October 2, 2024 • 16 mins
Listen to this amazing inteview between Marc Vandermeer and Craig Way in this segment. He has all the details on what seperates the Texans from teams of the past. And it's mainly one man.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
My good friend Mark Vandermire, the play by play voice
of the Houston Texans, is probably a little more advanced
and just dealing with yacht rock. Like I'm a hopeless
yacht rocker there. But Mark joins us on the hotline,
how you doing today?
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Mark? Are you kidding? I'm all over Ambrosia. Let's go.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
I feel like driving up to see.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
The show myself, Ambrosia.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
You kidding?
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I love yacht rock. I remember the videos. It was
a series on YouTube. Did you ever see these? No,
you could still search them. They didn't have the rights
to the music, so maybe they got sued. You know,
these days, it's a little tough, as you know, Craig.
But I love yacht rock.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Well, my wife and I are hopeless yacht rockers, and
like I said, we've we've been to see Little River
Band and several other ones like that.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
So we're all about it there. So it's it's good.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
It's good to know that I've got some company in
that category.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
Hey, listen, the City of Houston.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Even if they lose out on the astros here and
they're down to six outs left, or rather three outs
in their season, down five to two of the Tigers.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
In the night. They even if they lose.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Out on the Astros, they've got a hot Texans team
right now, or as I would also like to call
a resilient group, Mark with the way they bounce back
from the game against Minnesota and really had to be
resilient in the game against Jacksonville, didn't they.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Yeah, they did, Craig, and you know, they didn't play
their best ball. Wasn't their a game. Defensively, they were
pretty solid throughout. They had some moments they gave up
a long run, but the big.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Play of the game was Calin Bullock, the rookie.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Safety from USC, running down Tank Bigsby inside the five,
and then they come up with a goal line stand
at the start of the fourth quarter as a result
of that, and that tipped.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
The scales, I thought, even though it was sort.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Of hurky jerky from there until the final drive, if
the Jaguars punch it in and make it a two
score game, I think.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
We might be having a different conversation right now.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
The offense just took a little while to get going.
But CJ. Stroud, you know, he's one of these guys, Craig,
and they fly have that guy where the opponent has
to be concerned. If the ball's in his hand with
time left on the clock and they're down to score
whatever score to tie or take the lead, you better
watch out. And CJ. Stroud does it again, leaves them
(02:14):
down the field and they win the game.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
So three and one's a good start, even though they
haven't played their best ball.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
CJ was where I was going next, Mark, and I
was going to ask you last year, such an explosion
onto the scene, and I know the expectations for him.
When you're drafted that high, certainly the expectation is going
to be there. And we talked about him last year
and he had that brilliant rookie season. Safe to say, however,
probably teams might be more geared up, amped up to
(02:39):
try to defend him. And yet he continues to play really,
really well. So have you seen the progression on how
he's had to make the adjustment from rookie season the
second year player, when teams have gone in defensive has
made their adjustments to deal with him.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Yeah, I think, you know, statistically it's going pretty well
so far. I mean when you look at the record
three and one and he's top five in the league
and passing yards and all that. I think everything is
in progress very well for year two for CJ. Stroud.
The thing is they're not scoring as many points as
I think they would like right now, and it's not
as efficient and proficient as they would want, and a lot.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Of that has to do with the offensive line.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Stroud himself, the things he's improved at. I think the
processing is even better this year. I think he understands
way more about the game, even though he understood a
whole lot last year. And the way he's moving around
in the pocket Craig is superior to what he was
doing last year, avoiding the rush, trying to create a
little extra time in real estate in the backfield to
(03:43):
launch accurate throws.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
He's doing that so well because the protection.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Hasn't been quite as good as it needs to be.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
So we'll see if they can improve on that. I mean,
in the Minnesota game, it's just a festival of errors
as a.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Pre snap stuff and holding penalties. They had one driver
where they had third and four at the twenty five
and they ended up punting because they took four consecutive penalties.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
So they've got to clean that up, and I think they.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Are in progress doing that, the penalty bug bit them
a little more against Jacksonville or again additionally, so they
have time to work on it. You'd rather learn while
winning than the other way around.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
So so far, so good.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Can some of the I don't know, for one of
a better word sluggishness on offense be trace to having
to deal with the injury bug in the backfield, not
having a healthy Joe Mixon for a lot of the time.
