December 7, 2023 • 46 mins
Host Eric Allen is joined in the Audi Performance Studio by Bart Scott and Brian Baldinger. Following a QB change, the guys preview an AFC showdown between the Jets and rookie QB C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans.
3:30 - Elite play of Jets cornerbacks Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed and Michael Carter II
8:10 - Zach Wilson Returns to Starting Spot
18:05 - Benefits of Up-Tempo Offense and Taking Shots
26:05 - Outstanding Jets Defense vs. Star Rookie C.J. Stroud
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to another episode the Game Preview Podcast presented by
LifeLock Jets Texans Week fourteen. Cynthia Freeland in the house
as always Ethan Greenberg. You'll hear from Robert Sola this
week with Eric Allen. John Palano will join us later
in the show for a little Jets Texans themed game
that previews the matchup. And let's just start with this, Cynthia, Like,
(00:25):
the Texans feels like came out of nowhere. Like what
did your early season or preseason projections of the Texans
have before the season started, and obviously how has that
changed since?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Well, this is probably the biggest change in all of
the NFL for me, other than you know, injury, unfortunate
injury team situations. But I you know, you don't typically
see a team who picks both in the second and
third pick of the NFL Draft end up in a
position where they're very, very very more than likely headed
to the postseason in a very dominant AFC.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
But what we really saw was CJ.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Stroud exceed expectations, especially in the beginning of the season
before is oh Line was fully healthy. This guy had
so many different combinations of O lines and so many
different combinations of we didn't know what we were looking at,
and yet he was a really really good passer from
the jump, super accurate, which is something we saw from
Ohio State. But it really translated quite fast. In fact,
if you look at his data, he actually solidified from
(01:23):
like the one hundred rookie level to the two hundred
rookie level faster than Jordan Love has this season.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
And Jordan Love's been in the league for a lot longer.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
I think what CJ. Shroud has been doing is just incredible.
And also, obviously as the season's gone on, there's been
stories about, like the Panthers, We're gonna draft CJ. Shroud
at first if they traded back. It's just like, you
know what, Like this is a learning experience for everyone involved.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
You could have just remembered, remembered all the pre stuff,
pre draft stuff that was like this weird test where
he like he didn't do well on the test.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
He must not be very smart. That test looks pretty
stupid now, huh.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
We were talking about this literally earlier today, like it's
two thirteen on the East coast here, I kid you,
not less than a half hour ago we had the
same conversation in terms of like it's for me, it's
you don't really know what's going on in the pre
draft process because one there's so many like there's the
(02:20):
Wonder Lick, there's all these different tests, and then there's
like the football test. And do you feel like, as
someone I know this is a tangent not related to
Jets Texans, but do you feel like the pre draft
process and evaluating prospects almost gets too granular? And this
is coming from someone who's a numbers person.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Yeah, I mean the numbers are what they are. Their
college data is what it is they put on the field.
What we have, that's what we have to work with.
I actually think it stresses the importance of the interview process.
So how good are the people in the room when
they're like, hey, these are the ten questions that we
want to ask someone to try to get to know them.
You know, you can you can do interviews at the
senior you can do interviews at their specific pro days,
(03:03):
you know, when the college's host.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
You can do interviews at the combine.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
I think the better your team is at identifying both
who they are and what they expect from a player,
that will get you to a better result. So I
think Demiko Ryans, maybe we need to give him some
credit for knowing what he was looking for in a
quarterback in a system, obviously bringing in the right situations.
Like to Rad Johnson's theory's a quarterbacks coach, he played quarterback,
(03:27):
he has a history of that.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
They brought in Bobby Schlowk.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Like the offensive point being is they created the right situation,
then they found the person that best fit their situation.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
So I think that's.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Maybe a better story then, because you can get as
granular as you want, but like at the end of
the day, you kind of have to accept that, like
these are the flaws, these are the pros, this is
what we have to work with, and these are the
players that are currently on our team. We always like
to talk about like theoretically what you do in a vacuum,
but realistically you're not switching more than like seven players
(03:58):
on your team maybe at most, and you know, in
the draft maybe three, Like you can't really count on
all seven or however many draft picks you have seven
if you're a normal team, right to hit. So I
guess my point is is the better your evaluators are
and the better you are knowing who you are, the
better the outcomes are. And and Joe Douglas is a
good testament to that too, But he just didn't have
to pick a quarterback in this draft.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
And the test you were referring to earlier in terms
of that, CJ. Shroud reportedly didn't do well in is
the S two cognition test s as in Sierra s
as in sally To cognition tests.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
And but like, like, let's let's make up our I
think we should create our own test, you know, like
we can come up with a way better test for any.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
My mine's like are you cool? Yes or no?
Speaker 1 (04:48):
So everyone cool can play football on your team?
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Well, you know, fit matters, right, like your person. When
I talked to a specific former Jet sheladon, he told
me shello CJ. I was like, what kind of kid?
He's like, really good kid, really good dude. I talked
to you about it, like, you know, a couple of
weeks ago, right saying, like, who's he become in the
locker room? I met him in the pre draft process.
Super nice, but like is he going to really not
(05:13):
be nice to me?
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Right?
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Like?
Speaker 2 (05:14):
But is he cool that? Like he have the like,
is he a dude? And Sheladan's like, yeah, absolutely, he's
a dude. So that's why I've heard from other players too.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
I'm glad you mentioned Saladan because there are one Sheladan
for those listening, is Sheldon Rankins, who Cynthia's Cynthia's neighbor, still.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Current neighbor or no, still current neighbors.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Cynthia's still current neighbor. Used to try to say Sheldon Rankins,
but would say Sheladan. So Sheldon Rankins now a member
of the Houston Texans, like one of many.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
He was four, Just so we're clear, like not like
I get.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Full on a dope. I can't say Sheldon. It is
shela don but you know it's it's it meaning Sheldon
is one of the many familiar faces that are going
to play in this game. For the Texans that used
to be Jets, there's Sheldon Rankins, There's George Fant you
(06:09):
go back to Blake Cashman and Neville Hewitt. The linebackers
Adriene Amos just signed there officially to the fifty three
man roster, and on their practice squad is matt Amandola,
who used to kick for the new York Jets. So
a lot of similarity or not a lot of similarities,
A lot of familiar faces there of those players that
I just said, Cynthia, So that includes Blake Cashman, Sheldon Rankins,
(06:35):
nevill Hewitt, Matt Amandola Adrian Amos, who is playing at
the highest level for the Texans. I'll take Amos out
of the equation because he's been a Jet this whole
year until now. Who's been playing at the highest level
for them? And then what's the biggest Jets matchup advantage?
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Well, I would actually have to say Sheldon Rankins for
a number of reasons. I know he's a little bit
banged up now, but if you look at what's been
going on on down I think there's a nice blend
of Remember this, Obviously they drafted TJ. Stroud, but then
right after that they drafted Will Anderson Junior out of Alabama,
So redoing that whole front that's a really big deal. Obviously,
(07:13):
Jets know that pretty well. But having a guy like
Sheldon Rankins who understands the concepts of the defense, how
to execute it, and how to teach some of these
younger guys, that kind of mix together has been really
impactful and you kind of look at I mean, he
had a great look. Go watch the Bengals footage between
the Bengals and the Texans and you can see Sheldon
Rankins impact. He just like game Wrecker, big problem on
(07:35):
third down specifically. But part of that is because, I mean,
they even have some more seasoned veterans like Jerry Hughes
in there too, and they're playing very well alongside the
young guys. But it's because of people like Sheldon who
know how to kind of a coach on the field, right,
Like we hear that about Aaron Rodgers too, but it
also works for Sheldon Rankins in this case.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
As a Texan, I feel like, perhaps, you know, I
don't know how George Fan is playing so far this year,
like throughout the course of the twenty twenty three season,
but if you're a Jets fan, you're probably thinking like
this Jets defensive line, especially when you look at the
tackles of Laramie Tunseell and George Fan. The Jets you
would imagine, game plan wise, would have more success against
(08:16):
someone not named Laromy Tunsel. It just so happens to
be George Fan and Jermaine Johnson lines up on both sides.
He lines up over the right tackle the career high
six pressures against the Falcons twenty six point one pass
rush win rate percentage. I mean, Jermaine Johnson has been
playing really, really good football this whole season. It's really
taken another level, kicked into another gear since the Jets
(08:39):
bye week in Week seven. He's fourth among edge rushers
in pass rush grade on PFF like he's playing very well.
But I've kind of botched the lead here. I forgot
about this and not forgot, but I didn't bring it
up early because I got sidetracked. But the Jets have
a new starting quarterback, but he's a familiar starting quarterback.
That's Zach Wilson back under center for the and White.
(09:00):
Robert Sala, talking to the media, said Zach Wilson gives
the Jets the best chance to win. He will, god willing,
injury bearing, be the starting quarterback the remainder of the season.
So that brings us to this week. The Texans. Dumiko
Ryans is a Robert Sala disciple. The two of them
(09:21):
were in San Francisco, so was Bobby Slowick. Actually, you're
gonna hear from Robert Salain a couple of minutes here
he talks about how Demiko Ryans and Slowick both his
defensive quality control coach in twenty seventeen, and now Slowick's
calling the plays on offense, and he's like, shoot, he
knows all the wrinkles of our defense. Now my question
to you, Cynthia, is Zach Wilson going up against this
(09:42):
Dimico Ryans Houston Texans defense, which is middle of the
pack in the NFL statistically speaking, how much of it
is like looking in a mirror at the Jets defense
in terms of scheme.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Well, scheme, very similar execution, We got some differences there.
I mean, Derek Stingley has been playing really well, but
the linebacker level is sus and the corner play in
general is it in the Sauce Gardner out there?
Speaker 3 (10:12):
You know what I'm saying? So or dg re right,
like you.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Know, you got like a again, not not bad, just
and because schematically maybe that's actually kind of an advantage, right,
Like I'd rather throw the ball not against Sauce Gardner
than against him. So you know, it's it's one of
those things where perhaps that will be a nice uh,
you know, at least it's something where there aren't going
(10:34):
to be a lot of things where you don't understand
what's going on theoretically.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Yeah, I think it's just fascinating to see, you know,
what will happen when Zack Wilson goes up against a
similar defense. And obviously you would imagine, just like Robert
Sahalav was mentioning, or you're about to hear him say
like Bobby Sloweg knows the snakes in the grass er
se of the defense, you'd imagine Zack Wilson going up
against his defense for the better course of two seasons,
three seasons. Now he would see things here and there
(11:01):
that would be like, I've seen this before.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
But the interesting part here is the opposite's kind of
also true too, not that CJ. Strod's played against this
type of defense before, but because he sees it in practice,
perhaps he understands it a bit better too. Or you
can make the argument that c. J. Stroud doesn't know
what he doesn't know yet, right because he's still a rookie.
So it'll be interesting to see how that works out,
especially now that you know. I always like when teams
(11:25):
play but my best versus your best, and without Tank Dell,
who's been his favorite receiver. That's that's tougher. And you
know they've been injured at the tight end position too.
