How Much Better Should We Expect the Texans O-Line to Be?

Summary

---

Podcast Summary: Payne & Pendergast

Episode: How Much Better Should We Expect the Texans O-Line to Be?

Date: July 9, 2026

Hosts: Seth Payne (Ben), Sean Pendergast (out; Luke Morrow in)

---

Overview

This episode dives into the Houston Texans’ offensive line outlook heading into the 2026 NFL season. With new rankings from Warren Sharp placing the unit among the league’s worst—despite offseason changes—the conversation explores if such skepticism is warranted. The hosts evaluate fan expectations, the impact of fresh faces (notably rookie center Keelan Rutledge), and whether coaching and roster depth will finally steady the group. Insider Ross Tucker joins for expert analysis, and the episode closes with a detour into the Brandon Aiyuk situation.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Warren Sharp’s Offensive Line Rankings

• Sharp’s latest ranking lists the Texans O-line 31st out of 32 teams, only ahead of the Browns, despite their offseason upgrades.
  • [01:49] Luke: “Warren Sharp...ranked the best offensive lines for 2026...Houston Texans, 31st on his list, only ahead of the Cleveland Browns despite bringing in, you know, three new starters.”
• Seth feels the ranking is too low, but acknowledges the O-line must still prove itself.
  • [02:43] Ben: “I disagree with them being that low...But this is the bed the Texans offense has made for themselves. They got to prove that they're actually a viable offensive line.”
• Fan reactions noted as surprisingly subdued—Texans fans “get it.”
  • [04:43] Luke: “I was surprised with how reasonable Texans fans were...I figured a lot of outrage…but Texans fans are so beaten down...we have to wait until they actually can prove that they can have a good offensive line.”
  • [05:09] Ben (mocking voice): “Minor nitpick. Texans improve their O-line more than 31st. Should be four to seven spots higher...It's a depressing thing to get in an argument about. Like, no, no, no...They are not the 31st offensive line. They are at least 27th, sir.”

---

2. Analyzing the O-Line’s Makeup and Coaching

• Improved coaching under Cole Popovich cited as key to potential progress.
  • [06:05] Ben: “It’s got to be faith in Popovich and Cole Popovich, the offensive line coach...they made progress in that last year and it still wasn’t what you wanted, but they were playing more uniformly with good technique, not making as many mental errors.”
• Emphasized importance of veteran presence and team identity.
  • [07:00] Ben: “Going into this season compared to last year...they've just got a better complement of veteran players...there's more of an actual theme to what they want on the offensive line.”
  • [08:38] Ben: “You don’t have to stock it up with a bunch of all pros to make it work. If you just execute the plan...have a theme, have a philosophy, know what you want out of your offensive linemen, it feels like they're more on the same page.”

---

3. Scheme and Potential Ceiling

• Sharp recognizes the Texans might have the highest upside among low-ranked lines.
  • [08:06] Luke: “Warren Sharp did say that the Texans could be the team that exceed these rankings to the largest degree...he said they shifted from 27th in man blocking percentage in 2024, only behind the Rams…with an offensive line not suited for it.”
• Hosts are optimistic about a “mediocre” (average) outcome, which would be progress.
  • [13:52] Ben: “To me, getting back to mediocre is a big step forward and you get a better feel for exactly what C.J. Stroud is as a quarterback.”

---

4. Roster Depth vs. Starting Quality

• ESPN ranked the Texans’ total roster 9th, but still called the O-line the NFL's “shakiest.”
  • [11:43] Luke: “ESPN…have the Texans have the ninth most talented roster, but biggest weakness offensive line…perhaps the NFL’s shakiest starting five.”
• Hosts note Texans have strong O-line depth (top 8-9), but uncertain top five.
  • [12:22] Ben: “…you might take their top eight or nine offensive linemen and say this is one of the deeper groups in the league in terms of guys who can legitimately play NFL offensive line...in terms of their actual top five, you don't feel nearly as good about it.”

---

5. The Keelan Rutledge Question: Rookie Center Spotlight

• Ross Tucker highlights the challenge of moving Rutledge to center as pivotal for the O-line’s success.

  • [21:07] Ross Tucker: “I think Keelan Rutledge is going to be, pardon the pun, but the key…to move a guy that was at guard to center...is a significant, significant decision. They must really, really believe in the young man…I certainly loved his tape at Georgia Tech…There is a chance...there might be some growing pains in a new position early.”

  • [24:38] Luke: “Keelan Rutledge, the fact that you’re going to have a rookie, already a struggling offensive line with a young quarterback…only one time has a rookie center started the entire season and led a team to a Super Bowl. So obviously it's a hard thing.”

• Seth notes that first weeks of camp will be telling, especially with snapping consistency.
  • [23:17] Ben: “Those first few weeks of camp, the biggest thing that I'm looking for…is that his shotgun snaps are more consistent, because that was the one thing during OTAs…”

---

6. First Round O-linemen: No Guarantees

• Drafting O-linemen in the first round is statistically safer, but nothing is certain.
  • [29:29] Ben: “Offensive lines—the position group that has the highest percentage of guys getting the second contract with the team that drafted them. So it is…statistically the safest position to draft, but nothing's guaranteed.”
  • [28:37] Ben: “There's a tendency sometimes to forget that 50% of first rounders don't really work out…especially at the back end of the first round…”

---

7. Building from the Inside Out: Long-Term Philosophy

• Both hosts favor investing in the trenches—offensive and defensive lines.
  • [30:11] Luke: “I'm old school. I still like the old school basketball where you played from inside out…football, same idea like build from the inside out, offensive line, defensive line.”
• Ben: Having a strong O-line gives a quarterback the best chance at success—“You can make it as easy or as hard for your quarterback as you want.”
  • [30:26] Ben: “...if you want to get the absolute best out of your quarterback, you can make it as easy or as hard…When you have a really good offensive line...you make him a better passer when he's well protected.”