They're getting other contributors. Those of us who have cam
Akers on our fantasy team were happy to have him
as a substitute.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
But does that, I mean, does it?
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Can some of that be traced to what there's Jill
trying to get going with the ground game?
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Absolutely, because Joe Maxson looks so good in the.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Open A ran for one hundred and fifty nine yards
against the Colts, and you know, Damian Pierce only had
a few carries in that game, but looked pretty good.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
And we haven't seen him since either. So you've been without.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Your top two guys, and so now what do you do. Well,
you go to cam Akers, who I think looks pretty good.
Daria Goobowally is another player to watch out where you
cut that game winning touchdown pass. There you are, Craig
at the end of the game, inside thirty seconds, you're
at the goal line. You need to score and in
the offset I formation if Daria Gonbiwally and British Brooks
(05:16):
an undrafted rookie. So who would have thought that at
the beginning of training camp. But that's the NFL, that's
all of football. You have to use everybody on the roster.
You never know who's going to contribute. And those guys
run a play that gets to the game winning touchdown.
It was beautiful to see and it's a tribute to
the way they put this whole thing together because not
just the fifty three man roster, the practice squad, elevating guys,
(05:37):
how you work with the.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
People in your building, in your organization to.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Manufacture wins, And that's what they do, and that's what
they've been doing here in the Nick Cassario Demiko Ryans
Mini era we're in and I hope it continues.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Is is it safe to say that at that moment
what you're talking about, that's when you you and andre
Ward turn and look at each other booth and go,
these guys in the backfield did they come through.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Well, you know, Dari had that game last year against
Tampa Bay where he actually kicked a field goal because
Canine fair Baron was hurt.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
So it's so interesting the contribution he can make.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
And you know, his sister plays for Dallas and the WNBA.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
She's outstanding. So the family was there and his sister
was here and at this this is.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
A great moment. So we were never that surprised about
Dary pulling off something big because he's the ultimate role
player for this team. But you need people like that
up and down the roster. You need players to.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Make those kind of contributions that you're gonna win.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Talking Houston Texans football with the play by play voice
of the Texans Mark Vandam.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
We're here on Sports Radio AM thirteen hundred The Zone.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Mark, let me get your thoughts on the defense through
four ball games and what you see you really like
in the areas they're still trying.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
To clean up.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Well, obviously it could have got a whole lot better
against Minnesota, but I think that was one of those
stinker games and every team has them.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
It just happens and.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
You have to correct what wrong and hope that it
doesn't happen again. They had some tough moments in that game,
but they were.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Put in a sudden change.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Right off the bat with a deflected pick and the
rest of it. They did really well against the run
the first two games. I thought they did pretty well
against Jacksonville, but they still allowed over one hundred yards,
so they're going to find a way to stiff in
in that way.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
I think what you're looking at is.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
The unfinished product here. Will Anderson Junior two and a
half sacks, good start for him.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
The D tackles. They replaced the starters last year, and
I think they're off to.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
A pretty good start. But it's going to get better
when you get the Nico Autry back from a suspension
in a couple of games, because he can play the
outside and the inside on the D line, and I
think that's really gonna help. You. Get Kurt Heinisch back
this week.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
I think that's gonna help as well.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Danil Hunters Hunter has been good, but not who he
will be.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Just yet for this team, so I think it's good
on the front.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Aziz al Shire is just amazing. I mean one an
amazing guy, really good player. Played with the Miko in
San Francisco for for Jamiko, I should say, but he's
like Demko Ryans junior and the secondary.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
What can I say about Dereck.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Stingley Junior, outstanding lassater, the rookie from Georgia, Kleb Bullock
had a pick at his first ever game. He had
that player just talked about rookie safety. So a lot