But in general, I don't know which way it will
go for CJ. I think for Zach Wilson, I have
a little bit more. You know, Zach Wilson is like
three hundred level, meaning we know who he is. His
profile is more defined as a pro as opposed to
(11:46):
c J. Strowd, who's like still two hundred level. Right,
It's not just how many games played, it's also situations faced,
kind of recognition, how many times you can use your
full progression, things like that, right, So it's not just
numbers of games played, it's also when you've seen a
lot of different stuff. So I think he's at a
point now where you know, CJ. Stroud's just two hundred,
Zach Wilson's more like three hundred.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
It's a very good point. And you know, just looking
at the Texans schedule of the twenty twenty three season,
just trying to like compare quickly before we hear from
Robert Sala, like who the Texans have played, where you're like, okay,
like that's a good defense. Let's just rip through this
real quick. Texans lose twenty five to nine against the
Baltimore Ravens Week one. Week one, I understand, like its
(12:29):
own entity. But the Ravens very good team. The Colts,
the Jaguars, the Steelers, I would argue is like again
Week four early in the year. But the Steelers had
to have a great defense, and they blew the doors
off the Steelers in Houston. Final score thirty to six.
The Falcons, the Saints, the Panthers, the Bucks, the Bengals.
They put up thirty. That's a good defense. I can't say.
(12:51):
The defensive coordinator's name your budd and Aarumo, lou and
Arumo and Arumo.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
He's from saddn Island. He's a Paison knows.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Jaguars Broncos only put up twenty two. So I think
it's safe to say that the Jets are one of,
if not the best defense the Texans have seen yet,
at least in terms of passing defense. And so I
think it'll be interesting to your point because if the
strength of the Texans offense, the cj shroud in the
passing offense, which is second in the NFL. Strength statistically
(13:22):
for the Jets is the pass defense, which is third
in the NFL. Sauce Gardner DJ Reed MC two no
more tanked del for the Texans. I just think it's
going to be interesting to your point, like he doesn't
know what he doesn't know, or this is who he is.
This is one of those litmus tests in the eyes
of NFL evaluators.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
I bet he was still wish he was passing to
Garrett Wilson.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
You know, hey, buddy, Yeah, Ohio State to Ohio State
as opposed to Nico Collins Ohio State Michigan.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
I think it's okay with I think he's all right
with that. I mean, they had like, you know, a
bajillion yards last week, so I think he's okay with
like he's let go that whole rivalry. And also I
think Michigan's won like three in a row against How's
it not that the girl from Michigan's keeping track or anything.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
No, no, no, not at all, not at all. Well,
speaking of people from Michigan, I think he's shot me here.
From head coach Robert Salah on this week's matchup, He's.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
Going back to Zach Wilson this week. What do you
want to see from him? Against the Texas.
Speaker 5 (14:13):
I just want to see him go out compete like
he does. He's a first competitor. Love to see him
start fast, have confidence himself, let the ball rip, be aggressive,
and just let the chips fall with him in.
Speaker 6 (14:26):
You know, is that what you're gonna tell him? Let
it rip. That's it.
Speaker 5 (14:29):
That's what you know we've been trying to preach to
him is uh, you know, start fast, that it's okay.
Speaker 6 (14:35):
You know.
Speaker 5 (14:35):
He he he usually and it's a good thing. He
gets better as a game goes on. It'd be even
awesome if he could start fast and get better from there.
And we think if he can do that, it'll be
something special.
Speaker 4 (14:45):
Can you talk about him being a competitor, about how
much he loves the game and he wants to be
out here in this position.
Speaker 6 (14:52):
Yeah, I was.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
I don't want to say I was shocked, but it was.
It was pretty cool on Monday after the game for
him to walk into my office and and and basically
asked for the ball. And I thought that was cool.
And I wasn't ready to make a decision at that point,
but but it but it definitely helped.
Speaker 6 (15:13):
What are you hoping Brett Rippin adds to that quarterback room.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
You know, he's someone who's familiar with hack in the system,
another veteran presence, a good arm, talent, good decision maker, smart,
you know, so just another voice, another set of eyes.
You know, he's he's like I said, he's got history
in the in the system. So so just adding some
veteran presents.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
Were you happy what you got out of Xavier? He
had more than one hundred and forty total yards. That's
lost in the mix, of course with the offensive struggles,
but he's taking steps forward for it.
Speaker 5 (15:45):
Yeah, you know, I think it's it's all those young guys.
You know, you look at Carter Warren's taking steps, Joe
Tipman's taking big steps, Xavier Gibson's taking big steps, and
then you look at the second year guys and uh
Breeze and and Garrett, and then you look at guys
like Max Mitchell and they're all taken except Jeremy Ruckerd.
(16:09):
They've all taken big steps this year. Very young group,
very talented group. But but to go back on e
Xavier that he's he had a really nice game and
he's been getting better every week and we're hoping that
he can continue to build on it.
Speaker 6 (16:19):
Defensively, you guys have such a high standard.
Speaker 4 (16:22):
But what's been the most significant difference this year compared
to last year. You guys are now second in yards
per playing the National Football League, second in yards per
past attempt, ninth in sech ratio, fifth in interception ratio.
Speaker 5 (16:39):
Yeah, it's a relentless group. They're a year older, they're
a year better, year faster, and and what's exciting, they're
built the right way.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
Man.
Speaker 5 (16:48):
They they they line up, they play, they don't care.
They just ball and I love I love watching it.
And but you know, and they're all coming back when
you when you look at the way it's all structured there,
you know it's a really young group, very talented group,
hungry group. And you know, so as far as differences there,
your year, another year in the system, Another year in
(17:08):
the system is a little bit. Is another year of
efficiency and playing fast. And what's encouraging is we've done
it against all the great quarterbacks too, and still have
been able to put up good numbers from a defensive standpoint.
Still got five games to go. We still got to
stack up these great days and and do our best.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
Finish strong now with Jermaine Bryceof and Quentin Jefferson. You
guys have three players with more than six secs. What
do you think about the dynamic up front and what
you've gotten from Quinton because I think that he's kind
of the guy who's been lost in the shuffle.
Speaker 5 (17:45):
Yeah, Q Jeff, I think his number is career high
if I'm not mistaken. He's been an awesome addition. You know,
losing Sheldon Rankins was a was a big deal, but
having qjeff step in and basically pick up where she
left off has been been awesome. Great great find from
Joe de and his staff, and a great job from
(18:05):
Aaron and Aaron Whitecotton and our D line coach and
his continued development of all these guys. But I think
it's safe to say, you know, with the proven development
of the D line, if you come play for this group,
you're going to have your best year. And you know,
Jermaine Johnson, he's he's kind of blossom this year. He
looks he looks awesome, and he's only going to get better,
(18:27):
you know. So there's a lot of guys on that
D line that are having really good years. There's the
sack numbers may not recognize it. It may not be
recognized that their sack numbers, but they're trending in the
right direction. Even Will McDonald, I know he gets kind
of lost in the in the mix, but super talented
young man. Kind of a similar story to JJ. Not
to put the expectations of year two on him, but
(18:48):
a lot of confidence that if he continues to grow
and he has the off season that Jermaine had, he's
gonna he's going to continue to grow to.
Speaker 6 (18:54):
Three safeties this season.
Speaker 4 (18:57):
How cool is that teach tape going to be on
the late safety where Quinnin's in there in the backfield
no time and Ashton.
Speaker 6 (19:05):
Davis made a play of career right there.
Speaker 5 (19:08):
Hecka ashen U. It's funny. All he does is find
the ball, right He's I'm a big fan of his.
You know, you he's he's done nothing but work, and
you know he's he's kind of been I don't want
to say a rut, but he's been a valuable, very
(19:28):
underrated piece to this defense and the way he goes
about his business, the way he works. That play kind
of embodies everything that he represents for this defense and
special teams for that matter.
Speaker 6 (19:41):
He is.
Speaker 5 (19:43):
He may be underappreciated, but not in this building. I mean,
the appreciation we have for him runs deep, and he
embodies everything that we believe in with regards to playing
defense on this football team.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
Do we expect to see a little bit of a
play increase because you guys have used Big Knickel. He
got one of the best Nickels in the National Football League,
Michael Carter the second. But obviously he made a recent transaction.
And you're talking about Ashton's continued development and growth.
Speaker 5 (20:10):
Yeah, he We feel like we've already uped this his
playtime already this year. He's earned it. He's earned every
right to be on the football field. He's he's forcing
his way on the field. Where you know, all Brick
is very comfortable getting Big Nickel out there because Ashen
just he he he he fits up. He can run
all the zones, he can play man coverage under there.
He he understands the run fits, he understands all the
(20:31):
blitz is. He understand he understands everything. And uh, you know,
so we're kind of spoiled in that regard that at
the Ashton is playing at such a high level and
where we're able to use it accordingly.
Speaker 6 (20:42):
But when you saw that on tape, what was your reaction?
Speaker 5 (20:45):
That's everything you look for. Man, he got effort, he
got violence in there, you got perfect technique. Our style
of play showed up in that one and that one play,
and that's when you show up with our style of
play and what we what we want in the Silent
twenty two, the all twenty two tape that's silent called
the islent tape. Those plays that that's what represents us.
Speaker 4 (21:04):
I don't want to get you find here, but DJ
reed those couple of plays at that and a half.
Speaker 6 (21:09):
Just from a teaching perspective.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
They say, hey, just keep on going out and playing ball,
because you should have had an interception there. In real time,
that was a physical hit in the end zone. But
if you go back and you watch it, he's hit
in the body.
Speaker 5 (21:22):
Yeah, in real time, you're always going to get some
questionable calls against you. You're going to get something that
go with you, you know. And it was an unfortunate
sequence of sequence of events. I think it started with
a Garret Garrot Wilson.
Speaker 6 (21:36):
Hold.
Speaker 5 (21:38):
But but like I said, you know they're not you know,
those restaurant going to be perfect. They got a hard
job to and they're not always going to be perfect.
We're always going to strive for perfection, just like we
strive for perfections from ourselves. But you got to roll
up the punches. We've got to learn how to overcome penalties.
They're not They don't have to be detrimental if we
don't let them be detrimental, and and by understanding a
(22:02):
penalty can happen. We just got to find ways to
overcome him and maintain our composure and keep playing.
Speaker 6 (22:08):
Tamiko Ryans is doing a great job with the Texans.
Speaker 4 (22:11):
You hired him his first coaching job in the National
Football League back in twenty seventeen.
Speaker 6 (22:16):
What did you see from him at that point?
Speaker 5 (22:19):
Well, I was lucky enough to be able to coach
him too. I was an assistant linebackers coach for the Texans.
He was the defensive rookie of the year first and foremost,
Because you guys, everyone knows how big characterist does here.
Tomico Ryans embodies character even when he was a player.
Just his the way he goes about his life. He's
(22:40):
god faring, wife, kids, his family. That's how tightened it.
Such an unbelievable human, that's first and foremost. He's a
relentless worker. He's got humility for days, and that he's
always trying to learn, and he's always asking questions, and
he's not afraid to s a vulnerability of not knowing
(23:02):
the answer, but the willingness to go seek the answer.
But as far as the Miko, in terms of the
football coach, all of that character and all of his
play style and all of his entire life as a
football man came into coaching, and it was very easy.
(23:22):
Like I said, as a quality control. He wanted to
know all the dirty work. It wasn't I've made so
much money in my career. What am I doing here
making whatever? The heck of salary was fifty thousand, I
don't know what it was pennies in Santa Clara. But
he was first one in, last one out, grinded, asked questions, learned,
(23:45):
was promoted to linebacker's coach, still asked questions, even though
I mean he played linebacker's whole life. But he recognized
quickly that not everybody's him because he was a ridiculously
special talent. And so he earned through asking questions, watching tape,
seeking guidance. The right way to not make cookie not
(24:08):
cookie cutter everybody, but teach within their skills, and he
mastered it, quickly learned the scheme, understood how to be
a coordinator, quickly gets his head job. He's doing a
great job, and he's going to continue to do a
great job because he's going to continue to evolve not
only as a as a man, but a teacher and
a confidant.