---

8. Detour: Brandon Aiyuk Saga (Bonus Segment)

• Discussion turns to Brandon Aiyuk’s dramatic offseason and social media behavior.
  • [34:02] Ben: “He’s gonna let his freak flag fly…and he’s not worried about it because he really doesn’t care if a team signs him or not.”
• Aiyuk’s own social media antics and claims about being held ‘captive’ for pay are criticized as self-sabotaging.
  • [35:29] Ben: “He refuses to do any of it. And then he continues to lean into like demanding that the 49ers cut him. Well, he still hasn't filed his reinstatement paperwork...”
• Aiyuk’s relationship with Jaden Daniels called into question.
  • [38:01] Podcast Promoter (paraphrasing Aiyuk): “‘And I called. He don't answer.’”
  • [38:07] Ben: “Jaden Daniels wants nothing to do with him now. He just wants nothing to do with this mess…According to the source, Brandon Iuk, Jayden Daniels isn't accepting his calls, but I don't trust anything that I hear from Brandon Iuk at this point.”
• Hosts joke about how even Aiyuk’s defenders are running out of patience, and compare his antics to other departing Niners (Deebo Samuel, etc.)
  • [39:38] Luke: “Yeah, he's looking around like, right, guys, you're with me, right? The Niners, this organization's crazy.”

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On fan reactions:
  • [05:09] Ben: “It's a depressing thing to get in an argument about. Like, no, no, no, listen, they are not the 31st offensive line. They are at least 27th, sir.”
• On coaching:
  • [06:05] Ben: “You can have five average offensive linemen and have a really solid offensive line as long as they're all coached up real well and playing together.”
• On team-building philosophy:
  • [29:42] Ben: “It's always felt to me like if I were a GM…where you get the most bang for your buck…always having an awesome offensive line no matter what…you're more likely to succeed with your pick and you're more likely to have them around for a long time.”
• On the O-line’s potential:
  • [13:52] Ben: “Getting back to mediocre is a big step forward and you get a better feel for exactly what C.J. Stroud is as a quarterback.”
• On rookie center Keelan Rutledge:
  • [21:07] Ross Tucker: “To move a guy that was at guard to center, to kind of give him the keys to the castle, I mean, that is, that's a significant, significant decision. They must really, really believe in the young man.”

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Texans O-line National Ranking Debacle: 01:46–06:05
• Coaching and Cohesion Discussion: 06:05–08:38
• Scheme & Predictive Analysis: 08:06–08:38
• Roster Depth vs. Starting Quality & Roster Rankings: 11:43–14:52
• Keelan Rutledge / Rookie Center Segment: 20:59–25:23
• First-Round Draft Odds/Team-Building: 28:37–30:26
• Brandon Aiyuk Social Media Saga: 34:02–39:43

---

Episode Tone

• Relatable, unfiltered banter: Plenty of humor and sarcasm balanced by honest analysis.
• Expert perspective, clear frustration with O-line uncertainty: Both resigned to the “prove-it” phase Texans fans and analysts are stuck waiting through yet again.
• Critical of “list season” and overreactions to offseason rankings, yet realistic about concerns, especially regarding the center position.

---

Summary Takeaways

• The Texans' O-line enters 2026 as a giant question mark—offseason upgrades, but national skepticism persists.
• Coaching, scheme clarity, and a new crop of veterans could stabilize the unit, with the ceiling dependent on rookie center Keelan Rutledge’s rapid development.
• Fan reaction is rational and patient: everyone’s waiting for proof instead of hype.
• Building from the inside out remains core to both hosts’ football philosophy.
• Detour into the Brandon Aiyuk saga offers a sharp, entertaining critique of an NFL drama sideshow.

---

A must-listen for Texans fans and football nerds eager for insight that blends skepticism, hope, and hard truths about the all-important offensive line.

Transcript

[Commercial Announcer]

Now is your time to get into a new Dr. Horton home by taking advantage of its national Red Tag sales event. This Friday, July 10th through Sunday, August 2nd, stop by any of its participating communities and find select red tag homes at Incredible Pricing. So whether you're buying your first home or looking for an upgrade, you don't want to miss the Red Tag sales event. Starting this Friday, discover the Dr. Horton Difference. Visit Dr. Horton.com Dr. Horton America's Builder and Equal Housing Opportunity Builder.

[Podcast Promoter]

The Recap show is an inside look

[Football Analyst Ben]

into the world of global soccer and women's sports.

[Podcast Promoter]

Follow and listen to the Recap show wherever you get your podcasts.

[Football Analyst Ben]

I started Ornod in 2013 and we make bike apparel. The best part of Shopify for me is our ability to run the business as essentially non technical people. We're able to admin everything on the back end, front end and sell things online easily. If Shopify were a bike accessory, I think it would actually be the bicycle. It's the thing that you do the thing on. We run the business on Shopify. Start your free trial on shopify.com how

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

much better should we expect the Texans offensive line to be this year? It's Payne and Pendergast. I'm Luke Morrow in for Sean alongside Seth Payne. You can always text the show 713-572-4610. Get to us in the YouTube and Twitch chats as well. Yeah, so you know, as I keep saying, this is the season of lists this year, this time of year as we wait for training camp to begin in about two weeks. So Warren Sharp, who has Sharp analytics,

[Football Analyst Ben]

he Sharp football dot com, I think.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

Oh, is it?

[Football Analyst Ben]

No, I can't remember. Yeah, it's Sharp football analysis. That's what it is.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

Okay, well, he's a big analytical guy. That's how. That's how I'll rephrase it. Yeah, but Sharp football, Warren Sharp, he ranked the best offensive lines for 20, 26. And he actually he did an article on his website that you could go see where he gives a blurb for each team. But on Twitter, he just listed the teams ranking the best offensive lines. And you look at, oh, number one, Denver Broncos, two Eagles. Okay, you scroll down. 10. Oh, Falcons. Nice. Okay, the Lions, 14th. You know, so on, so forth. Oh, the Jaguars, 17th. Okay, keep scrolling. Oh, the Chiefs, 23rd, Ravens right behind them. Keep scrolling. Oh, where, where are The Texans? Titans, 30th.

