweeting afterward. They took that game from the Texans, and you can really say that when you talk about the fact that they did give them all those gifts. for them to win the way they did in the second half.

And again, the number one problem is the offensive line. I'm not saying it's not. And honestly, it kind of pisses me off at this point. Because nobody didn't see this coming. At least of all, Nick Casario. Nobody. Like, you've got one of the top five quarterbacks in the NFL when he's protected. And he's looked like, I mean, I don't know.

Where would you put him based on? He still makes special plays, but he looks, it's not necessarily his. his fault. But he has been missing some throws he would normally make. And I don't know if that's the pressure wearing on him or because he's not 100%, which Kirk Herb Street talked about on the broadcast like C.J. Stroud kind of whispered to me when we were

talking like, I'm banged up. And then he got hurt in that game. Can I imagine why. And then eight sacks later, I wonder if he's more or less banged up now. That's what I'm saying. So he has been missing some throws the last few weeks. And we saw it for a spell for a couple of weeks last year. And that's because I think he got

concussed in a game or two last year. So it kind of looks like that where he's in a couple of a week malaise. And I think that is because he's not 100%. I still think of him as an elite quarterback. I still want to, this team is still going to ride or die for CJ Stroud. He is not, I will say this. He is not holding this team back. No, no, he's definitely not holding the team back. But he is probably being held back. I feel like he's playing quarterback with one hand tied behind his back every week. And the problem with this is, and I was, I was texting with somebody after the game that knows what they're talking about.

I'll just leave it at that. The problem with this is there's no quick fix out there. You can have a great draft. It doesn't matter. It's not going to fix it overnight. And the last time I checked, unless they're just not wanting to pay a guy, offensive linemen that are studs, they just don't let them walk out the door anywhere in the NFL. There's some exceptions.

Yeah. Trent Williams, I guess would be one of them. Cam Robinson just got traded to the Vikings because they're Christian Darrasaw. Is that the name of their left half? The Vikings just, they had an elite left tackle just going on IR. So they traded for Cam Robinson. That is rare, but it is possible if the Texans want to go out there. Now especially, I mean, you have an excuse.

Even if you're going to say, well, Kenyon Green's our guy and we're going to roll with Kenyon and Green green. Nobody should be saying that. Nobody should be. But DiMiko Ryans and the Texans have been. D'Amico's saying that because he has to. Yes. The general manager and D'emico behind closed doors are saying, get this bleep off my team.

They got to do some. It's somebody's choice. I'm not going to like sugarcoat it or try to be, oh, well, they're all professionals. They're all trying to, you know, you couldn't do it. Of course I couldn't do it. I'm not a 300-pound offensive linemen. But I'll tell you this, if I was doing it and I was getting CJ killed every week,

and the only chance that this team has is him being upright to win. I mean, Nico Collins is coming back against the Detroit Lions. Great. If he can't see him because he's looking up at the stadium roof, it's not going to matter. Yeah. Well, Kenyon Green is. is now out. He dislocated his shoulder. What's the prognosis on that?

Ian Rappaport says, depending on how late, he's basically out for the year, unless they make a deep playoff run, I think is the implication. I can pull up the exact words of a good friend of the show, Ian Rappaport. But it's basically something to that effect.

I mean, I would think. He says, there is a chance of a late, late return depending on how rehab goes and where the Texan season stands. Out in death possibly for the season. Well, that's the thing. They're going to win the division.

Yes, they're making the playoffs. They're going to be a top four seed. Is there going to be a point in the season? They're like, man, we can't wait. We've got to hold on until Kenyon Green gets back and we'll be good. So I don't think that's going to happen. I don't think if I'm like pining for Kenyon Green to come back. For a playoff game, by the way.

The most important game of the year, I want him being the guy that's, you know, one of the last lines of the defense literally for C.J. Straud. But yeah, it's just, I don't know. I mean, there has been, like, exactly one time in franchise history where they actually gave a crap about the offensive line and it showed. And that was when Gary Kubiak first got here and they ran the zone blocking scheme. That's it. They didn't care about it enough to facilitate anything to help David Carr, clearly.