Speaker 4 (24:27):
When you left and took the job here, did you
tell Kyle, hey man, this is your guy or it
didn't even have to be set.
Speaker 5 (24:36):
I don't think it had to be set at that point,
did Kyle ask? I was like your guys in the building, Bud,
you don't have to go anywhere. But Kyle already knew that.
So I'm not going to take credit for any credit
for what Domico has done. He proved himself. He earned
his right to be the quality control, he earned his
right to be the linebacker's coach, and just Kyle observing
(24:58):
him through the four years that he was there and
I was there, he recognized quickly that the Miko is
gonna be the next best coordinator in football and potentially
the next next great head coach.
Speaker 6 (25:07):
CJ. Stroud. What's impressed in most about.
Speaker 5 (25:10):
The way this rookie year he's this ud man. And
it's funny because you know all the all the bs
before the draft, you know, and uh uh you never
know until they put the helmet on. You see him
play and you can you can throw all that stuff away.
Speaker 4 (25:26):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (25:27):
He processes fast, he plays fast, he plays big, he
plays strong, he plays confident. His arm, his arm talent
is as good as anybody. Bobby Slowank is doing a
great job scheming those guys up, getting him open and
running through zones and all that. And you know Bobby
Slowek the offensive coordinator. He was also my QC in
UH in San Francisco, so he was on the defensive
(25:49):
side of the ball for two years. So it's like, shoot,
he knows every single wrinkle of our defense. And but
he's been a defensive guy's whole life, so he understands
all the nuance and uh and he knows exactly what
he's looking at when he watches tape and you can
see it and in his play design. So it's pretty
cool to see how he's evolved in his career and
the way he's coaching. C. J. Stroud he's doing a
(26:11):
fantastic job, and the young man and young man can
play football.
Speaker 4 (26:14):
With all these connections. What's it like preparing for this
game specifically?
Speaker 5 (26:23):
You know, it's a I'm not going to get too
deep into it because you don't want to get into
a game plan thing. But you know, there's there's a
lot of things that go in and you're you're just
watching the tape and you're understanding why they're doing things.
And I'm sure he's watching us, like, I see why
he's doing that. That's actually a good idea. Wow, that's
really cool. While and back and forth. But as for
(26:43):
this particular game plan, without saying anything, it's going to
be fun to see how it kind of shapes out.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
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(27:09):
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Great stuff from Robert Sala, great stuff from EA as
always Jets Texans. I do find it. I know I
said it before. I find it fascinating to see what
the game plan is going to be from a bunch
of people who actually I think the coolest part is
(27:31):
that solid coach Tamiko Ryans as a rookie, Like Tamiko
Rans was a rookie in O six in Houston, Sala
just getting into coaching. They reunite in San Francisco in
twenty seventeen. Now they're going head to head first time
in their careers, both as head coaches, both as defensive
minded gurus who are very bald and very fit. What
(27:51):
do you think about that, John Plano.
Speaker 7 (27:53):
I'm just jealous, Like they're both so Jackson, they're both
so fait and I want to be nflid coach. It's awesome.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
Do you think that's like are Cynthia like if for
those guys, like, if you want to be on the staff,
you got to be bald and jacked.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
I mean maybe JP should just shave his head then
it'll all work out right.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Maybe that's the key. Yeah, but I just realized something.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
Demika Ryans was like my year right, Like my my
best friend in college was a giant actually, Matthias q Nuka,
same draft class as Jamiico. Like what am I doing
with my life versus being come, I'm not a head
coach here.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
I think you're doing all right. I think you're doing well.
Can all things consider that you don't play professional sports.
Jamiko Ryans obviously has at a very fast track to
being a head coach in the NFL. Just seems like
a likable dude. Anyway, Jet's Texas John Polano, you ready
to roll? Heck yeah, before you get going. Now that
it's coming back to me, I think I had a
Damiico Ryan signed football growing up, Like someone gave it
(28:48):
to me. That was one and this girl in high
school was like, I don't know who this is. I
was like, cool, I'll take it. I think it was Demiko.
Speaker 7 (28:54):
Ryans defensive Rookie of the Year.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
It might have been. Yeah, anyway, No, while I was
in high school in oh six Pilano, Oh my god.
Speaker 7 (29:00):
That's not what I was saying.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
Geez, all right, what do we got. All right.
Speaker 7 (29:05):
So leading up to this matchup, I did a lot
of research on Houston itself, the city.
Speaker 1 (29:10):
Yeah, and I wanted to create like over forty four
Mexican population.
Speaker 7 (29:14):
It's good to know I did not know that. All right,
Maybe I didn't do enough research.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
That was my food video that's coming out later in
the week. Okay, good, I try to justify text max
all right.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
All right, all right, to turn your air conditioner on too,
because per capita, it's the highest air conditioning on person
on a square footage basis.
Speaker 7 (29:31):
I knew that case anyone was wondering, Okay, Wow, maybe
I just didn't do any research. I didn't learn any
of these things. See, this is why I keep you
guys around.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
This meant yeah, cognition. After this, I'm going to.
Speaker 7 (29:41):
Score the same probably name score seats drive.
Speaker 1 (29:42):
Yeah, well then you'll do all right, I know.
Speaker 7 (29:44):
All right, let's roll here. So I create a Houston
themed scale. It's three levels, and so I'm gonna run
through you, run you guys through a couple of matchups,
and I want you to rate the matchups on this scale. Okay,
So one side of the scal is the Jets have
the advantage. The other side of the scales, Houston may
have the advantage, and the middle is kind of just
(30:06):
this is a matchup that could potentially decide the game,
and it is just relatively even. So for the side
that the Jets have the advantage, the instead of a number,
it is Houston, we have a problem. So Jet, you're
feeling really good about the Jets in this situation, shout
out Houston, we have a problem. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:24):
Yeah. On the side of the Texans, you have to
look that up, that phrase. No, I didn't have to
look that up.
Speaker 7 (30:31):
And on the other side, I don't know if you
guys know this phrase. If the Texans have an advantage,
the Jets are quote barbecue chicken.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
Do you understand that? Yeah, I understand it. Barbecue chicken
is like your toast. Yeah, your toast. It's the Southern
version of your toast. Your toast. Yeah, okay, Cynthia, you
got that?
Speaker 7 (30:48):
Oh yes, all right, awesome. And then the middle and
this this was really interesting. The official state dish of
Texas is actually chili.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
I didn't know that.
Speaker 7 (30:58):
In the city of Houston, they hold a few of
the world's biggest chili cookoffs. So for anything that's kind
of in the middle. We're just gonna call it chili cookoff. Okay,
sounds good, Yeah, you got it, all right, I'll just
serve chili here. Yesterday at facility, think they did delicious
Bison chili shout out.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
To flat Yeah. Yeah, I don't think that they did
that on purpose, because Friday, Friday's at the Jets Facility
is usually the meal that is representative or representing the
opponent of that week. So I'll be interested to see
what happens on Friday.
Speaker 7 (31:29):
Yeah, I'm really excited and a little hungry now. All right,
So a first matchup, we're gonna go with you kind
of stepped on my Jermaine Johnson one, so we're gonna
go to matchup number two because you guys did a
lot of good stuff on Jermaine Johnson and Laramie Tunsel.
My second matchup is the Elements versus the Houston Texans.
So according to the Weather Channel and their ten day
forecast on Sunday, they're supposed to be a hive sixty one,
(31:50):
a low of thirty eight and eighty percent chance of
rain majority of the day, and ten to twenty mile
an hour wind gusts and let's just run through quickly.
The Texans road games this year. They played at Baltimore
seventy eight degrees no rain early in the season, Jacksonville
eighty four degrees, no rain, Atlanta Dome, Charlotte seventy seven
no rain, and then Cincinnati where it was fifty six
(32:12):
and apparently pretty beautiful and there was no rain. But
by my account, the Jets have played in five rain
games this year, or well bad weather games where the
rain came in and out.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
So I want to know, is this something?
Speaker 7 (32:25):
Is this a place that the Jets will have an
advantage or the Texans will have an advantage?
Speaker 1 (32:28):
Yeah, okay, I got one, and I'm gonna go with Houston.
We have a problem because here's the thing. I understand
the Texans might have the DNA to play well in
the rain, but statistically speaking, when you look at Houston,
their strength of their offense is the passing game. I'm
not saying CJ. Shroud can't do it in the rain.
(32:51):
I'm just saying we just saw a rain game. I'm
at Life Stadium with the Falcons. The Falcons like to
run the ball. The Jets stopped the run very well.
Actions look to go to run the football, which they
don't do all too well. And I'm not saying the
Jets are world beaters at stopping it. That plays, in
my opinion, into the Jets hand. That means that the
Texans are being forced to do something that they're not
(33:13):
as successful at over the course of the twenty twenty
three season. Granted, they have very good players in Motor,
Devin Motor, Singletary Damian Pierce. They have a strong line,
But in my opinion, if it really is rainy, I
think that that could potentially be an advantage for the
Jets because it might force Houston to play a brand
of football they haven't played all too much this season.
(33:36):
I love that.
Speaker 7 (33:37):
I know Cynthia live in beautiful Los Angeles, but do
you think the rain could affect this game?
Speaker 1 (33:41):
Well, the rain effects are like when it rains, like
a drop house.
Speaker 2 (33:46):
Gets screwed up whenever their rain. No, look, I actually
think this one. I'm going to go with a chili
cookoff here. Not because like I love everything that you're saying.
It's just you're missing the other side of the ball,
which means I feel like both teams, who are similarly
constructed on defense are going to make an emphasis on
(34:06):
stopping the rent like Breese Hall, like they all know
he's really good. Just you know, they're not going to
be shocked by that. So I think it's going to
actually impact both teams in terms of the passing game
pretty significantly. And I do think that I'm totally with
you on the fact that the Jets have had more games.
Speaker 3 (34:24):
In the rain. But I also think that, you know,
you got to again, both.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
Offenses are going to be impacted by it. And I
guess my other thing here is the quarterback. You know,
obviously CJ. Struck, he played at Ohio State, He's played outside,
Degle Collins caught passes outside for Michigan. It is not
warm in Michigan. I can tell you that firsthand. So
you know when it when it comes, it's not the heat.
I know it's it also rains in Michigan quite a bit.
But you know, I do think that it's going to
(34:49):
kind of be that one, that one's a wash, huh.
Speaker 3 (34:51):
Pun intended.
Speaker 1 (34:53):
Admittedly, I really just wanted to say, Houston, we have
a problem right off the bat, like what Cynthia just
said as one hundred percent right, like it really is
is a chili cook off at the end of the day,
because the Jets also have to play in the rain,
and it's kind of like the Spider Man meme in
terms of like scheme and like thought and strategy. So
I agree with Cynthia. I really really just wanted to say, Houston,
(35:14):
you have a problem.
Speaker 3 (35:14):
Well, you have a problem.
Speaker 7 (35:16):
I'm glad you got that opportunity because I'm really happy
for you. But you do have a valid point. I mean,
the Houston has the I think they're twenty six and
rushing touchdowns this year. They just don't run the ball
as well as they throw the ball.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
Yeah, But to Cynthia's point, like it does goes both ways, absolutely,
because even though the Jets have more experience in the rain,
the Jets have also struggled offensively, especially recently. And you know,
hopefully Zach Wilson back in this offense after two weeks
away from being the starter, maybe that'll spark the offense.