of youth, and I think that it's only going to
get better, Craig, as they play together and really start.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
To gel without question, no doubt.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
The game, the headline game of this upcoming weekend in
the NFL is the game you have against the Buffalo
Bills on Sunday. How about your I remember last year
during the playoffs we were talking about a Buffalo. But
let me get your thoughts on this Bills team and
they come off smarting a little bit after what happened
to them in Baltimore last Sunday night. How about your
thoughts on this matchup with Buffalo.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
It's always tough with Josh Allen because he's so good
throwing and running, and he's one of these guys. You know,
he's not Lamar Jackson. They're different, but it's similar in
that you have to worry about them running and throw it.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
And I think with Alan, he's so physically so.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Big, he's hard to bring down. You got to bring
some friends to bring him down. And he's always a
big part of their rushing attack, So that is highly
notable when you play them.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
They've replaced a lot of guys.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
On defense, and you know, I know the Ravens game
didn't go according to their linking, but they got off
to a pretty good start prior to that, and some
of these defenders were playing pretty well. Now they've got
some injuries that they got to deal with. I think
what the Texans have to do, Craig, It's it's almost
like the Longhorse, right, the Longhorns are back, right, the
long Horns are a.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Hunted Now you have to get used to being the hunted.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
The team that everybody wants to be.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
And I guess what the Longhorns.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
People always want to beat the Longhorse.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
So maybe that's the best example.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
But the Texans kind of snuck up on people just
to use like outside looking in language last year. This year,
they're not going to sneak up on anybody. But you
have to be able to hold surf if you're one
of these teams at home. You've got to be able
to protect the turf and play another AFC quote power
and deal with it.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
That's the Texans deserve to be considered an.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
AFC power yet. But they want to be that, and
they do have the juice and the tools to be that.
So go do it, Go be it and beat the
Buffalo Bills this week. And I think it's a marquee
game for sure. Texans have a ton of primetime games,
you know, with the Hall of Fame game, they have
seven National Window games when you go back to the preseason,
and they already played the Bears on Sunday Night Football.
(10:20):
They got some good ones coming up, including a Dallas
Monday Night or up in Big d in November.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
So it's all gonna be.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Really fun to watch. And it's a week to week thing,
as you know. I mean, every week feels like it's
own little drama and season.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
You know, Mark, one of the things I always enjoy
visiting with you about is also the college game as well,
because of your years as the voice of the Miami Hurricanes.
But do you still keep up with the Canes and
where you on edge on that hail Merry thing that
happened at the end of the game with Virginia Tech
last weekend.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Not only do I keep up, but I'm listening to
both radio calls. I'm listening to my buddies, Joseph Gaky
and Don Bailey. I'm listening to Bill Roth of Virginia
Tech to try to get the different perspectives of things.
So I totally keep it up with that one. And
I do keep up with the Canes as much as
I can. You know, Craig, they haven't done anything since
I've been there. I'm just going but they haven't had
(11:10):
that kind of success that they feel is their standard,
you know. And they've had some great starts and then
they fizzle out. So I thought, oh no, we're going
to get another one of.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
These when they were down in that game, but they came.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Back and won it and you've probably watched, and the
quarterback ward is really good, so.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
That can heal a lot of wounds.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
So I'm looking forward to seeing what they do the
rest of their way.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
Yeah, it'd be a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
But I'll tell you what, a lot of folks looking
forward to this matchup on Sunday between the Texans and
the bills and I'm right there at the top.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
Of the list, especially on an open.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
I gotta say though, before we say goodbye.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
I was at the Longhorn opener. My son is now
at Macomb School of Business, University of Texas. Okay, the
freshman and I went to the game and we listened
to you. We had you on the app and it's
a great experience, unbelievable. And you know, I hadn't been
to a Longhorn game in a while, so it was
a lot.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Of fun for me. And he is so into it.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Now he's bleeding burnt.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
Orange and it's a lot of fun.