Well, they tried here. I mean, they signed Laramie Tunsel. They like Titus Howard. This is Dick Cicero's guys. They took Kenya, they took Kenyon Green in the first round. I'm going to say something that's going to absolutely just, Wex might die of an eye-rolling accident if he hears this. It doesn't matter.

We'll fight it all the time. Turn it off-Wex. Put it on Yacht Rock, Wex. I know that pro football focus and all these sites are like, oh, Laramie Tunsell, great pass. He's not good enough. And here's why. The rest of that line follows him, follows his cues, follows his lead.

It's just not a right recipe. I'd blow out four of them right now, but I just, I don't mean that literally. Huh? Just get rid of them. I know you can't do that. That's what I'm saying. No, you can't.

This line, like, there's a reason that we had a show on this station called In the Trenches. There's a reason that that's a cliche. Like, that's where the games are won and lost. And if you don't have an offensive line, it doesn't matter whatever else you put around them. And I said that all offseason is they were getting all these free agency signings. And, you know, none of them were stud, top-end offensive linemen. Well, just because you address something or throw a man. I mean, Dwayne Brown was a stud guy.

Yeah. Dwayne Brown, better than Tunsell, by the way, if we're being objectively. But anyways, yeah. Kenyon Green, well, speaking of pro football focus, they have Kenyon Green as the worst guard in football. Well, there you go. That's one of five. So go down the line. And ask yourself if you're C.J. Stroud, if they're putting the best product possible in front of me to succeed. All right, we've got to take quick break here.

That's Adam Clanton. Thank you for hanging out, Adam. Appreciate you. He's here. Marty, you're on hold. We'll get to you. You guys want to get in. You can. We're talking Texans. Jets. We're talking anything you want to get to. and it hasn't really been in anything goes type of Friday just because it's like post-Texans' reaction, and they were on, well, kind of national TV streaming last night. But anything you want to get to, 7-13-212-790, 7-19.

7-1-2-790. Texan 2.1-2-9. Back to Battle Red Ross and Liberty white-ass Matt Thomas. What up? What up? That's what I am. Real pale Texans talk continues on. the Matt Thomas show.

What up, what up? Yeah, I mean, I thought, you know, we had that play lined up. We thought it was a good look. And, you know, we got to do a better job with selling the run and, you know, making the DB fall asleep. And, you know, I got a final way to maybe go just catch it. I thought I got held or I'm not a receiver, so I don't know. But, you know, I thought they got a couple calls that we didn't get. But at the same time, you know, at the end of day, man, like, we can go, this call that call.

We didn't win the game. And we got embarrassed. We got a kick from point A to point Z, so we got to get a lot of things fixed. I agree with what he said at the end there. C.J. Stroud, on the inexplicable second and seven in the red zone, Joe Mixen Wildcat Throw, which, like I said, you install that during the week. That's cool. But when you see that your quarterback is limping around for three and a half quarters,

maybe put that one in the back pocket, Adam Clayton. You know what we're going to have to not worry about is somebody pick it up Bobby Sloick as a head coach. I think we put that to bed pretty quick. Probably not. As a matter of fact, if he's not their offensive coordinator next year, I'm not saying I'm one of these people, but I don't think there's going to be a lot of people that are going to be like wailing and gnashing their teeth. Well, I did a poll at Sports RV. It's still going.

That's shocking to me. Bobby Sloick as offensive coordinator. No, shocking that I did a poll. I like doing Twitter polls. I know. That's why I said that. It's fun. You got a poll to the people.

I did one the other day just to mess up. with wax after you made us. Good, 21% not good, 78%. I voted. And you voted? I didn't say. I vote.

I vote good. I don't think he's incompetent. I don't think he's bad. I think that was situationally. Sometimes he can be a little predictable, but also, you know, when they run in the red zone and Joe Mixen bust a touchdown, we're like, wow,

great on Joe Mixing. We don't say good call from Bobby Sloick. It's one of those things. I kind of with, I would put in similar category to a baseball manager. You make 10 moves, nine of them work out. We don't say a word that one that doesn't. You're an idiot.