We have no idea none, but the rain definitely won't help.
Speaker 7 (35:48):
Yeah, No, you're right, all right, let's rock on to
number two. Okay, So for this one, I went with
a pair of top ten picks from the twenty twenty
two NFL Draft. I don't know if you guys mentioned
Derrek Seley earlier. You may have, but I wanted to
go Derek Sneley, junior starting corner for the Texans versus
wide receiver Garrett Wilson, just to fill people in, to
let them know. Stingley has feig innerceptions in the last
(36:12):
three weeks, eight pass defenses. Also in the last three weeks.
He's just been phenomenal at forcing teams to turn the
ball over. And I was also thinking, sorry, this has
just crossed my mind. Sauce Gardner went fourth in that draft,
one pick after Derek Sneley. How cool is you're picking
in the top ten and you could either have a
guy with the nickname Sting or Sauce.
Speaker 1 (36:30):
Yeah. I tried to put that into an article. Okay,
like like the sting in the sauce. There's something there,
especially when you have like barbecue, yeah in the mix.
I want Cynthia to Anthers to answer this first, because
I'm trying to find a stat that I saw on
Twitter earlier in regard to dark Stingley.
Speaker 3 (36:49):
All Right, so I'm gonna go with this one.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
Is again, I'm just like, I just want to go
eat barbecue apparently, because it's not to say that, like,
I love Garrett Wilson, and I really appreciate like what
Derek Singley's been doing as well. But the problem is
is I do think they'll mix up routes and he'll
mix up coverages, so they might not match up on
every single route. And also it'll be interesting, especially if
(37:14):
there is rain, like how much that's going to be impactful,
because we know Garret Wilson can make insane catches, just
totally crazy one handed. You don't even need to like
merely just throw it like somewhere in the vicinity of
him and he'll figure it out. But Derek Singly also
has been really coming on as of late, especially with
that front providing so much pressure. So I just if
(37:35):
I were, if I were the Jets, I probably would
figure out a way to throw the ball to Garrett Wilson,
not in Derek Stingley's coverage. So I think maybe, you know,
so it's.
Speaker 3 (37:45):
Like respect respect, oh, respect, respect, respect. So I respect
your chili and you respect my chili, you know.
Speaker 1 (37:53):
Okay, so we're going chili cook off here? Yeah, yeah,
I also think chili cook off. And I found the
stat and also, speaking of four Jets, it's not really
a Jet, but it's a former Jets beat reporter now
covering the Houston Texans, DJ b Enemy Shout out to
DJ because he's the one that tweeted this. Since week ten,
Derek Stingley and Steven Nelson, the other Texans corner had
(38:15):
the two highest hawk rates in the NFL per Next
Gen Stats. Stingley's at fifty percent. Since week ten, cornerback
Derek Stingley is tied for the most interceptions four with
Deron Bland. He's allowed the six lowest passer rating when
targeted and the highest hawk rate. Stingley is starting to
break out, and then he won the AFC Defensive Player
(38:36):
of the Week. So to me, Stingley and Garrett Wilson,
just like Cynthia said, it's a chili cookoff, because this
is when those two, Like, if those two matched up
for an entire sixty minutes, I'm sure there would be
reps that Stingley wins and also reps where Garrett wins.
So to me, this is like, I don't think Stingley
(38:57):
has gotten necessarily like the same national love as Sauce
Garner has, especially because last year Sauce Garner defensive Rookie
of the Year, leads the NFL with twenty pass defenses.
Derek Stingly feels like he's really coming on strong, and
I think that you've I know, it's like so in
the past, you think about his true freshman year at LSU,
like how good he was, and you're talking about going
(39:19):
up against Joe Burrow, Jamar Chase, Justin Jefferson, Like that's
very impressive. Guys like that typically aren't a flash in
the pan. So to me, it's a chili cookoff. It's
strength on strength, and I think it's about even.
Speaker 7 (39:34):
That's fair.
Speaker 1 (39:35):
That's fair.
Speaker 7 (39:35):
No, I love chili too, honestly, one of my favorite foods.
So I'm fine with you guys continue, you know, in
terms of.
Speaker 1 (39:39):
Chili, though I can skip the beans in chili doesn't
really add anything. Point Yeah, no, no, no, I disagree
with you. What's the point. They're rushy. There's just mushy
stuff in my chili. I don't mean mushy stuff in
my chili when I have cheese, mushy. If you want
to put sour cream in there like I did yesterday,
I saw you too do that. Mushy scallions, little crunch scallions.
(40:00):
They got a little bizazed to them. You put beans
in there. Sure you want the protein, that's great, it's
all mush You are eating what Gordy eats? Whoa mush?
Speaker 3 (40:12):
No you're not.
Speaker 1 (40:14):
Are you a raw dog food giver?
Speaker 2 (40:20):
I'm mad at Gordy. But we do a combination of
like food and and he does kibble too. It's better
for their teeth. So like he does this combo FM.
Speaker 1 (40:33):
That dog. I tell you, well, how about this? Chili
is what I imagine? Have you ever seen snow dogs?
Or is that too old? A while ago? But I
have seen it, Cynthia Snowdogs? No, I don't know.
Speaker 3 (40:45):
I don't know what snow dog is.
Speaker 1 (40:46):
No, snow Dogs is a movie Cuba Gooding Junior. It's
a good movie. But they eat mush and to me,
that's what chili is. But I like chili. I like chili.
I just think beans are irrelevant in the chili.
Speaker 7 (40:58):
If you want something else beans, go eat some soup
pub with that.
Speaker 1 (41:00):
I would love to. That's what chili is.
Speaker 7 (41:02):
Chili's not soup.
Speaker 1 (41:03):
It's not soup. You're right, But I do think like
there if you were to power rank the importance of
certain things in chili ingredients. Beans is not at the
top of the list. For me, it's not near because
whatever the meat is or fake meat, if it's like
impossible meat, if that's that's your vibe, that's more important
than beans. Cheez, more important than beans. That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (41:27):
As long as it's not row squirrel, I'm good.
Speaker 1 (41:30):
Yeah, Okay, No, I agree with that.
Speaker 7 (41:31):
Yeah, I agree with Well, we can all come to
an agreement on that one, all right, should we get
one more?
Speaker 1 (41:35):
Let's do one more? All right?
Speaker 7 (41:37):
Awesome?
Speaker 1 (41:37):
So his last one I have c J.
Speaker 7 (41:39):
Stroud versus defensive coordinator Jeff Albrick. I feel like it's
been really well documented this year, and we talked about
on a bunch of pods that the Jets defense has
made some of the best quarterbacks in the NFL look
kind of silly this year. I mean, Herbert Mahomes hurts
an Allen average twenty two points a game against this
defense and all their matchups. But and for what it's worth,
(41:59):
obviously this is not the most incredible class of rookie
quarterbacks that Jeff Albrick has faced off against. But in
his coaching career, he has four and one against rookie
quarterbacks that play at least fifty percent of the snaps
and finish the game. That lists Tommy DeVito, Aiden O'Connell,
Kenny Pickett, and then last year Skylar Thompson twice. So
he's had his way with these young quarterbacks, giving up
(42:20):
fourteen point six points per game. So I'm just curious
between you two experts, what this chess match is going
to look like. Isn't an advantage all brick or is
c J. Shroud just the real deal man?
Speaker 1 (42:33):
Yeah, that's an interesting question. I kind of think it's
close to a Chile Like I understand there are three
categories chili cookoff Houston we have a problem with pro
Jets and barbecue chicken is pro Texans. But if there
were a scale where like you could do like an
A like an A minus over B plus. So that's
(42:55):
what I'm gonna do here, And I'm gonna say, Houston,
we got a cookout, That's how I'm combining it, or
Houston we got chilli. Well, however you want to do it,
because I think that like strength on strength, CJ. Shroud's
obviously been playing at a very very high level. But
I think that the advantage with Ulbrich slightly is that
(43:17):
he has more football acumen, just in terms of the
sheer amount of years that he's been around the game.
So maybe CJ. Shroud, you're like, oh, you're watching film.
You're like, oh, okay, he hasn't quite seen this yet
that we have the personnel to do, so let's throw
this at him see how he responds. So to me,
that's where it is slight advantage Jets. But CJ. Shroud
is very good. And to Cynthia's point earlier in this podcast,
(43:39):
it's like, is he that guy like you think he is?
But it's time on task before you really get like
the stamp of approval. So we'll see what CJ. Shroud
has to deliver on Sunday. But that's where I stand. Houston,
we have a cookout, cookoff.
Speaker 7 (43:54):
Cook off.
Speaker 1 (43:54):
Houston, we have a cookoff.
Speaker 3 (43:55):
I think we're gonna go Houston. We have a cookoff
here too.
Speaker 2 (43:58):
I will say maybe leaning towards if I only had
to pick one of the three, I would say he's
gonna have a problem. But that's only because we're starting
to see some of c J. Stroud's trends be revealed.
Meaning if you go back and watch the film from
last week, the Broncos showed me something on early downs,
and that's that they blitzed CJ.
Speaker 3 (44:13):
Stroud and he had a much lower efficiency.
Speaker 2 (44:16):
Rate, So be it on some sort of RPO or
a pat play action like, it was less efficient just
overall when they blitzed him on early downs, probably because
he didn't know necessarily what he was looking at, and
that was very helpful for the Broncos early in that game.
Speaker 3 (44:31):
Now CJ.
Speaker 2 (44:32):
Stroud, like the Chess match happened, and of course there
were some injuries in that one too. Patzertan went out
of the game for a while. So it turns out
it helps when their best quarter's not playing. You know,
just just a thought, but you know, when you're looking
at some of the tendencies. See like before, teams didn't know.
Speaker 1 (44:47):
What to make of c J.
Speaker 3 (44:47):
Stroud.
Speaker 2 (44:48):
Right now we're kind of at that point where teams
are knowing what they see with c J. Stroud and
they're going to make necessary adjustments advantage Jeff Ulbrick. But
then we have what was going to happen with you know,
Bobby slowick and this team do it. So there's a
little bit a chess match here going on.
Speaker 3 (45:01):
And CJ.
Speaker 2 (45:02):
Stroud's accuracy and his ability to deliver the football on time. Obviously,
especially without take Dell, there perhaps could be a little
bit changed. And by the way, Dalton Schultz was banked
up last week too, so we'll have to see like
what goes on with the tight end position. But ultimately,
you know, because Brevin Jordan didn't have the greatest.
Speaker 3 (45:18):
Game, blah blah blah.
Speaker 2 (45:19):
But but long story short, what you're going to see
there is you're going to see some of those things
that worked from the Broncos game be instituted in this game.
So I would say it's kind of, you know, leaning
to me more towards Houston. We have a problem because
the pieces on this Jets defense can do all of
those different things. Like the Jets get a lot of
pressure without blitzing, but blitz sometimes can make things look
(45:39):
different and freaking quarterback out.
Speaker 1 (45:41):
You know, I think that was extremely well said. You
did do good research, by the way, thank you. It
just wasn't you know, it wasn't necessarily as needs as
the air conditioning or the population of Houston. But Houston,
we have a problem. Barbecue, chicken, chili, cookout. I think
those are all great, great jobs, well done, appreciate John Polano.