[Commercial Announcer]

Okay.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

At the Houston Texans, 31st on his list, only ahead of the Cleveland Browns despite bringing in, you know, three New starters and whatever else Warren Sharp right now has. The Texans still is having the second worst offensive line for 2026.

[Football Analyst Ben]

Okay, so this, this is, this falls into a weird category for me of I disagree with them being that low. And yet at the same time, what am I going to do? Get angry about anybody disparaging the Texans offensive line? I think that until they show and prove that, yeah, this, this yet again revamped offensive line can show up and do something, can actually push human beings more than a half yard or so off the line of scrimmage that I'm, I'm, I just, I refuse to get rankled by any kind of perceived disrespect or anything that, that on paper it just looks like, it just looks like a bunch, a few new names and then some guys that have to play better than they did last year. Ariante ERS3, I thought had a very promising rookie year. He's got to take the proverbial step forward. I think that some of the rankings of the offensive line right now for people like Warren Sharp, who he's, he's always struck me as one of these analytics types who thinks that NFL coaches are idiots because they don't pass 90% of the time. Like you should be passing the ball every single down that I'm guessing pass protection ranks more highly with him than the, the run pass balance. And like Wyatt Teller last year just had some rough spots in pass protection. He wasn't, he wasn't the classic version of himself. Ed Ingram was awesome as a run blocker, less consistent as a pass protector. You've got either Jake Andrews or a rookie at center and then he might not, he probably doesn't, doesn't. He doesn't weight Braden Smith's run blocking ability as highly as he might factor in his pass blocking ability. So I get where he might be coming from. I think it's, I still think it's far too low. But I, but I refuse, I fight with every fiber of my being against being offended by it because it's, because this is what, this is the, this is the bed the Texans offense is made for themselves. They got to prove that they're actually a viable offensive line.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

Yeah, I was surprised with how reasonable Texans fans were about this online. Having a. Pretty much a similar reaction to you of, of. I don't know if I'd put them at 31st, but I get it right. I figured a lot of, I figured a lot of outrage of like how dare you. We made all these moves. How dare you. But Yeah, I think Texans fans are so beaten down here in recent years that it's like, yeah, you know, our offensive line has been bad. We have to wait until they actually can prove that they can have a good offensive line.

[Football Analyst Ben]

Here's a guy, I don't know if he's a Texans fan or not, but I think it probably characterizes it. I'll try to say this in a furious voice. Minor nitpick. Texans improve their O line more than 31st. Should be four to seven spots higher. It is, it's. It's a depressing, it's a depressing thing to get in an argument about. Like, no, no, no, listen, they are not the 31st offensive line. They are at least 27th, sir. Yeah. Anytime you start off an objection with minor nitpick, a pretty good indication that people aren't overly po'd about this.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

Yeah, it's true. So I was a little surprised. Cause usually everyone's. Anytime you say something negative about their team, they're ticked off. But, but Texans fans get it.

[Football Analyst Ben]

Exons fan says this Texans improve significantly, expecting them to be closer to 15. Like, yeah, right, you're. You bastard. You're calling them bad when in fact they're mid.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

Yeah.

[Football Analyst Ben]

How dare you. How dare you disrespect our very mid offensive line. Now they really, what it comes to with the offensive line is it's, it's, it's got to be faith in Popovich and Cole Popovich, the offensive line coach, because there's just, you know, you can find a bunch of people that'll tell you, look, man, you can have five average offensive linemen and have a really solid offensive line as long as they're all coached up real well and playing together. And I think they did, they made progress in that last year and it still wasn't what you wanted, but they were playing more uniformly with good technique, not making as many mental errors in the second half of the season. And I think that just by virtue of adding a bunch of veterans as well, and I almost. I'll include Trent Brown in that because you didn't know that Trent, last year at the beginning of the season, you don't know. I didn't know if Trent Brown was ever going to play football.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

Right.

[Football Analyst Ben]

Like a guy in his 30s at that size coming off of patellar tendon tear. That's a big deal for an offensive lineman. So going into this season compared to last year, the thing that I'm most optimistic about is that they've just got a better complement of veteran players. Who play a certain style of football. There's more of an actual theme to what they want on the offensive line. Right now, I feel like they've got. They've got a purpose, and it's that we're going to be a team that can run the ball and, and we'll take care of. We'll use that to make it easier in pass protection by virtue of the play action and everything else. So I feel, I do feel like. Because I think Warren Sharp labeled this ranking as predictive. Right. Like what he's predicting they'll be. And I would predict that, yeah, at the very least, they're going to be a mediocre offensive line. Then above and beyond that, that's where maybe Cole Popovich can start to make a name for himself as an offensive line coach. If he takes this group and turns them into a genuinely good offensive line, I will heap praise upon praise for Cole Popovich because there it's. It'll be evidence that he really knows what he's doing.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

Warren Sharp did say that the Texans could be the team that exceed these rankings to the largest degree. So in, in a sense, they might have like the highest ceiling or the highest potential. Um, he said they shifted from 27th in man blocking percentage in 20242 last year, only behind the Rams, where Nick Kaley came from. But he said with an offensive line not suited for it and without a real number one running back, year two of Kaylee running this system might be better.