I was a couple things about that last night. One, I was to a point, probably late in the first half of just, I mean, what an amazing show of offensive prowess that first half of football was last night. Seven to zero. It was a very Thursday night game. I don't know how. It's like Vegas. How does the NFL do it every year? consistently put the worst possible matchup on Thursday night.

But anyway, I was getting to the point rapidly where I was like, just hand the ball to Joe every time. What's the worst that could happen? Yeah, you might not get a first down. You might have to punt the ball, but you're going to do that anyways if you're throwing. And I know, you got to throw the ball. You got to do some things. You have C.J. Stroud.

But it was the safest option given, again, the shape of that offensive line. And the other thing was, I've seen it again, because I see it every week when things don't go particularly according to plan, which they really haven't offensively this year. People just, Bobby Sloak, there does come a point where he is also

limited at what he can do because of the lack of protection for CJ. I know what you want him to do, and I know what on paper it says you should do, and it definitely doesn't say you should do a running back pass under these circumstances. With the hurt quarterback! That's where you get me, and I can't

say, I can't argue with you there, because that just looks stupid. You're wanting him to do more, but then when he does more and it's ridiculous, I understand that side of things too. So I don't know, man, this offensive line, I just, I scream from the mountaintops all offseason, knowing full well that I didn't really know what they could do unless they just load up on offensive linemen in the draft. Like, do you know how much I wanted them to draft Joe Alt? Just because we interviewed him. Gosh, what was the award show? I always get it mixed up with the Lombardi. Was it Lombardi?

No, Lombardi's defensive. You know what I'm talking about, though. Oh, you're right. The Outland Trophy or the... I don't know what it is. He was there. He was great. All offensive linemen are great because they're traditionally the smartest guys on the football field at any given time. But just to have...

The Joe Moore Award goes to the whole offensive line, but what is the... It wasn't an offensive line award show. I mean, there was tight ends there. I can't remember. It's one of the big ones. I'm just... It's slipping my mind. Everybody that's listening is like... I said Outland Trophy, didn't I? Yeah, but I'll...

That's for interior alignment. Hold on. That's not what this is. It was over across the street. Anyway, anyway... Yeah. Well, Joel went before the Texans drafted, so... Correct. And he's doing a good job for the Chargers?

Or Titans? Titans? Whatever. Oh, yes. One of those. But, yeah, I just... I don't know what you do. He's a Charger. Charger, okay.

You get the blue teams mixed up. That's true. I just, I don't know how you fix this quickly. And again, that's not what you... want to hear because you're in that little window where you're not paying C.J. Stroud insane money. You're supposed to strike while the iron is hot here, so to speak. And I just feel like, again, he's playing with one hand tied behind his back because he's just not, he's not given enough time. Like last night, I took this prop bet for our stone cold locks. It was over under

10 and a half rushing yards for C.J. Stroud. You know why I took the over and I slammed it? Because he was going to get flushed out of the pocket all night long. And if there's nobody open, he's got a duck and run. And he did that. He had 10 and a half by like, I think the end of the first quarter. Well, also on gut feelings, my 30 seconds of glory on gut feelings, I did say Dell over four and a half catches, and I did say Al Michaels was going to be talking about how boring the game was because it was going to be low scoring. And he was. I really think, and this is full disclosure, because I just, I don't watch Thursday night games. You know how I watch them if I have a really, really good fantasy situation, which that's not happening this year. But I, I, I, I, I,

I just, I hadn't realized just how bad he's gotten. I hear it all the time. He's sleepwalks through. It's like, but it's not even, like, you can make mistakes and the gambling references and all that. He's just not good. He, yeah, saying the call in the Devante Adams touchdown from the, from the medical tent to the end zone or from the locker room to the end zone, I like that one. But he was just like he's, he's like half asleep. But that's exactly.