Week fourteen Jets, Texans. That's the perfect way to end
(46:05):
this episode of the Game Preview Podcast. Next week, Week fifteen, Jets,
go back to Miami, maybe get a little sunshine away
from the cold. We'll break it all down right here
on the Game Preview Podcast presented by Lifeblock
Welcome to another episode the Game Preview Podcast presented by
LifeLock Jets Texans Week fourteen. Cynthia Freeland in the house
as always Ethan Greenberg. You'll hear from Robert Sola this
week with Eric Allen. John Palano will join us later
in the show for a little Jets Texans themed game
that previews the matchup. And let's just start with this, Cynthia, Like,
(00:25):
the Texans feels like came out of nowhere. Like what
did your early season or preseason projections of the Texans
have before the season started, and obviously how has that
changed since?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Well, this is probably the biggest change in all of
the NFL for me, other than you know, injury, unfortunate
injury team situations. But I you know, you don't typically
see a team who picks both in the second and
third pick of the NFL Draft end up in a
position where they're very, very very more than likely headed
to the postseason in a very dominant AFC.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
But what we really saw was CJ.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Stroud exceed expectations, especially in the beginning of the season
before is oh Line was fully healthy. This guy had
so many different combinations of O lines and so many
different combinations of we didn't know what we were looking at,
and yet he was a really really good passer from
the jump, super accurate, which is something we saw from
Ohio State. But it really translated quite fast. In fact,
if you look at his data, he actually solidified from
(01:23):
like the one hundred rookie level to the two hundred
rookie level faster than Jordan Love has this season.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
And Jordan Love's been in the league for a lot longer.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
I think what CJ. Shroud has been doing is just incredible.
And also, obviously as the season's gone on, there's been
stories about, like the Panthers, We're gonna draft CJ. Shroud
at first if they traded back. It's just like, you
know what, Like this is a learning experience for everyone involved.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
You could have just remembered, remembered all the pre stuff,
pre draft stuff that was like this weird test where
he like he didn't do well on the test.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
He must not be very smart. That test looks pretty
stupid now, huh.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
We were talking about this literally earlier today, like it's
two thirteen on the East coast here, I kid you,
not less than a half hour ago we had the
same conversation in terms of like it's for me, it's
you don't really know what's going on in the pre
draft process because one there's so many like there's the
(02:20):
Wonder Lick, there's all these different tests, and then there's
like the football test. And do you feel like, as
someone I know this is a tangent not related to
Jets Texans, but do you feel like the pre draft
process and evaluating prospects almost gets too granular? And this
is coming from someone who's a numbers person.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Yeah, I mean the numbers are what they are. Their
college data is what it is they put on the field.
What we have, that's what we have to work with.
I actually think it stresses the importance of the interview process.
So how good are the people in the room when
they're like, hey, these are the ten questions that we
want to ask someone to try to get to know them.
You know, you can you can do interviews at the
senior you can do interviews at their specific pro days,
(03:03):
you know, when the college's host.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
You can do interviews at the combine.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
I think the better your team is at identifying both
who they are and what they expect from a player,
that will get you to a better result. So I
think Demiko Ryans, maybe we need to give him some
credit for knowing what he was looking for in a
quarterback in a system, obviously bringing in the right situations.
Like to Rad Johnson's theory's a quarterbacks coach, he played quarterback,
(03:27):
he has a history of that.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
They brought in Bobby Schlowk.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Like the offensive point being is they created the right situation,
then they found the person that best fit their situation.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
So I think that's.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Maybe a better story then, because you can get as
granular as you want, but like at the end of
the day, you kind of have to accept that, like
these are the flaws, these are the pros, this is
what we have to work with, and these are the
players that are currently on our team. We always like
to talk about like theoretically what you do in a vacuum,
but realistically you're not switching more than like seven players
(03:58):
on your team maybe at most, and you know, in
the draft maybe three, Like you can't really count on
all seven or however many draft picks you have seven
if you're a normal team, right to hit. So I
guess my point is is the better your evaluators are
and the better you are knowing who you are, the
better the outcomes are. And and Joe Douglas is a
good testament to that too, But he just didn't have
to pick a quarterback in this draft.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
And the test you were referring to earlier in terms
of that, CJ. Shroud reportedly didn't do well in is
the S two cognition test s as in Sierra s
as in sally To cognition tests.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
And but like, like, let's let's make up our I
think we should create our own test, you know, like
we can come up with a way better test for any.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
My mine's like are you cool? Yes or no?
Speaker 1 (04:48):
So everyone cool can play football on your team?
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Well, you know, fit matters, right, like your person. When
I talked to a specific former Jet sheladon, he told
me shello CJ. I was like, what kind of kid?
He's like, really good kid, really good dude. I talked
to you about it, like, you know, a couple of
weeks ago, right saying, like, who's he become in the
locker room? I met him in the pre draft process.
Super nice, but like is he going to really not
(05:13):
be nice to me?
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Right?
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Like?
Speaker 2 (05:14):
But is he cool that? Like he have the like,
is he a dude? And Sheladan's like, yeah, absolutely, he's
a dude. So that's why I've heard from other players too.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
I'm glad you mentioned Saladan because there are one Sheladan
for those listening, is Sheldon Rankins, who Cynthia's Cynthia's neighbor, still.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Current neighbor or no, still current neighbors.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Cynthia's still current neighbor. Used to try to say Sheldon Rankins,
but would say Sheladan. So Sheldon Rankins now a member
of the Houston Texans, like one of many.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
He was four, Just so we're clear, like not like
I get.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Full on a dope. I can't say Sheldon. It is
shela don but you know it's it's it meaning Sheldon
is one of the many familiar faces that are going
to play in this game. For the Texans that used
to be Jets, there's Sheldon Rankins, There's George Fant you
(06:09):
go back to Blake Cashman and Neville Hewitt. The linebackers
Adriene Amos just signed there officially to the fifty three
man roster, and on their practice squad is matt Amandola,
who used to kick for the new York Jets. So
a lot of similarity or not a lot of similarities,
A lot of familiar faces there of those players that
I just said, Cynthia, So that includes Blake Cashman, Sheldon Rankins,
(06:35):
nevill Hewitt, Matt Amandola Adrian Amos, who is playing at
the highest level for the Texans. I'll take Amos out
of the equation because he's been a Jet this whole
year until now. Who's been playing at the highest level
for them? And then what's the biggest Jets matchup advantage?
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Well, I would actually have to say Sheldon Rankins for
a number of reasons. I know he's a little bit
banged up now, but if you look at what's been
going on on down I think there's a nice blend
of Remember this, Obviously they drafted TJ. Stroud, but then
right after that they drafted Will Anderson Junior out of Alabama,
So redoing that whole front that's a really big deal. Obviously,
(07:13):
Jets know that pretty well. But having a guy like
Sheldon Rankins who understands the concepts of the defense, how
to execute it, and how to teach some of these
younger guys, that kind of mix together has been really
impactful and you kind of look at I mean, he
had a great look. Go watch the Bengals footage between
the Bengals and the Texans and you can see Sheldon
Rankins impact. He just like game Wrecker, big problem on
(07:35):
third down specifically. But part of that is because, I mean,
they even have some more seasoned veterans like Jerry Hughes
in there too, and they're playing very well alongside the
young guys. But it's because of people like Sheldon who
know how to kind of a coach on the field, right,
Like we hear that about Aaron Rodgers too, but it
also works for Sheldon Rankins in this case.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
As a Texan, I feel like, perhaps, you know, I
don't know how George Fan is playing so far this year,
like throughout the course of the twenty twenty three season,
but if you're a Jets fan, you're probably thinking like
this Jets defensive line, especially when you look at the
tackles of Laramie Tunseell and George Fan. The Jets you
would imagine, game plan wise, would have more success against
(08:16):
someone not named Laromy Tunsel. It just so happens to
be George Fan and Jermaine Johnson lines up on both sides.
He lines up over the right tackle the career high
six pressures against the Falcons twenty six point one pass
rush win rate percentage. I mean, Jermaine Johnson has been
playing really, really good football this whole season. It's really
taken another level, kicked into another gear since the Jets
(08:39):
bye week in Week seven. He's fourth among edge rushers
in pass rush grade on PFF like he's playing very well.
But I've kind of botched the lead here. I forgot
about this and not forgot, but I didn't bring it
up early because I got sidetracked. But the Jets have
a new starting quarterback, but he's a familiar starting quarterback.
That's Zach Wilson back under center for the and White.
(09:00):
Robert Sala, talking to the media, said Zach Wilson gives
the Jets the best chance to win. He will, god willing,
injury bearing, be the starting quarterback the remainder of the season.
So that brings us to this week. The Texans. Dumiko
Ryans is a Robert Sala disciple. The two of them
(09:21):
were in San Francisco, so was Bobby Slowick. Actually, you're
gonna hear from Robert Salain a couple of minutes here
he talks about how Demiko Ryans and Slowick both his
defensive quality control coach in twenty seventeen, and now Slowick's
calling the plays on offense, and he's like, shoot, he
knows all the wrinkles of our defense. Now my question
to you, Cynthia, is Zach Wilson going up against this
(09:42):
Dimico Ryans Houston Texans defense, which is middle of the
pack in the NFL statistically speaking, how much of it
is like looking in a mirror at the Jets defense
in terms of scheme.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Well, scheme, very similar execution, We got some differences there.
I mean, Derek Stingley has been playing really well, but
the linebacker level is sus and the corner play in
general is it in the Sauce Gardner out there?
Speaker 3 (10:12):
You know what I'm saying? So or dg re right,
like you.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Know, you got like a again, not not bad, just
and because schematically maybe that's actually kind of an advantage, right,
Like I'd rather throw the ball not against Sauce Gardner
than against him. So you know, it's it's one of
those things where perhaps that will be a nice uh,
you know, at least it's something where there aren't going
(10:34):
to be a lot of things where you don't understand
what's going on theoretically.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Yeah, I think it's just fascinating to see, you know,
what will happen when Zack Wilson goes up against a
similar defense. And obviously you would imagine, just like Robert
Sahalav was mentioning, or you're about to hear him say
like Bobby Sloweg knows the snakes in the grass er
se of the defense, you'd imagine Zack Wilson going up
against his defense for the better course of two seasons,
three seasons. Now he would see things here and there
(11:01):
that would be like, I've seen this before.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
But the interesting part here is the opposite's kind of
also true too, not that CJ. Strod's played against this
type of defense before, but because he sees it in practice,
perhaps he understands it a bit better too. Or you
can make the argument that c. J. Stroud doesn't know
what he doesn't know yet, right because he's still a rookie.
So it'll be interesting to see how that works out,
especially now that you know. I always like when teams
(11:25):
play but my best versus your best, and without Tank Dell,
who's been his favorite receiver. That's that's tougher. And you
know they've been injured at the tight end position too.
But in general, I don't know which way it will
go for CJ. I think for Zach Wilson, I have
a little bit more. You know, Zach Wilson is like
three hundred level, meaning we know who he is. His
profile is more defined as a pro as opposed to
(11:46):
c J. Strowd, who's like still two hundred level. Right,
It's not just how many games played, it's also situations faced,
kind of recognition, how many times you can use your
full progression, things like that, right, So it's not just
numbers of games played, it's also when you've seen a
lot of different stuff. So I think he's at a
point now where you know, CJ. Stroud's just two hundred,
Zach Wilson's more like three hundred.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
It's a very good point. And you know, just looking
at the Texans schedule of the twenty twenty three season,
just trying to like compare quickly before we hear from
Robert Sala, like who the Texans have played, where you're like, okay,
like that's a good defense. Let's just rip through this
real quick. Texans lose twenty five to nine against the
Baltimore Ravens Week one. Week one, I understand, like its
(12:29):
own entity. But the Ravens very good team. The Colts,
the Jaguars, the Steelers, I would argue is like again
Week four early in the year. But the Steelers had
to have a great defense, and they blew the doors
off the Steelers in Houston. Final score thirty to six.