Speaker 4 (12:05):
All right.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
The next time you do that, give me some notice
and we let me know you're coming. So we'd love
to have you pop upstairs and say hi, bring you
some with us.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
Listen.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
If he's in the McComb school, the dude is serious
about his academics. I'll just say that, you know, and
you know that right all over it.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
He's all over it.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
Chret He is not like his dad put it that way.
He is so diligent. He got elected to some freshman
senate day and.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
He's really into it. So it's fun. It's a great school.
I love walking to campus, you know. I felt like, hey,
this is a walking school. You know. He lives over
on the west side, and we walked all the way
across campus, but.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
It wasn't far.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
I think it's a great place to go to school, obviously,
and you know, a great program and what a tremendous atmosphere.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
So I'll look forward to going to some more games.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
Yeah, yeah, it'll be fun. It'd be great to see
you again.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Hey, have a great call this Sunday, looking forward to
the matchup, and I'll look forward to visiting with you
again down the road. I appreciate you taking the time, Mark,
Thanks much, Craig.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
All right, you bet that's.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Mark Vandermere, play by play voice of the Houston Texans.
That's right. And I knew that he had a son
at U Tad did No, he's in the Macombs.
Speaker 4 (13:10):
School and up to see my great guy. Always good
to visit.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
With him and uh and the Texans got it got
it going right now. You're like, are you impressed by
what you've seen Khalil from the Houston Texans through four
ball games?
Speaker 2 (13:25):
There?
Speaker 1 (13:25):
One loss? Uh is uh is to the Vikings are
really good? Vikings did Yeah? They're a real team. Yeah,
I'm I'm pretty much. I'm very impressed Strouds killing it.
I thought they would use digs more and they're starting
to use them a bit more. I think that he's
an underused weapon for them. I've noticed Saint Tale's taking
a bit of the of a back seat their defense. Uh,
(13:49):
I had to drop their defense in fantasy. Honestly, they
were awful against the Jags. They they kind of snuck
out of there with that win. But I think they're
gonna be one of those teams that progressively gets better
instead of staying in like the same same same level
of season long.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
So I think they're I think they're in a good situation.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Good teams can find a way to win when they
don't play their best, and I and I think that.
I think that's the case. Obviously for the Houston Texans.
They're in my opinion that well, it didn't have to be.
In my opinion, they are far and away the best
team in the AFC South. We'll see where it goes
from there. You know what else is gone, it's gone
(14:27):
final in Houston. The Houston Astros season is over done. Benito,
how about the Astros being swept on their home field
in two straight by the Detroit Tigers. They win this
afternoon five to two. The Tigers had that three run
double by a Bonyees in the top of the eighth
(14:48):
inning and that was the separator. Houston actually had a
two to one league But the Astros when they look
back at it, they'll have three total runs scored in
the two games combined, three total run scored and that
ultimately is the undoing for Houston. So their season is over.
Ranger fans like Cameron Parker and the other ones and
(15:12):
my cards can rejoice. Right, there's shot in Foudas and overdrive.
Now it was a quick kill. It was very very
quick and the Tigers, and what an interesting divisional series matchup.
You'll have a Rust Belt matchup Detroit and Cleveland. I
like it, two old school American League teams. I know
(15:35):
Cleveland goes by the Guardians. Now they're no longer the Indians,
but it's still it's Cleveland. It's old school stuff. And
so to be Detroit and Cleveland, and then whoever wins
the Kansas City Baltimore. So here we'll go to New
York and play the Yankees. So Astros are out and
stunningly knocked out in two straight at Minute May Park
(15:57):
by the Detroit Tigers, who win it.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
All right, we'll keep you updated on the other game
as well.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
We're going to hear more from log Worn men's basketball
coach Rodney Terry as well.
Speaker 4 (16:07):
Coming up. That's coming up.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
We continue here on sports Radio AM thirteen under the
zone of the iHeartRadio app.