[Football Analyst Ben]

Yeah. And. And that's kind of how I've been with the offensive line in their strategy over the last few years. Well, and especially running on into d' Ameco's first year, I had a hard time figuring out what kind of guys they even liked, you know, because he'd have some guys that look like more athletic zone blocking type guys, and you have other guys that are just huge maulers. And going back to OTAs this year in that first OTA, I think my first impression of just seeing the offensive line as they're walking out as a group is like, is. Was that okay? This is a. This is a more physically impressive offensive line. Like, this looks like a classic. They get off the bus and you're thinking, oh, this is a. It's going to be a physical battle today. And it feels like they have more of a theme for the type of guys that they're going after. So that alone, you know, just the old. What's the old saying? A good plan well executed will beat a brilliant plan, poorly executed you know, every single time. That's where it feels like they've got a good and solid plan at least, and you don't have to stock it up with a bunch of all pros to make it work. If you just execute the plan and you at first a have a plan and b execute it properly. Have a theme, have a philosophy, know what you want out of your offensive lineman, it feels like they're more on the same page.

[Podcast Promoter]

With that now, it is not hard to destroy a college Last season, the

[Podcast Narrator]

podcast Campus Files brought you stories of fraternity drug rings, stolen body parts, campus cults, and more.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

And now Campus Files is back for another season. There's a guy screaming into his phone.

[Commercial Announcer]

He's like, I just saw Charlie Kirk get assassinated right in front of me.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

Every week is a new episode and a new story.

[Football Analyst Ben]

It was so chaotic, it's almost like

[Podcast Promoter]

a university under siege.

[Podcast Narrator]

Listen to and follow Campus Files available now. Wherever you get your podcasts, your vehicle

[Football Analyst Ben]

doesn't just get you from here to there. It's a bridge to the people and places that matter most. It's how you should show up for your family, your community, and everyone else that depends on you. That's why for 125 years Firestone has been building tires with one thing in to deliver products that are as reliable as you are. Firestone always dependable since 1900.

[Podcast Promoter]

Having the right people in your corner for life's biggest milestones makes all the difference. Like a friend who's there when you're house hunting or checking out a new ride. State Farm is there too, helping you choose the coverage you need with Estate Farm Agent, you know someone is there to help you along the way. And with so many coverage options, it's nice knowing you have help choosing a plan that fits your needs so you can continue celebrating all of life's milestones. Head to statefarm.com to get a quote. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Perrigold has Luxury Home's largest selection of outdoor furniture, lighting, decor and more. Discover pieces in every style from more than 2,000 of design's best brands. Shop in store or online at Paragould Come Paragould Luxury lives here.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

Ice Cold funk train on YouTube said they haven't proved anything, so I agree. 31st seems fair. You know what else I found interesting was espn. Again, speaking of lists or rankings, ESPN did a ranking this week of the most talented rosters in the NFL based off of starters and they have the Texans have the ninth most talented roster, but that's Even with them saying biggest weakness offensive line, this group is perhaps the NFL's shakiest starting five and remains a major concern. That's a real credit, I guess, to the defense, where you can have the ninth most talented roster. Even with what they list as maybe the worst offensive line in the league.

[Football Analyst Ben]

Right. The worst offensive line. I'm guessing they don't have C.J. stroud ranked all that high. People generally aren't all that enthusiastic about David Montgomery outside of Houston. Yeah, that. It's a, it's a testament to how good you almost say, all right, well, if, yeah, if the Texans are number one or number two, then they've got, they've definitely got the Texans offense ranked down around 18 or 19 or so to end up with that average of 9th best roster. I think with the offensive line, one thing that I've heard from a couple different people that I like is that you might take their top eight or nine offensive linemen and say this is one of the deeper groups in the league in terms of guys who can legitimately play NFL offensive line. You know, they're okay. This guy's. You don't, you don't, you don't question whether he's a viable starter or not. And that's if you include the first round draft pick in there. But in terms of their actual top five, you don't feel nearly as good about it. Where I like that is that, man, what we've seen the past few years is just that they've, they've had to play a whole bunch of offensive linemen. If you go back to 2023, which is the last time people were really excited about C.J. stroud's performance. They were, they finished the 15th ranked offensive line in 2023, which I was kind of surprised when I went back on pff. I went back to PFF just to look for it, just to try to be objective about things. And the thing about that year was that they had a long stretch of like capable offensive line play, but then they had a whole bunch of injuries. They ended up playing 14 different offensive linemen during the season that year. But the big things that year, remember, okay, Laramie Tunsil was still Laramie Tunsil and still a good offensive lineman. Shaq Mason, I think that was, that was just as he was getting. He was starting to get old, but he was still a viable offensive lineman. But then George Fant was the swing tackle that you didn't really expect much out of, that came in and actually played way better than you expected. And There was a little bit of a. There's more of a veteran stability on that offensive line in a lot of ways than I think CJ's had in the last couple of years. And it was, lo and behold, with a mediocre offensive line. That was when C.J. stroud had his most promising performance as an NFL player. That's why, like, to me, getting back to media, to mediocre is a. Is a big step forward and you get a better feel for exactly what C.J. stroud is as a quarterback.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

Yeah. Because, look, I was going to say, how could you be the ninth best team in the league if you have the worst offensive line? But then I was thinking they kind of did that last year where their offensive line was towards the bottom of the league, and yet they finished in the top. You know, really should have been top and scoring. Okay. But just, you know, overall, I'm saying as an overall team, they still finish. You know, I mean, they should have been, for all intents and purposes, the AFC representative in the Super Bowl. So usually you wouldn't think of a team being that good without a decent offensive line, but the Texans have been doing that. So imagine if they do get decent on the offensive line. That's. That's been the whole conversation.

[Kit Kat Jingle Singer]

Right?

[Podcast Promoter]

Right.