The Falcons, the Saints, the Panthers, the Bucks, the Bengals.
They put up thirty. That's a good defense. I can't say.
(12:51):
The defensive coordinator's name your budd and Aarumo, lou and
Arumo and Arumo.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
He's from saddn Island. He's a Paison knows.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Jaguars Broncos only put up twenty two. So I think
it's safe to say that the Jets are one of,
if not the best defense the Texans have seen yet,
at least in terms of passing defense. And so I
think it'll be interesting to your point because if the
strength of the Texans offense, the cj shroud in the
passing offense, which is second in the NFL. Strength statistically
(13:22):
for the Jets is the pass defense, which is third
in the NFL. Sauce Gardner DJ Reed MC two no
more tanked del for the Texans. I just think it's
going to be interesting to your point, like he doesn't
know what he doesn't know, or this is who he is.
This is one of those litmus tests in the eyes
of NFL evaluators.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
I bet he was still wish he was passing to
Garrett Wilson.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
You know, hey, buddy, Yeah, Ohio State to Ohio State
as opposed to Nico Collins Ohio State Michigan.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
I think it's okay with I think he's all right
with that. I mean, they had like, you know, a
bajillion yards last week, so I think he's okay with
like he's let go that whole rivalry. And also I
think Michigan's won like three in a row against How's
it not that the girl from Michigan's keeping track or anything.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
No, no, no, not at all, not at all. Well,
speaking of people from Michigan, I think he's shot me here.
From head coach Robert Salah on this week's matchup, He's.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
Going back to Zach Wilson this week. What do you
want to see from him? Against the Texas.
Speaker 5 (14:13):
I just want to see him go out compete like
he does. He's a first competitor. Love to see him
start fast, have confidence himself, let the ball rip, be aggressive,
and just let the chips fall with him in.
Speaker 6 (14:26):
You know, is that what you're gonna tell him? Let
it rip. That's it.
Speaker 5 (14:29):
That's what you know we've been trying to preach to
him is uh, you know, start fast, that it's okay.
Speaker 6 (14:35):
You know.
Speaker 5 (14:35):
He he he usually and it's a good thing. He
gets better as a game goes on. It'd be even
awesome if he could start fast and get better from there.
And we think if he can do that, it'll be
something special.
Speaker 4 (14:45):
Can you talk about him being a competitor, about how
much he loves the game and he wants to be
out here in this position.
Speaker 6 (14:52):
Yeah, I was.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
I don't want to say I was shocked, but it was.
It was pretty cool on Monday after the game for
him to walk into my office and and and basically
asked for the ball. And I thought that was cool.
And I wasn't ready to make a decision at that point,
but but it but it definitely helped.
Speaker 6 (15:13):
What are you hoping Brett Rippin adds to that quarterback room.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
You know, he's someone who's familiar with hack in the system,
another veteran presence, a good arm, talent, good decision maker, smart,
you know, so just another voice, another set of eyes.
You know, he's he's like I said, he's got history
in the in the system. So so just adding some
veteran presents.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
Were you happy what you got out of Xavier? He
had more than one hundred and forty total yards. That's
lost in the mix, of course with the offensive struggles,
but he's taking steps forward for it.
Speaker 5 (15:45):
Yeah, you know, I think it's it's all those young guys.
You know, you look at Carter Warren's taking steps, Joe
Tipman's taking big steps, Xavier Gibson's taking big steps, and
then you look at the second year guys and uh
Breeze and and Garrett, and then you look at guys
like Max Mitchell and they're all taken except Jeremy Ruckerd.
(16:09):
They've all taken big steps this year. Very young group,
very talented group. But but to go back on e
Xavier that he's he had a really nice game and
he's been getting better every week and we're hoping that
he can continue to build on it.
Speaker 6 (16:19):
Defensively, you guys have such a high standard.
Speaker 4 (16:22):
But what's been the most significant difference this year compared
to last year. You guys are now second in yards
per playing the National Football League, second in yards per
past attempt, ninth in sech ratio, fifth in interception ratio.
Speaker 5 (16:39):
Yeah, it's a relentless group. They're a year older, they're
a year better, year faster, and and what's exciting, they're
built the right way.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
Man.
Speaker 5 (16:48):
They they they line up, they play, they don't care.
They just ball and I love I love watching it.
And but you know, and they're all coming back when
you when you look at the way it's all structured there,
you know it's a really young group, very talented group,
hungry group. And you know, so as far as differences there,
your year, another year in the system, Another year in
(17:08):
the system is a little bit. Is another year of
efficiency and playing fast. And what's encouraging is we've done
it against all the great quarterbacks too, and still have
been able to put up good numbers from a defensive standpoint.
Still got five games to go. We still got to
stack up these great days and and do our best.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
Finish strong now with Jermaine Bryceof and Quentin Jefferson. You
guys have three players with more than six secs. What
do you think about the dynamic up front and what
you've gotten from Quinton because I think that he's kind
of the guy who's been lost in the shuffle.
Speaker 5 (17:45):
Yeah, Q Jeff, I think his number is career high
if I'm not mistaken. He's been an awesome addition. You know,
losing Sheldon Rankins was a was a big deal, but
having qjeff step in and basically pick up where she
left off has been been awesome. Great great find from
Joe de and his staff, and a great job from
(18:05):
Aaron and Aaron Whitecotton and our D line coach and
his continued development of all these guys. But I think
it's safe to say, you know, with the proven development
of the D line, if you come play for this group,
you're going to have your best year. And you know,
Jermaine Johnson, he's he's kind of blossom this year. He
looks he looks awesome, and he's only going to get better,
(18:27):
you know. So there's a lot of guys on that
D line that are having really good years. There's the
sack numbers may not recognize it. It may not be
recognized that their sack numbers, but they're trending in the
right direction. Even Will McDonald, I know he gets kind
of lost in the in the mix, but super talented
young man. Kind of a similar story to JJ. Not
to put the expectations of year two on him, but
(18:48):
a lot of confidence that if he continues to grow
and he has the off season that Jermaine had, he's
gonna he's going to continue to grow to.
Speaker 6 (18:54):
Three safeties this season.
Speaker 4 (18:57):
How cool is that teach tape going to be on
the late safety where Quinnin's in there in the backfield
no time and Ashton.
Speaker 6 (19:05):
Davis made a play of career right there.
Speaker 5 (19:08):
Hecka ashen U. It's funny. All he does is find
the ball, right He's I'm a big fan of his.
You know, you he's he's done nothing but work, and
you know he's he's kind of been I don't want
to say a rut, but he's been a valuable, very
(19:28):
underrated piece to this defense and the way he goes
about his business, the way he works. That play kind
of embodies everything that he represents for this defense and
special teams for that matter.
Speaker 6 (19:41):
He is.
Speaker 5 (19:43):
He may be underappreciated, but not in this building. I mean,
the appreciation we have for him runs deep, and he
embodies everything that we believe in with regards to playing
defense on this football team.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
Do we expect to see a little bit of a
play increase because you guys have used Big Knickel. He
got one of the best Nickels in the National Football League,
Michael Carter the second. But obviously he made a recent transaction.
And you're talking about Ashton's continued development and growth.
Speaker 5 (20:10):
Yeah, he We feel like we've already uped this his
playtime already this year. He's earned it. He's earned every
right to be on the football field. He's he's forcing
his way on the field. Where you know, all Brick
is very comfortable getting Big Nickel out there because Ashen
just he he he he fits up. He can run
all the zones, he can play man coverage under there.
He he understands the run fits, he understands all the
(20:31):
blitz is. He understand he understands everything. And uh, you know,
so we're kind of spoiled in that regard that at
the Ashton is playing at such a high level and
where we're able to use it accordingly.
Speaker 6 (20:42):
But when you saw that on tape, what was your reaction?
Speaker 5 (20:45):
That's everything you look for. Man, he got effort, he
got violence in there, you got perfect technique. Our style
of play showed up in that one and that one play,
and that's when you show up with our style of
play and what we what we want in the Silent
twenty two, the all twenty two tape that's silent called
the islent tape. Those plays that that's what represents us.
Speaker 4 (21:04):
I don't want to get you find here, but DJ
reed those couple of plays at that and a half.
Speaker 6 (21:09):
Just from a teaching perspective.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
They say, hey, just keep on going out and playing ball,
because you should have had an interception there. In real time,
that was a physical hit in the end zone. But
if you go back and you watch it, he's hit
in the body.
Speaker 5 (21:22):
Yeah, in real time, you're always going to get some
questionable calls against you. You're going to get something that
go with you, you know. And it was an unfortunate
sequence of sequence of events. I think it started with
a Garret Garrot Wilson.
Speaker 6 (21:36):
Hold.
Speaker 5 (21:38):
But but like I said, you know they're not you know,
those restaurant going to be perfect. They got a hard
job to and they're not always going to be perfect.
We're always going to strive for perfection, just like we
strive for perfections from ourselves. But you got to roll
up the punches. We've got to learn how to overcome penalties.
They're not They don't have to be detrimental if we
don't let them be detrimental, and and by understanding a
(22:02):
penalty can happen. We just got to find ways to
overcome him and maintain our composure and keep playing.
Speaker 6 (22:08):
Tamiko Ryans is doing a great job with the Texans.
Speaker 4 (22:11):
You hired him his first coaching job in the National
Football League back in twenty seventeen.
Speaker 6 (22:16):
What did you see from him at that point?
Speaker 5 (22:19):
Well, I was lucky enough to be able to coach
him too. I was an assistant linebackers coach for the Texans.
He was the defensive rookie of the year first and foremost,
Because you guys, everyone knows how big characterist does here.
Tomico Ryans embodies character even when he was a player.
Just his the way he goes about his life. He's
(22:40):
god faring, wife, kids, his family. That's how tightened it.
Such an unbelievable human, that's first and foremost. He's a
relentless worker. He's got humility for days, and that he's
always trying to learn, and he's always asking questions, and
he's not afraid to s a vulnerability of not knowing
(23:02):
the answer, but the willingness to go seek the answer.
But as far as the Miko, in terms of the
football coach, all of that character and all of his
play style and all of his entire life as a
football man came into coaching, and it was very easy.
(23:22):
Like I said, as a quality control. He wanted to
know all the dirty work. It wasn't I've made so
much money in my career. What am I doing here
making whatever? The heck of salary was fifty thousand, I
don't know what it was pennies in Santa Clara. But
he was first one in, last one out, grinded, asked questions, learned,
(23:45):
was promoted to linebacker's coach, still asked questions, even though
I mean he played linebacker's whole life. But he recognized
quickly that not everybody's him because he was a ridiculously
special talent. And so he earned through asking questions, watching tape,
seeking guidance. The right way to not make cookie not
(24:08):
cookie cutter everybody, but teach within their skills, and he
mastered it, quickly learned the scheme, understood how to be
a coordinator, quickly gets his head job. He's doing a
great job, and he's going to continue to do a
great job because he's going to continue to evolve not
only as a as a man, but a teacher and
a confidant.