That's the most life he showed all night. It's not even about the line. Like, you know, Joe Davis the other night. used upside down inappropriately again because that's the Astros line. But, you know, he's got some... He's had his coffee. Like, Al sounds like he's not even awake.

Like, he just rolled out of bed and they put him in the... Jeff Bezos just cut the check, baby. We'll be good. All right, Marty's been holding. Let's get him real quick. What's up, Marty? What's going on, man? Adam, I kind of agree with you a little bit,

but I got a couple of questions. Because, you know, you know, the offensive line is so bad. Hey, that's a quick fit. Okay. We incorporate the tight-ins to block a little bit more. By the way, I don't know what happened to the Jordan. But right now...

Brevin Jordan's on IR, I think. That's good to know. Well, that ain't good for no, but, you know, just know where it is. But Joe Mixon, but let me tell you, everything had to jump doing it and cry out of the way. Some job run more because, let's say these guys blocked down the feel a little bit better.

And I'm going to tell you, I got the reason that, that Laramie Tonsel is not playing as good because he's trying to compensate for green. So, you know, I think that's the reason. I'm going on giving that excuse, okay? But why he kind of fell off?

I said we started running the ball a little bit more. And CJ wouldn't get sacked. His mom wouldn't be calling the police for a stop and all this kind of stuff. More, okay? With that he said, that CJ's taking, for him, not being as Chris

is because he's got happy and he looked up he's uh he his feet is just they're just all over the place yeah i'm sorry marty we gotta get to a break but appreciate you getting in a lot to address there uh i do think there was some good blocking

for joe mixon i mean they ran the ball 36 times for 187 yards it was well okay well eight of those are scrambles so let's let's subtract that actually so 28 times they ran the ball there was some garbage time scrambles too by cj there were some some of those as well So at the end of the day, they could have done a better job establishing the run. Then it's absolutely two-fold benefit.

You let one of your best offensive player, your best skill player, Joe Mixing, you will get the ball into his hands, and you keep C.J. Stroud from getting hit. So yes, they need to do it more. Okay, we've got to get to a bottom of the air. Break more on that. When we come back, you want to get in. You can at 7-1-3-2-790. 7-1-3-21-5-7-90. It is the Matt Thomas show without Matt Thomas, but with Ross and with Adam Clinton.

What? What's you until 3 o'clock here on Sports Talk 790? The Rockets coming alive from deep. Hey, everybody. This is Craig Ackerman from the Rockets broadcast team. Thankfully, and finally, I am socially distancing myself for Matt Thomas. Wait bye-bye to your cash cow, because it's leaving the pasture. Now back to your show.

232 in the PM here on Sports Talk 790. Non-stop Texans talk. Love it. Rosby, Real. you, Adam Clanton, here as well. We had the caller in the last segment. Yeah, talking about, I don't know, I haven't seen it a ton to where I can say, you know what, CJ Stroud bailed out of that pocket way too early.

It's just been, he's a lot under duress. He's been maybe here and there. I'm going to have to maybe watch the game again tomorrow. I don't know, because I was half watching the Rockets, half watching the Texans. And you had both on at the same time. How'd you do it? Do you have multiple screens? I have multiple screens.

Look, it's 2024. You can get good, decent TVs for fairly cheap these days. Oh, no, no, I know. I know. But you know my setup. No, I don't. Well, you've been there. Oh, the big screen.

You only got one. Why don't you get, now, is that a projection screen or forget? Yeah. So if I were to do that. You could get a projector that can make, like, four screens in one. You could probably get that set up. Well, I'd have to buy a new projector, and the projector I bought was like five grand. We'll stop buying a new jacket every six seconds, and then maybe you can get one.

Your new jackets it would take to add up to a projector? Sell them back. Why don't I just get? You know what's funny? I'm looking it up right now. Multi-Display projector. Okay. This is good radio.