My good friend Mark Vandermire, the play by play voice
of the Houston Texans, is probably a little more advanced
and just dealing with yacht rock. Like I'm a hopeless
yacht rocker there. But Mark joins us on the hotline,
how you doing today?
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Mark? Are you kidding? I'm all over Ambrosia. Let's go.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
I feel like driving up to see.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
The show myself, Ambrosia.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
You kidding?
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I love yacht rock. I remember the videos. It was
a series on YouTube. Did you ever see these? No,
you could still search them. They didn't have the rights
to the music, so maybe they got sued. You know,
these days, it's a little tough, as you know, Craig.
But I love yacht rock.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Well, my wife and I are hopeless yacht rockers, and
like I said, we've we've been to see Little River
Band and several other ones like that.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
So we're all about it there. So it's it's good.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
It's good to know that I've got some company in
that category.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
Hey, listen, the City of Houston.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Even if they lose out on the astros here and
they're down to six outs left, or rather three outs
in their season, down five to two of the Tigers.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
In the night. They even if they lose.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Out on the Astros, they've got a hot Texans team
right now, or as I would also like to call
a resilient group, Mark with the way they bounce back
from the game against Minnesota and really had to be
resilient in the game against Jacksonville, didn't they.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Yeah, they did, Craig, and you know, they didn't play
their best ball. Wasn't their a game. Defensively, they were
pretty solid throughout. They had some moments they gave up
a long run, but the big.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Play of the game was Calin Bullock, the rookie.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Safety from USC, running down Tank Bigsby inside the five,
and then they come up with a goal line stand
at the start of the fourth quarter as a result
of that, and that tipped.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
The scales, I thought, even though it was sort.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Of hurky jerky from there until the final drive, if
the Jaguars punch it in and make it a two
score game, I think.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
We might be having a different conversation right now.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
The offense just took a little while to get going.
But CJ. Stroud, you know, he's one of these guys, Craig,
and they fly have that guy where the opponent has
to be concerned. If the ball's in his hand with
time left on the clock and they're down to score
whatever score to tie or take the lead, you better
watch out. And CJ. Stroud does it again, leaves them
(02:14):
down the field and they win the game.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
So three and one's a good start, even though they
haven't played their best ball.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
CJ was where I was going next, Mark, and I
was going to ask you last year, such an explosion
onto the scene, and I know the expectations for him.
When you're drafted that high, certainly the expectation is going
to be there. And we talked about him last year
and he had that brilliant rookie season. Safe to say, however,
probably teams might be more geared up, amped up to
(02:39):
try to defend him. And yet he continues to play really,
really well. So have you seen the progression on how
he's had to make the adjustment from rookie season the
second year player, when teams have gone in defensive has
made their adjustments to deal with him.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Yeah, I think, you know, statistically it's going pretty well
so far. I mean when you look at the record
three and one and he's top five in the league
and passing yards and all that. I think everything is
in progress very well for year two for CJ. Stroud.
The thing is they're not scoring as many points as
I think they would like right now, and it's not
as efficient and proficient as they would want, and a lot.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Of that has to do with the offensive line.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Stroud himself, the things he's improved at. I think the
processing is even better this year. I think he understands
way more about the game, even though he understood a
whole lot last year. And the way he's moving around
in the pocket Craig is superior to what he was
doing last year, avoiding the rush, trying to create a
little extra time in real estate in the backfield to
(03:43):
launch accurate throws.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
He's doing that so well because the protection.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Hasn't been quite as good as it needs to be.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
So we'll see if they can improve on that. I mean,
in the Minnesota game, it's just a festival of errors
as a.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Pre snap stuff and holding penalties. They had one driver
where they had third and four at the twenty five
and they ended up punting because they took four consecutive penalties.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
So they've got to clean that up, and I think they.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Are in progress doing that, the penalty bug bit them
a little more against Jacksonville or again additionally, so they
have time to work on it. You'd rather learn while
winning than the other way around.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
So so far, so good.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Can some of the I don't know, for one of
a better word sluggishness on offense be trace to having
to deal with the injury bug in the backfield, not
having a healthy Joe Mixon for a lot of the time.