[Football Analyst Ben]

Yeah. No, and it's not like it's. It might be the most lopsided of the teams that are in the top third. Are they one of the most lopsided teams in terms of how, like, where you would rank their. Their rosters right now? The Seahawks. The Seahawks are ranked third. Excuse me for. So the Seahawks are ranked third. And obviously their offense was way better than the Texans last year. The Ravens are fifth. The Ravens are. The Ravens are interesting to me. I think I told you earlier this week that I feel like people are talking about the Ravens as if John Harbaugh is still the head coach that they just. They. Because that's what they did with the Saints for a couple years. They would talk about the Saints as if Sean Payton was still the head coach. Because when a head coach is there for so long, you almost start to just identify a team as being like, well, the Ravens are always consistently competitive and they've got Lamar Jackson. And look, their defense. People still errantly believe that the Ravens defense is always good when, in fact, in the last few years, they've had these weird seasons where they're actually a bad defense for the first half of the season. Then they play in the second half of the season, like, one of the best defenses in the league. But there's a lot of things systemically about the Ravens that I just, I don't have as much faith in them as it seems like a lot of the power rankings do.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

In case you were curious, on this ranking, The Jaguars were 16th for most talented roster. Colts 20th, Titans 28th. So that's the rest of the division. Here's friend of the show who is 16th. Jaguars.

[Football Analyst Ben]

Okay.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

I believe. Right. I think I have that right. 16th. Colts 20th, Titans 28th. When looking at the rest of the division and how their rosters stack up, friend of the show Ross Tucker. Was this what Houston stressings. Is that where this.

[Football Analyst Ben]

Yeah, this is Garrett on Garrett Williams YouTube channel.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

Awesome. Here's Ross talking about the offensive line first, talking about how, you know, Kasario made a bunch of moves.

[Ross Tucker]

So this is the second year in a row where Kasario has done this where he's thrown a lot of volume at the position.

[Podcast Promoter]

So.

[Ross Tucker]

But right now I think they have 10 guys that have played, you know, or a first round pick. Right. So 10 guys that you'd like to think if they were out there would be good enough to not be the reason why the Texans lose and give them depth for injuries, I think.

[Football Analyst Ben]

Oh, the bad edit by me. I was waiting for myself. What Ross. It's hard with Ross because he's a very slow talker.

[Podcast Promoter]

Right.

[Football Analyst Ben]

And he takes pauses. So. So I should have got that, I think out of there.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

He had me at the edge of my seat of what are you thinking about Ross?

[Ross Tucker]

I think

[Football Analyst Ben]

Luke is something is a little quirk of pain and Pendergast is that I try to help Ben out by editing audio myself and end up making it way more miserable for Ben. So yeah, as far as that though, like the 10 guys who have actually played in the NFL, like that's, that's a I. What he's saying there I agree with partly in that a lot of those backups, if you had an offensive line composed of nothing but the sixth through 10th guys, then that's not going to be a very good offensive line. But there are guys that you can plug in just like most good offensive lines in the NFL these days have at least one guy on there where he's just along for the ride. But if you can, if you can keep his workload and exactly how much pressure and focus there is on him to a minimum, then yeah, you can still be a really effective offensive line with that. But they at least now have as opposed to the last few years, I think where they were just, they were penciling guys in as starters early in training camp who still hadn't even proven that they could play in the NFL. You know when you just, you go into camp and Kenyon Green's getting all the reps at left guard and wondering where, like, why is this guy not facing any competition? I just don't get it that it doesn't feel like that anymore. And I do it like, I think that, I think the best evidence of that is that right now it's really easy to draw up the depth chart and say, okay, Wyatt Tellers your left guard and Braden Smith is your right tackle. I'm not convinced that that's 100% a certainty, even with health, because remember last year you signed Cam Robinson as a veteran offensive tackle and free agency do a nice chunk of money, not an exorbitant contract, and he's off the team within the first few weeks. So I feel good about those additions with Braden Smith and Wyatt Teller, and I don't think either of them will be off the team within a few weeks, but I think Braden Smith and Trent Brown might be in more of a competition than you realize. I think if, if perhaps, you know, depending on how healthy and consistent Wyatt Teller is during camp, if Keelan Rutledge is struggling at center but is looking really good taking guard reps, that Wyatt Teller might be facing some competition from Keelan Rutledge. So I like, now you've got, okay, you got a first round draft pick that might be competing with a former all pro guard for who's going to be the starter, as opposed to last year when it was, all right, Lake and Tomlinson and Juice Scruggs are going to battle it out to see who the starting left guard is. And by the end and six months later, neither of them are even on the team. And in the second half of the season, those guys aren't even playing. Like that was a, that was a much worse situation than what they have right now. They've got actual competition now.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

You mentioned Keelan Rutledge. More Ross Tucker here with Houston Stressings. Is Ross talking about how Rutledge is the key?

[Ross Tucker]

It's debatable how much Wyatt Teller has left. I thought he still did some really positive things last year. I think Keelan Rutledge is going to be, pardon the pun, but the key, you know, to move a guy that was at guard to center, to kind of give him the keys to the castle, I mean, that is, that's a significant, significant decision. They must really, really believe in the young man. I certainly loved his tape at Georgia Tech. Love him getting after people snapping the ball first. You know, the mental aspect of playing center is a little bit different. You know, Stroud's getting there in terms of experience, but I wouldn't call him a wily veteran yet. So I do think, you know, they are going to test Rutledge early, both physically and mentally, and it'll be sink or swim. We'll see whether or not he can rise to the challenge. There is a chance, you know, there might be some growing pains in a new position early.

