Marc Vandermeer and John Harris open Week 1 preparation on Texans All-Access, with Pro Football Hall of Fame sportswriter John McClain joining the program from the Hyundai Texans Radio Studio.
The General walks through a busy stretch of roster gyrations: the addition of T Max Pircher, the 6'7", 320-pound international tackle who joins the practice squad under the International Player Pathway exemption; T Braden Smith moving to injured reserve; and the trade that brought T Nate Thomas to Houston. McClain makes a bold call on C/G Keylan Rutledge — that the rookie belongs on the all-rookie team — and explains why Nick Caserio's public praise of Rutledge carries so much weight. He also digs into the tight end room, where TE Marlin Klein graded out as Pro Football Focus's top rookie tight end this preseason, and makes the case that Houston's personnel department deserves far more national credit than it gets.
McClain and Marc then look at the opening four-game stretch, go around the league, and take on two of the week's biggest media stories: the Titans' decision to pull a credential in Nashville, and Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley's revelation about how fan-shot training camp video traveled between opponents.
In segment two, Marc and John Harris play "Let's Make a Football Deal" — a run of hypotheticals covering guaranteed win totals, divisional records, who Johnny would keep healthy for 17 games, and what a 1,100-yard season from RB David Montgomery would unlock for the passing game.
The show closes with Nick Caserio on how he and DeMeco Ryans have built this roster, why depth on and off the 53 is one conversation and not two, and where the focus sits heading into the opener.
Texans All-Access airs on 95.7 The Fan and is available wherever you get your podcasts.