Speaker 4 (24:27):
When you left and took the job here, did you
tell Kyle, hey man, this is your guy or it
didn't even have to be set.
Speaker 5 (24:36):
I don't think it had to be set at that point,
did Kyle ask? I was like your guys in the building, Bud,
you don't have to go anywhere. But Kyle already knew that.
So I'm not going to take credit for any credit
for what Domico has done. He proved himself. He earned
his right to be the quality control, he earned his
right to be the linebacker's coach, and just Kyle observing
(24:58):
him through the four years that he was there and
I was there, he recognized quickly that the Miko is
gonna be the next best coordinator in football and potentially
the next next great head coach.
Speaker 6 (25:07):
CJ. Stroud. What's impressed in most about.
Speaker 5 (25:10):
The way this rookie year he's this ud man. And
it's funny because you know all the all the bs
before the draft, you know, and uh uh you never
know until they put the helmet on. You see him
play and you can you can throw all that stuff away.
Speaker 4 (25:26):
Uh.
Speaker 5 (25:27):
He processes fast, he plays fast, he plays big, he
plays strong, he plays confident. His arm, his arm talent
is as good as anybody. Bobby Slowank is doing a
great job scheming those guys up, getting him open and
running through zones and all that. And you know Bobby
Slowek the offensive coordinator. He was also my QC in
UH in San Francisco, so he was on the defensive
(25:49):
side of the ball for two years. So it's like, shoot,
he knows every single wrinkle of our defense. And but
he's been a defensive guy's whole life, so he understands
all the nuance and uh and he knows exactly what
he's looking at when he watches tape and you can
see it and in his play design. So it's pretty
cool to see how he's evolved in his career and
the way he's coaching. C. J. Stroud he's doing a
(26:11):
fantastic job, and the young man and young man can
play football.
Speaker 4 (26:14):
With all these connections. What's it like preparing for this
game specifically?
Speaker 5 (26:23):
You know, it's a I'm not going to get too
deep into it because you don't want to get into
a game plan thing. But you know, there's there's a
lot of things that go in and you're you're just
watching the tape and you're understanding why they're doing things.
And I'm sure he's watching us, like, I see why
he's doing that. That's actually a good idea. Wow, that's
really cool. While and back and forth. But as for
(26:43):
this particular game plan, without saying anything, it's going to
be fun to see how it kind of shapes out.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
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Great stuff from Robert Sala, great stuff from EA as
always Jets Texans. I do find it. I know I
said it before. I find it fascinating to see what
the game plan is going to be from a bunch
of people who actually I think the coolest part is
(27:31):
that solid coach Tamiko Ryans as a rookie, Like Tamiko
Rans was a rookie in O six in Houston, Sala
just getting into coaching. They reunite in San Francisco in
twenty seventeen. Now they're going head to head first time
in their careers, both as head coaches, both as defensive
minded gurus who are very bald and very fit. What
(27:51):
do you think about that, John Plano.
Speaker 7 (27:53):
I'm just jealous, Like they're both so Jackson, they're both
so fait and I want to be nflid coach. It's awesome.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
Do you think that's like are Cynthia like if for
those guys, like, if you want to be on the staff,
you got to be bald and jacked.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
I mean maybe JP should just shave his head then
it'll all work out right.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Maybe that's the key. Yeah, but I just realized something.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
Demika Ryans was like my year right, Like my my
best friend in college was a giant actually, Matthias q Nuka,
same draft class as Jamiico. Like what am I doing
with my life versus being come, I'm not a head
coach here.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
I think you're doing all right. I think you're doing well.
Can all things consider that you don't play professional sports.
Jamiko Ryans obviously has at a very fast track to
being a head coach in the NFL. Just seems like
a likable dude. Anyway, Jet's Texas John Polano, you ready
to roll? Heck yeah, before you get going. Now that
it's coming back to me, I think I had a
Damiico Ryan signed football growing up, Like someone gave it
(28:48):
to me. That was one and this girl in high
school was like, I don't know who this is. I
was like, cool, I'll take it. I think it was Demiko.
Speaker 7 (28:54):
Ryans defensive Rookie of the Year.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
It might have been. Yeah, anyway, No, while I was
in high school in oh six Pilano, Oh my god.
Speaker 7 (29:00):
That's not what I was saying.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
Geez, all right, what do we got. All right.
Speaker 7 (29:05):
So leading up to this matchup, I did a lot
of research on Houston itself, the city.
Speaker 1 (29:10):
Yeah, and I wanted to create like over forty four
Mexican population.
Speaker 7 (29:14):
It's good to know I did not know that. All right,
Maybe I didn't do enough research.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
That was my food video that's coming out later in
the week. Okay, good, I try to justify text max
all right.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
All right, all right, to turn your air conditioner on too,
because per capita, it's the highest air conditioning on person
on a square footage basis.
Speaker 7 (29:31):
I knew that case anyone was wondering, Okay, Wow, maybe
I just didn't do any research. I didn't learn any
of these things. See, this is why I keep you
guys around.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
This meant yeah, cognition. After this, I'm going to.
Speaker 7 (29:41):
Score the same probably name score seats drive.
Speaker 1 (29:42):
Yeah, well then you'll do all right, I know.
Speaker 7 (29:44):
All right, let's roll here. So I create a Houston
themed scale. It's three levels, and so I'm gonna run
through you, run you guys through a couple of matchups,
and I want you to rate the matchups on this scale. Okay,
So one side of the scal is the Jets have
the advantage. The other side of the scales, Houston may
have the advantage, and the middle is kind of just
(30:06):
this is a matchup that could potentially decide the game,
and it is just relatively even. So for the side
that the Jets have the advantage, the instead of a number,
it is Houston, we have a problem. So Jet, you're
feeling really good about the Jets in this situation, shout
out Houston, we have a problem. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:24):
Yeah. On the side of the Texans, you have to
look that up, that phrase. No, I didn't have to
look that up.
Speaker 7 (30:31):
And on the other side, I don't know if you
guys know this phrase. If the Texans have an advantage,
the Jets are quote barbecue chicken.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
Do you understand that? Yeah, I understand it. Barbecue chicken
is like your toast. Yeah, your toast. It's the Southern
version of your toast. Your toast. Yeah, okay, Cynthia, you
got that?
Speaker 7 (30:48):
Oh yes, all right, awesome. And then the middle and
this this was really interesting. The official state dish of
Texas is actually chili.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
I didn't know that.
Speaker 7 (30:58):
In the city of Houston, they hold a few of
the world's biggest chili cookoffs. So for anything that's kind
of in the middle. We're just gonna call it chili cookoff. Okay,
sounds good, Yeah, you got it, all right, I'll just
serve chili here. Yesterday at facility, think they did delicious
Bison chili shout out.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
To flat Yeah. Yeah, I don't think that they did
that on purpose, because Friday, Friday's at the Jets Facility
is usually the meal that is representative or representing the
opponent of that week. So I'll be interested to see
what happens on Friday.
Speaker 7 (31:29):
Yeah, I'm really excited and a little hungry now. All right,
So a first matchup, we're gonna go with you kind
of stepped on my Jermaine Johnson one, so we're gonna
go to matchup number two because you guys did a
lot of good stuff on Jermaine Johnson and Laramie Tunsel.
My second matchup is the Elements versus the Houston Texans.
So according to the Weather Channel and their ten day
forecast on Sunday, they're supposed to be a hive sixty one,
(31:50):
a low of thirty eight and eighty percent chance of
rain majority of the day, and ten to twenty mile
an hour wind gusts and let's just run through quickly.
The Texans road games this year. They played at Baltimore
seventy eight degrees no rain early in the season, Jacksonville
eighty four degrees, no rain, Atlanta Dome, Charlotte seventy seven
no rain, and then Cincinnati where it was fifty six
(32:12):
and apparently pretty beautiful and there was no rain. But
by my account, the Jets have played in five rain
games this year, or well bad weather games where the
rain came in and out.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
So I want to know, is this something?
Speaker 7 (32:25):
Is this a place that the Jets will have an
advantage or the Texans will have an advantage?
Speaker 1 (32:28):
Yeah, okay, I got one, and I'm gonna go with Houston.
We have a problem because here's the thing. I understand
the Texans might have the DNA to play well in
the rain, but statistically speaking, when you look at Houston,
their strength of their offense is the passing game. I'm
not saying CJ. Shroud can't do it in the rain.
(32:51):
I'm just saying we just saw a rain game. I'm
at Life Stadium with the Falcons. The Falcons like to
run the ball. The Jets stopped the run very well.
Actions look to go to run the football, which they
don't do all too well. And I'm not saying the
Jets are world beaters at stopping it. That plays, in
my opinion, into the Jets hand. That means that the
Texans are being forced to do something that they're not
(33:13):
as successful at over the course of the twenty twenty
three season. Granted, they have very good players in Motor,
Devin Motor, Singletary Damian Pierce. They have a strong line,
But in my opinion, if it really is rainy, I
think that that could potentially be an advantage for the
Jets because it might force Houston to play a brand
of football they haven't played all too much this season.
(33:36):
I love that.
Speaker 7 (33:37):
I know Cynthia live in beautiful Los Angeles, but do
you think the rain could affect this game?
Speaker 1 (33:41):
Well, the rain effects are like when it rains, like
a drop house.
Speaker 2 (33:46):
Gets screwed up whenever their rain. No, look, I actually
think this one. I'm going to go with a chili
cookoff here. Not because like I love everything that you're saying.
It's just you're missing the other side of the ball,
which means I feel like both teams, who are similarly
constructed on defense are going to make an emphasis on
(34:06):
stopping the rent like Breese Hall, like they all know
he's really good. Just you know, they're not going to
be shocked by that. So I think it's going to
actually impact both teams in terms of the passing game
pretty significantly. And I do think that I'm totally with
you on the fact that the Jets have had more games.
Speaker 3 (34:24):
In the rain. But I also think that, you know,
you got to again, both.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
Offenses are going to be impacted by it. And I
guess my other thing here is the quarterback. You know,
obviously CJ. Struck, he played at Ohio State, He's played outside,
Degle Collins caught passes outside for Michigan. It is not
warm in Michigan. I can tell you that firsthand. So
you know when it when it comes, it's not the heat.
I know it's it also rains in Michigan quite a bit.
But you know, I do think that it's going to
(34:49):
kind of be that one, that one's a wash, huh.
Speaker 3 (34:51):
Pun intended.
Speaker 1 (34:53):
Admittedly, I really just wanted to say, Houston, we have
a problem right off the bat, like what Cynthia just
said as one hundred percent right, like it really is
is a chili cook off at the end of the day,
because the Jets also have to play in the rain,
and it's kind of like the Spider Man meme in
terms of like scheme and like thought and strategy. So
I agree with Cynthia. I really really just wanted to say, Houston,
(35:14):
you have a problem.
Speaker 3 (35:14):
Well, you have a problem.
Speaker 7 (35:16):
I'm glad you got that opportunity because I'm really happy
for you. But you do have a valid point. I mean,
the Houston has the I think they're twenty six and
rushing touchdowns this year. They just don't run the ball
as well as they throw the ball.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
Yeah, But to Cynthia's point, like it does goes both ways, absolutely,
because even though the Jets have more experience in the rain,
the Jets have also struggled offensively, especially recently. And you know,
hopefully Zach Wilson back in this offense after two weeks
away from being the starter, maybe that'll spark the offense.
We have no idea none, but the rain definitely won't help.