[Football Analyst Ben]

Ben, I need you to throw the. I think at the end of every time we play Ross Tucker. Yeah, I think this is what Ross Tucker thinks. Yeah, that's. And we saw that in OTAs in minicamp. They're going to get Caitlin Rutledge a lot of snaps at center. Literally saying, man, now I'm doing the inadvertent pun. They're gonna. Because he needs to just get the physical muscle memory of snapping the football while also making. Doing all the mental work and the physical challenges of learning to play in the NFL. It's a lot. And some guys have done it. You know, like, there's. There's a good number of examples of guys who played guard or tackle in college and then went to play center in the NFL. The guy that I always think of first is Matt Burke. The Minnesota. He was a. He was a tackle at Harvard, and when he got drafted, we. Those of us who played in the Ivy League, we're all kind of like, huh, wow. Really? Like, it wasn't like, he was an incredibly impressive, overpowering offensive lineman when he was a tackle in the Ivy League. He gets the NFL and they. They try him out at center, and he ends up being a perennial all Pro at center. So it's like there's. There's any number of examples of guys who have done it, but it's just not. It's. It's not as simple as. Oh, yeah, since he's a. Since he's a good enough athlete to play guard or tackle, and certainly he'll be good at center. It's just a different set of challenges. And those first few weeks of camp, the biggest thing that I'm looking for, first and foremost, is that his shotgun snaps are more consistent, because that was the one thing during OTAs that, man, all those other centers, whether it's Evan Brown or Jake Andrews or other guys who have played the position, they're a lot more consistent with the snap. And we. And even then we know that Jake Andrews had some issues with the snap in the Steelers game, that, that if he can consistently snap the ball well while also still handling guys like Tommy Togi in practice, that's going to be a really good sign. That's a, that's a rare offensive line battle that I think you could actually read into a lot of what's going on in practice because it's hard, it's hard to evaluate in practice the offensive lineman and interior offensive lineman and defensive lineman because there's so many of the physical things they can't do. But I think that if he's consistently snapping the ball well and he's having good reps and pass protection and looks like he's getting movement in the run game in the first couple of weeks, then I think it's an almost certainty that'll be the starting center. If he's struggling, then there's going to be questions, you know, and we're going to have to see.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

I feel like it's the most under talked part of this Texans team and maybe I'm just not hearing the conversations, but yeah. Keelan Rutledge, the fact that you're going to have a rookie already, a struggling offensive line with a young quarterback, you're hoping to improve this offense and you're going to have a rookie center who's moving over. It's a new position, new league. He's only a rookie and he's going to be that center working with Shroud, trying to figure this all out. Look, the ultimate goal is obviously to go in a Super bowl and to my research, only one time has a rookie center started the entire season and led a team to a Super Bowl. So obviously it's a hard thing. And when you already talk about the questions on this offensive line, it just feels like man at the center position. To have a rookie learning the position and the NFL all at the same time with. Yeah, it's just. It seems like a lot.

[Football Analyst Ben]

It's what they love. They love taking CJ and putting inexperience in youth in front of. I mean, Jake Andrews last year was a guy, he played 70 snaps in the NFL up to that point.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

True. Yeah.

[Football Analyst Ben]

And if I recall correctly, none of them were at center in actual NFL games. And he figured it out and got better as the year went along. But it's just these first. I mean, we saw it last year. I have a hard time and honestly with the Rams, it's not just the Texans, it's the Rams who are really, really good and proven NFL Team that sometimes they treat like these first few games of the season, like, we'll figure it out.

[Ross Tucker]

Yeah.

[Football Analyst Ben]

No, when you start off 03, like with the Texans last year, it's really, really hard, and you don't end up with home field advantage. You know, the Rams don't play any of their starters during the preseason, hardly at all. And then they often go out and struggle in the first few games of the season. Like, man, that's. Those are kinds of. You only get 17 of these. McVeigh, I know you're not an analytics guy, but that's. That's relatively basic math.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

It's true. I know. But, yeah, I mean, Belichick's done that at times in September, and you read a little bit like you fool around in September, figure things out, try to turn it on.

[Football Analyst Ben]

Belichick also. You know what? This is the thing about Belichick, though. Belichick was really good at figuring out what his team was. And over the course of the first half of the season, a lot of times, you'd see these huge methodological shifts. And, you know, the year they played the Rams in the super bowl, that was the one where all of a sudden, midway through the season, you know what, We're a running football team. This is what we do well, we're going to lean into it. This is what we do. And the. With him, I always felt like it wasn't as much of a. It wasn't. It wasn't like he wasn't. It wasn't like he was trying to preserve and rest guys or anything. It was that he was just genuinely trying to figure out his own team and, like, what they needed to lean in.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

Right, Right. Yeah. Yeah, that's fair.

[Football Analyst Ben]

I think they were just like. I think sometimes they just weren't actually that good a football team at the beginning of the year, but they just had. They had really good position coaching. That's why. And that's why I like d' Amico transitioning to this role where he realizes his job is to coach the coaches as much as it is the players, because Belichick was really good at coaching his assistant coaches. So you'd see I would always watch their defensive line, and at the beginning of the season, I'd be like, God, these guys, they're just not that good. And then I would check in midway through the season on the Patriots, and I'm like, who are they? Who are these guys? Who they. Oh, it's the same guys. They're just playing much better football. They're just They've, they've actually improved in the midst of an NFL season at their technique and these details and all

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

of those things on the text line. Someone says the reason you're not hearing a lot of talk about Rutledge is because it's July. Yeah. Okay. So I guess we shouldn't talk about the meteor when it's on the way to Earth. You just talk about it once it actually hits down and, you know, crushes the world you're trying to forecast. I think it's a very big concern or question for this entire team.

[Football Analyst Ben]

Who said we weren't hearing anything about Rutledge? Would you.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

Well, I had referenced that. I feel like it's, it's not as big of a talking point. I don't hear enough conversations about, like the concern trying to have a rookie center who's changing positions on an offense that has been struggling or offensive line that we're still trying to figure out.

[Football Analyst Ben]

Right. Yeah. You're specifically talking about, like, for, for when people are talking about the Texans and previewing it. Everything this time of year where those are the kinds of things where you talk about Rutledge. I, I think you're 100% correct in that there's a tendency sometimes to forget that 50% of first rounders don't really work out. You know, that it's. That it's never, it's never a slam dunk. Oh, they drafted them late in the first round, did they? Well, clearly, clearly that's going to be. That. That'll be an improvement. It's just not especially. So 50% on average in the first round. Not as high in the, in the, at the back end of the first round. Offensive linemen do tend to. There tend to be fewer busts with offensive linemen, but this is an organization that also drafted Kenyon Green. So the. There's a six of one, half dozen the other, which. It's hard to say.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

Track records. Not great. Yeah.