They're getting other contributors. Those of us who have cam
Akers on our fantasy team were happy to have him
as a substitute.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
But does that, I mean, does it?
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Can some of that be traced to what there's Jill
trying to get going with the ground game?
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Absolutely, because Joe Maxson looks so good in the.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Open A ran for one hundred and fifty nine yards
against the Colts, and you know, Damian Pierce only had
a few carries in that game, but looked pretty good.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
And we haven't seen him since either. So you've been without.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Your top two guys, and so now what do you do. Well,
you go to cam Akers, who I think looks pretty good.
Daria Goobowally is another player to watch out where you
cut that game winning touchdown pass. There you are, Craig
at the end of the game, inside thirty seconds, you're
at the goal line. You need to score and in
the offset I formation if Daria Gonbiwally and British Brooks
(05:16):
an undrafted rookie. So who would have thought that at
the beginning of training camp. But that's the NFL, that's
all of football. You have to use everybody on the roster.
You never know who's going to contribute. And those guys
run a play that gets to the game winning touchdown.
It was beautiful to see and it's a tribute to
the way they put this whole thing together because not
just the fifty three man roster, the practice squad, elevating guys,
(05:37):
how you work with the.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
People in your building, in your organization to.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Manufacture wins, And that's what they do, and that's what
they've been doing here in the Nick Cassario Demiko Ryans
Mini era we're in and I hope it continues.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Is is it safe to say that at that moment
what you're talking about, that's when you you and andre
Ward turn and look at each other booth and go,
these guys in the backfield did they come through.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Well, you know, Dari had that game last year against
Tampa Bay where he actually kicked a field goal because
Canine fair Baron was hurt.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
So it's so interesting the contribution he can make.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
And you know, his sister plays for Dallas and the WNBA.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
She's outstanding. So the family was there and his sister
was here and at this this is.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
A great moment. So we were never that surprised about
Dary pulling off something big because he's the ultimate role
player for this team. But you need people like that
up and down the roster. You need players to.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Make those kind of contributions that you're gonna win.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Talking Houston Texans football with the play by play voice
of the Texans Mark Vandam.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
We're here on Sports Radio AM thirteen hundred The Zone.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Mark, let me get your thoughts on the defense through
four ball games and what you see you really like
in the areas they're still trying.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
To clean up.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Well, obviously it could have got a whole lot better
against Minnesota, but I think that was one of those
stinker games and every team has them.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
It just happens and.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
You have to correct what wrong and hope that it
doesn't happen again. They had some tough moments in that game,
but they were.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Put in a sudden change.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Right off the bat with a deflected pick and the
rest of it. They did really well against the run
the first two games. I thought they did pretty well
against Jacksonville, but they still allowed over one hundred yards,
so they're going to find a way to stiff in
in that way.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
I think what you're looking at is.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
The unfinished product here. Will Anderson Junior two and a
half sacks, good start for him.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
The D tackles. They replaced the starters last year, and
I think they're off to.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
A pretty good start. But it's going to get better
when you get the Nico Autry back from a suspension
in a couple of games, because he can play the
outside and the inside on the D line, and I
think that's really gonna help. You. Get Kurt Heinisch back
this week.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
I think that's gonna help as well.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Danil Hunters Hunter has been good, but not who he
will be.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Just yet for this team, so I think it's good
on the front.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Aziz al Shire is just amazing. I mean one an
amazing guy, really good player. Played with the Miko in
San Francisco for for Jamiko, I should say, but he's
like Demko Ryans junior and the secondary.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
What can I say about Dereck.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Stingley Junior, outstanding lassater, the rookie from Georgia, Kleb Bullock
had a pick at his first ever game. He had
that player just talked about rookie safety. So a lot