This is such a Matt Thomas show special right now. You're looking up the price. Guess what show this is. Yeah, exactly. And anything goes Friday, so nobody can say anything. It goes Friday. Ooh, $319? Okay, it's going to crap out in like six months if it's that much.

Oh, no, this is a screen actually, projector screen. And by the way, if I were going to do something like that, what I would probably do is just put two smaller monitors underneath the screen. where I have a little wall space, but I don't want to do that. You know, the reason I asked is I looked at, I was watching the Texans game on the big screen, and then I just streamed the Rockets game on my phone, which was fine. I just needed to keep an eye on those two games. And I'm like, because what I did was I check on the Rocket score, and I see that they like, like after one, it was 34, 21 or whatever.

And I'm like, oh, okay, they came to play tonight. And, uh, because, you know, it's been hit or miss in the early parts of the season. Yes, it has. Especially defensively. Especially against the Charlotte Hornets in the opener. That was a miss. just brutal. We don't need to talk about it. So they go to Dallas and

Jalen Green just goes off last night. He didn't go off from the standpoint. He scored 50, but he just took over that game in the fourth quarter. And you knew Luka was going to hit some shots. And they were double team. Teams are double teaming Jalen Green late in games. That's a sign of respect. But you know what's cool about that is some credit that I will give to him

that I'll be honest. I haven't been a huge fan of Jalen Green in the early stages of his career. Yes. But he does make good passes when he's doubled in those situations. He has good court vision. His playmaking and reading of defenses absolutely is improving year to year,

which you absolutely love to see. And then I also wanted to get your comments on Victor Wimbunyama's 25.9 rebound, 7 assists, 5, steel 5 blocking. I'll tell you what my comments on that are. About time since you went 6.8 boards against the Thunder

in a game that actually mattered two nights prior. So no credit to you. Hey, hey, the Jazz may be the O and five? Exactly. Who are they playing? Oh, the jazz without Rudy Gobert? Yeah, that's real impressive. All right. It's like the worst team in the NBA. Screw you, Victor. And screw the spurs. A full Adam Klan experience on this segment. I love it. All right. Felipe,

he's been holding longest. What's up, Felipe? How are you? What's going on, guys? It's IT, I guess. No longer Battle Red Ross. Hold on. IT. Oh, because I'm looking up projectors. You want to make sure you have the dual screen. You're going to have to have to have the HDMI. You're going to want the higher bandwidth HDMI cords Adam. That's good. Yeah.

That's really good. Now, guys, real quick comments, I got to make, man, last night, you know, and I'm going to say this from a Patriots fan standpoint. The only football I can really watch consistently is Texan, so, I mean, I'm keeping up

with it. Man, last night, I can say this, and we can say it every week, but Joe Mixon has that dog, you know, man. He's a run. Like, he'll go through, just through the old line and just push his way through. He was fighting, man. I had to give him props for that. That's a great

pickup for the Texans. Two, who was our other running back last night? J.J. Taylor? Nixon. Yeah, okay. Oh, CJ's shroud, you mean? He's running for his life back. Probably him, too.

So, yeah, JJ Taylor, man, I'm not sure. I think it was in the third quarter, man. I saw it drop on them. And I just noticed recently a lot of them in this league are not getting called. And that's in every team, game and I just if they're gonna ban it

he's something you know has some consistency and go ahead and start charging these players for it and number three man the O line woes do continue and this is going to be the president of this team Nick Casario does have to address that O line man you're going to have your your franchise quarterback

run for his life every game I like Ced A shot I'm a big fan of his I want him to succeed and for many years I've never been against them I'm always wasting, you know, whatever, the glit against the Patriots, I hope we beat them.

But this, every since CJ shot has been in the league, I've been a big fan of his. All right, thanks a lot, Felipe. Yeah, I don't, we're running low on time. We kind of talked about it a little bit briefly there, Adam, about, Stan Orphly was mentioning Andrews P's. There was Pete, there's, for the Raiders, as a guard, it's possible trade, like a trade target.