Speaker 7 (35:48):
Yeah, No, you're right, all right, let's rock on to
number two. Okay, So for this one, I went with
a pair of top ten picks from the twenty twenty
two NFL Draft. I don't know if you guys mentioned
Derrek Seley earlier. You may have, but I wanted to
go Derek Sneley, junior starting corner for the Texans versus
wide receiver Garrett Wilson, just to fill people in, to
let them know. Stingley has feig innerceptions in the last
(36:12):
three weeks, eight pass defenses. Also in the last three weeks.
He's just been phenomenal at forcing teams to turn the
ball over. And I was also thinking, sorry, this has
just crossed my mind. Sauce Gardner went fourth in that draft,
one pick after Derek Sneley. How cool is you're picking
in the top ten and you could either have a
guy with the nickname Sting or Sauce.
Speaker 1 (36:30):
Yeah. I tried to put that into an article. Okay,
like like the sting in the sauce. There's something there,
especially when you have like barbecue, yeah in the mix.
I want Cynthia to Anthers to answer this first, because
I'm trying to find a stat that I saw on
Twitter earlier in regard to dark Stingley.
Speaker 3 (36:49):
All Right, so I'm gonna go with this one.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
Is again, I'm just like, I just want to go
eat barbecue apparently, because it's not to say that, like,
I love Garrett Wilson, and I really appreciate like what
Derek Singley's been doing as well. But the problem is
is I do think they'll mix up routes and he'll
mix up coverages, so they might not match up on
every single route. And also it'll be interesting, especially if
(37:14):
there is rain, like how much that's going to be impactful,
because we know Garret Wilson can make insane catches, just
totally crazy one handed. You don't even need to like
merely just throw it like somewhere in the vicinity of
him and he'll figure it out. But Derek Singly also
has been really coming on as of late, especially with
that front providing so much pressure. So I just if
(37:35):
I were, if I were the Jets, I probably would
figure out a way to throw the ball to Garrett Wilson,
not in Derek Stingley's coverage. So I think maybe, you know,
so it's.
Speaker 3 (37:45):
Like respect respect, oh, respect, respect, respect. So I respect
your chili and you respect my chili, you know.
Speaker 1 (37:53):
Okay, so we're going chili cook off here? Yeah, yeah,
I also think chili cook off. And I found the
stat and also, speaking of four Jets, it's not really
a Jet, but it's a former Jets beat reporter now
covering the Houston Texans, DJ b Enemy Shout out to
DJ because he's the one that tweeted this. Since week ten,
Derek Stingley and Steven Nelson, the other Texans corner had
(38:15):
the two highest hawk rates in the NFL per Next
Gen Stats. Stingley's at fifty percent. Since week ten, cornerback
Derek Stingley is tied for the most interceptions four with
Deron Bland. He's allowed the six lowest passer rating when
targeted and the highest hawk rate. Stingley is starting to
break out, and then he won the AFC Defensive Player
(38:36):
of the Week. So to me, Stingley and Garrett Wilson,
just like Cynthia said, it's a chili cookoff, because this
is when those two, Like, if those two matched up
for an entire sixty minutes, I'm sure there would be
reps that Stingley wins and also reps where Garrett wins.
So to me, this is like, I don't think Stingley
(38:57):
has gotten necessarily like the same national love as Sauce
Garner has, especially because last year Sauce Garner defensive Rookie
of the Year, leads the NFL with twenty pass defenses.
Derek Stingly feels like he's really coming on strong, and
I think that you've I know, it's like so in
the past, you think about his true freshman year at LSU,
like how good he was, and you're talking about going
(39:19):
up against Joe Burrow, Jamar Chase, Justin Jefferson, Like that's
very impressive. Guys like that typically aren't a flash in
the pan. So to me, it's a chili cookoff. It's
strength on strength, and I think it's about even.
Speaker 7 (39:34):
That's fair.
Speaker 1 (39:35):
That's fair.
Speaker 7 (39:35):
No, I love chili too, honestly, one of my favorite foods.
So I'm fine with you guys continue, you know, in
terms of.
Speaker 1 (39:39):
Chili, though I can skip the beans in chili doesn't
really add anything. Point Yeah, no, no, no, I disagree
with you. What's the point. They're rushy. There's just mushy
stuff in my chili. I don't mean mushy stuff in
my chili when I have cheese, mushy. If you want
to put sour cream in there like I did yesterday,
I saw you too do that. Mushy scallions, little crunch scallions.
(40:00):
They got a little bizazed to them. You put beans
in there. Sure you want the protein, that's great, it's
all mush You are eating what Gordy eats? Whoa mush?
Speaker 3 (40:12):
No you're not.
Speaker 1 (40:14):
Are you a raw dog food giver?
Speaker 2 (40:20):
I'm mad at Gordy. But we do a combination of
like food and and he does kibble too. It's better
for their teeth. So like he does this combo FM.
Speaker 1 (40:33):
That dog. I tell you, well, how about this? Chili
is what I imagine? Have you ever seen snow dogs?
Or is that too old? A while ago? But I
have seen it, Cynthia Snowdogs? No, I don't know.
Speaker 3 (40:45):
I don't know what snow dog is.
Speaker 1 (40:46):
No, snow Dogs is a movie Cuba Gooding Junior. It's
a good movie. But they eat mush and to me,
that's what chili is. But I like chili. I like chili.
I just think beans are irrelevant in the chili.
Speaker 7 (40:58):
If you want something else beans, go eat some soup
pub with that.
Speaker 1 (41:00):
I would love to. That's what chili is.
Speaker 7 (41:02):
Chili's not soup.
Speaker 1 (41:03):
It's not soup. You're right, But I do think like
there if you were to power rank the importance of
certain things in chili ingredients. Beans is not at the
top of the list. For me, it's not near because
whatever the meat is or fake meat, if it's like
impossible meat, if that's that's your vibe, that's more important
than beans. Cheez, more important than beans. That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (41:27):
As long as it's not row squirrel, I'm good.
Speaker 1 (41:30):
Yeah, Okay, No, I agree with that.
Speaker 7 (41:31):
Yeah, I agree with Well, we can all come to
an agreement on that one, all right, should we get
one more?
Speaker 1 (41:35):
Let's do one more? All right?
Speaker 7 (41:37):
Awesome?
Speaker 1 (41:37):
So his last one I have c J.
Speaker 7 (41:39):
Stroud versus defensive coordinator Jeff Albrick. I feel like it's
been really well documented this year, and we talked about
on a bunch of pods that the Jets defense has
made some of the best quarterbacks in the NFL look
kind of silly this year. I mean, Herbert Mahomes hurts
an Allen average twenty two points a game against this
defense and all their matchups. But and for what it's worth,
(41:59):
obviously this is not the most incredible class of rookie
quarterbacks that Jeff Albrick has faced off against. But in
his coaching career, he has four and one against rookie
quarterbacks that play at least fifty percent of the snaps
and finish the game. That lists Tommy DeVito, Aiden O'Connell,
Kenny Pickett, and then last year Skylar Thompson twice. So
he's had his way with these young quarterbacks, giving up
(42:20):
fourteen point six points per game. So I'm just curious
between you two experts, what this chess match is going
to look like. Isn't an advantage all brick or is
c J. Shroud just the real deal man?
Speaker 1 (42:33):
Yeah, that's an interesting question. I kind of think it's
close to a Chile Like I understand there are three
categories chili cookoff Houston we have a problem with pro
Jets and barbecue chicken is pro Texans. But if there
were a scale where like you could do like an
A like an A minus over B plus. So that's
(42:55):
what I'm gonna do here, And I'm gonna say, Houston,
we got a cookout, That's how I'm combining it, or
Houston we got chilli. Well, however you want to do it,
because I think that like strength on strength, CJ. Shroud's
obviously been playing at a very very high level. But
I think that the advantage with Ulbrich slightly is that
(43:17):
he has more football acumen, just in terms of the
sheer amount of years that he's been around the game.
So maybe CJ. Shroud, you're like, oh, you're watching film.
You're like, oh, okay, he hasn't quite seen this yet
that we have the personnel to do, so let's throw
this at him see how he responds. So to me,
that's where it is slight advantage Jets. But CJ. Shroud
is very good. And to Cynthia's point earlier in this podcast,
(43:39):
it's like, is he that guy like you think he is?
But it's time on task before you really get like
the stamp of approval. So we'll see what CJ. Shroud
has to deliver on Sunday. But that's where I stand. Houston,
we have a cookout, cookoff.
Speaker 7 (43:54):
Cook off.
Speaker 1 (43:54):
Houston, we have a cookoff.
Speaker 3 (43:55):
I think we're gonna go Houston. We have a cookoff
here too.
Speaker 2 (43:58):
I will say maybe leaning towards if I only had
to pick one of the three, I would say he's
gonna have a problem. But that's only because we're starting
to see some of c J. Stroud's trends be revealed.
Meaning if you go back and watch the film from
last week, the Broncos showed me something on early downs,
and that's that they blitzed CJ.
Speaker 3 (44:13):
Stroud and he had a much lower efficiency.
Speaker 2 (44:16):
Rate, So be it on some sort of RPO or
a pat play action like, it was less efficient just
overall when they blitzed him on early downs, probably because
he didn't know necessarily what he was looking at, and
that was very helpful for the Broncos early in that game.
Speaker 3 (44:31):
Now CJ.
Speaker 2 (44:32):
Stroud, like the Chess match happened, and of course there
were some injuries in that one too. Patzertan went out
of the game for a while. So it turns out
it helps when their best quarter's not playing. You know,
just just a thought, but you know, when you're looking
at some of the tendencies. See like before, teams didn't know.
Speaker 1 (44:47):
What to make of c J.
Speaker 3 (44:47):
Stroud.
Speaker 2 (44:48):
Right now we're kind of at that point where teams
are knowing what they see with c J. Stroud and
they're going to make necessary adjustments advantage Jeff Ulbrick. But
then we have what was going to happen with you know,
Bobby slowick and this team do it. So there's a
little bit a chess match here going on.
Speaker 3 (45:01):
And CJ.
Speaker 2 (45:02):
Stroud's accuracy and his ability to deliver the football on time. Obviously,
especially without take Dell, there perhaps could be a little
bit changed. And by the way, Dalton Schultz was banked
up last week too, so we'll have to see like
what goes on with the tight end position. But ultimately,
you know, because Brevin Jordan didn't have the greatest.
Speaker 3 (45:18):
Game, blah blah blah.
Speaker 2 (45:19):
But but long story short, what you're going to see
there is you're going to see some of those things
that worked from the Broncos game be instituted in this game.
So I would say it's kind of, you know, leaning
to me more towards Houston. We have a problem because
the pieces on this Jets defense can do all of
those different things. Like the Jets get a lot of
pressure without blitzing, but blitz sometimes can make things look
(45:39):
different and freaking quarterback out.
Speaker 1 (45:41):
You know, I think that was extremely well said. You
did do good research, by the way, thank you. It
just wasn't you know, it wasn't necessarily as needs as
the air conditioning or the population of Houston. But Houston,
we have a problem. Barbecue, chicken, chili, cookout. I think
those are all great, great jobs, well done, appreciate John Polano.
Week fourteen Jets, Texans. That's the perfect way to end
(46:05):
this episode of the Game Preview Podcast. Next week, Week fifteen, Jets,
go back to Miami, maybe get a little sunshine away
from the cold. We'll break it all down right here
on the Game Preview Podcast presented by Lifeblock
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