of youth, and I think that it's only going to
get better, Craig, as they play together and really start.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
To gel without question, no doubt.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
The game, the headline game of this upcoming weekend in
the NFL is the game you have against the Buffalo
Bills on Sunday. How about your I remember last year
during the playoffs we were talking about a Buffalo. But
let me get your thoughts on this Bills team and
they come off smarting a little bit after what happened
to them in Baltimore last Sunday night. How about your
thoughts on this matchup with Buffalo.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
It's always tough with Josh Allen because he's so good
throwing and running, and he's one of these guys. You know,
he's not Lamar Jackson. They're different, but it's similar in
that you have to worry about them running and throw it.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
And I think with Alan, he's so physically so.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Big, he's hard to bring down. You got to bring
some friends to bring him down. And he's always a
big part of their rushing attack, So that is highly
notable when you play them.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
They've replaced a lot of guys.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
On defense, and you know, I know the Ravens game
didn't go according to their linking, but they got off
to a pretty good start prior to that, and some
of these defenders were playing pretty well. Now they've got
some injuries that they got to deal with. I think
what the Texans have to do, Craig, It's it's almost
like the Longhorse, right, the Longhorns are back, right, the
long Horns are a.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Hunted Now you have to get used to being the hunted.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
The team that everybody wants to be.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
And I guess what the Longhorns.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
People always want to beat the Longhorse.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
So maybe that's the best example.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
But the Texans kind of snuck up on people just
to use like outside looking in language last year. This year,
they're not going to sneak up on anybody. But you
have to be able to hold surf if you're one
of these teams at home. You've got to be able
to protect the turf and play another AFC quote power
and deal with it.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
That's the Texans deserve to be considered an.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
AFC power yet. But they want to be that, and
they do have the juice and the tools to be that.
So go do it, Go be it and beat the
Buffalo Bills this week. And I think it's a marquee
game for sure. Texans have a ton of primetime games,
you know, with the Hall of Fame game, they have
seven National Window games when you go back to the preseason,
and they already played the Bears on Sunday Night Football.
(10:20):
They got some good ones coming up, including a Dallas
Monday Night or up in Big d in November.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
So it's all gonna be.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Really fun to watch. And it's a week to week thing,
as you know. I mean, every week feels like it's
own little drama and season.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
You know, Mark, one of the things I always enjoy
visiting with you about is also the college game as well,
because of your years as the voice of the Miami Hurricanes.
But do you still keep up with the Canes and
where you on edge on that hail Merry thing that
happened at the end of the game with Virginia Tech
last weekend.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Not only do I keep up, but I'm listening to
both radio calls. I'm listening to my buddies, Joseph Gaky
and Don Bailey. I'm listening to Bill Roth of Virginia
Tech to try to get the different perspectives of things.
So I totally keep it up with that one. And
I do keep up with the Canes as much as
I can. You know, Craig, they haven't done anything since
I've been there. I'm just going but they haven't had
(11:10):
that kind of success that they feel is their standard,
you know. And they've had some great starts and then
they fizzle out. So I thought, oh no, we're going
to get another one of.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
These when they were down in that game, but they came.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Back and won it and you've probably watched, and the
quarterback ward is really good, so.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
That can heal a lot of wounds.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
So I'm looking forward to seeing what they do the
rest of their way.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
Yeah, it'd be a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
But I'll tell you what, a lot of folks looking
forward to this matchup on Sunday between the Texans and
the bills and I'm right there at the top.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
Of the list, especially on an open.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
I gotta say though, before we say goodbye.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
I was at the Longhorn opener. My son is now
at Macomb School of Business, University of Texas. Okay, the
freshman and I went to the game and we listened
to you. We had you on the app and it's
a great experience, unbelievable. And you know, I hadn't been
to a Longhorn game in a while, so it was
a lot.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Of fun for me. And he is so into it.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Now he's bleeding burnt.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
Orange and it's a lot of fun.