The trade deadline is November 5th. I believe that's also the only thing happening in the country. country on that day. Nothing else I can think of. I wonder if Nick Casario, because he, not necessarily, I don't want to say tipping his hand, but he showed that he was willing to go all in for this season to me by making the Stefan Diggs move and voiding out his contract. That move was made to push in all in for this year.

So will he continue to do that by making a possible move along the offensive line and even making it easier to make that move is the fact that Kenyon Green is going to be out for the season. Yeah, well, yeah, that's absolutely two things going in your favor if you're looking to do something like that. But, I mean, the hardest part of the schedule from the Texans perspective is probably behind them, not from the standpoint of talent. They've still got, you know, tons of games against, well, they've got a number of games against really good teams, not the least of which is the back-to-back murderer's row of Baltimore in Kansas City, or I guess Kansas City, Baltimore in that order.

But what I mean by that is they've done the dirty work of, you know, you have swept the Colts, you've already beaten the Jags once. I don't think anybody is going to pick the Titans against them. So you're already going to have five wins in the division right there. Yeah, you're in the playoffs. That's not the goal. Right. But what I'm saying is, like, if you're all in on this season, okay, the goal is not just

to make the playoffs like we just got done saying. But if you want to have any shot at, you know, advancing further than you ever have in franchise history, which means you're going to have to win more than one game, then you've, yeah, you've got to do something. And the other part of that is, you remember when the initial trade deadline in Major League Baseball passed back when they had to? Yes. And the Astros didn't do anything and Dallas Keikle spoke out against it.

Yes. and then they got verland of the waivers. At the second deadline, right, with 33 seconds to spare or whatever it was. Thank you, Kate Upton. We love you for so many reasons. I know it's not exactly the same. But, you know, I think it would send a message to that locker room that you're at least trying. And it doesn't have to send them.

Good for morale. I like that. That's what I mean. And that sounds stupid. It sounds like I'm trying to like manufacture something here, but that's important. I would say more than any other sport, the locker room matters in football. Look at what happened when Deshaun Wachan. and, you know, put his Achilles on backwards.

Like James Winston comes in, and yeah, maybe James Winston. To this day. It's not probably the guy that you would necessarily choose, but you know that lifted that locker room. Oh, we don't have to Sean screwing us over every week now. This is awesome. We got crazy James out here eating dubs, and they did against the Baltimore Ravens.

I just do think that's a... I mean, look, the Jets without Robert Sala are, and, you know, with... Well, they lost a couple of games in a row. Oh, I know. I know. Including, I mean, the inexplicable loss of the Patriots. I mean, my gosh.

But I'm going to go through the AFC real quick and you just tell me. I'm going to say neutral field, we won't say on the rotor at home. Neutral field, Chiefs and Texans. Chiefs winning. Neutral field, Ravens and Texans. Neutral field, bills and Texans.

Now? Right now. Probably bills. I'm with you. I'm with you. You're asking them to hold Josh Josh Allen to his worst completion percentage in his career again. Because that's the only chance you're going to have to win that game.

And I got another one for you. Neutral field, Steelers and Texas. That's a tough one. Because I do think that you could get to their quarterbacks. I mean, Russell Wilson doesn't scare me. T.J. Watt, Cam Hayward against this offensive line. I'm aware. I'm picking Steelers.

I'm going to just let you know right now. I'm picking the Steelers. The way that Nelson is in playing and George Pickens, and I know they've beaten the Raiders, Jets, and Giants the last few weeks are the teams they've beaten. But, yeah, but they went to the playoffs with like Mason Rudolph. Exactly. I think I have to put that in, just at this moment, two weeks ago, I would have said Texans. Right now?

And how much of that is the morale playing into it? I know they've got a good culture. I know that the guys are, they rally behind CJ and they rally behind obviously D'Amico. But, I mean, my goodness. It's just, it's so bad. And it's getting worse. It got worse from last year to this year. And now, if you look at his sack totals, eight, that's by far the most in the game all year.