[Football Analyst Ben]

Yeah.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

But to your point. Yeah. Offensive lines, the position group that has the highest percentage of guys getting the second contract with the team that drafted them. So it is technically or statistically the safest position to draft, but nothing's guaranteed.

[Football Analyst Ben]

Yeah. It's always felt to me like if I were a gm, it feels like that's where you get the most bang for your buck. And I would, I would, I would organize my team around always having an awesome offensive line no matter what, no matter where the pendulum swings and the, the, the coming and going of whether offense or defense is more important or running or passing or whatever. Like you're just you're you're more likely to succeed with your pick and you're more likely to have them around for a long time.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

That's true. I'm old school. I still like the old school basketball where you played from inside out instead of today it's the opposite. And football, same idea like build from the inside out, offensive line, defensive line. I think those are still the most important units of a successful team.

[Football Analyst Ben]

It's still the thing that makes if you want to get the absolute best out of your quarterback, you can make it as easy or as hard for your quarterback as you want. When you have a really good offensive line, you know, you can put as much on his arm as you need to or you can just lean into the run game and or including you can and you obviously you make him a better passer when he's well protected. But yeah that part of it and then just the fact that too those offensive linemen that do work out for you end up to tend they get really big contracts these days that if you can control those costs without having to go out and sign a free agent or trade for a free agent at some point, you're saving a lot of money in the long term.

[Podcast Narrator]

Yeah, certainly Oregon parks make an Oregon summer. But what makes an Oregon park? Well, Oregon Lottery Gameplay helps no matter the game Megabucks, video lottery or keno funds from lottery games help support parks projects across the state, ensuring they stay safe, accessible and open for all. In fact, Discover State park scratches are in stores now. It's the perfect way to put a little bit of Oregon's parks in your pocket. The Oregon Lottery Together we do good things. Must be 18 or older to play. Lottery games are based on chance and should be played for entertainment only.

[Podcast Promoter]

They say if you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together. At Amica Insurance, we know what matters most to you and we work even harder to protect it. Together, as a mutual insurance company, we're built for our customers and prioritize your needs. Amica empathy is our best policy. Visit amica.com and get a quote today.

[Commercial Announcer]

Now is your time to get into a new Dr. Horton home by taking advantage of its national Red tag sales event this Friday, July 10th through Sunday, August 2nd. Stop by any of its participating communities and find select red tag homes at incredible pricing. So whether you're buying your first home or looking for an upgrade, you don't want to miss the red tag sales event. Starting this Friday. Discover the Dr. Horton Difference. Visit Dr. Horton.com Dr. Horton America's Builder and equal Housing opportunity builder.

[Football Analyst Ben]

Understanding power requires more than headlines. I'm Peter Hamby, host of the Powers that Be, a podcast from PAC examining

[Commercial Announcer]

politics, economics and media. To provide context, analysis and clarity without sensationalism, we ask how power operates, who benefits, and what's at stakeholders.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

If you want to move beyond breaking

[Commercial Announcer]

news to deeper understanding, join us on

[Football Analyst Ben]

the Powers that Be. New episodes every weekday. Follow the Powers that Be wherever you get your podcasts.

[Kit Kat Jingle Singer]

1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4. Gimme a break, give me a break Break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar Gimme a break, give me a break Break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar the chocolate crispy taste gonna make your day and wherever you go you hear the peep bar say Give me a break, give me a break Break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar have a break, have a Kit Kat.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

Uh, we, we, we did spend it. It was worth it. Great conversation. We did spend more time on that than anticipating. But I do want to get to this because we've been tracking even, even, you know, before I stepped in this week, obviously you and Sean have been tracking this whole Brandon Iuk thing. And we played some audio from One of the McCourties with Jason McCourty yesterday, I think it was who said, hey, Iuk, just put the phone down. Apparently Brandon Iuk is not taking that advice. Here's the wide receiver.

[Football Analyst Ben]

They'd be like ba and his social media antics. Well, I gotta get paid somehow cuz the employer holding me captive without pay. At least social media paying. I'll tell y' all what I, I get a job back in the NFL, man, I'm still going to be on my. On social media. Yeah, that, that right there. I'm still going to be on my BS on social media like that. That is the clearest evidence yet that he just flat out doesn't want to play football. I think he is just. I think he's. There's a part of him that's a little bit crazy right now, but I think there's also a part of it that he, he doesn't care because he doesn't really.

[Commercial Announcer]

He.

[Football Analyst Ben]

He's gonna let his freak flag fly and he's not worried about it because he really doesn't care if a team signs him or not. Like that part right there. What have I said when I said, yeah, I would take a flyer and Iuk, if you could actually get him to sign on a minimum Deal with incentive laden. The first part of the conversation you're gonna have is, hey, what's. What's been going on with you, man? What's. What would like is it just that you were confused and angry or whatever and now are you ready to just kind of focus on football and he's just flat out there broadcasting it to the world now I'm going to keep all of this up. I will be a distraction in your locker room, everything that you're worried about. Even if you sign me to a minimum deal, Yes, I will make life miserable for those around me. I don't think he wants to play football.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

Do you think this is all sort of like then a bit that he's doing on social media for the attention? Because he said, like, I'm not getting paid by my team, I got to make money somehow. Like, is this all like a shtick he's doing now?

[Commercial Announcer]

Right.