Speaker 4 (12:05):
All right.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
The next time you do that, give me some notice
and we let me know you're coming. So we'd love
to have you pop upstairs and say hi, bring you
some with us.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
Listen.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
If he's in the McComb school, the dude is serious
about his academics. I'll just say that, you know, and
you know that right all over it.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
He's all over it.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
Chret He is not like his dad put it that way.
He is so diligent. He got elected to some freshman
senate day and.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
He's really into it. So it's fun. It's a great school.
I love walking to campus, you know. I felt like, hey,
this is a walking school. You know. He lives over
on the west side, and we walked all the way
across campus, but.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
It wasn't far.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
I think it's a great place to go to school, obviously,
and you know, a great program and what a tremendous atmosphere.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
So I'll look forward to going to some more games.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
Yeah, yeah, it'll be fun. It'd be great to see
you again.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Hey, have a great call this Sunday, looking forward to
the matchup, and I'll look forward to visiting with you
again down the road. I appreciate you taking the time, Mark,
Thanks much, Craig.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
All right, you bet that's.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Mark Vandermere, play by play voice of the Houston Texans.
That's right. And I knew that he had a son
at U Tad did No, he's in the Macombs.
Speaker 4 (13:10):
School and up to see my great guy. Always good
to visit.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
With him and uh and the Texans got it got
it going right now. You're like, are you impressed by
what you've seen Khalil from the Houston Texans through four
ball games?
Speaker 2 (13:25):
There?
Speaker 1 (13:25):
One loss? Uh is uh is to the Vikings are
really good? Vikings did Yeah? They're a real team. Yeah,
I'm I'm pretty much. I'm very impressed Strouds killing it.
I thought they would use digs more and they're starting
to use them a bit more. I think that he's
an underused weapon for them. I've noticed Saint Tale's taking
a bit of the of a back seat their defense. Uh,
(13:49):
I had to drop their defense in fantasy. Honestly, they
were awful against the Jags. They they kind of snuck
out of there with that win. But I think they're
gonna be one of those teams that progressively gets better
instead of staying in like the same same same level
of season long.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
So I think they're I think they're in a good situation.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Good teams can find a way to win when they
don't play their best, and I and I think that.
I think that's the case. Obviously for the Houston Texans.
They're in my opinion that well, it didn't have to be.
In my opinion, they are far and away the best
team in the AFC South. We'll see where it goes
from there. You know what else is gone, it's gone
(14:27):
final in Houston. The Houston Astros season is over done. Benito,
how about the Astros being swept on their home field
in two straight by the Detroit Tigers. They win this
afternoon five to two. The Tigers had that three run
double by a Bonyees in the top of the eighth
(14:48):
inning and that was the separator. Houston actually had a
two to one league But the Astros when they look
back at it, they'll have three total runs scored in
the two games combined, three total run scored and that
ultimately is the undoing for Houston. So their season is over.
Ranger fans like Cameron Parker and the other ones and
(15:12):
my cards can rejoice. Right, there's shot in Foudas and overdrive.
Now it was a quick kill. It was very very
quick and the Tigers, and what an interesting divisional series matchup.
You'll have a Rust Belt matchup Detroit and Cleveland. I
like it, two old school American League teams. I know
(15:35):
Cleveland goes by the Guardians. Now they're no longer the Indians,
but it's still it's Cleveland. It's old school stuff. And
so to be Detroit and Cleveland, and then whoever wins
the Kansas City Baltimore. So here we'll go to New
York and play the Yankees. So Astros are out and
stunningly knocked out in two straight at Minute May Park
(15:57):
by the Detroit Tigers, who win it.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
All right, we'll keep you updated on the other game
as well.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
We're going to hear more from log Worn men's basketball
coach Rodney Terry as well.
Speaker 4 (16:07):
Coming up. That's coming up.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
We continue here on sports Radio AM thirteen under the
zone of the iHeartRadio app.
Popular Podcasts
40s and Free Agents: NFL Draft Season
Daniel Jeremiah of Move the Sticks and Gregg Rosenthal of NFL Daily join forces to break down every team's needs this offseason.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Bobby Bones Show
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.