I think the most before that was five. It was bad last night. And so, yeah, maybe some recency bias creeping in for us because it was so horrible, but they had opportunities to win that game did not get it done. Certainly some issues for the Texans. Okay, Jay, we see you on hold one segment to go. It is the Matt Thomas show. Without Matt Thomas.

I'm Ross Vierreale. Adam Clinton is hanging out. Connemar Goverin is here as well. A team coming up at 3 o'clock and the final segment of this program after this short break. This is the Matt Thomas show on Sports Talk 790. Yeah, you're all mixed up. It was the Lombardi Awards. Are you sure? Yeah. Okay. Because the other awards show that we've done the last two years in a row is it's the Lombardi and then it's the Bear Bryant.

It wasn't the John Mackey Award? No. That's for the best tight end. Last three winners, Brock Bowers, Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, and those are the two best tight ends in football right now. But that award ceremony is not held here in Houston, is it? No, it is not. That's why we would be there. Anyways, welcome back to

what is this? This is the Matt Thomas show. The Matt Thomas team. With Ross, but also without Matt Thomas. He is in college station hanging out for his son's ring dunking. What's the process there again? Milk?

Which one is the one with milk? That's the Indianapolis 500 you're thinking of. No, no, I thought there was something with milk with, maybe it's beer. Yes. They put the ring in a bottom of a pitcher of beer, and then you chug said beer, and then people time it, and then people throw up. It's a whole ordeal. And that's how you're able to enjoy being in college station?

Yes. That was, those were the words of Adam Clanted. I got a family full of Aggies. Not me. There's nothing you can say to me that's going to. I would never say a bad word about college station. Never. But yes.

So his son doesn't drink, so they're doing it. I don't know if they're going to do it. Are they going to do a pint or a pitcher of sweet tea? He might go in a diabetic shock if he does a whole pitcher. So hopefully he can just... I love a good sweet tea. Sweet tea, I mean, sweet tea, this is the perfect scenario, is got to be with great Texas barbecue and sweet tea. Yes.

Oh. I was just about to say it's the best with barbecue. It goes with a lot of meals, but barbecue is really good. Tuna sweet tea. That's, you know what? That's a death row meal type stuff. See, what I don't like is that I know that you have barbecue prowess and we haven't had any together ever. Well, let's go. Well, where are we going and win? I work 12 to 3 and you work 3 to 6, so it doesn't really work out.

That's your problem. All right, Saturday? Hey, we're both working the Rockets game. I'm just saying. Oh, we could go somewhere before. If you want to. But I got to be there early to do the thing with the thing. I got to do pregame too. We'll see. I got stuff to do. See, you're very busy.

You're like Matt. You're like, hey, let's do this, let's do that. And you're like, oh, I can't. I'm too busy. Yeah, whatever. Yeah, but when I say it, I'm actually doing stuff. And when he says it, he's just going to a volleyball game. He just wants to be invited to stuff.

He doesn't really want to go. Matt is a, he is the king of FOMO. Here, it's 790. Again, the words of Adam Clinton. Jay, you're next up here on Sports Talk 790. What's up, Jay? Hey, CNRV. Hey, these three suspects, Tonso, Howard, and, uh, green.

did these guys participate in the preseason? I believe they... Not Tunsel didn't. I don't know about the others. I don't have the preseason snap counts in front of me, Jay. Okay, okay. Well, you know, the reason I ask that is because if they participated in the practice games and preseason games, I mean, they probably could have solved then

that these guys weren't any good. But now you're stuck with them, their contracts, and there's no more I mean, where do you go? You keep them. Yeah. All right, Jay, thanks for those insights. I don't,

Laramie Tunsel is overpaid for what he provides, but he's still good, and quite frankly, he's still their best offensive linemen. I know there's a lot of the baggage and people get upset. He goes off, he goes false starting all the time. He did last night. He's been having a lot of penalties.