[Football Analyst Ben]

Because okay, I don't think. I can't imagine he's blown. Blown through the. How much has he made since he got the new contract? I can't imagine that he's blown through all that money. And whatever he's making on social media isn't nearly what he's going to be making is a. If you were paid, what is if you were paid, what is sane? Like a sane Brandon Aiuk is going to make way more money if he just keeps his mouth shut or just even just. Just delivers statements instead of blabbing on social media or whatever. Like he's just. He refuses to do any of it. And then he continues to lean into like demanding that the 49ers cut him. Well, he still hasn't filed his reinstatement paperwork that would allow the 49ers to cut him. And also like the 40 he's demonstrated already once before, he wanted off of the 49ers. 49ers tried to help him set up a deal with the Steelers and IU submarine to that. And then God knows why the 49ers decided to still give him a contract anyway. And then everything was a mess afterwards ever since then. Like the 49ers, if they were just being completely calm, cool and rational about this, which it seems like they're doing though they've got no they he theoretically is still a tradable asset. And you just wait and see exactly if he does file his reinstatement paperwork, see what happens. I think Ayuk. Yeah. Just was trying to make it such an uncomfortable and ridiculous situation that if and when he does Sign his sign it file is for reinstatement that the 49ers do just want to wash their hands clean of them. But he's doing so much damage in terms of his sign ability right now.

[Commercial Announcer]

Yeah.

[Football Analyst Ben]

Including with the. The commanders of the team where it seems like, man, maybe the commanders really would have given him a respectable contract of some sort. He's probably completely destroyed that.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

Yeah. Right. By the way, spot track, spot rack, whatever it is, he has made 60 million so far in his career, but he still has another 85 million on that contract. It's crazy to be, like, walking away essentially right now from $85 million with the way he's act. Here's more. Brandon Ayuk saying that shockingly, Jaden Daniels, his at least former friend, maybe still friend, Jaden Daniels not accepting his calls.

[Football Analyst Ben]

He said, I don't do that Internet, bro. Hit my phone if you got to talk to me, bro. You got my number.

[Podcast Promoter]

And I called. He don't answer.

[Football Analyst Ben]

Hit my phone, bro.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

It's important.

[Football Analyst Ben]

It's the money on the line. Yeah, it's the money on the line. I. Jaden Daniels wants nothing to do with him now. He just wants nothing to do with this mess. I don't know. And even, like, the reports that those two are close friends and everything, I'm starting to wonder, did all of those reports come from Brandon Iuk himself? Do we know that Jaden Daniels is actually even really like, like Brandon Aiyuk? And for any stretch of the time, I'm guessing there's evidence out there that they do. But right now he's just. According to the source, Brandon Iuk, Jayden Daniels isn't accepting his calls, but I don't trust anything that I hear from Brandon Iuk at this point.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

Well, that's also true. Yeah. And I don't blame Jaden Daniels. His people are probably telling him, like, don't associate with this guy. Stay as far away from this as you can because it's. It's only going to make you look bad getting wrapped up in it. On the text line, somebody said, first video, IUK said, they're stupid for paying me. Last video, he's saying, I got to make money somehow. Pick a lane, bro.

[Football Analyst Ben]

So it's not the people that have. It's been fun to watch the people who are adamantly defending Brandon Iuk kind of just steadily fall off the bandwagon as they start to realize, all right, man, there's just nothing defensible that he's doing right now, especially when he's the only guy that's complaining about the 49ers is this evil organization true. You don't find the other. You don't find other 49ers players talking about what bastards they are or anything or how Kyle Shanahan is so evil. It's. He's the only guy that's got these complaints. And he's also the only guy who's acting like a lunatic on social media.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

Yeah, he's looking around like, right, guys, you're with me, right? The Niners, this organization's crazy.

[Football Analyst Ben]

And Samuel had nothing but praise for Kyle Shanahan and John lynch after he left.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

Yeah, no, the guy's just Bonkos. Hey, coming up, uh, there's a conversation going on in the sports world currently that really annoys me. So we have to talk about it. Next. Payne and Pendergast.

[Football Analyst Ben]

The Second World War is the largest event in human history. A 20 part series with Tom Hanks.

[Commercial Announcer]

No part of the globe was untouched.

[Football Analyst Ben]

No life unchanged.

[Ross Tucker]

Experience.

[Football Analyst Ben]

The ultimate account of World War II. Every single person had a story.

[Commercial Announcer]

These are the stories that make us who we are.

[Football Analyst Ben]

Listen to World War II with Tom Hanks on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Commercial Announcer]

Now is your time to get into a new Dr. Horton home by taking advantage of its national red tag sales event. This Friday, July 10th through Sunday, August 2nd. Stop by any of its participating communities and find select red tag homes at incredible pricing. So whether you're buying your first home or looking for an upgrade, you don't want to miss the red tag sales event starting this Friday. Discover the Dr. Horton Difference. Visit Dr. Horton.com Dr. Horton, America's Builder and equal housing opportunity builder.

[Podcast Narrator]

Oregon parks make an Oregon summer. But what makes an Oregon park? Well, Oregon Lottery gameplay helps no matter the game Megabucks video lottery or keno funds from lottery games and help support parks projects across the state, ensuring they stay safe, accessible and open for all. In fact, Discover State Park Scratches are in stores now. It's the perfect way to put a little bit of Oregon's parks in your pocket. The Oregon Lottery. Together we do good things. Must be 18 or older to play. Lottery games are based on chance and should be played for entertainment only.

[Commercial Announcer]

I'm Dana Carvey. I'm David Spade.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

Fly on the Walls. Back for another season now on audio

[Football Analyst Ben]

and video every Monday and Thursday.

[Commercial Announcer]

So many incredible guests will be joining.

[Football Analyst Luke Morrow]

Follow and listen to Fly on the

[Football Analyst Ben]

Wall everywhere you get your podcasts. Too good to be true.

[Kit Kat Jingle Singer]

One, two, one two three four. Gimme a break. Give me a break, Break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar Gimme a break, give me a break Break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar the chocolate crispy taste gonna make your day and wherever you go you hear the people say Give me a break, give me a break Break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar have a break, have a Kit Kat.