And he's still their best pass blocker by far. and still one of their best blockers. They need Larammy Tunsell. It is what it is. People are like, bench him. Bench him. He keeps you getting too many penalties, man. Well, if you bench him, then it's Blake Fisher time,

and Blake Fisher hasn't been very good. He came in for a little bit yesterday, and I do think Tunsel isn't 100% the way that he was playing yesterday. But the bottom line is you need him and you need Titus Howard, because your other options aren't good. Yeah, I think that that's kind of what I was talking about. Just because you draft and or throw money at something, it doesn't mean you've improved it.

You've addressed it from the standpoint of we're going to go semantics about this, which you know we do from three to six. So it's not like he just sat around. Who was the live receiver one last night for the Texans? Thank you, Dill. Like I said, it would be. I don't know.

That's a question. Only Adam Wexer could answer. Well, his theory was that there wasn't one because Nico Collins and Stefan Diggs were out. And really, Nico Collins is out. Because even when Stefan Diggs was here and they were both healthy, they were still Niko.

They were putting them in the slot. for Stefan Diggs. But, yeah, Tank Dell, six catches, 126 yards. Had that 50-yarder. He was pretty good. Outside of that, two catches for 44 yards for Robert Woods. I mean... Robert Woods.

Three catches for 21 yards for Dalton Schultz and squadouche for everyone else. It just wasn't... But again, I can't even... I'm not going to put that on the receiving core when the quarterback's under duress all the time. Both times that Metschie was targeted, he was open, and C.J. Stroud missed those throws. You know what I was alarmed at, though?

Just what you just, the thing you just mentioned, I went and tweeted about the offensive line, and I got an inordinate amount of blowback saying, well, CJ sucks too. I'm like, y'all need to like. They're not watching. I'm sorry. Touch grass, man. It's just, I get it. He's not perfect. And I know nobody thought he would be, but you can't tell me.

that some of his struggles this year aren't because he's under pressure all the time. And the caller that said happy feet, that's a real thing. David Carr came into the league with it. Well, David Carr sucked by the end of the day. The thing about C.J. Stroud and the thing about good quarterbacks is he's still been productive. Now, alas, yesterday the stats weren't great. Was it the other game he had really?

Was it the Packers game? Hold on. Yeah, he was 10 of 21 for 86 yards in that game. But, I mean, if he was a bad quarter, quarterback, he would be 10 of 21 for 86 yards with like two picks. Like he's not turning the ball over either. He's missing throws. And he was under duress in the Colts game and he ended up 25 at 37 with a touchdown in 285 yards. If he was a bad quarterback and was pressured, at that point in the middle of the third quarter,

there was like a 70% pressure rate. You do not have a bad quarterback with a 70% pressure rate at one point and you throw 285 touchdown, no picks. He is a good quarterback. It's considered a good week when he's only sacked twice. Yes. I mean, and there is far too many games where he has been sacked three or more times, and most of them are four. Green Bay got him four times. Minnesota obviously got him four times.

I actually thought Minnesota got him 20 times, but that's just, you know. It felt like 20. But they also committed like 76 penalties in that game. True. And they turned the ball over three or four times in that game. It was bad. In the Minnesota game? Yeah.

I think it was three. Whatever it was, it wasn't good. That was their absolute worst game of the season, and that was kind of a reality check for this Texan's team. He threw two picks in that game. Okay. So he threw a couple of picks. I think didn't they lose a fumble or something?

I don't remember. Anyways. So the bottom line is they got some time to go to the drawing board, but the lions are coming up next. And that is going to do it for the Matt Thomas show. Without Matt Thomas, with Ross. Adam, thank you for hanging out. Sorry, I was late. It's fine.

It's three minutes. It was in anything goes Friday. Three minutes is nothing. You know that. Thanks to Stan Norfleet for hanging out. Do appreciate him in the first hour. Thanks to all of you for calling in talking some Texans ball here on Sports Talk 790. I do appreciate it. It will continue with not only one Adam. It is another Adam. They call themselves the A team. Oh, by the way, thanks to Connemogne as well. I'll talk to you folks tomorrow, 6 o'clock on the launch pad here on Sports Talk 790. Your home for your home teams.